Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 573 - 454: More Sentimental Than Anyone

Mother Zhang inadvertently caused a big mess; she couldn’t quite figure out her feelings. It was indeed a wild boar, and it was her youngest son who caught it.

Is it a pity? Definitely felt the pain of losing it. Any regrets? Seeing the old sisters in the village, who were so ashamed they couldn’t even look her in the eye, she quickly let it go.

——Forget it, let’s just consider it as my son doing a good deed.

Zhou Jiao noticed the situation, her eyes shifted with thought. To make her mother-in-law happy, she had to give away a wild boar for free. Otherwise, it would be bad if the elder held in her feelings and fell ill.

The Old Captain promised with a smile to give Mr. Zhang an extra share of meat at the end of the year, which made Zhang Guoqing laugh heartily. He had no intention of gaining anything in return when he offered the pig; having a share for his parents was enough.

After dinner, Zhou Jiao hurried home before the elderly couple, taking out a wild boar. She patted the boar with regret, full of meat.

In the dead of night, Mother Zhang finally saw her youngest son slaughter their own pig, happily watching and directing from the side, leaving Mr. Zhang speechless. Fortunately, there was still one left; otherwise, his wife would be thinking about it until the year-end.

"Xiao Wu, keep the pig head for your father to use during ancestral worship. Our family’s good fortune today is all thanks to our ancestors’ blessing, and they must continue to watch over you from above."

Zhang Guoqing gave his mother a thumbs-up with a smile. This made Mother Zhang extremely happy; she thought for a moment and then said, "And you must also bring more meat back to honor your father-in-law."

Hearing this, Zhou Jiao couldn’t help but laugh. How cute was her mother-in-law! Didn’t she think her dad’s contributions were no less than Old Zhang’s ancestors?

"Mom, this time I won’t bring any back. Cut some for my godfather and the rest is yours. Whoever you like, reward them with a piece of meat."

After hearing this, Mother Zhang patted Zhou Jiao, "Silly child, how much can your dad and I eat? Look around to see which families need New Year gifts and get them arranged."

Mr. Zhang chuckled on the side, "Don’t you two want to visit your uncle’s house? Just bring some meat tomorrow, and mention that you won’t visit during the New Year. Also send some to Zuo Lin and Dashan’s families; repaying some small favors."

Zhang Guoqing had no objections to his father’s arrangement. Letting go of a third of the meat for social obligations, and leaving the rest for Mother Zhang to handle. Every year she liked making some preserved meat to store away and feel at ease, so it was just to her liking.

The next day, the couple carried twenty pounds of meat and two military coats as New Year gifts to the two uncles’ homes. They deliberately went early in the morning and even visited their cafeteria.

Compared to Zhang Family Village, this place really was lacking in food and clothing. Fortunately, Mother Zhang would occasionally support her natal family. Otherwise, it was hard to imagine how the two uncles’ families, with over twenty people, would survive.

For the nephew’s couple’s visit, the two uncles were overjoyed. Seeing the things they brought, they repeatedly refused, continuously saying their elder sister, Mother Zhang, had already helped a lot and they really couldn’t accept more. Even the cousins gathered around showed guilt, insisting they take it back.

The two aunts each went back to their rooms, rummaging through cabinets, and found some boxes of pastries, insisting that the young couple eat them. The grandchildren standing by looked at the pastries with bright eyes, sucking their fingers, not daring to make a sound.

Faced with the genuine and sincere relatives, even the usually sociable Zhang Guoqing was at a loss for words. In the end, it was Zhou Jiao who opened the oiled paper and took out the pastries to share with the children, while also taking a piece for herself.

Noticing the relieved smiles of the two aunts in the corner of her eyes, she couldn’t help but feel a pang in her heart. She knew those in front of her were a bit uneasy in her presence, so even though the pastries were stale, she swallowed them regardless. No matter how bad, she had to swallow it, as it was all about the sentiment.

When they were about to leave, Zhou Jiao pondered for a moment but ultimately didn’t take out the food stamps. She planned to secretly leave more pocket money and food stamps for her mother-in-law in private, so the elder could support her family freely. No need to worry about her father-in-law or her two daughters-in-law and feel restricted.

Thinking of this, she applauded herself, she truly was the best daughter-in-law of the nation!

On the way home, Zhang Guoqing learned of her intentions and couldn’t help but laugh heartily as she praised herself. His wife had a peculiar habit across two lifetimes.

If someone asked for something directly, she wouldn’t give even a hair; conversely, for relatives who were bad at expressing themselves and always refused, she would find ways to give to them. Who said his wife was cold and unfeeling? Zhou Jiao was more sentimental than anyone!

Back in the county town, Mother Zhang had already dealt with the pig meat, leaving only a small portion, while salting and freezing the remaining two hundred pounds.

Watching each of the two elder brothers and sisters get only two pounds of meat, Zhou Jiao was speechless. It seemed Ping’an’s stinginess was inherited.

Elders have their own thoughts. Facing this, Zhou Jiao just smiled. As long as her mother-in-law was happy! But the meat for Zhao Dashan’s household was reduced by half at her discretion. Just as her mother-in-law said, nowadays, even three yuan can’t buy a pound of pork belly on the Black Market. Five pounds for one family, too much is not appropriate.

Similarly, the portion for her godfather Zhao Chuan Guang’s family was also drastically reduced. Twenty pounds for each family, and allocating to five families took up a hundred pounds. Finally, Zhang Guoqing packaged even the bones, barely squeezing out portions for the Huang Family and Mr. Zhao.

Enjoying the love and care from their parents at home, the couple was also extremely busy. With schools releasing students for vacation, some old classmates returned to their hometowns for the winter break, naturally initiating class reunions.

Despite the lack of resources, with just a large pot of hot tea, a big bag of sunflower seeds, and a large plate of frozen pears, everyone, who hadn’t met for half a year, found joy in each other’s company, sharing stories and anecdotes.

Li Qinglin, attending a prestigious university in Hai City, participated in an activity there and couldn’t return in time. This group had only this one representative in the far South, eager to hear stories from elsewhere; unfortunately, he still didn’t make it in time for the reunion, which was truly a pity.

Everyone promised to meet again next summer holiday. The idea was beautiful, but Zhou Jiao knew it was unlikely. Setting aside others, after this winter break, Zhang Guoqing would have no time to return to the Northeast.

As a student union cadre, with his influence and capability, once the next student union president graduates next year, he’s likely to be the successor. Adding in practical activities, he’ll be even more pressed for time.

And Zhao Yuanyuan and the others had to return to school early after the Lunar New Year for voluntary activities. Perhaps next summer holiday, they would have to participate in grassroots practical activities.

In her imagination of college life, besides professional courses, it was either ideological and educational meetings or farming, with little time for students to enjoy themselves.

Zhao Yuanyuan privately complained to Zhou Jiao that she shouldn’t have gone to college; if she had started working earlier, she could have earned a salary by now. Even if she wants to drop out now, it’s extremely difficult, not only considering her parents’ views but also avoiding the judgmental gazes of outsiders—one wrong move and dropping out would become a blemish on her record.

Zhou Jiao comfortingly patted her—this child had really matured a lot since leaving her parents’ embrace.