Back To The 80s-Chapter 530 - 522: Home Cooking_1

Lu Zhanguo and Gu Xiaobei only took the two children to the small yard after they woke up from their afternoon nap.

Seeing her son returning safely, Wen Xiuqing immediately ran to buy fresh meat. Although they had a refrigerator at home, they only kept steamed buns and dumplings in it and were used to buying fresh meat for eating.

In one corner of the yard, there was a cherry tree. Unlike common cherry trees, this one was small and its crown spread out in a semi-circular shape. Each branch emitted from the root, with cherries growing on the leaves, close to the petioles. Moreover, the cherries were crystal clear and white in color.

As soon as Xiaopang entered the yard, he ran to pick cherries. The cherries were ripe, and thanks to the small stature of the tree, Xiaopang could pick them without having to tiptoe.

"Brother, let’s eat cherries." Xiaopang was munching on cherries and calling Mo Wang nonstop.

Bai Xiaolan happily said, "Finally, the cherries ripened in these two days. If they didn’t, Xiaopang’s neck might have elongated from the wait."

Xiaopang clumsily lifted her little dress to use as a pouch for the cherries, wanting to pick some for her parents.

She only lifted one corner of her dress, and the cherries filling it quickly fell out on either side.

Seeing Xiaopang raising her dress all the way up to her belly, with her little flowered underwear exposed, Gu Xiaobei quickly ran over, squatting down to help her remove the cherries from her dress. He then smoothed her dress down and said seriously, "Xiaopang, we can’t lift our dress, okay? We’re a pretty little girl. We can’t let others see our belly and underwear."

"Oh," Xiaopang cooed in half understanding, squeezed a few cherries in her hand, and ran off to give them to her father.

Lu Zhanguo gratefully ate the cherries Xiaopang had stuffed into his mouth. However, these cherries weren’t very sweet; they tasted a bit salty.

That evening, Wen Xiuqing made dumplings and stir-fried a few dishes.

At dinner, Zhou Siping asked Lu Zhanguo again, "When will the Qi family be available to see their relatives? Xiaolan’s aunt has been waiting for my message, it’s been a year already, hasn’t it?"

"It should be soon. But as for the exact time, I can’t say for sure." Lu Zhanguo couldn’t predict when the road would be passable, and when Cheng Qijia and He Qin could come back.

Zhou Siping frowned and said, "Xiaolan’s aunt said that if there’s no confirmed news by August, she’ll come. She insists on finding the leaders to clarify things."

Bai Xiaolan muttered from the side, "People who research atomic bombs don’t go home for several years. My aunt can’t even understand this."

Zhou Siping looked at his daughter helplessly, and while feeding Doudou, he said, "You, that’s your aunt. It’s not your place to talk."

Bai Xiaolan stuck her tongue out and quietly continued eating her meal.

After dinner, Gu Xiaobei went to wash the dishes, and Lu Zhanguo and Ji Xiangdong watched the three children playing outside the gate. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Lu Zhanguo, still worried about Gu Xiaobei’s factory, asked, "What’s the situation with Xiaobei’s factory now?"

"There’s still half a month left before the deadline, so it’s at a stalemate for now. We’ll see at the end of the month, but I guess there won’t be any changes." Ji Xiangdong said somewhat helplessly.

Lu Zhanguo frowned, "Isn’t there any solution?"

Ji Xiangdong smiled, "Actually, you don’t have to worry about it. I noticed that Xiaobei’s mental state has improved a lot these days. He’s not as restless as before. I guess he’s already figured out an alternative. In fact, a lot of people’s abilities are forced out by circumstances. What about you? Any progress on your side?"

Lu Zhanguo nodded, "Almost there. By the end of the month, this group of people will be uprooted."

"Are you sure no one will get wind of this and run away?" Ji Xiangdong asked worriedly.

Lu Zhanguo shook his head, "There’s absolutely no chance of any leaks."

...

Luo Renliang received notice of the army’s closed-door training. Except for group leaders and higher-ranking officers, no one can take leave or go home until the training is over.

In other words, except for Lu Zhanguo and Zeng Changzhi, Liu Hongbing, and others, no one can step out of the camp.

Luo Renliang felt that Lu Zhanguo was playing a cat-and-mouse game. He caught the mouse, but didn’t eat it immediately but made it collapse little by little in fear.

After giving it much thought, Luo Renliang took out an unfinished letter paper and wrote a letter.

The letter didn’t leave the camp and was delivered to Lu Zhanguo’s desk.

Looking at the envelope with ’To: Lang Yuchun’ written on it, Lu Zhanguo kept tapping his fingers on his desk in a fast-slow rhythm.

Would you consider opening it?" Liu Hongbing asked, looking at the envelope.

Lu Zhanguo raised his eyebrows, "Why not? Don’t you find this letter strange? Why write a letter within the same city?"

Liu Hongbing nodded, "That makes sense. But in case nothing happens after opening it, wouldn’t it make people suspicious?"

Lu Zhanguo picked up the envelope, looked at it carefully, and said, "I’m curious who this Lang Yuchun person is. Could you check out this address for me?"

"That I can do." Liu Hongbing took the letter, noted down the address carefully, and then handed the letter back to Lu Zhanguo.

Lu Zhanguo waved his hand, "No need, this letter shouldn’t be a problem. You can take it back and help to send it out."

For the next two days, Luo Renliang spent his time in unease. He knew the letter he wrote would definitely be taken by Lu Zhanguo, and even opened to see, because he had the right to do so.

Two days after the letter was sent, everything was calm. Overly calm, in fact, making Luo Renliang more uneasy.

Although nothing was written in the letter, it did mention the name Zhong Zhi. If Lu Zhanguo saw it, why didn’t he come to find him? If he didn’t see it, why didn’t Lu Zhanguo look at it?

He thought of many answers but struck down each one himself. This kind of daunting uncertainty was like a struggling man who is drowning.

It took Liu Hongbing a day to investigate all the details about Lang Yuchun.

Lu Zhanguo checked out Liu Hongbing’s report.

Lang Yuchun, female, 36 years old, family member of a martyr, has a nine-year-old son.

Unemployed, living off social assistance, as well as financial aid from compassionate fellow soldiers, including Luo Renliang and Zhong Zhi.

Even details about her immediate family, recent contacts, and living conditions were clearly written.

"This should be considered a good deed, right? I guess the letter that Luo Renliang sent out probably had some living expenses for Lang Yuchun." Liu Hongbing suggested.

Lu Zhanguo looked at the information but felt a bit disappointed. A woman of 36 years old, still young, wasn’t working, but was living off others’ charity. People like her were spoiling the kindness of others and disgracing the title of ’family member of a martyr.’

"Let’s wait. Soon, Luo Renliang will send out a second, or even a third letter." Lu Zhanguo said softly, putting the information on the table.

Liu Hongbing laughed, "It’s been a long time since I’ve played such an interesting game. It feels like we’re catching a spy. It’s just a shame that he’s our comrade. I really hope he has an unavoidable reason for doing so. Otherwise, I’d have to reconsider my life." Liu Hongbing sighed after speaking.