Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space novel Chapter 399

Chapter 399: Chapter 304: Sensing the Space

Zhou Xiaozheng, who was on vacation at home, was playing chess with Zhang Guoqing, occasionally glancing outside. Upon seeing Zhou Jiao return with another bamboo basket filled with items, covered by a layer of black cloth, he became a bit curious.

Zhou Xiaozheng slightly focused and looked deeply at his son-in-law across from him.

Zhang Guoqing nodded slightly and smiled at him, understanding that his father-in-law had sensed something.

Regarding Zhou Xiaozheng as his father-in-law, he and Zhou Jiao had discussed repeatedly and felt that they couldn’t keep the secret space hidden from him anymore, nor did they want to.

It’s been 58 years, and seeing the bleak prospects ahead, they were far away in the Northeast, making communication difficult. What if, in the future, his father-in-law got overly worried and depleted his own provisions for the sake of his daughter, thus harming his own health? What if his father-in-law made mistakes thinking too much for his daughter?

The most severe aspect was that in a few years, some items would become original sins, or handles. Their large sum of savings and the valuable items were difficult to preserve openly.

His father-in-law was well aware of these things. They must make him understand that the couple has a fallback plan. No one should try to exploit his father-in-law’s soft spot — Zhou Jiao — to falsely accuse him.

His father-in-law cherished his daughter as his life, and in times of crisis, would do anything for Zhou Jiao. As for whether he would change his heart after having a son, he and Zhou Jiao strongly believed in her father’s profound love for his daughter.

The couple didn’t reveal it. The topic of space was too fantastical and had to be accepted by him slowly.

Zhou Xiaozheng looked at the child in front of him, feeling complicated. He felt grateful for the unwavering trust his son-in-law had in him, yet also guilty for having doubts about his son-in-law’s character.

What did Zhou Jiao mean to Zhang Guoqing? Zhou Xiaozheng was very clear about the status of his daughter in Zhang Guoqing’s heart. Although Zhang Guoqing was not entirely thorough in handling things, he was shrewd and wouldn’t overlook the consequences of exposing certain matters.

This time back in Beijing, the young couple had discreetly invited him for a private conversation, avoiding his wife. Initially, he was immersed in the exciting atmosphere of family reunion and didn’t notice anything unusual. But as the two youngsters acted openly before him and secretly brought fresh game and fruits, he wasn’t foolish enough not to notice.

Following a philosophy of ’the less the better,’ he decided not to expose it. Having wandered outside for so many years, he had witnessed many extraordinary people and events — some involving mythical magic or obtaining rare treasures. Years ago, he had heard of people experiencing strange encounters; it seemed the couple had hit upon a fortuitous opportunity. That’s good, as long as his Jiao Jiao lived a life free from worries.

"Don’t pull so hard! Jiao Jiao’s been yanked down by you." Upon hearing this, Lin Xuezhen let go immediately. She feared no one but her uncle-in-law when he showed a stern face.

Lin Xuezhen vigorously patted her forehead, flashing a fawning smile towards Zhou Xiaozheng.

"Why are you anxious? If I said you could choose freely, you’d be the first to pick." Zhou Jiao was both amused and tickled by her antics. She was truly a treasure, just like Zhao Yuanyuan.

Zhang Guoqing helped Zhou Jiao up and took over the bamboo basket. He didn’t lift the black cloth, knowing that some good items had long been secretly stashed away by her. His wife was like a hamster, stashing away good things she saw.

"Quickly tell me what’s got you so worked up?" Zhou Xiaozheng softened his expression and spoke to Lin Xuezhen gently. Finding someone who could converse with his own daughter was rare, so he refrained from venting his dissatisfaction with the Lin Family on the young girl.

"Uncle, have a look at these wooden hairpins. I suspect Jiao Jiao must have found a treasure. I couldn’t tell what’s good about them — they were dirty and grimy, abandoned in a corner. Jiao Jiao, who’s usually neat, even bought them, showing there’s something unusual..." Lin Xuezhen started to explain when prompted.

Without waiting for her to finish, Zhou Xiaozheng took the basket handed to him by Zhang Guoqing and took a peek. His lips curled into a smile, and he looked at Zhou Jiao with a grin.

Zhou Jiao returned a smug smile.

"Uncle, have you figured it out? Was two yuan too much for Jiao Jiao to spend?" Lin Xuezhen, desperate for an answer, dared not urge him and was pacing anxiously.

Zhou Xiaozheng laid out a wooden tray, fiddling with the hairpins. After a moment, he nodded appreciatively at Zhou Jiao. His usual teachings to the child had truly paid off.

The ebony and agarwood were untreated, even fooled experienced hands. Now, discovered by a fledgling young girl, it clearly demonstrated his Jiao Jiao’s keen intuition.

From his observations, one of the agarwood hairpins was certainly used by Ming Dynasty scholars. Now they appeared greasy and blackened; likely, these twenty-odd pieces were once heirlooms carelessly ruined by ignorant descendants.

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