Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 537 - 420: It’s Good to Have a Dad

An unspoken battle in Beijing ended quietly before it even began.

Uncle Zhou, completely unaware, was in an exceptionally good mood these days.

As the couple’s acceptance letters arrived, their school friends also started receiving theirs. At this moment, old friends gathered in the courtyard, chatting about the future.

The most surprising were Zhao Yuanyuan and Zhao Hongbing, who were accepted into the financial and chemical engineering departments of a provincial city university, respectively. This made Zhao Dashan and his wife smile at everyone they met.

They didn’t care how their daughter filled out such a strange application. Having all three children go to university was Zhao Dashan’s lifelong wish.

Zhang Yuntao followed closely behind, becoming classmates with Zhao Yuanyuan in the finance department. Meanwhile, Li Qinglin achieved his dream of pursuing his aspirations in the South by being accepted into the literature department of Fuhua University in Southern S City.

Young people always want to accomplish something. Even Zhao Yuanyuan, who didn’t have much passion for the future, was changing. Of course, traveling was still her greatest interest.

In the living room, a few people sat together.

Seeing the conversation reach a pause, Zhao Yuanyuan raised her right hand and suggested that they decide where to travel before the start of the school term.

As soon as the suggestion was made, Uncle Zhou was all smiles, Zhao Hongbing was eager to go, Li Qinglin nodded repeatedly, Zhang Yuntao clapped and cheered, and they immediately began discussing where to go.

Zhang Guoqing didn’t really care about these things. These people had decent family situations, with parents supporting them, so they were well off. Meanwhile, everything they needed to handle and organize had been sorted; they could simply pack and head back to Beijing.

Delay in leaving also meant having more time to enjoy, climbing the mountains a few more times, and collecting as many resources as possible. Nowadays, beyond the hometown, where would you find wild vegetables to stave off hunger?

The heavy rains in July ultimately caused a few accidents, flooding many farmlands and collapsing many houses. Luckily, timely rescue efforts allowed the villagers to still harvest something.

A few years in college... always spending without an income, he couldn’t rely on his father-in-law for everything. They were now waiting for the cabbages, radishes, and tender corn in their backyard to grow.

Reality is laughably absurd. The moment when a piece of gold isn’t worth a meat bun eventually came. No one can understand Zhang Guoqing’s worries—it’s incredibly difficult to let his wife and children do as they please with his abilities alone.

"Then it’s settled. Xiao Wu, did you hear that? What are you thinking?"

Zhang Guoqing snapped back to reality after Zhao Yuanyuan’s shout, rolling his eyes at her. "There was just a flood last month, and now the entire county is being rebuilt. Why go there?"

Zhao Yuanyuan was stunned, looking at everyone. "Then where do you suggest we go?"

Where to go? Zhang Guoqing had plenty of places he wanted to visit, but for now, he couldn’t. He smiled, "No rush, there’s plenty of time, everyone think it over again."

"How about going to the seaside? There’s no flood over there."

Zhang Yuntao burst out laughing, pointing at Zhao Yuanyuan, "You go ahead. See where the typhoon blows you. Still want to go to the seaside now? Are you tired of living?"

"You’re asking for it!" Zhao Yuanyuan exclaimed, about to pounce on him with her fists.

Everyone watched the two lively characters causing a scene and laughed heartily.

Zhao Hongbing suddenly remembered something. He pulled Zhang Guoqing aside and asked, "Xiao Wu, isn’t my dad’s team heading to the grasslands? How about we go there?"

Zhang Guoqing nodded, "They’re probably leaving in the next couple of days. They’re taking a truck; we can’t go. We need to ask the uncle about it."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yuanyuan immediately stood up and ran outside, shouting, "I’ll go to my dad right away. He mentioned this morning about going on a business trip. That’s great!"

"Just ran off like that? Didn’t even ask if we wanted to go." Zhang Yuntao looked at everyone in disbelief.

Zhang Guoqing chuckled. Going with the unit people meant going directly to the horse ranch, but they might not want to take you. Although he was still an employee of the unit and could go, it wasn’t appropriate to propose taking his wife and son along.

Before his files were transferred to the university, he didn’t dare make bold moves. Otherwise, he would have already joined them on the grassland, riding horses and hunting wild oxen. How exciting that would be!

When Eldest Zhang and his wife, along with Zhang the Second and his wife, arrived, they happened to meet Zhao Yuanyuan coming back, informing everyone to set off with the truck at five in the morning.

The few friends, seeing the plans finalized, didn’t stay long. They exchanged a few quick words, leaving space for Zhang Guoqing to handle his family matters.

"Ping’an, why not leave him with mom for care?"

Zhang Guoqing glanced at Huang Cuilan, smiling as he shook his head, "No need. We’re going with the truck, and they’re all acquaintances who will prioritize taking care of the child." He then looked at the eldest and others, "You all came here for something, not working this afternoon?"

Zhang the Second pointed at the eldest, "Big brother doesn’t have to work this afternoon; he has something to discuss with us brothers. I’m late anyway, so it doesn’t matter." As for why the women followed, he wasn’t sure.

Huang Cuilan laughed, "I and Juhua are on the late shift today. We came by to see if there’s anything we can help with."

"I’m not here to help. I want to mooch some food." Lin Juhua said, laughing herself.

Zhou Jiao glanced at the cloth bags on the ground and nodded with a smile, "Mom and Dad will be back in the afternoon, just in time for the kids to come over. We’ll have a family dinner tonight."

Zhang Guoqing waited for their conversation to finish and looked at the eldest brother, "Eldest brother, is there something urgent? Is it related to the new job?"

Zhang Guofu chuckled, "Everyone at the job is familiar, who would cause trouble? Nothing’s wrong, it’s just that Mom and Dad want to live on their own, it makes me uneasy."

Zhang Guoqing looked at him speechlessly. Wasn’t this already discussed? Why is it being brought up again?

"Xiao Wu, Mom and Dad are living on their own. We aren’t nearby, what if something happens? I’ve thought about it for days. Anyway, I’m working here, the kids are all in school here. I want to move."

Zhang Guoqing glanced at Huang Cuilan and said with a smile, "Sure! Moving here would make it easier to care for Mom and Dad..."

"That’s not what I mean. I want to sell the yard over there and buy one here." Zhang Guofu hurriedly said before his brother could finish. That yard was bought by Uncle Zhou for his younger siblings, if he moves his family in, it’d be really shameless.

Zhang the Second added, "Eldest brother’s idea seems good. You see with the recent rains, your place is flooded every day. Discuss it with Mom and Dad tonight and see how Dad wants to arrange it."

Nearby, Zhou Jiao looked at Huang Cuilan.

"Mom and Dad aren’t used to living there, your eldest brother has been thinking about selling the house for a while. Sigh... I’m always messing around. Moving here would keep them close, and it’s easier to check on them."

Huang Cuilan’s words made everyone chuckle, leaving no one to reply. Whether sincere or not, it’s good to have this awareness.

Zhou Jiao was more inclined not to respond. Being close to the in-laws, Huang Cuilan only sees benefits with no downsides, anyone would make that choice. But she’s somewhat impressed by Eldest Zhang, selling the house as soon as a year is up.

Zhang Guofu looked at his two younger brothers and said, "These are small matters. While Mom and Dad aren’t here, shouldn’t the three of us re-discuss the retirement plans? During the separation, it was decided Mom and Dad are with me, so I didn’t mention how much food and money I should provide. Now that they want to live on their own, before they become immobile, I think we need to reallocate among us three brothers."

Zhang Guoqing burst into laughter upon hearing this. His eldest brother finally realized this. Whether giving more or less, it’s still for the parents. He doesn’t mind, but this awareness must be present.

Zhang the Second nodded repeatedly with a smile, "Xiao Wu and I will listen to you. You’re the eldest, you make the arrangements." He’s thought more about it than Zhang Guoqing. This suggestion definitely came from his eldest brother. A household shouldn’t listen to women’s random chatter. If a man can’t be the master of the house, is there any use standing to pee?

"There’s nothing much to arrange. Xiao Wu and his wife are in school, so they shouldn’t send money back for now. We can’t have Uncle Zhou support our parents. Second brother, with Mom and Dad living at Xiao Wu’s, how about we two cover the food and money?"

"No problem. It’s settled then. Xiao Wu shouldn’t send money back for the next few years. Mom and Dad have their own food supply; we won’t be able to supplement much. As for money, let’s keep it at five bucks a month, though privately, one can give more or less as they wish. Eldest brother, does that sound okay?"

Zhang Guoqing didn’t interrupt their discussion. He understands better than anyone the situation they’ll face next. Since they have the intention, he’s willing to help more.

After the two brothers settled it, Zhang the Second began to worry about Eldest Brother’s house being hard to sell. Since Eldest Brother made up his mind, he should take decisive action and make sure Eldest Brother doesn’t waver.

"Eldest Brother, with everyone’s food scarcity, is your yard selling well?"

Zhang Guofu laughed and said, "A colleague from the old job is getting married and wants to buy a house. We’ve agreed on three hundred bucks plus food. Now just waiting for Dad’s approval."

Zhou Jiao noticed Huang Cuilan’s surprised expression out of the corner of her eye and looked at Zhang Guoqing. Seeing his indifference, she didn’t speak up. Whether the yard’s sale is a loss or not, no one can say. Actually, selling earlier could’ve fetched a higher price. By year’s end, two or three hundred pounds of cornmeal might exchange for a yard.

Zhang Guoqing certainly noticed her look. But when it comes to money, it’s better to meddle less. He also didn’t ask how much food was being exchanged. Nowadays, brown rice on the Black Market is a buck a pound. Even if that person works at a grain store, they likely can’t take much grain.

At dinner, the whole family gathered. At the dining table, Mr. Zhang listened to the details and immediately told his eldest son to hurry up and settle the deal, even specifically instructing Eldest Zhang to ask for more food.

The old ginger is spicier. Watching Zhang Guofu leave, Mr. Zhang didn’t explain to his wife. This year’s autumn harvest is already tough, definitely won’t last till next April or May. Saying there’s grain returns, who knows how much they’ll give.

When people aren’t eating, nothing is valuable. He still remembers back in the days, a bag of sweet potato dried could exchange for a young maiden. During those years, people were desperate, who would buy a yard?

Mr. Zhang drank his wine absent-mindedly, recalling the sour remarks Eldest Brother said today, he glanced at his youngest son. Indeed, he and his wife are truly lucky. Nobody’s son is as shrewd as theirs, moving household registrations and secretly stashing grain. He and his wife have no worries about food and drink, can leisurely enjoy a small glass from time to time.

Over an hour later, Zhang Guofu returned with a beaming smile.

Seeing this, Mr. Zhang knew it worked out. He couldn’t help but ask for details and quickly told the kids to eat first. The ensuing matters are not urgent but still need him to step in personally.

Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao exchanged a glance and smiled.

See, having a father is great! With his father around, many things don’t require his worry. All he needs is to keep the elders fed and clothed, and have some spare change in hand.