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

Under the moonlight of a summer night, the courtyards of Zhang Family Village were faintly visible, with some surrounded by stone walls, but mostly with bamboo fences.

Even in such conditions, the Zhang Family Village’s production team was envied by nearby villages, and families with children liked to form marital ties with them.

But Zhang Guoqing couldn’t forget the envious eyes of most village children watching his son’s tiny sandals, while they ran around naked and barefoot.

Poor, too poor!

Except in snowy days, the villagers would let their children run naked all year round if possible. Could parents really bear to see their children in rags? It’s all due to poverty.

If every household had an additional income, perhaps it could change the fate of the entire village. Once they had enough to eat and wear, naturally they’d want their children not to remain ignorant.

Only the next generation leaving Zhang Family Village, stepping into schools to enrich themselves, can alter the fate of generations living off hunting and farming.

"Third Grandpa, have you gone to sleep?"

Standing at the door of the Old Captain’s house, Zhang Guoqing knocked and called out loudly, startling the neighboring hunter’s dogs into a frenzy of barking.

If it were in previous years, it wouldn’t be long before the entire village’s dogs would be barking back and forth. It’s just that in recent years, they’ve been short on food, unable to even afford to keep dogs. This particular dog had once saved the old hunter’s life, so out of gratitude, the family kept it despite the difficulty.

"Wait, I’ll open the door now."

After a moment, the Old Captain shuffled out in his slippers, opened the door, revealing his tired and weathered face.

"Third Grandpa, did I wake you?"

The Old Captain looked behind him, saw that he was alone, shook his head, "Not yet, I was just mulling over the team’s work. Come in if you have something to say."

Zhang Guoqing followed him into the east room, passing the outer room where the Third Grandma and her eldest daughter-in-law were still mending clothes, confirming they hadn’t gone to bed yet, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Pour yourself some water. So, what brings you here in the middle of the night?"

It was late, and Zhang Guoqing didn’t exchange too many pleasantries, directly discussing the idea of setting up a food processing factory in the village. Whether this could materialize depended on the decision of the knowledgeable elder before him.

As the Old Captain listened, a smile spread across his face, "I’ve had this thought too. Seeing as the hunting path has ended, relying solely on the meager harvests from our fields isn’t sustainable."

Zhang Guoqing nodded in agreement.

"During the last meeting, I mentioned this to the township. They were inclined to approve it, but we’d have to handle everything ourselves, and still owe quite a bit to the township annually. So I kept it to myself and didn’t tell anyone else.

The math on this doesn’t add up. Running a factory, just glass bottles and labor costs require significant upfront expenses, and we’d have to share some of the profits with the township. After all this, it’s not much different than selling directly to the procurement station."

Zhang Guoqing understood that he didn’t want to give the township a good deal. It’s understandable; they’re scared of paying tribute. Who knows if the profits they hand over would increase year after year?

The Old Captain saw Zhang Guoqing deep in thought and smiled knowingly, then suggested, "Actually, the best way is not to run a factory at all. During the winter, we process things ourselves in the ancestral hall, calculate by work points, then sell under the production team’s name and distribute the money. No outsider can take advantage of the village."

"Your way is not bad either." Zhang Guoqing understood the Old Captain’s meaning. This is a purely private workshop, lacking developmental prospects, but suitable for the village’s current conservative mindset.

"It’s difficult. You don’t know that, without the township’s support, with just the production team’s endorsement, those glass bottle factories wouldn’t think much of us. And the most crucial thing is, without the township’s involvement, no technical personnel would be willing to guide us here."

Zhang Guoqing chuckled. Was he essentially walking into a trap? Maybe if he hadn’t come tonight, the Old Captain would have approached him in the next few days for a chat.

The Old Captain joined in the laughter. He knew this young man was clever. But besides him, there really was no one else in the village who could handle this.

"How about helping your Third Grandpa find some connections?"

Zhang Guoqing hadn’t planned on refusing. "Sure, I’ll head to the city tomorrow to find someone. The glass bottle issue isn’t too big; I have a classmate working as an accountant there and could give some face. But for a technical person, Third Grandpa, do you think it’s better to find a retired food factory old-timer?"

The Old Captain was thrilled to hear this, tapping the kang table, "Whatever you think works."

"I really don’t have such a contact for technical personnel. If we rely on introductions, and they come unwillingly, it wouldn’t mean much."

The Old Captain nodded slightly, waiting for more. For Zhang Guoqing to say this, there must be a suitable candidate in mind.

"It’s better for my dad to handle this than me! My dad has an old buddy, surname Mo. This old gentleman is a master chef who retired from the provincial city’s food factory. He’s often idling around in the county, and we could let him come over to contribute his expertise for fun, he’d surely be happy."

The Old Captain pointed at him with a smile, "You little rascal!"

Zhang Guoqing smiled, "Old Man Mo is a good person. His children are in the provincial city, only his youngest is in the county. He’s tired of the city life, and since our place is empty, he and his wife can stay for a few days.

My dad has a few old pals who are very close. We can have those old men and women come over to guide us. Discuss this with my dad; he’ll be eager to have something to do."

The Old Captain joked, "Aren’t you afraid your dad will smack you if he finds out?"

"My dad doesn’t like being idle." Zhang Guoqing understood Mr. Zhang’s feelings for the Zhang Family Village clan better than anyone. Otherwise, he wouldn’t always come back to help during the busy farming seasons.

Sometimes, having money and free time isn’t the definition of happiness. Allowing Mr. Zhang to feel capable of contributing to the villagers might make him happier.

And with those old men and women around, his parents wouldn’t feel lonely in their later years. Visiting those households in the city could secure him some goodwill.

"Your dad is always kind-hearted and honest."

Seeing that the discussion was over, Zhang Guoqing stood up to take his leave, "Third Grandpa, I’ll discuss the glass bottle issue tomorrow, and we’ll talk about the rest when the time comes. You should rest first."

"Alright, there’s no rush with this. Handle your own matters first."

Zhang Guoqing declined the old man’s escort. Passing by the old courtyard on his way home, he hesitated but decided against waking his father. The busy farming season was soon, and the harvest was the top priority; everything else had to wait. Contacting Old Man Mo wasn’t urgent. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

When he returned home, Zhou Jiao was still awake, waiting for him.

Zhang Guoqing recounted his conversation with the Old Captain in detail, and the couple discussed and exchanged opinions before moving on. Since the Old Captain had a plan in mind, it was for the best. As a couple who could provide convenience, they certainly wouldn’t stand idly by.