Back To The 80s-Chapter 294 - 304: Bai Xiaolan (Additional update with 660 Monthly Tickets)_1
Seeing that Lu Zhanguo kept silent, Gu Xiaobei chuckled before saying, "Aiguo proposed keeping Chen Dajun’s traditional courtyard for Ruirui’s backup plan, do you think it is good?"
Lu Zhanguo was somewhat surprised: "Why not? Aiguo had discussed it with me, and I think it’s quite sound. Ruirui thinks too plainly, in another decade or so, she won’t mature any further. As for Dajun, he won’t aspire for more. If one day life becomes too hard, it wouldn’t be proper for Ruirui to return to her parent’s home either.."
Gu Xiaobei frowned: "What you are doing, despite good intentions, could be seen as ungrateful by Ruirui. Every day she doesn’t know the truth, misunderstandings will deepen. This hurts the relationship a lot."
"We are doing it all for her good, so let her misunderstand." Lu Zhanguo felt Xiaopang twitched in his arms, then the diaper became warm and wet. He hurriedly stripped the dirty diaper and changed Xiaopan’s diaper.
Gu Xiaobei, who didn’t have siblings, didn’t really understand whether any of these actions by Lu Zhanguo and Lu Aiguo were right or wrong, after coming to this world where she had a brother who was constantly trying to manipulate her.
From her perspective, she wouldn’t be able to behave the same way as Lu Zhanguo and his brother, despite their starting point being love, the whole process is too unbearable.
--------------------
By the time dinner rolled around, Wen Xiuqing didn’t show up. Meals that Aunt Li brought in were brought out untouched.
When Lu Aiguo watched Aunt Li bring out the food again, he muttered, "That stinking Lu Ruixue, just wait and see how I handle her."
Fang Jing gave him a side glance and said, "You’ve been a real chatterbox today. If Ruixue is a miscreant, then what are you?"
Lu Aiguo gave Fang Jing a disgruntled glance, mumbled, "Whose side are you on anyway? You’re so two-faced."
Fang Jing could no longer be bothered to engage with him and continued eating her meal quietly.
As she saw Lu Aiguo staying at home for the past few days, Gu Xiaobei curiously asked, "Aiguo, how’s your business going?"
"Not bad. I still have some fridge coupons in hand. Once my business license is processed, I’ll get more." Lu Aiguo replied.
Fang Jing couldn’t help but ask, "Where did you get so many TV tickets and fridge coupons from?"
Lu Aiguo pointed upstairs with his chopsticks and said, "We do have connections, don’t worry."
Gu Xiaobei then asked, "Aiguo, instead of this reselling business, shouldn’t you be investing more in manufacturing? Isn’t manufacturing more stable?"
Lu Aiguo looked at Gu Xiaobei in surprise, realizing she actually understood business. He then said, "Sister-in-law, you see the current policies favor the manufacturing sector, but they are ultimately state-controlled. For example, Fang Jing’s humdrum factory. It doesn’t earn much in a year, yet they have hundreds of employees and sometimes even struggle to pay them. Doing something big during such a time means you’ll be the first target to be hit. You can only get involved in manufacturing when those upstairs realize they need to reform and innovate."
"And as we transition this year from a planned economy to a market economy, it mostly involves shifting agriculture and sideline industries. Thus, I plan to start with some speculative transactions and rethink once I’ve made some money."
It was then Gu Xiaobei realized her previous ideas were so naive. That growing a business largely relies on policy support. Now, if there isn’t a good policy, you’ll only end up contributing to others getting ahead.
Fang Jing unfavorably said, "Why are you calling our factory run-down? Our factory’s been awarded as advanced every year."
Lu Aiguo dismissed it with a laugh, saying, "A group of female workers, just busy gossiping every day. They receive the same pay no matter how much they work. Who would be stupid enough to work extra, they are all just slacking off."
--------------------
Days repeated rhythmically with yesterday, turning into New Year’s Day. Xiaopang and Mo Wang are becoming more stable on their own, they grip anything that comes into their hands and shove it into their mouths. Mo Wang is especially interested in tissue paper. At times, when Gu Xiaobei crumples up a tissue and throws it a bit further away, Mo Wang would earnestly inch forward bit by bit, take a break, then move forward again.
Xiaopang also loves it, but never attempts to crawl, just sits and yells contentedly.
With Gu Xiaobei, on the bed entertaining the two children, Lu Zhanguo was out for his therapy.
"Sister-in-law, there are guests in the house, and mom says to bring the children downstairs," Fang Jing, who had the day shift, was helping Aunt Li prepare the New Year’s meals downstairs.
"Who’s here?" Gu Xiaobei was curious, for Wen Xiuqing, after arguing with Lu Ruixue, had been in poor spirits, barely leaving her room,
Fang Jing smiled and said, "Bai Xiaolan and her mother arrived."
When Gu Xiaobei heard Bai Xiaolan’s name, she remembered the one who had almost married Lu Zhanguo according to what Lu Ruixue had said before. Are they bringing more drama with this white lotus character?
Seeing Gu Xiaobei reluctant, Fang Jing called for her again, "Sister-in-law, let’s go. The meal is almost ready, and the two brothers are about to be back."
Gu Xiaobei then came back to her senses, holding Xiaopang and heading downstairs with Fang Jing, who was carrying Mo Wang.
As Gu Xiaobei and Fang Jing walked downstairs with the children, Bai Xiaolan and her mother Zhou Siping stood up and smiled at them.
Seeing the grinning Bai Xiaolan, Gu Xiaobei thought she was a tall girl with a short haircut that showed off her handsome features, giving her an aura of a refreshing, carefree lad. This did not match her name ’Xiaolan’ at all.
Zhou Siping laughed and said, "These must be Zhanguo’s wife and their twins, right? Come, let me hold the baby." Zhou Siping laughingly approached to hold Xiaopang in Gu Xiaobei’s arms.
Bai Xiaolan greeted with a smile, "Hello sister-in-law, my name is Bai Xiaolan." She revealed two cute tiger teeth when she smiled, instantly giving her a cute, childlike appearance.
Gu Xiaobei handed the child to Zhou Siping with a smile, and said to Bai Xiaolan, "Please sit down, and don’t be too formal."
Wen Xiuqing watched on the side, a rare smile appeared on her face.
Zhou Siping said with a smile, "I am holding the baby girl. Just one look confirms it, see her watery eyes, just like her mother. Fang Jing, you’re holding the son, right? He’s more like Zhanguo."
Bai Xiaolan extended her hand curiously to touch Xiaopang’s small hand and face, whispering, "So cute, and soft, so much fun."
"If you think it’s fun then hurry up and find someone to marry, so I can become a grandmother soon and spare myself from worries." Zhou Siping gave her daughter Bai Xiaolan a glance, complaining.
Bai Xiaolan responded with an awkward laugh and said, "Mom, can you not bring this up unnecessarily? It’s so embarrassing for me."
Zhou Siping huffed: "What about saving face? You’ve already lost face. Who still isn’t married at 25 or 26? Those who don’t know you might think there’s something wrong with you."
Bai Xiaolan didn’t get angry at her mother’s words. She just laughed with glee. It was obvious she was accustomed to her mother’s chiding at home.
For once, Wen Xiuqing spoke up: "Xiaolan has a good personality, she won’t have trouble finding a husband."
Zhou Siping shook her head and said, "This girl is too stubborn. She’s been giving us so much trouble, refusing to take the arranged job and insisting on leaving for G Province. Why go to such a desolate place like Northwest?"
Upon hearing Bai Xiaolan’s intention to go to G Province, Gu Xiaobei became alert. After all, considering the children of Beijing’s high-ranking officials, Yuan Ye and Yuan Tan, moving to such a deserted place, they must have certain intentions in mind.
