Back To The 80s-Chapter 305 - 315: Cousins (Request for Monthly Tickets)_1
Wen Xiuqing sat in her bedroom, unable to stop her tears, overwhelmed by the chaos in the living room. She felt helpless, wanting to do something, only to realize that she was truly powerless and had always been.
Lu Ruixue threw a tantrum, taking Chen Dajun away, and threatened that if Lu Aiguo didn’t return the house to them, she’d never step foot in the family home again.
Lu Songyuan sat on the sofa, unmoved for a long time, feeling incredibly upset. His daughter blamed him and he knew she had a point. Over the years, it was only in the last two that he managed to settle down; before that, it had been difficult to even make it home once a year.
Gu Xiaobei peeked from the top of the stairs, urging Lu Zhanguo to come upstairs to hold the child. After yelling, she quickly rushed back to the room, worried that the baby might fall off the bed.
Lu Zhanguo responded and climbed upstairs. Gu Xiaobei anxiously asked, "Everything alright? Why did Ruirui show up so early in the morning? This can’t go on like this."
"It’s still about the house. I guess the couple schemed something at home and decided to vent their frustrations through Ruirui." Lu Zhanguo said while picking up Xiaopang from the bed, each time he held the child, he couldn’t resist holding his daughter first.
"This house is a ticking bomb. If one day it increases in value, Ruirui’s problems could escalate." Gu Xiaobei picked up Mo Wang and expressed her worries. The prices of the courtyard house were bound to increase in the future.
"Alright, let’s leave their matters be and go have breakfast. Xiaopang’s steamed egg custard is ready." Lu Zhanguo said and carried Xiaopang out of the room.
Downstairs, seeing the two carrying the kids, a smile appeared on Lu Songyuan’s face. He waved to Xiaobei and said, "Come on, quickly hand over Mo Wang to me."
Gu Xiaobei handed over Mo Wang with a smile and then went upstairs to clean up.
Holding Mo Wang, Lu Songyuan told Lu Zhanguo, "When you both go back to the provincial city, nobody will be here to look after the kids. Xiaobei can’t handle it all by herself. She and the kids can stay back in Capital City until they start kindergarten, it’ll be easier to look after them, then they can move to the provincial city."
Lu Zhanguo remained silent. He knew neither he nor Gu Xiaobei would be happy with this arrangement.
Seeing his son not speaking, Lu Songyuan continued, "At home, with so many people around, it would make it easier to raise the children. If she goes back alone, Xiaobei won’t even have the time to eat. With your salary supporting two kids, do you think you can afford to hire help? You two need to consider this."
At breakfast, Lu Songyuan proposed his idea to Gu Xiaobei.
Gu Xiaobei was stunned. Living in Capital City with two kids meant she might hardly see Lu Zhanguo all year. She certainly didn’t want that.
Seeing Gu Xiaobei just lowering her head to feed the kids their egg custard without saying a word, Lu Songyuan sighed and said, "Xiaobei, don’t worry, we’re just thinking about what’s best for you all. If you don’t agree, just forget about it."
Only then was Gu Xiaobei quick to say, "Dad, I know you’re thinking about our best interests. I just don’t want the kids to be separated from their dad for too long. Anyway, we’re only returning to the provincial city after the new year, we can discuss it more then."
By then, Lu Songyuan was satisfied and lowered his head to eat.
After breakfast, Lu Songyuan left for the military camp. Lu Aiguo sat for a while, then also went out. Wen Xiuqing didn’t come out of her room to eat breakfast.
Gu Xiaobei sat on the sofa with the kids, preparing to play children’s broadcasts on the radio for them.
Bai Xiaolan rushed in as if being chased by a wolf.
Gu Xiaobei curiously looked at Bai Xiaolan and asked, "Did you stir up trouble again?"
"Almost. I have nowhere to hide. I thought since we’ve fought together before, we’re basically like sisters, so I came to your place to hide." Bai Xiaolan responded honestly, panting after sitting down.
Gu Xiaobei wished she could face-palm, how could fighting produce a revolutionary friendship?
"Who did you fight with this time?" Gu Xiaobei couldn’t help but ask.
Bai Xiaolan glanced at Lu Zhanguo, who was holding Xiaopang and said somewhat shyly, "I cracked open the skull of the son of the head of our neighborhood’s supply and marketing cooperative."
Gu Xiaobei looked at Bai Xiaolan with surprise. How badass could this girl be to give a man’s skull a crack? "You fought again? Why this time?"
Bai Xiaolan carelessly said, "That bastard stole chickens from Granny Sun to sell. I caught him in the act; who else should I beat if not him? Granny Sun is so pitiful, living all by herself, and yet her chickens still got stolen."
Gu Xiaobei looked at the girl, who radiated a powerful aura when she spoke, and was at a loss for words. No wonder Zhou Siping was worried about his daughter getting married. Probably everyone in the circle knew that his daughter loved to fight.
Bai Xiaolan finished her sentence, teased Mo Wang for a bit, and finally asked Gu Xiaobei, "Sis, do you know Cheng Qijia?"
Gu Xiaobei looked a bit surprised. Could Bai Xiaolan’s move to the provincial city be related to Cheng Qijia? She nodded, and said, "I do. He was in the same military unit as Zhanguo before."
Bai Xiaolan’s eyes lit up. She laughed and said, "Now, he’s screwed. Wait till I catch him. Then, see how I deal with him."
Gu Xiaobei confirmed her speculation. It appeared that Bai Xiaolan liked Cheng Qijia but Cheng Qijia liked Qin Li. Considering this complicated relationship gave her a headache. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚
Bai Xiaolan continued, "The only people I haven’t been able to beat are him and you, and I’ve fought with him forever." She blushed slightly after finishing, then added, "Wait, there’s another one. In my whole life, I’ve never been able to defeat these two people."
Gu Xiaobei laughed and said, "You’re so young, and you’re already talking about your ’whole life’. Life is long."
Bai Xiaolan let out a small laugh and said, "Wait till you guys return to the provincial city after the New Year. Let me go with you."
"Alright, but you can’t keep fighting in the provincial city." Gu Xiaobei said, her head aching. This girl’s name and personality were just too different.
Bai Xiaolan made a promise with her hands, "I won’t fight, I definitely won’t."
Gu Xiaobei was still curious about Bai Xiaolan and Cheng Qijia’s relationship and couldn’t resist asking, "Did you and Cheng Qijia grow up together?"
Bai Xiaolan nodded and said, "He is my cousin from my mother’s side, and he grew up in my house."
Gu Xiaobei’s curiosity instantly fizzled out. So it was just a cousin relationship, she thought they were childhood sweethearts.
Bai Xiaolan, a straightforward girl, didn’t wait for Gu Xiaobei to ask before she continued, "Our family is Manchu, and we belong to the Yellow Banners. Our Manchu surname is Guwalgiya. My aunt is very old-fashioned - there are still many old traditions being followed at their house, which is why I don’t like going there."
Gu Xiaobei didn’t quite understand, but she thought the Yellow Banners should be the royal descendants, which would explain the many traditions.
After sitting for a while, Bai Xiaolan couldn’t resist wanting to hold Mo Wang, saying, "He’s so fun!"
Gu Xiaobei was twitching in the corner of her eye, it seemed that in Bai Xiaolan’s eyes her child was just a plaything.
After handing the child to Bai Xiaolan, Gu Xiaobei asked her, "You’re fine here, why insist on going to the Northwest? Transport there is inconvenient, and it’s way backward compared to Capital City."
Bai Xiaolan made a face at Mo Wang, then answered seriously, "I’m going to the provincial city just to fool my mom, I actually want to go to X Province."
Gu Xiaobei was surprised, "You’re such a young girl, why do you want to go so far as X Province? Your mom will worry to death if she finds out."
