Back To The 80s-Chapter 333 - 343: Family Photo_1

The entire Lu family was startled by Lu Songyuan’s decision. Lu Aiguo, unable to adjust, said, "I’ve always had a commanding officer for a father. Now he suddenly became an ordinary man, I’m really not used to it."

Lu Songyuan turned a deaf ear to Aiguo’s words. He told Zhanguo, "Your mother and I will look after your children. If Xiaobei wants to work, let her find a job. You should not waste your youth."

Aiguo clicked his tongue and said, "How did you suddenly become so enlightened? It’s quite unnerving."

Lu Songyuan ignored his irresponsible son and said to Aunt Li, "You can now peacefully retire and live with your daughter."

Lu Songyuan was deeply touched by the course his eldest son had taken. He had failed to fulfill his responsibilities to his wife and family in all these years. Now, seeing his children grown, and his daughter becoming what she was, he felt guilty and blamed himself. Speaking diplomely, he said it was all for the defense of the country. But truthfully, at his age, he was still reluctant to give up those illusionary honors. Now that he has let go, he believes it is more important to spend time with the family. It is more appropriate to offer opportunities to the younger generation.

Lu Songyuan’s decision also excited Wen Xiuqing. That joy made her enjoy an extra bun that evening.

The photographer for the pre-booked family photo arrived early on the second day of Lunar New Year.

Gu Xiaobei dressed the two children in red sweaters knitted by Wen Xiuqing, black velvet pants, and red woolen shoes. Fang Jing put red dots on the forehead of each child. Yueyue’s hair was tied into a ponytail with a large red bow.

Lu Songyuan and Wen Xiuqing, holding Mo Wang and Xiaopang, sat in front of the sofa while Yueyue leaned on her grandfather. The Zhanguo couple and the Aiguo couple stood side by side behind the sofa. A slightly regretful family portrait was taken. The photographer took several more pictures of Xiaopang, Mo Wang, and Yueyue. Xiaobei pulled Zhanguo to take pictures with their two children. When Fang Jing saw them, she also asked for a photo with her small family of three.

As the photographer was leaving, he told them that they could get their pictures in three days.

Wen Xiuqing went melancholic - such a joyous day, and yet Ruixue and Yuan Chao were not here. Moreover, it was the second day of the Lunar New Year, the day when married daughters return to their parents’ home, yet Ruixue did not come back with her husband.

After the photo-shoot, Aiguo and Fang Jing took Yueyue to her maternal grandparents’ house. A not-so-happy Xiuqing retired to her bedroom.

Ruixue finally came back, with a swollen face, just in time for lunch.

As Xiaobei was preparing lunch, she peeked from the kitchen at Ruixue and was taken aback, "How did her face get like this?"

Lu Songyuan, holding Mo Wang and playing chess with Zhanguo, saw Ruixue’s condition and frowned, "Who did this?"

Ruixue began to weep. Lu Songyuan said sternly, "Talk about it! Why are you crying?"

Ruixue wiped her tears and said, "Chen Dajun, that bastard, hit me. He’s seeing someone else and still comes back to beat me up."

Lu Songyuan, in his anger, almost slammed the table but refrained for fear of scaring the child in his lap. He sighed and asked, "Where is Chen Dajun? Why didn’t he come with you?"

"He said he won’t come, and won’t ever come back." Ruixue, feeling wronged, finished speaking, then addressed Zhanguo, "Brother, you need to deal with that woman. She is shameless, seducing Chen Dajun."

Zhanguo held Xiaopang in silence, looking at Ruixue. After a pause, he asked, "I beat up that woman and then what?"

"Then, warn her to stay away from Chen Dajun." Ruixue said indignantly.

Shaking his head, Zhanguo replied, "If not her, there will be another. Am I supposed to beat up every woman who comes along? Don’t you see where the problem lies?"

Ruixue boldly responded, "It’s those shameless women, always clinging to Chen Dajun."

Zhanguo coldly snorted and said no more. He felt that any further conversation with his sister, given her lack of good sense, would be useless.

Though annoyed with Ruixue, Lu Songyuan still pitied his daughter and said, "This won’t do. You two can’t keep living like this. Him having someone else is more serious than any error he could have made."

Ruixue looked at her father in surprise, "Dad, people usually encourage reconciliation rather than separation. Why are you so keen on my divorce? Besides, I am pregnant. If I get divorced, what would happen to me and my child?"

"What do you plan to do then?" Lu Songyuan said angrily.

With her head down, Ruixue hummed, "If Chen Dajun cuts ties with that woman, I will live with him happily."

Xiaobei, who had been listening from the kitchen door, almost choked at Ruixue’s words. She thought her sister-in-law was beyond help, utterly clueless.

Lu Songyuan didn’t want to argue anymore, "Do whatever you want. Don’t come crying when you end up suffering. If you’re willing to jump into the fire, then jump. As parents, who wouldn’t want their children to have a good life? If we couldn’t stand to see you suffer, we wouldn’t be encouraging you to get a divorce."

Ruixue kept her head low, silent. The thought of divorce made her feel like a divorced woman with a child in her belly. How would she live her future?

Seeing Ruixue, Xiaobei and Aunt Li had planned on cooking porridge and pancake wraps. The food was already ready; only needing to be reheated. But now Ruixue had come, and despite everything, she was a guest. So they warmed some more food and prepared two cold dishes.

Ruixue, behaving like a spoiled child, didn’t join them for dinner. Xiaobei called her once and when Ruixue didn’t move, she didn’t bother to call her again. As a sister-in-law, she had done her duty. It was up to Ruixue to eat or starve.

Throughout this, Xiuqing stayed in her room but heard everything that Ruixue said. She only came out when it was time for dinner and, seeing Ruixue, sighed without saying anything more.

Ruixue saw that everyone was having dinner and nobody was trying to coax her. She threw a tantrum while sitting on the sofa.

Over dinner, Xiuqing planned the Spring Festival greetings: which relatives Zhanguo and Aiguo would visit and who might come over for dinner.

Ruixue sat and grew increasingly uncomfortable with every word. She felt like a stranger in her own home. She left the house in a huff.

Seeing this, Aunt Li worriedly asked, "Should I go and check on her? I hope nothing happened?"

Lu Songyuan grumbled, "Don’t bother with her. How did my Lu family raise such a weak-willed girl? She seems to be the only one treating a piece of shit like a gem."

When she stepped outside, Ruixue waited for someone to come after her. When nobody did, she felt terribly wronged. Not knowing where to go and lacking the courage to take drastic measures, she wandered around for a while before returning home.

When she entered, she saw Chen Dajun and his mother eating. Neither of them even looked up when she arrived.

Ruixue washed her hands and sat down at the dining table, ready to eat.

"We didn’t cook for you. If you want to eat, cook for yourself." Qiu Yan said, neither rudely nor politely.

Like Qiu Yan, Chen Dajun also ignored Ruixue, focusing only on his food.

Ruixue bit her lip, holding back the tears. She quietly returned to her room to lie down.