Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 347 - 266: Awakening

In the bedroom, Lin Lishan and a few others were organizing the gifts brought by today’s guests, sorting them and placing them in boxes. Hearing Mother Zhang’s voice outside made them all laugh. Everyone had experienced postpartum confinement and understood that this was like a bird out of the cage forgetting the time to return, so it was natural for the elders to criticize her a little. They were also happy for Zhou Jiao; this mother-in-law treated her like a daughter, and a good relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law was what her family desired most to see.

Hearing is deceiving, seeing is believing. Although elders who had been to the Zhang Family Village all said that the Zhang Family had very good living conditions, everyone still felt an underlying worry that hadn’t diminished at all. Away from Beijing, during the journey, one could see straw huts and adobe houses everywhere. Thinking of the seventeen-year-old girl living alone in poverty made people like Lin Liyin feel even more ashamed and anxious, as this was vastly different from what they imagined. The two sisters-in-law from the Cheng Family felt even more heartbroken, unable to understand why the elder brother would cater to the child’s wishes. What they saw and heard at the Zhang Family today completely relieved their worries. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"Where did you go? In the future, if you go somewhere, you must say so, so that the elders at home can feel at ease. Come over quickly, sit down and have a good chat with mom. Mom is leaving tomorrow, it’s not easy to see you." Lin Lishan pushed Zhou Jiao to sit on a chair.

Zhou Jiao smiled, tugging at her clothes like a child and holding her waist, "Mom, there’s a train. If I miss you, I’ll run to you. I have plenty of time now. Aren’t you staying a few more days this time? I want to show you around."

"Let’s talk about it next time we have a chance to come here. Your aunt and they have all taken leave and are eager to hurry back to work. Let’s return home early at the end of the year to go shopping together."

The eldest daughter-in-law of the Cheng Family, Liu Ting, heard this and asked her, "Jiao Jiao, why don’t you come back with us tomorrow? Your little aunt is a doctor, bringing Little Ping’an with us won’t be a problem."

Zhou Jiao spread her hands helplessly and said, "Aunt, I’d love to go back earlier, but I can’t just yet. The school has given me permission to resume, and I need to wait until exams are over. Don’t tempt me. I miss my dad right now; I wish I could leave with all of you."

"Then attend to your official matters first. We’ll pick you up at the station when the time comes. Remember to send a telegram before you get on the train. Don’t bring anything; you and Xiao Wu just take care of Ping’an. Buy things when you return to Beijing to avoid the hassle of bringing them back and forth."

Zhou Jiao nodded; she wasn’t afraid of having too many things since she had space, but she appreciated their good intentions and just listened.

They chatted about fun places and delicious foods in Beijing, recommending them to her. They made plans to take her out and visit the temple fair during the New Year.

Her big aunt, Liu Ting, and Cheng Ruzhu were very fond of Zhou Jiao. They had always longed for a daughter but never had one. Zhou Jiao matched the image of a daughter in their minds. As the only girl among the grandchildren in the Cheng Family, they hoped even more that Zhou Jiao could stay in Beijing, so it would be easier to look after her when needed.

Cheng Ruzhu put down what she was holding, sat next to Zhou Jiao, and softly said how the courtyard her father, Zhou Xiaozheng, moved to in Beijing was really nice, how convenient it was, and what it was equipped with. She talked about how it was in the Big Courtyard, what was there, and how nowadays, the girls in Beijing are all chasing fashion. The bottom line was that if you don’t go, you’ll regret it; if you don’t live in the Big Courtyard, you’ll regret it even more.

Zhou Jiao listened carefully to her gentle words, trying to pick up any clues, and was rapidly thinking about her father’s military rank. Her dad didn’t mention anything about his position this time, and she didn’t ask.

Now, listening to the gossip about the Big Courtyard from Cheng Ruzhu and her little aunt, she found out many couples in the Big Courtyard weren’t originally married to each other. She realized dramatic things didn’t only happen to common people, and there were always people pursuing fashion and freedom, regardless of the era.

After Cheng Ruzhu and the others finished talking about the gossip in the Big Courtyard, they moved on to discussing certain people’s deeds, repeatedly instructing Zhou Jiao not to concern herself with such things when she returned to Beijing. She had no interest in people she hadn’t even met but did gather some clues from their conversation, realizing that the presence of some ladies had already emerged.

Lin Lishan had never been interested in such gossip. She was busy organizing things and was wondering whether she should tell Zhou Jiao about her grandma’s repayment this time. She took it over in a hurry, quickly passed the note to her husband before rushing onto the train, and now the thought of the amount didn’t seem right. This was something she felt was hard to discuss even with her husband, apart from her own daughter.

When bedtime came, Zhou Jiao accompanied them back to their rooms. After arranging everything, Lin Lishan found an excuse to follow her back to the west wing. Once inside the inner room, she frowned silently.

Zhou Jiao was startled and quickly asked her if she encountered something difficult to solve, or if something happened at home that her dad didn’t want her to know about.