Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space

"Brother Xiao Wu, there’s enough room at home. My eldest brother and sister can sleep over at my uncle’s place." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"Just keep two rooms. While the tide hasn’t gone out yet, quickly come with us to the beach to set up camp. Once it’s late, we can’t go sea foraging."

"You even know about this?"

"Joking, without some preparation, would your brother even run to your house?"

It was high tide when Wang Laoyao led a group to find a spot and began setting up tents. A large military tent along with a small tent was set up, instantly creating a beach holiday atmosphere.

"Dad, how about this? This small tent is for you and mom. If you’re not used to it at night, you can stay over at Uncle Wang’s place."

Mr. Zhang walked around the tent with his hands behind his back, waved his hand, saying, "This is fresh; tonight, we’ll stay on the beach."

Over at the other tent, Mother Zhang bent down to enter inside, touched everything fondly, "I haven’t lived in vain this life, being able to play like this."

"Mom, with this, there’s no need to even build a house. It’s so nice!"

"Jiao Jiao, do you think your Second Brother can find this place? If he misses this opportunity, he’ll regret it for sure." Lin Juhua turned her head to look outside, "This is the sea, really different from a river. Earlier, the waves were quite scary."

Zhou Jiao couldn’t hold back her laughter, "The route is drawn in the letter, my Second Brother will definitely find it. Tomorrow is the weekend, Aunt Zuo and Aunt Cheng might also come."

"That’s really great."

"Yeah, don’t worry, everything is ready. If Uncle Zhao and them come over, they might arrive tonight." Zhou Jiao was very confident. With Cheng Hongli’s playful nature and Zhang the Second’s persuasive words, it’s highly likely that a group from the county town would take Zhao Dashan’s truck over.

Moreover, Zhao Dashan, aiming to seek benefits for his unit, wouldn’t miss this trip. After all, there’s a fish farm here. If handled properly, even the Mid-Autumn Festival benefits could be resolved.

"Later, you teach us how to go sea foraging, don’t make a fool of ourselves."

Zhou Jiao pointed to her mother-in-law, gently comforting, "Mom is better than me! She has sharp eyes, just follow her closely."

Lin Juhua momentarily forgot about this. A few years ago, Xiao Wu and his wife took both their parents to many nice places. Now, many in the county say her in-laws are well-traveled and knowledgeable.

"Mom, can you bear the fishy smell? Will it make you feel uncomfortable?"

Mother Zhang shook her head with a big smile, "Could it be smellier than farm manure?"

Since arriving at the seaside, Mother Zhang had been in a very good mood. This place is great, no need to stay in hotels spending money, and there are no malls for her son to spend money in. As long as less money is spent, everything is great!

Zhou Jiao smiled without saying a word. This was even before experiencing the hustle and bustle after the tide recedes and the beach bonfire atmosphere at night. She could guarantee that after this trip, the two sisters-in-law would be enamored with the sea.

By evening, a military truck drove into the fishing village. Zhao Dashan and his wife, Zuo Lin and his wife, carrying their little granddaughter, Zhang Meili’s two sister couples, along with Zhang the Second, got off the vehicle and headed straight for the beach.

"Uncle Dashan, are you sure they are on the beach?"

Zhao Dashan glanced at Zhang the Second with assurance, "Isn’t it obvious? Look at those kids on the road, all running there. It should be the ebb tide now, they are eager to go sea foraging."

A curious uncle passing by glanced at their group and asked, "Are you relatives of the Wang Family? They’re all at the seaside; you can find them there."

After thanking the man, the group, not even setting foot on the beach yet, noticed in the distance the prominent tents. Glancing at each other with smiles, they quickened their pace.

"That guy really knows how to have fun! No wonder he called us all over."

Everyone nodded repeatedly at these words. Just as Zhao Dashan said, Zhang Guoqing is always tinkering with new things, full of ideas.

However, coming here is worth it. As they approached the beach, the refreshing sea breeze invigorated them, the cheerful laughter everywhere made them feel at ease, erasing any worries.

Mr. Zhang was leaning back in a chair, laughing as he watched his grandchildren shouting in front of him. When he saw Little Stone running back shouting for his dad, he turned his head and exclaimed, "Oh, my son guessed right!"

"Brother Zhang, your days are quite something."

"Brother Dashan, finally, you and Brother Zuo are here, quickly, come over and sit."

This meeting was indeed exciting.

Mr. Zhang happily pulled them to sit in front of the tent, inviting the two daughters to start cooking. Inside, there was a basket of steamed buns made by the Wang Family sisters-in-law.

Zhang the Second approached, secretly surprised. No wonder his little brother said they wouldn’t regret coming here in the letter. There were liquor and seafood all set up, facing the sea. Even an immortal wouldn’t trade for this life!

Zhang Meili grabbed a few buns to offer everyone. Seeing they weren’t hungry, she put them back and realized her mother and sisters-in-law were nowhere to be found.

"Dad, where’s mom?"

"They’re all out sea foraging over there, you’ll see them if you go." Mr. Zhang pointed eastward, then poured drinks for Zhao Dashan and Zuo Lin, "Have a drink to take the edge off."

Zuo Lin took the bowl, looked at the tent behind him, "Are we planning to camp out tonight?"

"The Wang Family also has prepared rooms; we can sleep wherever we’re comfortable. In the second half of the night, many fishing boats will return. I think this is not worse than being in a house."

Zhao Dashan nodded with a smile. Seeing this setup, his wife wouldn’t want to leave even if pulled away.

Over there, Zhang Guoqing was protecting his mother and son, worried that they might accidentally wade into the sea and be swept away by the waves. He also had to keep an eye on the three sisters-in-law foraging by the sea.

He glanced at the three full baskets of various seafood in front of them and shook his head. They were really going all out! Yet he didn’t realize that bringing such a big group made the fishing village folks quite anxious.

If he hadn’t had the foresight to inform the village leader they’d buy seafood and dried goods, not even Aunt Wang’s connections would have sufficed to avoid being driven away.

"Xiao Wu, take a picture of us like this."

"Hey, mom, stand still and don’t move." Zhang Guoqing grinned, raised the camera, and snapped a photo. The biggest reward this time was his mother’s childlike happiness.

Under the sunset, which painted half the sky red, the endless sea behind them, Mother Zhang held Little Stone, both raising sea shells and starfish in their hands, their smiles warming people’s hearts.

At this moment, Zhang Guoqing once again deeply understood his wife’s longing for a color camera.

"Facing the sea, with spring flowers blossoming." Perhaps Zhang Guofu and the others couldn’t yet feel this relaxation, but it didn’t hinder their cheerful spirits.

Soon, couples gathered to dig and forage by the sea. Left behind were Mother Zhang, Aunt Zuo, and Cheng Hongli, who seeing this, exchanged smiles and returned to the tents, leaving space for the young ones.

As night fell, Zhang Guoqing invited the village leader, party secretary, and accountant over for a drink.

The bonfire was lit, its red glow illuminating the joyful faces of them and the villagers, as well as the three leaders’ warm and honest hearts.

Over two days and one night, Zhang Guoqing and the fishing village’s elders, women, and children formed warm bonds.

When two carriages and a truck started off from the fishing village the next evening, many workers ran over, inviting them to come again when they could, not to mention the tearful-eyed children.

These children deeply moved Zhou Jiao, who had endured many hardships in her previous life. In this village, there were over four hundred school-aged children, yet only about a dozen attended school regularly. The rest spent their days shelling shrimp at the fishery, also foraging to support their families.

And it was these children who, today, gave away their day’s foraging bounty to these strangers. The children’s pure and sincere hearts made Zhou Jiao feel she had to do something for them.