Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space novel Chapter 869

Chapter 869: Chapter 742: Creative Celebrations

In a rare bout of good weather, the wind stopped and the snow ceased, the winter sun piercing through layers of clouds brought threads of warmth. Ping’an couldn’t stay put and slipped out the door with his little friends.

With the children’s laughter gone, the yard became quiet and cold. Watching Aunt Chen following closely behind, Zhang Guoqing leaned against the wall, basking in the sun, as his wife lazily snuggled in the chair next to him, he stood up.

"Where are you going?"

"Too bored, I’m going to tidy up the west room."

"Do you want me to help?"

Zhang Guoqing quickly stopped her: "You just stay here and relax. I’ll just check the kang bed; Aunt Chen will tidy up the bedding later."

Zhou Jiao waved her hand half-sleepily.

In the three rooms of the west wing, Ping’an had taken one for a reading room, another was used by Zhang Guoqing for entertaining friends, leaving the middle one piled with clutter.

Standing at the door looking in, Zhang Guoqing resolutely gave up. He hadn’t reinforced the kang bed last year; he suspected someone might freeze to death at night. If the two sister-in-laws caught a severe cold, he’d have to worry about them passing it on to his wife and son.

Pulling aside the cotton curtain on the left room, inside was a mess, scattered with chess pieces and playing cards by his rowdy friends. This room hadn’t been without visitors since New Year.

Smelling smoke and alcohol inside, Zhang Guoqing disdainfully lifted the curtain, then opened the door and windows wide. No wonder Aunt Chen said this room needed a thorough overhaul after New Year.

The children’s reading room was just next to it, truly inconsiderate!

"Brother, you’re really thoughtful! Quick, come over and lend a hand." In the west wing, Zhang Guoqing saw Yi Jiefang coming over, grinning ear to ear.

Yi Jiefang wasn’t buying it. He leaned against the door, arm slung across, pointing at the kang: "What are you messing with again?"

"There’s not enough room to sleep."

Yi Jiefang dropped his arms in shock, incredulously pointing outside: "Even with your family, you don’t have enough room? Don’t tell me some relatives are coming over again?"

Zhang Guoqing rolled his eyes at him: "What? Got an opinion? My mother is coming!"

Yi Jiefang quickly jumped forward: "Why didn’t you say earlier? You’ll have to clear out a room, she’s my dear aunt after all." Then, he shook his head: "No, no! Uncle Zhou will surely have aunt and uncle stay in the main room."

"My mother is bringing two sister-in-laws, she’ll stay with Ping’an, and the sister-in-laws in the main room wouldn’t be right."

Yi Jiefang nodded understandingly.

"What’s with that expression? Come on, help me out, buddy."

Yi Jiefang reached out and straightened the kang cover, "Want me to have my mom think of a way to move places? They’ve enjoyed that women’s federation place for so long, they should almost be moving. Once that four-section compound is back, family from your hometown won’t have to squeeze into the house here. Luckily it’s your own family; if it were some countryman, what would you do?"

"Just toss them into the guesthouse, why bother thinking?"

"Really not in a hurry to get that courtyard back?"

Zhang Guoqing shook his head: "Getting it back is useless, only a few people at home, who’s going to run over there. It’s better the women’s federation keeps it, with your mom there, no one dares misbehave."

"Who says? Last time, people at their unit said the back is empty and they wanted it as a dorm. I heard several couples got married last year without a place to live."

Zhang Guoqing frowned: "How come you never mentioned it before?"

"Bothered, right? Who wants to talk about this kind of crap during the New Year? According to my mom, once we move to West Mountain, their unit might also move. You should discuss it with my sister, best if you both move your household registration over."

Zhang Guoqing nodded. His family had already discussed the courtyard issue. Somehow, Old Hu and his father-in-law talked one evening; when they returned, they told him the old man was reliable and it would be okay to transfer the alley courtyard to Old Hu’s name.

Apparently, his father-in-law had prior notice about the women’s federation moving out; otherwise, he wouldn’t have mentioned moving their household registration over.

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