Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 450 - 339: Visiting

"Parents give their children everything, but children may not even return a fraction to their parents."

The saddest thing in the world is having nothing to depend on in old age. For Accountant Zhang, his five sons were his pride and joy. He had sympathized with lonely elderly people he met, but never thought he would find himself in a similar predicament one day.

If it weren’t for his youngest son, how would he be any different from Mr. Zhang? He could never understand why, after working tirelessly and risking their lives in those turbulent years to raise five sons, now, except for the youngest, the other four sons seemed to have forgotten the hard times and their upbringing.

In the dead of night, he felt the sadness. He could only comfort himself by thinking that they wouldn’t understand the struggles of their parents unless they become parents themselves. Someday, they will appreciate how difficult life is for their parents.

It wasn’t until his wife collapsed again that he realized he was wrong. He wasn’t the clever person people thought; he was just a muddleheaded old man, an unwanted old man, the moment he lost his position as accountant.

In the hospital, Accountant Zhang tightly held his wife’s hand as she incoherently muttered "no." He understood what she meant: she didn’t want to burden their youngest son. But besides the youngest’s family, he didn’t want to see those unfilial sons anymore.

If they had no money, they could still come to visit at night. But over the past fortnight, the four sons and their wives came, glanced over, and found every excuse to slip away.

"Let’s wait until you recover before returning to the village, alright? We can’t leave now. The youngest and Meili have already prepared the house for us. Don’t worry, this year, I’ve kept all my earned money with us; we won’t burden the youngest."

When Accountant Zhang heard footsteps outside, he quickly stopped talking and patted his wife’s hand.

The hospital room’s door swung open, and a group of people streamed in.

Accountant Zhang quickly stood up. He hadn’t expected his daughter-in-law’s three brothers to accompany their parents-in-law to come and help.

"Let’s go. Eldest, carry the blankets. Second, take the bags. Xiao Wu, you’re strong; carry your aunt onto the stretcher. Wife, help your daughter see if anything’s left behind. Brother, let’s get going. We’re not coming back to this cursed place," Mr. Zhang swiftly ordered as soon as he entered.

"Zhang the Second, wait, Xiao Wu, let your brother-in-law do it. Chunming, hurry up." Accountant Zhang, seeing Zhang Guoqing holding his wife, hurriedly called out. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Zhang Guoqing smiled, "My brother-in-law is strong enough not to drop my aunt. Uncle, let’s go quickly; my father is right, we’re not coming back to this cursed place."

Zhang Chunming chuckled and shook his head, pulling his father along, "Listen to Xiao Wu, let’s go. My mother-in-law is already over there helping, and everything at home is prepared."

Mr. Zhang led Accountant Zhang out, urging his wife and daughter to hurry along.

At the main entrance, as Zhang Guoqing placed the aunt on the cart, he took the things from his mother’s hand as he saw them coming out.

The group pushed the cart back to Zhang Meili’s house, with Mr. Zhang and Accountant Zhang following. Reaching the entrance, they saw Zhang Meili holding a fire pan in front, and Zhang Guoqing carried the aunt across it.

Seeing this, Accountant Zhang suddenly felt a lump in his throat.

Before he could say anything, his eldest grandson Zhang Ziwen ran to him, pulling his hand, and said with a smile, "Grandpa, Mom said that you and Grandma will stay at home and not return to the village anymore. This time you can’t leave."

The little grandson followed in a soft voice, "Yes, Grandpa and Grandma, you belong to the four of us siblings now."

Zhang Guoqing, having settled his aunt inside, pulled his two brothers aside and left for work.

This time, Mr. Zhang instructed the three brothers to be present to pick up the in-laws. He felt a bit embarrassed—was his father trying to show off? Zhang Guoqing thought and smiled, shaking his head.

Zhang the Second, watching his brother Zhang Guofu leave, caught this scene and curiously asked, "What is Xiao Wu doing? What’s wrong?"

"Second Brother, why is Dad becoming more childish? Didn’t our presence just make Accountant Zhang more heartbroken today? This isn’t like Dad."

"Dad wants Accountant Zhang to feel that our family supports Older Sister in caring for her in-laws. He doesn’t want them to feel that since the separation followed the eldest, they can only follow the eldest. He also wants us three brothers to understand that in the future, he and Mom can choose which house to live in."

Zhang Guoqing looked at him with suspicion. Why did that explanation sound off?

"Sigh... There’s some of that intention. Don’t doubt it. Eldest Sister-in-law’s actions shocked Dad and Mom this time. Right after the separation, she didn’t consult with the elders about big decisions and ignored Dad and Mom. Plus, you weren’t home at that time, and I was at work, so they overthought. I’ve mentioned it to Eldest Brother; haven’t you seen that Sister-in-law is now careful with Eldest Brother? Don’t worry, Dad and Mom will come around after some time."

Foxes grieve the death of rabbits—Zhang Guoqing was feeling complicated, unable to express his thoughts. No wonder his parents were so eager, busy with Accountant Zhang this time.

Zhang Guoqiang patted his shoulder and walked with him, thinking, "Dad and Mom didn’t tell you about the eldest’s father-in-law coming to plead with them in the village a few days ago, right? I didn’t know either; it was your second sister-in-law who informed me. She said Eldest Sister-in-law was forced by her father to serve tea and apologize to our parents, and she even cried a lot."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Guoqing raised an eyebrow but remained silent.

"Afterwards, the old man kept saying he was incompetent, unable to control his eldest son, letting that foolish son ride on your reputation to cause trouble. The old man didn’t ask for your help, only repeatedly apologized to Dad and Mom, saying he couldn’t let these matters destroy the long-standing relationship between the two families. What happened afterwards, your second sister-in-law didn’t know."

Zhang Guoqing finally said, "Since Dad didn’t want the three of us brothers to know, then I’ll pretend I don’t know. Uncle Huang first was humble, then hard on our parents; he came out only when their family was in trouble, and still, it was too late.

If he was sincere, why did he take so long to seek out our parents? A long-standing relationship between the two families? Wasn’t it because they helped look after Xi Zi and his brothers? After all, they are his biological grandchildren. Our family hasn’t done the Huang Family wrong; over the years, how much game meat and dry goods did we send them? Besides, what relationship do I have with the Huang Family? If they dare to ride over me, if I don’t teach them a lesson, that fool Huang Yaoguo won’t remember it! This is not the first time."

Zhang Guoqing didn’t say that besides himself, Zhou Jiao wouldn’t spare them either, intending to make them an example. If he used the methods his father-in-law taught him, would Huang Yaoguo still be able to stay peacefully at home? Heh... He would have long been in jail. He ultimately took into account his elder brother Zhang Guofu.

A person of small measure is not a true gentleman, and he who is uncompassionate is not a true man—Zhang Guoqing laughed at himself. He still couldn’t be ruthless. The same was true in his past life, and he still couldn’t learn the lesson in this one.

Thinking of this, Zhang Guoqing quickened his pace, still managing his own matters. What did the Huang Family’s affairs have to do with him? Attending work, studying hard, and improving himself should be his focus.