Back To The 80s

Gu Xiaobei nodded in agreement - Wen Xiuqing really was an oddball. During her last visit, Xiuqing’s brief and aloof demeanor led Gu Xiaobei to believe that she was a cold and indifferent person. However, upon returning this time, she noted that although Xiaobei’s demeanor was still cool, she made sure that the meals prepared by Aunt Li catered to everyone’s tastes and preferences; seemingly knowing what everyone liked and disliked.

Sometimes, she would lose her temper out of the blue, erupt in anger, and then storm off without any regard for the situation.

Gu Xiaobei suddenly thought of a term: Menopause.

Fang Jing chimed in, "What’s more, it would be wrong to mention Aiguo’s eldest brother who has been gone for so many years, as Xiuqing cannot bear to let go. Nobody dares to bring up the eldest brother’s affairs at home. If anybody does, she would immediately fly into a rage."

Seizing the opportunity, Gu Xiaobei promptly asked, "What happened to their eldest brother?"

Fang Jing lowered her voice, "I heard that when the eldest and second brother were just over one year old, the second brother got some stomach trouble and had diarrhea. Xiuqing, on her own in the countryside and busy with two kids, struggled to manage everything at once."

"She left the eldest brother sleeping while she went to the river to wash the soiled clothes, thinking he would be fine. But when she came back, she found the eldest brother’s head plunged into the chamber pot. He was already breathless. That’s all I know, I am not sure about the rest of the details."

Gu Xiaobei felt a pang of sorrow. Was that why Xiuqing was terrified and angry whenever she saw a child defecating? Did that lead to her venting her wrath on Lu Zhanguo? Did she resent him for having had the stomach trouble? Gu Xiaobei felt something was amiss in her conjecture.

They continued their conversation until they went downstairs and saw that Shi Xiuying and her daughter had surprisingly left. Gu Xiaobei wondered, didn’t they say they would stay a few more days?

Fang Jing directly asked Lu Aiguo, "Where’s our aunt? Wasn’t she supposed to stay a couple more days before leaving?"

"Yanzi missed her children at home and was in a hurry to go back," Lu Aiguo replied, leaning on the sofa with a radio in his hand that was playing a broadcast.

"Tap tap tap - tap tap. Kids, the Little Horn broadcast is beginning!" The voice from the popular Little Horn broadcast was playing, and right after a child star named Cai had finished the theme song, came the gentle voice of the radio host Sister Chuntian. Xiaopang and Mo Wang immediately turned their attention to the broadcast.

Xiaopang was tapping in the air following the rhythm of the music, happily uttering sounds of joy with his mouth.

Mo Wang just stared with his round eyes, listening without moving.

Seeing the two children engrossed, Gu Xiaobei curiously asked Lu Aiguo, "Aiguo, what program is this you’re playing?"

"Come on, sister-in-law, this is the Little Horn broadcast. Didn’t we grow up listening to this when we were young?" Lu Aiguo sounded puzzled, as this broadcast was nearly universally known.

Gu Xiaobei sheepishly smiled. During her childhood, cartoons had started flooding in and people seldom listened to the radio anymore.

But this broadcast show for children gave Gu Xiaobei an idea. If children’s literature collaborated with radio stations to establish an English learning program for children, it would surely be a hit.

Lu Zhanguo, holding Mo Wang in one hand, and extending his other hand to Lu Aiguo said, "Give it to me; let’s keep the radio in our room for a few days."

Lu Aiguo slanted his eyes, "Bro, you should be more considerate. My sister-in-law just asked a question, and you’re already trying to bolt. That is not the right way to treat a brother, is it?"

"Stop wasting time and give it here." Lu Zhanguo threatened Lu Aiguo, acting as if he would do something if he didn’t hand it over.

Lu Aiguo hurriedly handed it over, still managing to poke fun while doing so, "Oh well, I simply can’t beat you. Little Mo Wang, look at your dad. Don’t grow up to be like him."

Fang Jing sitting to the side, gave him a light punch, "Why can’t you stop talking trash?"

Gu Xiaobei watched them joking around and laughing, all the while her mind started planning the feasibility of her idea. She decided that she needed to draft a plan as soon as possible.

While everyone was chatting and laughing in the living room, Lu Ruixue arrived with Chen Dajun.

Chen Dajun looked much more subdued than before, even somewhat shy and apprehensive, trailing closely behind Lu Ruixue.

Seeing everyone at home, Lu Ruixue immediately went over to Lu Aiguo, urgently saying, "Third brother, return the house deed to Dajun. My mother-in-law has found out and is threatening to hang herself at home."

Chen Dajun, standing below, nodded his head continuously and humbly added, "Yes, third brother, why don’t you lend me the house deed for now? I’ll appease my mother and then return it to you."

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Lu Aiguo’s lips, but he didn’t say a word. Instead, he sat quietly, observing the two before him.

Under his gaze, Chen Dajun began to feel nervous and involuntarily took a step back.

Lu Ruixue, however, continued to plead, "The minute my mother-in-law found out that Dajun had sold the old house, she stopped eating and drinking, threatening to commit suicide. Third brother, you can’t let us bear the infamy of being unfilial, can you?" 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Lu Aiguo, lightly tapping the armrest of the sofa, slowly responded, "Are you two thinking that I pocketed the house? And then you thought you could concoct this scheme to get it back?"

"Don’t tell me that you think asking people for favors doesn’t cost a thing? Or did you think that I, your third brother, am so capable that I can just snap my fingers and conjure hundreds of television tickets?"

Chen Dajun turned pale at his words, clumsily waving his hands as he stammered, "Third brother, you’ve got it wrong; my mother really did find out."

Lu Ruixue interjected with a flushed face, "Third brother, what nonsense are you talking about? This is a matter of life and death, would we joke about this?"

After speaking, Lu Ruixue turned to Lu Zhanguo and said, "Second brother, can you also speak up for us?"

Lu Zhanguo just lowered his head, playing with Little Mo Wang’s fingers, not uttering a word, as if he hadn’t heard Lu Ruixue’s plea at all.

"Ruixue, there’s no need for you to ask others to plea for you." Lu Aiguo spoke out, "Wherever it may be, business is about trust. You two are going back on our deal. That’s some way to behave. Forget about the fact that the house deed isn’t with me, even if it was, it would have been of no use."

Lu Aiguo stood and went over to Chen Dajun, stressing each word, "Don’t try any of these dramatic tricks with me in the future. They don’t work!" Having said this, he headed upstairs.

Gu Xiaobei watched as Lu Aiguo told Chen Dajun the last sentence, with a ruthless look in his eyes. She suddenly realized how naive she had been, only caring about doing business but lacking the necessary cunning. At times, she even showed too much compassion, how could someone like her thrive in the business world? Looks like she needed to gain more experience!

Seeing Lu Aiguo go upstairs, Lu Ruixue broke into sobs, complaining to Fang Jing, "What kind of man behaves this way? He’s a relative by marriage, yet he can still scam without a second thought. Can you tell me, what are you people doing hoarding that old courtyard?"

Fang Jing, bearing the brunt of this barrage of complaints, felt aggrieved and glared at Lu Ruixue, ready to snap back.

Then, they heard Wen Xiuqing come out from her room, her cold eyes fixed on Lu Ruixue, "Ruixue, don’t be irrational. I’ve told you since you were young, you must always think before you act. Did you? Would you two have behaved the same way if this person was a stranger?"

"You two thought because he’s your third brother, he should put up with you, didn’t you? I’m telling you, you can only rely on yourself if you don’t have the abilities. No one in this world can look after you forever, in the end, you have to depend on yourself.

"If you continue to be this thoughtless, the losses you endure will be far from just a house."