Back To The 80s-Chapter 407 - 417: Neighborhood_1

Gu Xiaobei was carrying Xiaopang as he escorted Zhuang Shuxian and Qin Li out of the family quarter. In front of the gate of the family quarter, several wives of the soldiers were sunbathing with their children, facing the sunlight.

Gu Xiaobei had little interaction with them usually, only knowing Tian Yuanyuan and Zhao Hongmei.

Xiaopang, seeing several playmates on the ground, wanted to join and stopped fussing about Jiujiu and friends leaving.

With a smile, Tian Yuanyuan suggested, "Sister-in-law, how about letting Xiaopang play for a while? It is rare for such good sunshine these two days."

Gu Xiaobei put down Xiaopang and asked with a smile, "Are the schools on holiday now?"

"Yes, or when would we have the time to bring the children out for sun?" Tian Yuanyuan answered with a smile.

Zhao Hongmei also joined in and said, "You have quite a few relatives in the capital. We have no relatives here."

Gu Xiaobei smiled without replying. His eyes were on Xiaopang, afraid that she might snatch other children’s things.

Liu Jiajia brought a leather ball over to Xiaopang to play with. However, as Xiaopang was reaching out her hand; Erhu came from the side, snatching the ball. Xiaopang wasn’t happy. She grabbed Erhu’s clothes, crying and trying to scratch him.

Gu Xiaobei quickly took Xiaopang away. Surprisingly, this time Zhao Hongmei slapped Erhu on his head, scolding him, "Don’t you have one at home too? Don’t you play with it at home but snatch from other children outside?"

Erhu burst out crying after being hit.

Seeing this, Tian Yuanyuan advised, "Sister, children are like this. Even if they have it at home, they still find others’ toys attractive." The other women added that children are like this, they always find others’ stuff interesting.

Zhao Hongmei continued angrily, "This child, always forgetting after being hit. It annoys me every day."

Tian Yuanyuan tried to defuse the situation with a smile. "They’re just kids, don’t think that much. Next time you spank a child, don’t hit their head."

Zhao Hongmei took the ball from a worn-out Erhu, and gave it to Xiaopang. She then told Gu Xiaobei, "Lately, this kid, I don’t know who he learned from. He’s always snatching from others, which was unlike him before."

With a smile, Gu Xiaobei didn’t say anything. However, this made the other women uncomfortable. They were together quite frequently; it’s not unusual for children to snatch from each other. The way Zhao Hongmei put it hinted hidden meanings.

Ge Chunling also came out with her child to enjoy the sun. Seeing the crowd, she too walked over with a smile.

Gu Xiaobei, holding Xiaopang in his arms, greeted, "Xiaobao is also out for the sun?"

"The weather has been warm these two days, so I brought him out for a while after lunch. It’s suffocating to stay at home every day." Ge Chunling happily replied.

Tian Yuanyuan also came up to look at Xiaobao in Ge Chunling’s arms. "Just look, there are more boys than girls among children of the same age as Jiajia in our family quarter." 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Several people thought about it, and it seemed true. Apart from a girl held by Gu Xiaobei, the other four or five were all boys. They all laughed and said, "In the future, this little girl is going to be precious."

"They’re all naughty boys, it will be a problem getting them married."

"When I was pregnant, I wanted to have a son. But now, I envy those who have a daughter."

Zhao Hongmei snorted and said, "Sons are still better. In the future, who would we rely on to take care for old age? Although little, this Erhu already knows to give good food to his mother first."

Everyone was quieted by her words. It seems that it’s testing talking with Zhao Hongmei.

Believing there’s not much sense to stand there anymore, Gu Xiaobei told them: "Our Xiaopang needs to take a nap. You continue here while we go home first."

Tian Yuanyuan also held Liu Jiajia and stated, "We are also going back for a midday nap."

Nearly at once, several wives of soldiers announced that they wanted to take their children back home for a nap.

They all vowed to keep their distance from Zhao Hongmei in the future, lest she badmouth their children then.

Carrying Xiaopang, Gu Xiaobei walked home. After putting two children to sleep, he planned to take apart and clean all the bedding in the house, so he wouldn’t have to do it during the New Year.

He removed the cover from the quilts and soaked them in the washing basin. Using soap to scrub the quilts, he left them to let the soap soak in before washing.

Resting against the bathroom door, Lu Zhanguo suggested, "In these two days, let’s invite some buddies over for a meal. I’ve been transferred here for a long time, but I’ve never invited them over for a meal."

Only then did Gu Xiaobei remember this. In the past when he was at their previous base, every now and then they’d have small gatherings at home. Yet since they moved to the capital, they hadn’t invited anyone over, nor had they been to anyone’s home for a meal. It did seem a bit isolated. He nodded in agreement, "That’s fine. You decide whom to invite and how many. When we go shopping tomorrow, we’ll pick up the ingredients."

After some thought, Lu Zhanguo stated, "Let’s invite Zhong Zhi, Zeng Changzhi, Wu Aihua, Liu Hongbing, and Wu Guanghan first. If we invite too many, our home won’t accommodate everyone."

Gu Xiaobei nodded, "Okay. I’ll think and list down what all to buy tonight, otherwise, I might forget something tomorrow."

Lu Zhanguo looked at Gu Xiaobei struggling with a washboard to clean the quilts and suggested, "Let me wash it. Don’t you have articles to write for the publishing house? The children are sleeping, you should seize the chance. If Mo Wang and Xiaopang wake up later, they’ll cause trouble."

Gu Xiaobei grinned, not refusing his offer. She wiped her hands, gave Lu Zhanguo a kiss, and went into the room to work on her articles.

Walking slowly home from the Yellow River, He Qin’s heart gradually calmed down. As she reached home, she saw He Jing sitting on the sofa with her leg resting on the tea table. Frowning, she warned, "Why are you back? Lower your rugged leg. You’ve learned quite a soldier-like manner!"

Hurriedly withdrawing her leg, He Jing responded somewhat defiantly, "Why can’t I be back? I could’ve been accepted in the special forces if it weren’t for you. Now, I’m stuck in some backwater mountain. I’m sick, I took leave."

With a cold stare at her sister, He Qin retorted, "You’re not just sick. Did you use dad’s rank to bully people again?"

He Jing didn’t care, "So what if I did? Otherwise, would I be back?"

"How long do you plan to stay?" He Qin asked.

Nonchalantly, He Jing said, "Our platoon leader said I could stay until my health was restored, then return."

He Qin snorted, "I’m afraid your illness might not get better in a year or two."

Raising an eyebrow, He Jing retorted, "Indeed a sister is like a mother. If our mother was alive, she might not understand me as well as you do."

He Qin glared at her sister but didn’t say a word.

He Jing, unyielding, continued, "Oh sister, always criticizing me, but look at yourself. You’re 28, and you’ll be 29 after the New Year. It’s time to find someone to marry. As you know, you were supposedly waiting for Yunnan to pursue his studies in the east. What happened, though? He’s settled down, having a wife and kids, while you’ve returned all alone."

He Qin was hurt by her words. She shot He Jing a cold look and returned to her room without any response.

He Jing shrugged her shoulders and picked up an apple to munch on from the coffee table.