Back To The 80s-Chapter 231 - 241: Farewell (Additional 360 monthly tickets) _1
Lu Zhanguo stood up wanting to follow, but Gu Xiaobei turned towards him, winked cunningly, and motioned him not to go.
Lu Aiguo laughed and said to Lu Zhanguo, "Mom is about to give a lecture to your wife, to improve her sense of being a dutiful daughter-in-law."
Fang Jing glared at him, "You talk too much! Hurry up and take Yueyue home, it’s going to be even colder outside later."
Gu Xiaobei accompanied Wen Xiuqing to her bedroom. After returning for a few days, this was the first time Xiaobei had entered Xiuqing’s room. The room was simply furnished and Xiaobei was surprised to find two single beds lined side by side, with a desk in between.
The single beds were also covered with pure cotton white sheets, as white as new ones.
Wen Xiuqing sat down on one of the single beds and said to Gu Xiaobei, "Sit down, let’s talk."
Gu Xiaobei looked at the perfectly made bed, without a wrinkle, shook her head and said, "Mom, I’m fine standing."
Wen Xiuqing gave her a glance, and said bluntly, "When you first married Zhanguo, I didn’t think highly of you."
Gu Xiaobei thought to herself, ’this is a power play’, but she kept a humble face and didn’t make a sound.
"When I first met you, I noticed that your eyes were overly lively, you did not seem like a person who could lead a quiet life," Wen Xiuqing stared at Gu Xiaobei’s face as she spoke bluntly.
Gu Xiaobei kept her expression still, but silently objected in her heart, ’you didn’t see me on your first visit, it’s very unfair.’
"However, now that you and Zhanguo are back, I’ve noticed that Zhanguo really values you. Now that you have a child, I hope you will settle down and stop playing around," she said.
Gu Xiaobei kept her head slightly lowered, stayed silent and feigned obedience. Seeing Xiaobei’s respectful demeanor, Wen Xiuqing avoided prying deeper. She took a bulky envelope made of kraft paper out from the desk drawer.
"Here is a thousand yuan, you take it," Wen Xiuqing passed the envelope to Gu Xiaobei.
Gu Xiaobei hurriedly waved her hands, "Mom, that’s too much money, I can’t accept it. Besides, we’re doing fine, you keep it for yourself."
"Take it. I also gave some to Fang Jing before she gave birth. I treat all of you equally. But remember, I will not help anyone of you in raising your children." Wen Xiuqing’s voice went low on her last sentence, as if she was muttering to herself.
Gu Xiaobei was a bit puzzled, but she obediently took the money.
"Alright, you can leave now." Wen Xiuqing waved for Gu Xiaobei to leave.
As Xiaobei closed the door on her way out, Xiuqing’s face revealed a touch of sorrow.
As soon as Gu Xiaobei stepped outside, she saw Lu Zhanguo standing at the door, everyone else had already left so she quickly pulled Zhanguo upstairs.
"What did mom say to you?" Lu Zhanguo couldn’t help asking.
"Mom told me to take good care of you, saying you’ve lost weight. Look, she even gave us money so I can buy more meat for you on a regular basis." Gu Xiaobei held up the money in her hand, smiling as she spoke.
The light in Lu Zhanguo’s eyes dimmed slightly. He hadn’t grown up with his parents, and his mother was quite cool towards him. Occasionally there would be moments of strong concern, but most of the time, she just ignored his existence.
The next day, at noon, they were to catch the train. Aunt Li prepared braised beef and chicken claws for them, and packed a full jar of pickled garlic, along with some bean sauce in a lunch box.
Lu Aiguo also came to see them off with a big bag of food. He kept talking, "Fang Jing had me queue early in the morning to buy sesame paste buns. I also bought sauce meat from Zheng Shunzhai’s. You can eat them on the road, they’re quite nice even when they’re cold. I also bought some Lobster su and sorghum candy. Since it’s the New Year, you can share them with the kids in your compound. I also bought a bag of preserved fruit from Capital City that you can share with your neighbours."
At that moment, Gu Xiaobei thought that Lu Aiguo was just like a nagging grandmother.
Her mother-in-law, Wen Xiuqing, had gone out early in the morning and no one knew where to. They were about to leave and she hadn’t come back yet.
Qin Ximei and Yuan Qing were there though.
"Zhanguo, are you guys leaving already? Why not stay a few more days?" Qin Ximei asked enthusiastically.
"There’s a lot going on in the army during the New Year," Lu Zhanguo answered concisely.
Qin Ximei continued with a smile, "When the weather gets warmer in the spring, your Uncle Yuan and I are planning to move to the provincial capital. I have a cousin there. After all, we’re currently renting here. Once we move there, we can grow our own crops and save some expenses."
Gu Xiaobei coldly observed Qin Ximei’s exaggerated smile, thinking: This Qin Ximei must be plotting something.
Lu Zhanguo frowned but said nothing. He carried their luggage out and placed it in the car that Lu Aiguo had borrowed.
Gu Xiaobei put on her cotton coat, wrapped up her scarf, and said to Qin Ximei, "Aunt Yuan, we’re leaving now and my mom’s not at home. Perhaps, you can come again another day."
Qin Ximei shot an unpleasant look at Gu Xiaobei, and then left in a huff with Yuan Qing.
Fortunately, they were boarding from the train’s departure station. Due to the approaching New Year, tickets were in high demand and there were many people using their connections to get them. Lu Aiguo also used his connections to secure a lower berth and a middle berth ticket.
Gu Xiaobei was content. This was certainly much better than having to stand despite having the ticket for a berth.
Sitting across from them was a middle-aged couple. The man wore a duckbill cap, a navy blue Sun Yat-sen suit and had a pen in his shirt pocket, the epitome of an 80s official. His wife wore glasses, a brown cotton coat, and her hair was styled in fashionable big waves.
Lu Zhanguo stored the luggage and let Gu Xiaobei sit down to rest. He then went to fetch a pail of hot water.
The woman, seeming to have a jovial personality, asked Gu Xiaobei, "Where are you guys heading?"
"We’re going to G Province," Gu Xiaobei replied with a smile.
"What a coincidence. We’re going there too. We’re based in the provincial capital. Where are you guys from?" the woman asked enthusiastically.
"My husband is in T City, I moved with him for his military duty."
"T City? We have been ’educated youths’ there before. I guess we’re kind of from the same hometown. By the way, I’m Tong Xiuyu, you can call me Big Sister Tong," Tong Yu said enthusiastically.
"I’m Gu Xiaobei," Gu Xiaobei also introduced herself with a smile.
The long journey often enables friendly strangers to do a lot of chatting.
In the subsequent conversation, Gu Xiaobei came to know that Tong Yu’s husband, Zhan Hezhi, worked in the Development and Reform Commission in the provincial capital and that she was a teacher at the city’s university.
Zhan Hezhi, a refined and courteous man, chatted with Lu Zhanguo about the current political direction and economic environment.
"The growth in Capital City is much faster than in our provincial capital. There will be significant reforms in our province this year," Zhan Hezhi said confidently.
Gu Xiaobei listened with interest. Zhan Hezhi continued, "After the New Year, a policy for developing agricultural and sideline product economies is likely to be implemented."
Lu Zhanguo nodded, "This is definitely the general trend, given the significant role agriculture plays in our country."
"Yes, so if the policy is implemented, it is expected to be first piloted in coastal areas and some large cities before it is implemented here," Zhan Hezhi sighed.
Gu Xiaobei’s mind began to turn. The transportation of aquatic products from the south to the provincial capital, the transportation of agricultural products from the provincial capital to the south, and the significant role of logistics, storage, and distribution channels. However, if they could seize the business opportunity at this time, they could certainly make a fortune.
Gu Xiaobei kept her eyes downcast, listening quietly as Zhan Hezhi spoke, while silently drawing up money-making blueprints in her mind.
