Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 380 - 290: Before Returning to Beijing (Part 2)

Chapter 380: Chapter 290: Before Returning to Beijing (Part 2)

As soon as they saw Zhang Guoqing and the others, everyone gathered around.

Zhang Guoqing smiled and said, "Are you here to enjoy the excitement, or to welcome us back to school?"

"Xiao Wu, you two really aren’t considerate; you didn’t even mention coming back to school early. And Lin Zi and Taozi, running off without taking us along. Watch out for all of you!"

"Brother Xiao Wu, you’re our junior now. You have to share your thoughts at the moment."

"Yeah, hurry up and tell us. Call us ’Brother’ for a listen."

"Nothing much to say, Brother just wants to get into the classroom early. Aren’t you all cold?" Zhang Guoqing looked at everyone shivering, wondering where they got the energy to be here making a fuss.

"Freezing to death. If it wasn’t to see if you really came to school, you’d have to kill me to get me out." A classmate pulled Zhang Guoqing inside.

A short male classmate couldn’t squeeze in and shouted anxiously, "Don’t go to the wrong place, remember the principal said to see him first."

"Haha... let’s go back to the old place first."

A girl in a black cotton jacket came running up, shouting as she ran, "Jiao Jiao, Yuanyuan, hurry into the classroom. Our class teacher and the principal are waiting for everyone to come in. Hurry up."

Zhao Yuanyuan grabbed Zhou Jiao and dragged her forward, shouting, "Miao Miao, is it time?"

Ding Qingmiao ran out of breath, pointed to the back classroom, and said after catching her breath, "It’s the principal waiting for them. Hurry."

Zhou Jiao finally stood firm, turned to look at Zhang Guoqing, thinking they should first go to their first-year class teacher.

"See the principal first, then the teacher." Zhang Guoqing guessed that the other day when he visited the old principal, he mentioned the idea of skipping grades, and he arranged for them to take exams in their original grade.

"Hello, Principal. Hello, Teacher." As soon as they entered the classroom, they saw the old principal and the others waiting at the door.

The old principal smiled warmly at Zhang Guoqing and the two of them, and said, "Have you decided?"

Zhang Guoqing knew he was talking about skipping grades and nodded seriously.

"The two seats at the very front of the podium are prepared for you. Do well in the exams these days. Try to pass them in one go. The exam schedule has already been discussed with the invigilators. I’m waiting for your good news."

After speaking, the old principal smiled, clasped his hands behind his back, and walked outside. He intended to stay until the results were out today. He wanted to see what surprises these two kids would bring him.

The two days of exams finally ended. Completing six subjects from both the first and second years at once was no issue for Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao.

After the exams, Zhou Jiao started preparing gifts and packing luggage. This time going to Beijing, the courtyard in the village was under the care of Mr. Zhang and the others, and here was entrusted to Aunt Fang and her son.

Everything that could be arranged was set. They wouldn’t come back as a family until after the New Year, so she had to prepare New Year gifts for this.

Besides the Cheng Family in Beijing, she had to deal with the Old Lady Zhou and the grandson of the old clan leader in Zhou Family Village these days. Her father had already sent her two telegrams asking when she would leave. Zhao Chuan Guang and his wife from the provincial city sent items every two or three days, urging their family to stay at their house for a few days sooner.

"The snow is so heavy, you don’t need to go to the village. I’ll discuss it with my parents in the afternoon, and then go to Zhou Family Village to deliver the New Year gifts." Zhang Guoqing came in and saw she was holding her lambskin jacket, stopping her quickly.

Zhou Jiao hesitated for a moment, shook her head, and said, "I still need to go myself. You can handle Zhou Family Village; I didn’t plan to go there. I must visit my parents; this trip will take at least a month. I also have to tell my parents to come to the county often when we’re not home. The sooner we go, the sooner we come back."

"No need, Dad had Brother bring a message saying they’d come with mom right before we leave, so we don’t have to go back. I’m worried about the courtyard in the village, so I’ll go back for a check and deliver the New Year gifts along the way."

It was better not to go back; in this snowstorm, who would want to make a round trip—Zhou Jiao handed him the gifts, watched him leave by carriage, and returned to the room to look at a piece of paper, confirming they could leave in three days.

Zhang Guoqing was fast; he returned in less than two hours.

"Dad told me not to send them over yet; he’d arrange it. He advised us to minimize contact with the Old Zhou Family. If I send them over, it’ll be troublesome if they rely on us afterward. For the old clan leader, he said he’d deliver it personally."

Zhou Jiao nodded; it was best with the in-laws handling things. They understood the ways of the world better than she did.

On the designated day of departure, Mr. Zhang and Mother Zhang brought gifts for Zhou Xiaozheng and returned to the county a night earlier.

Early in the morning, Zhao Chuan Guang and his wife arrived with people in a brand new compact car and military vehicle.

Zhou Jiao saw her godmother take out four or five hot water bottles and heaters from the trunk, and she chuckled silently. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

For the sake of the child, Zhang Guoqing and her in-laws had prepared all the heating supplies from home. Now everything was packed up, leaving no room for people.

Zhang Guoqing wrapped his coat around his son on his chest. Sitting in the car, feeling the temperature adjust, he gently opened a corner and saw his son sleeping soundly, finally feeling relieved.

"Don’t worry! Your godfather has everything prepared. Guaranteeing you a warm journey all the way to Beijing. Your dad’s been giving a bunch of lousy ideas on the phone these days. Don’t overestimate him; in this aspect, he can’t beat your godfather." Zhao Chuan Guang said with a laugh. Her Brother Zheng was always full of wild ideas.

"Godmother, you and godfather must owe a big favor this time, right? Thank you to both of you." Zhou Jiao, after bidding farewell to Mr. and Mrs. Zhang, got into the car just in time to hear, and quickly responded.

"No need to stand on ceremony with your godmother. Dear relatives, you should head inside. We’re leaving now. We’ll accompany them to the train tomorrow. Rest assured. It’s all arranged. Once they arrive in Beijing, they’ll send a telegram back."

"Close the window quickly so that the heat doesn’t escape. I won’t be holding you up. Be careful on the road. Xiao Wu, don’t fall asleep on the train; keep an eye on the child."

The car drove away, and from a distance, you could still see Zhang Dad and them at the gate.

Zhang Guoqing looked back, worried, but soon he could no longer see their figures. This trip meant they wouldn’t see each other until the end of the next year. He wondered if they would continue their work, and if they would be bullied while he wasn’t home. Wanting to care for one’s parents but they are not around—he needed to make arrangements for his parents’ lives.

Zhou Jiao patted his hand and smiled at him gently. The new year would mark 1958, newspapers had already published new editorials a few days prior.

The wheel of history was starting to turn. This year, many units would hire temporary rural workers. A large number of rural residents would enter towns, and subsequently, for the next two or three years, urban populations would be streamlined, sending these people back to the countryside.

She estimated that her two sister-in-laws wouldn’t need Zhang Guoqing and her help with work matters; they could handle things themselves. After that, the eldest and second eldest of the Zhang Family would move to the county, so Mr. and Mrs. Zhang would follow the eldest back there.

The problems Zhang Guoqing worried about would soon be resolved. As for the sisters-in-law possibly losing their jobs in a few years with the urban household registration streamlining, that was a future issue. And what’s that got to do with her?