Back To The 80s-Chapter 599 - 591: Origin_1

Lu Zhanguo coldly stared at Xu Yanhong sitting in front of him. He didn’t speak, and had nothing to say.

The colour had drained from Xu Yanhong’s face. She was no longer the radiant, jubilant person she was when they first met.

"Do you remember me?" Xu Yanhong cleared her throat and asked.

Lu Zhanguo raised his eyebrows, signaling he had no memory of her.

Xu Yanhong chuckled sarcastically, "I figured you wouldn’t. Eight years ago, when your unit first arrived from Capital City to the Sino-Vietnamese border, there was a river beside the camp. I was washing clothes by the river when you told me to leave because there was a sniper on the other side. Scared, I dropped my clothes into the river, but you ran away without looking back. Soon after you left, a local woman who came to fetch water was shot dead by the enemy. It was your second-in-command who saved me..."

Lu Zhanguo squinted. Similar incidents occurred many times back then. After each warning, he would quickly find a higher vantage point to locate the enemy sniper. Where would he have the time for small talk?

Xu Yanhong continued, talking about how she met the second-in-command, how she was sent to Ye Tianbao, then taught to shoot by mercenaries. She also mentioned that Ou Tiannan came to the border, hoping to make a fortune.

Ou Tiannan saw Jin Jiadong, and he loathed him, wishing he would die.

Despite his hatred, Ou Tiannan couldn’t do anything. A war was about to break out, and in order to survive, he fled the border and ran into Xu Yanhong...

When Lu Zhanguo heard Xu Yanhong say this, he suddenly stood up, gave Xu Yanhong a cold look, and left. He didn’t need her to continue – he already knew what happened, and he didn’t want to hear any more, lest his ears get dirty.

Xu Yanhong watched Lu Zhanguo leave in a daze. She hadn’t mentioned her time at Zhao Hongmei’s house or how she had fed Mo Wang a hallucinogenic drug. This was just an attempt to test him, but later, she determinedly prepared to feed Mo Wang a deadly drug. Unexpectedly, both children didn’t fall for her trick, leaving her with no opportunity to execute her plan.

She still wanted to say that if Lu Zhanguo had taken her to a safe area after warning her that day, she wouldn’t have ended up here today.

In the end, Lu Zhanguo wasn’t interested in hearing it at all.

...

Lu Zhanguo walked out of the military district and planned to go straight home, but changed his plan and went to the police station to find Shen Heng.

Shen Heng was surprised to see Lu Zhanguo. Since being beaten up by Lu Zhanguo, he had been busy dealing with Ou Tiannan’s case and had also been to Nanhai City. He had just returned two days ago and was planning to find an excuse to visit the courtyard.

Lu Zhanguo ignored Shen Heng’s surprised look, pulled a chair over to sit across Shen Heng, and said, "Pour me a jar of cold water, go to the water room for it."

Shen Heng obeyed, collected the jar and got a jar full of cold water from the water room.

Lu Zhanguo took it and drank it in one gulp before he started speaking: "How has it been recently?"

Shen Heng was flattered and smiled, "Very good, my in-laws, Qin Mei and the kids, are coming to the city next month."

"What about Ou Tiannan’s case?"

"His property has been confiscated. I suppose the case is closed," answered Shen Heng dutifully.

"Drop by for a meal when you’re free. When Qin Mei arrives, remember to let me know," Lu Zhanguo added. He understood that due to Shen Heng’s work requirements, he couldn’t disclose much. Once this issue was over, they were still brothers.

Shen Heng nodded and smiled, "Okay, it’s been a long time since I ate your sister-in-law’s cooking."

Lu Zhanguo gave Shen Heng a sidelong glance. This guy was quick to take advantage of the situation.

Shen Heng led Lu Zhanguo out of the main entrance of the police station, watching his car drive away. He heaved a sigh of relief. Begrudged, they were still brothers.

Driving home, while waiting for the red light, Lu Zhanguo unintentionally swept his eyes outside the window and saw a children’s clothing store.

Remembering Xiaopang’s wish for a new dress, he pulled over to buy one.

He had never bought clothes for the kids before, so after a quick look around the store, he bought Xiaopang a pink dress and two light blue striped vests for Mo Wang. After paying, he prepared to leave.

At that moment, a family of three entered the store, and both Lu Zhanguo and they froze.

"Lu Zhanguo, what are you doing here?" a familiar voice exclaimed.

"I’ve always been in the X Province Military District, Zhou Yang. I thought you were in East China Military District? How come you’re here in the city?" Lu Zhanguo recognized the man before him. They had met on the Vietnam War battlefield but then returned to their respective units and hadn’t been in touch for seven or eight years.

Zhou Yang, a typical Northeasterner, is tall and burly with a hearty and unrestrained personality. He laughed, "I came for some sort of exchange meeting. My sister-in-law just happened to have some business here, so they came with me. This is my sister-in-law, Luo Fei, and my son Zhou Weiqun, nicknamed Chenchen. Chenchen, say hello to uncle."

"Hello, uncle." The ten-year-old Chenchen, who took after Zhou Yang in height, was tall and thin like a bean sprout.

Zhou Yang’s wife, Luo Fei, was from Capital City, and she spoke with a distinct Beijing accent. She smiled and said, "My husband, Zhou, has mentioned you quite a lot at home."

Lu Zhanguo was excited. Zhou Yang was a comrade with whom he had stormed through a hail of bullets. He said directly, "You must come over for a meal now that you’re here."

Zhou Yang didn’t decline either. He told Luo Fei, "We’ll look for the clothes later, Luo Zhan’s daughter isn’t born yet anyway, so there’s no rush."

The family of three followed Lu Zhanguo back home.

Fearing there wouldn’t be enough food at home, Lu Zhanguo stopped by the market to buy some meat and cooked dishes on the way.

Gu Xiaobei was at home, chasing Xiaopang for a bath.

Seeing her father come through the door, Xiaopang shrieked like a little pig being slaughtered, "Daddy! Save me!" and threw herself at him.

Lu Zhanguo picked up his daughter, let Zhou Yang’s family in and then introduced them to Gu Xiaobei.

Luo Fei looked at Mo Wang on the floor and Xiaopang in Lu Zhanguo’s arms in surprise, she said admiringly, "Boy and girl twins, you’re really blessed."

Zhou Yang couldn’t help praising, "I wouldn’t have guessed, you’re quite something."

Gu Xiaobei kept her laughter in and took the groceries from Lu Zhanguo, preparing to brew some tea in the kitchen before making lunch.

"Let me help you," Luo Fei readily offered.

Gu Xiaobei laughed and said, "No need, you sit and rest. It’ll be ready in a minute."

"It’s ok, the two of them haven’t met in many years. They must have a lot to talk about, so I wouldn’t have a word in edgeways," Luo Fei said as she followed Gu Xiaobei into the kitchen.

Chenchen, a quiet and reserved boy, stayed with his father on the couch after entering the house.

Full of curiosity, Xiaopang stood in front of Chenchen with her eyes wide. Suddenly she asked, "Daddy, is this a sister or a brother?"

"It’s a brother."

Xiaopang glanced at him suspiciously, "Then why does he look like a sister?"

Xiaopang’s question made both Lu Zhanguo and Zhou Yang burst out laughing.

Zhou Yang said, "Every time Chenchen goes out, people think he’s a girl because he’s too delicate."

Chenchen pursed his lips and gave his father a dissatisfied look.

Xiaopang looked interestedly at Chenchen. "Brother, do you know how to stack blocks? Let’s stack blocks together."

After a moment of thought, Chenchen nodded and began to stack blocks with Xiaopang and Mo Wang.