Back To The 80s-Chapter 332 - 342: Relatives_1

Ji Xiangdong noticed a group of young men and women standing not far under the bridge, in a relatively vacant space. Their faces were the exact mirror of his, causing his heart to skip a beat subtly.

His gaze lingered for a few seconds before he retracted it. Amidst the tumult in his heart, his face remained unchanged. He slowly exited the crowd and climbed down from the bridge.

Lu Zhanguo was listening to three women arguing about where to go based on their preferences.

Gu Xiaobei wanted to see the sugar-blowing show.

Fang Jing was interested in the acrobatic show.

Bai Xiaolan wanted to witness the bear performance.

All three women were earnestly trying to convince the others to come to the shows they preferred.

Lu Zhanguo, with his acute senses, detected a focus locked onto them. He looked up towards the bridge, but the rushing stream of people offered no abnormal sight.

The three women eventually reached a consensus. Lu Aiguo would take his family to the acrobatics, while Gu Xiaobei and the others would accompany Bai Xiaolan to the bear show before moving onto the sugar-blowing performance. They all planned to meet at the north gate of the park for the ride home.

Back in his hotel room, Ji Xiangdong declined Director Ba’s offer to go to Cox Street for hot pot. Instead, he stood silently by the window, lost in thought.

After escaping the Song family at the age of sixteen, he snuck onto a coal train exiting Zhangbei. Filled with hatred, he felt the world was utterly unjust. He ran with a gang of street kids, living hand to mouth, depending entirely on begging for survival, until he met Old Ji.

Old Ji took him in, teaching him both culture and life values. He said, "If you see the world with warm eyes, the people around you will be warm. If you see the world with hate, it will be full of hate. All depends on your heart."

At eighteen, Old Ji sent him to the army, and renamed him Ji Xiangdong. Two years later, Old Ji was incarcerated because of a single sentence he uttered, but he still reminded Ji Xiangdong to see the world with a warm heart and assured him that any darkness would pass.

In that battlefield, Ji Xiangdong met Jin Jiadong. Jin Jiadong was astonished to find someone who resembled him named Lu Zhanguo.

After switching positions, he returned to the northeast. By then, Old Ji had been released and willingly accepted the organization’s assignment to relocate to the northwest, holding no grudges.

Before his departure to the northwest, Old Ji specifically visited Ji Xiangdong. He repeatedly told him to always cherish positive thoughts to foster hope and grow stronger amidst unfavorable conditions rather than harboring resentment.

Ji Xiangdong held Old Ji in high regard. After enduring a significant amount of injustice, the man could still commit wholeheartedly to helping develop the northwest part of the country.

If not for Old Ji, he might still be a street hoodlum or could have already starved to death. He later got to know about Old Ji’s deteriorating health due to the hardships sustained during his incarceration. He promptly applied for a professional transfer to assist Old Ji in the harsh environment of the northwest and look after the old man filled with desert poplar spirit.

After learning about his family through Jin Jiadong, and following Lu Zhanguo’s public activities, he affirmed that Lu Zhanguo was indeed his blood brother. Yet, he couldn’t face him. There was no hatred in his heart, only a knot that he couldn’t untie.

After a long period of solitude, he had forgotten how to love.

As Ji Xiangdong stood silently for a long while, he pulled out a cigarette and lit it. Although it brought him a touch of excitement to see Lu Zhanguo today, he wondered whether deep down, he still harbored a slight desire.

Ji Xiangdong felt his eyes becoming moist.

He turned, walked over to the bedside table, opened the oil-papered package, and put a piece of honey tribute into his mouth. The scent of osmanthus seemed to alleviate his inner discomfort.

Ji Xiangdong had no plan to recognize his family. He thought living peacefully in their respective worlds was more suitable.

Gu Xiaobei lost interest in the temple fair shortly after arriving. They had been out for several hours. She began to worry whether her children were missing her. She especially worried about the sticky Xiaopang— whether he was crying without his mother to breastfeed him.

Lu Zhanguo noted her unusual behavior and asked, "What’s wrong?"

Gu Xiaobei sighed, "I miss the children."

Bai Xiaolan was puzzled. "We’ve only been out for half a day," she said.

Noticing Xiaolan, Gu Xiaobei asked, "Are you going home now?"

Bai Xiaolan shook her head. "Not yet. There’s still a lot to see. From tomorrow, we have to visit relatives for the New Year. We won’t have any time."

"Why don’t you find Aiguo and go back with them? We’ll leave first. I’m afraid Xiaopang will create a fuss at home," Gu Xiaobei hesitantly suggested.

Bai Xiaolan nodded in agreement. "Go ahead. I’ll be fine alone," she assured them.

Gu Xiaobei bought some sesame candy and other snacks to bring back for Wen Xiuqing and Aunt Li before leaving the place.

As Lu Zhanguo went to fetch their bikes, he wondered, who was spying on them today? He seemed to have neglected this issue lately.

Returning home in a hurry, Gu Xiaobei and Lu Zhanguo found an elated Xiaopang and Mo Wang sitting on the couch, waiting for Grandma to feed them apples.

Seeing his parents return, Xiaopang began clapping and demanded to be held.

"Why did you come back so soon? Why not stroll around a bit more?" Wen Xiuqing asked while feeding the children apple puree.

Worriedly twirling a strand of her hair, Gu Xiaobei answered, "I feared Xiaopang would cry and cause trouble for you all."

Aunt Li laughed, "These two children are a joy to care for. Xiaopang fussed around midday, but calmed down after some egg soup. They are smart. When they notice their mother isn’t home, they behave themselves." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

After changing her clothes and washing her hands, Gu Xiaobei picked up Mo Wang. Naturally, Xiaopang went to his father.

Chuckling, Wen Xiuqing advised, "Xiaobei, you need to let go slowly. Otherwise, you won’t be able to do anything. As the children grow older, they will become clingier to the person who takes care of them every day."

Embracing Mo Wang made Gu Xiaobei feel reassured. Hearing Wen Xiuqing’s words, she felt conflicted. It was tough for her to keep the children out of her sight, even for a moment.

In the evening, Lu Aiguo returned home with Fang Jing and their daughter, Yueyue. Yueyue had enjoyed a fruitful day—she had scored a monkey king mask, a windmill, and a sugar doll—she ran to Gu Xiaobei: "Auntie Xiaobei, look! This is Mo Wang and this is Xiaopang. They’re New Year presents." She handed over two cute sugar figures.

Fang Jing gushed over the fun she had, "You left too early. There were even face-changing and fire-breathing performances later!"

Dinner consisted of boiled dumplings, cooked meat, and millet porridge prepared by Aunt Li. As they were eating, Lu Songyuan rushed back home.

Lu Aiguo, ever quick with words, quipped, "Wow, not seeing you for a day is as long as a year and two years in this case."

Lu Songyuan glanced at him, "What nonsense are you saying, young lad?"

"Isn’t it true?" Lu Aiguo laughed. "Yesterday was last year, today is this year. Add them up and it equals two years."

Ignoring his son’s gibberish, Lu Songyuan washed his hands and sat down. Then he casually said, "Next year, I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to annoy you all."

Lu Zhanguo questioned, "Dad, have you applied for retirement?"

"Yes, I decided. I have contributed to the greater community all my life. It’s time to do something for the family. If I don’t come home now, I’m afraid Mo Wang will not recognize me." Lu Songyuan took Mo Wang from Gu Xiaobei’s arms as he said this.