Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 370 - 282: Reflections

In the Zhang Family’s kitchen, Zhou Jiao finished eating and cleaning up, then said, "Mom, handle the rest as you see fit. I’m waiting for your instructions."

Mother Zhang said, "Your big sister will be home soon; I need her help to tidy up. I’ll deliver things to the two houses next door first. We’re making quite a noise, and they probably heard us. Better to send it over early."

As soon as Zhou Jiao saw Mother Zhang carry things out, she quickly ran inside to grab the ginseng and small Lingzhi and handed them to Mr. Zhang.

She winked at Zhang Meili, who was holding her mouth as she chuckled, and said to Mr. Zhang, "Dad, let’s bring the jar of sorghum liquor to the living room. If we soak it early, we can drink it early."

"Don’t waste it. It’s useful later on."

"Oh come on, Dad, help me out. It’s okay if I just toss it into the liquor jar, right?"

Mr. Zhang laughed heartily; this silly girl can’t keep anything to herself. That century-old ginseng is still with Old Wang awaiting its mixture, yet she’s already tossing out what’s freshly brewed.

Zhang Meili picked up a jar of sorghum liquor and headed for the living room, "Dad, come in quickly. I can’t carry it anymore."

"Be careful. Don’t drop it." Mr. Zhang saw her wobble as she moved with the jar and quickly stepped forward to help lift one side.

Zhou Jiao hurried to the living room, lifted the curtain, and ran outside after dropping the ginseng and Lingzhi.

Zhang Meili watched Zhou Jiao slip away and couldn’t help but remark, "Dad, you and Mom won’t have to worry in your later years. With Xiao Wu and Jiao Jiao, you have great fortune. Just thinking about it makes me happy. Ah... it’s wonderful."

Mr. Zhang grinned without responding. Even without his eldest daughter’s comment, he knew firsthand. What daughter-in-law buys a house and gives a full set of keys to the father-in-law and mother-in-law? Such a complete set of keys, indeed.

Before going out today, she woke up at dawn to prepare breakfast and kept some dishes warm in the pot. Once everything was ready, she pulled her mom into the bedroom to inform her where the money and tickets were, fearing they might skimp and save instead of enjoying them. What other daughter-in-law is as thoughtful as she?

Zhou Jiao mimicked Zhang Guoqing’s method, dragged out two bamboo baskets, and started putting things inside. Not much was placed before they were filled. She pulled out two more baskets and methodically arranged things according to space proportion.

As soon as Mother Zhang came in, she saw Zhou Jiao squatting in the yard, packing things into the bamboo baskets, and hurriedly pulled her up.

Noticing no one was in the warehouse or yard, she whispered, "Don’t pack too much; conserve a bit." Then quickly she tucked things back to their original spots. Glancing at Zhou Jiao, she instructed, "Learn a bit. Don’t give everything away."

Uneasy, Zhou Jiao glanced at the living room, prompting Mother Zhang to give her a glare. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"I know you consider your sister family and want to give her more, but her husband is an outsider. Give too much, and he’ll send it to his own parents’ house. Showing filial piety to in-laws is right, but where’s the reasoning in being filial to his brother-in-law? If you give less, your sister can maintain good relations and the food she sends can actually reach the old folks’ mouths.

Giving more would mean her sister-in-law would send it to her own family, causing jealousy among other sisters-in-law. Your big sister doesn’t understand these nuances, somewhat naive."

"Mom, the things we send to the second sister and the big sister are different, the two brothers-in-law might think too much."

Mother Zhang asked her, "You’ve been here for so long, what has your second sister ever sent you?"

Seeing Zhou Jiao shake her head, she continued asking, "Do you remember what I’ve told you about social reciprocity?"

Zhou Jiao smiled at her, understanding the implication.

"This time, I’ll handle it, and you can do the same next time. If you feel sorry for the kids, let them eat something nice when they visit. As for your second sister, stop sending things over later on.

Your second sister’s in-laws have good standing and upright character. Giving too much may complicate future familial interactions." After speaking, Mother Zhang pointed at the items in her hand and gestured towards the neighboring yards.

Zhou Jiao nodded, grasping Mother Zhang’s meaning. It was about maintaining neighborly relations, sending two fish along with a big bowl of seafood as a standard gesture.

As for distant front and back yard neighbors, there’s nothing left. Her mother-in-law is frugal, saving a lifetime for her and her husband, so she didn’t stop her. Finding excuses to send Aunt Wang something is better; they often send whole bowls of meat and fresh food to her home, can’t take her mother-in-law’s words literally.

Mother Zhang nodded satisfactorily, quickly heading to Wang Dasheng’s house with the items.

Zhou Jiao thought about the chatterbox Aunt Wang, certain Mother Zhang would regret this visit.

Meanwhile, Zhao Chuan Guang shook his head and smiled at the boxes on the ground, "This kid spent all that time, and now it’s all sent away. Yuanyuan, divide them in half; send half to Jiao Jiao. Don’t say anything else, just tell them Xiao Wu went to the provincial city and sent you home."

Cheng Hongli promptly followed, saying, "Remember to bring the money and receipt to Jiao Jiao."

Earlier, the couple had already calculated the bills. Most of the expenses on this trip were covered by Zhang Guoqing. Better to send things to Zhou Jiao while Zhang Guoqing is away — or else everyone will be shoveling things around tirelessly.

Zhao Yuanyuan came over and found Zhou Jiao chuckling on the ground, "What’s making you so happy that it’ll make me happy too if you tell me."

"Why are you here? Isn’t today exhausting? Why are you still bringing seafood to my house? Can’t you see the yard’s full of it?"

Zhao Yuanyuan tossed things aside and squatted next to her, saying, "Isn’t your Xiao Wu gone to the provincial city? These are three cartons prepared; he left them at my house, so I brought them over."

Zhou Jiao picked up a fish and calculated briefly, squinting at her, "You’re fooling me! Though I don’t know how much Xiao Wu took, I can guess how many fish a box can hold. Isn’t it Xiao Wu showing respect to your uncle and aunt? Yet you’re sending most of it back to us? Take it back, or it’s hard to keep being good sisters."

"I won’t do it; I’m not going back with them. Here’s the money and receipt for today’s expenses; Mom fears something’s missed, she’ll replenish it for you when she remembers."

Listening, Zhou Jiao wiped her hands with a cloth and pulled her toward the kitchen.

Once in the kitchen, Zhou Jiao checked the receipt, pulled a pen from her pocket, made some modifications on the paper, took what she should have, and returned the remaining money along with the receipt to Zhao Yuanyuan.

"Give the receipt to Aunt. There are a few errors I’ve corrected. Now, it’s too late for young girls to be out, I’ll see you out."

"It’s early; what’s with seeing me out? I’ll take the money and receipt back. If I gave you less, I’ll let Mom find you." With that, Zhao Yuanyuan stood up to follow her outside.

"Take these back, lest Xiao Wu sends them to your house again when he returns; it’s troublesome. Let’s wash up and sleep early. Don’t talk! Listen to me first."

Having said it, Zhou Jiao whispered near her ear, "Given to me, I can’t eat now anyway. Giving it to his two sisters is better off being in your home. Think about it, doesn’t it make sense?"

Zhao Yuanyuan, confused by her words, found it indeed reasonable and took the boxes back home.

Cheng Hongli saw her return with a dazed expression carrying things, asking, "Why couldn’t you go to Jiao Jiao’s? Did you discover something?"

"I did go, and now I’m bringing them back. Dad, Mom, Jiao Jiao whispered in my ear she’s unable to eat now; it’s better given to Xiao Wu’s two sisters and let me bring them back. Oh, here’s the receipt; she said you calculated wrong and have corrected it."

Having said that, Zhao Yuanyuan placed the money and receipt on the table.

Cheng Hongli glanced at the receipt and handed it to Zhao Dashan.

Seeing the modified numbers, Zhao Dashan burst into laughter. He hadn’t expected that Zhou Jiao, overhearing once, would remember so clearly. This isn’t just having a photographic memory; it’s having phonographic memory.

Cheng Hongli squinted at him, asking, "Is the amount too much? Should I find the ledger and check it?"

"Everything matches. Your calculations overshot a little. For example, 582 jin, you directly wrote 600 jin on the paper, but she remembered weighing 582 jin. Okay, you two ladies shouldn’t spread rumors outside. Especially Yuanyuan, Jiao Jiao trusted you to share this — don’t let it out.

Your Uncle Zhou most fears people mentioning Jiao Jiao’s photographic memory. Don’t let it slip."

"Dad, you’re saying it’s such a great thing, why do Uncle Zhou and Jiao Jiao prefer keeping it secret? When I was in middle school, I suspected her memory was exceptional. She learned everything fast, teachers claimed she drained all their knowledge. But she wouldn’t admit it."

Zhao Dashan didn’t want to discuss this. Who likes hiding such things? Poor life experiences of father and daughter. Despite their good life now, before, they endured in tough times. Fortunately, they got through it.

"Alright, let’s sleep early and wake up early tomorrow. If you have questions, ask Jiao Jiao. My daughter aims for college to show Dad. No need for an excellent university, just any university is fine."