Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 480 - 367: An Unexpected Letter

Early the next morning, Zhang Guoqing got up early, tidied up the backyard, and ran to his family’s private plot.

Logically, since their household registration had been transferred, this private plot should be handed over to the village. Zhang Guoqing always thought that after the separation, their family no longer had a private plot. Unexpectedly, Mr. Zhang divided the whole family’s private plot equally among the three sons and had already helped plow and plant it during spring planting.

Now standing on his family’s private plot, looking at the rows of millet, soybeans, and other crops, he couldn’t help but laugh at the unexpected gain.

Mr. Zhang came over and saw his youngest son already working in the field early in the morning.

He looked up at the sky anxiously and said, "Xiao Wu, why aren’t you going to work? Your elder brothers thought you had left. I’ll handle the farm work, you go quickly."

Zhang Guoqing looked up and smiled, "Dad, I’m on vacation, I start work tomorrow."

"You silly boy, why didn’t you mention it?" Mr. Zhang laughed and scolded a bit as he came to help his youngest son in the field.

Zhang Guoqing didn’t mention that he had briefly mentioned it before, perhaps his father hadn’t listened carefully. He smiled, answering Mr. Zhang’s questions while keeping his hands busy.

After finishing with the private plot, Zhang Guoqing and his father returned home, he then noticed the row of new houses at the village entrance, which made the Zhang Family Village look quite grand. He hadn’t paid attention before, but now he took another look at the village.

Mr. Zhang saw this and laughed, "Surprising, isn’t it? Last month your second great-uncle and their family were so happy they cried tears of joy when they moved into the new house. I see after this busy period, many people want to build new houses."

Zhang Guoqing smiled and changed the topic. After these two or three months, it wouldn’t be so easy to build wherever you want.

In the kitchen, the couple finished breakfast and planned out the day’s arrangements.

Zhang Guoqing took the sidecar to the work unit to greet everyone and submit a report.

Passing by his own door, he hesitated for a moment but decided to clean up the house first and return to the village later. That way, the family could rest as soon as they got back.

After finishing, Zhang Guoqing stretched his back, realizing it was getting late, he worried Zhou Jiao might be anxious. He quickly locked the gate, just as he was about to start the vehicle, he heard the postman calling his name from a distance while riding a bicycle.

He waited there, chatted with the postman with a smile, took the letters, and watched the postman leave.

Zhang Guoqing looked down at the stack of letters in his hand and found that in addition to letters from his father-in-law and a few brothers, there were two unexpected letters.

He didn’t have time to ponder why Liu Sanyuan from K Province and Lin Xuezhen from the Lin family had sent letters, he quickly started the vehicle to head back to the village.

Entering his own yard, Zhang Guoqing smelled the aroma of buns and meat in the air and shook his head with a smile — his wife was really going at it. Hearing the chatter from the kitchen, he raised an eyebrow.

"I said it was your husband back. Well, I’m off. Remember to visit sometime." With that, a middle-aged aunt nodded at Zhang Guoqing and left.

"Isn’t that the daughter-in-law from your second great-uncle’s family?"

Facing Zhang Guoqing’s confusion, Zhou Jiao nodded with a smile, "Auntie’s family gave her honey yesterday, and she brought some over for Ping’an."

Zhang Guoqing nodded, "Their family values sentiment. They feel embarrassed staying at our house. I’ll send some buns over later."

As they spoke, Zhou Jiao blatantly took a full curtain of freshly wrapped buns, startling Zhang Guoqing. He momentarily forgot to mention the letters and quickly ran to the yard to close the gate.

"Jiao Jiao, you can’t do this next time. What if someone comes back and sees you? And see if your son is staring at you?"

Zhou Jiao gave him a sidelong glance and laughed, "I’m not stupid. You’re not at home, I pack a few and steam a few at a time, others just think I’m slow. When Mother comes, I’ll stop."

Zhang Guoqing patted her head, "Still be careful. From now on, I’ll be with you, don’t be careless."

Seeing her blink her big eyes and nod obediently, he couldn’t help but laugh.

"Alright, now take all the dough out. I’ll wrap them, you just tend to the two stoves and start steaming." Before Zhang Guoqing finished speaking, a pile of dough and several trays of filling appeared before him, and he regretted his words immediately.

Zhou Jiao laughed heartily at this, seeing him helplessly go wash his hands, and smiled at Ping’an, who was giggling beside them, "Baby, why are you laughing? Be good and Mom will steam lots and lots of delicious food for you."

Zhang Guoqing saw the mother and son talking past each other, shaking his head with a smile.

To make his wife happy, he was determined. He comforted himself that wrapping buns wasn’t difficult.

The couple was hard at work.

Mother Zhang returned from her family’s house around two in the afternoon, went to the old yard to tidy up, and headed toward her youngest son’s house, only to find the gate locked, she patted the door.

After a while, seeing her youngest son come to open the door, she smiled, "I knew you all hadn’t left yet. Why lock the gate?"

Following Zhang Guoqing into the yard, smelling the aroma in the air, Mother Zhang laughed, "Steaming buns today? Better to close the gate. Otherwise, if someone comes and you can’t give them any, it’s awkward."

Listening to his mother talk to herself, Zhang Guoqing could only smile and nod.

The couple pulled Mother Zhang in to eat buns and chatted about their uncle’s family’s situation. Mother Zhang asked if her youngest son had gone to the county to check on the house.

If his mom hadn’t mentioned it, he would have forgotten.

Zhang Guoqing quickly stood up, took down the bag hanging, and from inside, he took out the letters and handed them to Zhou Jiao.

"Besides dad and a few brothers from the Big Courtyard, there are also letters from Liu Sanyuan and Lin Laoyao. Liu Sanyuan’s letter isn’t surprising, but why would Lin Laoyao send you a letter?"

Mother Zhang saw that they had something important to discuss and told them to read in the room while she took her grandson for a walk in the village.

After sending off Mother Zhang and grandson, the couple returned to the room.

After reading the letters in hand, the two exchanged a smile.

Zhou Xiaozheng’s letter said things were well, he was working while on holiday, the only regret being his precious family couldn’t be with him. He suggested that if Zhang Guoqing had vacation time, he should take Jiao Jiao and Ping’an to join him.

Lin Lishan’s letter still advised them not to be afraid to spend money and strongly cautioned against going up the mountain.

The few brothers from the Big Courtyard wrote about their leisurely vacation by the seaside, the delicious food they enjoyed, urging their family to join them soon.

Liu Sanyuan’s letter invited Zhang Guoqing to take his wife and son to K Province, planning to visit orchards and fishing villages. Two of the three pages were entirely about food.

The only surprise was Lin Xuezhen.

After Zhang Guoqing asked Zhou Jiao to keep the letters safe, he smiled, "Now everywhere looks great, truly enticing. We can’t go to Dad’s place, but we can take some time for K Province. We can visit Aunt Cheng and Zhao Yuanyuan at Uncle Dashan’s place tonight."

Zhou Jiao laughed heartily, giving him a thumbs up in agreement.

Zhang Guoqing saw she didn’t mention Lin Xuezhen, and thought for a moment before saying, "Neither Dad nor Mom mentioned the Lin family’s matters in their letters, I guess the Lin family hasn’t fulfilled their promise yet. Lin Xuelin hasn’t gone to the Northwest yet, better to not have much contact with the Lin family.

Lin Xuezhen’s letter was an apology, saying she decided to atone for her parents’ sins by going to the South alone. But the letter was sent from Beijing, who knows if it’s just to make you softhearted.

We’ll just wait and see! No need to reply to her, but we can mention it in the letter to Dad."

Zhou Jiao curbed her smile and nodded.

She noticed the issues Zhang Guoqing mentioned long ago.

The Lin family, she was really unwilling to have further dealings with them.

Some things are better left to time to prove whether they are genuine or deceitful feelings.