Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 670 - 544: Wolf King’s Skin

In a blink of an eye, it was time to part. After sending Zhou Jiao off early in the morning, Zhang Guoqing suddenly felt at a loss, holding his son, he momentarily lost the interest to return to school.

All along, in this unfamiliar time and space, he could settle down and blend in smoothly mainly because his only concern was always by his side.

He said he was protecting Zhou Jiao, but wasn’t it Zhou Jiao who had been supporting him all along? Now that she was gone, his fighting spirit seemed to have left with her.

"Dad, I still want to do horse stance and practice boxing."

Zhang Guoqing came back to his senses and put down the child. Having nothing to do, he also started doing horse stance with his son. The difference was his thoughts were scattered, and he couldn’t find peace in his heart.

After Ping’an finished his horse stance and a set of boxing, he stood curiously to the side, observing Zhang Guoqing. He secretly wondered how his dad could keep doing horse stance and not get tired?

Around Zhang Guoqing, Ping’an couldn’t help but giggle. His dad was so funny, even doing horse stance while daydreaming.

"Dad, it’s time for breakfast."

Zhang Guoqing was startled awake by his son’s push, only then realizing his legs were a bit numb. He shook his head with a wry smile, this wouldn’t do! In less than two or three months, he might go mad, seems like he needs to find something to do.

"Are you hungry? I still need to practice boxing."

"Dad, the sun is coming out."

Zhang Guoqing understood his son’s implication, but how could he lose face in front of his son?

He stretched his limbs, jokingly said, "Yes, my set of boxing needs to wait for the sun to come out, to absorb yang energy, then it’s successful."

Ping’an scrutinized him suspiciously and asked uncertainly, "Really?" 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"What do you think?"

Upon hearing this, Ping’an immediately jumped up, hugged his leg, and quickly climbed up, being caught and lifted up by Zhang Guoqing, laughing happily—his dad could also lie.

Zhang Guoqing accompanied his son to finish breakfast, personally sent him to kindergarten. Watching the child happily wave and enter, he turned and left the Big Courtyard, got on the bus.

Two stops away, not far in front of a guesthouse, a thin, dark-skinned child darted out from the alley and glanced at him.

Zhang Guoqing checked his watch, it was just past eight o’clock, he walked into the alley, "Heizi, why so early? Didn’t you sleep last night?"

"It’s close to my house, I ate and came over, it’s not even half an hour yet."

After speaking, Heizi lowered his voice, "The person returned this morning, still inside. This person is really bad! Should I keep watch at night too?"

Zhang Guoqing shook his head, "You should just check morning and evening, then go to school. Go to class now, or you’ll get scolded for being late."

"I’m not going. They keep making us work every day, I know everything I need to. I’ll go over later and say I have a stomachache, just as an excuse. I’d better keep an eye, this is definitely a bad person."

Zhang Guoqing didn’t say much, asked about Zhou Xiaocun’s daily routine these past two days. Learning that it was completely different from previous days, he went out early and returned late, always with a sullen face.

He pondered, looking at the guesthouse’s entrance. Seems like another change occurred. These past two days, he hadn’t inquired about Lin Liyin’s matters, not sure if the negotiations broke down.

Thinking of this, Zhang Guoqing gave a quiet instruction, then turned and left.

After half a day’s run, he roughly understood that old bastard Zhou Xiaocun must have made some excessive demands, frightening Lin Liyin and her husband back to their hometown.

Thinking of this, he chuckled to himself. Gu Ruyi, that old woman, finally met her end, should he add more fuel to the fire? Unfortunately, he wasn’t sure how much it involved his own wife. True headache!

Before going home, Zhang Guoqing passed by Fang Fei’s workplace. After some thought, he planned to stop by to see him. Recently he hadn’t seen this guy much and wondered how this soon-to-be dad was doing.

Fang Fei looked surprised when he came in, "I heard you were coming, thought it was a mistake. What is it? Here to scrounge a meal?"

Zhang Guoqing sat down beside him, greeted others, then replied, "Just noon, nowhere to go, thought I’d accompany you for a meal."

"Good brother, finally remembered me. I’ll treat you to a meal out, how’s that for being brothers?"

Zhang Guoqing glanced at the others in the room, shook his head, "Let’s just eat in the canteen, save you some money for baby formula."

Fang Fei took out his lunch box, told his colleagues, "I’m going to the canteen with Xiao Wu, if the boss comes, cover for me."

"Go ahead, if there’s meat today, remember to get me some."

"You both go queue, I’ve got this watch, I’ll clock out."

Leaving the office, Fang Fei surveyed his surroundings, seeing no one, said, "My wife’s taste has been weird lately, it’s killing me. If you didn’t come to me, I would have come to see you."

Zhang Guoqing rolled his eyes at him. What nonsense? As if he was to blame.

"I regret having a child so early, being a man is so tiring. She said she wanted sour dates, had to run around finding it; said she wanted hot and sour soup in the middle of the night, so I had to stay up in the kitchen; these days she’s craving braised pork, braised trotters, all meat. Now, I’m afraid to respond."

"Where can you find pork this season? Take her to some expensive restaurants a few times, guarantee she won’t crave meat."

"Don’t you think I get it. She’s so strange. She’ll eat a few bites there and say she’s not hungry, bring it back and it won’t keep long in this weather. It’s exhausting."

Zhang Guoqing patted his shoulder, chuckling. With different expectations for children, the feelings of a father vary too. He hadn’t thought of any of this back then, just worried Jiao Jiao wouldn’t eat, and the mother and child would lack nutrition.

"Sigh, she’s pregnant alone, two families revolving around her. I’ve been wondering if marrying a country girl would be better. Look at them, they don’t make such fuss."

"Be more understanding. After all, she’s having a child for you. This work probably gets easier after a while, when she’s pregnant again she should be calmer."

Fang Fei nodded with amusement, "I can only comfort myself this way. Now I’m just hoping the child arrives soon. By the way, your son’s so smart, did you give him something good? Share with your buddy."

"Yeah, Jiao Jiao ate corn buns the most while pregnant with Ping’an—various kinds. Want some? Things were tough then. I’m not afraid to tell you, we hardly had a grain of rice. My mother said a big baby was hard to deliver, so even meat was avoided, she just kept stewing bones for her. How about you try it?"

Fang Fei nodded seriously, "You know, bone broth is good for calcium, maybe it really helps. Plus, your stew isn’t from regular house animals, right? The wild animals on the mountains are so energetic, they run at the slightest movement. Must be nutritious. I’ll get some for her."

"Alright, look around first. If you can’t find any, borrow a car and I’ll go up the mountain with you. But I can’t guarantee results, maybe ask the family elders first?"

"No need to ask, it’s definitely effective. You remember the Wolf King’s Skin you gave Mr. Lin? His rheumatism improved over the years, my grandpa wanted to borrow it but it was given away. I heard it was really effective."

Zhang Guoqing’s eyes flickered, he didn’t ask who it was given to. Fang Fei providing this much info was already being generous.

He laughed, "Why didn’t you tell me? I’m out of Wolf King’s Skin, but have some ordinary ones, can use them for now. Next time I go back home, I’ll see what I can find."

Fang Fei shook his head with a laugh, "Ordinary wolf pelts, my grandpa has. Keep yours, if word gets out, even a hair won’t be left, and people will be asking you for it."

"Alright, let me know if you need it."

They chatted idly on their way to the canteen for a meal. Afterward, Zhang Guoqing rested a bit before saying goodbye.

Thinking about Mr. Lin’s recent actions, Zhang Guoqing frowned. Truly becoming senile, troubles at home unbeknownst, yet still floundering out front.

Before getting off work, Zhang Guoqing picked up his son and took a detour to retrieve Zhou Xiaozheng.

After arriving home, he followed Zhou Xiaozheng into the study.

"Have a seat, is there something you wish to discuss?"

Zhang Guoqing observed his father-in-law’s expression, asking, "Dad, do you know about Mr. Lin’s matter? Did he settle things with the other party?"

Zhou Xiaozheng laughed, "Doing a roundabout and gaining something, not bad. Don’t worry about these things, with me holding the fort, you just watch the show, you can also recall the little ghost in front of the guesthouse."

Zhang Guoqing wasn’t at all surprised his father-in-law knew Mr. Lin’s movements, but how did he know Zhou Xiaocun came to Beijing? Only explanation was he kept track of them.

A sudden flash of insight, he blurted out, "Dad, was Jiao Jiao’s recent trip arranged by you?"

Zhou Xiaozheng gave him a sidelong glance, some things need not be said outright.

"Anything you need from me?"

Seeing his son-in-law’s eager eyes, itching for action, Zhou Xiaozheng chuckled, "This little matter is being handled, just attend your classes tomorrow, plenty of things to do after graduation."

Zhang Guoqing hesitated, then ultimately nodded.

He wanted to ask if the opponent had any leverage, if it involved his family. But noticing the smile on his father-in-law’s face, he decided against it. Should it bring up sad matters, with his wife away, there’d be no one to console him.