Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 528 - 411: Giving Up the Recommendation

A frost hit, with notices from various units in place. Zhang Guoqing shouldered his luggage and followed his colleagues to the countryside to support agriculture.

In the countryside, they were busy replanting, and Zhou Jiao, along with her son, was also busy replanting. This time, to ensure Ping’an wouldn’t be disappointed. She covered the soil stove with ash and straw mats, and the mother and son had a blast playing together.

Zhao Chuan Guang came over and saw Zhou Jiao and her son with mud on their faces and dirt on their hands, looking like two mischievous little devils. This completely turned Zhou Jiao’s image in the couple’s mind upside down, making them laugh endlessly.

This time Zhao Chuan Guang and his partner came not during the weekend, and Zhou Jiao was really puzzled. She hurriedly cleaned herself and the child and returned to the living room.

In the living room, Huang Hui Min put down the bag in her hand, looked around for a while, and nodded with satisfaction. Seeing that the child knew how to manage daily life, she felt relieved.

Zhao Chuan Guang, upon seeing Zhou Jiao bring the child in, took Ping’an and played with him for a while.

Then he started discussing serious matters.

This time, the couple came to the county mainly for Zhang Guoqing.

Zhou Jiao didn’t know what was so urgent that they couldn’t wait for the weekend and had to take leave to come over. She brewed some tea for them and let Ping’an play on the kang (a heated brick bed).

Zhao Chuan Guang, with a smile, hinted to her that Zhang Guoqing could skip the college entrance exams with a direct recommendation.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Jiao understood. She and Zhang Guoqing had already discussed this privately. The recommendation quota for outstanding workers from the grassroots indeed existed at the unit. However, they hadn’t planned on applying for it. Being recommended by the unit meant returning to the place of origin in the future. Just this point had already made them dismiss the idea.

Currently, Zhao Dashan hadn’t reminded Zhang Guoqing about it. However, it wouldn’t matter whether he mentioned it or not. From various aspects, Zhang Guoqing, who hadn’t worked for long, was not the right candidate for this spot. He might as well let Zhao Dashan handle it well.

Zhou Jiao told Zhao Chuan Guang that they had been aware of the recommendation document since the year before last. However, they had still decided to take exams themselves. She wanted the two of them to get admitted honorably.

Hearing this, Zhao Chuan Guang rolled his eyes. Indeed, as Zhou Xiaozheng said, there was no need to persuade them any further, and they might as well let the couple take the exams. Wasn’t he just worried about any unexpected events?

This made Huang Hui Min laugh heartily.

Yet, Zhao Chuan Guang was still uneasy and asked Zhou Jiao again and again how they were studying and if they should go to a provincial city school to review for a few months? If they gave up the recommendation and still couldn’t pass, they would have to wait until next year.

Facing her godfather and godmother, Zhou Jiao had nothing to hide. She shared her plan with them. By May, the school would have a class targeting the college entrance exams, at which point Zhang Guoqing would take a leave to prepare for the exams. The two of them had already made arrangements with the old principal; when the time came, they would return to school immediately.

Zhao Chuan Guang, knowing that the couple had their plans in place, was much more at ease. This time, the two family elders had asked him to persuade Zhang Guoqing to apply to a military academy and Zhou Jiao to a military medical school. After thinking about it, he still felt it was unnecessary.

As his Brother Zheng said, during university, let the children follow their hearts and plans, and wait to discuss job assignments in the future. He agreed with this idea. If Zhou Jiao went to a military school, how would her small frame handle it, especially if she couldn’t even take care of the child? However, he didn’t plan on telling the children. Everything depended on which university they would eventually get into.

After sitting for less than an hour, Zhao Chuan Guang and his wife hurried back to the provincial city for work. They left behind a bag of white flour and pastries, not even staying for lunch, and happily left with the tea leaves Zhou Jiao had given them.

Zhou Jiao knew they truly regarded her as their own daughter. They would bring over a bit of whatever nice thing they had. Last time Zhang Guoqing had sent some game and ginseng over, Huang Hui Min had scolded her for a long time until Zhang Guoqing promised not to climb the mountain again. Even Mother Zhang often mentioned how Zhao Chuan Guang and his wife treated them like their own son and daughter.

Facing a bag full of food, Zhou Jiao could only accept. Sometimes refusing would hurt their feelings. Was her father’s comment that "owing a favor is a strategy" referring to this?

Zhang Guoqing had been away in the countryside for half a month, apart from a hasty return to say a few words; she hadn’t seen him. If it weren’t for Zhao Yuanyuan saying that Zhao Dashan hadn’t come home either, Zhou Jiao would have gone to the countryside to find her husband.

Missing a man in the house, Zhou Jiao stayed home with Ping’an, only going out when necessary. Even though public security was good these days, people’s hearts were unpredictable. What if someone targeted her home? She dared not be careless.

The days rolled on like this. Every day, Zhou Jiao and her son would lock the door early after dark and stay inside the bedroom without going anywhere.

One evening after dinner, Zhou Jiao’s heart started pounding. She suspected that Zhang Guoqing was back; her father had just written saying he was swamped and couldn’t return to the Northeast for Qingming.

Hastily, she held Ping’an and stood by the courtyard gate, listening to the outside sounds.

From afar came a familiar set of footsteps, "Wife... Son... Open the door quickly. It’s me, I’m back."

Zhou Jiao quickly took down the latch, "How did you know we were by the door?" she asked, seeing him smile and pointing to his ear, she couldn’t help but laugh dumbly.

"Daddy, hug."

A weary Zhang Guoqing sniffed himself and pulled a face, "Wait until Daddy takes a bath to hug Ping’an. Daddy suspects there are fleas on me. Jiao Jiao, I need to go to the bathhouse first, help me get a change of clothes."

Before he finished talking, Zhou Jiao put Ping’an down and dashed into the house. When she came out, she handed him a change of clothes and two sticky bean buns, "Have these first to fill your stomach. Don’t wash the clothes; bring them back for me to handle."

"Okay, wait for me. I’ll be back soon."

Zhang Guoqing clutched the bag and carried the basket, rushing to the bathhouse only to see Zhao Dashan and Zuo Lin waving at him, prompting him to quicken his pace, "Uncles, how come you connected so fast after only a little while?"

Zhao Dashan laughed, "We’ve returned, and your Uncle Zuo has also completed his task and come back. The bathhouse is full of people from our respective units soaking in the bath."

Zuo Lin looked Zhang Guoqing over and praised, "You’ve lost weight, did well this time. Have your wife make you something good to eat to replenish you these next two days."

Zhang Guoqing chuckled gleefully.

"What are you giggling about? What’s good to eat at home? Finish your bath and take us back to drink." Zhao Dashan knew there was no shortage of meat at Zhang Guoqing’s house. Last time, he was invited over to have a drink, and they still had wine! The heavens won’t let this kid go hungry.

Zhang Guoqing followed them into the bathhouse, laughing, "Even if there’s nothing to eat, something will be whipped up. Add on the wine my father-in-law has brought back, no problem, right?"

"You’re good at hiding things. You don’t even like drinking, why keep all that wine? Alright, enough talk. Remember to give me and your Uncle Zuo two bottles later tonight after eating."

Once inside, knowing more people, some words were left unsaid. Zhang Guoqing also saw his second brother in the bathhouse, who had also lost weight. Truly giving his all!

After the bath, Zuo Lin, Zhao Dashan, and Zhang the Second accompanied Zhang Guoqing back home.

Seeing him make a gesture, Zhou Jiao prepared drinks and food in the kitchen, bringing them out when they started drinking, and then quietly went back to the living room with the child. Grateful for the spring use of the kitchen, she would have been uncomfortable if they had been drinking in the living room in the middle of winter.

Neither Zhao Dashan nor the others were polite with the young couple, knowing they might be short on grains but not on meat.

Halfway through the drinks, Zhao Dashan brought up the recommendation spot, asking if Zhang Guoqing wanted to reconsider. Even though this spot was of no particular use to Zhang Guoqing, he felt it was worth asking again.

Zhang Guoqing expressed his gratitude again but declined.

Zuo Lin nodded approvingly. The recommended spot was likely at a school in the Northeast, which was unsuitable for Zhang Guoqing. Better to show generosity and favor colleagues instead.

Zuo Lin, however, was interested in how the young couple would fill in their college application forms. Remembering something his eldest son said, he gave Zhang Guoqing a ponderous look.

Zhang Guoqing pretended not to notice. Right now, he just wanted to focus on passing the exams. Whatever the elder’s thoughts, his father-in-law could handle it. The future can wait for the future to deal with.