Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space novel Chapter 539

Chapter 539: Chapter 422: Past Kindnesses

Just two days after returning from the vast grasslands, one morning, the heart-wrenching cries of Aunt Wang were heard from next door at Wang Dasheng’s house.

Old Huang had died.

The proud ancestral dog of Aunt Wang’s family ultimately couldn’t escape the hands of meat lovers and was reduced to just a pile of fur.

Neighbors gathered around to watch the spectacle, stifling their laughter, wondering if they’d be beaten up by the Wang family. Zhang Guoqing had just thought there’d been a death in the Wang family, and he rushed out in fright.

Who would have expected such a dramatic twist?

A human life didn’t matter much, let alone the death of a dog. This was truly hard to console; you can’t exactly tell the Wang family to ’mourn and move on.’ Soon, everyone dispersed and headed home.

Old Huang died, but life for the Wang family had to go on. Before noon, a meaty fragrance wafted from next door; it was unclear if it was Old Huang’s remains or his rations.

Zhang Guoqing was filled with curiosity but felt uncomfortable going into the Wang family to observe. He and the Wang family were two peas in a pod—no difference.

At this moment, his own kitchen was also simmering meat in a clay pot on the stove, with beggar’s chicken beneath it.

To avoid mixing flavors, the couple tried all sorts of ways. After experiments, this method was still reliable, but sadly the speed was too slow to consume the raw food in the space.

"Looks like the family still has to go back to the village. It’s more convenient to burn a few times in the mountains."

Zhang Guoqing nodded. He didn’t say it, but it was convenient in the mountains; however, the more they burned, the more wild animals appeared. His wife and son just wanted to pocket whatever they saw. Why was there so much raw food in the space now? It was because they kept storing it, till he couldn’t kill it all now.

"Whenever I think about going back to Beijing, I feel a strong sense of crisis. Looks like there’s something wrong with my mindset. I know it’s enough. But I still can’t calm down, always worried you and our son might starve to skin and bones."

Zhang Guoqing knew this couldn’t be solved, so he could only let her fulfill her wish. Whatever she wanted to do, he’d support her. When they returned to Beijing, she’d naturally recover.

After a while, Zhou Jiao sighed softly and said, "There’s also Grandma Zhou; I plan to see her once. This time, it might just be the last time for us grandparents to meet."

Zhang Guoqing hesitated whether to tell her the truth.

People change, after a long time, a biological granddaughter will always be more important than an outsider’s granddaughter, especially since Zhou Xue is still in prison. Comparing the two, the old lady has already forgotten the suffering Zhou Jiao endured in the old Zhou family.

The last time I went to see the old lady, she already said not to visit her; the old Zhou family owed Zhou Jiao enough. At that time, I was surprised and thought I had the wrong person.

What does "almost enough" mean? My father-in-law sends her money every month; I see her every month. So this is what’s known as almost enough.

"Perhaps things will change and you still support it?"

Zhou Jiao laughed, "Even if you don’t say, I can guess; people are naturally like this. She hasn’t come to see me once these two years, how can I not understand? After moving away from the Zhou family, she’d be even more resentful towards me. I don’t stop you from seeing her, also to repay her past kindness. I just want to see her one last time, to end past grievances."

Zhang Guoqing smiled and shook his head. She clearly already understood in her heart. Indeed, without expectations, there’s no disappointment. He couldn’t figure out what the old lady was thinking; nurturing a pet for over ten years fosters attachment, let alone a human.

The next day at noon, Zhang Guoqing accompanied his wife and son to the neighboring county.

Zhang Guoqing shook his head and sighed. When you get old, you really become muddle-headed. The old lady was so sensible before. He didn’t want to explain further.

"Grandma, we’ve been accepted into Beijing University; we don’t have the time to come back often. In the future, I’ll send money and things to Aunt here for you to collect, okay?"

"I’m not muddle-headed; you don’t have to talk to me like a child. I know you can’t blame Jiao Jiao; it’s just a knot in my heart. In time, it will be alright."

Isn’t this not muddle-headed! Zhang Guoqing checked the time, guessing Zhou Jiao was getting anxious. After hesitating for a moment, he decided to let it be; if she didn’t want to meet, so be it.

He handed the package to the old lady, "Everything inside was made by Jiao Jiao herself. She says thank you for raising her all these years. If you don’t get by well, remember to send a word to my parents, and my dad will provide for you."

The old lady picked up the package and walked out, "No need. The two families are even now; no one owes anything. Don’t send anything in the future; I have a salary to spend."

Zhang Guoqing watched as she quickly stepped out with her small feet.

What is all this about? What did his wife do wrong? Is the old lady just getting senile with age, or is she really confused? Should he honestly tell the truth to Zhou Jiao and her father?

Bidding farewell to the female owner of this house, Zhang Guoqing, full of thoughts, returned to the county town. Facing Zhou Jiao’s knowing eyes, he opted for honesty.

Zhou Jiao smiled, "Let’s go. Let her have her wish, let her feel at ease, consider it even!"

On the way back, Zhou Jiao asked herself, feeling lost? Regrets? Then she laughed to herself. She was really silly, even if she could do it again, she would still unhesitatingly choose what she deemed right. What regrets!