Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 488 - 374: Zhang Family Village

The city is satisfied, what about the members of Zhang Family Village?

They are not satisfied...

The dining hall, which has been transformed from the ancestral hall’s big courtyard, is in complete disarray, and everyone wears an unhappy expression.

At the top table, sitting in the main seat, is the old clan leader, with two clan elders beside him, as well as Old Captain, Uncle Zhang, Xiao Shitou the accountant, and other male village cadres.

Nowadays, they are chanting about equality for everyone, and gender equality every day, but at the seats in Zhang Family Village’s dining hall, you can clearly see the strong authority of the clan leader.

With ten or so non-native families joining, no one found it strange.

"... In the villages around us, many dining halls serve freely, providing rice and meat in every meal. Why are we living worse than them?"

"In my aunt’s village, you can eat old hens, braised pork, and white bread casually. I went there yesterday, and they didn’t even ask me for money or grain."

"It’s better for each household to eat their own. Look at what we have? Wild vegetable corn buns! Just after harvest, they make us eat like this, why bother working all year?"

"Exactly! My family handed over all our surplus grain; we even handed over all the old hens and chicks. Yet, we still drink thin gruel like everyone else, and the kids can’t even have a bite of meat."

The old clan leader saw them getting more and more unreasonable, raised his bowl, and heavily placed it on the table.

With a "bang," there was an immediate silence, like a cassette player being paused.

After a moment, the old clan leader snorted and said, "Not satisfied! Not satisfied, huh? Those who want to eat their own food, go to the township and speak directly to the authorities. Stop whining in front of your own people.

Rice, white bread, braised pork, and old hens? Ha... who wouldn’t want that? If I let you eat all that now, are you planning to eat dirt afterward?

Xiao, read out the accounts for them. If they can’t hear clearly or remember, list all the stock items from our village and post it on the door."

The newly appointed accountant, Xiao Shitou, quickly stood up, opened his notebook. He glanced at the densely packed members in front of him, picked up the loudspeaker, and started reading the ledger.

An hour later, seeing everyone’s heads hung low and spirits deflated, the old clan leader was satisfied.

"Alright! Just focus on working and stop thinking about unnecessary things. If anyone gets greedy, go more often to those villages. Since they offer feast-style meals, you can freely go and eat. But remember not to say you’re from Zhang Family Village."

His words made everyone below burst into rising and falling laughter.

After everyone stopped laughing, the old clan leader continued, "We all know which families contributed more or less, and all of us keep it in our hearts.

Those families that contributed more, don’t feel unhappy. Just think of Zhang the Second’s three sons’ mother pigs and that flock of old hens.

Remember what Zhang the Second said? He said we’re all family, rather than letting others have it.

Exactly, family. Remember this! All us old and young men here, whether your last name is Zhang or not, we are all family, and we shouldn’t be a laughingstock to outsiders."

The old clan leader saw everyone shouting that they remembered.

He smiled happily and said to Old Captain beside him, "You still need to ring the bell for these young guys occasionally. If anyone disobeys, use a stick on them."

Old Captain nodded with a smile, "You all heard that, right? Alright, everyone go home and explain clearly to your mothers or wives. If anyone is afraid of their wife, let the women come to the team to see the books."

The old clan leader watched as everyone left one after another, and then started discussing how to economize while opening up new sources of wealth.

Meanwhile, Accountant Zhang saw his eldest son entering his room, but he did not start to inquire about what was happening.

At this moment, he was helping his wife massage her arm. Both the doctor and Zhang Guoqing said that massaging would be beneficial in recovering from a stroke, so he planned to try it himself.

Wife, wife, companion in old age, it’s still the wife who is the best companion when old. Only with the wife does he have a home. Comforting each other, inseparable, the most understanding is still the wife.

In these days spent at his eldest son’s home, the old couple ate well and slept well, and his wife was being well cared for by his daughter-in-law, and her health was visibly improving. Unfortunately, the authorities came over with this matter, otherwise, he really wouldn’t return to the village.

"Dad, do you think what people said about how the authorities will provide after we finish eating, is it true?"

Accountant Zhang sneered and gave him a look of disdain.

"Dad, please tell me. My mind is a mess; if the authorities really provide as they say, then why are we working ourselves to death? Don’t you agree?"

Accountant Zhang furrowed his brows and lifted his eyelids, "Just listen to what your captain uncle says. Whether it’s true or not, does it matter? Are you all planning to not work and let the authorities do the work instead?"

Unfortunately, his eldest son couldn’t understand and muttered, "Always speaking in circles, can’t you just say it straight?"