Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space novel Chapter 119

Chapter 119: Chapter 97: National Day Homecoming (Part 3)

Mother Zhang curiously asked about the train, wondering if it’s very long, how it can still go fast, how many people it can hold, and whether it’s faster than a car. She had never seen a train before and was very curious.

Zhang Guoqing explained to her one by one, trying to use simple language in his explanations.

"Mom, I’ll take you to the provincial city to see a train sometime. When we visit my mother-in-law in Beijing, we’ll take the train. But you have to know we can’t take a sleeper, just seats. Can you handle three days?"

Mother Zhang nodded eagerly, full of anticipation, "That’s the capital, I’d endure not just three days, but even thirty. When I have the time, I want to go to Beijing with your dad. I heard from the village leader, a scholar, when I was ten that he’d regret not having the chance to go to Beijing even on his deathbed. In the end, he never made it, always talking about what was good there and who lived there. I just want to see what makes him obsessed with it."

Zhang Guoqing laughed and promised his mom, "I’ll definitely take you and dad to visit Beijing. But you know, that village leader you mentioned wasn’t just obsessed with Beijing; it was about fame and titles. After becoming a scholar, the next step would be to become an advanced scholar and get an official position. It’s like having the ticket but being unable to go because Beijing was too far. Who knows when he got his title, maybe the Great Qing Dynasty was falling, so he never got to go."

Mother Zhang laughed heartily, "Silly boy, do you think your old mom is foolish? Of course I know he wanted to go to Beijing to become an official. He became a scholar while the Qing Dynasty was still around, and was quite prestigious back then. But after his success, he had to mourn his parents’ deaths consecutively, so he didn’t make it to Beijing. By the time he finished mourning and was ready to head to Beijing, something happened, and he waited a few more years until the Qing Dynasty fell. He always told us youngsters about Beijing, what’s good there and where everyone goes. I just want to see those things."

Lin Lishan and Zhou Jiao laughed too, thinking about how unlucky it was—the chance to go to Beijing finally came, but then his parents passed away, and after mourning, the political situation changed, making the trip futile. No wonder he died with regrets.

Lin Lishan quickly said to Mother Zhang, "Big sister, are you worried you won’t have the chance to go to Beijing? We’re all there. Just send a telegram when you want to come, and I’ll pick you up. If I’m not in Beijing, my mom is, and someone will be there to meet you. I’m going back to Beijing for a few days tomorrow, then coming back here. How about we go together, and then return together?"

Mother Zhang shook her head and smiled, "I’ll not go with you this time. You go take care of your official matters first and come back early with the kids’ dad to see Jiao Jiao. Our house is still under construction; it’s quite busy. Next time, we’ll visit you with Jiao Jiao and have a stroll around Beijing."

"Alright, you’ll have plenty of chances to visit Beijing later. I won’t insist you leave tomorrow, as Jiao Jiao still needs your care."

Zhang Guoqing hurriedly asked, "Mom, are you really leaving? Can’t you just wait here? Traveling back and forth by train is quite tiring. Look, today’s the 20th, you’ll arrive in Beijing on the 23rd if you leave tomorrow, and then you have to come back on another three-day train ride. It’s uncomfortable to travel constantly like this. Grandpa also said you should wait here; he’ll talk to dad. Otherwise, we could take you back together today."

Zhou Jiao also disagreed with her mother’s continuous train journey and tried to persuade her.

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