Back To The 80s-Chapter 391 - 401: Worry_1

Xiaobei knew that at this point in time, there wasn’t a packaging policy for products, so the more luxurious and extravagant the gift box, the better. It didn’t matter what’s inside, as long as the packaging looked premium enough when carried around. The phrase "golden on the outside but rotten on the inside" perfectly captured this concept.

Upon hearing about the lost goods, Aiguo immediately gave Xiaobei 30,000 yuan without hesitation, lending her some money to overcome the current predicament.

At the end of October, Xiaobei registered her trademark: "Prosperity of the Golden Age". Even though the name was a bit cheesy, it did bring good luck. Especially during the Spring Festival, people’s wishes tended to revolve around peace and prosperity.

Zhanguo’s investigation into a few people revealed that Sun Jiahe had in fact returned home for an arranged marriage. The remaining few kept a low profile, knowing few people in the provincial capital. Xiao Hong and Xiuxiu, who came from honest and straightforward families, didn’t maintain much contact with society and their behavior hadn’t changed recently.

While Xiaobei was kneeling on the Kang (a traditional Chinese heated bed) to fasten the quilt covers, she listened to Zhanguo’s report. Her delicate eyebrows furrowed. After thoughtfully considering this, she said: "Is it really just a coincidence? Am I overreacting?"

Zhanguo shook his head and replied: "Perhaps someone inadvertently leaked some information. From now on, you all need to be more careful. After all, business matters can’t truly be safeguarded against. Look, all your products are displayed openly. If anyone with ulterior motives disguised themselves as customers, they could easily get a sense of your operation."

Xiaobei nodded in agreement: "Exactly, but sometimes, success in business also depends on one’s financial luck and fortune."

As Zhanguo helped her smoothly spread the quilt cover on the bed, he said: "We’re leaving for our mission in a few days. If I’m not back when my elder brother arrives, let them stay at the residence in the unit complex while you and the kids stay here. I would worry if you have to return alone in the evening."

"We will discuss it then. Besides, it’s not too far from our house to the courtyard, and there are many street lamps. It should not be a problem." Xiaobei replied with a smile.

Still feeling uneasy, Zhanguo said, "The winter nights can be extremely cold, and the streets are deserted rather early. I will mention this to my mother later; you should stay here."

Xiaobei just agreed and didn’t argue back, after all, he was just thinking about her wellbeing.

Wen Xiuqing had taken the two kids, Xiaopang and Wang, to the east room because Xiaobei was securing the quilt covers and was worried they’d interfere. Xiaopang rummaged around the room, pulling out the neatly stacked clothes from the cupboard. As Xiaopang continued creating a mess, Mo Wang was right behind him, picking up the clothes and re-stacking everything.

Wen Xiuqing decided not to intervene further, thinking she would clean up after the kids fell asleep. Raising these two children was slowly eroding her obsessive-compulsive behavior.

Da Huang, the dog sprawled by the stove suddenly stood up and ran out, barking loudly at the courtyard gate.

"Who could it possibly be in this cold weather? You go and have a look." Standing by the window and seeing Da Huang barking continuously, Xiuqing said to her husband, Songyuan, who couldn’t hear any knocking on the door.

Songyuan put on a coat and went outside, as he opened the gate, he found Ruixue, shivering in the cold, with only a light jacket on.

"Why did you come here dressed so thinly? Hurry in." Songyuan, upon seeing his daughter in such a state felt pity and quickly beckoned her inside.

Hearing the commotion in the courtyard, Xiaobei, who was still kneeling on the Kang, looked out from the window and saw Songyuan leading Ruixue into the room. This sight immediately soured her mood.

Zhanguo also saw Ruixue. Her miserable appearance and the information Shen Heng provided about how Chen Dajun organized a group of people, including Ruixue, to sell blood for money in the black market, made him concerned. He even visited Ruixue once to ask about her intentions, but even so, Ruixue had no intention of leaving Chen Dajun.

Seeing Ruixue coming in disheveled, Xiuqing couldn’t help but ask in a worried tone, "Why didn’t you wear a padded jacket? What about the 20 yuan I gave you a couple of days ago? Have you spent it already?"

Ruixue, her face pale and her lips cracked and dry, replied stutteringly, "Chen Dajun took the money. I just came to see how things were. I am not asking for money."

Sighing, Xiuqing said, "Ruixue, you are not a child anymore, at least listen to what we have to say. Even if it means washing dishes for someone, there is no shame in that."

Without uttering a word, Ruixue just leaned against the heated wall. She felt as though her body was freezing and even though the wall must have been hot, she was too cold to notice.

Zhanguo, watching Xiaobei from the other room, saw that she looked unhappy and said, "Don’t be angry. If mom and dad let Ruixue move in, we will move back to the residence in the unit complex."

Sighing, Xiaobei replied, "That’s all we can do." No matter what, Ruixue was still part of the Lu family and they couldn’t possibly ignore her problems.

After a while, Xiuqing came by carrying Xiaopang. She hesitated for a moment, then said to Xiaobei, "Xiaobei, can we let Ruixue move back in for a few days? It’s so cold outside. Chen Dajun took all her rent money, and now the landlord has kicked her out..."

Xiaobei knew that if she did not let Ruixue move in, and something happened to her, it would be blamed on Xiaobei. But if she did let Ruixue move in, she would have to take the children back to the residence in the unit complex, which would seem very insensitive. Wouldn’t this be forcing Songyuan and Xiuqing to choose between their granddaughter and their great-grandchildren?

Seeing Xiaobei’s silence, Xiuqing continued, "After all that she’s been through, I believe Ruixue should have learned her lesson. We should give her another chance."

Xiaobei, seeing her mother-in-law speak in such a low voice, didn’t feel particularly happy. However, she believed that selfishness, like a deep-rooted instinct, wouldn’t change easily. Now that Ruixue was in a tough situation, she naturally lowered her guard. But once she recovered, her selfish nature would undeniably resurface.

Zhanguo interjected, "Mom, let her stay. We will take Mo Wang and Xiaopang back home tonight. When you and dad want to see the kids, you can come over to our apartment."

Upon hearing Zhanguo’s suggestion, Xiuqing looked stunned and started feeling upset. Staying at the courtyard and visiting the apartment were significantly different experiences for her. She felt only the courtyard was actually home; the apartment seemed foreign, which made her uncomfortable.

Noticing Xiuqing’s reaction, an idea occurred to Xiaobei. She suggested, "Mom, how about this? I will pay for Ruixue’s rental in a nearby place for three months. I will also cover her living cost for three months so she can find a job and support herself. After three months, I won’t intervene anymore."

Xiuqing pondered over it for a while. If Ruixue was allowed to stay and live without worrying about her basic needs, she might not venture out to find work.

Xiaobei then added, "Also, you should directly hand the rent to the landlord. As for the living cost, you can just buy flour, oil, vegetables, etc., and give her some petty cash. If you give her the cash directly, I’m afraid Chen Dajun might take it."

Xiuqing immediately nodded and said, "Alright, we will do as you suggest. We need to make sure she finds a job; if this continues, she will be ruined."