Back To The 80s-Chapter 155: Good News_1

Gu Xiaobei took over the pickle jar, smiled politely and said, "Thank you, Auntie Wang. We’re running low on pickled vegetables at home, so we could definitely use these."

On her way home, she passed by the vegetable market and bought some glass noodles, black fungus, dried shrimp skins and some very large shrimp chips. The items in the market were diverse.

Lu Zhanguo drove first to the township hospital to pick up Guo Huaqiang and return to the base together.

"You wait for me in the car. I’ll go up and get Old Guo," Lu Zhanguo said to Gu Xiaobei after parking his car.

"Okay." Gu Xiaobei did not want to go up either. After Lu Zhanguo entered the hospital and she got out of the car to stretch her limbs a bit, she was also a bit tired from sitting in the car for over two hours.

"Sister Xiaobei?" Someone called out timidly from behind her.

Gu Xiaobei turned around to see Liu Cuicui standing there, awkwardly fiddling with her fingers.

"Cuicui, why are you at the hospital?" Gu Xiaobei asked curiously, wondering why Liu Cuicui was still at the hospital after a whole day.

"My mother fell ill, she’s staying in the hospital now," Liu Cuicui muttered. After the day when Li Hao had stolen money from their home, Liu’s family had been upset. Unexpectedly, a few days ago, Li Hao had snuck back and gone up the mountain behind their village to find Liu Siwa, who was herding sheep. He had given Liu Siwa a Yuan bill and told him to go to the store and buy some snacks.

To Liu Siwa, that one Yuan was a huge amount of money. He left Li Hao to look after the sheep and he himself hurried down the mountain to buy some treats.

When he returned with a penny’s worth of jelly beans, there was no sign of Li Hao or the sheep on the mountain. He rushed back home to find that Li Hao had not returned with the sheep. When Liu’s family discovered what had happened, there was a great panic and a lot of lashing out. That night, consumed with despair, someone in the Liu family drank pesticide.

Fortunately, the person was discovered in time and their life was saved. But these past few days, Liu Cuicui had been harshly criticized by her family. Had she not been pregnant, she would certainly have been beaten up.

Gu Xiaobei, of course, knew nothing about all these developments and could only politely ask, "Your mother’s illness isn’t serious, is it?"

"It’s nothing." Liu Cuicui replied somewhat awkwardly. She had seen Gu Xiaobei and had not been able to resist calling out to her, but now she regretted it.

"How long have you been pregnant?"

"Over three months." Liu Cuicui twisted the corner of her clothes with such force that her knuckles were turning white. Finally, she said, "Sister Xiaobei, you must be careful of Doctor Chi." Having said that, she left hurriedly without another glance at Gu Xiaobei.

Gu Xiaobei was taken aback. What did Liu Cuicui’s words mean? She knew that Chi Xiaoyue was trying to trip her up and make her life difficult, but could there be a more serious conspiracy in the works?

By the time Lu Zhanguo and Guo Huaqiang returned, Gu Xiaobei was already sitting in the backseat of the car. Gu Huaqiang’s complexion was not good, and he only gave Gu Xiaobei a diffident nod, without uttering a word.

With Liu Cuicui’s words weighing on her mind, Gu Xiaobei didn’t pay much attention to them and just stared out the window.

"I had no idea that Xiangyang was being transferred to our unit," Guo Huaqiang couldn’t help explaining to Lu Zhanguo.

"It’s fine. Xiangyang is capable in his own right," Lu Zhanguo responded. He didn’t see the problem, believing in promoting talented individuals, regardless of their personal relationships.

"But with Xiangyang’s arrival, he’ll replace Chang Yuan’s position. How would you expect Chang Yuan to feel about it? Besides, Chang Yuan’s one year of hard work now seems all in vain and Xiangyang will take all the credit for nothing." Guo Huaqiang seemed a bit agitated. Now that Xiangmin was pregnant, she was free to do as she pleased.

"Chang Yuan will definitely find it hard to accept this transfer if it doesn’t come with a promotion. He might even consider transferring somewhere else."

Guo Huaqiang took out a cigarette in irritation and lit it, "I honestly don’t know how I’m going to face Chang Yuan."

Lu Zhanguo glanced at Gu Huaqiang and said nonchalantly, "Well, once Xiangyang arrives, you could assign him to the Signals Company as the quartermaster."

This thought seemed to catch Guo Huaqiang off guard, and he stiffened, "If we do that, Xiangmin will cause all hell to break loose."

Lu Zhanguo, however, was quite clear; Du Chengwen had helped pull strings to get Xiangyang transferred here.

At the entrance of the base, Guo Huaqiang got out of the car first, while Gu Xiaobei followed Lu Zhanguo to the headquarters to park the car.

Xiaofang, the base’s communications officer, happened to be at the gate and told Gu Xiaobei, "Sis, there was a call for you today."

"For me?" Gu Xiaobei was puzzled. Who could have called her here?

"Yes, a certain Jiang from the provincial capital called, asking you to call him back when you’re free."

Gu Xiaobei’s eyes lit up. It seemed that things were looking up. Smiling, she thanked Xiaofang.

When Lu Zhanguo finished parking the car and joined her, he noticed the look of uncontainable joy on Gu Xiaobei’s face.

"What’s the matter? Why are you so excited?" Lu Zhanguo was rather curious. How had she turned so happy in the time it took him to park the car?

"It seems our project in the provincial capital might have worked. Editor Jiang called me." Gu Xiaobei said with a smile.

Lu Zhanguo gave her an approving look, "That is wonderful news indeed. Make sure to return his call here tomorrow morning."

Gu Xiaobei nodded. After the elation subsided, she began to carefully think through the details she should pay attention to if the collaboration were to materialize.

As soon as they got home, she immediately took out a pen and paper and started scribbling notes.

When Lu Zhanguo saw this, he automatically started cooking dinner, leaving Gu Xiaobei to her notes. She wrote down some things to be aware of, then remembered she should find someone who could draw to provide illustrations for her books. This would entice children to read her books.

The publishing house’s art editors might be able to handle the task, but then she’d have to share another portion of her earnings. So, after some thought, she decided to first listen to Jiang Jiahua’s ideas the next day.

When Lu Zhanguo finished cooking, he noticed that Gu Xiaobei was still sitting at the table, frowning.

"What’s the matter?"

"I want to add some illustrations to my stories, but I can’t draw!" Gu Xiaobei sounded pained at the thought of having to part with more of her earnings.

"Let’s eat first. We’ll figure out a solution later." Lu Zhanguo had no idea how to make illustrations either.

"Okay." Gu Xiaobei left the room and saw the noodle soup and the sour soup on the table, and instantly felt her appetite return as the saliva filled her mouth.

"I wonder how someone like you, from the Capital City, can cook such authentic Northwest noodles?" Gu Xiaobei stirred her noodles and asked.

"This is Auntie Wang’s handmade pickled vegetables from today." Lu Zhanguo did not answer her question, but instead brought over a plate of pickled vegetables.

"This is delicious, Auntie Wang’s cooking is really good." Gu Xiaobei took a bite and sang Auntie Wang’s praises.

"Is Jiujiu’s household registration done?" It suddenly occurred to Lu Zhanguo.

"Ah, I forgot about it." Gu Xiaobei had completely put that matter out of her mind.

"Next time you see Qin Li, get things moving."

"Okay, remind me when the time comes."

Just as the two of them had finished their meal, Guo Huaqiang came over, his face not looking any better.

Gu Xiaobei quickly cleaned up the plates and chopsticks and went to the laundry room to wash them, thinking it was probably best to give the men some privacy to talk.

"I think you’re right. I could have Xiangyang become the quartermaster of the Signals Company instead. But I was wondering if you could do me a favor and tell him this, I really can’t deliver the message myself." Guo Huaqiang said, looking rather troubled.

Lu Zhanguo did not respond. He only swept a glance at Guo Huaqiang and took a sip of water from a mug.