Back To The 80s-Chapter 199: Intellectual Duel_1

They chattered away happily, even dirty jokes were thrown around.

Ding Guihua also came down, carrying her sewing, and a small stool.

"You young people have it so easy these days, sunbathing, chatting, and letting the day pass by." Ding Guihua said, as she brought a chair up and sat down.

"Aunty, are you making a small cotton jacket for a child?" Ge Chunling asked, looking at the material and cotton in the sewing basket.

"Yes, this cotton is fresh from the flowers I picked this autumn, I’m sure the jacket will be warm," Ding Guaihua said somewhat proudly, touching the cotton.

"Is sister-in-law Xiangmin going to give birth after the New Year?" someone curiously asked.

With that comment, Ding Guihua’s ranting point was hit, and she pouted: "I guess she won’t make it to the first month of the lunar year. Being a daughter-in-law these days is so comfortable. Back in our time, we were almost giving birth and still had to carry wood up the mountain, working just like men! ... during the great iron and steel campaign..." Ding Guihua began a lengthy tirade.

Gu Xiaobei felt somewhat amused. Every time Ding Guaihua started with "back in our time...", she inexplicably thought of Monk Tang.

Ding Guihua continued the tirade non-stop, even while she continued her needlework: "Back when I was a daughter-in-law, my mother-in-law used to sit cross-legged on the Kang bed, puffing on her big pipe, and I was on the side of the Kang bed, serving her tea and water..."

It was clear that such a skill was not honed in a day or two, it must the usual conversation around the village.

"Also, life these days is so boring! In our village, everyone would carry their rice bowls and eat by the big stone grinder at the entrance of the village, it was so lively. Anyone who kept their doors closed and ate inside the house would be laughed at." Ding Guihua found another contention point and continued.

Gu Xiaobei was slightly puzzled, but Li Fengmei agreed: "Isn’t that true? In our old village, every mealtime was the most lively. Everyone’s food was almost the same, so we all ate outside together while chatting."

Ding Guihua was nodding fervently as if she had found a kindred spirit: "Isn’t it? It’s also good for neighborly relationships. If your old home is like ours, the customs should be pretty similar."

Gu Xiaobei looked thoughtfully at the chatty Ding Guihua, believing that the issue of the water tank could be resolved today as well.

"Aunty, the relationship in your village must be very good, right?" Gu Xiaobei asked, feigning curiosity.

"Of course. Most of the people in the village are relatives within five degrees of consanguinity. If not, they are connected relatives anyway. When one family has a problem, the whole village comes to help." Once Ding Guihua started talking, she couldn’t stop, words were pouring out of her mouth.

"Oh, that’s so nice. I’m not very good at handling neighborly relationships. Aunty, can you teach me?" Gu Xiaobei said modestly.

"Sure. As young people, you lack experience but at least you are willing to learn," Ding Guihua said with a hint of pride upon hearing Gu Xiaobei’s request for advice.

"Yes, I am young and inexperienced. I often fail to consider all aspects when handling affairs." Gu Xiaobei said humbly, which made everyone wonder what had gotten into him.

Ding Guihua nodded: "Yes, lack of experience it is. You see, now I’ve learned to be more open-minded. In dealings with people, if you respect me a foot, I’ll return it with a yard."

"Aunty, you’re right. A while ago, I wanted to keep the coal balls in the corridor for convenience, but Zhanguo scolded me saying that keeping coal balls in the corridor would obstruct the passage and that I was being selfish. Aunty, did I do wrong?" Gu Xiaobei asked somewhat aggrieved.

"You were inconsiderate..." Ding Guihua had just begun to speak when she suddenly remembered her water tank in the corridor. She bumbled, "What Zhanguo said is right."

Everyone finally understood, it was about the water tank all along.

Gu Xiaobei knew when to stop, or else if Ding Guihua became furious, it would become counterproductive. He smiled and said: "Aunty, you are so talented, can you teach me how to make these small jackets?"

Sure enough, Ding Guihua immediately rejoiced: "Sure, for children’s clothes, make sure to keep the sleeves and collar looser for easy wearing, so the child won’t feel stuffy."

They sat and chatted for a while longer before everyone finally dispersed.

That afternoon, Ding Guihua moved the large water tank back into her house.

Gu Xiaobei found Ding Guihua rather endearing. As long as you went along with her, she was indeed reasonable.

That night, while eating at the guest house, Gu Xiaobei told Zhanguo about his verbal sparring with Ding Guihua.

"How was it? Am I not smart? Come on, praise me!" Gu Xiaobei unabashedly asked for recognition.

"Yes, very smart, keep it up," Zhanguo cooperated fully.

Gu Xiaobei laughed for a while, and then said: "Actually, I think Aunt Guo is not bad, she just likes to bring up the past. I guess she had a rough past and has no other outlet to vent."

Zhanguo nodded in agreement, Ding Guihua was basically kind-hearted and easy to deal with if treated gently.

...

As November arrived, the weather was still fine. After breakfast, seeing the pleasant sunlight, Gu Xiaobei decided to air out his blankets and mattresses.

It was Sunday, and Jiujiu was helping to dust the bedding with a small broom.

Zhuang Shuxian and Qin Li entered the yard and saw the two of them airing out their bedding.

"Jiujiu," Zhuang Shuxian looked much better compared to last time, and upon seeing Jiujiu, a strong smile spread across her face.

"Grandma Jin," Jiujiu obediently greeted her. She really liked the kind grandma in front of her.

"Aunt Zhuang, Qin Li, you’re here," Gu Xiaobei was a little surprised. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Qin Li noticed that upon seeing Jiujiu, Zhuang Shuxian’s spirits were lifted. She told Gu Xiaobei, "Aunt Zhuang misses Jiujiu so much that seeing her now livens her up."

"Aunt Zhuang, it’s my fault, I should have taken Jiujiu to see you," Gu Xiaobei had planned to visit in a few days, he didn’t expect Zhuang Shuxian to visit so soon just to see Jiujiu, it really was fate.

"It’s not a problem, I didn’t want to bother Jiujiu since she has school. It’s better for me to come and see you, it’s more convenient," Zhuang Shuxian said, holding Jiujiu’s hand with a smile.

Having been at home for the past two days, Zhuang Shuxian had been missing Jiujiu for no reason. Today, she finally couldn’t hold back anymore and begged Jin Xueping to arrange for a car to bring her and Qin Li over.

Upon seeing Jiujiu, Zhuang Shuxian felt a sense of peace, and the more she saw of Jiujiu, the more she liked her. She even had the thought of adopting Jiujiu as her own.

Zhuang Shuxian had also heard from Qin Li that Gu Xiaobei couldn’t legally adopt Jiujiu.

"Aunt Zhuang, why don’t we go inside first and talk more. This time you came, stay for a few more days," Gu Xiaobei enthusiastically said.

"That’s exactly what we planned. See, we’ve brought our luggage," Qin Li said, lifting the bag in her hand.