Back To The 80s-Chapter 606 - 599: Difficulties_1

From then on, they all passionately discussed how to handle Li Juan’s marriage.

Li Juan, already once divorced, didn’t want a grand celebration. She wanted to schedule a small gathering after the national holiday. No need for a dowry; all she wanted was for Zhou Tiezhu to lead a stable life.

Gu Xiaobei felt there had been a streak of good news recently, especially considering the otherwise uneventful business year.

As Qin Li had to care for Jin Cheng, Gu Xiaobei could only drop off the children at the small courtyard before heading off to busy herself with the Mid-Autumn Festival activities. Before leaving, she gave detailed instructions to the children: "Mo Wang, if grandma treats you poorly, you can tell me directly. No need to endure alongside Xiaopang. If she gives you something to eat, you shouldn’t. If she doesn’t, don’t approach her as well. Keep an eye on your sister."

Mo Wang seemed very earnest as he nodded his head, "Mom, I will remember."

Gu Xiaobei also gently touched Xiaopang’s chubby little cheeks, saying, "You shouldn’t be greedy either. Don’t snatch food from Doudou and Tiantian."

With his chest puffed out, and twinkling eyes, Xiaopang responded seriously, "Mom, I won’t be greedy. Relax, I am a big kid now."

Thus resumed Gu Xiaobei’s routine of dropping the children off at the small courtyard early in the morning and picking them up in the evening.

She was busy until the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

With the national holiday approaching, Gu Xiaobei thought it convenient to grant a long holiday for everyone. They could all resume their duties after the holiday was over.

Lu Zhanguo picked up Gu Xiaobei early from work, preventing her from joining the others in drinks to celebrate the upcoming festival.

Gu Xiaobei sighed while speaking to Lu Zhanguo after seeing him arrive early, "After the holiday, you have to help me find two more people. Once the holiday passes, Zhou Tiezhu will no longer be available, and Xiao Hong is ready to have a child too. We have to plan."

Lu Zhanguo nodded, "Okay, we can hire two more veterans."

Noticing the unusual availability of Lu Zhanguo, Gu Xiaobei asked, "Why are you here so early today?"

"Aren’t you all having dinner together this year?" Lu Zhanguo asked Wang Wei, who was locking the door.

Gu Xiaobei responded with a laugh, "Not this year, Chen Zhao and Xiao Hong are accompanying Xiao’s mother, and Wang Wei has to go pick up Xiuxiu from work."

Wang Wei couldn’t help but chuckle. Somehow, Gu Xiaobei had come to know about him and Xiuxiu.

Gu Xiaobei joyously added, "In the future, our shop will staff married couples. Wang Wei, you should not forget about the matchmaker’s red envelope."

Laughing and nodding, Wang Wei replied, "Sister-in-law, don’t worry. I won’t forget."

Gu Xiaobei returned home happily with Lu Zhanguo. It indeed seemed as if her shop was blessed by the marriage god.

Early on Mid-Autumn day, Gu Xiaobei entered the small courtyard with Xiaopang and Mo Wang only to be taken aback.

Under the grape trellis, Wen Xiuqing was holding Yueyue and crying, while Fang Jing was standing on the side with tearful eyes.

Lu Songyuan was also visibly moved. Although he had seen his daughter and granddaughter during the Lunar New Year, he had been yearning to see them again. To his surprise, Fang Jing came along with Yueyue out of the blue.

"Sister-in-law." Fang Jing looked at Gu Xiaobei as she entered the yard, her red eyes twinkled despite her tears.

Gu Xiaobei expressed her surprise, "How come you arrived so suddenly? You could’ve called us. We could have picked you up."

"No need, we didn’t bring many things. We rode a tricycle here after getting off the train," responded Fang Jing as she bent down to pet Xiaopang’s head. When her hand reached for Mo Wang, to her surprise, he didn’t show any signs of discomfort or annoyance.

"Xiaopang and Mo Wang have both grown taller."

All the while, Yueyue consoled Wen Xiuqing, "Grandma, don’t cry. Didn’t mom and I come to see you? Mom said that we would come again for the Spring Festival."

Wiping her tears, Wen Xiuqing replied, "You two could’ve at least informed us. What would you have done if something happened during the journey?" Wen Xiuqing’s complaints were packed with concern.

Yueyue turned to greet Gu Xiaobei with a smile on her face, "Hello, Auntie Gu. Hello, Xiaopang and Mo Wang."

Xiaopang had already ran over to Yueyue, and was hugging her while beaming, "Hello, Sister Yueyue."

Lu Songyuan tried to console Wen Xiuqing, "Stop crying, the arrival of the children is a good thing. Go and cook a good meal."

"Oh, you are right, I forgot all about cooking. Fang Jing, I will cook Zhajiang noodles. I know you love them," Wen Xiuqing immediately set off towards the kitchen.

Fang Jing was tearful once again.

Bai Xiaolan, carrying Tiantian, was standing on the side. Seeing Fang Jing’s tears gathering in her eyes, she approached her, "Let’s go inside and talk, Xiaobei, please join us."

Seeing Xiaopang and Mo Wang comfortably playing with Yueyue at a close distance, Gu Xiaobei was taken aback but eventually followed Bai Xiaolan and Fang Jing indoors.

Entering the house, Bai Xiaolan looked at Fang Jing and asked, "Did something happen in the capital city? Why else would you come without informing us?"

Fang Jing could no longer hold back her tears and broke down crying while shaking her head, "Nothing happened, nothing at all. Yueyue merely wanted to visit her grandmother, so we decided to make the trip."

Bai Xiaolan didn’t believe it, "Fang Jing, just the truth. We are not strangers. We are not just in-laws anymore, we are sisters."

Now it hit Gu Xiaobei. She couldn’t help but reach out and touch Fang Jing’s right hand, who gasped in apparent pain.

Gu Xiaobei hurriedly rolled up Fang Jing’s sleeve and asked anxiously, "Fang Jing, what happened? Where does it hurt? Show me." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Unable to hold back, Fang Jing began to sob loudly, burying herself into Gu Xiaobei’s arms.

Gently helping her sit on the edge of the bed, Gu Xiaobei comforted her by patting her back, "Fang Jing, don’t be angry. If there’s any grievance, let it all out in tears. It will make your heart feel lighter."

She sobbed violently as she groaned, seemingly full of grievances.

Hearing the crying, Wen Xiuqing and Lu Songyuan rushed over, with Wen Xiuqing still holding her rolling pin.

"What happened? What is happening? Fang Jing, stop crying and tell us. Don’t make us, your elders, worried," Wen Xiuqing anxiously said.

Yueyue followed them inside. Seeing her mother crying, she went outside, and brought a wet towel, "Mom, don’t cry. Didn’t you say we would never cry again?"

Wen Xiuqing, seeing even Yueyue crying, was on the brink of breaking into tears, "What happened? Something must have gone wrong. Don’t frighten us."

Fang Jing wiped her face with the damp cloth before chokingly beginning to recount her story.

She had been living with her parents after her divorce with Lu Aiguo. She also has two brothers who lived in the city after separating from the family.

It didn’t bother anyone in the beginning, but as time passed, her sisters-in-law started complaining. They thought Fang Jing and Yueyue, living at their paternal home, were benefiting at their expense. Fang Jing’s father still paid for their living expenses. To put it bluntly, after their father’s death, it would all belong to her two brothers. Whether Fang Jing had taken money from their shared resources, they were never quite sure.

Upon discussion, one of the sisters-in-law decided to move back in.

Following the divorce with Lu Aiguo, his allocated house was repossessed after his sabbatical. Fang Jing had been considering the idea of moving out, but the timing was inconvenient as there would be no one to pick up and drop Yueyue from school.

In the small two-bedroom apartment, Fang Jing and Yueyue had to sleep on a makeshift bedding in the living room.

She thought that if they could persevere a little longer, until Yueyue was old enough to take care of herself, they could move out.