Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 765 - 640: Who Would Mind Having Too Much Money?
When Zhang Guoqing returned, he saw his son boasting about how to make children listen. He didn’t mind and reported to Mother Zhang about where he had escorted the two aunts to.
After seeing their conversation end, Zhou Jiao checked her watch, "Brother, you go take a nap, I’ll stay with Mom. Mom, we still have to go out tonight, we’ll need you to look after Ping’an."
Mother Zhang quickly said, "Then why don’t you all go rest? Leave this to me."
"I’m not tired, but my brother woke up early and has been running up and down the mountain today."
Ping’an rolled his eyes and immediately stood up, pulling his dad’s hand, "I’ll accompany my dad to rest."
Zhang Guoqing picked him up, tapped his nose, and bid farewell to them, "Then I’ll go back first. Call me if you need anything. Mother, do less work, give more to your brothers and sisters, I’ll go up the mountain again in a few days."
"Alright, go and get some sleep."
On the way, Zhang Guoqing said to Ping’an in his arms with a smile, "You really can’t go tonight. Your mom and I have some serious business to handle, we’ll definitely be back before dawn."
"Can’t I really go?"
"No. The place we’re going this time is not suitable for children."
"Alright then."
Seeing him agree obediently despite being disappointed, Zhang Guoqing affectionately patted his head, "I’ll take you out to play tomorrow night, secret!"
Sure enough, once he said that, his son’s face broke into a smile. Fine, he’ll take him for a spin tomorrow night, maybe find something he likes in the nearby black market.
The northern summer has long days, it’s daylight at four, and by seven in the evening, it’s still not dark.
As it approached seven, the Old Captain looked up at the sky, silently praying to the ancestors for protection, hoping it wouldn’t suddenly rain like it did the past two years.
Uncle Zhang, who had been with him for so many years, knew immediately what he was worried about by his actions, and comforted him, "The weather has been good the past few days, it shouldn’t delay drying the wheat for storage."
"We still need to rush the work. Have everyone continue working for a while. Tonight, everyone gets a share of the venison from the canteen, whether they eat there or not."
Many people saw Zhang Guoqing carrying a deer head into the canteen today and were looking forward to having meat. When Uncle Zhang used the loudspeaker to announce this, both the adults and the kids were overjoyed.
Working a bit more is nothing. We’ve worked through the night before in past years.
Over here, Zhou Jiao finished her tasks and was urged by Mother Zhang to go back to take care of the child. Seeing the Mai Miao three sisters just return home, she didn’t refuse.
Honestly, she was worried that sleeping with his dad would affect his sleep at night. Moreover, Zhang Guoqing mentioned he promised the village elders ten pounds of liquor and dishes, so she had to go back and prepare something.
As soon as Zhou Jiao entered the west room, she saw Zhang Guoqing fast asleep. Ping’an in his arms had no sleepiness, and when he saw her, his eyes lit up.
Ping’an carefully moved the big hand off his stomach, slowly sat up, and seeing that Zhang Guoqing wasn’t awakened, silently grinned and climbed off the kang.
Watching his little actions, Zhou Jiao smiled, took his hand, led him out of the bedroom, gently closed the door, and softly asked, "Why didn’t you get up if you couldn’t sleep?"
"My dad just fell asleep, not deeply. I didn’t want to disturb him."
"Such a good kid! Are you hungry?"
Ping’an shook his head, "I had noodles in the afternoon. I’m just thirsty."
Zhou Jiao immediately picked him up, "Do you want some ice cream? You can’t eat too much though. Mommy will take you to the kitchen, and after we eat it, we’ll burn the wrapper in the stove."
"Destroying the evidence, right?"
"Some things don’t need to be said aloud."
Ping’an giggled at her words and gave her a kiss on the cheek, "Mom, don’t you think there are many things on the mountain? They don’t cost money and can be exchanged for money."
As Zhou Jiao entered the kitchen and handed him an ice cream, she asked with interest, "So, do you have a new idea in mind?"
Ping’an peeled off the top layer of foil and first offered it to Zhou Jiao to take a bite. Once he saw her take a small bite, he closed his eyes happily and took a lick.
"The brothers sell mountain goods and make money. I asked around, the buy-back station takes game, mountain produce, and herbs. But my dad said the prices here don’t match those in Beijing."
Zhou Jiao smiled as she listened to him speak while eating and secretly wondered if her son’s business acumen was inherited from his father. To notice such things in just two days was impressive.
"Brother Xi Zi and the others say it’s hard to make money. I think they’re silly. They told me that wild fruits aren’t worth much now, so why don’t they store them in a cellar and sell them when there are no more fruits on the mountain? And they could make preserved fruits like you do and sell them during New Year."
Zhou Jiao laughed at him and reminded, "Maybe they need money now?"
Ping’an shook his head, "They can borrow from my grandma. It’s a pity I’m too small. When I’m older, I’ll have Brother Xi Zi and them collect mountain goods and mail them to me in Beijing. I can sell them to the buy-back station and make money."
Zhou Jiao watched him shake his head like a little adult and found it amusing. "Didn’t you tell them your thoughts?"
Ping’an took a bite of ice cream, shook his head, swallowed, and then said, "They didn’t ask, so I didn’t say. You can’t meddle too much in other people’s business, it’s troublesome."
"That’s wise. Not only is it troublesome, but it may also lead to dependence. In the future, they might come to you for help with everything, and if you don’t help, they’ll think you’re bad. It’s better to stay out of it from the start."
Ping’an nodded at her words. That’s exactly what he meant. Also, his grandfather said that only when you’re down and out can you truly see if others are good or bad.
Setting those thoughts aside, Ping’an brought up what concerned him most, "Mom, I have an idea. I plan to have my dad take me up the mountain more to stockpile meat. Whatever we can’t eat can be sold at home for money and coupons."
After he said this, he watched Zhou Jiao’s expression.
Zhou Jiao smiled, "You’re so smart, even if we didn’t tell you, you must have noticed that we aren’t short on money, right?"
Ping’an nodded. He had accumulated quite a bit of New Year’s money, all saved up. But what does that have to do with not being short on money? Isn’t there a saying that one can never have too much money?
He asked perplexedly, "Who has too much money?"
Zhou Jiao chuckled, "That’s a good question, but one I really can’t answer. Because money is indeed a good thing, but some things can’t be bought with money, and conversely, if you don’t have money, you can’t do certain things. You’ll need to observe this for yourself. Mommy can only share her thoughts with you.
If it were me, I wouldn’t risk going up the mountain to hunt to earn money when life’s necessities are already guaranteed, as it’s not worth it. I’d focus on what’s important; time and effort spent merely to earn a bit more would be better put into learning skills.
Moreover, the price at the buy-back station isn’t that high, and selling on the black market is risky. One wrong move could implicate your grandparent, and it could become serious. Is this risk worthwhile?"
Following Zhou Jiao’s words, the ice cream in Little Ping’an’s hand gradually melted as he was lost in thought.
After a while, he shook his head, "This is something I’ll need to think about more. There has to be a way. My grandpa says there’s no problem in the world that can’t be solved, only brains that can’t think of solutions."
Zhou Jiao smiled. There are certainly ways, but risks come with them too. Letting the child think more is beneficial for developing his mind, and it’s a kind of training.
"However, Mom, my idea of stockpiling more meat isn’t wrong. While learning skills, I can also collect it. I won’t sell the meat but give it to the great-grandfathers in the Big Courtyard, and they’ll give me gifts in return. That’s a gain for me as well."
"A true man shouldn’t be caught up in little gains and benefits, or you’ll lose your stature. Pay attention to how your dad interacts with people regularly, and you’ll see that although he seems to give small favors, in reality, he’s gaining a lot. Don’t outsiders speak of your dad as righteous and loyal?"
After speaking, Zhou Jiao saw that the child was lost in thought again, and the ice cream in his hand was, of course, wasted. But... she smiled, it was worthwhile!
