Back To The 80s-Chapter 496 - 507: Conspiracy_1

Gu Xiaobei was quite in agreement with Ou Ruoshui’s idea, her shop would indeed do better by selling clothes than by running a tea store.

"After the New Year, it will be a good time to start stocking up in preparation to sell summer clothes," Gu Xiaobei suggested.

Ou Ruoshui shook her head: "There’s no rush, we can wait a bit." She thought it was strange that Ou Tiannan hadn’t come to see her yet. She was afraid that her clothing store had just started, and then Ou Tiannan would pay her a visit. From any aspect, she owed Ou Tiannan a favor.

At this time, Ou Tiannan was already rapidly selling off some unprofitable stores and small factories, preparing to relocate to the provincial city. He also called back Zhao Honghe.

He knew Zhao Honghe was a cunning and sly character, with no real talent other than deception. But such a person also had one advantage – they were dim-witted and could be used as a pawn. Hence, he kept Zhao Honghe around, leashing him with debt.

The provincial city was a place he was not familiar with. If he wanted to establish roots quickly there, he would need to find a local to help, and Zhao Honghe recommended Yang Tianhua.

Ou Tiannan understood that Zhao Honghe was part of the scheme that had swindled Ou Ruoshui, but he didn’t care. In relationships between people, there was only the user and the used, and the one with the upper hand was the winner.

So when Zhao Honghe recommended Yang Tianhua to Ou Tiannan, Ou Tiannan simply furrowed his brows, neither agreeing nor refusing.

Zhao Honghe said modestly and cautiously: "Mr. Ou, this Yang Tianhua has certain connections in the provincial city, and it seems that his ’Third Brother’ is quite powerful."

Ou Tiannan knocked on the table, quietly watching Zhao Honghe until beads of sweat covered his face, before asking, "This Yang Tianhua and his ’Third Brother,’ what’s their background? Tell me."

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Zhao Honghe said, "It’s said they have a good relationship with the director of the reform and development commission, and Yang Tianhua and his ’Third Brother’ are both ex-military men with some abilities."

Ou Tiannan sniffed dismissively. "Military background, how capable can they be? Given their age, they wouldn’t have had high ranks when they retired. Who of high rank could they know? And a reform and development commission director, how much power can he have? Can he interfere in business matters?"

Zhao Honghe was speechless; beads of sweat dripped down his forehead. After some thought, he said, "I think this ’Third Brother’ seems to know Miss Ou."

This remark intrigued Ou Tiannan. Leaning slightly forward, he gestured for Zhao Honghe to continue. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Zhao Honghe explained, "’Third Brother’ told Yang Tianhua not to take Miss Ou to the market and to prevent her from meeting a man named Gu Xiaobei. That’s all I know."

Ou Tiannan was quick to think. With just this sentence, he not only knew that this so-called ’Third Brother’ knew Ou Ruoshui, but that they had also quarreled. Leaning back slowly, he closed his eyes and thought about who could have had a dispute with Ou Ruoshui in the past. Suddenly, he opened his eyes wide in disbelief. Could it be him?

If so, the ’Third Brother’ was Ou Ruoshui’s enemy, and it wouldn’t be easy for Ou Ruoshui to get her way in the provincial city. Looking up at Zhao Honghe, he said, "You go back to the provincial city first and keep an eye on what Ou Ruoshui has been up to lately. Also, contact Yang Tianhua and tell him I want to cooperate with them, but I must meet with this ’Third Brother’ in person. Once my affairs here are sorted out, probably around April or May, I will come over."

Zhao Honghe was smug again, his back straightening unconsciously, unconsciously rubbing his hair.

Watching Zhao Honghe’s performance, a cold mocking smile appeared on the corner of Ou Tiannan’s mouth. His money wasn’t so easy to earn.

After the fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year, Lu Aiguo prepared to return to Capital City. Wen Xiuqing held him back and asked him again and again, "The shoes I made for Yueyue, the sweater I knitted, you must remember to give them to her. Also, the tea Gu Xiaobei prepared for Fang Jing’s father, the jade your elder sister-in-law is giving to Fang Jing, you must deliver all these. You have to tell her that this is a gift from her mother and younger sister-in-law. If Fang Jing has a temper, you must endure it. You deserve it."

Wen Xiuqing later learned the reason for Lu Aiguo and Fang Jing’s divorce. She was so distressed that she couldn’t eat for several days. How could it happen so coincidentally?

With tears in his eyes, Lu Aiguo nodded.

"After you go back, work hard on your business. When you have time, go to see Yueyue, help Fang Jing. Fang Jing has a big temper, but she’s a straight-shooter and has a good heart. This incident has hit her hard, and she may take some time to recover. You need to be patient. Don’t get upset if she yells at you. Even if she hits you, it’s warranted. A couple’s life together is long. Problems will occur. You’re a man; you should shoulder more responsibilities," Wen Xiuqing said, wiping her tears. Thinking of Lu Aiguo’s return to Capital City, which was virtually homeless, it must be so hard.

Gu Xiaobei gave Lu Aiguo a letter, saying,"This is a letter I wrote to Fang Jing. Everything I want to say is in it."

Lu Aiguo took the letter, put it in his pocket, and said in a low voice, "Thank you, younger sister-in-law."

Gu Xiaobei shook her head: "Don’t thank me. If I were Fang Jing, I wouldn’t forgive you either. But when I’m your younger sister-in-law, I hope that our family doesn’t fall apart. I wrote to her, sometimes thinking that we are all bystanders with good intentions, trying to comfort her. But we can’t truly understand the bitterness in her heart. I hope you can show sincerity and bring Fang Jing home."

Lu Aiguo nodded, his eyes reddened, and said, "Mom, elder sister-in-law, younger sister-in-law, don’t worry. I will definitely change this time, change until Fang Jing is willing to come home herself."

Wen Xiuqing couldn’t help crying. She held Lu Aiguo’s arm and started to sob.

Lu Songyuan overheard their conversation from the east room and leaned on the kang, calling Lu Aiguo’s name.

Lu Aiguo helped Wen Xiuqing into the room.

"Youngest son, from childhood to adulthood, I rarely disciplined you, let alone taught you how to be a person. In many things, I forced you to do them according to my thinking. Now I think about it, I’m sorry for you and your sister. As for you and Fang Jing, just do your best. Be it a father and son relationship or a marital relationship, it’s all about fate. Just do your best," Lu Songyuan managed to say, despite struggling, primarily not wanting to give Lu Aiguo too much mental burden.

Lu Aiguo held Lu Songyuan’s hand and promised, "Dad, don’t worry, I will do my best, but I won’t force it. You also have to take care of yourself, and don’t worry about my affairs. You and mom also rest assured, if one day Ruirui comes to find me, I won’t ignore her."

Lu Songyuan nodded. He didn’t know if his daughter could change, but however angry he was, or however harsh his tone was, he did not want her to starve outside.

Coming back from the brink of death this time, he cherished these family members even more. He wanted to be with them well.

When Ji Xiangdong took Lu Aiguo to the train station, he said three words: "Do your best."