Back To The 80s-Chapter 501 - 512: Discussion_1

Seeing Gu Xiaobei remaining silent, Gu Weimin sighed and took Liao Zhe into the room to sleep.

As soon as they entered the room and closed the door, Chen Qiumei, who was lying on the bed, sprang up ready to open the wardrobe.

Gu Weimin admonished her carefully, "What are you doing?"

"I want to see if there is any money hidden in her wardrobe." Chen Qiumei said as she opened the wardrobe door.

Gu Weimin stepped forward quickly, closing the cabinet door, and whispered, "Can’t you be patient? Didn’t I tell you before we came, this girl is now wholeheartedly with her husband’s family. If you can scold her into giving you a penny, I’ll salute you."

"Then what should we do? Look at the attitude this disobedient girl is showing now, no matter what we say, she’s acting like a dead pig not fearing the boiling water." Chen Qiumei said angrily.

Glancing at the door, Gu Weimin spoke in a low voice, "We have to coax her, treat her well. I also see that she seems to have money, so we have to coax her."

"Coax? How to coax? Look at her ungrateful attitude now, if I treat her well, she’ll think I’m trying to poison her." Chen Qiumei said resentfully. How could she give birth to such an ungrateful thing?

"Look, look, you’re getting impatient again. Why are you in such a rush? We have to take it slowly. We’ll stay here in the provincial city, eat her food, use her things, and then gradually coax the money out of her." Gu Weimin said confidently.

Gu Xiaobei sat on the sofa, listening to the two people in the room whispering. While she couldn’t hear clearly what they were saying, she could guess most of it. If they were really asking for money to use their connections and bail out Gu Xiaodong, she certainly would not interfere.

They had dinner at the small courtyard. Lu Zhanguo didn’t return until after dinner. Upon seeing Gu Weimin and Chen Qiumei, he wasn’t surprised. He had expected this day would come ever since he thought Guo Huaqiang had changed.

Upon seeing Lu Zhanguo, Gu Weimin laughed in a friendly manner, "Zhanguo, it’s been years since we last met, you seem even more spirited now." He laughed heartily after his words.

Lu Zhanguo politely responded, "Dad." Regardless of whether Gu Xiaobei was the same as before, they were still blood-related. He also greeted Chen Qiumei, "Mom, welcome."

Chen Qiumei, having been educated by Gu Weimin, now had a better attitude and smiled, "Zhanguo, you’ve been very busy recently, haven’t you? You’ve lost weight."

Wen Xiuqing had still painstakingly prepared a table full of dishes for dinner, including a frozen fish.

However, she didn’t expect her kindness to be interpreted as flaunting her wealth by Chen Qiumei and Gu Weimin.

That night, Gu Weimin and Chen Qiumei went back to the housing compound with Gu Xiaobei and her husband.

When they got home, Gu Weimin surprisingly suggested to Gu Xiaobei and Lu Zhanguo that he and his wife should rent a place to live independently.

Gu Xiaobei was somewhat surprised as this wasn’t what she expected.

Seeing that both Gu Xiaobei and Lu Zhanguo were silent on the matter, Gu Weimin went on, "Your mom and I living here isn’t convenient, and Liao Zhe is naughty. It’s better for us to move out. However, you’ll have to pay for the rent."

Just as Chen Qiumei was about to question why should they move out, a stare from Gu Weimin shut her up immediately.

Gu Xiaobei thought for a while, then whispered, "Paying rent is not a problem. However, we also need to pay for our living expenses. We don’t have much money here. Our business is a partnership with others. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s not."

When Chen Qiumei was about to flare up again, she was once again stopped by Gu Weimin. Then, laughing, Gu Weimin said, "That’s fine, you just need to pay for the rent. As for the living expenses, you can give us if you have, and it’s fine if you don’t. I still have some retirement money every month. Your mom, Liao Zhe and I, though we can’t eat well, we won’t starve." He sounded reasonable and pitiful.

Gu Xiaobei felt slightly uncomfortable inside. It wasn’t that she was petty and held grudges, but that she had experienced the selfish and greedy nature of Gu Weimin and his wife. So she always kept her lips tightly sealed. She would rather buy them rice, flour, vegetables, and meat regularly every month than give them money to fill a hole that she shouldn’t fill.

Gu Weimin sighed again and said to Lu Zhanguo, "Zhanguo, we’ve caused you trouble. When people get old, they become burdens. It’s also our fault for being incompetent. Now that we’re old, we can only rely on you for food. How embarrassing."

Lu Zhanguo’s eyebrows furrowed slightly as he said in a deep voice, "We should take care of you in old age."

Gu Weimin nodded, "You’ve taken on much, Zhanguo. Your earnings from the army aren’t much, and now your mom and I are causing you trouble. I really don’t know how to ask." There was a threatening tone in his words, implying if you dare not take care of us, we dare to make trouble at the military.

Gu Xiaobei leaned back on the couch, twirling her fingers. She couldn’t help but feel a little sad. The concept of filial piety was forced to become a kind of moral kidnapping.

When Gu Weimin and Chen Qiumei took Liao Zhe to bed, Gu Xiaobei sat on the couch in a daze.

Lu Zhanguo sat down next to her, patted her shoulder and said, "Go wash up and sleep."

When they were lying in bed, Gu Xiaobei gently asked, "If you had to choose between Mo Wang and Xiaopang, who would you choose?"

"Don’t talk nonsense. Don’t overthink it. Providing for them in their old age is our responsibility." Lu Zhanguo said, stroking Gu Xiaobei’s head.

Gu Xiaobei sighed lightly, "I just feel sorry for Gu Xiaobei."

Lu Zhanguo gently embraced her and said, "Except for our birth, all other decisions are in our hands. Sometimes it’s because of conscience, sometimes it’s because of public opinion, sometimes it’s because of responsibility. We have to make decisions that go against our hearts. But think about it, no matter what decision you make, as long as you don’t regret it afterwards, it’s okay."

Gu Xiaobei nodded, "I still insist that I only take care of them in their old age and will not manage anything else. I won’t even take care of Liao Zhe. Would you think I’m heartless?"

Lu Zhanguo raised his eyebrows, "No matter what decision you make, I will support you. I’ve said that no matter when, I’ll always be your last resort. I will take care of the things you can’t handle."

Gu Xiaobei blinked away the tears in her eyes and said in a coquettish voice, "Lu Zhanguo, how can you be so sentimental? My eyes are teary now."

With a chuckle, Lu Zhanguo’s chest vibrated, "You’re just like Xiaopang, clearly crying, but insisting it’s not."

Gu Xiaobei burst into laughter and said, "Taking care of Liao Zhe is definitely a thankless task."

"Alright, let’s sleep. We’ve got to be busy with the small courtyard tomorrow." Lu Zhanguo patted her back, soothingly.

"I haven’t told you yet. My parents just came to my door, asking me for money directly. Do you think Guo Huaqiang is causing trouble behind the scenes?" Gu Xiaobei said indignantly.

Lu Zhanguo nodded, "His approach may not necessarily be a bad thing for you."

"I don’t think it’s a good thing at all. Do we have any ways to hit back at Guo Huaqiang? It’s really uncomfortable to see him jumping around all the time." Gu Xiaobei said, frowning.