Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 658 - 534: Surveillance and Inside Information

Chapter 658: Chapter 534: Surveillance and Inside Information

Inside the basketball court, Zhang Guoqing checked the time, left the court, bid farewell to a few friends, and took Zhou Jiao and their son home. He took a shower, changed clothes, and then left the Big Courtyard. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

To supervise Zhou Xiaocun, he personally sent someone to keep an eye on Lin Liyin. At this moment, he could be seen riding his bike, zigzagging through the alleys of the mixed housing compound.

Around five or six in the afternoon, every household started cooking dinner. The smell of soy sauce and stewed dishes filled the air, wafting through the nostrils.

Accompanied by the fragrance were voices calling children back home for dinner. Soon, Zhang Guoqing rode his bike and stopped beside a public toilet.

"Hehe... Brother Xiao Wu, I’ve been waiting for a while, just about to find you. You wouldn’t believe how amusing today’s events were."

A dark-skinned, about twelve or thirteen-year-old boy darted out from the alley, grinning widely at the sight of Zhang Guoqing, eagerly speaking up.

Zhang Guoqing stopped him, noticing him holding his stomach, and said angrily, "Are you skipping meals again because of hunger? Is money saved this way? How are you going to raise your younger siblings if you carry on like this?"

"Brother, don’t be mad. I didn’t save money. I just ate before coming."

Zhang Guoqing didn’t say anything further, pushing his bike forward, "I’m famished, so let’s grab a bite to eat first. We can talk about those trivial matters later."

The dark-skinned boy followed him silently. Once at the restaurant, he saw Zhang Guoqing ordering meat dishes and stared at him wide-eyed, clutching his arm tightly.

Zhang Guoqing looked at him speechlessly, smiled at the impatient waiter, and handed over a ticket at the counter, "Don’t mind the kid, please hurry the chef."

After saying this, he whispered to the dark-skinned boy, "Stop causing trouble, be careful or I’ll smack you."

After paying, he took the boy to a corner, patting him on the head, "If you can’t finish, take the leftovers for Xiao Hui and the others. I have money, don’t worry about me starving."

"Tomorrow I’ll tell Sister Jiao Jiao you’re smirking at female comrades."

Zhang Guoqing laughed out loud. Silly kid!

The dark-skinned boy was actually fifteen years old, named Lei Tianming. He had a seven-year-old brother named Lei Tianliang and a three-year-old little sister named Lei Xiaohui.

Speaking of this child, he was truly pitiful. Nobody knew his origins. A nameless and homeless child of five or six years old, one day, unable to bear the cold, he ran to a woodpile near the Lei family to keep warm, and was discovered and adopted by the Lei couple.

The Lei couple were kind people. Even after the birth of their biological son, they never neglected him and always treated him as their own. A few years ago, the Lei family’s man had an accident and passed away, leaving behind a pregnant wife and young children.

Aunt Lei was so shocked by this event that she gave birth to a daughter, and almost lost her life due to massive blood loss. Her health deteriorated, making it impossible to do heavy work.

Thankfully, her workplace assigned her light duties, allowing her to rely on the supplied grain and a meager salary to survive in a single room in the mixed housing, struggling to support the entire family.

At twelve, Lei Tianming gave up school to help ease the family burden, collecting garbage and doing odd jobs for neighbors, while taking care of his younger siblings at home.

He thought he could hold on until he turned sixteen to become an apprentice, lightening his mom’s load, and improving the family’s situation. Unexpectedly, disaster struck this small family.

Two winters ago, subsisting only on rationed grain, the family of four was reduced to drinking a bowl of thin porridge daily. Baby Xiaohui, malnourished, developed edema, barely holding onto life.

Lei Tianming begged many people to no avail. Desperate, he went to the black market to sell things.

Selling what? His own blood.

A dark-skinned, bloodless child held up a sign with the neatly written words — "Selling Blood."

At that time, nobody paid attention to a child. After their clandestine trades, they quickly left.

Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao, after their own trade, overheard someone mumbling about a child selling blood to save his sister and took notice. But when they turned around to find the figure — there in the snow, Lei Tianming fainted, still holding up the "Selling Blood" sign.

Seeing this, Zhang Guoqing wept on the spot.

The couple hurriedly carried Lei Tianming to the hospital. After emergency treatment, the first thing he asked upon awakening was if the medicine could be saved for his sister.

Later, Zhang Guoqing and his wife took him back to the mixed housing compound, and after enquiring found out about the virtues of this family, especially Lei Tianming’s character, which made it hard for them to let go.

Helping this family, caring for such a child, they did it with genuine willingness. They suggested that Lei Tianming return to school, but unfortunately, it wasn’t possible.

This family’s self-esteem, especially Aunt Lei, was strong. Of course, from Zhou Jiao’s perspective, maybe Aunt Lei had her concerns, worried about the couple’s intentions towards the child. From this, it’s clear she was a great mother!

Besides necessities, she firmly refused to accept anything else. Once the food supply sufficed to fill their stomachs, she no longer wanted any aid.

Helplessly, Zhang Guoqing could only let Lei Tianming run errands, providing more food coupons and money as an excuse, and occasionally taking him somewhere to earn some extra cash.

When Zhang Guoqing thought about surveillance, he immediately decided to let him run errands. The child was clever, and he always listened when told not to go to remote places.

Halfway through the meal, Zhang Guoqing added food to his bowl and asked, "Next year, you’ll be sixteen. Are you going to the job your sister-in-law mentioned?"

Lei Tianming quietly replied, "I checked. It takes quite a bit of networking to get in there. I’d rather start as an apprentice at my dad’s factory."

Zhang Guoqing gave him a side glance, "Your brother is afraid of his wife. You go speak to your sister-in-law yourself."

Lei Tianming rolled his eyes with disdain, "I said she’s my Sister Jiao Jiao, must you insist on calling her sister-in-law? Let’s talk about this later. Don’t let Sister Jiao Jiao beg for anyone’s help, I don’t like it."

Zhang Guoqing chuckled heartily.

This silly kid! Gaining Zhou Jiao’s special attention was no easy feat. Over the past couple of years, they had helped many, yet only Lei Tianming made Zhou Jiao even consider his employment.

After dinner, Zhang Guoqing packed the leftover meat and buns into a container. The two left the restaurant and found a secluded spot.

Lei Tianming recounted how today Lin Liyin left the hospital and encountered Zhou Xiaocun. He got his buddy to follow Zhou Xiaocun while he followed Lin Liyin, narrating everything he saw.

After his account, the lad chuckled foolishly.

"Brother Xiao Wu, I think there’s something fishy here. That military officer left the courtyard with a stern face, spitting angrily along the way. Totally out of character."

"About ten minutes later, a female comrade came out, hair messy, eyes swollen, carrying luggage. She too looked furious, face twisted in anger."

Lei Tianming leaned in closer to Zhang Guoqing, laughing, "The funniest part was Lin Liyin. Once everyone left, she hugged a pile of bedsheets and threw them into the courtyard to wash. Midway through washing, she stomped back inside, instantly rode to the Big Courtyard again."

Zhang Guoqing slapped his forehead, "Little punk, don’t let your imagination run wild. Must have tired you out following her all the way on the bike?"

Lei Tianming laughed heartily, "Following from afar was no strain. I’m fifteen, these kinds of stories are tales the old ladies in the mixed compound often exchange. Who’s with whom, they could tell at a glance."

"Oh yeah, the man in the painting is staying at Chaoyang Guesthouse, room 107. Staying alone, pretty wealthy from the looks of it. Da Shuan told me when he came back, said he seemed pleased."

Zhang Guoqing nodded, "Okay, got it. Tell Da Shuan not to follow them anymore, and you stop too. It’s too dangerous! Let’s leave it at that. Tomorrow I have to go to the school with your sister-in-law. If you run into trouble, remember to find me at school. The dorm is still in the same old place."

After speaking, he reassured him once more, "I’ve found out everything needed. Be obedient, don’t follow them. What happens to them hereafter is none of our concern."

Lei Tianming nodded earnestly, "I understand. Don’t worry about it."

Zhang Guoqing smiled, ruffling his hair, "Hurry home, next week I’ll bring your Sister Jiao Jiao over to see Xiao Hui."

"You go on first."

"Alright. If something happens, remember to find me, don’t mess around with people."

After saying this, Zhang Guoqing handed him the bag containing the food box and quickly pedaled away. Otherwise, that silly kid would once more start pushing the contents of the bag back and forth.