Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 507 - 391: Urgent Departure

A sleepless night passed unknowingly in conversation.

At dawn, when the sky brightened, Ping’an woke up and looked at the three people beside him. Blissfully laughing, he immediately crawled up and jumped into Zhou Xiaozheng’s arms.

Seeing this, Zhang Guoqing couldn’t help but sigh quietly. Besides blood bonds, family also depends on fate. He’s never seen Ping’an be so affectionate with his grandparents.

Upon hearing movement outside, the couple put aside their children and handed them over to Zhou Xiaozheng. Rushing into the bedroom, the couple began packing meats, fine grains, and other supplies.

Don’t be fooled by Zhou Xiaozheng’s pleasant words, claiming not to lack food.

Zhou Jiao noticed her father’s weight loss. Usually difficult to mail, now the couple vigorously stuffed two large packages. Distrustful of odors, they used oil-resistant paper and military blankets.

After packing, Zhou Jiao still felt uneasy and leaned in to smell.

Zhang Guoqing chuckled and said, "You forgot your man’s keen senses. Quickly think if there’s anything missing. Shouldn’t we pack another one?"

Zhou Jiao regretfully shook her head, packing another wouldn’t make sense.

She reluctantly gazed at Zhang Guoqing, "You should’ve stuffed me in there."

"Oh, wife, don’t tease me. The road snacks haven’t been packed yet." Zhang Guoqing couldn’t stand her expression; stuffing her in? Dream on.

Zhou Jiao laughed. With their father’s departure, the father-daughter pair won’t see each other for several months. Hastily, she handed over the snacks and hurried out to prepare breakfast.

Parting is the hardest, but Zhou Jiao still held back tears and smiled as her father boarded the car. She silently comforted herself, soon, the father-daughter pair would reunite.

"Granddad, I want Granddad."

Looking at his crying grandson and then at his daughter, Zhou Xiaozheng got off the car, took the child from Zhang Guoqing, "Ping’an forgot what Granddad said? Be good and listen."

Ping’an slowly let go of his tight grip, "Ping’an is a good child."

"Hmm. Our Ping’an is a good child and an obedient one. Protect mom well, next time Granddad will bring you home, can you do that?"

Finishing his words, seeing the child nod, Zhou Xiaozheng gave him a kiss.

Reluctantly hugging him tightly again, he handed him back to Zhang Guoqing and smiled at Zhou Jiao, "Dad will be back to see you soon."

Zhou Jiao dared not speak, she only nodded repeatedly.

Watching Zhou Xiaozheng board the car again, the car slowly accelerated and soon vanished.

Ping’an suddenly burst into loud cries, making Zhou Jiao unable to hold back her tears.

Every time he parted from his father-in-law, Zhang Guoqing worried this would happen. He also felt like crying; before it was just his wife, now it’s also his son.

At one moment comforting his son, another consoling his wife, he couldn’t care less about making a scene.

Zhao Dashan, who came early in the morning, sent off his comrade. Standing aside, watching Zhang Guoqing turn urgently, he wanted to laugh heartily.

"Forget it, you better go to work later." After speaking, he hurried away, afraid he might burst into laughter.

Zhang Guoqing was not grateful in the slightest, don’t think he didn’t notice him watching the spectacle.

As the car drove to the county town, Zhou Xiaozheng finally turned his head away from the window.

Zhao Chuan Guang chuckled, "Brother Zheng, why don’t we turn back, you don’t leave today."

Zhou Xiaozheng glanced over a few teasing glances inside the car, "You grew bold, why don’t we stop first and have a spar?"

"Whoa, We can’t bear to see you leave, no other meaning."

"Yeah... yeah... no other meaning. Would Xiao Ping’an cry?"

"I don’t know if the child will cry, but one person surely cries inside."

"Haha... You’re screwed, telling the truth without thinking will get you beaten."

"Da He, look at you, speaking whatever’s on your mind. I meant Xiao Wu, not Brother Zheng. Brother Zheng should spar with the old fella."

"Isn’t it because you lost last time, and now you want revenge?"

Being teased by these brothers, Zhou Xiaozheng couldn’t help but laugh and feel quite relieved. No matter how reluctant he was to leave the children in the Northeast, it wouldn’t be long before the family could reunite. Then he could take his little grandson for strolls everywhere.

Zhao Chuan Guang intended to ask about Ping’an, but after glancing at the brothers, he swallowed it down. He felt there’s no need to hide. Being clever isn’t bad; others would give anything for such a blessing. Plus, Ping’an isn’t Zhou Jiao; who’s brave enough to bully him?

Zhou Xiaozheng shook his head slightly at him. It’s not distrust of his brothers, but matters involving the children, he wouldn’t publicize. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Last time, two senior officials jokingly asked if Jiao Jiao, like her grandfather, had a photographic memory, eyeing the secrecy department for her.

A joke, how could he let his fragile daughter live such a dangerous life? It was difficult enough to change their minds, if his grandson got entangled, it would truly be non-negotiable.

County town courtyard, living room

Zhang Guoqing saw Zhou Jiao holding the child, with both of them finally calm. Wiping the sweat off his forehead, he quietly exhaled; not easy.

Zhou Jiao gently patted their son, "Go to work, we’re fine."

Fine? How can they be fine when the mother and child faces looked so mournful?

Zhang Guoqing rolled his eyes, "Jiao Jiao, you and your son forgot Dad’s gifts. Son, Grandpa brought you many gifts, shall Dad bring them in for you to look at?"

"I want Grandpa."

Zhang Guoqing wished he could slap his own mouth, "Alright, when there’s no snow, we’ll visit Grandpa. Grandpa is an adult, and he has to work. Didn’t he ask you to protect Mom?"

Ping’an pouted and nodded.

"Brother, we’re really fine. You’ve already been late for work for quite some time, go quickly. We’ll handle all this ourselves."

Looking at Zhou Jiao, and their son’s little arms and legs, Zhang Guoqing grinned and shook his head. Asking his wife and son to move things, how long would that take?

Soon, he stepped out and moved all the burlap sacks into the living room.

Zhang Guoqing chose the lighter sack to open first. As different-sized boxes of toys emerged, he sighed silently. Whose family buys toys and stuffs them in burlap sacks? Some were even duplicates, unlike fruits where one could eat and eat some more.

"Son, your grandma buys things in bulk, your grandpa likes using burlap sacks, when you grow up what will you pack with?"

"A big car, lots of cars."

Zhang Guoqing teased his son, finally seeing him smile again. Earlier, he felt heartache! The child hadn’t cried this much since birth.

Seeing the little one starting to move things into the bedroom himself, with his wife enthusiastically helping open the sacks—finally, the storm had passed.

Zhang Guoqing tidied up and stood, "Then I’m off to work. Son, remember to protect Mom." After speaking, watched his son nod, he hurried out.

Being a monk for a day, ringing the bell for a day, today he already rang too late.

As for like usual practice, giving out some of the things, let’s not think about it. Since his son got older, his stinginess intensified. He focuses on equity, never losing out.

Meanwhile, Zhou Jiao helped their child tidy up the toys. She left a basket of fruit outside; the rest were put in storage. She predicted someone would visit soon for gossip.

Mr. Zhang and Mother Zhang came by afternoon, just as Zhou Jiao sent other neighbors away.

"Jiao Jiao, why didn’t your dad call us to meet him?"

Zhou Jiao smiled, "He arrived at dawn and needed to catch the morning train. It was too rushed, he advised against gathering you; it’s too cold for you all. Next time, we’ll get together."

Mr. Zhang shook his head smilingly, "Your dad is overly particular, cold what. Why so rushed this time?"

"He has no vacation. Coming straight from a Southern meeting, visiting us briefly, then heading to work."

Even Mother Zhang shook her head and smiled. A father like this, to such an extreme, is rare. Her husband loved their children too, yet seldom visited the daughter’s home to see the grandchildren.