Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 605 - 484: Desolate Autumn

In the autumn of 1960, the new semester began with some new changes.

Zhou Jiao still remembered her first day of school, the cafeteria had dense white steamed buns, and with the first bite, she choked and had to gulp down a big mouthful of vegetable soup.

At this moment, looking at the murky water with floating green leaves and holding two black lumps, she signaled Zhang Guoqing with her eyes before carrying the food out.

This autumn was especially bleak, with continuous floods and droughts appearing all over, causing crops to reduce in yield and income. Therefore, Zhou Jiao had no objections to the food in her hands but didn’t mean she had to swallow it.

In the dormitory, Zhang Guoqing left two black lumps, and whispered to the surprised Zhou Jiao: "I’ll try the taste, in case someone asks and I get confused."

Zhou Jiao thought he made sense, but there was no need to foolishly bite into two. She broke one black lump in half and stored the rest.

This grain might still be useful, not a bit can be wasted.

"We share happiness and hardships together."

She took a bite first, not knowing what was mixed inside, it was both bitter and astringent. She quickly drank a mouthful of egg soup. Finally swallowed it down.

"It’s even weirder than mom’s corn mash nests."

Zhang Guoqing took it in hand, bit a large mouthful, and laughed: "All good stuff here. No chance of high blood pressure or cholesterol."

Zhou Jiao tenderly fed him soup.

After drinking two big mouthfuls, Zhang Guoqing stuck out his tongue and said softly: "In a few days, this thing will be for farm work sure enough. For now, we have to find a way to prepare more similarly colored vegetables lumps and nests at home. Best to make even the pancakes look unappealing. That way when more people gather to eat, it won’t easily attract attention."

Zhou Jiao nodded knowingly.

"Let’s take half for our son to try, so he knows what everyone else is eating outside."

Zhou Jiao smiled knowingly upon hearing this. It was clear he wouldn’t really do it.

After the meal, Zhou Jiao urged him to brush his teeth quickly. Since Yi Jiefang said that he could detect a meaty smell from his brother’s burp, Zhou Jiao had been extra cautious.

Thinking of the counselor’s notification for another meeting tonight made her subconsciously frown; she didn’t know what was up right after school started again.

"What’s wrong? Need to ask for leave tonight?" Zhang Guoqing unexpectedly thought she was uncomfortable, touched her forehead, and tried to smooth the furrow.

"Just remembered the meeting tonight, probably not good news."

"When the soldier comes, we block; when the water comes, we cover. Why worry, it’s either farm work or education class."

Unfortunately, Zhang Guoqing guessed wrong this time.

Counselor Xiao Wu stood at the blackboard, first passionately recounting the current good situation, then earnestly talked about the difficulties faced in the short term, hoping to overcome the difficulties with the compatriots.

Finally, he mentioned that to support the disaster areas, the school reduced rations from one pound per person per day to eight ounces, and for girls, six ounces. He hoped everyone would work together to create a better society.

"The difficulties are temporary, the motherland nurtured us, and hopes classmates will offer a hand of love, actively participating in this event."

Zhou Jiao inwardly sneered at the notion of temporary difficulties. But as the saying goes, one has to bow under the eaves. She consoled herself that after eating for free for so long, leaving some in return wasn’t bad. Especially since in her previous life, she had to work to earn tuition and living expenses.

Self-deception comforted Zhou Jiao somewhat. But other students didn’t think so. Not to mention young people who couldn’t fill their stomachs, for those who often supplemented the family, it was undoubtedly adding insult to injury.

The dishes were already devoid of any oily essence, every day it was clear soup with sparse leaves, the staple food added all kinds of wild vegetables, and grains in the porridge could be counted. Such difficulty wasn’t ordinary, now even morning exercises, people dared not engage in, just one pee emptied their bellies, barely able to run.

But what could be done? Complain to the school? Even the old professors had to have their portions reduced. Complain to the top? No one dared to protest.

A few days later, the school sent all teachers and students to rural farms for support agriculture.

With the experience of filling up last time, everyone was active, as long as they could eat their fill no matter how tired.

That day, they gleefully walked to their destination. Upon seeing the sparse crops, malnourished cabbages, and worm-eaten radishes, they felt a chill in their hearts.

Another month would be the harvest season. Could these really grow big?

Zhou Jiao chewed on an improved black lump, looking sorrowfully at the distance. She barely managed to grow cabbages once, probably it was the same, yellow in the fields.

If it weren’t for the bad timing, she really wanted to sing a song—Little Chinese cabbage, yellow in the field.

Zhang Guoqing muttered softly, "Also wonder how the old home is doing."

How?

"Just tough it out. Third Grandpa is suffering."

For a moment, the couple fell into silence.

While doing farm work, Zhou Jiao glanced at the rice husks in the space inside, seemed these really must be cherished.

After working for two days, the farm work shorter than expected, everyone returned to school in low spirits.

It wasn’t that people didn’t work, but there wasn’t much to do, and the disproportion between effort and reward frightened a group of honest people.

From the day they returned to school, many things changed. The atmosphere in the classroom became low, lifeless, teachers listlessly lecturing above, students slumped on their desks daydreaming.

Faced with these circumstances, Zhang Guoqing couldn’t do much. Even attending as much as he could, he was setting a good example. It was said that several neighboring universities had students simply skipping classes lying in their dorms, even the academic affairs office couldn’t help.

He wasn’t Ultraman, couldn’t save the world.

The couple also dared not run home whenever they had free time, maintaining a pace of going twice a week with Yi Jiefang and others, only at home could they breathe freely.

Before long, a letter from Zhao Yuanyuan hit Zhou Jiao like a bolt from the blue—a farm near the provincial city was robbed by disaster victims, with numerous casualties.

"Brother, quickly send a telegram to Dad and Mom, have them stay at Brother’s place, they mustn’t live alone anymore, it’s too dangerous."

Remembering those doomsday farming stories she read in the past, Zhou Jiao’s goosebumps stood on end.

Zhang Guoqing saw her pale face, didn’t care to read the letter first, quickly took her in his arms, "Don’t be afraid, if the sky falls, I’ll hold it up."

He said, then took the letter and read it quickly, inwardly cursing Zhao Yuanyuan for adding all kinds of words, really reckless.

"Look at the time. The date at the end of the letter and the date of the stamp differ by several days. Brother certainly knows, he didn’t tell us to avoid worrying us. Preparations must already be made."

"Better go send the telegram first."

"Burn this letter. I also need to write a letter reminding Uncle Dashan. If Zhao Yuanyuan continues this recklessness, she will overstep someday. Dare to say anything in a letter. If it fell into the hands of outsiders, she’d be in trouble."

Regaining her senses, Zhou Jiao also frowned, it seems she needs to watch over Zhao Yuanyuan in the future. This world won’t tolerate innocence.

"No need, I’ll write off the record to godfather, have him find time to talk to Uncle Dashan himself. That way, Uncle Dashan will take notice."

Zhang Guoqing knew Zhou Jiao always thought more thoroughly than him in everything, nodded, "Then I’ll send the telegram first. But I guess Dad and Mom won’t agree."

"No worries, I’ll ask godfather to help persuade Dad and Mom for me. What’s all this stuff worth anyway."