Back To The 80s

Gu Xiaobei saw Qu Yan coming over and said joyfully, "So you’re off to buy some furniture in town."

Qu Yan responded with a smile, "Yeah, so I wanted to see if you two were going too. I figured it might be tough for you in your condition, so I asked your husband first."

Gu Xiaobei replied after considering Qu Yan’s expression for a moment, "Actually, this is something you need to ask me. It’s my decision how we spend our money. I doubt my husband even has two yuan for cigarettes."

Qu Yan chuckled awkwardly, while Ding Guihua frowned, somewhat annoyed, saying, "That’s not right. How could a woman control the finances? People will laugh at us if they hear this."

Gu Xiaobei didn’t rush to argue. Instead, she rubbed her belly thoughtfully, then spoke, "Auntie, look at me. I look awful right now, don’t I? I’m just scared that when a man has money, he’s tempted to stray. I’ll be the one at a loss."

Ding Guihua rolled her eyes at Gu Xiaobei and scoffed, "I’ve been around for a while. I can tell if someone’s good or bad, and your Zhanguo is not that kind of man."

Gu Xiaobei let out a sigh, casting a pointed glance at Qu Yan. She mumbled, "I know Zhanguo is not that kind of man, but as the saying goes, even a good man can’t resist the temptation of a wicked woman." Qu Yan was startled by this comment and her facial expression went tense.

Ding Guihua nodded, "Exactly, in our time, talking to men from outside society would lead to gossip. But look at things now. People are all for this ’free love’ thing. What version of ’free love’ allows men to take advantage every chance they get?" Ding Guihua replied, airing her own views.

Gu Xiaobei watched with amusement as Qu Yan struggled to control her befuddlement.

To hide her unease, Qu Yan leaned down to play with the child in Ding Guihua’s arms and said, "Our Xinxin is becoming more and more beautiful. Let Auntie hold you."

Ding Guihua, however, showed no intention of handing over the child, her words icy, "Auntie? That’s not very appropriate now, is it? My Nizi doesn’t have a mother."

Ding Guihua’s words left Qu Yan feeling awkward. She forced a laugh and said, "Auntie, you shouldn’t say such things in anger. My elder cousin is also Xinxin’s biological mother."

Ding Guihua coldly huffed, "The old saying goes, ’dragons birth dragons, phoenixes birth phoenixes, rats’ sons can dig holes’. My Nizi cannot have such a mother. The reputation of our Guo family would be destroyed."

Qu Yan found herself disliking Ding Guihua. This older woman was rude and ungrateful. When Qu Yan was not there, she agreed to babysit, but now that she had fallen out of favor, this woman was downright nasty. Qu Yan felt wronged."

Gu Xiaobei stood on one side, watching the drama unfold like an amused spectator. If Ding Guihua didn’t like someone, she could trample them underfoot."

Qu Yan stood there for a while before awkwardly excusing herself. Ding Guihua snorted and spat at Qu Yan’s retreating back, "What a piece of work. She’s no good — always hanging around our house. I bet she’s got her eye on my Qiangzi."

Gu Xiaobei admired Ding Guihua’s keen eye. She was spot on about Qu Yan’s character, even if she was wrong about where her affections lie. Qu Yan was infatuated with Zhanguo, not Huaqiang."

With the drama now over, Gu Xiaobei bid her farewell and slowly ambled over to the vegetable field."

From afar, she admired Zhanguo under the spring sunlight, wielding his shovel; the strength of his labor was a captivating sight, making Gu Xiaobei light up. A smitten smile spread across her face as she walked over."

"Let me help you smooth out the field with the hoe," Gu Xiaobei offered, her huge belly leaning to reach for a hoe."

A panicked Zhanguo quickly intervened, "Don’t — I’ll take care of it. Just stand over there and watch."

Gu Xiaobei laughed softly, stood aside watching Zhanguo till the soil and couldn’t help but say, "When we get old, let’s live in a village, get a patch of land, and grow veggies and raise chickens."

Zhanguo thought to himself, ’Do we really need to wait till we’re old? Aren’t we living that life already?’

Since they were moving to a new house, Gu Xiaobei wanted to take advantage of her mobility while she could, and buy some household items like curtains. There were no big items on the list, but there were small ones yet to be bought."

She picked a Sunday. Zhanguo drove her into town. As soon as they left the barracks, they saw Qu Yan waiting at the gate, as if she knew they would be there."

Seeing their car, Qu Yan flagged them down, "Sister-in-law, Commander, where are you off to?"

"We’re meeting a friend, do you need something?" Gu Xiaobei answered diplomatically, knowing full well that Qu Yan would want to tag along."

"I was planning on going to town. Could you give me a lift?" Qu Yan asked, smiling."

Gu Xiaobei considered her words. If Qu Yan wanted to go, why not let her? She’d have some fun at Qu Yan’s expense on the journey. She turned to Qu Yan and said with a smile, "Are you shopping for something? We’re going into the city, you can go with us to shop. The stuff in the city is cheaper and they’ve got everything."

On hearing this, Qu Yan readily agreed. She beamed, "Great! I was hoping to buy some fabric. It’s getting warmer and I want to make a dress."

Gu Xiaobei answered with a sweet smile, "Then get in the car quick. I wanted to buy some fabric too."

Qu Yan quickly opened the back door of the car and scrambled in."

Zhanguo didn’t know what Gu Xiaobei was up to but he remained silent until Qu Yan was settled in. Then he pressed the accelerator, and they hit the road."

Sitting in the passenger seat, Gu Xiaobei stayed quiet, fiddling with her fingers and then poking at her stomach. She completely ignored Qu Yan in the back."

Qu Yan tried to start a conversation several times, but seeing Gu Xiaobei deep in thought, swallowed her words, making the atmosphere somewhat tense."

After ignoring Qu Yan long enough, Gu Xiaobei finally looked up and spoke in a coquettish voice to Zhanguo, "I’m thirsty."

Zhanguo was baffled. There was a military canteen full of boiled water right between their seats. Gu Xiaobei usually just took it and drank whenever she was thirsty."

When Zhanguo showed no response, Gu Xiaobei pouted and repeated, "I’m thirsty."

This time Zhanguo didn’t ask any questions. He stopped the car, took the canteen, opened the top, and handed it to Gu Xiaobei."

Glancing at Qu Yan, Gu Xiaobei asked in a soft voice, "Is the hot water we filled up this morning still too hot?"

Zhanguo took a sip to check. It wasn’t hot. He patted Gu Xiaobei’s head and said, "Good girl, it’s not hot anymore, drink up." By this point, he was completely oblivious to Qu Yan in the back seat."

Qu Yan’s jaw dropped at Zhanguo’s words. How could this man be so tender, so doting on such an inconspicuous woman? This made her feel even more disgruntled."

Gu Xiaobei took the water and sipped it carefully. Even without looking, she knew Qu Yan’s face was probably a sight to behold now."

Qu Yan regretted getting in the car. She felt jealous as she watched the couple shower each other with affection, and it tore at her."