Back To The 80s-Chapter 500 - 511: Need Money_1

Upon seeing Chen Qiumei speak this way, Wen Xiuqing didn’t have much to say, feeling as if people would think she was reluctant to share the meat.

After lunch, Gu Weimin secretly signaled to Chen Qiumei.

Chen Qiumei glanced at Gu Xiaobei and hesitated to say, "Xiaobei, your father and I have been on the road for several days and are quite tired. Is there somewhere we could rest?"

Gu Xiaobei looked at Chen Qiumei and asked nonchalantly, "Where is your luggage?"

Chen Qiumei was caught off guard. It was Gu Weimin who spoke up, "We got off the train this morning and, fearing that we might come here in vain, we rented a room at a nearby hotel and left our luggage there."

Upon hearing this, Gu Xiaobei wondered how much luggage they had brought. In front of Wen Xiuqing, it wouldn’t be polite to ask too many questions. She said to Wen Xiuqing, "Mom, could you keep an eye on Mo Wang and Xiaopang? I’m going to take my parents to the residential compound for a rest."

Wen Xiuqing nodded and coaxed Xiaopang and Mo Wang to play in the inner room.

Gu Xiaobei took Gu Weimin, Chen Qiumei, and Liao Zhe to the residential compound.

Chen Qiumei wanted to talk all along the way, but was stopped by Gu Weimin’s stern look.

Upon arriving at the residential compound, Chen Qiumei entered the room and looked around. Her heart pounded with worry as the household furnishings were very simple, there wasn’t even a television or refrigerator. It made her question if Gu Xiaobei was actually making any money.

Contemplating this, she scrutinized each room’s door and sneered. Although each room was warmly decorated, there was nothing of value.

Gu Xiaobei stood to the side quietly and watched as Chen Qiumei looked around without saying a word.

Gu Weimin, however, kindly asked, "Xiaobei, did Zhanguo get another promotion? He should be a formal army officer now, right?"

"Seems so." Gu Xiaobei hadn’t actually asked. The military rankings were always a mystery to her.

Gu Weimin nodded, "Impressive. Reaching such a position at a young age is quite an achievement."

The moment Liao Zhe entered the room, he ran to the coffee table and played with Xiaopang and Mo Wang’s toys, holding them with joy.

Chen Qiumei, however, wasn’t in the mood for small talk. After looking around, she said to Gu Xiaobei, "Xiaobei, I heard that you’ve made quite a lot of money lately. Is that true?"

Gu Xiaobei looked at Chen Qiumei and calmly asked, "Who told you that?"

Chen Qiumei plopped down on the sofa, saying, "It’s not important who said it. The reason your father and I are here is to see if you could spare some money for your brother, so he can suffer less in prison. You must know what kind of life he’s had these years." She couldn’t help but start crying. Unlike before, these were genuine tears.

Leaning against a wall, Gu Xiaobei looked at Chen Qiumei, who was crying her eyes out, and felt some sympathy. However, her sympathy didn’t mean she would help Gu Xiaodong. "I do some small business to earn pocket money," she said dismissively. "I don’t have a lot of money to grease palms."

"Xiaobei, don’t forget about human kindness. We are your birth parents. You can’t be so cold-hearted. Your brother in jail is your own flesh and blood. I heard he’s been transferred to T Province’s prison. Do you think it’s a suitable place for people to live? Your brother was good to you when you were young. Your father and I supported you through school. Didn’t we always give the good food to the two of you? Although your brother ate a bit more than you, he’s the male heir of the Gu family," Chen Qiumei wept as she spoke.

Gu Xiaobei was having a hard time dealing with this. If Chen Qiumei had been ranting and raving, it would’ve been easier to handle. But this attempt to guilt her with parental kindness was making her feel helpless. Waiting until Chen Qiumei’s sobbing decreased in volume somewhat, she finally said, "I’ve said before, I won’t abandon you. But besides providing for your old age, I can’t promise anything else."

Upon hearing Gu Xiaobei’s reply, Chen Qiumei slapped the coffee table angrily and pointed at Gu Xiaobei, ready to berate her.

Gu Weimin grabbed Chen Qiumei’s hand and chided her sternly, "Can’t we speak nicely? Xiaobei is right, it’s enough that she can provide for us in our old age. What more do you want?" 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Chen Qiumei angrily put her hand down, saying, "Fine, then give us the living expense for these few years."

Gu Xiaobei calmly replied, "That won’t work. I will provide living expenses monthly. Given the current inflation, I’ll give you thirty yuan a month. I can’t afford more. As you can see, I have two children of my own to raise." In the end, Gu Xiaobei made a small concession. If she really turned her back on them, she would most likely be cursed for it.

Chen Qiumei was taken aback. She turned to Gu Weimin and said, "Look at what she’s saying. Just thirty yuan! How about when Liao Zhe goes to school or needs to get married? Won’t he need money?"

Gu Weimin impatiently interrupted, "Enough, why do you have so much to say? Xiaobei is right; she has two kids of her own to raise. Thirty yuan a month is not a small sum. We’re in this situation because of our useless son." Then he turned to Gu Xiaobei and said, "Xiaobei, don’t take your mother’s words to heart. Your mother and I don’t care about your money, we just want you to live well."

Watching one play the good cop and the other the bad cop, Gu Xiaobei had some doubts about Gu Weimin’s change of demeanor. Gu Weimin was always profit-oriented in all her prior dealings with him. She doubted he could really be so generous.

Gu Weimin felt resentment when he saw that Gu Xiaobei remained silent and uncompromising. But for the sake of his son, he had to bear it. He believed the individuals he sought out wouldn’t lie to him. It shouldn’t be a problem for Gu Xiaobei to have several tens of thousands of yuan on hand. Although the home furnishings were plain, Xiaopang and Mo Wang’s clothing suggested that they were well off. Besides, the way Xiaopang and Mo Wang ate their meals was proof that this household was not lacking in food. Then there was the tea that Wen Xiuqing brewed for him at noon. It was top-grade Dahongpao. He remembered having tasted it at his comrade’s house. The lingering scent was unforgettable.

Gu Weimin could be crafty. He was willing to sacrifice his daughter’s happiness for his son’s future. Now, for his son to get out of prison earlier, he believed it was only right for his daughter to contribute some money. However, with Gu Xiaobei’s stubbornness and indifference, he had to resort to eliciting sympathy to try and persuade her.

Unfortunately, Chen Qiumei always managed to lose her cool, which frustrated him.

After a standoff, Gu Xiaobei said, "The bedroom is this way. If you’re tired, why don’t you go rest?" As for how to deal with the ongoing situation, she decided to wait for Lu Zhanguo to return and discuss it with him.

Seeing that Gu Weimin didn’t want her to speak, Chen Qiumei angrily entered the bedroom and lay down on the bed, fuming.

Gu Weimin cleared his throat and said sincerely, "Xiaobei, don’t blame your mother. She just misses your brother too much. She hasn’t been sleeping well. As a mother yourself, you should understand her feelings."

Gu Xiaobei remained silent, not lifting her gaze. She was indeed a mother now, but that just made her even less understanding of how her birth parents could favor males so strongly, be so partial and selfish.