Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 443 - 335: Breaking Out in a Cold Sweat from What I Heard

Chapter 443: Chapter 335: Breaking Out in a Cold Sweat from What I Heard

The next day at noon, the family was having lunch. A knock on the door came from outside, and Zhang Guoqing gestured for everyone to continue eating as he got up to open the door.

Standing outside were Zhang the Second and his wife, accompanied by Shi Tou and Mai Sui, holding baskets in their hands.

"Why is your house locked now? Have you eaten yet?" Zhang the Second asked as soon as he saw him.

Zhang Guoqing quickly ushered them in, laughing, "Come in quickly and have some. Father and Mother were just talking about you. Second Sister-in-law, why are you carrying a basket? Don’t tell me you’re delivering food again?"

"It’s nothing special. Are Father and Mother inside? We have something to discuss with you." Lin Juhua replied with a smile.

The group entered the kitchen, and Zhou Jiao invited them to join the meal. Zhang the Second promptly refused, saying they had just eaten at the cafeteria, and there’s no need to stand on ceremony among brothers.

After drinking a bowl of soup, Mr. Zhang put down his chopsticks and looked at the Second Son.

"Father, finish eating first. What I need to say isn’t urgent."

"Don’t waste time. If you’re not in a rush to get back to work, why bring the whole family over? Speak up." Mr. Zhang said with a smile.

Zhang Guoqiang chuckled and gestured towards Lin Juhua.

Seeing this, Lin Juhua quickly sat up and said, "Father, Xiao Shitou has become an accountant, and my brother-in-law’s father is coming down in the next couple of days. They had a family quarrel this morning, and his mother collapsed again, just as they plan to send her to the county. Apart from the eldest, everyone else has run back home and disappeared. Seeing things were not right, I quickly came to find the children’s father. Do you think we should send a message to Big Sister’s family?"

Mr. Zhang nodded but didn’t say what should be done, then asked, "Is there anything else besides this?"

"Yes. Old Captain wants Xiao Wu to return this weekend. When I asked what it was about, he said it was good news but didn’t say anything else. Big Uncle and Little Uncle also want Xiao Wu to return home, saying after visiting Beijing, he should come back and give an update. Nothing else is up; everything at home is fine."

Mother Zhang, listening, laughed and said, "Xiao Wu should indeed return. Just say he isn’t working this weekend, and we’ll all go back. Children’s Father, do you think we should go and talk to Chunming?"

Mr. Zhang nodded and said, "Zhang the Second’s family did well! Since we know about it, we should inform Mei Hao and have them return home quickly; at least they should take her to the hospital first. Regardless of their family situation, our family cannot produce unfilial descendants. Children’s Mother and I will first go to Mei Hao’s house. Jiao Jiao can take care of home."

Zhou Jiao quickly assured him not to worry, secretly feeling troubled for Zhang Meili. Poor Big Sister, enduring again. She looked at Zhang Guoqing to see him subtly shaking his head.

Once Mr. Zhang and Mother Zhang left, Zhang Guoqing then said, "Let’s not all go to their place. Let’s first see how Brother-in-law’s siblings handle it. If we all went, everything would fall on Big Sister. Nobody’s money comes easy. Oh, I work like crazy for 30 bucks a month, it’s stressing me out."

Zhou Jiao and the others laughed heartily, rare to hear Zhang Guoqing worrying about money.

Zhang the Second chuckled for a while before he realized and quickly asked, "Did you spend all your money on this trip? I have money, use it first. Anyway, I’m not in a hurry to buy a house; the money is sitting there doing no good."

Lin Juhua promptly said, "Yes. We’ve saved all the separation money and haven’t used it yet. You can use our money first. If we can’t afford a house in a few years, we’ll ask you for help. I always worry about lending money if we keep it at home; might as well keep it with you."

After she spoke, everyone laughed again.

Zhang Guoqing winked at his Second Brother, joking, "Can’t you sleep peacefully at night, fearing someone would steal it? Be startled when someone comes during the day, afraid they’ll borrow money?"

"Stop talking nonsense, I’ll bring it by tomorrow. Is that soon enough?" Zhang the Second kicked him and laughed.

Zhang Guoqing quickly stopped him, "Don’t take it seriously, we have money. Not to mention what my father-in-law gave, just Ping’an’s red envelopes are quite a bit. Coming back this time, apart from other things, in the provincial city, we received countless red envelopes."

Hearing this, Zhang the Second realized it’s true. The kid indeed had several red envelopes that day. Giving Zhang Guoqing a side glance, messing with him for fun, huh?

Zhang Guoqing quickly urged him to buy a house. Money at home won’t grow. Buy earlier, at least earn some rent; with a house, you can transfer household registration and have rations. By all calculations, it’s a gain.

Moved by this, Zhang the Second and Lin Juhua decided to buy after discussing. They weren’t planning to rent it out, but having extra rations wasn’t bad.

Seeing it was almost time for work, Zhang Guoqing asked Lin Juhua to stay and wait for Mr. Zhang and Mother Zhang to return, then go together to the community committee to ask Aunt Wang for information. The two brothers had to rush to their units.

About an hour later, when Mr. Zhang and Mother Zhang returned home, Lin Juhua shared Zhang Guoqing’s suggestion and asked them to accompany her to look for Aunt Wang.

Mother Zhang told her not to rush and took her back to the living room. After everyone took their seats, Mother Zhang brought up the information gathered from the neighboring Aunt Wang.

Her colleague has a yard for sale, just a five-minute walk behind the supply and marketing cooperative; five mud-brick rooms in an old house. Asking price is five hundred, with room for negotiation.

Lin Juhua immediately looked at Mr. Zhang upon hearing this. Not knowing if it was good or not, she left it to her father-in-law’s judgment.

Mr. Zhang thought for a while before asking his wife to take the two daughters-in-law to the community committee to inquire about nearby houses. He still favored this community for its cleanliness and the neighbors being kind and easygoing. The area across the road is low, and it’s said that after heavy rain in summer, the water often doesn’t drain away. Last year when he passed by, he saw someone causing trouble and fighting.

The three women went to the community committee. As soon as they reached the door, Aunt Wang smiled and invited them inside to chat.

There were a few people in the office, all locals and familiar with one another. They exchanged pleasantries and joked a little.

Zhou Jiao began discussing the business at hand, asking for help in finding a house. She didn’t mention any conditions, only smiled and said it must be in the area managed by the aunties, otherwise she wouldn’t be at ease.

Upon hearing her flattering words, everyone happily began discussing. One by one, they even mentioned houses that might go up for sale without being officially listed.

Listening on the side, Zhou Jiao broke into a sweat. Seems like most households nearby have no secrets from this group of matriarchs. She marveled silently that they even knew how much some people sent secretly to their parents-in-law and could tell which men were having affairs and keeping mistresses.

Mother Zhang and Lin Juhua listened intently, long forgetting they were there to buy a house. They heard some big news today: calculating a family’s wealth by the number of chamber pots seen at their doorstep in the morning. Such details were unnoticed by them in the countryside. Lin Juhua couldn’t help but ask what if people use public restrooms?

Mother Zhang heard them discussing how often wives visited bathhouses and how much money they spent, guessing if they were squandering their salary. She quickly glanced at Zhou Jiao, and the two shared a knowing look without daring to laugh. Feeling guilty, the two women went to the bathhouse every few days, spending twenty cents each time, more lavish than others.

An hour later, Aunt Wang held a list in her hands, reporting the names to everyone and asking if these were all the families. She marveled at how there were several households planning to sell after the New Year, even though it was only February.

After finishing, she urged Mother Zhang and the two daughters-in-law to go see the houses. In her opinion, visit each one as a leisure stroll.

They visited five houses consecutively, inquiring about the lowest prices. Mother Zhang and Lin Juhua decided together on two, asking Aunt Wang to help negotiate the price, promising to bring their sons later after work to finalize.

Upon learning the news after work, Zhang the Second didn’t hesitate and chose the yard closest to his unit and Zhang Guoqing’s house.

His explanation was— the family prospered and moved out-of-county. Buy that with good feng shui, convenient for parents visiting both sons. The other family’s children were disobedient, which bothered him immensely.

His words pleased Mr. Zhang, urging him to pay quickly.

Apart from Zhou Jiao waiting for Zhang Guoqing to return from work, the whole family went to see the house. Upon returning an hour later, they were all smiles, talking about celebrations.

The yard was almost the same size as Zhang Guoqing’s, a short cut walk to his house takes less than ten minutes, and the final price of six hundred was indeed affordable.

Zhang Guoqing had already prepared food and drink, not allowing Zhang the Second to go to a restaurant. Spending six hundred likely didn’t leave his Second Brother with much money, but nothing mattered more than making his parents happy at this moment.