Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 739 - 614: Daddy, Are You Unhappy?

The couple was in sync; over here, Zhang Guoqing was also quietly analyzing the people they had just met. Although he didn’t have his wife’s photographic memory, he could still remember those ten or so people clearly.

Zhang Guofu listened attentively to his brother’s words, comparing them with their usual behavior, and looked at Zhang Guoqing with admiration. As expected, Xiao Wu was the smartest in their family.

"...Now that we’ve talked about these people, let’s discuss those female comrades. What do you think?"

Zhang Guofu reached out and tapped his forehead. "I don’t have improper thoughts! Xi Zi is already so grown up; do you think your brother is that sort of person?"

Zhang Guoqing wasn’t bothered, and he whispered, "I’m your real brother; whatever you do, I’ll support you. But let me tell you, those female comrades we saw today aren’t suitable."

Zhang Guofu laughed without a word, watching what twisted logic he could come up with.

Zhang Guoqing surveyed the surroundings and noticed Zhou Jiao sitting with their son at a table by the door. He quietly praised his wife for being smart. He took out a small bottle of special liquor and a small bag of peanuts and placed them on the table. With these items, their conversation wouldn’t attract attention.

Zhang Guoqing lowered his voice and said with a smile, "Let’s not talk about character; just their looks aren’t right. Did you notice? They’re even darker than you. And that one with the pointy chin, she seemed the most proactive, but her gaze is too shifty, not like a decent woman."

Zhang Guofu suppressed his laughter and raised an eyebrow. "Have you been learning bad things in Beijing? Be careful Jiao Jiao doesn’t hear."

"How could I? I set my sights on her when I was four; in my eyes, no one compares to my wife. Big brother, don’t change the subject. Is anyone pestering you?"

Zhang Guofu took a sip of liquor and casually said, "If you ignore them, it’s fine. I don’t have those crafty ideas. Xi Zi is already so big; really marrying a young wife only a few years older than him would be too embarrassing."

Hearing this, Zhang Guoqing’s eyes flickered. So, there really are girls interested in his big brother. He suddenly asked, "Not your classmates?"

"No..." He stopped mid-sentence, glared at Zhang Guoqing, then laughed, "You sly devil, trying to outsmart your big brother. Don’t tell our parents."

Zhang Guoqing nodded seriously, scrutinizing him with concern, "Do you really like her?"

"I already said, I don’t have those feelings."

"But you mentioned being too embarrassed about it. That means you did consider it. Big brother, if you really like her, then I’ll do something unethical like helping you settle things, giving sister-in-law some money."

Zhang Guoqing stared intently into his eyes, slowly enunciating each word, trying to gauge what his brother really thought. Some things had to be addressed urgently. A family like that couldn’t be broken up.

No matter how bad the sister-in-law might be, she’s still the sister-in-law! She birthed three grandchildren for the Old Zhang family, staying through the family’s worst times. Zhang Guoqing himself didn’t like Huang Cuilan, but society couldn’t tolerate an abandoned middle-aged woman. Idle gossip could drive someone to desperation.

If his brother truly had no feelings for his wife, Zhang Guoqing wouldn’t force it, but they would have to properly arrange for Huang Cuilan’s future, avoiding any shame on the Old Zhang family’s reputation.

Zhang Guofu wryly smiled and pulled at his lips, "Your sister-in-law would die without me; others wouldn’t. After so many years of marriage, I can’t bear it. Otherwise, the year she made me starve for two days, I would’ve sent her back to her parents’ home."

Zhang Guoqing breathed a sigh of relief yet felt a pang in his heart; to think he didn’t know even about these things. Pondering this, he hesitated whether they should just get divorced.

"Don’t worry, big brother. I know what I’m doing; just giving each other another chance. If she refuses to change after repeated warnings, I’ve no option but to give up on her. When that day comes, you can have a clear conscience."

"Is that young girl waiting for you?"

Zhang Guofu rolled his eyes, "Don’t let your imagination run wild; it has nothing to do with anyone else. She’s a proper girl from a good family, different from the others, with excellent family conditions. She’s only twenty; could your big brother afford to let her become a stepmother to four children? I’m not like you; I can’t support a delicate young girl."

Zhang Guoqing laughed when he heard this, "Besides me, who else knows? Be cautious around those close to you."

"No one knows. She’s clever, always managing to catch me when I go out, so now I don’t even dare visit Uncle Guang. Soon, in a few months, I’ll return to the county seat."

Zhang Guoqing sighed, poured him a drink, and said, "Big brother, if you’re having a hard time, just do what you feel is right. Don’t worry about the difficulties; you still have me, your brother."

"Alright, let’s stop talking about this. Let Jiao Jiao and the child come over for a meal so we can head back early. When our parents see you back home, they’ll be overjoyed."

With that, Zhang Guofu pulled him along to serve the dishes. Seeing the meal, he didn’t say much. Compared to the times when his brother would include meal tickets in his letters, this was nothing.

As the eldest son, he couldn’t put their parents at ease or support his brothers, and he couldn’t make them suffer more emotionally. What’s liking or not liking compared to family; nothing else mattered.

A few people ate hurriedly; Zhang Guoqing worried about delaying his brother’s studies and declined Zhang Guofu’s offer to see them off, instead accompanying him to the school gate.

In front of the school’s gate, Zhang Guofu frowned, glanced at something not far away, then smiled, "I’ll be back this weekend. Help me tell our parents that I’m doing quite well."

As shrewd as a ghost, Zhang Guoqing noticed the oddity, subtly glanced at the girl not far away, and replied, "Okay, then the three of us brothers can get together."

"Ping’an, say goodbye to Uncle."

"Be careful on your way back. Don’t let the child swim in the river." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Zhang Guoqing nodded, picked up his son, and left with Zhou Jiao. After walking a distance, looking back, his big brother still stood there gazing their way foolishly; who knew if that girl was still there?

Relentless pursuit can wear down even a strong-willed woman. Could a man be afraid of being pursued by a woman? Zhang Guoqing wondered if arranging for his big brother to work in the county was the wrong decision.

He looked at the vivid blue sky and sighed.

Zhou Jiao glanced at him, then looked back suspiciously at Zhang Guofu’s figure in the distance. For him to be worried like this, there must truly be something going on.

"Dad, are you unhappy?"

"No, just tired. We still need to take a bus back to the county. It’s not easy going home. Son, do you want to stroll down the street?"

Ping’an scanned around and shook his head, "Why don’t you take me hunting instead?"

"My son is smart; now the mountains are more fun than the city."

"I know. I still remember there were so many fish..."

Zhou Jiao watched Zhang Guoqing’s smile return and smiled as well. See, this was quite good. She had been pondering; it was probably about Eldest Zhang and Huang Cuilan’s affair, but what did it have to do with their own household? Just a worry over nothing!

In Zhou Jiao’s view, it’s better not to get too involved with Eldest Zhang’s family matters. If Huang Cuilan is bad, is Zhang Guofu good? Condoning is the biggest mistake. What were they doing earlier?

Truth be told, after seeing more of the world, one learns to compare. If they were still in Zhang Family Village, working the fields every day, tired to the bone, and still hungry, would Huang Cuilan be willing to move things back to her parents? Would Zhang Guofu allow it?