Back To The 80s-Chapter 564 - 556: Change_1

The next morning, when Gu Xiaobei pulled open the curtains to discover a thick layer of snow that night had silently brought, he couldn’t contain his excitement. Snowflakes were still swaying down from the sky.

Despite witnessing snowfall every year, it’s always the first snow of the year that leaves people in awe, especially when you open the window to see that the world has turned white overnight.

He called over Xiaopang and Mo Wang, bursting with joy.

Xiaopang and Mo Wang climbed onto a stool, peering excitely at the snowscape out on the balcony.

"Mom, let’s build a snowman," Xiaopang eagerly declared.

Turning to Xiaopang, Gu Xiaobei agreed, "Sure, we’ll have breakfast soon. Then we can build a snowman downstairs with your dad before going to Uncle Zhang’s house."

Upon sighting the figure slowly drawing closer downstairs, Mo Wang’s excited expression faded, and his lips pressed together tightly.

Gu Xiaobei saw Xu Yanhong too, laden with a pocket full of things. He marvelled at how close his younger brother’s wife and his older aunt got along, even coming over so early amidst such heavy snowfall.

Xiaopang continued his excited yelling, "Dad! Dad! Come quickly and see the heavy snowfall! It’s amazing!"

Gu Xiaobei watched as Xu Yanhong entered the building and was surprised that after less than a minute, there was knocking at his door.

After emerging from the kitchen to answer the door, Lu Zhanguo frowned at Xu Yanhong and blocked the doorway without stepping aside.

With a smile, Xu Yanhong said, "Commander Lu, I happened to be at the market and saw someone slaughtering pigs. I brought two pounds of meat for your child."

"No need!" replied Lu Zhanguo expressionlessly without entertainig her motives.

Xu Yanhong, unabashed, pulled out a piece of meat from her carrier bag, and replied, "You don’t have to go out to buy groceries in such cold weather. Make some cabbage dumplings. I noticed that Xiaopang likes meat when we last had a meal at my sister’s place..."

Before she could finish, Lu Zhanguo already shut the door with a thud.

Xu Yanhong was taken aback, staring at the door in disbelief. This man had no respect for others at all.

Lu Zhanguo returned to the kitchen to continue cooking. At some point, he needed to have a proper conversation with Shen Heng.

Hearing the door close and seeing only Lu Zhanguo return, Mo Wang exhaled a sigh of relief, and his face relaxed significantly.

Having heard Xu Yanhong’s words, Gu Xiaobei got even more confused. What was Xu Yanhong trying to do?

After breakfast, the family bundled up and was ready to leave for Zhang Lijun’s house.

Xiaopang still couldn’t let go of his idea. "Mom, are we building a snowman?"

After locking the door, Lu Zhanguo lifted Xiaopang up and said as they began to descend the stairs, "It’s snowing now. When we come back in the afternoon and the snow stops, I’ll help you build a snowman, okay?"

"Okay!" answered Xiaopang enthusiastically.

Gu Xiaobei held Mo Wang’s hand and followed them, chuckling. When she had requested Lu Zhanguo to help her and Jiujiu build a snowman years before, he made all sorts of excuses to get out of it.

Mo Wang looked back after descending the stairs and saw that Aunt Zhao Hongmei was spying on them from her balcony again.

.....

There were few pedestrians on the road, and the snow was untouched. Little Mo Wang stepped into the snow, which was deeper than his ankles, so Gu Xiaobei decided to carry Little Mo Wang, fearing his cotton shoes might get wet.

There was no direct bus to Zhang Lijun’s house, so they had to walk.

By the time they reached Zhang Lijun’s house, it was almost eleven o’clock.

Hearing the gate, Li Fengmei hurried out exclaiming, "We were just wondering if the snow was too heavy and you guys wouldn’t be able to make it!" She quickly ran over to take Little Mo Wang from Gu Xiaobei’s back.

Stamping the snow off her feet, Gu Xiaobei laughed, "We talked about buying meat on the way, but the snow was too heavy, so we didn’t go to the market."

"Why buy meat, we have plenty at home. I bought a few pounds the other day, and they’re all in the freezer. We’re also raising a pig this year, and we will slaughter it next month. We’ll share half of it with you." said Li Fengmei as she brushed the snow off Mo Wang’s hat.

"Why are you all still chatting in the yard? Hurry up and come inside!" Zhang Lijun said, lifting the cotton curtain on the door.

Lu Zhanguo entered the house first carrying Xiaopang. Seeing Li Fenghua who was a little awkwardly standing up from the sofa to greet him.

Entering the house with Mo Wang, Gu Xiaobei saw Li Fenghua finally relaxed, and she said with a smile, "Sister-in-law, it’s been years, but you are still as young as ever."

Gu Xiaobei looked up at Li Fenghua. Perhaps due to having children, Li Fenghua had gained some weight, making her look much rounder. She had also cut her long hair into a bob-cut.

"How long ago did Fenghua arrive?" Gu Xiaobei asked politely with a smile.

Zhang Lijun interrupted, "Please take a seat and relax. Don’t stand around talking."

Li Fenghua’s husband, Shao Yuming, was a particularly spirited young man. A bit shy and not much of a talker, he held his one-year-old daughter in his arms, sitting quietly on one side with a constant smile on his face.

Gu Xiaobei sat down, allowing Mo Wang to lean against her, then asked, "Fengmei, where’s aunt? I haven’t seen her." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Li Fenghua replied for her, "My mom is a bit unwell after the long car journey. She’s taking a rest."

"Everything okay?"

Li Fengmei waved her hand, "It’s nothing serious. She’s getting older and can’t handle such a long journey. A couple days of rest should fix her up."

"I didn’t see Dadong and Xiaodong either."

Li Fengmei shook her head, "They’re both not great academically. After talking to their teacher, they’ve gone to their teacher’s house for tutoring today. If Dadong doesn’t buck up, he might not even be able to get into a vocational high school."

Gu Xiaobei knew that passing the college entrance examination was as hard as crossing a wooden bridge with an army.

Zhang Lijun casually commented from a side, "If he can’t get into university, he can join the army, and then go to a military academy from the army. That’s somewhat easier."

Li Fengmei glanced at him and turned back to Gu Xiaobei, "Since Fenghua is family, I was thinking about suggesting they open a shop like mine. Perhaps sister-in-law, you could give them some advice on this."

Gu Xiaobei laughed, "There’s no need for my advice. I believe Fenghua is efficient and capable. Dealing with business must be a piece of cake for her."

Complimented, Li Fenghua blushed and glanced at Lu Zhanguo. As time had passed, no visible signs were left on his face. Rather, becoming a father had softened him a great deal.

Seeing Lu Zhanguo again, Li Fenghua felt calm. The awkwardness was a result of a past infatuation. Now, she felt that Shao Yuming suited her more, at least at home he was the one pampering her.

Li Fengmei chatted for a bit and then rushed to prepare lunch.

"Why don’t we make dumplings together? With more people, it will be quicker and easier. I’ll prepare a few side dishes. Later, the guys can have a drink."

Gu Xiaobei agreed, "Sure, dumplings would be good."

Li Fengmei left for the kitchen to prepare the dough.

Once she had left, Gu Xiaobei asked Li Fenghua, "How old is your daughter? What is her name?"