Back To The 80s-Chapter 497 - 508: Mom_1

Lu Aiguo nodded, knowing the meaning of his elder brother’s words. He would do his best to bring the family together.

After Lu Aiguo left, family life gradually returned to its original course.

At home, Gu Xiaobei looked after the kids and helped Wen Xiuqing prepare meals. Every day, Wen Xiuqing had to massage Lu Songyuan and assist him with walking exercises, as they could not afford to miss the golden period of recovery.

Doudou, who was almost seven months old, was also starting to crawl around, and required constant supervision. The three adults were consistently busy with the three children and a patient and sometimes felt overwhelmed.

Gu Xiaobei discussed with Wen Xiuqing: "Mom, should we hire a nanny to help with cooking and other chores?"

Wen Xiuqing shook her head: "I’d prefer to have no strangers in the house. And I’m afraid a nanny might not care for the children as much as we do. It will be better when Xiaopang and Mo Wang are older."

Gu Xiaobei agreed. Thankfully, their store was not busy at the moment, and Qin Li was capable of handling things on her own. With three people at home, they could manage the daytime hustle together, it would be easier after Ji Xiangdong and Lu Zhanguo got home in the evening.

By February, the weather began to get warmer each day.

When there was no wind near noon, Wen Xiuqing would assist Lu Songyuan to sit in the courtyard for a while. Xiaopang and Mo Wang would play in the yard while Da Bing kept watch.

Bai Xiaolan, holding Doudou, would sit in the courtyard to bask in the sun while keeping an eye on Xiaopang and Mo Wang to ensure they didn’t get near anything dangerous.

Gu Xiaobei and Wen Xiuqing shoveled the residual snow around the chives’ field and covered the ground with a plastic sheet, so there would be chives to eat in a month’s time. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Wen Xiuqing used some bricks to prop up a few stilts, placed thick wooden sticks on top, and then spread the plastic sheet over them. As she adjusted the plastic sheet, Gu Xiaobei covered the edges with soil.

..................

"Dear In-laws, we’ve come to visit..." A shrill woman’s voice echoed, followed by a man and woman leading a four or five-year-old boy into the yard.

Gu Xiaobei recognized the voice and frowned deeply. Lu Zhanguo was right; Gu Weimin and Chen Qiumei had brought Liao Zhe.

Da Bing growled at the sight of the strangers and went to confront them, but Bai Xiaolan quickly told him to go inside the shed.

Upon seeing Gu Weimin and Chen Qiumei, Wen Xiuqing was slightly surprised – no mention of them had been made by Gu Xiaobei in the past two years. She assumed that the couple had been ashamed and refused to leave home due to Gu Xiaodong’s tragedy. Now that they had suddenly appeared, as if in a daze, Gu Xiaobei, standing aside, was prodded by Wen Xiuqing: "Your parents are here, why are you dazed?"

Gu Xiaobei sighed metaphorically; short peace was about to end.

With an exaggerated smile coming into the courtyard, Chen Qiumei looked at Lu Songyuan and asked, "Dear in-law, you look a bit pale, what’s the matter?"

Gu Weimin also asked with a smile, "Old leader, are you doing well recently?"

Lu Songyuan laughed, responding but not very clearly, "Fine, very fine, good to see you. Please, sit."

Chen Qiumei appeared shocked: "Dear in-law, what kind of serious illness have you contracted? Your speech is so unclear."

As Wen Xiuqing and Gu Xiaobei approached, they heard Chen Qiumei’s words and furrowed their brows.

Seeing Wen Xiuqing and Gu Xiaobei coming over, Chen Qiumei laughed: "What are you busy with?" Then, in an accusing tone, she said to Gu Xiaobei, "You haven’t seen your mother in two or three years, don’t you know how to greet her?" while maintaining an incredibly affectionate expression.

Gu Xiaobei had thought that Chen Qiumei would rush over and berate her, as had always been the case. However, Chen’s kind, compassionate demeanor left her somewhat blindsided. Gu Xiaobei softly greeted them: "Dad, Mom, welcome."

Gu Weimin also courteously greeted Wen Xiuqing: "Sister-in-law, you seem in good health?"

Wen Xiuqing nodded, signaling Gu Xiaobei to bring over some stools. Regardless of everything, they were still their son’s parents-in-law and had to be treated courteously. She went to make tea.

Chen Qiumei looked at the two children playing in the yard and said with a smile, "These must be Xiaobei’s children. The little girl looks precisely like Xiaobei did as a child." Chen Qiumei then crouched and kindly said to Xiaopang, "Come here, baby. Grandma brought you some candy."

Xiaopang halted, looked at Chen Xiuqing with confusion, and shook his head: "Xiaopang doesn’t eat candy. Candy hurts my teeth."

"Eating one wouldn’t hurt. See, Grandma bought the candy wrapped in cellophane," Chen Qiumei chuckled, taking out a few colorful candies from her pocket and showing them to Xiaopang.

Xiaopang looked at the candy, then at Chen Qiumei, tempted. But as he took a step forward, Mo Wang grabbed him and shook his head: "Don’t eat candy. Candy hurts your teeth."

Xiaopang complied and stood behind his brother, but his eyes constantly darted towards the candies.

Gu Xiaobei brought out two stools, one for Gu Weimin and the other for Chen Qiumei. After placing the stools, she got a smaller one for herself and sat opposite them, calling Xiaopang and Mo Wang over to her.

After Chen Qiumei sat down, she pulled Liao Zhe closer, smiling and instructing him: "Liao Zhe, call Grandma, Grandpa, and little Auntie." However, Liao Zhe ignored her and snatched the candies from her hand.

While Chen Qiumei was slightly annoyed, she swallowed her anger and nudged Liao Zhe’s back, still smiling. "Liao Zhe, do what Grandma taught you. Say hello."

Liao Zhe glared at Gu Xiaobei and muttered, "Stupid woman."

Hearing that, Chen Qiumei immediately slapped Liao Zhe across his mouth, angrily questioning: "Where did you learn to talk like that? Have you forgotten all your manners?"

Liao Zhe instantly began crying. Gu Weimin rushed to comfort him.

Embarrassed, Chen Qiumei apologized with a smile: "I’m sorry to have caused such an embarrassment. This child, I don’t know where he learned this disgusting behavior."

Wen Xiuqing chuckled and explained: "Children, they easily mimic what they see."

While Gu Xiaobei’s smile remained, her mind was disturbed. Given Liao Zhe’s behavior, Chen Qiumei must have been badmouthing people in front of him at home, but it was unclear whether she was talking about Liao Qing or her. This version of Liao Zhe was the product of their upbringing.

Chen Qiumei then started to complain: "Xiaobei, you must think ill of us, your father and I, for not visiting you in the past three to four years. But we had limited funds and had to take care of Liao Zhe, so it was quite difficult. You barely returned home these past years. We missed you terribly, so here we are to see you."

After hearing Chen Qiumei’s words, Gu Xiaobei calmly said, "In previous years, Zhanguo had a friend bring you guys some items, but you were not at home. Our neighbor, Aunt Zhao, said you had never returned." These were the details that Lu Zhanguo had mentioned when discussing Guo Huaqiang’s probable involvement with Gu Weimin and his wife.