Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 461 - 350: Gu Family Ancestral Residence

After being forced to rest at home for a day by Zhou Xiaozheng, Zhou Jiao once again accompanied her family and relatives on their journey.

Two days and one night later, the group finally arrived at the old residence of the Jiangnan Gu Family.

Stone lions, vermilion gates, curved eaves and ridges, shadow walls, and brick carvings on the walls, this courtyard, despite the wear and tear of time, still reveals its past grandeur.

Garden rockeries, pavilions and terraces, winding corridors, deep courtyards of unfathomable depth, immersing oneself feels like a return to ancient times, transcending the wrong time and space.

Accompanied by staff, the two families listened to Old Mrs. Cheng’s nostalgic descriptions, with no one making a sound the entire time. As she reminisced, scene after scene of past events was vividly engraved in everyone’s mind.

The ancestral home, still the ancestral home of a big family, the ancient architecture where ancestors of the Gu Family lived for generations. Bereft of liveliness, the massive courtyards, overshadowed by century-old trees and rockeries, appear eerily silent.

Zhou Xiaozheng stood in the main hall, gazing outside, and sighed deeply.

"Aunt, it’s been such a burden for you all these years."

He couldn’t bring himself to say more. The old residence should have been completely looted by the clan back then; much of what is displayed now are repaired furnishings. Over the decades, the vast repair and maintenance costs have been astronomical, not to mention the effort expended by the Cheng Family. Without Old Mrs. Cheng, this ancient residence couldn’t have been preserved so perfectly.

"What burden? This is my family’s home, where I grew up," said Old Mrs. Cheng, in a low tone.

Eversince entering the mansion, she had taken medicine once. Mr. Cheng watched her anxiously, afraid she might get too emotional. At this moment, after barely visiting the main courtyard, he hesitated whether to continue touring the side courtyard.

After resting awhile, Mr. Cheng quietly consulted with his wife, "Let’s first prepare to pay respects to your parents, and let Xiao Zheng take the children to explore here, okay?"

Upon hearing this, Old Mrs. Cheng looked at Zhou Xiaozheng and saw him nod, "If you have any questions, ask Doorkeeper Old Gu. He used to be a help for our family. He knows many things."

Zhou Xiaozheng nodded. Though referred to as help, he was actually a family servant. His mother, Gu Mingzhu, saved his life as an orphan, and later he ran errands for her father. He is well-versed in the affairs of the Gu Family.

He had previously investigated Old Gu. This man, over eighty years old, steadfastly remains in the old residence, just to help his mother Gu Mingzhu guard the family. He is a good person.

Despite now having many children and grandchildren, he still firmly believes that his young mistress and her husband will surely return. When he learned of their deaths and about their missing child, he steadfastly remained in the old residence, secretly helping Old Mrs. Cheng investigate the whereabouts of the child.

In the morning, upon meeting Zhou Jiao, Old Gu was limping, crying in pain over the leg broken by Gu Family members, lamenting over his inability to safeguard things, all being stolen. He warned the young mistress to be wary of those people.

His eldest grandson hurriedly followed, explaining that the old man was somewhat muddled with age. He hadn’t seen Gu Mingzhu, so how could he know that, even muddled, Gu Mingzhu always remained in his heart. Zhou Jiao, looking just like a grandmother, was recognized not only by Old Gu but also by the elderly people they encountered along the way, who cried out her name.

Faced with such loyalty, Zhou Jiao was in tears. The investigation reports on paper felt weightless, but seeing the old man, her heart was pierced sharply.

Having sent off the Cheng Family, Zhou Xiaozheng agreed on a time with the accompanying staff and watched them leave happily with a knowing smile.

Zhou Xiaozheng ceased paying attention to others’ thoughts. Since they, father and daughter, had agreed to sign and pledge to lend, they would not let people down. Just based on the department’s agreement to list it as a memorial tourist spot, maintaining the original state of the ancient residence, he would agree. Moreover, with only a short ten-year lease, it might always remain a tourist destination.

"Dad, shall we proceed according to plan?" Seeing everyone had left and only the three of them remained, Zhou Jiao quickly asked.

"Hmm. It’s only safe now; later there’d be no chance. Xiao Wu, guard the road entrance, don’t let anyone approach the embroidery tower. I’ll take Jiao Jiao to find the mechanism."

Following Zhou Xiaozheng’s arrangement, Zhang Guoqing hurried out. Inside, his heart began to pound—someone certainly has their eyes on their family this time.

Standing at the road entrance, feeling uneasy, he began to calm down, concentrating on the surrounding sounds. Aside from the faint cough from the doorkeeper, the silence was broken only by his breathing.

Instinctively, he glanced at the lush, distant ancient trees and began to pace, circling the main path, feigning curiosity. Secretly hoping Zhou Jiao and her father would hurry, the eerie old residence made his skin crawl.

Zhang Guoqing mumbled as he walked along the main path, observing various courtyards. If history hadn’t changed, Zhou Jiao might indeed have been like a young lady, needing to be carried by servants in a sedan to tour the inner courtyard. At this thought, he couldn’t help but chuckle.

Meanwhile, Zhou Xiaozheng, accompanied by Zhou Jiao, headed towards the embroidery tower.

Called an embroidery tower, yet now it stood empty. Aside from a soft couch and an embroidery rack, there was nothing else. Although they had heard Old Mrs. Cheng’s stories, seeing it firsthand, left father and daughter disappointed.

The only testament to Gu Mingzhu’s embroidery artistry, the small tower was now virtually extinct. The two-story structure was devoid of everything apart from its framework.

"Don’t daze. Watch my footsteps closely,"

Zhou Xiaozheng’s voice awakened the meditating Zhou Jiao.

Inside the rockery, Zhou Xiaozheng activated the mechanism, pulled Zhou Jiao inside, and cautiously stepped on floor tiles following the code, moving step by step. After a while, still no movement.

"Dad, let me try."

Zhou Xiaozheng shook his head, then suddenly brightened his eyes, and pulled Zhou Jiao over, whispering, "Your grandmother could activate it alone, maybe related to weight. Be careful not to get injured by the internal mechanism."

Saying this, he protectively stood by Zhou Jiao, extending a hand to hold her right hand, ready to pull her away in case of an emergency.

After a faint "click," the floor tiles immediately parted, revealing a staircase.

Zhou Xiaozheng took the cloth strips and matches, candles handed over by Zhou Jiao and tested them, "There’s a ventilation passage, we’ll go in directly. You walk slowly, remember your grandmother’s advice."

"Okay. Dad, follow me closely," said Zhou Jiao, after which the father-daughter duo descended a few steps, the passage overhead slowly closing.

Indeed, against the wall, no door was visible, only two boxes piled on the ground with an ancient wind lamp atop, and some scattered porcelain beside.

"These are meant to obscure suspicious eyes, prepared by your grandparents just in case. Gather everything. Once we’re out, we’ll destroy the mechanism, won’t need this place again."

Unable to speak out, Zhou Jiao quickly nodded. The echoes from the basement nearly raised goosebumps all over her, thrill of treasure hunting gone.

Once done, she instinctively clung tightly to Zhou Xiaozheng.

No matter how big or good the old courtyard is, she dared not reside in it. Wondering how back then, the Gu Family managed it with just three masters and an Aunt. No wonder even bodyguards couldn’t secure the old residence.