Back To The 80s

Chapter 256: Chapter 266: Relocation (extra [Chapter] for 500 monthly tickets)_1

Zhanguo Lu was chatting casually with Uncle Wang in the backyard.

Aunt Wang was bustling around the kitchen, not only making sour noodle soup but also stir-frying eggs with leeks and making an egg pancake with toon sprouts.

After the meal, Aunt Wang couldn’t resist giving instructions again, telling them to call her when the baby was about to be born, insisting that she would come.

Only under Xiaobei Gu’s repeated assurance did Aunt Wang finally let them leave.

Once they got in the car, Xiaobei couldn’t help but voice her concerns: "I think when it’s time for me to give birth, we should hire an extra housemaid too."

Zhanguo looked a little confused, hadn’t they agreed to ask Aunt Wang for help? Why should they bring in a stranger now? He asked, "Why is that?"

Xiaobei pondered for a moment before replying: "Today Aunt Wang said she wouldn’t charge anything for helping us with the baby. But I was thinking that people have different habits. If something arises that we have different opinions about, it might be hard for me to say anything if it’s Aunt Wang. Whereas if we hire a maid and she makes a mistake, I can speak up directly. So, let’s ask Aunt Wang to help with the baby and hire a maid to split the responsibilities."

Xiaobei believed that employing someone and asking for help were two different things. If not handled properly, it could hurt each other’s feelings, turning a good deed into something bad in the end.

Zhanguo considered Xiaobei’s words and found some sense in them. After all, when people live together for some time, conflicts will inevitably arise. If the relationships are strained, even the best relationships can grow apart. He nodded and agreed, "Alright, we’ll see when the time comes."

Xiaobei then turned her head to ask Qin Li, sitting behind them: "We’re going shopping; would you two like to come along?"

Thinking that she had nothing to do at home anyway, Qin Li nodded and said, "As long as you don’t find us bothersome, we’re definitely in."

Xiaobei chuckled, "You’re not a bother at all. You can help me pick out some curtain patterns in a bit."

When they arrived at the department store, they didn’t see Qu Yan and didn’t know where she had gone.

Lately, Xiaobei had to use the bathroom quite frequently. Sometimes, whenever the baby moved, she would have to rush to the restroom. So as soon as they entered the department store, she hurried to the restroom with Qin Li, leaving Zhanguo and Jiujiu to wait by a watch counter.

While in the bathroom, Xiaobei complained to Qin Li, "My son is too mischievous, always kicking around and making me want to use the bathroom."

Qin Li burst into laughter: "What if it’s a little girl?"

Xiaobei brushed it off: "Even if it’s a girl, she would still be our precious baby. We could make a lot of floral dresses for her. But we’ve already had a check-up, and the doctor said it’s a boy."

"So it’s really a boy? Then your status at home is set to rise again. You’ve produced an heir for the Lu family in one shot," Qin Li teased.

Xiaobei got up, pulling up her pants while rolling her eyes at Qin Li. She emphasized, "My family doesn’t discriminate between boys and girls. Whether it’s a boy or a girl, my status at home remains unshaken."

The two of them, chattering and laughing, emerged from the bathroom. Neither of them noticed that, at the very end of the bathroom, crouched a grim-faced Qin Ximei.

Back home, having been informed of her two daughters’ situation — Yuan Ye sentenced to life imprisonment and Yuan Tan sentenced to a five-year term, Qin Ximei’s resentment towards Zhanguo Lu deepened. She swore to take revenge on Zhanguo and make him taste the bitter fruit of a broken home and missing family members.

Having failed to make any headway in the Capital City, Qin Ximei moved to T City after the Chinese New Year, finding opportunities to take revenge on Zhanguo.

Today, she just happened to run into Xiaobei at this place. Especially upon hearing that Xiaobei was pregnant with a boy, her hatred blazed brighter. Why was it that Zhanguo got all the good things?

Unsuspecting of any evil plot against her, Xiaobei cheerfully proceeded to pick out curtains with Qin Li.

Poor curtain patterns had ruined the selection. Xiaobei glanced around and finally chose a few pieces of moon-white fabric printed with small green bamboo leaves. The fabric seemed quite thick and looked like it would block out the sunlight quite well.

After buying the curtains, Xiaobei also picked up two pieces of light-colored cotton fabric, planning to make two maternity dresses. That would be much more convenient and efficient to wear.

With all the goods purchased, Xiaobei sent Zhanguo to the car first with purchases; she planned to buy a couple of undergarments with Qin Li later.

Qin Ximei watched from afar as Zhanguo walked away. Only then did she dare to follow Xiaobei at a moderate distance, her hatred deepening at the sight of Xiaobei and Qin Li’s joking and laughing demeanor, strengthening her resolution to carry out her malicious plan.

Xiaobei bought three "工" shaped tank tops, planning to wear them when breastfeeding the baby.

After finishing shopping and coming out, she noticed that Qu Yan was already waiting by the car. There was no sign of Zhanguo.

"Sister-in-law, have you finished shopping?" Qu Yan asked with a forced smile.

"How long have you been here? You’ve been waiting a long time, haven’t you?" As Xiaobei looked around for Zhanguo, she asked Qu Yan.

Qu Yan’s smile stiffened, and she shook her head, "I haven’t seen the captain since I came here." Qu Yan lied, the reality being that when she arrived, Zhanguo was sitting in the car. Compelled by some unknown force, she opened the passenger’s seat and climbed in. However, Zhanguo merely glanced at her indifferently, opened the car door, and walked away.

Qu Yan was furious inside, swearing vengeance upon Zhanguo’s retreating figure. If she couldn’t win over this man, she wouldn’t be a Qu.

Seeing Qu Yan’s discomfiture, Xiaobei knew that Qu Yan had been snubbed. She sighed at Qu Yan’s unusual reactions.

When Zhanguo returned after circling around -- now, with a bag of cookies wrapped in wax paper -- and handed it to Xiaobei. Taking the cookies and seeing the forced smile on Qu Yan’s face, Xiaobei sighed in her heart: it’s not so much the thief we should fear, but rather the thief’s persistence. She needed to keep her distance from Qu Yan to avoid any unexpected pranks.

Zhanguo drove Qin Li and Jiujiu home first before heading home.

.........

During the Labor Day holiday, everyone in the hospital moved into the new home. Xiaobei, holding her belly, watched as Zhanguo led several soldiers to move things into the house. As per Xiaobei’s requests, a kang bed, about half the size of a room, had been built in the second bedroom. Atop of it, two felt carpets were spread, purchased from the shepherds in the village. The carpets were custom-sized, made of matted grey-black sheep wool, and were a bit prickly.

Xiaobei bought two pieces of coarse black and white plaid fabric, sewed them together, and made a kang bedsheet for it. If they wanted to sleep on it, they could spread a mattress on top.

The living room looked rather empty as they had yet to find a sofa they liked. The big, spacious room made Xiaobei feel a bit unused to the space.

Qu Yan also moved in and gifted Xiaobei an Amaryllis flower pot. Xiaobei felt nauseated; what was the reason for gifting a flower? To keep Zhanguo reminded of Qu Yan every day?

Xiaobei firmly declined: "I’m not fond of these flowers and plants. It’s better you keep it for yourself. Such a good flower, in my hands, will be dead within three days."

Qu Yan had initially intended to improve her relationship with Xiaobei so that she could often visit her. She had not expected to be refused so forthrightly by Xiaobei. Slightly disgruntled but unable to voice it out, she awkwardly clutched the flower pot and left.

After settling into the new house, Xiaobei was preparing for childbirth in peace. She had also prepared all the necessary items and was now just waiting for the baby to arrive. Little did she expect Qin Ximei to show up at this time.

When Zhanguo brought Qin Ximei home, Xiaobei was genuinely shocked - How dare she still show her face here!

But Qin Ximei acted as if nothing was amiss and smilingly said to Xiaobei, "Looking at your belly, it seems like you’re about to give birth. I happened to be passing by, so I thought I’d come to visit."

Xiaobei could not possibly believe her explanation – passing by? Where was she even going? Could she possibly just pass by this place on a whim? However, she responded casually, "I really appreciate your care, Aunt Yuan."

Qin Ximei smiled like a chrysanthemum bloom and said, "No trouble at all, it’s just our duty as elders. Besides, I’ve seen Zhanguo grow up from a child."