Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 567 - 448: A Son Should Be Like Little Ping’an
The next morning, Zhang Guoqing, who had received the decree, gleefully began to pack two large bags of luggage for the child. This guy was so thrilled to be with his son that he seemed to forget that they, as a couple, had neither the time nor the energy to accompany the child long-term.
Zhou Jiao watched him in high spirits and shook her head speechlessly. When will these two big bags be used? Wouldn’t moving be better? One might not even know if Ping’an had suffered some great grievance.
"No need to bring blankets. He’ll sleep with us."
"Just one set of clothes for changing is enough."
Zhang Guoqing shook his head with a smile, "Bring more, once they’re dirty, Aunt Chen can wash them when we bring them back, saves you from washing clothes in the cold winter."
"Sure, do as you see fit, just don’t make it too conspicuous."
After Zhou Jiao finished speaking, she didn’t disturb his enthusiasm. Ping’an meant a lot to him. This was the son he had wanted for two lifetimes, he couldn’t wish more to worship him like an ancestor.
After a busy morning of preparations, they had lunch and quickly took their wife and son back to school. If they didn’t leave now, he feared they might not be able to go.
He exhaled harshly as they stepped out of the Big Courtyard.
Seeing this, Zhou Jiao laughed holding her son, "It’s alright. Auntie and Aunt Chen are just worried the child won’t eat well or stay warm outside."
Zhang Guoqing shook his head with a smile, and said lightly, "Luckily there’s only one room, otherwise they’d surely have followed. I’m the child’s father, how can they not trust me?"
Zhou Jiao gave him a sidelong glance. Is this distrust? The old ladies are worried about food and accommodation.
The couple were too busy to chat much, they rushed with the child onto the car, changed cars, and finally made it to the school gate after much hassle.
On the way, Ping’an quietly observed his surroundings, not noisy or troublesome, responding to questions and smiling at compliments. He knew this was the outside world his grandpa had talked about. He’d heard it was complex, and planned to take a good look to tell his grandpa how complex it was when he got home.
The little one squeezed on the bus, gently furrowed his brows but then smiled. His grandpa said not to let others see what one is thinking outside. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎
Looking at the school gate and the farmland not far away, Ping’an suspiciously looked at the avenue inside the campus ahead. His grandpa said this was the best school, and he should study here when he grew up, but why did it look like home? He planned to go back and tell his grandpa to come and see.
As Zhou Jiao walked faster, Ping’an thoughtfully looked around. Hmm, lots of nice big houses, lots of uncles and aunties in worn-out clothes, no kids.
Entering the dormitory building, Ping’an widened his eyes in surprise, looking at people coming and going in the hallway. Grandpa was right, the outside world was complicated and different from home.
Once inside the room, he got down and curiously wandered around, observing.
"Son, how’s it going? Any thoughts? Tell Dad," asked Zhang Guoqing as he amusingly watched him pacing quietly with his little chubby legs.
Ping’an looked at the couple, then at the closed door and tried to imitate his grandpa’s smirk. Unfortunately, his bun-like face distorted it beyond recognition.
Zhou Jiao gestured Zhang Guoqing not to laugh aloud; she also suppressed her amusement and lowered her head — a child’s self-esteem cannot tolerate adults’ ridicule, better not to discourage.
"Dad, the buildings look like rabbit holes."
Zhang Guoqing couldn’t help but laugh loudly. He had seen those piled up rabbit cages at the nursery, weren’t they just a few rabbits in a hole.
He picked up the child, murmuring softly, "Outside, don’t say this. Many people live in buildings, they’d be upset to hear. But, my son says it really well, give him a kiss!"
Seeing it was early for dinner, Zhou Jiao took out the camera and said to the playful father and son, "Have some snacks, let’s walk around the campus."
Zhang Guoqing agreed, nodding. Just right for a stroll this weekend, with fewer people due to the cold, and take some memorable photos for the child.
The family took a short break, then Zhang Guoqing carried his son, led his wife out the door. They took a shortcut through a secluded path, initially worried about delays if they met acquaintances, but made a loop without spotting anyone.
He thoughtfully looked around. Actually, compared to the Northeast, this weather now was just late autumn, if one was well-fed and warm, the small snowflakes outdoors weren’t truly cold.
Ping’an took a few photos but soon lost interest and asked to go back.
"Son, not enjoying here? When summer comes, I’ll bring you again, when the lotus blooms and there’s plenty of trees and flowers around, it’ll be very pretty."
Ping’an shook his head, "Not as pretty as Daqing Mountain. There’s meat there too."
"Pfft," Zhou Jiao laughed, "Good taste, good idea. Truly my good son. When spring comes, we’ll go to the prairie, there’s more meat there."
Ping’an’s eyes lit up at these words, nodding repeatedly, "Mom, let’s promise."
"Alright, promise sealed for eternity, whoever breaks it is a puppy."
Zhang Guoqing quickly captured the moment — a smiling mother squatting, the son looking up joyfully, a warm scene of mother and son making a promise. This was a covenant, a memory to cherish.
The next morning, Ping’an followed his parents out, startling Yi Jiefang on the second floor, who dropped his water basin in fright. Regardless of his wet pants, he pointed at the family saying, "You’re going to school, what about Little Douding?"
Ping’an unhappily retorted, "Who’s Little Douding? Babies are Little Douding; I’m a little man."
His babyish shout made the classmates who came out to watch the commotion laugh uncontrollably.
"Alright, alright, uncle was wrong, you’re a little man. Your mom and dad are going to class, you have to sit still, can you do it?"
Ping’an was unwilling to speak, nodding. His big eyes curiously scanned everyone, recognizing a few, he flashed them a smile.
"Xiao Wu, your son’s pretty bold, not scared at all."
"Ping’an, wanna come to the classroom with us?"
"Little man, remember uncle?"
Ping’an turned and walked away, raising his hand and waving, "I’m pressed for time, goodbye."
Zhang Guoqing didn’t have time to say more, hurriedly followed, the next was stairs.
Watching the family leave, everyone laughed again.
"Where’s this little thing rushing to? Where does he learn this stuff from."
"Learned from adults, of course. See how he just turned and waved, like his grandpa? Such young kids love to imitate. My nephew even mimics the elderly smoking."
For the next two days, Ping’an followed his parents switching classrooms consistently. As time passed, he began missing his little buddies, worried whether the aunties would forget his Guoguo snacks without him in class.
And what if grandpa comes back and can’t see him? What if grandma misses him holding her to sleep? What if great-grandmother misses him? What if someone steals his Guoguo at home?
As Ping’an began to fret and worry, he finally awaited his grandma Lin Lishan’s arrival. He quickly ran out of the classroom, never wanting to attend classes with those odd uncles and aunties again.
Ping’an learned that grandpa still needed two days to return home, so disappointed he looked at the car, then at his parents. He hesitated for a moment, speaking babyishly to request Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao make a promise to return home frequently to be with him. After getting a satisfactory reply, he happily got on the car to go home and wait for his grandpa.
From this campus visit, Ping’an began to understand what his grandpa meant by the world outside being complex. Those adults thought he was little, always asking him a lot of questions. He started getting what complexity meant — too many bad people is complexity. He decided never to come to school again, when he grew up, if anyone asks again, he’ll slap them dead.
