Back To The 80s-Chapter 157: Calmness (40 monthly tickets plus one more update)_1

Chapter 157: Chapter 157: Calmness (40 monthly tickets plus one more update)_1

Gu Xiaobei was seeing the children off. Still full of thoughts about Jiujiu’s predicament, he found himself without the slightest inspiration to translate or write. Instead, he took out a sweater to embroider as a diversion. With some practice over time, his skills had improved and he was able to do it smoothly, except for occasional loose stitches.

Sun Aiqin, holding Xiaobao in one hand and a jar of bean oil in the other, shouted at the door, "Sister, could you help open the door?"

A bit surprised, Gu Xiaobei put down the yarn and went to open the door. Seeing Sun Aiqin carrying a full jar of bean oil, he became even more puzzled. Why would she have brought it over on her own accord?

"Sister, you mentioned picking it up yourself but I never saw you do so. So I thought I’d bring it to you." Sun Aiqin stated, putting the jar on the table as she entered the room, and then bending over to place Xiaobao on the floor.

Before Gu Xiaobei could say anything, Sun Aiqin continued, "Sister, I really shouldn’t have listened to Xiangmin and taken your vegetables without permission."

Gu Xiaobei was somewhat taken aback. Xiangmin was indeed manipulative, but why would Sun Aiqin, normally oblivious, suddenly admit this? With a smile on his face, he replied, "That’s alright. Aren’t the vegetables we planted meant to be eaten?"

"But Xiangmin always said that your family grows so many vegetables that every year, a lot of it turns rotten in the spring. You guys never share the extras and we, who only just moved in, plucking a few vegetables to pickle results in no loss to you," Sun Aiqin protested, flushed with embarrassment.

With an inward sneer, Gu Xiaobei thought, ’Can’t she calculate how much each family has? Can’t she tell whether it’s enough to eat?’ He responded, "It’s just enough for each family to get by. If we experience peach blossom snow (a weather phenomenon) or cold weather in spring, every household would have to eat pickled vegetables for half a month. There’s not that much surplus. Don’t take any more in future."

"Alright, sister, you’re really skilled. The sweater you knitted is excellent." While agreeing with Gu Xiaobei, Sun Aiqin admired the sweater lying on the small bed, lavishing more praise on it. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Laughing and crying at the same time, Gu Xiaobei thought, ’Is this not a blatant lie?’ There were parts of the sweater he knitted where he didn’t watch the tension of the yarn and it became a little puckered. Instead of responding, he went to the cupboard and took out a few biscuits for Xiaobao.

Now that Xiaobao had something to eat, he stopped pushing the stool around and relaxed near Sun Aiqin’s leg.

After sitting for a while, Sun Aiqin finally said, "Sister, how about you and Captain Lu come over to my house for dinner tonight?"

Gu Xiaobei was doubtful, ’Would Sun Aiqin, a rather stingy person, invite them for dinner? Surely this can’t be a simple invitation.’ He declined, "There’s no need, I’ve already prepared supper. Moreover, Lu has been really tired from training recently, so we won’t be going."

"Why not save your vegetables for tomorrow?" Sun Aiqin suggested urgently, "I asked Chang Yuan to bring some meat back with him today."

"We really won’t be going. Plus, the meat I’ve cooked has been sealed in my jar for two days, it will spoil if we don’t eat it soon. If there’s something you want, just tell us directly, but we won’t be going for dinner," Gu Xiaobei deflected.

Seeing that Gu Xiaobei was unswayed, Sun Aiqin finally said, "My husband Chang Yuan has been assigned to the communications company as the quartermaster, could you please persuade Captain Lu to not allow Chang Yuan to join the company?"

Realizing the cause of her pleas, Gu Xiaobei retorted, "Isn’t this an arrangement from the higher-ups? And the order must also reflect their intention, right? Lu is just responsible for training the soldiers, he doesn’t have a say in this matter, does he?"

"I know it’s Instructor Guo’s decision, but the new officer is his nephew, and he will obviously favor him," Sun Aiqin complained.

"By right, Instructor Guo and Lu are meant to supervise their respective jurisdictions. For Lu to interfere wouldn’t be right either, would it? Moreover, these decisions are usually final by the time they reach us, having been decided upon by the higher-ups. If you’re looking to pull strings, you should be looking up the chain," Gu Xiaobei replied systematically, effectively deflecting the responsibility upward.

"Who says it isn’t? It’s just that we don’t know anyone in the higher-ups," Sun Aiqin sighed and sat for awhile longer before finally leaving, holding the child in her arms gloomily.

When Lu Zhanguo returned home that night, Gu Xiaobei told him about what happened. Lu frowned; he really despised such matters.

Knowing Lu’s persona, Gu Xiaobei couldn’t help but express, "Chang Yuan was really treated unfairly this time."

"His mentality is not good. A job transfer is just that. They’ve all been taught to be revolutionary soldiers, wherever they are needed, they move. Where did all that learning go? Any position, if one has the capability, can shine and heat up."

Gu Xiaobei thought she could envision a stern, elderly cadre sitting upright, lecturing away. She couldn’t help but chuckle, "Alright, wash your hands quickly and prepare to eat. Jiujiu has also finished her homework, she should also wash her hands."

For dinner, Gu Xiaobei used the meat Shen Heng had brought over two days prior. She slow-cooked the meat that was leftover after wrapping traditional dumplings, seasoned it with ample salt and sealed it in a pottery jar. Two days later, she stewed the meat with cabbage and bean cellophane noodles. Lu was not a fan of rice, so she fried some scallion pancake.

During dinner, Lu saw the swelling on Jiujiu’s face and his eyes dimmed. He didn’t speak out though, afraid of upsetting the child further.

After dinner, while Gu Xiaobei was helping Jiujiu make her bed, Jiujiu suddenly asked in a soft voice, "Auntie, what is a wild child?"

Slightly taken aback, Gu Xiaobei asked, "Why do you ask?"

With her head bowed, Jiujiu cautiously responded after a long pause, "My fourth Aunt called me an unwanted, wild child. But I have a father and a mother."

Gu Xiaobei felt as though the breath had been knocked out of her. Li Xianglan had certainly crossed the line. Later on, when punishing Li Xianglan, she didn’t hold back either.

Back in T City, Jin Cheng casually watched the big trucks parked in the company yard. He knew all too well what awaited him now, and in that moment, he felt incredibly selfish. For the sake of so-called responsibility and dreams, he had let too many people down.

Remembering Qin Li’s persistent efforts and sacrifices just to get closer to him, he experienced a surge of melancholy.

Gao Dailin came over, patting Jin Cheng’s shoulder, "How’s everything going? No problems?"

Jin Cheng grunted, barely looking up, "What could possibly happen?"

"Manager Tang over there is a good guy. After you deliver the goods, rest for a few days before coming back," Gao Dailin advised.

"No problem, I was just thinking about having a good time. I hear that place is a lot more lively than T City," Jin Cheng stated, appearing excited.

The truck engine roared to life, Jin Cheng eagerly climbed aboard, waving goodbye to Gao Dailin.

Gao Dailin squinted his eyes, watching the truck drive away, an ominous look flickering in his gaze.

Ling Yun came out, glanced at Wang Chuanjiang inside the room, then stood beside Gao Dailin, "It’s guaranteed this time, right?"

"Rest assured, it’s been too quiet for a long time, it’s time to stir some trouble," Gao Dailin replied confidently.

"What about him?" Ling Yun briefly looked at Wang Chuanjiang in the room.

"I’ve taken care of that. I’ll go in and talk to him in a bit."

"You should go and sort it out quickly, he’s a hindrance," Ling Yun concluded before walking back into the room.

Shen Heng also knew that Jin Cheng was heading south today. He silently drove his car to the edge of the provincial highway and watched as the big truck carrying Jin Cheng whizzed past him. He saw Jin Cheng make some hand gestures: See you soon!

Shen Heng cursed under his breath, striking the steering wheel in frustration. He resented the slowness of the investigation.

But he couldn’t blame the delay solely on the investigation. There were no surveillance cameras and the communication equipment was outdated. There was always a delay in receiving and sending out information.

Shen Heng sat in the car, lit a cigarette and raised his head. In that moment, he saw a jeep rush past his car. He clearly saw Yuan Ye sitting in the passenger seat.

In the whole of T City, there were only a few vehicles, so even though Shen Heng hadn’t clearly seen the license plate, he was certain that this car wasn’t from T City.

Where was Yuan Ye off to? Who was driving him?