Back To The 80s-Chapter 121 - 120 Cards: Risky Adventure_1

Gu Xiaobei nodded, comforting with a famous saying from the 21st century: "Yes, if you’re not brave, no one will be strong for you. Cheer up, there’s definitely no insurmountable hurdle in life."

Qin Li made a stupid laugh. But inside, she felt like dying, without Jin Cheng, she simply didn’t have the enthusiasm for anything.

Upon returning to the hotel, Shen Heng received a call from Jin Cheng asking to meet him. He promptly left Yuan Tan and made his cautious way to the small park by the moat.

Jin Cheng was still dressed in his flashy outfit, sitting in a chair in a corner of the park with his legs crossed.

Shen Heng glanced around before sitting next to Jin Cheng: "What did you want to see me about?"

"Gao Dailin wants to involve me in the crime." Jin Cheng said without fuss.

"You should refuse." Shen Heng gave it a thought and suggested.

"Why? Gao Dailin is now desperate, involving me is a good opportunity for us to solve the case quicker." Jin Cheng was puzzled.

"It’s too risky. He will definitely resort to nasty tactics to control you, just think about what happened to Li Hao." Shen Heng wouldn’t allow Jin Cheng to take such a risk.

"Brother Heng, are you asking me not to go because I am Jin Jiadong’s brother? If it were someone else, you definitely wouldn’t say this, would you?" Jin Cheng looked straight ahead and asked Shen Heng in a calm voice.

Shen Heng did not dodge the question and nodded: "Yes, I promised Jiadong. I can’t let the Jin family end."

Jin Cheng gave a bitter smile, "Brother Heng , you are applying a double standard. I’m not trying to be a hero or show off. I just want to shoulder the responsibilities a man should take on."

Shen Heng choked on his response: "Providing for the family and being dutiful to elders are also responsibilities a man should bear."

Jin Cheng gave a small laugh, his tone tinged with sadness: "Brother Heng, I understand these great truths. I’m not noble or great. But I know that only when the country is prosperous can the families be peaceful. I’m not afraid of sacrifice since someone has to do it."

"Have you considered your parents? Can they bear it?" Shen Heng knew that Jin Cheng wouldn’t listen to his advice this time.

"I’ve let them down." Jin Cheng murmured.

"By the way, how about that little girl of yours? I see she gets along well with Gu Xiaobei, maybe my sister-in-law should introduce her to a special forces soldier." Shen Heng tried to provoke Jin Cheng.

Jin Cheng felt as though his heart had been pierced by a blunt knife, a raw pain. It took him a moment to say, "The girl wouldn’t be happy if she followed me. And no, she can’t date a special forces soldier either. It’s too dangerous."

Shen Heng shook his head, "Listen to your brother this time, for the sake of your family and the girl, refuse Gao Dailin’s request and just keep a low profile."

Jin Cheng hung his head: "Brother Heng, I’m getting married at the end of the month. The girl and I have no future. If there is a next life, I will treat her well." He felt as if a large hole had been dug in his heart, and it was bleeding profusely.

Shen Heng was exasperated, this guy was stubborn to the point of being irrepressible: "I hope you don’t regret it. And about that wedding, you should probably call it off too, don’t ruin a good girl."

Jin Cheng stayed silent, his emotions complex. Maybe he had been too obstinate.

Shen Heng still couldn’t bear it. He looked at the young man who was like his own brother: "Jin Cheng, think carefully. Don’t do anything you’ll regret, don’t cause pain to the ones who love you."

Jin Cheng just clenched his lips without uttering a word. Shen Heng sighed, it was as though he’d said nothing in all that time.

After sitting for a while, he patted Jin Cheng’s shoulder: "Take care." And with a sigh, he left.

Jin Cheng remained in his seat, thinking about the little girl who he had teased for over a decade, whose eyes turned red like a little bunny everytime she cried. An image of her scowling, her little nose wrinkled and teeth bared protesting at him. Maybe he really had been too cruel to Qin Li.

As soon as Shen Heng got back to his room, Yuan Tan came running: "Where did you go just now? You didn’t take me with you."

"Do you need something?" Shen Heng’s mood was poor and he didn’t feel like catering to Yuan Tan.

"Didn’t you say we’re going to Brother Zhanguo’s house? When are we going?" Yuan Tan ignored Shen Heng’s displeasure and asked.

"Tomorrow morning. You should rest early. We’ll take the first bus there."

When Gu Xiaobei was cooking dinner, Jiujiu brought Chen Gang home. Chen Gang, displaying a maturity beyond his years, said to Gu Xiaobei, "Aunt, I want to take the junior high school entrance exam next year."

Gu Xiaobei looked at him approvingly. "Okay, I’ll tutor you. I’ll find you textbooks for fourth and fifth grades." Taking the exam to enter junior high from elementary school, which only involved Chinese and Math, was relatively simple.

Chen Gang nodded. He had carefully thought it over. He wanted to study, but if he’s still only at the university level by age twenty, and not graduating until twenty-four, that would be too long. He was afraid his mom couldn’t wait that long.

Gu Xiaobei served the dishes, handed them to Jiujiu to bring them in, and said to Chen Gang, "But studying requires dedication. You can’t be too impatient for results. Starting from tonight, you should come here from Monday to Saturday, I’ll tutor you in the evenings. You can take Sundays off to visit your mother at home."

Chen Gang nodded energetically. He knew he was being somewhat selfish right now. His sister was already a burden to Gu Xiaobei, and now he was intruding as well. He silently vowed to treat Mr. and Mrs. Gu Xiaobei like his birth parents in the future.

Xiangmin was inside the room, listening to the conversation in the hallway, she asked Gu Huaqiang, "How on earth can Gu Xiaobei’s family afford to feed two unfamiliar children so generously and live such a comfortable life every day?"

Gu Huaqiang was busy eating. Recently, Xiangmin no longer cooked. He always had to get food from the cafeteria, and she was always finding fault with it. Hearing Xiangmin’s words now, he frowned, "You just need to mind your own business, why do you care so much?"

"I care too much? I’m just worried Lu Zhanguo will make mistakes. Can his salary afford Gu Xiaobei’s spending?" Xiangmin sneered.

Upon hearing this, Gu Huaqiang slammed his chopsticks on the table angrily, "You better mind your mouth, quit talking nonsense and causing trouble."

Seeing Gu Huaqiang actually dare to slam his chopsticks, Xiangmin also got angry: "If they’re really innocent, why do they fear others talking? Don’t think everyone is as spineless as you, sticking to that meagre salary day in and day out."

Gu Huaqiang was so angry his face turned pale, but as Xiangmin was pregnant, he couldn’t lose his temper. He left his meal unfinished, slammed the door and walked out.

Xiangmin looked at the slammed door and sneered, "Gu Xiaobei, this time I’ll make sure you pay."

Meanwhile, dinner at Gu Xiaobei’s house was harmonious and cheerful. With the company of Qin Li, Jiujiu, and Chen Gang, Gu Xiaobei also felt better in her heart.

Jiujiu was at the dining table reciting the English nursery rhyme she had learned yesterday. Qin Li praised her profusely, "I’ve learned as well, but I can’t remember a single sentence today, Jiujiu is truly amazing."

Gu Xiaobei said proudly, "That’s right, Jiujiu can become a great translator in the future."

Jiujiu blinked her big eyes and said, "Auntie, what’s a ’translator’? I want to be a doctor."

Gu Xiaobei was taken aback and laughed, "That’s great, Jiujiu will become a doctor, and Chen Gang, you should start learning English tonight as well, it will be very beneficial for your college entrance exam."