Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space Chapter 89 - 78: The Give and Take of Human Relations

The two sisters, Zhang ili and Zhang ihao of the Zhang family, had long finished the shower ceremony and were holding Little Ping’an, following Lin Lishan back to the west wing to find Zhou Jiao.

Grinning, the outspoken elder sister Zhang ili said to Zhou Jiao, "Jiao Jiao, how does it feel to miss out on the fun since you’re in confinent? Today Ping’an was wailing quite loudly, it’s a good sign."

Zhou Jiao urged them to find seats, "Big sis, second sis, haven’t you eaten? Why don’t you eat before coming in? You’ve t my mom, right? I just told my mom you were all coming over today. What about the kids?"

Laughing, Zhang ili teased, "Earlier Xiao Wu told that’s your mom, and I was taken aback. Auntie looks way too young and pretty, I almost called her grandma but couldn’t bring myself to do it, so I called her Auntie instead. Auntie, don’t bla us for being impolite. We’re here to spend so good ti with Jiao Jiao this visit."

Lin Lishan gently put Ping’an down on the furnace bed, turned around, and said with a smile, "I’m old? Still young? You two sisters are the pretty ones, looking just like your mother."

Zhou Jiao secretly covered her mouth, "Mom, did Xi Zi co to see you today?"

"He did, and I told him if his grandma agrees, he can tag along, but he has to behave, otherwise if he runs off, he could get lost and wouldn’t be found."

Zhou Jiao laughed heartily and said to the Zhang ili sisters, "Last night Xi Zi wanted to accompany my mom to the provincial city, so he sought his uncle for help. In the kitchen, he said sothing that left his uncle stumped. Here, let mimic it for you, ’Uncle, you are okay with grandma driving alone? I see my aunt is worried, that’s not right. My uncle often says you have to make the mother-in-law at ease, so the wife is happy.’ ’I think your mother-in-law is way too young, about the sa age as my mom, and very pretty. Grandma going out needs protection. It can’t be soone too old or too young.’ How was that? I almost laughed myself to death."

Everyone burst into laughter, finding it very amusing. Lin Lishan picked up a diaper to put on the tray and said with a smile, "For those few words, I have to take him along, that kid is clever, he’s trying to get his uncle’s approval."

The two Zhang sisters found it hilarious as well.

"That kid understands how to talk circles around you, but taking him along is a hassle for Auntie, just ignore him."

"It’s not a hassle; we’re just driving there anyway, and having such a little guy as company ensures it won’t be lonely. And also, you think he won’t think of other ways? That kid is smart."

Just then, a group of children stord in from outside, each calling out to them, gathering around the furnace bed to watch Ping’an and chattering away.

The two pounds of candy bought that day were distributed, and Zhou Jiao didn’t have much else to give out, "Have you all had noodles yet?"

"Little Aunt, we already ate, it was delicious, had at."

"Little Aunt, I ate too, I had three pieces of big at. My mom said I can’t eat anymore, or my stomach will hurt."

Zhang ili hastily shouted for a halt amidst the jabbering, "You all take your ti, didn’t you get so candy earlier as you left? How co you’re back in again? And those of you smaller ones, don’t jump around after seeing the baby on the bed. Why didn’t you greet grandma as you ca in?"

Zhang Ziwen glanced at his mom and awkwardly smiled, "Mom, I saw the baby’s grandma and thought she was about your age, didn’t know how to greet her?"

"Haha, you silly boy, it’s all about the generations. Why does your nephew call you uncle even when he’s the sa age as your dad? You should greet grandma now."

The children together shouted "Grandma" loudly, making Lin Lishan laugh heartily; she quickly took a handful of paper currency from her pocket, "You’re all good kids, you all have candy, so grandma will give you money, one for each, save it to buy snacks."

"No need, we have candy already."

"Thank you grandma, we ate already, can’t take it."

"Grandma, I already got the candy you gave, I can’t take more."

Zhang ili and Zhang ihao quickly grabbed Lin Lishan’s hand, "Auntie, please don’t do this. Once the New Year cos and you give out red envelopes, they’ll definitely take it; right now, they won’t accept it, see, they’re all running off."

Lin Lishan was helpless, she couldn’t possibly chase after them to give out money, and there were also lots of village kids outside who ca. She thought she’d check in the provincial city later to see if there were things the kids might like.

"Alright, no need to hold on to , they all ran off, I’m not going out either."

The three of them looked at the clothes sent over at the foot of the furnace bed and helped sort them out, organizing them tidily. Zhang ili looked at a beautifully crocheted little sweater with blue and white threads intertwined into diamonds, a pattern she hadn’t seen before, "Jiao Jiao, who gave this? This sweater took a lot of effort."

Zhou Jiao glanced at it, recognizing it at once, "It’s from my friend Zhao Yuanyuan, the daughter of Zhao Dashan, from the defense departnt. She and two other boys are close friends of ours; she couldn’t get off work this afternoon, so she hurriedly dropped it off and left."

Zhang ihao checked out several pairs of tiger head shoes, raising them up, "Look, the shoes are also exquisitely made; they probably co from her family too. There’s a wrapped leather one, inside with a set of cotton clothes and pants. Quite a hefty gift."

Lin Lishan took a closer look, finding them indeed beautiful, "Yes, that’s definitely from Zhao Dashan’s family, right? Jiao Jiao, rember to stay in touch with their family."

Zhou Jiao’ glanced at the sweater and the clothes, nodding," I know, Mom, during our wedding she gave quite generously too. She was my bridesmaid."

Zhou Jiao thought for a mont and asked Zhang ili, "Big sis, our great aunt sent a basket of eggs, clothes, and shoes over - heard from big sister-in-law she gave more than she did with the other kids before. Maybe you can ntion it to mom, I bet she’s already left by now. Her family isn’t well-off, perhaps consider what gifts to give back."

Zhang ili stood up, "Alright, good thing you rembered, I’ll go right away. Great aunt is like that, she doesn’t want mom in a difficult position, and lately her family’s been doing better than before, hence she’s giving more."

Zhang ihao saw the mother and daughter sowhat puzzled, so she explained to them, "Great aunt, she doesn’t like taking advantage of others, years ago her family faced hardship, Xiao Wu once visited and brought back a big bag of grains over, afterwards during festivals, Xiao Wu always gifted wild chickens or rabbits. She’s grateful to Xiao Wu; otherwise, her elder daughter-in-law would co today."

Zhou Jiao nodded and asked her, "I rember her family’s from the mountains; how did Xiao Wu manage to send wild chickens and rabbits?"

Zhang ihao was amused and helpless, "Do you think families in the mountains don’t lack wild ga? That’s not true, it depends on the mountains and whether the family has anyone who can hunt. Isn’t it true that in grandpa’s family, only those two uncles were left? They weren’t allowed to go up the mountains for fear of danger. Now none of the children can hunt, like our eldest and second brothers, the best they can do is pick up what was left by luck on the outskirts."

Xiao Wu was clever since childhood, hunting with grandpa and dad. Grandpa was an old hunter, nearly taught him all of his skills. Dad used to go up the mountains often too, now he doesn’t dare enter deep mountains. When he was young, dad and mom pampered him, not letting him go, but when he was gone for a while, they’d find him with a bunch of wild chickens and rabbits. The most impressive was the ti with a sika deer, and since then dad made a deal with him that he could only stay at the Daqing Mountain’s foothills and not venture further. Otherwise, he was too daring. Didn’t he ever ntion this in front of you?"