Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 457 - 346: The Letter

At the end of April, a letter from Zhou Xiaozheng caught Zhou Jiao’s attention. The tone was as usual, but the content suggested she should hurry back home for a visit.

Worried, Zhou Jiao searched for any hidden details but found nothing suspicious. She didn’t know if something was wrong at home. Her mother, Lin Lishan, had been writing to her regularly and hadn’t mentioned any changes.

Those involved are often confused, while onlookers see clearly. Just when Zhou Jiao was packing, planning to go to Beijing with her child the next morning, Zhang Guoqing came home from work.

After learning the details, he believed it might not be anything bad. With his father-in-law’s way of handling things, it was likely he’d heard some uncertain rumors and didn’t even feel safe to write in code. It only showed that while it was urgent, it wasn’t too serious; he really just missed his daughter.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Jiao immediately decided to take Ping’an to Beijing, planning to find her godfather for help the next morning. She missed her father, who had promised to visit her in the Northeast, but months had passed without seeing him, making her feel constantly uneasy.

Glancing at the time on his watch, Zhang Guoqing immediately asked her to wait and ran out.

Watching the direction he ran, Zhou Jiao stood at the gate with the child.

After more than an hour, Zhang Guoqing appeared in her sight.

"How did it go? Did you contact your godfather? What did he say?"

Zhang Guoqing, smiling, pulled her inside and whispered, "Godfather said not to worry. He suggested that dad might want to take advantage of the good weather to visit the old family house. He said he would get back to us tomorrow."

At that moment, Zhou Xiaozheng, exhausted, returned home to find his wife waiting for him with a smile.

He glanced at her, went straight to the bedroom to grab some change of clothes, and without acknowledging Lin Lishan, who was following him, he entered the bathroom for a shower.

Half an hour later, Zhou Xiaozheng came out, and Aunt Chen had already set the table. Looking at the four dishes and a soup on the table, he slightly frowned but said nothing.

"Brother Zheng, I’m telling you, did you hear? After May Day, I’m planning to visit the Northeast to see Jiao Jiao."

His wife kept talking, but how could Zhou Xiaozheng not hear? He was just in a bad mood and didn’t feel like responding. He could have gone to the Northeast last month for a meeting, but it didn’t work out. The food Jiao Jiao prepared was almost gone, and he hadn’t seen her yet.

"You’d better not go. Ah Guang will be in Beijing for a meeting after May Day, and Jiao Jiao might come." After saying that, he ignored his wife’s cheerful voice and quickly finished his meal. He planned to visit the Cheng Family tonight to see how his aunt arranged things.

Before he finished dinner, Old Mrs. Cheng came over with a dish, smiling, "Started eating? Your favorite fried meat strips are here. Try my craftwork, how is it?"

Zhou Xiaozheng quickly got up, took the plate, "Why don’t you eat some meat yourself?"

"Auntie, Brother Zheng said that Jiao Jiao will be home for May Day." Lin Lishan happily pulled the old lady to sit down and handed her the tableware.

Hearing this, the old lady looked at Zhou Xiaozheng with surprise. Seeing him nod, she burst into laughter. Then she realized that May 2nd was their shared birthday. Finally, she could make longevity noodles for the children, which delighted her immensely.

Zhou Xiaozheng picked some food with his chopsticks and placed it in the old lady’s bowl, "This time when Jiao Jiao comes, let’s go to the old house? I have a holiday. I can accompany you for a few days and then to attend a meeting."

"Great... this time, we can visit the old home. We’ve waited decades for this day. Little Zheng, have you really decided to rent the old house to the local government? With Auntie here, the courtyard will be fine. It’s different now from before; who dares touch our old house? Do you want to reconsider?"

Zhou Xiaozheng gestured to talk about it later. About the old house, it’s in his plan to hand it over to the local government, allowing people to visit and remember the history of the Gu family. The journey between these places is too long; if something happens, he would be powerless in Beijing.

After dinner, Zhou Xiaozheng took the old lady to the study, just starting to talk when there was a knock on the door.

Upon hearing that Zhao Chuan Guang was calling him, Zhou Xiaozheng quickly ran to the office with a guard—if it wasn’t urgent, he wouldn’t be called at night. His only worry was whether something had happened to his Jiao Jiao.

In the office, Zhou Xiaozheng sat staring at the phone, feeling uneasy. He took out a pack of cigarettes from the drawer, lit one, and waited quietly.

When the phone rang, he immediately answered and first heard Zhao Chuan Guang’s hearty laughter, finally relieving his tension. As Zhao Chuan Guang spoke, Zhou Xiaozheng gradually smiled, happily stubbing out his cigarette.

When the other side paused, he unhesitatingly told Zhao Chuan Guang and his wife to bring Zhou Jiao back to Beijing before May Day.

The two brothers chatted casually for a while before hanging up, and Zhou Xiaozheng hurried home to share the good news with the old lady.

Not to mention how Zhou Xiaozheng discussed plans with Old Mrs. Cheng and Lin Lishan in Beijing.

Meanwhile, Zhang Guoqing was flipping through textbooks in the study, distractedly thinking about how to ask Zhao Dashan for leave.

His wife taking the son to Beijing, perhaps even traveling around. In this situation, he couldn’t feel reassured. Glancing at his wife across from him, Zhang Guoqing couldn’t help but admire her calmness—thinking of braving the world alone? No way.

"Don’t look at me. This time you stay at home. The son and I will go and return," Zhou Jiao said with a sideways smile.

Unsatisfied, Zhang Guoqing said, "I must go with you. Tomorrow I’ll see if Uncle Dashan has a way. How can I not be by your side on your birthday? It’s your 18th coming of age ceremony...."

"Wait. What did you just say? Birthday? I know why dad wants me to come home when I can? Did you forget father and daughter share the same birthday?" Zhou Jiao stood up halfway through listening.

Zhang Guoqing was dumbfounded. He had indeed forgotten this—his father-in-law would probably think he was foolish.

He quickly reacted, saying, "That makes it even more necessary for me to go. I can’t miss both yours and dad’s birthday. If Uncle Dashan doesn’t grant leave, I just won’t go to work."

Zhou Jiao watched his rare childishness, suppressing a laugh.

After a while, she couldn’t bear it and secretly suggested, "Ask godfather for help. Get transferred to the provincial city for a month; it might even result in a raise."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Guoqing’s eyes lit up, then he shook his head. Different systems in the unit, how could they transfer? The Tai Chi fox could help, but it was a pity he hadn’t heard whether his father-in-law considered the person a friend or foe?

With no choice, he shared his concerns with Zhou Jiao for insight. Was his father-in-law asking him to be careful about their relationship? Or behavior?

"It’s probably not a foe; if it were, dad would tell you to be careful, not just to note it. But if it’s an ally, I haven’t interacted with them, so I can’t conclude. Ask godfather tomorrow how to take leave? He’ll have ideas. Don’t mention the fox to godfather just in case it’s dad’s secret strategy."

Zhang Guoqing smiled understoodly. Zhou Xiaozheng was probably only truly understood by Zhou Jiao. Since she was so confident, he felt relieved—it would be great if taking a leave wouldn’t affect the future.