Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 522 - 406: Liar, My Grandpa Doesn’t Have Any Tickets

Chapter 522: Chapter 406: Liar, My Grandpa Doesn’t Have Any Tickets

"Mom, I came to get the book."

Ping’an’s voice reached her ears, and Zhou Jiao handed the book to the child.

"Son, isn’t it nice to stay home with Mom? Waiting in line is hard."

Ping’an held the book tightly, looked up at Zhang Guoqing and, realizing he was too short, reached up for him to lift, "I like Dad, I want to be with Dad."

The silly dad listened happily and laughed out loud, holding the child, the two whispered leisurely to each other, and didn’t forget to pull Zhou Jiao into answering questions.

The family moved slowly forward; it was already late. From afar, Mother Zhang saw the youngest son’s family in line and hurriedly called Xiao Wu.

Zhou Jiao looked ahead and smiled. Her father-in-law and mother-in-law’s charisma had won over the neighbors. They hadn’t been back for a while, but they were still surrounded by old neighbors.

Zhang Guoqing greeted everyone and stayed with Mr. Zhang alongside a bunch of old men. Over there, Zhou Jiao was already pulled away by Zhao Yuanyuan and others. Every time lined up for shopping had become a gathering for chit-chat.

A nearby old man reached out to grab the book in Ping’an’s hand.

Ping’an gently evaded and smiled at him.

"Wow, this little guy is smart. Do you know what that’s used for? Old Zhang, what does your grandson eat? My grandson is so hungry he’s turned into a bag of bones."

Uncle Chen, Zhang Meihao’s father-in-law, interjected with a laugh, "Kids just drink some porridge. This kid’s main care is his parents raising him well, giving good stuff all saved for the child."

The old man looked around at the children and shook his head laughing, "Not right. This child, apart from being strong, is clever. I’ve heard giving supplements from a young age is good. Xiao Wu, did your son eat them?"

Zhang Guoqing laughed, shaking his head, "Too young, wouldn’t dare give supplements. Not in the condition to give them even if I wanted to. My son has a good appetite, eats everything, not picky. If you don’t give them sweets, I guarantee they’ll be chubby and white."

Uncle Chen and Mr. Zhang exchanged glances and laughed, nodding. In their hearts, they muttered about Zhang Guoqing’s evasiveness. His son did have a good appetite, but what was he eating? Though they hadn’t seen it, each time sending wild eggs for their grandson wasn’t few. How could the child not be strong?

A nearby old man heard, "Your son eats coarse grains so small? Wouldn’t he refuse to eat?"

Zhang Guoqing smiled without answering, speaking to Ping’an: "Son, tell this gentleman what you usually eat?" He knew saying more wouldn’t convince others; better let the little one speak.

Ping’an glanced at the old man, raised his little hand, counting fingers, "Corn porridge, sweet potato porridge..."

Uncle Chen stepped up, laughing and covering his small hand, "Alright, don’t keep counting. How does little you know so well? Let your dad take you to a restaurant for meat buns, huh?"

Ping’an shook his head, "No money left."

As soon as he said it, the crowd burst into laughter.

After the laughter subsided, someone teased him, "Your grandpa eats rice and meat buns every day. Ask him for tickets, and you can eat meat buns daily."

Ping’an didn’t wait for them to finish, giggled twice, and said, "Lies. My grandpa has no tickets. My mom said grandpa has no booklet, starved."

After saying it, he shook the supply book in his hand at them.

The people around were once again amused to laughter by him.

Everyone joked with Zhang Guoqing, "Xiao Wu, aren’t you afraid your wife teaching the child this way will have him accuse you of lying when he grows up?"

Zhang Guoqing laughed, "My father-in-law and mother-in-law have been eating at the unit canteen and truly have no book. These days, their meals quite resemble ours."

"Impossible! Such a big official eats so poorly?"

"Hey, if you don’t understand, don’t speak randomly. It’s not like the old days, everyone is equal now. There’s a real chance they eat the same as the common folk."

"So, being an official isn’t any good. Look at our local leaders, they’re just like us. Common folks have it better."

Listening to the crowd’s chatter, Zhang Guoqing glanced down, patting the child, a hint of a smile crossed his eyes. His father-in-law had indeed recently mentioned in a letter that there wasn’t much good to eat. He wasn’t exactly lying.

Seeing the discussion going astray, Mr. Zhang smiled and pointed ahead, "Quick, look there, is there a commotion?" With it, everyone’s focus shifted away, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

Soon someone ran over shouting, "No egg supply this month again. No need for everyone to go, it’s already dispersed there, nobody’s in line."

Upon hearing, people sighed immediately. Since New Year, there hadn’t been egg supplies, tickets are worthless; without them, people can avoid vain hopes.

Zhang Guoqing had foreseen this, hence hadn’t gone to the vegetable store today. He mulled over needing to go up the mountain, can’t live on storage forever. At this rate, long-term suffering is inevitable.

He now worried about the space being cluttered with too many boxes, even after squeezing it with Zhou Jiao, it occupies much space. Yet, no matter the value, survival supplies are paramount.

Seeing the grain store open, Ping’an pat his side, urging him forward.

Zhang Guoqing reluctantly moved ahead; by his turn, sure enough, not even brown rice was available, only sweet potato flour and cornmeal—coarse grains.

With rations in hand, he didn’t join the others’ discussions, instead, focused on grabbing his son and lifting dozens of pounds of rations to wait for Mr. Zhang at the processing spot.

At the processing spot, Zhou Jiao and Zhao Yuanyuan had been in line for quite some time. It was barely their turn, yet their family hadn’t arrived, having to let those behind go first.

Soon, she noticed many requested no husks removed, adding two cents for double milling. Alas... long-disappeared corn bits were back on the table. Zhou Jiao felt a scratch in her throat at the thought.

When Zhang Guoqing and others arrived, half an hour had passed.

Zhou Jiao seeing this, picked up the child to let them go ahead. As for whether their family needed follow suit, she wasn’t interested to check. Life was getting harder.

Turning over the supply book with tickets pasted on the back, she found many items for the month were unobtainable; she could only comfort herself, saving them as future mementos.

At Old Zhang’s home, household affairs were always led by Mother Zhang. This time, Mother Zhang decided without hesitation to mill with husks.

Zhang Guoqing listened, secretly sucking in a chill. He looked at Mr. Zhang in complaint; why did everything always get decided by his mother?

Mr. Zhang gave him a look of disapproval. This silly son, what did he know? Extra rations could be stored for emergencies. Didn’t he see the village canteen served only a single dry meal daily?

Nowadays, he and his wife eating public grain was something they felt endlessly grateful to heaven for. Yet still complaining would surely bring misfortune.

Zhang Guoqing, being glared at, chuckled. Oh well, with Eldest and Second Zhang eating, his family wouldn’t starve. These could be saved for later. According to his idea, he’d prefer to add wild greens rather than keep husks.

Wild greens, wild greens are indeed key. Looks like he must quickly bring his two brothers into the thickets. Who knew wild greens and grasses would become treasures?