Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 560 - 442: Arrival at the Hunting Grounds

After a bumpy ride, racing into the night under dark skies, they finally arrive at a military camp late at night. Upon disembarking, the faint sound of wolves howling can still be heard, somewhat taming the excitement of the group and restoring their calmness.

The weather on the grasslands at night is a bit chilly, so Zhou Jiao puts on a coat and follows everyone. Except for the campfire on the empty land ahead, there isn’t a soul around for ten miles, the darkness eerie and unsettling.

The rough road had the car shaking and rattling, making them feel like their bones might crumble. She moves her hands and feet and finds a spot close to the fire to sit down.

Inside, soldier brothers call out for everyone to come in and rest. She checks the time, stubbornly staying on the ground without blinking an eyelid. As it turns out, not only are she and her husband staying put, but many of their companions in high spirits are also gathered around the campfire, chatting away.

Most of the sleepy people leave, and soon Zhang Guoqing and a few others go inside to ask for some sweet potatoes and vegetables, surprisingly receiving a large piece of meat and quite a few meat bones.

They set up an iron pot over the campfire, and everyone washes the ingredients and throws them into the pot, adding water to stew them randomly.

They engage in idle banter, unable to take their eyes off the large pot in the center. After longing for so long, with anticipation and yearning, the fragrance finally spreads, making everyone stand up eagerly and gather around. Before long, the stew is snatched up, leaving only the bottom of the pot.

After sipping the scalding hot broth and eating a few pieces of meat and vegetables, a sudden wave of fatigue hits, and they each find a spot to lean on a companion and fall asleep.

Zhang Guoqing nudges Yi Jiefang. This guy is the smartest one, refusing to budge and not joining the others in the courtyard to sleep.

Yi Jiefang glances at a few people around him who are resting with their eyes closed, and whispers, "All set up; he’ll head home at dawn."

Zhou Jiao knowingly glances at them and closes her eyes again.

If she’s guessed correctly, that "he" should be their schoolmate, this time their guide. She heard that it’s best to wear a large local robe here; otherwise, you’d be mistaken for a refugee and driven away. Even wearing a military uniform could cause rejection from the locals.

Zhou Jiao doesn’t care about any of that; she brought a large bag containing equipment. She’s planning how to break away from the main group so she and her husband can act freely. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

The sky turns a dull light as the sound of snoring fills the air; Zhang Guoqing opens his eyes and sees Fang Fei and a few others quietly leaving, he chuckles and pats the sleeping Zhou Jiao next to him.

After a moment, he gently picks up his wife, heads out of the barracks, waves to the astonished sentry, and puts Zhou Jiao down. If she doesn’t wake up soon, he might be mistaken for a kidnapper.

Zhou Jiao groggily opens her eyes, quickly regaining clarity, and smiles sheepishly at the people, pulling Zhang Guoqing to leave.

"It’s dangerous outside; don’t go too far."

Zhang Guoqing nods with a smile and points to the small river ditch not far ahead.

In the gray mist, only his excellent eyesight can effortlessly discern it. The sentry feels more assured; he probably has been here before, so he doesn’t mind and walks away. Everyone has been young once, and these two clearly seem like they’re sneaking off to court under the guise of pretending to be lovers.

After walking a bit, Zhang Guoqing lifts Zhou Jiao onto his back and heads in the direction Fang Fei and the others have gone. He estimates that they definitely plan to leave the student kids behind and go hunting by themselves. If they stay in the camp, they’ll certainly be assigned to scare off a few wild chickens nearby, without ever glimpsing a large animal.

He doesn’t get too close, walking calmly with his wife on his back, trailing behind them from a distance. On his back, Zhou Jiao carries a bag of stones, clenching a medicine pack, eager to sweep through the place.

Gradually, as time passes, daylight begins to break, the mist dissipates, and the scenery unfolds like paintings—forests in the distance, endless grasslands, and rivers—leaving the couple in awe, realizing how little they’ve seen, as if heaven on earth.

A faint gunshot echoes from afar, and Zhang Guoqing lightly furrows his brow. In such places, one should use a bow and arrow; it is a form of respect for nature.

He immediately laughs self-mockingly. Indeed, he is naive; only those with secure food and clothing can afford the leisure to indulge, whereas hunger dictates a swift grasp of disappearing meat.

"They’ve already started over there; we’ll hang around here and join them later."

Zhou Jiao looks ahead, confused, nodding. He wouldn’t deceive her, "You decide."

Zhang Guoqing removes his backpack, takes out a large robe, "Put this on first; in case we encounter someone later, you handle the talking."

"See, you married the right wife, didn’t you? Am I a language genius or not?"

Zhang Guoqing puts on his coat, smiling beamingly at her. Though fluent in speech, her weak appearance gives her away, unable to disguise herself against others’ sharp eyes. She’s clearly frail, hardly embodying the strength of a nomadic people.

"Do you think I’m a Pure Red Banner or a Pure Yellow Banner?"

"Be careful not to get smacked by Dad."

Zhou Jiao sticks out her tongue. He really doesn’t know how to play, unable to banter along with jokes.

"Master, please mount this servant’s back, and I shall carry you across the plains."

Zhou Jiao scolds Little Wu with a straight face, "Little Wu, my life is entrusted to you; protect me well, and upon return to Beijing, you shall receive a generous reward."

"Yes, Master, please mount the horse."

Zhou Jiao mischievously pats his butt, swiftly climbs atop his back, laughing aloud.

"Master, I’m sincerely devoted to you; let’s elope."

"Approved!"

Listening to her joyful laughter, Zhang Guoqing joins in her mirthful amusement. His wife has been stifled for too long in Beijing; finally, his arrangements prove fruitful.

The couple finds a nearby river, casting nets several times, and the harvest is abundant enough, leaving the last net’s yield for their spatial pocket, intending to take back their prizes.

Thanks to Zhang Guoqing’s keen hearing and excellent vision, the two sacks holding hidden weapons—Little Stone—is skillfully thrown with precision.

Seeing the prey falling one after another, this moment leaves Zhou Jiao repeatedly impressed by his natural inclination as a hunter; if he didn’t hunt, it would truly waste his talents.

No antelope could move faster than the stone he casually throws, saving even the time to draw an arrow.

Carefully she follows behind him, her eyes shining brightly, observing his movements. Secretly, she’s considering practicing with a few stones herself when she has free time, though she feels too embarrassed to voice it.

Thinking fast, she calculates the force and speed, patiently training; someday she might hit the small creatures like wild chickens. Of course, she doesn’t dare speak these plans aloud.

After making rounds, Zhang Guoqing regrettably gazes at the distant forest. If his wife weren’t around, he would surely want to explore. That’s truly a treasure land!

"We’re not far from Fang Fei; should we go find them?"

Zhou Jiao looks around curiously. Where? Where are they?

Zhang Guoqing helplessly taps her forehead, stunned that she doubts his words.

"Let’s go. Hunting more doesn’t leave time for cleaning. We’ll go there first; I suspect they haven’t bagged much." It’s not boasting, but if he didn’t show up, those folks wouldn’t catch enough wild game even to fill a tooth gap.

Zhou Jiao hurriedly holds him back, "Let’s clean everything first; we won’t have a place to wash at home."

Zhang Guoqing shakes his head, "It’s dangerous here; at home, we can find any random wilderness for cleaning."

Obediently, Zhou Jiao nods, taking out the fishing nets and laying them on the ground.

"Forget it, pack everything up; I’ll carry you to catch up with them faster."

Zhou Jiao remains silent for a moment, feeling disregarded, doesn’t she? She casts him a sideways glance, taking out a new fishing net and putting it in her backpack. This cold-water fish, she defiantly needs to net; her dad loves fish.