Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 644 - 521: Going Back to Her Parents’ Home?

Chapter 644: Chapter 521: Going Back to Her Parents’ Home?

The sound of Zhang Guofu coming home from work echoed as he opened the door, returning to the kitchen, where once again, he did not see a hot pot as expected. Since their children could eat at their parents’ house, his wife had gotten used to taking advantage of the situation.

Zhang Guofu, expressionless, returned to the bedroom, glanced at his wife on the kang, silently changed into home clothes, picked up a book, and left the room.

Huang Cuilan had been waiting for him to speak, even if just to see if she was asleep. She wiped her tears, walked out of the bedroom, and stood at the door.

She saw Zhang Guofu biting into a bun, sipping hot water, and looking down at a book.

"Why didn’t you wake me up to cook? Eating like this will upset your stomach."

Zhang Guofu replied without looking up, "It’s fine, I’m used to it."

Used to it... Huang Cuilan’s face flushed. She didn’t have as many feelings as she did today; back then, it was just enough to have food when doing farmwork.

She gathered her courage, walked up to him, "Brother Fu, let’s talk."

Zhang Guofu looked up at her, then lowered his head back to his book and asked, "This time, how much grain do you want? Just leave enough for the kids."

"No... that’s not what I mean..."

Zhang Guofu frowned and interrupted her, "Don’t bring up the matter of finding jobs for your family. I don’t want to hear about these trivial matters."

"You misunderstand, I’m not talking to you about that."

Zhang Guofu put down the bun and looked at her quietly, waiting for her to speak.

"Are you tired of me?"

Zhang Guofu frowned, "I know what you mean; I won’t get entangled with other women. Stop being suspicious and coming to my work for no reason."

Faced with the calm Zhang Guofu, many words stuck in Huang Cuilan’s throat.

"Is that all? Then I’ll read."

"I won’t take care of matters at my parents’ house anymore."

Zhang Guofu nodded casually, "It’s up to you." He continued eating the bun and reading. He didn’t want to persuade his wife anymore, and he didn’t believe what she said either.

In the past two or three years, she had said that countless times. But the result? She had the kids eat at their parents’, and all the saved grain was moved to her parents’ house, almost starving even him.

Her eldest brother-in-law’s couple both had jobs, and her younger brother-in-law too, but they couldn’t even support their own families. Her parents had to be subsidized by three families while they dined at the village canteen.

Zhang Guofu was honest but not foolish, still clinging to the small wealth of his own Xiao Wu. Even their young daughter saw the problem, but what about his wife? 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Her heart wasn’t with her own family; no amount of promises helped. He had given up. The kids were already grown; they would just get by, what else could he do?

After saying that, Huang Cuilan glanced at him, hurried to the kitchen, opened the cellar, paused upon seeing small bags of cornmeal, and sighed bitterly.

Now, not even her closest daughter could ignore hoarding the grain. It was clear her excessiveness had scared the children. What was wrong with her?

Mai Miao wasn’t afraid but was really angry. Her three brothers only knew how to hide what their uncle gave them, forgetting the importance of grain. She was a girl, her maternal grandmother didn’t care for her and favored her brothers, but she didn’t mind. But why did she have to eat at Grandma’s, saving leftovers for her cousins to eat well?

Her mother kept saying the four siblings could eat their fill at Grandma’s, while her cousins cried from hunger. Who were they kidding? Even at her young age, she had grain. It was just taking advantage of her uncle not being home to eat up her grandparents’ grain.

Mai Miao bounced home with her schoolbag, saw her dad at home, and cheerfully took out a piece of pastry from her bag, broke it, and stuffed it in Zhang Guofu’s mouth.

"Dad, it’s tasty, right? Grandma gave me two, and I saved one for you. Second Uncle said he’s coming over tonight, so don’t go anywhere and wait for him."

Zhang Guofu cheerfully looked at his daughter, swallowed, and took a sip of water, "Alright, I actually need to discuss something with your Second Uncle. Don’t worry about giving to Dad, you have it for yourself. Did Grandma say anything?"

Mai Miao didn’t insist and carefully placed the remaining piece on the table, "She did. When I came back, Grandma told you to wear more in the mornings these days, to guard against catching cold."

"Haha... Grandma told me the same thing this morning."

Mai Miao giggled along, "Grandpa said Grandma told you this morning too and gave you a glare. Dad, you read, I’ll go help Mom."

"Go ahead, and be careful with your hands." Zhang Guofu glanced at his child’s hands, nodded, and said.

Mai Miao went into the kitchen and called out for her mom, saw her mom sticking corn pancakes to the pot, glanced at the deflated bag beside, and sat down to light the stove.

Huang Cuilan finished her task and pulled her up with a smile, "Go accompany your dad; we can eat soon."

Mai Miao eyed her suspiciously, was something up again? Last time her mom pulled her up with a similar smile, it was to trick her out of two boxes of pastries.

"What are you looking at? I won’t take your things this time. From now on, even if your cousin gets greedy, I won’t send anything over. I’ve realized you all are what matters most."

A girl not yet ten had her own thoughts, feeling there had to be something up. The cousin wasn’t greedy, but what about her brothers?

She shook her head, "No need, Dad can’t be disturbed while reading. I’d rather help you so Dad can eat sooner. Mom, from now on, can’t you make some supper for Dad to eat before sleeping? A few days ago, my Second Aunt told Grandma that lately, Uncle likes supper so much he can’t sleep without it."

Huang Cuilan was about to say there’s almost no grain left to make supper, then saw her child’s stern face. She suddenly realized that without subsidizing her family, their life would be more relaxed than the second child’s family.

She pursed her lips, nodded solemnly.

Mai Miao breathed a sigh of relief, relaxed her expression, and smiled at her mom.

Huang Cuilan also breathed a sigh of relief. She looked at Mai Miao tending the fire and cautiously asked, "Dear daughter, if your dad doesn’t want mom anymore, who would you go with?"

Mai Miao replied without turning her head, "Stop overthinking. Just stop running to my uncle and everything will be fine. I’ve already told you not to hide things if you respect Grandpa, but every time you have something nice, you think of my cousins first. Didn’t you just use fabric meant for my brothers to make them new clothes for this season?

If you keep doing it, it’s not dad leaving you, but Grandma driving you away. Grandma already mentioned my brothers are growing fast and last year’s clothes aren’t long enough, asking if you had made new ones. I’ve been covering for you, telling Grandma you didn’t want to waste fabric and planned to extend them."

After saying this, Mai Miao angrily looked at her mom, her little mouth rattling in indignation, "Back in winter, my aunt sent beautiful floral fabric for me, Mai Sui, and Yaya to make new cotton jackets for New Year. And yet, my cousin held on, and my jacket became her cotton vest.

I didn’t dare to tell Grandma, lied saying I didn’t like the floral fabric, and got scolded by Grandma for not understanding my aunt’s intention. How could I not understand? Mai Sui and Yaya looked beautiful in them, how could I not want that too? But I was worried Grandma would get mad at you, and didn’t dare even to think. Do you think it’s easy for me?

You used to tell Dad that if my Second Aunt hadn’t secretly sent things to her family, Grandma wouldn’t always look down on her. But you, knowing this, still do it intentionally. Grandma grumbled several times that Dad had no good days with you; now you’re not even as good as my Second Aunt, whose three sons worry most about Dad."

Huang Cuilan anxiously asked, "Did Grandma really say that?"

Mai Miao nodded, "My brothers all heard it. If it weren’t for Grandpa consoling her, she would’ve shown it already. You just wait, when Grandma gets tired of you, even the small courtyard won’t let you in, now see what you’ll do. You’re worried about Dad not wanting you, you should worry first about Grandma not wanting you."

Huang Cuilan knew her daughter wouldn’t lie to her. Her mother-in-law must’ve said those things, and maybe even harsher words were kept from the children. If her husband couldn’t argue anymore, her mother-in-law would probably agree first. Realizing this possibility, she fretfully paced back and forth in the kitchen.

"That’s it, that’s it..."

Mai Miao rolled her eyes at her mother’s distress, "Scared now? I’ve told you so many times before; why wait until now? It won’t end; treat Dad better, and Grandma will praise you happily again. Grandma is easy-going; if you’re good to Dad, everything will be fine."}

You have to admit, Mai Miao is a clever child. She saw the essence of the matter and understood her grandmother’s character and her mother’s weak spots.

Though Huang Cuilan’s daughter was younger, what she said made a lot of sense. She realized she couldn’t continue like this; otherwise, the family might really fall apart.

What would she do if her husband divorced her and married a young bride, leaving the children to his parents?

The idea terrified her, and she paced anxiously in the kitchen, thinking.

"Oh no, oh no..."

Realizing her mother’s distress, Mai Miao said, "Scared now? I told you many times before, didn’t I? Why wait until now? It won’t come to that; treat Dad better, and Grandma will be pleased."