Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 555 - 437: A Letter from Home

The entire school of teachers and students participated in the autumn harvest labor, to be exact, it was a rush to buy autumn vegetables. Now each unit is showcasing their abilities, trying to take the lead.

The school held a mobilization meeting, explained the severe situation, and began working day and night in the fields. The cafeteria in the school gradually built up walls of cabbages, stirring Zhou Jiao’s nostalgia for the Northeast.

She wondered if Mother Zhang had started pickling sauerkraut, started poking the chimney, or started preparing for winter?

The autumn harvest in the Northeast, the familiar sights of late October in Daqing Mountain, often appeared in her dreams, evoking her deep longing for her hometown.

Since entering school, Zhou Jiao had received quite a few letters. Only Mr. and Mother Zhang would often ask Zhang the Second to relay a word or two—either "we are doing very well" or "you be careful out there."

The deep affection compressed into the simplest one or two sentences, how can she assure them to calm their worries? Especially when many rural classmates started sending food and tickets back home, it really made Zhou Jiao anxious.

Zhou Jiao leaned against the chair, staring at the stationery on the desk. How can she persuade her in-laws to come over? Those kind and understanding parents might not know how things are at home.

"Jiao Jiao, Big Sis wrote to us." Zhang Guoqing came in, happily waving a stack of letters.

Zhou Jiao’s eyes lit up at the news; finally, Zhang Meili has replied.

Last month she suggested letting Zhang Guoqing write a letter to Big Sis to have her help in persuading them. After waiting for so long, there’s finally news. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Zhang Guoqing closed the door, put down the remaining letters, opened Zhang Meili’s letter, and poured out a thick stack of stationery that still faintly showed densely packed small characters.

Seeing this, Zhou Jiao couldn’t help but laugh - the frugal nature really hasn’t changed. She guessed Big Sis must have been pained by the postage and had everyone join together.

"Oh, big brother, second brother, and second sister, it’s all here. Look, there’s Xi Zi’s letter too."

Zhou Jiao eagerly said, "Read Big Sis’s letter first."

The couple leaned in head-to-head, finally finished reading, and exchanged a wry smile.

The letter by Zhang Chunming’s hand was filled with Mr. and Mother Zhang asking if they eat well at school? Should they send food over? They straightforwardly said there’s food and drink at home, ready to spend the winter, and never mentioned coming to Beijing.

This time, the couple unintentionally chose to read Xi Zi’s letter first.

Compared to adults, children are much more straightforward. The letter paper was clearly torn from a workbook, probably a spur-of-the-moment idea, with some handwriting corrections.

In the letter, Xi Zi first expressed how much he missed them, then narrated the Zhang Family Village happenings, and ended by reassuring them. He’s living with Mr. and Mother Zhang alone now. If grandpa and grandma go hungry, he would ask Zhao Dashan to help send a telegraph to Beijing.

Zhang Guoqing carefully savored the words, after a while, finally smiled with relief. The child really has grown up, knowing what we want to hear most.

Zhang Family Village has a respectful Old Captain, a blessing for the villagers. The cabbage harvest was plentiful, along with rice bran, radish tops, and cabbage roots, enough to last until spring next year.

This is good, this is good...

The ancestors of Zhang Family should thank the Old Captain for looking after their descendants.

Zhang Guoqing took a deep breath. He hoped the path he prepared for the villagers wouldn’t be needed, that would truly be a celebration across the land.

"We’ll go home for winter break! Back after the Little New Year."

Zhang Guoqing listened and smiled, nodding. He couldn’t afford others’ concerns but couldn’t leave the clansmen of Zhang Family Village, should go back and have a look. There are also his parents, and the following plans need careful consideration.

After reading the letters from two brothers and sisters, Zhang Guoqing curled his lips into a cold smile. Thankfully, he didn’t leave food in the village, they really searched the small courtyard at his village!

Just as Zhang the Second said, there really are a lot of rats in the dark! Zhang Guoqing indeed doesn’t believe these scumbags would dare come to his county courtyard. The documents clearly stated to investigate the countryside; if they dared to go to his county home, he would chop those people’s hands.

"Put all these letters away, don’t leave them outside."

Zhou Jiao nodded and leaned over to his ear, worryingly asked, "Do you think anyone will find the grain in the temple? As soon as spring starts next year, some might go up the mountain to find food."

Zhang Guoqing held her and murmured, "Ordinary people wouldn’t dare go up there. Who else has the strength to move that huge rock besides your husband?"

Zhou Jiao covered her mouth laughing silently, blinking, pointing at herself.

"Don’t worry, even if found, it’s just losing some rice bran and cornmeal. Only now, who would willingly eat these neck-choking things?"

Zhou Jiao smiled. Just because the couple looked down on it doesn’t mean it’s worthless. When she first arrived at Zhang Family, wasn’t cornmeal the main food?

"Alright, let’s stick to the original plan. Hopefully, they can endure it. If they ask for help in their letters, we’ll talk then. We just pretend we forgot."

Zhou Jiao nodded. Following the original plan, if the village really can’t endure, they’d have to play a show. Hopefully, they can endure so the couple won’t need any hassle.

After discussing, the couple decided to send back some food tickets, else Mr. and Mother Zhang would still worry and wouldn’t dare to consume the reserves. Besides, if they don’t send something back soon, rumors might start spreading.

In the class, there were a total of 52 classmates. Not only have rural classmates started to be frugal, even city classmates are saving food tickets for family. Luckily, Yi Jiefang and the others led upfront, otherwise, the couple would be scrutinized by everyone.

The couple hurriedly read the other letters, then began sitting down to write replies one by one.

Zhou Jiao paid special attention to her godmother Huang Hui Min’s letter. She didn’t believe at all her saying she’s doing well. Considering her godmother’s personality, if it was good, the parcels would have been sent long ago.

However, she just sent things during the holidays, and wasn’t planning to send more this time. The more given, the more loopholes there are. Compared to ordinary people, Zhao Family wouldn’t really be starved.

Near dinner time, Zhang Guoqing put down the pen, took two lunchboxes, and headed to the large dining hall. The two enamel bowls previously distributed by the school were long abandoned by him.

Returning home, Zhou Jiao took a look and, as expected, the red sorghum rice was topped with cabbages. With the cabbage wall, every meal these days had cabbages. But seeing everyone happy, even the cabbage soup in the iron barrel is late to reach. No choice, she had to take back to the dorm to eat.

Living in school was very inconvenient. If it weren’t for evening classes and meetings, Zhou Jiao would have definitely gone home by now. To sneak food to fill up, it always made her nervous — fearing the smell of meat giving them away, let alone wanting to eat other fragrant foods.

Heard in the front building, a female classmate brought back a small piece of pig head meat from home on Monday, and the whole building smelled the fragrance.

Zhou Jiao had privately discussed the authenticity of this matter with Zhang Guoqing. However, looking at the roast duck Wan Dayong brought back, it indeed smells miles away. Very authentic!

These days, the cafeteria had notices posted prohibiting cabbage theft. Initially, Zhou Jiao was dumbfounded, then soon thought it through. Cabbage is surely better tasting than wild vegetables.

Life is full of surprises. Last year at this moment everyone was carefree, this year, and today, is it remembered?