Back To The 80s-Chapter 25: Secret_1

On Xiaobei’s third day at Xiaodong’s house, Lu Zhanguo arrived. Xiaodong was at home, welcoming Lu Zhanguo indoors as if nothing had happened.

Chen Qiumei seemed clueless and disoriented, making Xiaobei chuckle inwardly: this must be the unease of having a guilty conscience.

Lu Zhanguo sat upright on the sofa, a smile crept onto his face when he saw Xiaobei sneak a wink at him.

Xiaodong began reproaching Lu Zhanguo without saying much: "Xiaobei has been through such an ordeal, and yet you’ve only just arrived. What kind of husband are you?"

"Since the day Xiaobei became my wife, she should know that an army wife needs to bear solitude and withstand poverty. Also, I trust that Xiaobei will handle it well." Lu Zhanguo said with conviction.

"You put it nicely, but Xiaobei is my dearest sister, and I simply cannot bear to see her endure such hardships," Xiaodong sneered.

"Indeed, I understand this sentiment as a family member. When you first married your wife, you were stationed at the border. Uncle Liu made many complaints during his visits to my house. But now, finally, you don’t have to be apart so often, which undeniably relieved Uncle Liu’s worries," said Lu Zhanguo dismissively.

When Liu Mei and Xiaodong got married, the Liu Family was initially against it, but not because of social status. It was mainly because Xiaodong was stationed at the border post and rarely seen throughout the year. Despite her family’s objections, Liu Mei insisted on marrying and publicly announced she is Xiaodong’s woman in front of the neighbourhood.

At that time, having premarital relations was taboo and open to mockery. The Liu family did not want to lose face, so they had no choice but to agree to Liu Mei’s marriage to Xiaodong.

The year after their marriage, Xiaodong was transferred to the logistics department in T City.

While Lu Zhanguo spoke lightly, he wanted to remind Xiaodong that without the help of his father-in-law, he wouldn’t have been able to be transferred back to T City to be with his wife.

Although Xiaodong indeed rode on his father-in-law’s coattails back to the city, he didn’t like to be reminded by outsiders. He always thought of himself as a capable person, just slightly unlucky.

Xiaobei had a good laugh inside when she saw Xiaodong at a loss for words.

However, Xiaodong was well-versed in officialdom, managing to maintain a faint smile despite feeling enraged: "Yes, so I hope Xiaobei can live a little better."

"How would you know if I’m not living well? You’re not me," retorted Xiaobei.

Seeing his defiant sister, Xiaodong held his anger, not daring to lose his temper. Chen Qiumei tried to diffuse the situation: "Zhanguo, while I’m here, why don’t we let Xiaobei stay here for a while?"

Xiaobei immediately objected: "No, I want to go home with Zhanguo today." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Chen Qiumei slapped her lightly: "How could you be so shameless."

Lu Zhanguo looked at Xiaobei, who was pouting like a child, and the corners of his mouth curled up involuntarily.

Xiaodong also chimed in: "What we mean is, we’ll find a job for Xiaobei in T City. During your days off, you can come visit her. While you’re not here, we can take care of her."

"I told you I won’t work. This is your wish, not mine," Xiaobei retorted discontentedly.

"That’s indeed a good suggestion, I’ll discuss it with Xiaobei," Lu Zhanguo, preventing any protest from Xiaobei with a look.

Lunch ended in a somewhat harmonious atmosphere, with everyone hiding their own thoughts.

After the meal, Xiaobei dragged Zhanguo downstairs to digest their food. Once they reached the ground floor, Xiaobei began to speak urgently, "Why did you agree to Xiaodong’s idea of leaving me in T City? He’s trying to harm you."

Lu Zhanguo said softly, "But what he said today does make sense."

"But he’s going to hurt you," Xiaobei’s eyes started to tear up.

"Xiaobei, I also hope you can have a job you like, so that you can truly be happy. This way, you won’t feel lonely when I’m not at home. Plus, with the care of your mom and brother, I can rest assured," said Lu Zhanguo, expressing his thoughts.

Xiaobei knew that everything Zhanguo said was correct, but she detested the idea of seeing Chen Qiumei and Xiaodong every day. Seeing her furrowed eyebrows, Zhanguo consoled her, "We can rent a house in the city, and once the family quarters in the camp are built, we can stop working and go back to have children." Surprisingly, Zhanguo was giving a humorous suggestion.

"Who wants to have your babies, you wish," Xiaobei playfully glared at Lu Zhanguo.

Lu Zhanguo’s hard line featured softened, and he couldn’t help but laugh at her retort. "You look really nice when you smile; from now on, smile more. But remember, you can only smile at me to avoid attracting random cats and dogs."

Lu Zhanguo felt bewildered by this young lady’s unpredictable mind.

After a while, Xiaobei asked Lu Zhanguo, "When are you leaving?"

"After dinner. I came in a car borrowed from the base."

"Let’s go to the city then," Xiaobei felt they should have a date by themselves.

"Alright, let’s go upstairs and tell your mom first." Lu Zhanguo looked at Xiaobei’s pleading eyes and couldn’t refuse.

The couple went upstairs, informed Chen Qiumei, and then left for the city.

After watching them leave, Chen Qiumei asked Xiaodong, "What kind of job are you planning to get your sister?"

"A job at the district street office," Xiaodong had planned this a long time ago.

"Isn’t that job where aged people work? Would your sister be able to handle it?" Chen Qiumei worried. She felt that a local street office dealing with petty daily affairs would be a misfit for Xiaobei.

"Mom, you don’t need to worry. The job is simple and offers a decent salary along with a permanent position. How is that not good?" Xiaodong insisted on Xiaobei taking up the job there.

"You won’t let me interfere in this or that; when Xiaobei married Zhanguo, you and your father agreed despite her protests. Now, you disagree with Xiaobei and Zhanguo, and even asked me to help plan against their baby. What do you want exactly?" Chen Qiumei choked. She had always favored her son, Xiaodong, always giving him the best and leaving the leftovers to Xiaobei.

"Would I harm Xiaobei? She is not ready for a child now. If Zhanguo really cared about Xiaobei, he would have used his family connections to transfer back to Capital City," Xiaodong was getting frustrated. "Never say again that we took away Xiaobei’s child. It was her who lost it."

"If it wasn’t for the safflower you told me to put in the soup, could Xiaobei’s child have fallen? I’m scared thinking about it now. You made me do something so unconscionable. If you plan to harm your sister again, I can’t agree," Chen Qiumei also broke into tears.

"Alright, alright. I definitely won’t harm Xiaobei. Please don’t talk about it anymore." Xiaodong felt a headache coming on.

Outside the living room, Liu Mei overhearing the conversation between mother and son, felt icy cold. She couldn’t believe her husband and his mother conspired to abort her sister-in-law’s baby.