Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 481 - 368: Clansmen from the Old Land

Xuezhen’s unexpected letter didn’t stir any waves in Zhou Jiao’s heart.

Back at the small courtyard in the county town, Zhou Jiao still sent her husband to work every day, accompanied their son, a cup of tea, a book.

The leisurely days passed by like this day by day.

In mid-June, during a weekend, the family had lunch at a restaurant and strolled home unhurriedly.

Just at the intersection, they ran into Zhang Guoqiang, Zhang the Second, riding his bike with a silly grin.

"Xiao Wu, I just went to your house and saw the gate locked, thought you went to the provincial city. Luckily, I ran into you. I have something to ask you, quickly follow me back to the village."

Zhang Guoqing glanced at the passing pedestrians, "Let’s go to my place first."

Once inside the courtyard, Zhang the Second hurriedly said, "People have come from the old home."

Zhang Guoqing looked at him with a face full of doubt.

"Ah... look at my words. It’s clansmen from outside the pass. This time, two old men came with the clan genealogy, searching for the clan leader in the village, saying there aren’t many people left from Old Zhang’s family, wanting to relocate to our village. The clan leader and third grandpa want you to go back and discuss."

Zhang Guoqing frowned slightly, "Let’s talk inside."

In the living room, Zhou Jiao poured a cup of tea for Zhang Guoqiang and took their son to sit down.

"Second brother, this isn’t something I can get involved in. What am I supposed to say when I go there? We’ve only just gotten some more land, everyone is hoping to fill their stomachs and have some surplus grain. Clansmen moving here, too many people, not enough land, will the villagers agree?"

Zhang the Second laughed directly after hearing this, "You guessed it all? Villagers don’t dare say in front of the clan leader but are whispering behind his back. The clan leader and third grandpa had me look for you because they want to hear what ideas you might have."

Zhang Guoqing glanced at Zhou Jiao and asked, "Did they mention how many people are left in the ancestral land? Are they relocating entirely or partially? Will they handle the household registration migration themselves?"

"I don’t know the details either. Just heard there are currently about a hundred households in the mountain province, didn’t say whether they’re all relocating or just part."

Zhang Guoqing laughed at them, "These old foxes! Scheming openly against me, and I can’t avoid paying money."

Zhang the Second looked at him puzzled, "What’s the situation, tell second brother."

"Jiao Jiao, you explain it."

Facing Zhang the Second’s inquisitive eyes, Zhou Jiao smiled and said, "How many in-laws among that hundred households? Will they ignore the wives married in or the daughters sent out? It’s a thousand miles away, how will so many of them come over? They’re coming for relief."

When Zhang Guoqing saw his second brother looking at him, he nodded with a smile and said, "The clan leader and third grandpa must have guessed, which is why they sent you to find me. Otherwise, they’d have first asked you about the household registration migration process. You see, my household’s not in the village, secondly, there are so many elders in the village, do they need me to go?"

Zhang the Second quickly said, "Then you don’t go, I’ll just say I couldn’t find you."

Seeing him stand up, eager to leave, Zhang Guoqing pulled him, "Don’t be in a hurry. This can’t be decided hastily. Let me think about it some more."

Zhang the Second sat down quickly after hearing it, looking at him eagerly.

"Who are they eating and staying with now?"

"Yesterday when they came over, they found the clan leader and directly stayed at his place. Today, I’m not sure."

Over here, Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao exchanged a look.

"Let’s go, let’s see what’s happening."

With their son in her arms, Zhou Jiao sent the two brothers to the door, seeing Zhang Guoqing giving up on the tricycle and peddling his bicycle away, she chuckled to herself. Is there a need to be so cautious?

Zhang Guoqing returned to the village, first went to the old courtyard. Mother Zhang said Mr. Zhang and the three brothers were still at the clan leader’s home.

He slightly frowned and followed Zhang the Second to the clan leader’s house.

Standing outside the clan leader’s courtyard, Zhang Guoqing pulled Zhang the Second, listened for a while, then went in to see a dozen old men chatting with two middle-aged men wearing patched clothes.

"Xiao Wu has come over. Come meet your two clan uncles. These are our family from outside the pass...."

Zhang Guoqing was not interested in hearing the old clan members’ series of chanting. He greeted each elder, smiling and sat beside Mr. Zhang, glanced at the Old Captain.

"This is our most promising child from the clan, the youngest of the second branch. Looks vigorous, doesn’t he? I was just talking about him....."

Listening to the old clan members bragging about him, Zhang Guoqing exchanged a glance with Mr. Zhang, seeing his father’s helpless smile, he sighed inside.

Just now he noticed the two clan uncles of higher rank. They looked natural, without any restraint. Despite their patched attire, their spirits were good, not like how they claimed to be starving with nothing but water to drink.

Last month, his family had just returned from outside the pass, not unfamiliar with how rural people were. Is looking emaciated and sallow such a demeanor? He felt their life wasn’t worse than that in Zhang Family Village.

Listening to them talk about having no money to dodge the ticket and being hungry for days.

Zhang Guoqing lowered his head and chuckled.

"Xiao Wu, your clan uncle said they’re considering relocating all the clansmen; what do you think?" The old clan leader noticed Zhang Guoqing lowering his head, pretending to be deaf and dumb, quickly asked.

Zhang Guoqing chuckled a few times, "Clan leader, grandpa, you say I’m just a kid, what do I know? You discuss it with everyone. My household’s not in the village, so I won’t give an opinion, it wouldn’t be good if villagers knew."

The old clan leader was rendered speechless, looked around at everyone, finding them all silent, he said to the Old Captain, "Old Three, what’s your take? Give a suggestion."

Zhang Guoqing observed the two clan uncles above, sure enough, they were assessing everyone, one of them even tugged the other.

He glanced at Old Captain smoking dry tobacco. Looking around at the elders present, he found that except for one or two, no one was foolish.

Momentarily, the hall was silent, the atmosphere was quite awkward.

Zhang Guoqing caught sight of the two clan uncles, the expressions on their faces had shifted to one of worry and helplessness. He raised his eyebrows and looked at the Old Captain.

After finishing the dry tobacco in his hand, Old Captain finally spoke, "I can’t offer any solution either. Besides our own family, there are quite a few outsiders in the village. Also, will the authorities approve of bringing in about a hundred households? What will they eat, where will they stay? Better to write a letter for them to take back, see what the clan leader over there says, then discuss further."

"Xiao Wu, do you think the authorities up there will agree?"

Zhang Guoqing looked at the clan leader with a headache, wondering why it got directed at him again.

He shook his head resolutely, "The local departments will not agree, neither will we accept. If they insist on relocating to the Northeast, it’s most likely they’ll be moved to the far north, which is currently being developed and just short of people."

"Then what do you suggest?"

Zhang Guoqing shook his head, knowing the stubborn old man was bluffing, he was disinclined to speak.

Sure enough, the clan leader advised the other party to first return and have their local officials communicate well, discuss whether to relocate to the far north.

Listening to the discussions inside, Zhang Guoqing silently shook his head.

Saw the Old Captain standing up to instruct the village to get started.

He quickly tugged at his second brother, stood up, smiled and said, "Third Grandpa, I’ll walk with you. Tomorrow morning, I need to go to the provincial city with leadership for a meeting, better go back and pack. Elders, I’m heading off first."

The clan leader shouted, "Why the rush? Tomorrow’s matter can wait until night."

Zhang Guoqing smiled and shook his head, "Getting paid isn’t that relaxed. Before my second brother came over, I was going to bring my draft to the leader’s house for review, but you grandpa gave the word so I hurried over.

In the morning, we’re leaving by five, this time we’ll be at least a week over there. If you need anything, just say to my dad and others. Clan uncles, stay a few more days, sorry for any neglect."

After saying that, he quickly followed behind the Old Captain out of the courtyard.

Having sent off the smilingly Old Captain, Zhang Guoqing rolled his eyes at Zhang the Second, "What’s there to laugh about? Alas... our dad’s pitiful. Find an excuse to have dad come back after an hour or so."

"Everyone’s pushing it off, they really look pitiful."

"Second brother, think carefully about the reason. Some don’t have it worse than our village."

After saying that, Zhang Guoqing saw him with a face of contemplation, and also lazily explained, cycling off quickly.