Back To The 80s-Chapter 472 - 483: Strive_1

One memory after another flashed through Ou Ruoshui’s mind, but she couldn’t grasp them, couldn’t help but weep over her framed photograph.

The more anxious she grew, the faster the glimpses in her mind appeared, the more she wept, the blanker her mind seemed.

Gu Xiaobei and Zhuang Shuxian sat in the living room, and hearing Ou Ruoshui’s cries, they couldn’t help but shed tears too. Zhuang Shuxian asked Gu Xiaobei through her tears, "How could Xuerong bear it if she knew about Jiadong’s sacrifice?"

Gu Xiaobei lowered her head. She had mentioned Jin Jiadong’s sacrifice the previous day when she was telling Jiujiu’s story. She figured that Ou Ruoshui, being so smart, must have understood everything by now. She just hadn’t recalled her deeply ingrained love yet, so her sorrow was somewhat less intense at the moment.

"It really seems that Heaven is watching over us. Now that Xuerong is alive, your Uncle Jin and I won’t need to worry any more. Even if we were to die, we could rest in peace," Zhuang Shuxian said with a sigh. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Gu Xiaobei clasped her hand, reassuring her, "Don’t talk about life and death. The good days are still yet to come."

When Ou Ruoshui emerged from her bedroom, her face was serene, except for her swollen eyes. Looking at the people seated on the couch, she forced a smile and said, "I’ll try my best to remember the past."

Zhuang Shuxian quickly said, "Take your time. These things can’t be rushed."

Ou Ruoshui walked over to Jiujiu, crouched down, and clasping Jiujiu’s hands, said, "I’m sorry, I forgot about you. That won’t happen again."

Jiujiu blinked back tears and said with a thick nasal voice, "Mom, I’ve grown up. I can also protect you now. I won’t let bad people hurt you again."

Zhuang Shuxian knew that Ou Ruoshui was staying at a hotel, so she immediately went to help move her luggage.

Gu Xiaobei, mindful of the two children at home, assisted with moving Ou Ruoshui’s luggage from the hotel to the Jin family home before heading home.

Zhuang Shuxian, busy running here and there, spoke nonstop, "You and Jiujiu will sleep on this small bed for now. When your Uncle comes back from the countryside, we’ll buy a bigger bed. I saw that the quilt you brought is too thin. I’ll give you this one. It’s newly made, originally intended for Jiujiu. But Jiujiu insisted that her quilt is still new, so it’s available."

Ou Ruoshui, holding Jiujiu’s hand, just watched quietly, her eyes welling up with warmth. The feeling of having a family was so wonderful.

At night, Ou Ruoshui, cuddling Jiujiu in the small bed, gently asked, "Jiujiu, can you tell me about your childhood?"

Jiujiu nestled in his mother’s arms, sucking on a finger, unsure where to begin. After thinking for a while, she finally whispered, "I grew up in a village. Then I met my aunt. She took me out of the village. She’s been so kind to me. She bought me lots of new clothes, gave me milk to drink every day, gave me money to go to school. Brother Liu was also nice. When I was young, he would secretly bring me snacks."

Upon hearing Jiujiu’s words, Ou Ruoshui felt a pang in her heart. Jiujiu was a sensible child. She didn’t mention the hardships of her early life so as not to upset her. But from these few sentences, she could infer that she must not have had an easy life, or else she would not have been taken away by Gu Xiaobei, and Chen Gang would not have sneaked her food.

Thinking about what Gu Xiaobei told her the night before, about how Jiujiu was abused, suffered from malnutrition, and was taken away by her, only to meet Zhuang Shuxian later filled her with sadness. How could she have forgotten? If she hadn’t, Jiujiu wouldn’t have had to go through so much suffering.

Hearing Ou Ruoshui’s sniffling, Jiujiu looked up and whispered, "Mom, don’t cry. Grandma says that we should be happy that our family will always be together from now on. Besides, I’m doing very well now. Grandma and Aunt buy me many new clothes. Aunt Qin Li buys me storybooks. And Brother Liu treats me very well. I am very happy."

As Ou Ruoshui held Jiujiu tighter, the child’s words only made her feel more upset. Tearfully, she remained silent.

Gu Xiaobei went straight back to the residency compound, and sure enough, Lu Zhanguo was home with the two kids, not at the small courtyard.

While changing her shoes, she asked, "Why didn’t you go to Mom’s place? What did the three of you eat for lunch?"

Xiaopang ran over, eager to reply, "Daddy cooked noodles, very tasty."

Gu Xiaobei laughed and picked up Xiaopang, "You little foodie! Let Mom check if your tummy is full."

"Full. Xiaopang listened, can Xiaopang have a sweet?" Xiaopang blinked his large eyes and even gave Gu Xiaobei a big kiss on her face. Mom had told him that as long as he behaved and finished his meals, he could have a sweet once a week. But how long exactly is a week?

Gu Xiaobei, carrying Xiaopang, entered the house and teased Lu Zhanguo who was seated on the couch, "Did you give them sweets today?"

Lu Zhanguo, who had been teaching Mo Wang how to fold a paper boat, shook his head seriously at Gu Xiaobei’s question, "I didn’t."

"Oh, come on! I can smell the orange candy on Xiaopang’s breath." Gu Xiaobei, lightly tapping Xiaopang’s forehead, said with a smile.

Lu Zhanguo glanced at his daughter and sighed internally; they hadn’t done a good job keeping the secret. He had just given her the candy and had reminded her to rinse her mouth, but she had evidently not done so.

Mo Wang looked at her father, "Dad, quickly, play with water."

Lu Zhanguo continued folding the little boat for Mo Wang. Once finished, Mo Wang would immediately rush off to the bathroom to play with it in the water.

Only then did Gu Xiaobei have time to chat with Lu Zhanguo, "What do you think about asking Dr. Jin to have a look at Xuerong? Maybe he could cure her amnesia."

Lu Zhanguo frowned, "I’ll call Dr. Jin to see when he’ll attend a meeting or training session in the provincial capital. The medical facilities over in T City just won’t do."

"Alright, it’s also possible that she might gradually remember things as she spends time with Jiujiu and the others." Gu Xiaobei nodded.

"I heard from my elder brother that Xuerong intends to sell her factory. What are your thoughts on this?" Lu Zhanguo continued to fold paper boats while asking.

Gu Xiaobei sighed, "If we buy her factory, it will bring lots of troubles. Yesterday I saw Zhao Honghe talking to Xiangmin. I wonder how they knew each other?" Gu Xiaobei asked, referencing the previous day’s events.

Lu Zhanguo paused before asking, "Is it related to your business?"

Gu Xiaobei shook her head, "I really don’t understand why they’re doing this. If they don’t like us, they should strive to become stronger, and then dominate over us. These covert maneuvers don’t benefit their business at all. Plus with the problem at Xuerong’s factory this time, I wonder what advantage Zhao Honghe gains from conspiring with outsiders. In the end, he’ll only lose money and his job."

"Some people, perhaps not for the sake of benefit, but out of spite, just want to strike at their target as quickly as possible. If Xiangmin approaches you in the future, just ignore her." Lu Zhanguo had become extremely disappointed in Chen Gang’s couple. He couldn’t understand why Guo Huaqiang felt the need to go after Gu Xiaobei all the time.

Gu Xiaobei, holding Xiaopang, rested her head on Lu Zhanguo’s shoulder, "Don’t worry about what they think. We just need to honestly do our business, not tricking or cheating people."