Back To The 80s-Chapter 180: Mother Yuan_1
Yuan Ye greeted Gu Xiaobei politely, "Sorry for the disturbance. My mother just got better and insisted on coming to see Zhanguo."
Since they were already at the door, Gu Xiaobei could only respond cordially, "Aunt Yuan, please come in and sit down."
Qin Ximei gave her an up and down look with a cold eye, tossed her eyelids, and disdained, "Originally, I agreed with your mother-in-law to come see you together. Zhanguo’s father also agreed at first, but who knew, after Zhanguo made a phone call, your mother-in-law was not allowed to come. Is it wrong for parents to come to see their children? And to block one’s own mother at the door? Zhanguo wasn’t like this before!"
Gu Xiaobei was stunned, this was a clear attempt to assert dominance. The implicit and explicit meanings of these words was that she was responsible for preventing her mother-in-law from coming.
Gu Xiaobei was never a pushover. She didn’t accept losses, neither the obvious ones nor those hidden. In her view, if you respect me, I will absolutely reciprocate, but if you try to step on me, sorry, even if you are the greatest power, I won’t tolerate you.
"Aunt Yuan, I understand what you’re saying. But this is family matters. I can’t explain to you the reasons for it all. Later, when I see my mother-in-law, I will explain it to her properly. My mother-in-law is an educated person; she will definitely understand," Gu Xiaobei said affably to Qin Ximei.
Qin Ximei was taken aback, this girl’s mouth was indeed sharp. The meaning behind her words was clear: this is my family business; outsiders shouldn’t interfere.
Before coming, Qin Ximei didn’t spare any details about the discord between Gu Xiaobei and her mother-in-law to Wen Xiuqing, slandering that the son always sided with his wife.
Wen Xiuqing didn’t think much of it after hearing this, but Qin Ximei believed that Wen Xiuqing would absolutely dislike Gu Xiaobei because of this.
This time, before coming, Qin Ximei made a special trip to tell Wen Xiuqing that she intends to "set Gu Xiaobei straight" in case she doesn’t know how to behave as a daughter-in-law.
Wen Xiuqing merely responded indifferently with five words: "Let them do what they want."
Qin Ximei, the kind who loves to stir things up, originally planned to intimidate Gu Xiaobei as soon as she entered the door. However, she froze in place, dumbstruck in the face of Gu Xiaobei’s words.
Seeing this, Yuan Ye quickly intervened, "Mom, let’s not stand at the entrance. Let’s continue this conversation inside."
Upon entering the house, Qin Ximei sneered at Jiu’er who was at the table doing homework and said, "Is this the child you are raising? She’s so big; can you really raise her well?"
A faint smile hung on Gu Xiaobei’s irritated face as she responded, "Aunt Yuan, whether she’s blood-related or adopted, upbringing is the most important thing. Without proper upbringing, one naturally cannot educate children properly. I, for one, believe I possess this basic decency." Gu Xiaobei emphasized the words ’decency’.
Yuan Ye’s face stiffened. She found Gu Xiaobei’s words rather unpleasant, but she couldn’t argue back. All she could do was take her frustration out on Qin Ximei, "Mom, take a seat. Why are you behaving like a child? This would be such a mockery if outsiders saw."
Gu Xiaobei held that this mother-daughter duo was deliberately trying to make her uncomfortable. She had initially thought Yuan Ye was a refined person. Little did she know that Yuan Ye could be so conniving. Who’s the child now? Mocking her for her lack of manners, disrespecting elders, huh?
Gu Xiaobei spun her eyes for a moment before laughing and saying, "Indeed, there’s the saying ’Old children, old children.’ When people get old, they actually become like children." After she finished speaking, an additional line was added in her mind: They both behave just as childishly.
In secret, Yuan Ye subtly pinched Qin Ximei’s arm, indicating her to be quiet. She knew the sharp-tongued Gu Xiaobei wouldn’t take any losses. If this continued, they wouldn’t get the upper hand.
When Gu Xiaobei noticed that the two had fallen silent, she too stopped talking and sat down on the bed, quietly fiddling with her fingernails. She was initially planning to cook for them, but she was no longer in the mood for it now.
When Lu Zhanguo came home, he saw Qin Ximei and Yuan Ye sitting by the table with discontented expressions. Jiu’er was sitting in the corner of the table doing her homework, and Gu Xiaobei was looking down, picking at her nails, her expression indiscernible.
Upon seeing Lu Zhanguo, Qin Ximei complained immediately, "Zhanguo, why are you only home now? Coming to your house really is not easy, there wasn’t even water to drink."
On hearing this, Lu Zhanguo turned to look at Gu Xiaobei. At this moment, Gu Xiaobei also lifted her head. Her eyes were bright and full of life as she looked at Lu Zhanguo, the corners of her mouth slightly upwards in a faint smile.
"Yuan Ye, wasn’t the thermos on the table? Why didn’t you pour some water for Aunt Yuan? Don’t be so formal now that we are here," Lu Zhanguo clearly expressed his biased view.
Qin Ximei didn’t expect Lu Zhanguo to say that. She assumed he would scold his wife for not knowing better as a hostess, not knowing to serve tea and water to visitors in the house.
Quickly catching onto Lu Zhanguo’s implication, Yuan Ye said, "Mom, Zhanguo had been training all day. He just got home. Let’s not bring this up." She then turned to Xiaobei and asked, "What’s for dinner, Xiaobei? I can help."
Gu Xiaobei didn’t even bother responding to this petty trick, turned to Lu Zhanguo with a smile and asked, "What shall we eat tonight?"
Lu Zhanguo did not understand the war among women, but noticing Gu Xiaobei hadn’t cooked, he said, "We don’t have meat or vegetables at home. Since Aunt Yuan made this trip, we should treat her to a proper meal. Let’s go to the dining hall."
Gu Xiaobei knew Lu Zhanguo would answer this way. She understood her man too well. He wouldn’t bother thinking about roundabout matters; he’d be more concerned about her feelings.
Gu Xiaobei stood up, turned to Jiu’er and said, "Jiu’er, we’ll resume homework when we get back. Let’s go eat first. Aunt Yuan, let’s go..." She even courteously invited Qin Ximei.
Neither Yuan Ye nor Qin Ximei expected this. They had no choice but to follow Lu Zhanguo out the door.
The dining hall at the guest house served meals at fixed times. When Lu Zhanguo and the others arrived, it was just after mealtime, and the kitchen staff was cleaning up.
Seeing Lu Zhanguo and the others coming in, the head of the kitchen staff hurried over to greet, "Squadron Leader." 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶
"Are there any dishes left? Prepare several dishes for us," Lu Zhanguo inquired.
"Sure, you all sit first, I’ll go prepare them." The kitchen staff head scurried into the kitchen to arrange the dishes, instructing a young soldier to pour a mug of hot water each for all of them.
Lu Zhanguo gestured for Qin Ximei to sit first, then sat down next to her. Gu Xiaobei took Jiu’er’s hand and sat down beside Lu Zhanguo, and Yuan Ye sat down on the other side of Qin Ximei, facing Lu Zhanguo.
Once seated, Qin Ximei surveyed her surroundings and asked, "Oh Zhanguo, are you going home for New Year’s?"
"We’re not, we’ll be on duty during the New Year," Lu Zhanguo replied calmly.
"Ah, how many years has it been since you’ve been back? You were only home for a few days when you got married. Your mom longs for you every day." Qin Ximei prattled on.
Lu Zhanguo didn’t make a sound, his eyes lowered, but his mind was revolving around other matters. From the moment the guard at the front gate called him to inform him that Yuan Ye had arrived, he knew they couldn’t restrain themselves any longer.
The day of the military exercise was approaching day by day, and they were likely as restless as ants on a hot pan. If they missed this opportunity, they probably wouldn’t have another chance.
Qin Ximei went on and on, "When people get old, they rely on their children, don’t they? Otherwise, what’s the point of having children? You are so far away. Aiguo and his wife are planning to move out. Your mom suffers at heart, you know. When you kids were young, she used to carry you down to the river to wash diapers even when the river was frozen... You cannot forget her sacrifices."
Gu Xiaobei felt that Qin Ximei was like the Tang monk who talked Turtle Prime Minister to death. If she were her mother-in-law... just thinking about it made her shudder.
