Back To The 80s-Chapter 600 - 592: Compromise_1

In the kitchen, Luo Fei and Xiaobei had started chatting casually.

Xiaobei asked, "Judging by your accent, are you from Capital City? Are you here on a business trip?"

"My husband Zhou Yang came for a meeting. I’m here to see my brother because my sister-in-law is due to give birth soon, and I’m worried he might be too busy." Luo Fei said as she peeled an eggplant.

"Your brother is having a child quite late." Xiaobei asked with curiosity. Judging by Luo Fei’s appearance, she reckoned she must be in her thirties, and therefore her elder brother must be well into his thirties as well. She momentarily forgot that her own man was also in his thirties when he became a father.

Luo Fei laughed and said, "There’s nothing we could do. My sister-in-law tends to act like a young girl. When she finally grew up, they got married right away. However, he didn’t want her to get pregnant immediately, proclaiming it’s better to wait a few years. This pregnancy is one she secretly planned."

Xiaobei’s curiosity grew. "Your sister-in-law is quite young, isn’t she?"

"Yes, she is ten years younger than my brother. When my brother first met her, he fell in love instantly and then waited for her to grow up." Luo Fei said with a smile.

"Do they also live in this provincial city?" Xiaobei wondered, intrigued by this couple.

Luo Fei shook her head, "No, my brother came here to study for a year, and my sister-in-law came along as a study companion."

"That sounds like a happy life." Xiaobei commented.

"Yes, it’s quite good. I often tell Zhou Yang to learn from my brother. His affection is so profound that it’s frightening once it’s reciprocated. By the way, how should I cut this eggplant? I’m not sure."

"Why don’t I do it? We’re making fried eggplant squares."

After lunch, Zhou Yang’s family lingered for a little while before saying their goodbyes.

Zhou Yang kept insisting that they must visit him once they arrive in East China, that he would have a chance to play host.

Xiaobei and Zhanguo, with their two children, saw off Zhou Yang’s family at the entrance of the residence. Only when they had walked far away did they turn back and return home.

At the entrance of the building, they ran into Zeng Changzhi’s family.

To save Zeng Changzhi’s face, Xiaobei held the children’s hands and waited for Zhanguo to finish talking to Zeng Changzhi before they could go home.

Zhao Hongmei remained silent, holding Erhu’s hand off to the side, pretending as if she didn’t notice Xiaobei. Recently, Zeng Changzhi had warned her to stop gossiping and meddling in other people’s affairs, or else he would send her and their daughter back to their hometown.

Erhu, seeing Xiaopang, proudly lifted his chin and said, "My dad took me to the zoo. Hmph!"

Xiaopang looked at Erhu and, after a moment, said only two words: "Childish!"

Xiaobei was shocked. Where on earth did this child learn the word "childish"? Does she even know what it means?

Erhu was still boasting proudly, "My dad also bought me an ice lolly, it was so yummy! He also bought me a banana popsicle."

Xiaopang just scoffed, turned her head, and chose not to look at Erhu.

Zhanguo and Zeng Changzhi chatted briefly about their visit to the military district and then brought Xiaobei and the children home.

Upon entering the house, Xiaobei asked, "From what Commissar Zeng said, it seems you might be transferred after the New Year?"

Zhanguo shook his head, "No, it’s not a simple transfer. Our special forces battalion is planning a full relocation, our unit is no longer suitable for residing in the city due to development."

"Will the new place be far away?"

"Yes, the new barracks will be deep within Cangnan Mountain. It will have a residential area for family members, so you and the children can come to visit once a week."

Xiaobei made a face, "In case you’re on a mission, we may not even get to see you once a week."

Zhanguo patted her head to comfort her, "Reports are merely speculations and not everything is definitive until it happens. Furthermore, who knows if there’d be any changes after the New Year."

Xiaobei was unhappy for less than a minute when she suddenly remembered that she had yet to bathe Xiaopang. So she chased Xiaopang around the house to give her a bath. Since there was no baby shampoo at the moment, the children had to use adult shampoo. Every time shampoo got in her eyes, Xiaopang would shriek loudly, which made her loathe bathing and shampooing.

After giving Xiaopang a bath, Xiaobei checked the time and told Zhanguo to watch the children while she went to the hospital to check on Jin Cheng and Qin Li.

No one knew when Jin Cheng would wake up, but for Qin Li, this was already enough. Each day, she would talk to Jin Cheng and feel happiness just by looking at his real physical presence before her.

Cheng Qijia visited the hospital to see He Qin, and heard about Jin Cheng’s return. He couldn’t help but go to Jin Cheng’s hospital room and stand at the door. The happiness in Qin Li’s eyes as she held Jin Cheng’s hand and softly spoke to him was clearly reflected in both her every smile and tiny frown.

Cheng Qijia shared in the laughter. He used to have feelings for this lady and hoped she could be happy. When he found out that Qin Li came to the provincial city and happened to be looking for a house with Xiaobei, he stealthily facilitated the process. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

He knew when Jin Cheng died that he and Qin Li stood no chance. But he couldn’t help wanting to assist her. It felt wonderful to see her smile with such happiness now.

By the time Xiaobei got to the hospital, she could only see Cheng Qijia’s retreating figure. She wondered if he had come to visit He Qin, and sighed to herself before heading up to Jin Cheng’s hospital room.

Qin Li was holding Jin Cheng’s hand, giving him a massage, and speaking softly, "Jin Cheng, guess what I had for lunch today? Can you smell it? It’s dumplings filled with chives and eggs. You hate the smell of chives. I remember how you didn’t eat chives as a kid, but if you didn’t eat, you’d be hungry. You’d hold your nose and eat, as if swallowing poison."

The soft voice of Qin Li made Xiaobei feel a twinge of sadness. She gently opened the door and stepped in.

"Sister Xiaobei, you’re here." Qin Li looked up and smiled.

Xiaobei nodded and walked up to the bed, looking at Jin Cheng who was still in a deep sleep. She thought of their initial unpleasant encounter and whispered, "Jin Cheng, why are you still sleeping? Have you forgotten that I splashed a faceful of water on you? Aren’t you going to wake up and get your revenge?"

Qin Li held Jin Cheng’s hand lightly and said, "Sister Xiaobei, let him sleep. I think he must have been very tired and suffered a lot during those years. That’s why he doesn’t want to wake up. I believe when he’s had enough rest, he’ll wake up."

Xiaobei sighed slightly, patted Qin Li’s shoulder, and said, "You seem to have lost even more weight recently. Are you not eating properly? Look at your dark circles, are you not sleeping well? If you keep this up, you’ll break down sooner or later. And your hair, why is it turning white? Is it due to malnutrition?"

Qin Li was dumbfounded at Xiaobei’s words, she touched her face in confusion. She hadn’t lost weight and had been sleeping well. With Jin Cheng at her side, she felt a sense of security.

After Xiaobei finished speaking, she began to observe Jin Cheng’s reaction and noticed tears welling up in his eyes.

He could hear, so why didn’t he wake up?

Qin Li also noticed Jin Cheng’s tears, she gently wiped them away with a handkerchief and sighed, "Sometimes when I talk about our childhood, he would also cry. When I cry, his tears would flow unevenly. I think if he’s even aware of it, but can’t wake up, maybe it’s better for him to sleep."

A frightening thought suddenly occurred to Xiaobei, did Jin Cheng’s soul travel to an unknown place and has not returned yet?