Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space novel Chapter 396

Chapter 396: Chapter 302: New Year’s Eve Dinner (Part 2)

Have you noticed quite a few older generation figures watching them from the side? When military parents educate their children, most often it’s direct and even involves a kick. Being disciplined or beaten in public would be quite embarrassing for anyone.

Living in the big courtyard, Zhang Guoqing has seen military men whipping their children more than once. The children in the courtyard often have distant relationships with their parents. With parents busy with work and frequently absent from home, children attend school and return, cared for by nannies. Families without nannies have their three meals at the communal canteen. As long as the children are safe, there is hardly any communication. Some children born fifty years ago rarely saw their fathers during their growth, so how could there be any affection?

This is also the reason why Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao’s family got so much attention upon returning to the courtyard. Now, anyone in the courtyard who sees Zhou Jiao, regardless of age, jokingly calls her the Zhou family’s precious jewel. Just a few days ago, when Zhou Jiao was exercising early in the morning, a five- or six-year-old child ran over and called her "precious gem sister."

As the leaders took their seats, the auditorium filled with enthusiastic applause. Following the opening remarks was the cultural performance. Though the programs were repetitious, they still sparked great interest among the people, unaware as some leaders quietly left halfway through.

Zhang Guoqing smiled and nodded slightly towards his father-in-law who was leaving. On this day, his father-in-law had to visit the troops and accompany the soldiers, while his mother-in-law had performances scheduled throughout the first day of the New Year. On the night when families everywhere gather together, their family couldn’t be together to eat dumplings and welcome the New Year.

Northeast Zhang Family Village. At this moment, the much-awaited New Year’s Eve for the children had finally arrived. On this day, Zhang Guoqiang’s family gathered in the old courtyard to celebrate the New Year with Mr. Zhang and Mother Zhang.

The two families surrounded the big table, smilingly following the routine from previous years and waiting for Mr. Zhang and Mother Zhang to say a few words before starting the meal.

In the past, Mr. Zhang would remark on how the family worked hard throughout the year and exhorted to continue the efforts in the coming year.

Mother Zhang would praise her daughters-in-law and encourage them to expand the family and work hard after the new year, advocating for frugality in managing the household.

Mr. Zhang looked at the children in front of him with a smile and said that life was getting better day by day, and he was very satisfied, emphasizing that everything relies on their own hard work. He advised the family to learn to be content and consider any matter carefully before acting.

Mother Zhang followed by declaring that she was no longer managing the family affairs, hoping the two daughters-in-law would take good care of their husbands and children in the coming year.

When Mr. Zhang picked up the chopsticks, he noticed his two sons taking care of their children, which reminded him of his younger son’s family far away, filling his heart with sadness.

If his young son were home, he would be the first to pour him wine and serve food to his mother, while cracking jokes to lighten the mood. He frequently glanced outside, seemingly expecting their return.

Having seen his father setting up red lanterns in his little brother’s courtyards at the county and village amid the snow in December, Zhang Guoqiang knew his parents were thinking of Xiao Wu during New Year’s Eve. At this moment, he deliberately joked that Zhang Guoqing and his wife managed to escape quickly, saving on the children’s New Year money.

His words elicited hearty laughter from everyone. Everyone knew it was a joke. Since Zhang Guoqing’s family moved to Beijing, their packages never stopped, and Aunt Fang would deliver them from the county to Zhang Family Village every three to five days.

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