Back To The 80s-Chapter 489 - 500: Procurement_1

For dinner, Wen Xiuqing adhered to the custom, making small pancakes and a dozen sweet sponge cakes. She cooked cabbage and noodle soup, a big pot of braised pork, stir-fried shredded potatoes with vinegar, pan-fried tofu, and scrambled eggs with scallions.

Xiaopang and Mo Wang both loved shredded potatoes and sweet cakes, they ate happily, switching between sweet and savory bites. Gu Xiaobei initially wanted to prevent the two children from eating the sweet cakes, but Wen Xiuqing encouraged it, saying that eating the sweet cakes for the Kitchen God would bring blessings. So, he didn’t object anymore.

Lu Songyuan had his two sons join him for a drink. After a year’s hard work, it was the beginning of the lunar New Year’s festivities, so they had to have a few drinks.

Wen Xiuqing, watching the father and sons drinking, started worrying about Lu Aiguo again, as well as Lu Ruixue. She sighed inwardly, not daring to show her feelings. Since ancient times, a mother’s heart has always been with her children, but a child’s heart might not always be with their parents. How can children understand this kind of worry and longing?

Seeing that Wen Xiuqing was not in high spirits, Gu Xiaobei knew that she was thinking about Lu Aiguo and Lu Ruixue again, so he quickly suggested, "Mom, why don’t you go to the family compound to see the kids tomorrow, and I’ll go shopping for the New Year’s provisions?"

Wen Xiuqing waved her hand: "No need, I’ve written a list for your dad. He can go get everything."

"Shall we buy a sheep again this year? With so many people during the New Year, buying a sheep would be appropriate." Gu Xiaobei proposed.

Ji Xiangdong chimed in, "Right, buying a sheep is suitable. After we finish working for the next two days and start our holiday, I’ll handle butchering the sheep."

Bai Xiaolan participated enthusiastically, "If Doudou is asleep, I can help too."

Gu Xiaobei laughed and said, "You’d better not, just take care of Doudou and the baby in your belly."

As it was too cold at night, they let the two children stay in the courtyard. Gu Xiaobei, hand in hand with Lu Zhanguo, headed home. On the way, Gu Xiaobei couldn’t help but worry, "Did you call Aiguo afterwards?"

"I did, but no one answered."

Gu Xiaobei let out a sigh, "Do you have to work on the New Year’s Eve this year?"

Lu Zhanguo made an affirmative sound, "I’ll take the day off tomorrow and the day after to help mom and dad buy the New Year’s provisions."

Gu Xiaobei slid her arm through Lu Zhanguo’s elbow and put her hand in his pocket. Their fingers intertwined. Hearing that Lu Zhanguo was going to have a day off tomorrow, she squeezed his hand tightly and said, "Why didn’t you say so earlier?"

Lu Zhanguo laughed and said, "Didn’t you say earlier that you were going to buy New Year provisions? I’m going with you."

Gu Xiaobei happily followed him home. It seemed that Lu Zhanguo had never helped her with the New Year’s shopping before. In their first year together, she was pregnant. In the second year, they were in the Capital City. And in the third year, Lu Zhanguo didn’t have the time.

Early the next morning, Gu Xiaobei excitedly dragged the sleepy Lu Zhanguo out of bed, "Hurry, let’s go to the courtyard for breakfast first, then go shopping for New Year’s provisions, and also for the kids’ new clothes."

Seeing Gu Xiaobei’s excited expression, Lu Zhanguo realized he hadn’t been expressive enough the night before, otherwise she wouldn’t have gotten up at the crack of dawn and called for them to go out.

Seeing that Lu Zhanguo was merely lying in bed, half-asleep, and wasn’t paying any attention to her, Gu Xiaobei jumped on him. The weight of her body pressing on Lu Zhanguo, she teased, "Hurry up, otherwise we’ll miss breakfast."

Before she finished speaking, Lu Zhanguo flipped her over and smirked, "No problem, if we miss breakfast, I can treat you to delicious wontons, even better than those in the town."

"Oh no, I just dressed up... don’t mess up my clothes..." Gu Xiaobei ended up surrendering and became a little rabbit thrown into the wolf’s den.

By the time the couple tidied themselves up and arrived at the courtyard, they indeed had missed breakfast.

Gu Xiaobei discretely massaged her waist, casting an accusing glance at Lu Zhanguo. See, we missed breakfast.

Lu Zhanguo smiled back at her with his eyes, promising to take her out for good food later.

Seeing that Lu Zhanguo had a day off, Wen Xiuqing gave him her shopping list and suggested that he and Gu Xiaobei go shopping together. This way, Lu Songyuan wouldn’t have to go out alone. She was always worried that he would miscalculate the bill.

Leaning over to take a peek, Gu Xiaobei saw the densely written list filled with items to purchase for the New Year. It seemed that it would take two days to get everything.

Once Wen Xiuqing had finished her instructions, she asked them, "You two came late, have you had breakfast?"

Gu Xiaobei laughed it off, "Yes, we ate. We will leave now and won’t come back for lunch."

In order to prevent Xiaopang and Mo Wang from crying and clamoring to go with them, Wen Xiuqing coaxed the two children into the eastern room with sweets. Only then were Gu Xiaobei and Lu Zhanguo able to sneak away.

Once they got to the city, Lu Zhanguo led Gu Xiaobei through the department store, winding through the alley from the back, they arrived at a nondescript wonton shop.

Lu Zhanguo walked confidently into the store, placing an order for two bowls of chicken soup wontons and two roasted pancakes.

Gu Xiaobei found an empty table and sat down, glancing around. There were only two or three tables of customers eating, but at this time of day and at such an out-of-the-way location, having a few tables of customers indicated that the business was doing well.

Lu Zhanguo fetched an empty bowl, filled it with boiled water, and took two pairs of chopsticks from the chopstick holder on the table, cleaning them in the bowl of hot water.

Gu Xiaobei leaned over to Lu Zhanguo, who was sitting next to her, and asked in a low voice, "How did you know that this place has delicious wontons?"

"I heard about it from others; I’ve never been here before." Lu Zhanguo laughed.

Gu Xiaobei didn’t believe him, saying, "Definitely not. If it’s just from hearing others, you wouldn’t have been so sure-footed, looking straight ahead without hesitation. You obviously come here frequently."

Lu Zhanguo looked at Gu Xiaobei, whispering, "Smart. I’ll tell you once we’ve finished eating."

The wontons here were not like others, simply served in a clear broth with a sprinkle of scallion and leafy greens, a dash of soy sauce, and ten wontons.

The wontons here were served in a broth made from chicken carcass and beef bones. In the bowl, there was also kelp and tofu, plus ten plump wontons. The wonton stuffing was beef and spring onion, very fragrant and not greasy at all.

Gu Xiaobei took a sip of the soup, and couldn’t help but close her eyes in satisfaction. It was so delicious. She added some spicy chili oil and vinegar to the soup, rendering a sour and spicy taste, which whetted her appetite.

Lu Zhanguo clamped five of the wontons into Gu Xiaobei’s bowl, then soaked his two roasted pancakes in his own bowl.

Not standing on ceremony, Gu Xiaobei completely emptied her bowl of wontons in a short while.

Satisfied, she wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and then looked around the shop. She saw the cotton curtain at the entrance being drawn aside, revealing Gu Huaqiang carrying Xinxin and with Ding Guihua walking in.

Gu Xiaobei stared in surprise, unable to divert her gaze.

Lu Zhanguo caught the surprise in Gu Xiaobei’s eyes out of the corner of his own, and knew who it must be. He didn’t turn around and continued eating.

Gu Huaqiang also obviously hadn’t expected to run into Gu Xiaobei and Lu Zhanguo. Looking at Lu Zhanguo’s back as he ate, he couldn’t help feeling a bit uncomfortable.

Ding Guihua, however, enthusiastically greeted them, "Xiaobei, why are you all eating here?"

Gu Xiaobei composed herself and smiled, saying, "We’re shopping around here, so we came here for lunch."

Lu Zhanguo put down his chopsticks unhurriedly, wiped his mouth with Gu Xiaobei’s handkerchief, then turned to look at Gu Huaqiang.