Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space novel Chapter 572

Chapter 572: Chapter 453: The Highest Art Is Winning Hearts

The tactics of the Old Captain are quite effective—attacking the mind is indeed the best strategy. Watching the children’s innocent and tender smiles, Zhang Guoqing vigorously rubbed his face.

After lunch, Zhang Guoqing walked home with heavy steps, accompanied by Zhou Jiao. He understood the Old Captain’s decision to provide thin gruel for the children while ensuring that the strong adults ate solid food, but he struggled to accept it emotionally. To him, children represent the future.

Zhou Jiao took out two sets of old clothes without speaking. At this stage, many words between them didn’t need to be spoken; she understood that they must make a trip to the mountain.

Seeing this, Zhang Guoqing pulled her up and smiled, "Let’s go, let’s head to the mountain. I’ll take you for a stroll."

Zhou Jiao smiled at his words. She wasn’t a saint, but she certainly wasn’t heartless. The village still had some resources, occasionally even tasting wild game.

Compared to the refugees, they were far better off. With such circumstances, there was truly no need to worry—who doesn’t feel for their own children?

Carrying Zhou Jiao, Zhang Guoqing set out, not spotting a single feather on the outskirts of Daqing Mountain. Feeling uneasy, they intentionally visited the collapsed temple, relieved to find the boulder still there.

For others, it was a challenge to move the boulder, but Zhou Jiao effortlessly handled it without Zhang Guoqing having to use brute force. He was speechless, yet proud—his wife was indeed incredible!

Zhou Jiao couldn’t appreciate his smugness. Luckily, the cold weather preserved the bags of corn, which although gnawed by small animals in places, remained largely free from spoilage.

After securing the corn, sweet potato dried slices, and millet bran, Zhang Guoqing once again carried his wife towards a distant location.

In the dense forest, anything edible had been thoroughly scavenged, and the rabbits, wild chickens, and even the grassland itself had been ravaged.

As for his blessed land—not a trace of animals remained, not even a single fish tail in the creek.

Even though Zhang Guoqing had mentally prepared himself—the moment a secret spreads, it’s close to being public knowledge—the sight before him still pained him deeply. His wife’s medicinal herbs, their garden, had all been destroyed.

"No worries, it’ll return to its original state in two years."

Zhou Jiao’s reassurance didn’t alleviate his concern. Coming from a family of hunters, Zhang Guoqing understood better than anyone that this kind of environmental destruction is not beneficial, as it compresses the animals’ living spaces.

He refrained from voicing his concerns to avoid worrying his wife. With the cold and harsh weather, as mountain animals lose their food sources, their descent from the mountain is inevitable.

After the wolf disaster, if bears and tigers were to appear again, it would be a real catastrophe.

He sighed, picked up Zhou Jiao once more, and ran toward their wooden shack. He hoped that his grandfather’s goodwill wouldn’t lead others to dismantle it for firewood.

From afar, he finally caught sight of the standing wooden house covered in snow, feeling somewhat relieved. At least those people didn’t act foolishly.

"Forget it, I’ll take out a wild boar now; there’s nothing else left to find."

Zhang Guoqing shook his head in silence. He needed to see what was happening—whether the animals had escaped to the deep mountains or had been eradicated, and he needed to check the surroundings to understand any hidden dangers.

Seeing him continue without pause, Zhou Jiao glanced around and pondered briefly before asking, "Are you heading to the Wild Boar Forest?"

"Yes."

"Foolish. We’ve eradicated the pigs, so there wouldn’t be any left. And what if there are wolves there?"

"I’ll just feed you to the wolves. Shh, be quiet, I’m listening."

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