Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 790 - 664

The time spent slaughtering the pig exceeded Zhang Guoqing’s expectations and predictions. Just the bloodletting process and cleaning the pig innards took up most of the time.

By evening, the sunset in the sky resembled a fiery cloud, dyeing half the sky red. After bleeding the last pig, Zhang Guoqing let Zhou Jiao take over, seeing that it was getting late, he decided to work overtime at night.

Not long after coming down from the wooden house, not far from the halfway dojo, the family could hear the cheerful shouts of Xi Zi and a group of children.

A couple of days ago, after using the plough to turn over the wheat stubble, they dragged it to the end of the field with a rake and sent it to the threshing yard to dry. This signified the end of the wheat harvest. Compared to before, after finishing the wheat, the summer sowing work became much lighter, and apart from the strong laborers, the elderly and children in the team didn’t need to go to the fields anymore.

Looking in that direction, it should be the children from the village finding some free time, agreeing to go up the mountain to collect forest produce together. Judging from the exclamations and laughter, you could guess there was an unexpected harvest.

Holding his son, Zhang Guoqing turned a corner and soon shouted to the children over there, "It’s getting late, everyone tidy up, it’s not safe on the mountain if it gets too late."

Hearing his uncle say this, Xi Zi quickly urged his friends to hurry up. There was no need for him to say more; everyone knew the mountain was dangerous and began packing up their sacks and bamboo baskets to head down together.

The older nephews from the family saw their Fifth Uncle coming down the mountain empty-handed and disappointedly asked in unison whether the wild animals had all gone deep into the mountains, as otherwise, he wouldn’t have caught not even a feather.

Zhang Guoqing originally planned to take out the wild boar’s head, but was worried that these boys would become too bold, so he refrained. Now seeing them still instigating him to take them hunting on the mountain tomorrow, he shook his head repeatedly.

After coming down the mountain, Zhang Guoqing routinely delivered the freshly picked herbs to the team’s infirmary. This infirmary originally served only Zhang Family Village, but ever since the commune merged, it rose in status to become the infirmary for several nearby big teams. Besides the old son from the Old Captain’s family who acted as the person in charge, two more medical staff were assigned from the township.

This arrangement was good, even during busy farming seasons, these three had to work in the fields occasionally, but this job still held great appeal as it meant eating government food.

It was said that to balance things out, other production teams also planned to let little girls who graduated junior high in their team learn nursing to possibly fill in the workforce.

Where there are people, there is "jianghu". Since coming back, Zhang Guoqing often heard rumors about which brigade leader’s daughter or granddaughter wanted to enter the infirmary.

He couldn’t care less about these matters; everyone shows their skills like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea—if you have the ability, go ahead, just don’t end up killing anyone.

Putting down the herbs, Zhang Guoqing greeted them and left directly. How to dry and process these wouldn’t stump the three men in the infirmary.

When he reached the doorstep, leaving for just a while, his mother and wife had already gotten busy. Two large water jars and ten sealable pickle jars picked out some time ago at the township goods store were being sun-dried in the yard.

"Isn’t it too early to pickle vegetables now?"

Mother Zhang gave him a side-eye, "This is women’s work, you men stay out of it. I have to teach Jiao Jiao now while we have time, so we won’t worry about not having veggies during winter."

Zhang Guoqing nodded with a smile. His mother had always been thrifty and industrious; now that the backyard had a harvest, she couldn’t help but make the most out of it.

"Are you going up the mountain again this morning? Don’t keep taking my grandson to the mountain, what’s so interesting there?"

Zhang Guoqing quickly changed the subject, "Mom, did my eldest brother go to the provincial city? Did he walk to the county town?"

Mother Zhang gave him a side-eye, "Wild kid!"

Zhou Jiao chuckled at this. What a clumsy topic change! He deserved the rebuke!

"Our Ping’an doesn’t need to learn hunting. He’s smart enough; as long as he studies well, no need to worry about job prospects. The mountain’s too dangerous; if unnecessary, don’t go."

Zhang Guoqing quickly nodded with a smile. If this continued, his mother might issue a restriction order. Should he listen if that happens?

Mother Zhang glanced at him, smiled, shook her head, and continued to wipe the inside of the jar, "Forget it, what I say is useless, you’re too stubborn. Just take care of my grandson for me."

"Of course! I feel pain too if my son gets a scratch. Mom, how about I take you out for a stroll tomorrow?"

Mother Zhang shook her head, "Not interested! I was planning to take Jiao Jiao and them to the provincial city, but your older brother left for the provincial city with his wife this morning, that ungrateful son didn’t even ask if I wanted to go."

Zhang Guoqing looked at Zhou Jiao in surprise. His wife hadn’t told him this news.

Zhou Jiao slightly shook her head. She had been tidying the backyard at home in the morning, hadn’t been to the old house, and didn’t know when they left. No one had informed her.

Seeing this, Zhang Guoqing laughed, "Oh my, Mom’s getting jealous. We don’t need to go to that poor provincial city. Mom, is there anywhere you’d like to go? Your son can take you."

She looked up with hands on her hips and laughed, "Rascal! What nonsense. While the weather’s still good, better stay at home and sun-dry more vegetables, for you to take back to Beijing."

"Mom, dry more eggplant and beans. I like those." Zhang Guoqing laughed. His mother working so hard to dry vegetables must be thinking of him missing out on things while away. This is the deep love of a mother!

He didn’t mention that privately, he had already arranged for someone to collect bean curd and those dried vegetables, as well as fresh cucumbers and tomatoes. Especially cucumbers and tomatoes, after this year passes, it’s likely they won’t be allowed to be planted next year back home.

These capitalistic seedlings are often necessities for supplementing vitamins in daily life. He dared not imagine what life would be like without fruits, and then without these fruits and vegetables.

"Okay. Just tell Mom what you want to eat."

After bustling around for a while, Mother Zhang looked up at the sky; she wasn’t sure if Mai Miao and the three girls had prepared dinner, so she instructed Zhou Jiao and hurried off to the old house.

Zhou Jiao shrugged at Zhang Guoqing in resignation as she watched her leave. Sun-drying vegetables under the sun—this was truly not her cup of tea. Being a daughter-in-law wasn’t easy.

"Why did my elder brother suddenly decide to take sister-in-law to the provincial city?"

Zhou Jiao shook her head, "Who knows what they meant by it. Isn’t it nice, though? At least Mom’s happy. She just told me she doesn’t have to worry about the two of them anymore."

Zhang Guoqing pulled her into the living room; these household chores could be left to appease the elders. Was it really worth making his wife squat and toil for a few cents per pound of dried vegetables?

"Where’s our son?"

Zhou Jiao frowned and looked at him with grievance.

"What’s the matter?" Zhang Guoqing couldn’t figure it out.

"The moment he returned, he said he was very tired and fell asleep as soon as he got on the bed. His routine’s all messed up."

Zhang Guoqing patted her, "No worries, he’ll get back to normal when we get back. It’s his vacation now; he can enjoy himself."

Zhou Jiao glanced at him amusedly, as if to say everything was justified when it came to their son.