Back To The 80s-Chapter 348 - 358: New Atmosphere_1

Gu Xiaobei blinked, when did he become a good mentor and friend? It seemed that it wasn’t too far off for them to become partners in life.

"Actually, what Big Brother said was right. You need to be more tactful in your work." Gu Xiaobei said with a smile.

Bai Xiaolan, clutching Mo Wang, turned her head to look at Gu Xiaobei’s meaningful smile. She blushed and said, "You’re always teasing me every day."

"Yeah, yeah, if I don’t tease you now, you’ll become my sister-in-law later and I won’t be able to tease you then." Gu Xiaobei said cheerfully.

At noon, Wen Xiuqing stewed some meat, thinking that Lu Songyuan and Ji Xiangdong would have physically demanding tasks in the afternoon, she also boiled some tea eggs for them to eat when they get hungry.

She even made a special pig liver and spinach porridge for Xiaopang and Mo Wang, the porridge was simmered slowly until it became thick. Gu Xiaobei thought Wen Xiuqing was extremely considerate when it came to raising children, providing a variety of food for the two little ones every day. Being a former doctor, she paid great attention to food, and always made sure the children had a variety of nutritious food. .

Even Xiaobei, a person from the new millennium, felt inferior in comparison.

.......

Lu Zhanguo and his men said they were going to the mountain for intensive training, but they were actually looking for opium plantations in the mountain.

All the opium on the mountain was grown by the villagers on their own plot of land. They simply sowed the seeds and waited for harvest time, making it impossible to identify who was the owner.

Zhong Zhi complained with dissatisfaction: "Is this issue really worth sending our special forces for? Isn’t that just a waste of resources?"

Lu Zhanguo cast him a cold glance without saying anything, before turning to scan the situation on the opposite mountain peak with his binoculars. The mountain on the opposite side was bare, filled with drought-tolerant thorns. He spotted a big tree on the tops, whose leaves had withered long ago, and said to Zhong Zhi, "There’s something wrong with the mountain on the opposite side. You lead your men to check it out."

Zhong Zhi felt unconvinced: "Look at the mountain on the opposite side, there’s not even a plant that is half a meter tall. How could there be any problem? If there really was a problem, it would already have been spotted during the plane reconnaissance. I say, we should go to the dense forest to check."

Lu Zhanguo gave Zhong Zhi a look and shouted: "Wu Guanghan!"

"Here!" Wu Guanghan ran over from behind.

Lu Zhanguo pointed to the opposite mountain and said, "You take a small team over there. Use the big tree at the top as the original point and execute a search within a 50-meter radius."

"Yes, commander." Wu Guanghan took his team and jogged towards the mountain top.

Zhong Zhi watched Lu Zhanguo proudly, wondering how he would react when Wu Guanghan returned empty-handed.

Thirty minutes later, Wu Guanghan signalled from the opposite mountain top for Lu Zhanguo to come over.

Lu Zhanguo ordered his troops to rest and asked Zhong Zhi, "Do you want to go over and check it out?" His tone carried a hint of mockery.

Zhong Zhi still didn’t believe that Lu Zhanguo could be that sharp, so he waved his hand and said, "Let’s go check it out."

Upon reaching the opposite mountain top, the soldiers were gathered around an entrance of a tunnel. Wu Guanghan pointed at the entrance and said, "The tunnel is about four to five feet deep. Look at the large bowl-sized hole on the ground; it’s used for ventilation. In the middle is an empty space supported by tree branches, covered with dry grass on top. From the sky, it’s completely invisible."

Zhong Zhi’s face turned green. How could this be possible?

Lu Zhanguo waved his hand: "Weed out the opium seedlings and fill the hole."

Zhong Zhi, unable to give up, asked: "How did you know there was a problem here?"

Lu Zhanguo ignored him, pointed at the big tree and asked the others: "Do you find it strange to see this dead tree here?"

The soldiers were puzzled. It was just a dead tree, what was so strange about it?

"First, you can’t grow such a big tree on this barren mountain top. Second, why wouldn’t anyone chop down a dead tree to use as firewood? On our way here, didn’t you see people who were still collecting firewood close to noon and only managed a small bundle? Yet, here’s such a big tree and no one has chopped it down. Isn’t that strange?" Lu Zhanguo’s voice grew stern.

Zhong Zhi listened on the side, and felt his face burning. Every word that Lu Zhanguo said was a slap to his face.

Lu Zhanguo continued: "Do you all remember the basic reconnaissance skills of special forces? Any phenomenon that isn’t within the reasonable range could give you important information."

Zhong Zhi couldn’t help but ask: "If that’s the case, then why did they still plant a big tree here?"

Lu Zhanguo looked at Zhong Zhi intently before saying after a long pause: "Do you think this is an individual act or a group act? Do you think there would be territorial disputes for this?" After watching Wu Guanghan’s team fill up the hole, he commanded, "Gather, we shall retreat."

A feeling of vindication washed over Lu Zhanguo. His wife was right; when going to a new place, it was best to bring along his trusted men.

By Labor Day, Lu Songyuan and Wen Xiuqing moved into their new courtyard house.

Gu Xiaobei paid for a new bed, bedding, and curtains. Ji Xiangdong bought the table, chairs, benches, pots, pans, and dishes. Lu Aiguo sent a telegram specifically asking not to buy any electrical appliances, as he would bring them from the capital city.

Wen Xiuqing looked at her newly decorated home and her three filial sons, and her eyes moistened as she said to Lu Songyuan: "I never thought I’d see this day. I’d die happily now if I were to pass away."

Gu Xiaobei, who was listening nearby, laughed and said: "Mom, we’re celebrating a wonderful day, don’t talk about death. You should live to be a hundred and see Mo Wang get married."

Wen Xiuqing wiped her tears and laughed, "Yes, I still have to see Mo Wang get married."

Bai Xiaolan gifted a set of teacups and two flower pots. She laughed and said, "Now I have an extra place to stop by for a meal."

Qin Li also got the news. She hustled over with an armful of vegetables. Gu Xiaobei saw that Qin Li’s face was flushed from rushing and said: "You came running again and even bought so many vegetables. You can’t do this next time."

Qin Li smiled and said: "I was afraid I would be late and wouldn’t make it for dinner." Wen Xiuqing looked at Qin Li’s clear eyes and pleasing face and couldn’t help but compliment: "So you are the Qin Li that Xiaobei mentioned. You are really pretty, how old are you?"

Qin Li laughed with folded eyebrows and said: "Auntie, I’m almost twenty-one."

Wen Xiuqing’s eyes brightened and she asked, "Do you have a boyfriend?"

Qin Li’s laughing face stiffened for a moment before shaking her head saying, "No, not yet."

Gu Xiaobei, afraid to touch Qin Li’s sore spot, quickly said, "Mom, you’re holding the baby. Let Qin Li, Xiaolan, and I make dinner."

Wen Xiuqing took Xiaopang and watched Qin Li’s retreating figure with satisfaction. The girl was good, just a bit young.

When Gu Xiaobei got to the kitchen, he introduced Bai Xiaolan and Qin Li to each other.

Since Qin Li was naturally cheerful and friendly, she happily said: "Sister Xiaolan, you can just call me Lily."

Bai Xiaolan, always a picky person, saw that Qin Li was innocent and friendly which pleased her. She valiantly declared, "Okay, if you ever go to the capital city, I’ll be your protector. I guarantee no one will dare to bully you in Sijiu City."

Gu Xiaobei lightly pushed Bai Xiaolan and laughed, saying, "Don’t corrupt Lily."