Back To The 80s-Chapter 21: Searching for Husband_1

Gu Xiaobei left hastily and without delay. She found an inconspicuous little inn for the night, fearful of oversleeping. She barely slept and at five o’clock, she rushed to wash her face to catch the bus to Victory Ranch.

After a bumpy ride, she arrived at Victory Ranch around ten o’clock. She had left in such haste this morning that she didn’t finish her breakfast and now she felt famished. She made her way to the market in the ranch’s station, bought twenty buns from a vendor thinking she might have to head into the mountains if she couldn’t find her husband today, and wolfed down five buns that rejuvenated her energy.

After buying the buns, Gu Xiaobei asked the vendor if he saw a group of soldiers passing by. The vendor pointed towards the mountain and said, "they went up the mountain early this morning."

Hearing this information, Gu Xiaobei realized she couldn’t possibly catch them up due to her slow pacing. "Uncle, is there a shortcut to the Chen family village?" she asked.

The vendor replied, "There is, but you will need someone to guide you, otherwise, you will get lost in the hills."

On hearing this, Gu Xiaobei excitedly said, "Uncle, could you help me find someone who can guide me through the mountains? I can pay him ten yuan," which was not a small sum.

The vendor was a kind-hearted man, "No need for money. My son is at home. He can take you." He called out to his house, "Dunzi, guide this young lady to the Five Li Ridge."

Like his name suggested, Dunzi, who was seventeen or eighteen, was a sturdy teenager.

The so-called shortcut was a mountain ridge no one seemed to have traversed before. If they managed to cross this ridge, they would reach their destination faster.

Fortunately, Gu Xiaobei had experience with hiking from her previous life and knew some climbing techniques.

As they walked, Gu Xiaobei felt a strange heaviness in her lower abdomen and realized something was wrong. She slowed down her pace. Seeing her situation, Dunzi suggested, "Sis, are you unable to keep going? Shall we take a rest?"

Leaning against a tree trunk, Gu Xiaobei waved him off, "No need, it’s urgent. I must catch up with the troops and find my husband."

Dunzi had a deep admiration for soldiers, so he instantly said, "Sis, I’ll lead the way. You can follow my footsteps." He handed Gu Xiaobei a piece of rope and pulled her along.

Unfortunately, the heaviness in her lower abdomen grew worse, accompanied by intermittent sharp pains. Gu Xiaobei understood that she could no longer protect both her child and her husband. A wave of sadness washed over her, affecting her vision. Even so, she quickened her pace.

When they reached the top of the ridge, they could vaguely see the path leading into the mountains. Dunzi suggested, "Sis, how about we rest for a bit? You’ve gone pale, and they surely can’t beat us there."

Gasping for breath, Gu Xiaobei replied, "No, we must keep moving."

As the saying goes, going uphill is not as hard as the downhill journey. Descending the mountain, they were careful not to slip and tumble.

Even with Dunzi’s help, Gu Xiaobei found herself stumbling while descending halfway. By then, she was feeling blood trickling down her lower body, coupled with worsening abdominal pain. She clenched her teeth together and tried to endure it as best as she could.

Just before they reached the foot of the hill, they saw a full platoon of armed soldiers approaching. Understanding that she could not outrun them, Gu Xiaobei instructed Dunzi, "You run to them and find someone named Lu Zhanguo. Tell him that I, Gu Xiaobei, am waiting here."

Understanding the urgency, Dunzi nodded and quickly darted down to the foot of the mountain.

Lu Zhanguo and Zhang Lijun were at the end of the queue when they heard from the communication officer upfront about Gu Xiaobei’s arrival. Shocked, they rushed over and followed Dunzi to where Gu Xiaobei awaited them. Lu Zhanguo then commanded the soldiers to rest.

Upon seeing Gu Xiaobei, Lu Zhanguo’s heart seemed to contract painfully. She was sitting against a tree, pale, her eyes shut, and her lower lip bleeding. Her hair was wet from sweat and sticking to her face. The ground beneath her was stained red with blood.

Lu Zhanguo squatted down gently, lightly patting Gu Xiaobei’s face. "Xiaobei? Xiaobei?" he murmured.

In a weak voice, Gu Xiaobei opened her eyes, "You cannot go to the Chen Family village. Gu Xiaodong plans to harm you. Also, I’m sorry, I failed to protect our child." She broke down crying as she finished her sentence.

Pained by her sobs, Lu Zhanguo pulled her into his arms, whispering soothingly, "It’s okay, I’m here." He then gently picked her up and dashed down the mountain. Upon catching sight of them, Zhang Lijun immediately ordered the preparation of a stretcher.

Lu Zhanguo instructed Zhang Lijun, "Get the troops to return to Victory Ranch immediately. Gu Xiaodong has set a trap for us."

Cursing under his breath, Zhang Lijun swiftly assembled the troops and marched back to Victory Ranch.

Gu Xiaobei was fading into unconsciousness by then. With a sense of panic, Lu Zhanguo urged the troops to quicken their pace.

At the Victory Ranch hospital, as Gu Xiaobei was taken into the operating room, she grabbed Lu Zhanguo’s hand. "If I don’t make it, promise me you’ll wait for me," she pleaded.

Lu Zhanguo didn’t quite understand what she meant, but he nodded his head in agreement, tears of dread swelling in his eyes.

Once Gu Xiaobei was taken into the operating room, Lu Zhanguo said to Zhang Lijun, "Take a few of our best soldiers, use the shortcut to the Chen family village. March non-stop for twenty-four hours, we must infiltrate Chen family village by tonight."

Zhang Lijun nodded, "Alright. I’ll find out more about the shortcut. You should stay here and be with your wife."

Lu Zhanguo leaned back in despair, "Let the rest of the troops rest and recuperate for now."

Zhang Lijun patted Lu Zhanguo’s shoulder in consolation before leaving to prepare.

Gu Xiaobei had a long and vivid dream in her unconscious state. In it, she saw a cute chubby little boy, who then grew into a handsome teenager who resembled Lu Zhanguo. She cried out, "I’m sorry, I’m sorry." Confused at her apology, the teenager told her, "Mom, don’t say sorry to me. I have thought it through. I want to find my real mother, she must be lonely. I like your scent, I will also remember it. I promise to find you next time. Don’t be sad, Mom, we’ll see each other very soon."

Crying, Gu Xiaobei nodded, "I’m sorry, child. Next time, I won’t let go of you."

Lu Zhanguo was in distress as he saw Gu Xiaobei’s tears flow non-stop in her unconscious state. Holding her hand, he murmured, "Xiaobei, please wake up, we will still have our own children." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

In her dream, Gu Xiaobei saw the teenager wave her goodbye and walk away, his figure bathed in golden light. She heard Lu Zhanguo’s voice calling to her and, smiling, she waved at the figure basked in golden light. She then shouted, "I will wait for you to come home, Mother!"

Struggling to open her eyes, Gu Xiaobei saw Lu Zhanguo whose face showed signs of fatigue, with dark circles and an unkempt beard. "How long did I sleep?" Gu Xiaobei asked, surprised at his disheveled state.

"Three days," he replied.

Laughing through her tears, Gu Xiaobei exclaimed, "Waking up to see you is wonderful!"