Back To The 80s

After Wen Xiuqing finished, she lowered her head and hesitated before saying, "I suppose I still need some time."

Lu Songyuan sighed, lightly pressing Wen Xiuqing’s shoulder and said, "If it’s too much to handle, you should see a doctor."

"I’m not sick, I don’t need to go to the hospital," Wen Xiuqing shook her head. As a former doctor, she was paradoxically more averse to seeking medical treatment.

Lu Songyuan reluctantly patted Wen Xiuqing a few times, "Get to bed early, try to see Mo Wang more often. It might help overcome the hurdle in your heart."

......

The following morning, just after Gu Xiaobei had changed the baby’s diapers and prepared to nurse them, Fang Jing arrived with Yueyue.

"You’re up? Ready for breakfast downstairs?" Fang Jing led Yueyue inside.

"You didn’t go to work today?" Gu Xiaobei asked, surprised.

Fang Jing sat down beside the bed, smiling, "We work in shifts at our factory, I have the night shift today, so I rest during the day."

Gu Xiaobei nodded, "I’ll feed these two first before I head downstairs."

"No rush, Ruirui is downstairs. She doesn’t look well," muttered Fang Jing.

Gu Xiaobei found it strange. Considering how Lu Ruixue had stormed out the day before, he hadn’t expected her to show up again for a few days.

Fang Jing continued, "Did Ruirui argue with your mother yesterday? That happens a lot. Ruirui harbors a lot of resentment against her mother. Even on her wedding day, she didn’t bow to mom."

Gu Xiaobei was unaware of these matters and asked, intrigued, "Ruirui and Dajun have been married for years, why don’t they have kids?"

Fang Jing whispered, "Ruirui doesn’t want kids, she says that she’s not sure she can treat them well, so it’s best not to have them in the first place."

Gu Xiaobei realized Lu Ruixue was so hurt by Wen Xiuqing that she’d even lost confidence in herself, which made him more curious about why Wen Xiuqing acted the way she did.

After feeding the babies, Fang Jing held Mo Wang while Gu Xiaobei walked downstairs with Xiaopang in his arms.

In the living room downstairs, Lu Ruixue was sitting sprawled on the couch, bickering with Lu Aiguo; showing no signs of yesterday’s argument.

Lu Zhanguo sat by the side, immediately getting up to take Xiaopang from Gu Xiaobei when he walked downstairs with the baby.

"Third sister-in-law, you’re holding Mo Wang, right? Give him to me." Lu Ruixue also got up and went to Fang Jing to take Mo Wang.

Gu Xiaobei looked around but didn’t see Wen Xiuqing, thinking she might still be upset. However, shortly after, Wen Xiuqing came out of the kitchen, expressionless, and called everyone to eat.

The breakfast was soy milk, fritters, and pickles. Aunt Li also served Gu Xiaobei a bowl of sweet fermented rice with eggs. He was puzzled until Wen Xiuqing explained, "This is for you, it helps with lactation."

Gu Xiaobei was unexpectedly flattered by the gesture. Aboard, Lu Ruixue made a face and huffed.

Unable to resist, Lu Aiguo piped in, "What are you huffing about? If you had a child, mom would also make fermented wine with egg for you."

Lu Ruixue glared at Lu Aiguo, angrily retorting, "Lu Aiguo, can’t you keep quiet? Why are you always so talkative?"

"I like to talk. Do you have a problem with that? Where has that bastard Chen Dajun been lately?" Lu Aiguo shot back sternly.

In response, Lu Ruixue made a face, "How would I know? I haven’t seen him for days."

"You really should get your act together. Remind Chen Dajun not to let himself be used unwittingly." Lu Aiguo advised seriously.

Lu Ruixue was noticeably agitated, "Lu Aiguo, what do you mean? Do you just want to see Chen Dajun fail?"

Giving in Lu Aiguo surrendered, "Fine, looking at your ingrate behavior, I’ll stop advising you. You’ll have your own regrets." After saying this, he grudgingly picked up a fritter, bit into it and gave his ungrateful sister a sidelong sneer.

Wen Xiuqing quietly ate her meal, and unlike the usual, didn’t remind everyone not to talk while eating. She would occasionally glance at Gu Xiaobei, who was cradling Mo Wang.

The two little ones were nestled in their parents’ arms, their tiny eyes curiously focused on the adult’s moving mouths. Mo Wang was drooling while watching, Xiaopang just preferred gnawing on his own little fist.

After breakfast, Lu Aiguo took Lu Zhanguo to the hospital for a medical check-up. Gu Xiaobei joined Fang Jing with the children, sitting on the couch for a chat.

Wen Xiuqing sat at the dining table without moving, making Gu Xiaobei and Fang Jing uncertain about how to continue the conversation. With mother-in-law sternly seated nearby, they were unsure what could be appropriate for discussion.

However, Lu Ruixue seemed unaffected. She told them, "Did you know, Yuan Qing has found a boyfriend who works at Shougang, Vain Ximei is thrilled about it." Gu Xiaobei was surprised that Lu Ruixue addressed Qin Ximei by her full name and stole a glance at Wen Xiuqing. Seeing no reaction from her, he wondered when he should tell people in the house about Qin Ximei’s plot to kidnap children.

Fang Jing curiously asked, "But I heard they moved to the provincial city? How did they return? When did they come back? Why does Aunt Yuan never visit us anymore?"

Lu Ruixue sneered, "Are you at home every day? How would you know if she has visited? Besides, Uncle Yuan and Qin Qing didn’t move away from Capital City at all. Uncle Yuan felt it was too embarrassing to go back to his hometown."

Fang Jing was used to Lu Ruixue’s sharp tongue, so she didn’t take it personally. Gu Xiaobei thought that Qin Ximei’s absence was due to guilt.

Lu Ruixue, apparently excited to share more gossip, mysteriously said, "Yuan Qing’s boyfriend is shorter than me, as dark as coal, yet she parades him around."

Fang Jing wondered how Lu Ruixue could know so much, "How do you know all this?"

"Yuan Qing’s boyfriend is our neighbor’s nephew. They even sent gifts there during the National Day holiday. Yuan Qing is really something, she hasn’t even gotten a marriage proposal yet and she’s already meeting the guy’s relatives. She’s not even afraid of getting looked down on by her future in-laws." Lu Ruixue said disdainfully.

"I heard from my neighbor that Qin Ximei got back from the provincial city severely ill. She’s gotten some kind of evil disease that’s twisted her mouth." Lu Ruixue said excitedly.

Gu Xiaobei thought that Qin Ximei was terrified because she got caught by the police. He didn’t know Lu Zhanguo had physically confronted Qin Ximei.

Wen Xiuqing sat silently on the side, looking contemplative but saying nothing.

Lu Ruixue continued sharing her observations, "Our neighbor also mentioned that the guy’s family isn’t fond of Yuan Qing once they heard her family had a criminal history. The guy insists on marrying her though, so they’re at an impasse."

"I don’t think they’ll be able to get married. Yuan Qing better not end up in a bad situation." Lu Ruixue said with a smug grin.

She had always despised Yuan Qing. They were the same age and often played together during their childhood. But every time something went wrong, Yuan Qing would shift the blame to her, making her get scolded by Wen Xiuqing for being thoughtless.

So, seeing Yuan Qing in such a miserable state now, how could she not be happy?