Back To The 80s-Chapter 111 - 110: Work_1

Seeing Gu Xiaobei merrily running to pluck seedlings, Li Fengmei could not help but laugh and shake her head. Sometimes, the wife of the deputy team leader could be as childish as a little kid.

In the evening, Gu Xiaobei made meat dumplings with Chinese cabbage and meat. Jiujiu ate with a greasy mouth. After two days of interaction, she was no longer afraid of Lu Zhanguo.

Gu Xiaobei gave Jiujiu a few more dumplings, then turned to ask Lu Zhanguo, "Can I use the camp’s phone to make a call to the publishing house?" For some reason, the publishing house did not send the original manuscripts this time, leaving her without any income.

Lu Zhanguo nodded, "Alright, you can come to my office tomorrow morning." Lu Zhanguo rarely engaged in personal matters.

Gu Xiaobei nodded, and reminded Jiujiu to drink some noodle soup. Watching this warm scene, Lu Zhanguo couldn’t help but smile.

The next day, Gu Xiaobei took Jiujiu to Wang Ping’s house to play with Nini, and she went to the office department to find Lu Zhanguo.

This was the first time she entered Lu Zhanguo’s office. Two three-drawer desks facing each other were placed by the window. Behind the wooden chairs, there was a row of wooden cabinets, presumably for storing files.

Lu Zhanguo let Gu Xiaobei sit in his seat and took the note with the publishing house’s phone number from her. He dialed the publishing house’s number for her and then handed her the receiver, before sitting down at the desk opposite.

After the phone rang three times, a magnetic male voice picked up, "Hello, how can I help you?" Gu Xiaobei felt a little nervous and cursed herself for being faint-hearted. She had not used the phone, nor had she worked for a long time, and was now unaccustomed to it.

Gu Xiaobei steadied her nerves and said, "Hello, this is Gu Xiaobei from T City."

The person on the other end was clearly taken aback, and then chuckled, "Hello, hello, I am Jiang Jiahua, the chief editor in charge of the English version at the publishing house."

"Hello, Chief Editor Jiang." Gu Xiaobei was less nervous now, so she spoke politely.

"Comrade Xiaogu, we have sent you an invitation letter, and after internal discussion, we would like you to attend a short-term translation training course. Furthermore, our publishing house would like to offer you a job here, in charge of English translation," Jiang Jiahua said politely.

Gu Xiaobei was slightly surprised. Going to work there was clearly unrealistic for her. After pausing for a moment she said, "Thank you, Chief Editor Jiang and the publishing house for your kind offer. I am honoured, and I do yearn for this opportunity. However, I need to take care of my family, so I am unable to spare the time. I’m afraid I have to disappoint the expectations of the publishing house."

Lu Zhanguo, sitting across from her, raised an eyebrow. This girl was quite adept at formalities.

Seeing Gu Xiaobei speaking in this manner, Jiang Jiahua did not press further. She had tactfully declined his offer. After a moment’s pause, Jiang said, "Alright, we have a few books to be translated. I’ll send them to you tomorrow. The standard fee remains sixteen per thousand words. Moreover, if you could create some English compositions on your own, it would be more promising."

Gu Xiaobei thanked him politely, "Thank you, Chief Editor Jiang. Your suggestion is wonderful. As for my own creations, I will stew on it and get back to you later."

Judging by Gu Xiaobei’s voice, Jiang Jiahua was curious to know that she was young, yet spoke such methodical official language. "Alright, you can mail me your ideas," he said.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Jiang Jiahua, Gu Xiaobei hung up the phone. Looking up, she saw Lu Zhanguo staring at her with a deep gaze, and touched her face, "Is there something dirty on my face?"

Lu Zhanguo shook his head, and Gu Xiaobei immediately teased, "Are you staring at me because I’m beautiful?"

"Um yes, you are beautiful," Lu Zhanguo answered seriously.

Gu Xiaobei giggled, "Well, you can have a good look later. I’m leaving now," and then she ran off merrily.

When she arrived at Wang Ping’s house, Jiujiu was playing with Nini, dressing up dolls. Jiujiu finally started to act like a little girl, curiously touching the doll’s hair and arms.

Wang Ping was sweating profusely from boiling cabbage seedlings. These had to be blanched before being made into pickles. Seeing Gu Xiaobei, she gave a bitter smile, "This year, it seems my family can only eat pickles made from radish seedlings."

Gu Xiaobei had heard Xiangmin say that day, "If you want to eat pickles made from Chinese cabbage, you can take some from my house."

"Alright, just don’t blame me for not being polite then," said Wang Ping with a hearty laugh. She then turned to look at Jiujiu and said, "Normally, people have dimples on their cheeks, but Jiujiu has dimples at the corners of her mouth, which is quite adorable."

"Yes, I also found it unusual," Gu Xiaobei remarked. She then called Jiujiu to go home.

When Gu Xiaobei and Jiujiu came out of Wang Ping’s house, they noticed that someone had moved into the first floor. It was the same room where Wen Dong used to live. A young woman in her twenties, who was quite fresh and pretty, was holding a few months old baby. She was instructing a few soldiers to help move the furniture.

Wang Ping whispered to Gu Xiaobei, "This is the wife of Chang Yuan, the logistics officer we often see when we take the supply vehicle. Accommodation in the residential compound has always been tight. An empty room just became available, and it was given to them."

Gu Xiaobei naturally recognized Chang Yuan, who was always smiling courteously.

Sun Aiqin, holding the baby, turned around and saw Gu Xiaobei and Wang Ping. She quickly greeted them with a smile, "You must be sisters-in-law. I am Chang Yuan’s wife, Sun Aiqin."

Gu Xiaobei nodded at Sun Aiqin without speaking, and Wang Ping also said with a smile, "You are busy holding the child. Let me help you hold the child, and you can settle down."

Sun Aiqin said happily, "Thank you so much, sister-in-law," and handed the baby to Wang Ping.

"Does the baby recognize strangers?" Wang Ping asked as she took over the baby.

"No, this child does not recognize strangers. It’s fine with whoever holds him."

Gu Xiaobei thought about going back to prepare lunch, so she gave the two of them a smile and went upstairs with Jiujiu.

Sun Aiqin asked curiously, "Who is that sister-in-law’s husband?"

"That’s the deputy team leader’s wife."

Sun Aiqin blinked and said, "She is quite good-looking. Is she easy to get along with?"

"Pretty easy to get along with. You should hurry up and organize your things," Wang Ping said, realizing that this was not the time for idle chatter and urging her to get going.

Gu Xiaobei made slice soup for lunch and ate a little with Jiujiu. She thought that since tomorrow was Saturday, she could ask Chang Yuan to help bring her clothes back, saving her a trip to the town.

For dinner, Gu Xiaobei steamed a pot of buns and cooked a pot of rice and red bean porridge. She stir-fried eggplant with fish-flavored sauce and made a sweet and sour chili salad.

During the meal, Gu Xiaobei noticed that Jiujiu was only drinking porridge and not eating the buns. She wondered what was wrong with the child, "Jiujiu, why aren’t you eating the buns?"

Jiujiu whispered in a timid voice, "Auntie, I want to take my bun back for my mother. She hasn’t had white buns in a long time."

Upon hearing this, Gu Xiaobei felt a pang of sadness. She seemed to have something stuck in her throat and was unable to speak. Lu Zhanguo was similarly moved. He picked up a bun and handed it to Jiujiu, "Go ahead and eat. There are still buns in the pot. You can take them back for your mother tomorrow."