Back To The 80s-Chapter 151: Like the Beginning (Request for Monthly Tickets)_1
Gu Xiaobei was taken aback, not understanding why Lu Zhanguo said such things, and Cheng Qijia awkwardly looked at Lu Zhanguo.
"Don’t forget your family relationships. Can you really make your own decisions about marriage?" Lu Zhanguo calmly reminded Cheng Qijia.
Cheng Qijia’s face turned pale, a hint of regret and resentment flashed across his face, followed by an expression of desolation.
Gu Xiaobei didn’t know about Cheng Qijia’s family background where he couldn’t have control over his own marriage. Moreover, even for a well-to-do family, the time has changed, had it not?
Cheng Qijia calmed down and said sternly to Lu Zhanguo, "I’m sorry, Lieutenant, I didn’t think it through."
"Alright, you should go back."
Only after Cheng Qijia left, Gu Xiaobei asked in confusion, "Why can’t Cheng Qijia make his own decisions about marriage?"
"His family is Manchu, descendants of the royal family, they have strict family traditions and many rules. Qin Li’s character isn’t suitable for their family." Lu Zhanguo didn’t elaborate any further.
Gu Xiaobei immediately thought of grand houses, powerful families, complicated internal disputes, and enmities.
Seeing Xiaobei’s self-knowing and knowing too well expression, Lu Zhanguo reluctantly said: "Alright, don’t overthink it, let’s go home."
After what Cheng Qijia said today, Gu Xiaobei was a little concerned about Qin Li, wondering how she and Jin Cheng, who had been broken off, were doing.
Lu Zhanguo also remained silent, thinking about the phone call he just had with Shen Heng. Gao Dailin, Chi Xiaoyue including Yuan Tan, these little fish have been controlled secretly, now they were just waiting for the shark.
Lately, Qin Li has noticed something weird about Jin Cheng. Every day after she got off work, she could see him sitting on a stone bench in the small vegetable garden downstairs. To her, he looked melancholic - he’s usually so brash, why would he sit there staring blankly into the garden all of a sudden?
After work today, she saw Jin Cheng sitting on the stone bench again, staring at a jujube tree that had never borne fruit nor flowers.
"What’s gotten into you lately? Are you not going out to show off anymore?" Qin Li walked over, slapping hard onto Jin Cheng’s shoulder.
"Look at you, still like a little girl – no wonder no one wants you." Jin Cheng snapped out of his thoughts, the corners of his mouth curling up into a smile, teasing her playfully.
"Cut it out – you have no room to talk. Isn’t the whole town filled with stories about you? Who would dare to hand their daughter off to you, just to block some ominous disaster?" Qin Li retorted, rolling her eyes.
"Well, there’s always you – thick-skinned as you are, crying and screaming to be wedded to me." Jin Cheng replied, a hint of tenderness visible in his taunting eyes.
Qin Li nonchalantly agreed, "Yeah, so it’s most appropriate for us to settle for each other."
"I’m not up for it - marrying you is the real disaster."
"Stop pretending to be indifferent – we’ll see when I propose to your mother." Qin Li confidently said.
"For a lady, shouldn’t you be a little more bashful? If your mother found out, she’d get you married off to a random person in a heartbeat." Jin Cheng squinted and laughed.
As Qin Li recalled her mother’s disdain for Jin Cheng, she felt a bit discouraged and went silent, sitting down on the stone bench next to him.
"And also, didn’t my mother tell you? The fortune teller said I’m destined to bring about a blood disaster. Are you not scared?" Jin Cheng asked, his peach blossom eyes slightly raised.
"I’m not scared. If you live, I live; if you die, then I die. Whether as a human or ghost, I’ll stick with you." Qin Li said casually.
Jin Cheng was startled to hear this. He felt a suffocating sensation and a sharp, needle-like pain in his heart. Looking at the jujube tree in front of him, he said, "Why did you insist on planting a jujube tree back then? If you had listened to me and planted an apple tree, we would have had apples to eat by now."
"Because you said you like jujubes, who knew this jujube tree wouldn’t bear fruit." Qin Li pouted.
"Dig it up and plant a fruit-bearing tree instead." For once, Jin Cheng said something serious.
Qin Li looked at Jin Cheng puzzledly, "Maybe they’ll get married next year?"
"Why don’t you visit Gu Xiaobei anymore?" Jin Cheng suddenly changed the subject.
"Don’t you see, I have work every day, I have no time for that."
"You should learn from Gu Xiaobei, instead of being thoughtless all the time." Jin Cheng began to tease.
"A dirty dog can’t spit out ivory." Qin Li retorted, glaring at Jin Cheng.
Jin Cheng stood up, "If you really like me, dig up the jujube tree and plant an apple tree, because now I love apples." He whistled as he walked up the stairs.
"He must be crazy." Qin Li muttered, staring blankly at the jujube tree, and seemed to see the scene when both families first moved in, a spirited boy of about thirteen or fourteen saying, "Girl, I like jujube, I’m going to pull up all the vegetables in our yard, and plant a yard full of jujube trees."
The scene changed, and she saw the boy baring his teeth in pain, "Smelly girl, did you snitch on me for stealing Uncle Li’s jujubes, making me get beaten up..."
Thinking about it, Qin Li couldn’t help but laugh, but as she laughed, tears streamed down her face. How wonderful it would be if time could stay the same.
When Gu Xiaobei woke up early on Sunday morning, Lu Zhanguo had already left. She huddled in bed thinking about trying to submit her work to other publishers if the provincial city publishing house didn’t reply by next week.
In the midst of her thoughts, Lu Zhanguo came in, "I’m going to town for some errands today, do you want to come?"
"Sure." Gu Xiaobei sat up and stretched lazily at Lu Zhanguo.
Looking at Gu Xiaobei’s bright eyes, Lu Zhanguo felt as if he was taking care of a daughter. He went over and sat on the bed, hugged Gu Xiaobei’s soft body, and patted her back, "Get up, let’s eat breakfast and go."
With her arm hooked around Lu Zhanguo’s neck, Gu Xiaobei’s cheek rubbed against his, cooing, "Waking up to see you every day, it’s wonderful."
Lu Zhanguo was touched, understanding the fear Gu Xiaobei felt every time he was away, but he could do nothing. His arm around Gu Xiaobei instinctively tightened.
Feeling the extra pressure from Lu Zhanguo, Gu Xiaobei looked up at his guilt-ridden eyes, curved her eyes in a smile, and said, "Didn’t you say we’re going to town? Let’s hurry up." She didn’t want Lu Zhanguo to feel guilty, because recently she had heard and seen so much responsibility. That was Lu Zhanguo’s responsibility, and she should feel proud. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦
After breakfast, Gu Xiaobei went out with Lu Zhanguo, ready to go to town.
They bumped into Guo Huaqiang at the entrance of the residential area, who was about to visit Xiangmin at the hospital.
"Perfect, I can hitch a ride with you," Guo Huaqiang said with a smile.
Gu Xiaobei automatically took the backseat, and Guo Huaqiang sat in the front passenger seat.
Lu Zhanguo asked, "How is your wife doing?"
"She should be fine, luckily we managed to save one child. The doctor said stay in hospital for a few more days until the child is stable, then we can go home." Guo Huaqiang’s tone was one of helplessness.
"You should take a few days off to accompany her," Lu Zhanguo said quietly.
Guo Huaqiang was visibly taken aback, but quickly replied, "No need, our division has drills soon, and we’re also busy here. Thankfully, Doctor Chi is there to help look after her every day."
Gu Xiaobei found this strange. Could this Chi Xiaoyue really be such a saint? Taking care of Xiangmin at the hospital every day?
Lu Zhanguo didn’t say anything more and just quietly drove, his gaze focused on the road ahead.
When they arrived at the hospital, Gu Xiaobei moved to the front passenger seat after Guo Huaqiang got off. Turning her head, she saw a familiar figure standing at the hospital entrance.
