Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space novel Chapter 857

Chapter 857: Chapter 730: Moving into the Hutong Courtyard

For Zhou Jiao, once some people are abandoned in her heart, they have nothing to do with her. If her mom is happy to see them, it’s her mom’s freedom, she never forces anyone.

This matter is like the wind passing without a trace, so she casually mentioned it to Zhang Guoqing, then greeted Lin Lishan, and the couple took their son to the hutong courtyard to "vacation."

Avoiding acquaintances, upon arriving at the courtyard, Zhang Guoqing didn’t bother to tidy up first, and took the student ID and household registration book to greet the neighborhood committee.

Nowadays, Beijing’s household registration management is very strict. Especially as the year-end approaches, inspections become more thorough.

Those from out of town looking for relatives must bring proof to report to the street office, carry grain coupons along, and conveniently get proof to buy grain at designated grain stations.

As for those on business trips, they must register at the station with an introduction letter, then get a slip of paper stating where they are staying, from which day to which day, incredibly troublesome.

Walking out of the hutong, nearby the circular river, which has frozen, there are many children playing on it, and the old locust tree at the entrance of the hutong has hurriedly shed its leaves, leaving only bare branches.

Under the warm sun, many are busy shoveling snow and ice outside the courtyard. Some families have a big slope in front of the door, which has become a "big slide" after snow, with kids crying to forbid shoveling.

In the corner against the wall, an old man is popping popcorn, surrounded by three or five teenagers leading little radishes. At this moment, they are watching the craftsman pour the white rice into the pot, then covering their ears.

With a loud bang, a wave of heat rushes out of the pot, and the chubby, fragrant popcorn shoots straight into the long cloth bag.

Across the street from the neighborhood committee is a grocery store, no need to particularly search, just follow the wafting smell of sweet warmth — the chestnut vendor uses a coal stove, an iron pot, a big spatula, half a pot of iron sand to sell freshly roasted chestnuts.

After finishing his business, Zhang Guoqing, in a good mood, disregarded the biting cold wind, turned around to buy half a pound of roasted chestnuts. His family doesn’t lack such snacks, he’s doing it for happiness, enjoying this hutong life, planning to walk with his wife and child when the weather is good at noon someday.

Inside the courtyard, Zhou Jiao is "huffing and puffing" pulling the bellows, boiling a big pot of hot water, while inside, Ping’an is shouting: "It’s hot, the kang is hot."

As the voice comes out, he jumps out.

"Mom, I’m hot."

Zhou Jiao looks at him, laughing. Isn’t he sweating!

Dressed like a bear. A big cotton jacket with many clothes and pants inside, the forgotten big cotton hat pulled down to cover ears and neck, keeping out the cold wind from outside and trapping the heat inside. Adding cotton gloves is certainly a 360-degree protection.

Zhou Jiao places two wooden logs into the stove, washes her hands, and leads him indoors: "Let mom help you take some off first, don’t rush out to play, just after sweating, a blow of cold wind can easily cause a cold."

Ping’an pouts: "I said I wasn’t cold when we came out, look, I can’t even squat."

Zhou Jiao stifles her laughter: "Don’t you think it’s pitiful for those kids with runny noses from the cold?"

"But I’m wearing too many clothes, it’s inconvenient and hot."

Despite the cold winter outside, the fire kang in the three-room house is hot, the living room stove burning half a block of coal, the stove mouth gleaming red, the room’s temperature like late spring.

Without protests from the child, Zhou Jiao removes his clothes. The big cotton jacket reveals a furry vest, inside a thin cotton shirt and sweater. Even she is a bit embarrassed, it’s really too much!

Ping’an tugs at his clothes, "Right? Too much? Grandma wants to dress me in all the winter clothes, she says it’s cold outside."

"Grandma cares about you, don’t complain."

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