Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space novel Chapter 1010

Chapter 1010: Chapter 883: Growing Up, Watching the Show

It was another weekend. Aunt Chen had taken a few days off to go home because her daughter had given birth. In the snatched leisure of this busy stretch, Zhou Xiaozheng quietly observed Ping’an’s mood for a few days, planning to take advantage of the absence of outsiders to have a heart-to-heart talk with the children.

So that afternoon, the whole family gathered in the study on the first floor.

Whenever there was serious business, they entered the study; imperceptibly, this had become a family rule. Even the twins, who were used to being brought to the study by Zhou Xiaozheng for instruction, reined in their casualness, obediently dragging over their little stools to sit.

Zhou Xiaozheng looked at the three brothers lined up in a row, primed for battle, their big damp eyes fixed on him. "No need to be so serious."

That was what he said, but his stiff face and eyes devoid of any smile were still seen clearly by the twins, who didn’t dare relax in the slightest.

Ping’an glanced at his parents and grandmother on the sofas to his left and right, then thoughtfully fixed his gaze on his grandfather’s fingers tapping on his knee—looked like it was going to be a very serious topic.

Sitting there, Zhou Xiaozheng kept his attention on the movements of the three brothers. At this moment, when he noticed that the three children had all focused on his fingers at the same time, he laughed to himself.

He cleared his throat. "Ping’an, Grandpa’s seen that you haven’t been going out these two weeks. Your mood should have settled down a lot by now, right? Do you need me to give you a bit more time?"

Miao Lishan almost burst out laughing. She still remembered how, not long ago, this little fellow actually said he needed to think things over carefully and needed some time for his feelings to settle.

"Grandpa, I’ve put my feelings in order."

Zhou Xiaozheng slanted a look at his wife, who was about to speak, then turned his gaze to Ping’an. "That’s good. Do you have anything you want to tell me?"

Ping’an nodded and looked at the two younger brothers beside him. "You two go first."

The little Liu Yi gave a heavy nod, imitating his grandpa and clearing his throat. "Something’s going to happen in the Big Courtyard too. Right now it’s dangerous both outside and inside."

Zhou Xiaozheng smiled. "Go on."

Encouraged by that smile, Liu Yi swept his small hand in a grand gesture. "Let May 1st add to that."

The adults present almost burst out laughing at the scene. They exchanged glances; those who could turned their heads away, those who couldn’t lowered them. Only Zhou Xiaozheng remained composed, continuing to look at May 1st.

"Mm, that’s right. Very dangerous." May 1st echoed seriously, then explained, "Three more kids are gone from our class. Just like in the city, something happened to their families too."

"Lots of adults in the Big Courtyard are frowning and unhappy. The big boys in the front courtyard have raised their bicycle seats really, really high, and the adults can’t stop them no matter how they try."

"Some big boys even said that if they keep stopping them, they’re sabotaging the great situation, and they’re going to cut ties with the feudal patriarchs in their families. Yesterday, Liu Yi and I followed behind the big brothers and big sisters. They were discussing grabbing a few people in the courtyard to set an example."

Zhou Xiaozheng lowered his eyelids. "And then what did they say?"

"They couldn’t agree. As they talked, they said they should deal with the city first; they can’t let the other group snatch their credit. Then they hopped on their bikes and took off."

"Liu Yi and I came back and told Big Brother. Big Brother said they were looking for death, and that we should just stand aside and watch."

Zhou Xiaozheng nodded in agreement and looked at Ping’an with satisfaction.

Ping’an stood up. "Grandpa, I’ve already told my little brothers not to eavesdrop anymore. If they accidentally follow them out of the Big Courtyard, it’s too dangerous."

Zhou Xiaozheng turned to the twins again. "What is the meaning of ’a gentleman does not stand beneath a dangerous wall’?"

Liu Yi and May 1st immediately stood up and recited in unison: "Unless it be due to fate; accepting what is proper to it: therefore he who knows fate does not stand beneath a cliff wall. One who exhausts his Way and dies, that is proper fate; one who dies in shackles and fetters, that is not proper fate."

"How do you explain it?"

"A gentleman must stay away from dangerous places. This includes two aspects: first, to take precautions before something happens, to sense potential danger in advance and take protective measures; second, once you realize you’re in a dangerous situation, you must leave in time."

After the two brothers finished in unison, May 1st added cleverly, "Plus, Grandma Chen is behind us, so we won’t go out the main gate of the Big Courtyard."

Zhou Xiaozheng nodded in satisfaction. "Sit down. Grandpa believes the three of you are good children who keep your word. Remember Grandpa’s most basic requirement of you: at any time, preserving your life is the most important thing."

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