Back To The 80s-Chapter 31: Warming Up_1
Gu Xiaobei took Lu Zhanguo to a nondescript little restaurant with only two or three tables. All the tables were occupied, so Gu Xiaobei asked a young couple if they didn’t mind sharing their table.
The young couple obliged graciously, moving over to make room. Gu Xiaobei ordered two large bowls of lamb soup with extra meat and four flatbreads.
The lamb soup was a rich broth made by simmering lamb bones over a low flame for a day and a night. Strips of kelp, glass noodles, and stewed tofu were first placed in the bowl, and then the hot soup was poured over. A sprinkling of chopped scallions and cilantro was added, instantly releasing an appetizing aroma. The added meat version included two extra palm-sized slices of meat. The restaurant was quite generous with portion sizes, making it good value for money.
As soon as the two bowls of lamb soup were served, Gu Xiaobei brought her nose to the edge of the bowl, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. The scent was irresistibly scrumptious. The lamb was clearly raised on an organic diet of green grass and mountain spring water, yielding meat that was fatty but not greasy and lean but not dry. Without further ado, she picked up a piece of meat and took a big bite, savoring the intense flavors that filled her mouth.
Watching Gu Xiaobei’s enjoyment in eating the lamb, Lu Zhanguo surrendered his two pieces of meat to her bowl. But he was puzzled. When he first brought her here, he wanted to treat her to this local delicacy. However, the moment they approached the restaurant, she covered her nose with a disgusted look on her face.
Gu Xiaobei grew up in H City, near the southern region, where people generally didn’t like to eat lamb.
But now, seeing how she was enjoying the lamb soup, he was surprised that an incident as minor as a fall would change her taste and her behavior so drastically.
Gu Xiaobei appreciated Lu Zhanguo’s gesture, but she felt sorry for him. His training regimen was demanding, and the army rations were mediocre. So, she added the meat back into his bowl, "Good food tastes even better when shared."
Lu Zhanguo accepted this without politeness, and they both ate till they were sweating profusely, utterly relishing the meal.
As they left the restaurant, Gu Xiaobei joked, "When I get my first paycheck, I’ll treat you to a meal here. How does that sound?" The thought of soon being able to earn her own money made her feel a bit smug.
Lu Zhanguo nodded. He enjoyed watching Gu Xiaobei’s smug expression – it was a mix of greed for wealth yet not overly materialistic.
"Since it’s still early, let’s go for a walk in the park," Gu Xiaobei suggested. They weren’t going home tonight, so the two of them could stroll through the park like a romantic couple, deepening their bonds.
It was already May, and the weather had become warmer. However, T City had a significant temperature difference between day and night, so Lu Zhanguo initially thought of refusing the park visit, worried that Gu Xiaobei might catch a cold. But the eager expression on her face made him change his mind: "Okay, but only for a short while, and then I’ll take you home early."
"I’m not going home tonight. Wherever you sleep, I will too." Gu Xiaobei pouted her lips.
Lu Zhanguo was silently frustrated – he knew Gu Xiaobei was too stubborn to change her mind. Without saying anything more, the two walked towards the park.
At this time, public square dances were not yet popular, so the park was relatively deserted, apart from a few couples quietly walking arm in arm. Expressions of affection were still generally subtle during this era.
Gu Xiaobei thought she would feel suffocated if she had to endure this kind of restrained romance culture as a modern twenty-first-century woman.
She unceremoniously hooked her arm around Lu Zhanguo’s without warning. Lu Zhanguo stiffened and attempted to remove his arm, but Gu Xiaobei glared at him and firmly clung on.
Faced with her stubbornness, Lu Zhanguo had no choice but to give in. Having a petite figure hanging off his arm left him feeling fairly pleased.
Gu Xiaobei said cheerfully, "Now this feels like being in a romantic relationship. Get it?"
Lu Zhanguo didn’t respond verbally, but the upturned corners of his mouth were apparent.
The two walked around for half an hour before Lu Zhanguo drove to the motel where Shen Heng was lodged, figuring that he should share the situation with him.
Acquiring a room at the hotel required a marriage certificate, which left the two of them flummoxed. Who carries their marriage certificate around regularly?
In the end, they had no option but to book separate rooms. Lu Zhanguo escorted Gu Xiaobei to her room on the third floor and said, "I need to step out for a bit. Freshen up and head to bed."
Gu Xiaobei nodded, "When you come back, make sure to stop by."
Lu Zhanguo nodded in acknowledgment and advised her, "Lock the door from the inside. I’ll knock when I come back." He left only after issuing this instruction.
On the second floor, Lu Zhanguo walked to the last room in the hallway and knocked on the door. After a moment, Shen Heng opened the door and said, "You’re quite late. Without your call saying you’d come today, I would’ve left."
"Xiaobei is also staying here, on the third floor," Lu Zhanguo quickly explained why he arrived late.
"You two seem quite intertwined lately, taking each other everywhere." Shen Heng teased.
"I need to discuss something with you." Lu Zhanguo sat down on the single-seater sofa and explained the connection between Gu Xiaodong and Gao Dailin, along with Gu Xiaobei’s suspicions.
"So, you’re saying Gao Dailin’s company is questionable? Shouldn’t such matters be investigated by the Commerce and Taxation Departments?" Shen Heng analyzed.
"I’m not suggesting they have tax evasion issues. I feel that it definitely isn’t that simple. I just expressed my suspicion about Gu Xiaodong’s plan regarding the military supplies, and he already wanted to get rid of me. Gu Xiaodong is a person who only does things that are beneficial to him. He only keeps people around who are useful." Lu Zhanguo instinctively felt that anyone who had muy close ties with Gu Xiaodong was somewhat problematic.
"Isn’t my sister-in-law in danger if she continues to work there?" Shen Heng couldn’t avoid confronting this issue.
"Without a legitimate reason, she will certainly be unwilling to quit. And if Xiaobei suddenly resigns, it will definitely raise suspicions with Gu Xiaodong and Gao Dailin." Lu Zhanguo was also worried about this. "Since I’m in the army and movement is not easy, I need you to look after Xiaobei."
"Sure, don’t worry about it."
"For now, let’s keep an eye on Gao Dailin. He must have something up his sleeve to build up his business empire. He definitely won’t leave any traces that could be easily picked up by us." Lu Zhanguo’s biggest fear was alerting Gao Dailin, which could put Gu Xiaobei in danger.
Shen Heng agreed, "Anyway, we are currently stuck in a conundrum - we know who the bad guy is, but we can’t apprehend him. We just have to endure it for now."
"It’s okay, I should go now. Tomorrow I will look for a rental house with Xiaobei. I will let you know the address once we finalize it. Please watch out for us."
"You’re renting a house? Rent a two-bedroom one, and spare one room for me." Shen Heng was really tired of living in motels.
Lu Zhanguo’s eyes narrowed, and he gave Shen Heng a stern look, "I don’t trust you." With that, he walked out the door, leaving behind a stunned Shen Heng.
Shen Heng was stunned. It seemed that Gu Xiaobei had claimed a higher place in Lu Zhanguo’s heart than himself. Lu Zhanguo hadn’t forgotten how Gu Xiaobei used to constantly eye him in the past.
Just as Lu Zhanguo was about to knock on Gu Xiaobei’s door, he noticed a shadow darting past the end of the corridor. Whoever it was, he was definitely not an ordinary guest at the hotel.
Lu Zhanguo didn’t give chase, but smirked coldly to himself. It seemed the other party couldn’t wait any longer.
It seemed that Gu Xiaobei was standing right at the door. The door was opened immediately after a few knocks.
Lu Zhanguo frowned. How could he possibly let her stay alone outside with this extremely poor sense of security?
Gu Xiaobei didn’t seem to mind. She greeted Lu Zhanguo with a smile, "What took you so long? Come inside!"
