Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 797 - 671: Almost Couldn’t Leave

Since that day, Zhou Jiao relied on a few little girls to get to know their mothers and purchase a batch of mountain goods and local specialties from those elder ladies.

Eventually, one family introduced another, and soon many people handed over the eggs they had stored at home to Zhou Jiao. After all, going to the county town wasted too much time earning work points, and plus Zhou Jiao offered one cent more per egg than the purchasing station, making them eager to spread the word to their neighbors to come quickly.

During the process, Zhou Jiao didn’t even leave this village once, and even for lunch, a warm-hearted elder lady brought her a bowl of corn porridge and two large pancakes to fill her stomach.

As it approached five in the afternoon, and seeing more and more baskets and sacks lining the roadside, Zhou Jiao almost cried out. Truly, one reaps what one sows! How would she take everything back? In broad daylight, she couldn’t just use magic to make everything disappear!

She had gravely underestimated how much stock a village of over two thousand people could have. Nonetheless, people kept delivering goods without stopping. Adopting a "don’t care anymore" attitude, Zhou Jiao simply accepted everything, happily using the borrowed large scale to weigh and settle payments.

As for how to take everything back, she didn’t want to think about it anymore. Since Lin Quan’s village was far away in both directions, north and south, she could only wait until it got dark to take action.

Leaning against a big tree, Zhou Jiao continued purchasing while sneakily putting some items into her space whenever people left, otherwise, she suspected that by nightfall, a single vehicle couldn’t take everything away.

After six in the evening, the sun set, but a streak of red still lingered in the sky. The fields along the roads began to clear as commune members finished their work and headed home for dinner.

Zhou Jiao then received another wave of customers. This group of elder ladies seemed to be from the neighboring village, and they came bustling in. Once Zhou Jiao had weighed everything and handed over the money, and saw them off, the sky gradually darkened.

About ten minutes later, when it was truly dark and Zhou Jiao saw no one around, she immediately released her vehicle, quickly loaded all the goods into her space, stepped on the gas, and raced away.

She understood all too well that it wouldn’t be long after dinner before villagers would again go out for a stroll to cool off and catch some fun, making it truly impossible for her to leave then.

But leaving like that, as the sound of the car engine arose, many had been pre-informed by her that a car would come to pick her up, misleading them under the cover of darkness, which reduced the risk.

With a hurried heart, Zhou Jiao pressed the gas pedal all the way to near Lin Quan’s village, only then getting out of the car, carrying a basket of about twenty eggs, and quickly headed towards the Lin Family with a bundle of fabric under her arm.

Before reaching the Lin Family, from afar, a figure holding a torch shouted, "Is that Jiao Jiao?"

Upon hearing Aunt Lin’s voice, Zhou Jiao replied hurriedly.

Aunt Lin quickly ran up to her, "Where did you go? You nearly scared me to death. I would have accompanied you during the day had I known. Oh dear, I almost wanted to end myself as an apology."

Zhou Jiao, embarrassed, said, "I lost my way on the way back. Couldn’t find a car the entire way. Auntie, I’m sorry for making you worry."

"Ah... I guessed as much. Luckily the men haven’t returned yet, otherwise, it would have caused a big ruckus."

As Zhou Jiao walked with her towards the house, she raised her eyebrows in surprise; Zhang Guoqing actually left her alone in a stranger’s home? How strange!

"Auntie, didn’t Uncle go up the mountain with them?"

Aunt Lin scooped a dipper of water into a basin, "Quickly wash your face, let’s eat first. Don’t mention your uncle; that old man is nearly as old as my eldest. Before I returned, he left a note saying he went up the mountain to find them. Told us not to worry at home."

Zhou Jiao secretly chuckled. No wonder Zhang Guoqing was at ease leaving me in a stranger’s home! 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

In the outer room, Aunt Lin served up three plates of meat dishes and a soup, along with over ten large pancakes.

Zhou Jiao instinctively glanced around the left and right rooms.

Aunt Lin, noticing, chuckled, "Tonight it’s just the two of us. Are you scared? Want to sleep with Aunt?"

Zhou Jiao shook her head, "With just the two of us, how come you made so much food? Auntie, you’re too kind, I feel embarrassed to pick up my chopsticks."

"Silly girl, I need to eat too, right? You’ve been starving all day, hurry and eat, have an early rest. Those folks who went up the mountain won’t be back until early tomorrow at the soonest."

Zhou Jiao nodded.

"Are you worried about your child sleeping unwell on the mountain?" Aunt Lin handed her chopsticks, observing her face, "There are wooden cabins on the mountain equipped with everything. My boys used to go up there with their dad and stay for nights too."

Zhou Jiao smiled at her.

"No need to get up so early tomorrow, sleep in a bit. In the day, there are quite a few little girls picking wild fruits on the south side of the village. You can stroll over there. Tomorrow, I’ll have one of our little girls accompany you out."

"No need, I don’t plan to go out these couple of days, my feet are sore from walking today, need to rest well." Zhou Jiao knew she was worried about her wandering like today.

"Staying at home is boring, wandering nearby won’t suffocate you. Right, do you want to buy some mushrooms or mountain goods? If you need, just find Aunt Miao at the courtyard at the village entrance. She’s the village women’s director; she’ll surely help you properly.

Don’t go to town for these things; their prices are exorbitantly high, and buying in our village is relatively cheaper than the purchasing station, some less appealing items even cost next to nothing. Aunt Miao is a decent person, knowing you’re a relative of our family, she won’t rip you off."

Zhou Jiao nodded.

"Once the weight is determined, don’t carry them yourself with those little arms and legs; they’ll deliver it for you."

The meal concluded amidst Aunt Lin’s chatter. After returning to her room and washing her feet, Zhou Jiao finally collapsed onto the kang, breathing a sigh of relief. This day was as busy as a dog, truly shouldn’t have been.

That night, without Zhang Guoqing and the children by her side, Zhou Jiao slept restlessly, constantly worrying about someone jumping into the courtyard, always alertly listening for any howls from the mountain.

It wasn’t until the next day when the sun was high in the sky that she woke up, finding herself alone in this courtyard, with Aunt Lin having already gone out, leaving porridge and large pancakes in the pot for her.

After hurriedly finishing her brunch, Zhou Jiao didn’t plan to go out, spending the entire afternoon busy organizing the haul from yesterday. At the time, in such a rush, she couldn’t manage to sort them out. Now, with free time, her obsessive-compulsive disorder kicked in again.

When night fell once more, and Zhang Guoqing still hadn’t returned, Zhou Jiao understood in her heart that this fellow must have taken the children and joined the group going deeper into the mountains.

If they indeed were in the wooden cabins, the way Aunt Lin talked made it seem not far, why wouldn’t they descend first? Additionally, since Lin Quan, who was an accountant, also requested leave to join, with some thought, it was clear that these men went out to have fun.

Things were indeed like that. It wasn’t until the day agreed upon with the He Brothers, in the afternoon, that the group finally joyously descended the mountain. And it wasn’t just them, a large team followed behind. Who knew when these people went up the mountain, but they sure hunted a lot, turning the entire village into a joyful sea.

Watching her son, bright-eyed, eagerly recounting what he saw and heard on the mountain, Zhou Jiao felt quite a headache. This kid, won’t he become a wild child like his father?