I can travel back and forth in 1986

Chapter 2 Resolving the misunderstanding

Zhang Beichuan often heard his grandfather Zhang Dequan talk about how their family had a youngest brother named Zhang Dehua. In 75, Zhang Dehua was wrongly accused of stealing corn from the collective to fill his stomach. Unable to bear the humiliation of being publicly criticized, he ran away in a fit of anger.

The day before yesterday, he went home to visit his grandparents and heard his grandfather say that his eyebrows and eyes looked a lot like his youngest brother, whom he had lost contact with fifty years ago, when he was young. He guessed he would never see him again in this lifetime.

In order to obtain a legal identity in 1986, Zhang Beichuan had no choice but to use his uncle's identity to clear his name.

Since he can travel back and forth between the two time periods of 1986 and 2026, Zhang Beichuan naturally wants to change his grandparents' life of hardship and, incidentally, settle accounts with some people and take back what belongs to his family!

Grandpa and Grandma had three daughters in their lifetime: Zhang Xiaoli, Zhang Xiaoju, and Zhang Xiaocui.

In later generations, having three daughters would be a source of immense pride, but in the 1970s, not being able to produce a son was considered a sin, and being bullied by family members and outsiders was commonplace.

Even her own mother and the others were not liked by her family. They were treated sarcastically and were bullied by the older boys in her uncle Zhang Dezhong's family from childhood to adulthood.

Because of these issues, my grandparents had countless arguments with my older brother and sister-in-law's family. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, they decided to separate and live separately.

When the Zhang family divided up their old four-room house, which was worth 400 yuan at the time, the old man Zhang Dezhong and his family, relying on their numbers and power, were only willing to give the grandparents 50 yuan to move out, which was at least half the amount!

The matter escalated to the village committee, which tried to resolve it as a family affair. In the end, the grandparents used the fifty yuan to build a thatched shed and make bricks and tiles, and spent two years building the first brick and tile house in the entire village.

During the two years of building the house, my grandparents had to do farm work and earn money during the day, and at night they worked day and night to make bricks and tiles and carry soil, which caused them to develop back problems.

Even now, my grandparents often have trouble sleeping at night because of back pain.

Every time Zhang Beichuan heard his grandparents recount these old stories, he felt a burning hatred in his heart, but there was nothing he could do. Now that he had this opportunity, he naturally wouldn't let it go easily.

In a flash, Shi Tiezhu seemed to remember something and looked Zhang Beichuan up and down.

"Are you really Zhang Dehua, who ran away from here in 75?"

"Yes, it's the real deal."

Shi Tiezhu looked him up and down again. "How come I remember you didn't look like this before?"

"It's been more than ten years since I left, things must have changed." Zhang Beichuan tried to remain calm, and then said, "Secretary, if you don't believe me, just have my third brother come over and you'll see."

To be honest, Zhang Beichuan wasn't sure either. He had only heard his grandfather say that he resembled the missing youngest uncle, but he wasn't sure how similar they were.

However, since he dared to say it, he must have a backup plan.

The villagers watching also looked at Zhang Beichuan with curiosity, and then at Lan Xiuying, who seemed a little uncomfortable.

Lan Xiuying was also puzzled. She had heard her husband mention this once before, and it was true.

However, when her brother-in-law ran away from Shihe Village, she hadn't married into the village yet, so naturally she didn't know him.

Did I really think my brother-in-law was a spy? That's ridiculous!

Just as she was lost in thought, Shi Tiezhu's words brought her back to reality.

"Xiuying, go home and ask your husband to come and see if this person is Zhang Dehua."

After regaining her senses, Lan Xiuying responded and ran home, but she felt a little sad. Not only had the duck that was about to be eaten flown away, but she had also caused a huge misunderstanding with her brother-in-law!

In about ten minutes, a middle-aged man who was as thin as a skeleton and shirtless squeezed through the crowd and looked Zhang Beichuan up and down.

The man's features resembled those of the youngest brother, Dehua, by about five or six points. Although they hadn't seen each other for over ten years, he wasn't entirely sure, so he tentatively called out to him.

"The youngest?"

Zhang Beichuan knelt down with a thud, silently saying in his heart, "I'm sorry, sir."

Then, she tried hard to think about the sad things that had happened to her recently, and looked at him with teary eyes.

"Third Brother, it's me, Dehua! I'm back! If you hadn't carried me, a newborn baby, to the commune to collect swill to eat, I would have been dead long ago. Over the years, I've finally made something of myself and have the face to come back and see you."

Zhang Beichuan's sudden action startled them.

Zhang Dequan quickly helped him up. From what he had just heard, he was certain that this was his youngest brother.

When he was ten years old in 59, his youngest child was born. Everyone said they couldn't raise him, and his parents abandoned him by the river. But he couldn't bear it and took him back.

He carried his youngest brother to the commune to beg and plead, collecting swill to wash rice grains, and then cooking porridge to raise his younger brother little by little.

"Youngest brother, where have you been all these years? I've searched everywhere in town and county for you, and you're finally back!"

Looking at his grandfather, whose eyes were red and swollen, Zhang Beichuan, whether from being too immersed in the role or something else, also started to cry.

The two "brothers" hugged each other and buried their heads in their hands, weeping bitterly. The villagers watching the commotion were also curious.

"Is that really Andy Lau?"

"Dehua, where have you been all these years? How come you haven't been arrested as a vagrant?"

"And why are you dressed like this?"

Only then did Zhang Beichuan loosen his grip on his grandfather, whom he now refers to as "Third Brother," and begin to explain.

"Years ago, I begged my way to the provincial capital. Luckily, I met a kind family who took me in and I hid there for a while... Later, after the reform and opening up, I was constantly on the run, running a business in the provincial capital. I really didn't want to hide anymore, so I came back..."

Zhang Dequan listened to his younger brother's story while nodding.

"Dehua, you must have suffered a lot these years. It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back."

Zhang Beichuan felt a little awkward being called Dehua all the time.

"Third Brother, I'm not called Dehua anymore. I've changed my name to Zhang Beichuan. From now on, you can call me Beichuan or Xiaochuan, it's fine."

"Okay." Zhang Dequan pulled him along and pointed to the somewhat awkward woman standing in front of him. "Youngest brother, this is your sister-in-law, Lan Xiuying."

The words "sister-in-law" sent chills down Zhang Beichuan's spine, but since he had already impersonated Uncle Yao in front of so many people, he had no choice but to continue the act.

"Hello, sister-in-law, hello, sister-in-law..."

Lan Xiuying smiled awkwardly, but looking at her brother-in-law's somewhat unfocused eyes, she felt a strange, indescribable feeling in her heart.

"Alright, alright, since it's a misunderstanding, everyone should go back." Shi Tiezhu said, dispersing the villagers who had come to watch the commotion, and reluctantly returned the items that had just been found to Zhang Beichuan.

Having regained his belongings, Zhang Beichuan didn't say a word. He took out cigarettes from his pack and offered them to everyone.

"I don't have any identification, so I had to pay for rides everywhere I went. I've run out of money, and all I have left are a few cigarettes. Please don't mind them."

The young men who received the cigarettes treated them like treasures, examining the high-end cigarettes from the provincial capital over and over, glancing every now and then at the lighter in Zhang Beichuan's hand.

Zhang Beichuan flicked on his lighter and lit it for everyone. Turning his head, he saw Shi Tiezhu staring at the lighter in his hand, looking quite pleased with it. Seeing that the others were also staring at their lighters, he made up his mind.

Since we're going to stay here and make some changes, money is essential.

You can't spend money from 2026 in 1986, can you? Fortunately, influenced by his grandparents' stories and Zhang Beichuan's own enjoyment of period novels, he has some understanding of this era.

What was once an ordinary lighter in 2026 was a treasure in 1986—a treasure that could make money!

Moreover, he can have as much of this stuff as he wants!