Back To The 80s-Chapter 117 - 116: Blind Date_1

Seeing the teasing look in Gu Xiaobei’s eyes, Xiangmin lowered her head. She felt like Gu Xiaobei was a burr, prickly all over, full of mischief and quick-tongued. She had never gained an advantage over him.

At dusk, when Cheng Qijia and Guo Huaqiang arrived, they saw Qin Li leading a few kids in a game of jumping elastics in the courtyard. Qin Li’s little ponytail bobbed up and down as she hopped from side to side; her small face was flushed from the heat. Her eyes gleamed with laughter as she urged the two girls to move faster.

Cheng Qijia slowed his pace involuntarily, watching the afterglow of the evening sun paint a layer of gold on Qin Li in her white skirt. His heart involuntarily fluttered.

Qin Li had no idea she was being watched. She looked at Dadong and Chen Gang who were holding the elastic. Chen Gang was always the serene one, standing still. Dadong, however, couldn’t stay still, twitching and turning constantly.

Qin Li, with Jiujiu and Nini in tow, laughed and yelled at Dadong, "Dadong, are you a monkey? You can’t keep still!"

A disgruntled Dadong muttered, "Why am I always the one holding the elastic with Chen Gang?"

Grinning, Qin Li retorted, "Dumbo, because we are girls. Hold it properly!" She punctuated her sentence with a toothy threat at Dadong.

Cheng Qijia couldn’t help but smile at her antics, unable to take his gaze off her.

Xiangmin, who was watching at the stairway, saw Cheng Qijia arrive and called out happily, "Xiaocheng is here, come up!"

Reluctantly, Cheng Qijia ascended the stairs with Guo Huaqiang. But not before stealing a quick glance at Qin Li. Her lively figure, bathed in the last rays of the setting sun, was etched deeply into his mind.

Gu Xiaobei also went downstairs to call Qin Li for dinner. Seeing Cheng Qijia pass by, he wondered, "Has he agreed?"

Guo Huaqiang had wanted to invite Lu Zhanguo’s family over for dinner, but considering his wife’s current condition, he decided otherwise. He would do so after the baby was born.

Upon entering Guo Huaqiang’s house, Cheng Qijia saw Chi Xiaoyue in her long blue dress sitting there gracefully. He cordially nodded at her, understanding Xiangmin’s intention.

Xiangmin gestured for Chi Xiaoyue to keep Cheng Qijia company while she prepared the meal. All the while, Guo Huaqiang sat to one side with a furrowed brow.

The entrance to the outer room was open with only a curtain hanging. The sound of Qin Li and Gu Xiaobei talking filtered in:

"Qin Li, how old are you to still be arguing with Dadong?"

"Hehe, I can’t mess with those older than me. Jiujiu, you agree, right?"

"Don’t lead Jiujiu astray. Both of you go wash your hands and get ready for dinner!"

...

Listening to their conversation, a warm feeling filled Cheng Qijia. So, her name was Qin Li.

Chi Xiaoyue looked at Cheng Qijia’s handsome face and gentle demeanor. She somewhat liked him. Putting her mission aside, she would have to marry someone anyway, and the one before her eyes was indeed not bad. However, as Cheng Qijia kept quiet, she felt too shy to break the silence. For a time, the three people in the room became stiff.

Guo Huaqiang sighed to himself. He had realized that Cheng Qijia had no interest in Chi Xiaoyue. He said to Cheng Qijia, "Let’s go out for a smoke."

Cheng Qijia was more than pleased. Once outside, he could hear the sound of laughter coming from Gu Xiaobei’s house next door. It felt as though a feather was gently brushing across the calm surface of his heart, stirring up ripples.

Xiangmin, who was simmering the dishes, saw Guo Huaqiang leading Cheng Qijia out and shot him a furious glare.

Gu Xiaobei had prepared stir-fried green beans with pork belly, a dish of ’tiger skin’ green chilies, a plate of mashed garlic eggplant, and a large steamer of steamed buns for the evening meal.

Qin Li kept serving pieces of meat to Jiujiu and Chen Gang, "Jiujiu, eat more. You’re too skinny. Chen Gang, you too."

Watching the interaction between the three, Gu Xiaobei laughed and asked Lu Zhanguo, "Can you find a backpack for Jiujiu?"

"There’s one in the suitcase on the shelf at home." Lu Zhanguo naturally served her a piece of meat.

"By the way, Jiujiu doesn’t have a household registration, can you find someone to figure out a solution?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Li laughed and said, "Why, you came to me for this? I can take care of it!"

"You? A mere cop, can you really do it?" Gu Xiaobei asked skeptically, raising an eyebrow.

"Look down on me, why don’t you! Just say where you want Jiujiu’s registration to be, and I’ll see if I can sort it out."

"Well, why not in the Chen Family’s neighborhood? Jiujiu will always be the Chen’s daughter." Though Gu Xiaobei wanted to get Jiujiu a registered non-agricultural household, he considered having her and Chen Gang register together. It’d give her a sense of belonging. Plus, when Jiujiu gets into a good university in the future, her registration will naturally be transferred too.

"Okay, I’ll sort it out as soon as I get back, just wait patiently for the news." Qin Li assured, patting her chest for emphasis.

Lu Zhanguo initially thought of asking Shen Heng to take care of it, but considering Qin Li’s family background, he figured she could handle this minor matter.

While this group enjoyed a light-hearted and harmonious dinner, the atmosphere was tense at Xiangmin’s place where the Qi Family was over for a meal.

Xiangmin kept urging Chi Xiaoyue to serve food for the Qi Family, which put them in an awkward spot, "Sister-in-law, Doctor Chi and you, please help yourselves. You don’t need to worry about me."

"What Doctor Chi? Just call her Xiaoyue." Xiangmin chided.

The Qi Family kept quiet, unsure of how to react. Had Xiangmin openly attempted to set him up with someone, he certainly wouldn’t have come.

Chi Xiaoyue could tell that the Qi Family was uninterested, and her spirits sank.

Guo Huaqiang rubbed his temples, finding the situation difficult to handle. Xiangmin was becoming increasingly unreliable, leaving him to manage the Qi Family’s meal and drinks.

Everyone in their own thoughts finished their dinner. After a while, the Qi Family got up to leave.

Xiangmin still hadn’t given up, "Since Xiaoyue is going back to the health station anyway, you two can leave together."

The Qi Family had no choice but to oblige and walked downstairs with Chi Xiaoyue, one leading and the other trailing.

Once they stepped out of the residential compound, they bumped into Gu Xiaobei, Qin Li, and Jiujiu returning from their walk.

The Qi Family glanced at Qin Li and gave Gu Xiaobei a friendly greeting, "Sister-in-law, just returning from a stroll?"

Gu Xiaobei nodded with a smile. Seeing Chi Xiaoyue looking delicate and peaceful by his side, he couldn’t help recalling her glaring at him back in the Xinhua bookstore. Gu Xiaobei decided to tease them, "Xiaocheng, are you courting Doctor Chi?"

The Qi Family saw Qin Li’s curious gaze and quickly denied, "Sister-in-law, don’t get the wrong idea. I just happened to be at Auntie Xiangmin’s and ran into Doctor Chi."

Gu Xiaobei still pretended to be surprised, and turning to Chi Xiaoyue, said with a smile, "Oh – okay. However, Doctor Chi really is great!" He deliberately stressed the word ’great’.

Chi Xiaoyue’s face turned pale. Gu Xiaobei was definitely doing this on purpose. She’d heard everything in the water room that afternoon, and he was still asking.

Seeing the gentle look in The Qi Family’s eyes when he glanced at Qin Li, Xiaocheng said, "Sister-in-law, don’t make such jokes carelessly. If someone with an ulterior motive hears this, it might affect Doctor Chi’s reputation."

Gu Xiaobei realized it was just Chi Xiaoyue’s unrequited love and took perverse pleasure in it.

Qin Li gave the Qi Family a polite smile, after all, they’d been acquainted since he escorted her over that day. The Qi Family was distracted by Qin Li’s smile, which made his heart flutter.

Waving goodbye to the Qi Family, Gu Xiaobei led Qin Li and Jiujiu back home.

Seeing that the Qi Family was silent the entire time, as if preoccupied, Chi Xiaoyue couldn’t help but ask anxiously, "Mr. Cheng, do you have a problem with me?"

The Qi Family was taken aback by Chi Xiaoyue’s question, "Why would you ask that, Doctor Chi?"