Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 791 - 665: Impromptu Trip

For several days in a row, Zhang Guoqing was busy during the day handling the backyard vegetable garden and slaughtering wild animals. At night, he took the children out to several nearby production teams to purchase some items.

At this time, even Little Ping’an knew that grain tickets, sugar tickets, and cloth tickets were more valuable than cash. Some households wouldn’t be willing to sell a century-old ginseng no matter how much money you offered. But if you mentioned having tickets, they’d absolutely be happy to pull you inside their rooms.

In the village, building materials for houses and such required team approval. The workforce usually came from neighbors, relatives, and friends during the agricultural off-season, with the host family only needing to provide meals. Extra cash didn’t really have much use, but tickets were different. Big occasions like a daughter’s wedding or a bride entering the family, where face mattered, there was a demand.

For example, making two sets of new wedding clothes, or perhaps a bicycle ticket, a wristwatch ticket. Plus, those families capable of storing ginseng and fur had strong foundations that kept them from starving even in past years.

Thus, as soon as Zhang Guoqing arrived, many people would first bring up which grandson or granddaughter was getting married at the end of the year and what they were lacking now?

With a discerning ear, Zhang Guoqing and his father exchanged a smile. These were the things their family lacked the least. The two sides then immediately finalized the deal.

Three days later, the cloth tickets, sugar tickets, and bicycle tickets purchased from the Black Market were spent, along with the four watches Zhou Jiao kindly provided. Within the surrounding hundred miles, there was nothing more to gain.

At night, the family of three gathered around a pile of loot on the kang, looking at each other. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Why?

Because it was too cheap!

A piece of ginseng over a century old, at the local friendly price, had cost Zhang Guoqing 350 yuan a few years ago. Now, in ’62, after five or six years of turmoil from the famine, the price had only risen to 400 yuan. And the wild ginseng of seventy to eighty years was even cheaper, less than 150 yuan.

In this way, except for the previously reserved ones that cost 5,000 yuan, they still had twelve century-old ginsengs left. Besides attaching tickets and the now doubled-priced watches, cash was supplemented with less than 1,000 yuan.

There were still four bundles of ten-yuan cash, ten stacks of 100 notes, prominently placed on a tiger hide, with a pile of valuable purple sable fur next to it.

"Spend! Must spend more!"

Before Zhang Guoqing could respond, Ping’an shook his head repeatedly, "No more. Ginseng is not a big radish. They all say what they could sell in the previous years has mostly been sold."

Zhou Jiao nodded silently, frowning in thought.

Could it be they really have to go to the bordering province? If there were no acquaintances there, they wouldn’t be able to spend money even if they wanted to. If they really had to track down Mr. Wang’s so-called apprentice, she was worried about her husband being lured into the deep mountains.

Zhang Guoqing knew she was worrying about how to spend the 90,000 yuan planned. However, there’s strategy in every mountain; he wouldn’t give the answer so quickly.

Why let them constantly overshadow him with their intelligence? As the head of the family, he also felt pressure, okay? This time, he had to show his wife and son his capabilities.

Zhang Guoqing lowered his eyelids, pondering how Mr. Wang’s apprentice was preparing upon receiving the telegram. When would they set off? Besides the three precious items and frog oil, what else would they bring?

Zhou Jiao clapped her hands, "Brother, seems like we need to trouble Grandpa Wang to send a telegram to his apprentice, telling him to bring anything over and name his price."

Ping’an’s eyes turned brightly, "Mom, I have money."

Zhou Jiao glared at him speechlessly. Always wanting a part in everything!

"Dad, my grandpa must have returned home. Help me send him a telegram to wire money. This will surely work!" Ping’an blinked his big eyes, smiling as he pulled Zhang Guoqing’s arm, shaking it.

Zhang Guoqing chuckled speechlessly. This kid!

Zhou Jiao shook her hand, "Wiring money here would be too conspicuous."

"Will what’s here be enough?" Ping’an hesitantly glanced at the remaining cash.

Zhou Jiao and Zhang Guoqing exchanged a smile.

From outside came a loud voice: "Xiao Wu, Xiao Wu..."

Zhang Guoqing immediately stood up, "That’s Uncle Wang. I’ll go open the door, you guys tidy up quickly."

Seeing him leave after speaking, Ping’an immediately jumped off the kang and followed. If he guessed right, it must be Grandpa Wang coming to notify them about going up the mountain.

Zhou Jiao stored the items inside, looked at the watch, it was almost 8 o’clock, wondering why the other party was in such a hurry to visit. She smoothed her clothes and stood up to go outside.

Uncle Wang stood outside holding a telegram. Upon seeing Zhang Guoqing open the door, he smiled, "A telegram arrived during the day. The old man at home says you should decide for yourself."

Zhang Guoqing took it without a close look, inviting him in for a sit.

"No need. You should read first, the old man is waiting for your reply."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Guoqing didn’t stand on ceremony, using the dim light of the kerosene lamp to read the contents: preparations underway, urgently waiting for someone. He pondered slightly, understanding that the other party probably had little cash and was waiting for him to fetch the goods.

"So, how about it? Going or not?"

Zhang Guoqing smiled and nodded, "Let’s make a trip. Uncle, what do you plan? If you’re going, we should depart tomorrow."

Uncle Wang turned and looked behind him, speaking in a low voice, "My dad said you’d definitely go. Before coming to see you tonight, I already asked the team for a week off."

Zhang Guoqing understood and nodded, also speaking softly, "Then let’s meet in the county town at 7 a.m. tomorrow."

Uncle Wang nodded, said goodbye, and returned. This time going out, they too would bring all of their family savings, even with Zhang Guoqing accompanying, he had to go back and prepare well.

Zhang Guoqing watched him leave, closed the courtyard door again, picked up the child beside him, and walked towards the inner room. Seeing Zhou Jiao in the living room, he handed the telegram to her.

"We’ve arranged to set off at 7 a.m. tomorrow with Uncle Wang in the county town. Do you have anything else to add?"

Zhou Jiao shook her head, "Just find an excuse for your parents. The Wang Family seems to have a lot of resources."

Zhang Guoqing smiled and nodded, "Definitely! When he was young, he returned from afar with family assets. Otherwise, if Wang Baiwan offered a high salary, he wouldn’t have turned it down. Over several decades, and with each of his descendants skilled in hunting, the accumulated assets are thicker than any landlord’s.

Luckily, he’s shrewd and doesn’t flaunt wealth. I heard from my grandfather that he always exchanged money for gold or silver dollars. I guess Mr. Wang must be troubled these years, unable to convert to gold, afraid to deposit in the bank, worrying that too much cash might mold. What if rats nibble on it, then what?"

Zhou Jiao recalled the semi-brick, semi-dirt courtyard of the Wang Family and understood, smiling. How could someone who once traversed the martial world be a simple character?

Since the trip was confirmed, Zhang Guoqing went out to the old courtyard to find his parents, while Zhou Jiao started preparing travel food and luggage. She looked at her cheerful son and teased him, "Your grandpa and grandma will definitely want you to stay home."

Ping’an was taken aback upon hearing this. That’s indeed possible! Observing his mom’s expression, seeing her smiling, "Mom, how many days this time?"

Zhou Jiao amusingly pinched his cheek, his chubby and tender face fun to play with, "About five days." After speaking, seeing the child relax his expression, she smiled. As expected of her son, so quickly able to grasp key points and catch the meaning.