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

Some things are understood between us, but since the other party doesn’t mention them, Zhou Jiao doesn’t plan to expose them either. Instead, she brings up the trip back home, casually chatting about amusing stories with close friends.

As soon as the topic is opened, she feigns complaint about Li Qinglin not being considerate, going to Hai City for school alone, and traveling all over the country this year, leaving no time for friends like them. She also grumbles about Zhang Yuntao and his partner’s unknown whereabouts during their internship, staying at home for so long without meeting them.

She ambiguously talks about growing pains, lamenting how the five friends have now gone their separate ways. After babbling a bit, she doesn’t forget to urge Hu Xiaohui to visit her often.

Hu Xiaohui finishes lunch, listens without interrupting, looking hesitantly at Zhou Jiao, stuttering, "Jiao Jiao, I..."

"Stop! Don’t look so happy. But I don’t like when you come at me with grievances. Good sisters, haven’t seen each other for so long, tell me something happy instead, life is too boring."

Zhou Jiao promptly stops her from speaking!

She talks about these things to inform her, not to pry into privacy preferences. Of course, it’s also to show that certain things won’t be revealed from her.

If it weren’t for Zhang Guoqing, given her relationship with Hu Xiaohui, she wouldn’t be blabbering like this in front of her. No one is blind; after saying these, there’s nothing else she can do.

"There’s a long holiday this time, I’m planning to go to Hai City, anything you want me to bring?"

"Forget it, it’s too much trouble." Zhou Jiao smiles and shakes her head. See! This is a smart person, directly giving the answer.

Zhou Jiao glanced at her, then smiled intentionally or unintentionally: "Unfortunately, I have to go to school, otherwise it would be nice to visit friends and family with you. Before, people over there asked me to help bring things, but I didn’t get around to it and still need to find a chance to apologize face-to-face."

Hu Xiaohui pondered for a while after hearing this, then blushed and feigned composure as she said, "You are so particular. If everyone asks for your help and you have to solve it, you won’t have time for school?"

This almost bluntly says Li Qinglin asked for help finding someone. Zhou Jiao sees she understands the meaning and stops the topic, inviting her for a walk.

On the way, they chat with each other a bit. Zhou Jiao learns she just returned to Beijing and doesn’t keep her any longer, escorting her to the gate, watching her leave.

What is love?

The violent woman transforms into a Jiangnan girl, Zhou Jiao truly worries for Li Qinglin. If the relationship is good, no problem. Otherwise, if domestic violence occurs, she would definitely beat that Northeastern guy to submission.

Zhang Guoqing stays under the dorm building, greeting familiar faces absent-mindedly, while observing the intersection ahead.

Yi Jiefang and others walk away, whispering, "What did that person want from Jiao Jiao earlier? Do you know her background?"

Zhang Guoqing is startled, "You know her?"

"Of course!"

Zhang Guoqing is delighted, thinking to inquire about the other’s family background.

"That person often appears mysteriously, rarely showing up in social circles. If I hadn’t grown up beside my mom, I probably wouldn’t know her either. Initially, she looked familiar, then I realized she’s that tomboy from the Bai family."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Guoqing frowns, "Her surname is Hu, Gu Yuehu."

Yi Jiefang laughs helplessly, giving him a pat, "I haven’t finished yet. She’s the granddaughter of the Bai family, Little White Dragon’s cousin. Now you know her background, right?"

Zhang Guoqing rolls his eyes, "I don’t know!"

Yi Jiefang looks at him disdainfully, leans against a tree trunk, one hand in his pocket, shaking his right leg. After a while, he dramatically sighs, "We are all compatriots wandering this world, so why even recognize each other? "

Zhang Guoqing is amused by this guy! He kicks his constantly shaking right leg. Is that phrase used like this? His wife has both parents, and the Lin Family isn’t even related!

Besides, if Hu Xiaohui is Little White Dragon’s cousin, apart from losing her father and her mother remarrying, she lives no worse than the Bai family girls. Yi Jiefang was partly correct about her situation, Zhang Guoqing indeed knows.

This circle is neither too big nor too small.

The Bai family’s second daughter, Hu Xiaohui’s mom, was fostered by a farming family, later joined the army with their soldier son Hu Lianzhang, married a few years before he was killed.

Like Zhou Jiao, Hu Xiaohui grew up with her grandparents. She was luckier than Zhou Jiao; when Yi Jiefang’s mom remarried, she was taken back to Beijing.

As for her mom, well, she’s no ordinary mother. Allegedly, to bring back her daughter, she promised the Hu family the child wouldn’t change her surname, be held back from visiting old family, or face hardships at the new husband’s home.

Upon returning to Beijing, she really did raise the daughter at her mother’s home. According to Little White Dragon, his second aunt, besides not raising her daughter herself, cherished her more than the later children, giving whatever she desired.

Zhang Guoqing understands this mother’s intentions well.

The daughter’s life in a stepfather’s home would unavoidably involve bullying by step siblings. With more children of her own later, it’d be better for her to grow up at her maternal home. The Bai family’s compassion, along with care from her father’s comrades, made life at her maternal home better than the two married families.

That’s indeed the outcome. Reportedly, Hu Xiaohui’s biological father had a Master Wu; her mom even specifically took her daughter to visit him. This tiger mom exhausted every effort for her daughter.

How could Hu Xiaohui be considered a fellow wanderer like his wife? Aside from lacking a biological father, she was essentially raised in luxury.

Although the elder couple from the Bai family retired to the countryside, they are still formidable. Their children aren’t high-ranking officials, but not easily trifled with. People in politics wielding pens are never simple.

If Zhang Guoqing guesses correctly, Li Qinglin’s path to marrying Hu Xiaohui is fraught with difficulties, heavily challenging like crossing three barriers and slaying six generals. Just passing the Bai family’s gate isn’t easy, let alone the mother-in-law.

No matter how favored, when tied to marriage that affects a child’s future happiness, the heroic second Bai sister won’t easily agree; strict tests are sure to come, Lin Zi, can you handle it?

As a close friend, Zhang Guoqing decides to wait until Zhou Jiao returns to watch Hu Xiaohui’s attitude. If both have intentions, he’d advise Lin Zi to quickly run to Old Bai to beg forgiveness, regardless of whether the aftermath did or didn’t break that layer; cooked rice would make the marriage smoother.

Yi Jiefang notices him still lost in thought, his expression gradually turning sly. Unconsciously, he shakes a bit. This guy plans to calculate someone again!

As a friend, he has to remind him: "Xiao Wu, that tomboy once beat up Brother Liu and others, is quite fierce. Don’t think of targeting her. Her biological father passed away early; otherwise, he would’ve easily been a general. Growing up, she won fights; my brothers returning home also got scolded."

Zhang Guoqing laughs heartily, repeatedly patting his shoulder. After stopping his laughter, he glares at him, "Can you speak properly? What’s this about me targeting her? I have a wife; how could I target a young girl?"

"Don’t twist my words! You know I don’t mean that; I meant don’t plot against her. She’d start a fight at the drop of a hat, and if you fight like a three-inch-short weakling, you’d be humiliated."

Zhang Guoqing knows he’s worried, whispering by his ear, "She and my wife have a very close relationship. Whoever I calculate, I wouldn’t dare offend my wife, right?"

"That’s good. But why did this tomboy reappear? Haven’t seen her for years, isn’t she starting a fight again? Oh no, I must make a call to my elder brother, advising them to stay sharp."

Zhang Guoqing watches the hastily departing Yi Jiefang, shaking his head and laughing loudly. He truly wants to grab Li Qinglin’s shoulders and shake him vigorously, asking if this is the gentle, virtuous Jiangnan girl he speaks of?