Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 598 - 477: The Crew Heads to the Northeast (Part 3)

Chapter 598: Chapter 477: The Crew Heads to the Northeast (Part 3)

The four people in the living room were tired from playing and lay on the kang, panting and looking at each other, then burst into laughter.

"Xiao Wu, you’re really lucky! There’s nothing worrying at home or outside."

"You’re talking as if it’s difficult for you." After saying that, Zhang Guoqing didn’t want to discuss this further. "Do you guys want to rest for a while?"

"I’m not tired. How about you guys?" Yi Jiefang saw them all shaking their heads and looked at Zhang Guoqing, "What should we do next?"

"How about I take you guys out for a walk?"

Yi Jiefang looked at Wan Dayong and the others, "How about we head to the countryside now?"

Geng Dazhi hesitated and said, "If we go now, we can’t hunt. Wouldn’t it be too late?"

After discussing, the three decided to go to the countryside right away, and early in the morning, they could go up the mountain. They came all this way to hunt, why stay indoors?

Zhang Guoqing didn’t oppose. Actually, they’re more at ease in the village. He asked them to wait for a while. He needed to find a horse carriage to bring some things back.

When he returned, Li Qinglin, Zhang Yuntao, and the Zhao siblings were already gathered in the living room, chatting and laughing with Yi Jiefang.

Zhang Guoqing listened for a while and then entered, rolling his eyes at them—how rude, using him and his spouse as a topic for amusement.

"Xiao Wu, let’s go together."

Zhao Yuanyuan saw him and shouted joyfully.

"You need to make a trip and inform Uncle. Do we need to arrange a car to the grassland in the coming days?" Zhang Guoqing, hearing about a shortage in county supplies on the way, had a bright idea, shouldn’t there be available manpower now?

Zhao Yuanyuan’s eyes lit up upon hearing this, "Isn’t that festival happening in the next few days? I’ll go right away. You guys better wait for me, don’t leave me behind."

Yi Jiefang hadn’t managed to ask what she meant before she ran off, leaving him confused and asking everyone, "What’s going on, tell me."

Everyone turned their heads towards Zhang Guoqing in unison.

He smiled helplessly, "We went there once before. It’s near the cavalry camp in the paper map of Dayong. Every year, there’s a horse racing festival around this time."

"During the festival, there are open markets from minority groups."

Yi Jiefang was delighted upon hearing Zhang Guoqing and his spouse’s explanation, expressing that they came at the right time. After that, he kicked him hard, thinking if they hadn’t come, they would’ve missed the chance.

Zhang Guoqing quickly dodged, avoiding the kick.

Geng Dazhi hastily shouted, "Don’t damage it, we’ll need it tomorrow."

Everyone burst into laughter upon hearing this.

Zhao Yuanyuan ran back saying Zhao Dashan asked Zhang Guoqing to wait for a message, realizing this plan would probably work. Since he brought them back, he planned to have a good time. School days meant grinding through life again soon.

A group of people crowded into the village, and under the North Mountain Foot, things turned lively immediately. Zhang Guoqing specifically explained to the Old Captain that they wouldn’t eat in the canteen during these two days.

The Old Captain felt embarrassed, as if it were previous years, he would’ve treated them to a meal at home. Now, he just let them know to call if anything came up in the village.

These folks knew how to have fun, rushing to the river by the village entrance without Zhang Guoqing’s guidance. If it weren’t for the drought, leaving only a thin layer of water, they might’ve jumped in to swim.

Even like this, they managed to scoop up a large plate of river snails, loaches, and eels while digging in the mud and fields.

Meanwhile, for ensuring safety the next day, Zhang Guoqing explored the mountain paths, bringing back some wild rabbits and pheasants, splitting them and directly sent half to the village canteen.

Come nightfall, lighting mosquito-repellent herbs, a few people in the yard barbecued, stewed meat, and made soup, fulfilling their cravings. Hearing his parents were going to Beijing for a trip, Zhang Guoqing excitedly brought out the wine he took home this time, letting everyone drink to their heart’s content.

The revelry lasted deeply into the night, and the next morning, Zhang Guoqing didn’t wake them—sleeping late was expected. They were still chatting at dawn, so getting up was unlikely.

After sunrise, everyone got up to wash up, quickly drank porridge, and clamored to hurry into the mountains, afraid they might miss out on some game.

On this day, Zhang Guoqing wasn’t planning to go home for meals. He suggested everyone take cast-iron pots, lunch boxes, rice, and coarse grains to the mountains for a picnic, making them eager to tug him on their way.

With Zhang Guoqing leading, the group sneaked up the mountain.

Daqing Mountain had been harvested by nearby villagers in recent years, reducing many trees on the outskirts, never restoring the lushness of earlier years, but likewise expanding many safe areas.

Along the route to the cabin, as they journeyed further in, the trees increased, and the ground began to flourish with weeds, with bushes appearing in the valleys and ravines.

At this moment, Zhang Guoqing was grateful the wolves hadn’t been exterminated, otherwise, Daqing Mountain might have turned into Great Wilderness Mountain. Occasionally hearing a howl at night could deter overexploitation.

Upon reaching midway up the mountain, they rested for a while. Zhou Jiao handed out medicinal pouches to everyone, reminding them to be cautious. The smooth journey was thanks to Zhang Guoqing clearing away venomous snakes upfront.

If anyone else led, Zhou Jiao wouldn’t dare go up the mountains. A few years back, she’d provided many salves and antidotes to the village, realizing the mountain posed many dangers.

Watching Zhao Yuanyuan chatter nonstop, Zhang Guoqing felt incredibly headache-inducing. Did she really think they were going for a picnic? That screeching also didn’t scare her of attracting wolves.

Fortunately, he still had Zhou Jiao as a helper, or else he might’ve abandoned them.

Safely arriving at the cabin, Zhang Guoqing vowed he wouldn’t take them deeper into the woods this time. Compared to friends from the county, Yi Jiefang’s trio’s skills far exceeded the norm.

Over here, Zhou Jiao guided Zhao Yuanyuan and the others in cooking and preparing meals, while Zhang Guoqing, Yi Jiefang, and the other three took out hunting rifles, then set off.

Zhang Guoqing was cautious enough not to take chances; inviting guests over, they couldn’t return injured. They took a big loop, hunting some small game, and planned to hunt again after lunch.

Perhaps the animals on the mountain didn’t expect Zhang Budao to come again today. On the way back, hearing noises in a forest, Zhang Guoqing was thrilled, finally securing more meat.

Quietly sneaking near, without much effort from Zhang Guoqing, they brought back two shot-down wild deer. As for the other escaping game, they didn’t pursue.

The day’s harvest left the three grinning, barely able to utter a word, with little attention for anything else.

Carrying and hauling, hungry, they nibbled on dry rations, reaching the cabin by the afternoon and blandly ate some meals, ignoring resting, as busy as ever.

Without needing to avoid outsiders on the mountain this day, the group fully indulged. Roasting, stewing wild chicken, rabbits, deer meat along with preserved wild fruits and wild watermelon filled them to the point of immobility.

This led to either sleepless nights with venison bloating or frequent visits to the outhouse upon returning to the village. Fortunately, Zhou Jiao’s medicine was ready.

Zhang Guoqing shook his head repeatedly. He saved the deer blood and other things to take back to Beijing, fearing they couldn’t handle it. At dawn, each with a bowl of rice porridge, thinking everyone’s appetite for meat wouldn’t return for another two or three days.

But... who would tell him why these folks sprang back energetically still clamoring for meat?

For three days, this playful bunch wheezed around the village, either helping harvest melons or digging loaches in the fields, leading the village kids to babble "big brother" with greasy lips. Receiving Zhao Dashan’s message soon saw them amply pleased.