Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 369 - 281: Returning Fully Loaded

At four in the afternoon, the group finally bid farewell to Old Wang and his family, happily starting their return journey with a truck full of supplies.

Speeding all the way, the two vehicles didn’t stop and returned directly to the county town by past six in the afternoon.

Outside Zhao Dashan’s house, two cars rested by the gate. Under the beam of the lights, after unloading Zhao Dashan’s seafood, Zhang Guoqing let Zhao Dashan and his wife select the items they needed for their household.

After several rejections, Zhang Guoqing directly went and gave him two-thirds of the fine grains, and split the rest evenly. Soon, Zhang Guoqing had moved out sacks and bamboo baskets in front of the storeroom.

Before Zhao Dashan and his wife could react, he had already put on his coat and pulled Zhou Jiao, running to the truck. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Once the vehicle started, Zhang Guoqing shouted to Zhao Dashan and his wife, who were calculating beside, "I’ll manage these things first. Later, I’ll come over and directly switch to a small car to go to the provincial city. Uncle Dashan, if you have anything you need me to deliver, prepare it quickly."

The truck stopped halfway; Zhang Guoqing found a secluded place.

Holding a flashlight, he took Zhou Jiao into the compartment, turned off the flashlight, checked outside for any issues. He let her feel around and put everything into the space in the dark. After Zhou Jiao finished, he turned back on the flashlight and saw the compartment was indeed empty.

Zhang Guoqing pulled Zhou Jiao to stand in the center, turned off the flashlight again, and let her follow the plan and place the items in the compartment one by one.

Once Zhou Jiao finished again, Zhang Guoqing turned on the flashlight, scrutinizing to ensure none of the placed items were incorrect. In this complete darkness, he was truly worried Zhou Jiao might casually put out the box with valuables.

The ten jars of wine placed openly in the compartment were actually a sight, preparing for Mr. Zhang. Children should be filial towards their parents, but with siblings, Zhang Guoqing felt he’s done enough, and since they’ve also separated, it was time to stop.

A person’s greed is like a snake swallowing an elephant; neither of them had any income, and they would gradually reduce subsidies to their siblings and return to normal social exchanges in the future.

Besides wine, they also kept some freshly caught seafood, dried salted fish, broad noodles, and coarse grains. Recipients were only four siblings, Zuo Lin, Li Qinglin, and Zhang Yuntao. They no longer planned to give to other relatives.

The remaining part was prepared to send to the provincial city and Beijing, including over 100 pounds of live crabs. He planned to give Zhao Chuan Guang 20 crabs, 10 to each of four others, totaling about 60 crabs equating to over 50 pounds, keeping the excess at home to maintain a facade, and adding stored items to be sent to Beijing to his father-in-law, nurturing relations.

This time, because the Zhang parents were home, they had talked to Zhao Dashan in advance to handle some items before returning home, sparing the elders from difficult situations.

Everyone was smart enough. Upon hearing this, Zhao Dashan understood immediately, agreeing that with the separation, each household was individual, Zhang Guoqing had done enough for his two brothers, and since they have no income themselves, it wasn’t necessary to subsidize siblings further.

The couple returned to the car, exchanged smiles, both breathed a sigh of relief.

Driving all the way to the doorway. Opening the gate, Zhang Guoqing asked Zhou Jiao to check on their son first while he took off his coat and started hauling things up and down.

Mr. Zhang and others came over to help; he greeted them briefly without elaborating.

After moving everything into the courtyard, Zhang Guoqing stretched his back and said with a bright smile, "Everything here belongs to us. If you want details, ask Jiao Jiao. I still need to move these to the warehouse. Sis, pick what you like later and take it home. Mom, I’ll deliver the rest after I return from the provincial city."

Zhou Jiao, after checking on the child, came out just in time to hear, "Don’t move things to the warehouse yet. Go eat in the kitchen first before going to the provincial city. It’s a more than four-hour round trip; you can’t manage on an empty stomach, can you? As for what’s meant to be given away from home, I’ll consult with Dad and Mom. Other than our own sister, aren’t there only Zuo Lin and the neighbors? I’ll deliver those. Drive carefully. No rush."

Mr. Zhang nodded and said, "Listen to Jiao Jiao. Your mom and I will manage things here at home. You and Jiao Jiao go eat first, then handle matters."

Upon hearing, Zhang Guoqing thought for a moment and decided to have a meal before leaving. He dragged Zhou Jiao into the kitchen.

Mr. Zhang closed the gate tightly, returned to the courtyard, moving back and forth among the wine barrels, laughing happily, "Xiao Wu bought good wine. Honey, remember to take five barrels to the village and bury them in Xiao Wu’s backyard for Ping’an’s wedding."

"Xiao Wu doesn’t like drinking wine; this is for you. Does my spendthrift son plan for you to bathe in it? No way, I must ask him how much he spent."

Mr. Zhang saw them heading into the kitchen, shook his head, and began moving the noodles to the warehouse. No need to ask; he knew the grains and noodles were not meant for giving away.

In the kitchen, Zhang Guoqing told Mother Zhang, "Mom, not much money was spent. Some is sweet potato wine, I’ve marked them. The longer it ages, the better the flavor, no worry of it going bad. No wine should be given away, leave it for dad to drink slowly."

Mother Zhang finding no use asking him, turned to Zhou Jiao, "Jiao Jiao, you tell mom."

Zhou Jiao blinked and said, "Uncle Dashan also bought plenty of wine. They’re homemade by villagers, not expensive. Our family isn’t short of this money; adding some ginseng to it would be beneficial for dad’s health."

Zhang Meili, listening, laughed, "Mom, don’t ask anymore. Asking will make it more expensive."

"Not expensive, brother has ginseng."

Even Mother Zhang started laughing now, pointing at her, "Silly. Didn’t mom tell you to stash away some? Definitely don’t use it for soaking dad in wine, keep it for emergencies."

Zhou Jiao glanced at Zhang Guoqing, seeing him nod. The fifty-year-old ginseng was just right for wine soaking, and she planned to hand it over to Mr. Zhang later. Being more filial to parents for their happiness was good.

After quickly finishing the meal, Zhang Guoqing got up to go outside. Reaching the warehouse, he pulled out five bamboo baskets, filled them with fresh sea snails, added twenty crabs, ten of each, then placed fresh squid, reserving space for two yellow croakers and shrimp.

Zhang Guoqing proceeded to tie dried salted fish, dried cuttlefish, and kelp together with ropes, doing five bunches.

Upon finishing, Zhang Guoqing stood up and, looking around, felt it was about right. He quickly ran to the living room, kissed his son a couple of times, smiling, returned to the courtyard.

With the bamboo baskets loaded into the car, Zhang Guoqing said to Mr. Zhang standing by the gate, "Dad, you go inside quickly. I’ll return after delivering. The things in the courtyard are heavy, be careful not to hurt yourself moving them."

Mr. Zhang waved him off to drive, "Go ahead! Dad knows. Drive slowly and carefully. Dad will wait for you to come back."

Zhang Guoqing jumped into the car, waved to his dad, and headed towards Zhao Dashan’s home. Upon reaching the Zhao home, he shouted loudly into the courtyard, beginning to load onto the small car.

As Zhao Dashan and his wife came out, he had already opened three boxes on the ground, placing two yellow croakers, two pomfrets, eight prawns sequentially into five baskets.

"Uncle, the rest I’ll take along. The things in the box are a tribute to you and Aunt. As for other items, you have plenty, I won’t be giving you any this time."

Zhang Guoqing organized the boxes, leaving half of each for Zhao Dashan, poured the fish into one, added in the leftover few fish and shrimp, and moved them to the car.

Zhao Dashan quickly said, "Not so much. All divided, you have none left for yourself. We can’t finish all of this, listen to Uncle and take them back soon."

Cheng Hongli, seeing him about to get into the car, stepped forward to pull him, said to Zhao Dashan, "What you are sending should be taken by Xiao Wu."

Zhao Dashan hurriedly placed two barrels of wine into the car.

Cheng Hongli and Zhao Yuanyuan carried the bamboo baskets by the car side, saying, "Xiao Wu, tell Zhao Chuan Guang that we can’t squeeze more wine in, if he wants more, he’ll have to come to the county town. The items in the basket should be divided by your mom for the crazy ones. Alright. Drive safely, don’t rush on the road."

Zhang Guoqing nodded, organized the things on the car, and drove towards the provincial city, waving to them as he went.