Back To The 80s-Chapter 613 - 606: The End_1

Gu Xiaobei saw Zhao Hongmei greeting her and gave a subtle smile.

Tian Yuanyuan curiously asked Zhao Hongmei, "Is your husband, the Commissar, off studying?"

Zhao Hongmei shook her head: "No, he’s gone for some kind of training. Just for three months."

Tian Yuanyuan nodded, "I guess that makes sense, he’ll probably be transferred after that."

Zhao Hongmei looked surprised, "Ah? Transferred? To where? I’d really miss you guys."

Gu Xiaobei thought to herself, regarding this Zhao Hongmei, other than being overprotective of her children and loving to chat idly, she didn’t seem to mean any harm. Rather than living with some petty and harsh person, it would be better to be neighbors with Zhao Hongmei.

As Xiaopang predicted earlier that afternoon, Lu Zhanguo came home early, carrying a wooden cage.

Xiaopang ran over excitedly, "Dad, dad, what did you bring back?"

"A hedgehog! Mom, it’s a hedgehog!" Xiaopang peered into the wooden cage and yelled out in joy.

Gu Xiaobei frowned, this little hedgehog didn’t look as cute as the ones in the storybooks and it had a very strong smell.

Lu Zhanguo placed the wooden cage on the balcony and let the kids watch it there.

Xiaopang even ran to fetch a cabbage leaf, ready to feed the hedgehog.

Gu Xiaobei asked Lu Zhanguo, "Yuanyuan mentioned that you guys are being transferred, is that true?"

Lu Zhanguo nodded, "Yes, after the New Year, Old Zeng, Liu Hongbing, and I will be transferred to Capital City."

Gu Xiaobei felt uncomfortable, "What about Wu Guanghan and the others?"

"Wu Guanghan will stay in the provincial city and has been promoted to the squadron leader." Seeing Gu Xiaobei’s sadness, Lu Zhanguo sat beside her, "It’s okay, if you miss them, we can always come back to visit."

Gu Xiaobei sighed, it’s easier said than done. In reality, it could take years to meet again. Between the kids’ schooling, personal careers, and family responsibilities, it wouldn’t be easy to just up and leave.

Lu Zhanguo held her hand, "In March, I’ll go first. Once our housing is arranged, I’ll come back for you. You should also think about how to manage your affairs here."

Gu Xiaobei felt upset and blurted out somewhat irrationally, "If I didn’t ask, you wouldn’t have told us. Were you planning to tell us only when it’s time to leave?"

With their kids distracted by the hedgehog, Lu Zhanguo stroked Gu Xiaobei’s face, "I was waiting to see the transfer notice with the official seal before telling you. Who knows if anything may change in the interim."

Feeling melancholic, Gu Xiaobei got up to cook dinner. As for her business, she wasn’t worried, she could hand it over to Qin Li, who could just give her a fraction of the profit each year. As for the rest, she didn’t need it.

In the blink of an eye, the twelfth lunar month arrived. Gu Xiaobei planned to make as much money as possible during her last year in the provincial city.

Every day she would bundle herself up like a teddy bear, discussing with Qin Li how to sell this year’s New Year’s goods in their shop, teaching Qin Li how to analyze the market, how to estimate market saturation, and how to avoid market bottleneck periods. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Qin Li said forlornly, "Sister Xiaobei, when you guys move to Capital City, it’ll be hard for us to meet."

Gu Xiaobei consoled Qin Li, "Don’t talk nonsense, once you’ve made some money, take a plane to Capital City to visit us. Do that every year!"

Qin Li kept quiet. She felt sad as she wanted to save enough money to take Jin Cheng abroad. With this relocation, she probably wouldn’t see Gu Xiaobei for quite a number of years.

Gu Xiaobei pulled Qin Li closer and smiled, "Cheer up, life is like this. We keep running into people and then parting ways. As long as we keep in touch, even if there’s great distance between us, it won’t stop us from seeing each other."

Even Gu Xiaobei herself didn’t believe what she said. Communications and transportation were not yet well-developed, it wasn’t easy to stay in contact. Even in the 21st century, after graduating from university she rarely met her classmates, most contact being maintained within social media circles.

The more they talked, the sadder they became, so they decided to go to a ramen restaurant to drink away their sorrows.

Luckily, Gu Xiaobei retained a shred of clear-headedness. They each had a large bowl of ramen and a bottle of beer, eating, drinking, and continuing their conversation.

They were the kind of people who would flush easily after a little alcohol. After drinking half a bottle of beer, their faces looked as pretty as peach blossoms.

Gu Xiaobei took a sip of the ice-cold beer and then a mouthful of the piping hot ramen soup, marveling at the unique combination.

"Let’s eat here." A familiar male voice rang out, causing Gu Xiaobei to glance towards the entrance.

She saw Jiang Jiahua and Liu Mei coming in through the cotton curtain.

Upon seeing Gu Xiaobei, Jiang Jiahua and Liu Mei stopped in their tracks, with Liu Mei looking a little uncomfortable.

Gu Xiaobei was also surprised but quickly regained her composure, "Editor Jiang, Sister Liu Mei, come join us."

Jiang Jiahua smiled and nodded, then turned and asked Liu Mei what she thought.

Smiling, Liu Mei came over and Gu Xiaobei quickly moved closer to Qin Li, allowing the pair to sit opposite them.

After sitting down, Jiang Jiahua asked, "So you two know each other?"

Before Liu Mei could answer, Gu Xiaobei said, "Yes, we both used to live in T City." No matter the reason, Gu Xiaobei didn’t want to hear Liu Mei say, "I used to be Xiaobei’s sister-in-law". Because that sentence was filled with bitterness and self-mockery.

After hearing Gu Xiaobei’s words, Liu Mei gratefully smiled at her.

Jiang Jiahua laughed, "What a coincidence. I was just saying how Liu Mei doesn’t have any friends in the provincial city."

Gu Xiaobei smiled, "How can that be? It’s just that Liu Mei doesn’t like going out. Since we’ve bumped into each other today, let’s drink together."

As she spoke, she ordered two more beers for Jiang Jiahua and Liu Mei.

Watching Gu Xiaobei’s flushed face, Jiang Jiahua cautioned, "Don’t drink too much."

Shaking her head, Gu Xiaobei poured a drink for Liu Mei, "It’s a rare occasion, a little drink won’t hurt." She knew that there was something going on between Jiang Jiahua and Liu Mei, something good. Liu Mei needed a good man in her life. The most troublesome part, however, would be dealing with Jiang’s mother and sister (Jiang Jiayan), but Gu Xiaobei believed that Liu Mei could handle these two women, just like she handled Chen Qiumei in the past.

Seeing Jiang Jiahua’s thoughtful actions – sterilizing the bowls and chopsticks with boiling water and pouring only half a glass of beer for Liu Mei – Gu Xiaobei felt happy for Liu Mei.

They all ate together and when they finished, Jiang Jiahua had to head back to work. Liu Mei decided to stay back and chat with Gu Xiaobei.

After Jiang Jiahua left, Liu Mei sincerely said, "Xiaobei, thank you!"

Looking embarrassed, Gu Xiaobei said, "What did you thank me for Sister Liu Mei? I didn’t do anything."

Liu Mei took a sip of beer, a blush spreading across her face as she quietly said, "You’re the third person to show me kindness since I was released from prison. The other day, when you told me to quit smoking because it’s bad for my health, I really quit. I was under the impression that no one could look at me without judgment anymore. Thank you! You’ve made me realize that I don’t need to live my life worrying about those who mock me. For those who care about me, I should strive to stand tall against all adversities and show them that I can live well!"

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