Back To The 80s-Chapter 203: Protecting the Shortcoming _1
Sure enough, Ding Guihua’s scolding voice came from next door shortly later.
"All you know is to eat, eat, eat! Why didn’t you tell me you’d eat all the gold in the world? Why are you so greedy? Will you die if you eat less? You really opened my eyes. You could lose a twin just because of eating!" Ding Guihua was shouting and cursing, with swear words in between.
Xiangmin originally wanted Ding Guihua to provoke Gu Xiaobei. She didn’t expect Gu Xiaobei to send her mother-in-law back to scold her, making Xiangmin angry. She spoke impatiently, "Can’t you not curse without knowing the whole story? And stop dragging my mother into it when you curse. She didn’t bother you!"
Xiangmin’s remark completely enraged Ding Guihua. She slammed the table, and their quarrel escalated.
Gu Xiaobei, listening to Xiangmin’s crying and scolding from the room, suddenly felt relieved. She would never just passively take a loss.
The conflict between the two women lasted until Guo Huaqiang came back in the evening.
After hearing Xiangmin’s complaint that Gu Xiaobei had stirred up trouble and caused her to argue with Ding Guihua, Guo Huaqiang was somewhat angry. He comforted the two and prepared to talk to Gu Xiaobei. After all, Xiangmin was pregnant and they couldn’t afford any more incidents.
When Guo Huaqiang entered Gu Xiaobei’s house in a huff, Gu Xiaobei, Lu Zhanguo, and Jiujiu were having dinner.
Guo Huaqiang, not in a good mood, said, "Sister, your sister-in-law is pregnant now. Can’t you stop causing her trouble? You’re usually not a troublemaker!" There was a clear reproach in his tone.
Gu Xiaobei sneered, who was the one causing trouble. This man, who usually seemed upright, appeared to have a smaller than needle’s eye.
Before Gu Xiaobei could respond, Lu Zhanguo put down his chopsticks heavily on the table, looking stern, "Guo, your words are a bit too much."
Guo Huaqiang inwardly cursed his luck. In his rashness, he had forgotten about Lu Zhanguo’s protective nature, particularly towards his wife.
But since the words were already out, he braced himself and said, "Lu, you just heard it. What was the state of my house? If it weren’t for my sisterin the middle of it, would there be an argument?"
"My Xiaobei, is never unreasonable!" Lu Zhanguo’s remark, put an end to Guo Huaqiang’s excuses.
Gu Xiaobei lowered her head and listened, her heart blossoming with joy. This man is really so adorable now. Her smile sweetened every corner of her heart.
Guo Huaqiang was at a loss for words, feeling that his visit today was irrational. He was totally confused by the two women at home.
Seeing that both sitting and standing were inappropriate, Guo Huaqiang awkwardly returned home.
"How do you know I didn’t do it on purpose?" Gu Xiaobei looked at Lu Zhanguo with shimmering eyes.
"I said I trust you." Lu Zhanguo speaks with a deep voice. He knew that if Xiaobei intentionally said something to Ding Guihua, it was definitely because Xiangmin provoked her first. He did understand Gu Xiaobei’s character.
"Let’s eat." Gu Xiaobei didn’t say anything more with Jiujiu around, just laughing heartily.
That night in bed, Gu Xiaobei recounted everything again to Lu Zhanguo, "This Xiangmin, is really against me. When we move to residential buildings, we can’t be neighbors with her."
Lu Zhanguo patted her back and laughed, "Alright, we’ll live on the first floor, they chose the second floor, and we’re not even in the same unit. Don’t worry."
"You’ve already chosen the house, how come I don’t know?" Gu Xiaobei was surprised.
"Haven’t started house hunting yet. I just instructed the person in charge of house distribution when I met him last time." Lu Zhanguo clarified that it wasn’t a casual instruction, but rather a specific request to get Guo Huaqiang to choose first, then come to him.
Moreover, Guo Huaqiang had made it clear a long time ago that they were eyeing the second floor and would definitely choose it. This way, both families would be perfectly separated.
"Husband, why do you keep impressing me? You’re so considerate and loyal. What if someone else steals you away?" Gu Xiaobei hugged Lu Zhanguo tightly and spoke softly.
"You’re being silly again." Lu Zhanguo helplessly pinched Gu Xiaobei’s nose. Although he didn’t know what being ’loyal’ meant, he could tell that Gu Xiaobei was teasing him again.
"Let me tell you a joke. Do you know why Sun Wukong didn’t find a wife?" Gu Xiaobei looked at Lu Zhanguo’s puzzled glance, laughing and said, "Because he has a rod that can change in size."
Lu Zhanguo looked at Gu Xiaobei’s witty eyes. This girl was trying to trap him again. If he understood, she would definitely say that he had heard a lot of dirty jokes. If he didn’t understand, she would surely have a lot to say.
Gu Xiaobei confidently looked at Lu Zhanguo, only to have Lu Zhanguo knock her down and whisper in her ear, "We can discuss last night’s topic."
Gu Xiaobei moaned in her heart, she had been outsmarted again. Next time, she would need a new strategy.
...
Xiangmin didn’t have her way with Gu Xiaobei again, and her life even became more difficult. Ding Guihua had a cold face every day and often made sarcastic remarks.
Moreover, she had no one to get along with in this courtyard, and she was cooped up at home every day.
As a result, her hatred for Gu Xiaobei continued to grow, and she vowed to bring Gu Xiaobei down.
...
Since they were going to Jiujiu’s house on Sunday, Zhuang Shuxian and Qin Li came over on Saturday. They brought big and small packages with them again.
As soon as Jiujiu finished school at noon, Zhuang Shuxian held Jiujiu’s hand and didn’t let go, saying with a smile, "I must have been related to Jiujiu in my previous life, I’ve never liked a child so much."
Qin Li nodded in agreement on the side, "Indeed, when I was a kid, my aunt didn’t treat me this affectionately every time she saw me."
"So, Jiujiu and I must be destined. Jiujiu, have you missed grandma these days?" Zhuang Shuxian asked Jiujiu again, her face full of anticipation.
"Yes." Jiujiu nodded.
Zhuang Shuxian gave a satisfied smile and patted Jiujiu’s head, "Xiaobei, don’t you think this child somehow makes people want to spoiled her?"
Gu Xiaobei sighed in her heart. She was feeling more worried and pity for Zhuang Shuxian. All she could do was to nod in agreement.
After Jiujiu had gone to school, Zhuang Shuxian seriously discussed the matter of adopting Jiujiu with Gu Xiaobei.
"Xiaobei, look, I have the time now, and my home conditions are okay, I’m definitely capable of taking care of Jiujiu. You’re a military spouse, you’re bound to follow Zhanguo if he gets transferred. Jiujiu following you guys would cause suspicion, it doesn’t look good."
"Besides, once you have your own children, it’s inevitable that you’ll favor them. Even if it’s unintentional, a minor action could hurt Jiujiu. So, letting Jiujiu stay with me, she definitely won’t be treated unfairly." Zhuang Shuxian analyzed the advantages and disadvantages for Gu Xiaobei, fearing that she wouldn’t agree.
"Auntie. I know you’re right, and I agree. But the problem now is Jiujiu. I don’t want her to feel like an object being passed around. I’m afraid it will cast a shadow on her." Gu Xiaobei also expressed her worries.
