Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 711 - 586: Playing the Accident Scam

Near the small train station by the campus, a group of students from the student union bid farewell to their returning classmates and dispersed in threes and fives.

Zhang Guoqing waved to them, took a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe the sweat off his face, and noticed the small baskets carried by the children passing by, feeling a sudden impulse.

"Da Yi, help push my bike, I’ll be right back."

"Alright, make it quick. We should also pack up and head home early," Yi Jiefang took the bike handle and watched him run off in the distance, leisurely pushing the bike behind him.

Zhang Guoqing ran up to the child, smiling, and pointed at her small basket.

"Big brother, come over here."

Zhang Guoqing followed the little girl without a word to the corner of a wall, "What do you have? You know where I can buy meat?"

"In such hot weather, no one’s marrying. Wait until it cools down. These are eggs laid just this morning. I won’t charge you much, ten cents each."

Zhang Guoqing glanced at the basket she opened and almost burst out laughing. This little girl really knew how to do business, claiming these ten or so eggs were laid that morning. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

He rummaged through the basket, noticing the child worriedly looking around, and comforted her, "It’s okay, I’ll take them all. Sell me the basket too, name your price."

The little girl nodded excitedly and didn’t forget to pitch future business, "Big brother, do you want an old hen? I have some at home, but they’re a bit pricier."

Seeing Zhang Guoqing was interested, she quickly added, "My house is not far, see that village across the street? Come with me, just say you’re my relative."

Honestly, Zhang Guoqing did want to buy it. He probed, "How much are you selling it for?"

The little girl took the money for the fourteen eggs and returned the money for the broken basket, "My grandpa made this, I won’t charge you. Last year, after the canteen closed, my grandma raised chickens. They’re now quite fat, at least five or six pounds. She said someone told her she could sell them for fifteen dollars."

Zhang Guoqing felt dizzy~ His monthly salary could only buy two chickens, and he’d rather wait for his wife to come back. Spending fifteen dollars wasn’t feasible. This little devil was all skin and bones, probably eight or nine at most, yet so clever.

"I’ll just have the eggs first." With that, Zhang Guoqing took the basket and left. He found himself having less resistance to big, cute eyes these days; better to leave early. Otherwise, like last time, he might get conned by a child’s tears.

"If I’d known, I would’ve asked for less..."

Zhang Guoqing could still hear the little girl’s regretful voice as he left, allowing himself a hearty laugh. At the intersection, he saw Yi Jiefang waiting with the bike and recounted what happened.

Yi Jiefang shook his head repeatedly. The adults around here knew the professors at the school earned well, so naturally, they’d push kids to earn for the family.

Worried about breaking the eggs, they didn’t ride the bike but instead, continued with Yi Jiefang pushing it, chatting leisurely on their way.

Almost back at school, an old man suddenly dashed out and collapsed in front of the bicycle with a bang, startling Zhang Guoqing, who lifted the basket high, staring at the old man on the ground, exclaiming, "Ay, ay, incessantly."

Yi Jiefang, irritated, pulled the bike back, shouting, "Hey, can you act a little more real?"

"Ay... The world is cold, young people don’t know how to respect the old and love the young..."

Zhang Guoqing chuckled, holding Yi Jiefang back, "Sir, please get up. Let’s discuss if there’s an issue, before more people come..."

The old man raised his head in a daze, "My leg hurts, I can’t walk; I’m hungry, can’t walk..."

Zhang Guoqing sighed, putting the basket down, approached to help him up, and softly said, "Where’s your home? Let me take you back."

The old man clung to Zhang Guoqing, tears and mucus freely flowing as he rubbed against him, almost making Zhang Guoqing wanna shove him off in disgust.

"Gone, I have no home; even Da Huang is dead. What’s the point for a lonely old man like me living? Might as well die..."

Zhang Guoqing felt a twitch between his brows, sensing something off about this old man. Logically, someone with such messy hair and patchy clothes should have a smell, but instead, he had a nice medicinal scent.

He signaled Yi Jiefang, who was about to erupt, to hold on, and the two silently waited for the old man to finish his crying fit without uttering a word.

Fortunately, the man knew when to stop. He didn’t let go of Zhang Guoqing’s clothing, looking up pitifully, "I’m hungry."

Yi Jiefang concluded this one was either mentally unsound or a scam artist. Helplessly, he rolled his eyes skyward, knowing this friend would act compassionately again.

"Da Yi, let’s go ahead for a bowl of noodles." Zhang Guoqing didn’t bother explaining, walking alongside the old man and talking, "Sir, I won’t ask who you are or your purpose. I’ll buy you a bowl of noodles, and we part ways, alright?"

The old man grunted without saying a word, following them quietly for a lengthy walk until they reached a restaurant.

Zhang Guoqing exchanged six liang of grain tickets and seven and a half cents for three bowls of noodles. While waiting, the old man played more tricks, staring at them pitifully without speaking.

Yi Jiefang, annoyed, asked, "Sir, what’s the matter now? We’re in a rush to get back to school. Speak up if there’s something, or head home after eating."

"I’d like an egg," the old man eyed the bamboo basket, "Old folks are useless, can’t even have an egg. Can’t live long..."

Zhang Guoqing reluctantly offered, "Fine, take what you need later. Consider it on me, okay?"

"I..."

Zhang Guoqing hurriedly interrupted him, "Stop! Sir, please, can we be straightforward? That expression gives me the creeps."

The old man nodded joyfully, "I also want some meat!"

Yi Jiefang watched Zhang Guoqing’s mouth drop in shock and burst into laughter, thinking, serves you right for being a good Samaritan.

Zhang Guoqing was defeated, standing up reluctantly, "Alright, I’ll do a good deed and accumulate virtue for myself."

"Xiao Wu, gather more virtue, get me some too."

"Fine, you’re all ancestors!"

The old man rolled his eyes at Yi Jiefang. Watching Zhang Guoqing walk away, he asked, "Where’s that fool from?"

Yi Jiefang glared at him, thought for a moment, and chortled merrily. Isn’t he a fool indeed.

"You’re a fool too!"

"Sir, that’s not fair. We’re kindly buying you noodles, yet you mock us."

The old man grunted, averting his gaze, "You’re not supporting me in old age."

Yi Jiefang rolled his eyes, "Forget it, just sit tight, I’ll get the noodles."

The old man watched him leave, then turned to see Zhang Guoqing smiling and paying. He grinned, thinking his trip to Beijing was worth it.

After eating the noodles and that extra meat, the old man finally left content, clutching two eggs without a word as he left.

Zhang Guoqing, who noticed, and Yi Jiefang, also observed. They figured some bored old man was having a laugh, found it amusing, and didn’t dwell on it, rushing back to school to pack for home.