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

Compared to Zhang Family Village and the county town, the atmosphere in Beijing is much more tense. There are a lot more comrades with red armbands wandering around the streets and alleys. The railway station square is especially crowded.

The county town back home has some similar personnel, but being familiar faces, which of those with red armbands don’t know them? Either they’ve had a drink with them, or they’ve shared a meal.

Not even when Zhang Guoqing is driving a bullock cart back and forth does anyone senselessly go rummaging through the baskets; often, it’s Zhang Guoqing himself who opens them up, grabbing a handful of wild vegetables to offer.

The feeling is as if all the county’s residents are his relatives! He’s so darn impressive!

Since getting off the train and taking a car back to the Big Courtyard, everything felt normal, and the couple hadn’t really sensed anything. It was only when they took some nearly expired coupons to the department store the next day that they realized how cozy and comfortable home was.

If you walk sneakily along the road, very soon a red armband will come out to question where you live. Why are you wandering around nearby? If you can’t say a word of substance, heh heh... sorry, but you’ll have to come with me to the police station.

If you’re carrying a bamboo basket, looking like an old farmer, and wandering in the alleys, a few stern-faced red armbands will come out quickly, interrogating you righteously and watching you suspiciously from head to toe, and of course, they will have to seriously check the contents of your basket.

If you run into someone timid, just one shiver, one change of expression... heh heh... come with us! It’s easy to walk into trouble, but getting out will be difficult if there’s no one in the city to know, you’ll have to contact the village production team back home.

If nearby, it’s alright, bring a bullock cart, with proof, after being scolded like a grandson, with a wave of the hand, bow and thank them tearfully as you leave.

This also makes those from far away prioritize protecting their introduction letters. There’s no shortage of people who look like they’d easily abandon their letters.

Zhou Jiao encountered two cases along the way, her eyebrows twitching. Thankfully, her in-laws didn’t come; otherwise, they’d be scared to death! Stayed a night in the provincial city before returning to Beijing, went out during the day with her godmother and didn’t encounter such strange things. She really can’t think of any special situation happening.

National Day is still over a month away, and other festivals have passed. Could it be spies have appeared? However, the people in the city still pass by proudly with their heads held high, it shouldn’t be that!

Oh well, let’s take things as they come.

Zhou Jiao didn’t dare to pull Zhang Guoqing’s arm in front of everyone, so she could only follow the hint of the young lady passing by ahead of them to indicate him to hurry up.

What does that young lady have to be so proud about?

Zhou Jiao really wanted to ask if covering her nose wasn’t a class style? Looking down on rural people, you still want to kiss a chimpanzee’s butt?

Unexpectedly, the other party turned around and looked Zhou Jiao up and down, not only rolling her eyes but also letting out a cold snort. Does she think she’s an easy target? Anger flaring, Zhou Jiao quickly took a few steps forward, flicked her fingers, and scattered a powder towards the back of her neck.

Zhang Guoqing stood behind her when she raised her hand to touch her hair, blocking the view from behind, and even blew air in cooperation with his wife.

After finishing, the couple walked nonchalantly to the right.

Zhou Jiao has never considered herself magnanimous. If you can fight, definitely don’t talk; if you can play dirty, absolutely don’t show your face. That "good girlfriend" from the past life stabbed her before graduation, and afterward, what happened?

Just catching a weakness, that so-called "professor" and the white lotus were targeted by his wife, blasting wide across the internet.

Just like how her dad says, ambush always has a greater chance of success than a direct charge!

How does it matter if they let you a little on the surface? Too bad she won’t be able to admire the great show in half an hour. Zhou Jiao looked back and smiled, shaking her head at that distant figure.

"Don’t bother with such ordinary candy!" Zhang Guoqing looked at the line at the store ahead, frowned, "For one or two pounds of sugar, salty pickled vegetables, is it necessary to queue outside in this hot weather?"

"Forget it, we’ll just treat it as a shopping stroll." Zhou Jiao fanned her hand, realizing there wasn’t a need! Compared to Northeast’s cool weather, Beijing really is a world of difference.

"You wait outside for a bit while I go buy some toilet paper. The grass paper Aunt Chen bought when you were away for a few months was, indeed, like grass. She meant well, can’t blame her, so I had to go buy more from the service club. Guess what happened? The long-necked auntie there every time sees me, she asks straightaway, ’Do you want the finer one?’ Back then, I almost cursed! I can’t go out every time with a small paper ticket to buy blocks of grass paper."

Zhou Jiao covered her mouth laughing quietly, shaking her hand at him, "Since you know many people, see if there’s anyone familiar outside, give them the ticket, whether they return the favor or not. It’d be a waste if it expires!"

Zhang Guoqing thought that made sense too. This is the closest department store to the Big Courtyard, the service club ran out of stock these days, and the end-of-month tickets were about to expire. Probably, several people from nearby courtyards came here.

He must confess, in these years he hasn’t mingled in Big Courtyard for nothing, he really knows a few familiar faces in there. Although mainly old ladies or maids, it’s better than wasting them.

The maids here aren’t as amiable as Aunt Chen, some have long tongues. Just perfect for letting everyone know that their family lacks supplies too!

"Little Wu, why haven’t you gone to school yet? My granddaughter returned yesterday."

"My dear grandma, please be kind. I’m Xiao Wu, not Little Wu. My school registration is later, and tomorrow afternoon I’ll go to school with my wife." Zhang Guoqing quickly cleared up the misunderstanding. He really had no connection with that granddaughter of hers, just avoiding any gossip and potential misunderstandings.

"Xiao Wu? Little Wu? Same thing! Alright, after I buy the groceries, I’ll bring them home for you two, you young ones can go play. By the way, where’s the Zhou Family girl?"

Facing the teasing looks from people in line, Zhang Guoqing smiled at everyone, "She went inside to see if there are any defective items?"

The silver-haired old lady, smiling, praised, "Frugality is a virtue, she’s a good child!"

"Grannies, I’m going in first. If there’s something, let me know."

"Go on!"

"Is this Zhou Family the Zhou Family?"

"Haha... what ’this’ or ’that’, that boy just now is the son-in-law of the Northeast Tiger, the couple who got into Huaqing University. Quite a few kids from your courtyard often play with them."

"Right, that’s exactly who I was referring to. Who would’ve thought they would personally go shopping for defective items, heard they donated a lot. Such sincere people."

"Haha... our courtyard has always been caring, the last time they donated food vouchers the most, also..."

The retreating Zhang Guoqing, upon hearing this, wiped off his non-existent sweat and promptly went to find his wife. Gossip is indeed pervasive! If he remembered correctly, these old ladies are the ones who receive quite a lot of pensions.

Unexpected, really unexpected...

Meanwhile, Zhou Jiao encountered an "acquaintance" upon entering. She couldn’t help but exclaim that Beijing is damn small! Isn’t this the maid grandma from Hu Chunseng’s family?

How does Zhou Jiao know?

At first, she didn’t care, but the other party, seeing her, retreated a few steps, dropping all the cakes in hand. If she couldn’t analyze from this, she’d be truly stupid.

The wrapped feet, the rural woman’s attire, and that face once seen in a sketch — wasn’t it all obvious!

Zhou Jiao narrowed her eyes, moving closer: "You know my grandma!"

Watching the other’s suppressed panic, trying hard to calm the old face, Zhou Jiao showed a half-smile: "We’ll chat about old times sometime!"

Mrs. Hu, frightened out of her wits, waved her hands repeatedly, mumbling, "I’m just a servant, I know nothing."

Zhou Jiao saw the other customers around turning their heads in surprise, then glanced at the middle-aged woman supporting Mrs. Hu, smiled and turned to leave.

Why did the other become so flustered? Apart from that old lady’s paramour, was there something else not uncovered back then? Heh heh... no hurry! Whether human or ghost, they’ll show their tails eventually.