Back To The 80s-Chapter 69 - 68: Visiting_1

Ling Yun has looked particularly unwell lately. Concerned, Gu Xiaobei couldn’t help but ask, "Ling Jie, your complexion hasn’t been great recently. Has anything happened?"

Ling Yun gave a weak smile, "It’s nothing."

Gu Xiaobei didn’t say any more, and concentrated on the documents in his hand.

After Jin Cheng finished lunch, he disappeared. When Gu Xiaobei saw Ling Yun in the afternoon, she was emerging from Gao Dailin’s office after receiving a phone call, looking worse than ever.

Bowing his head, Gu Xiaobei suddenly didn’t want to resign. Perhaps, by staying, he could uncover some secrets.

When he got home and pushed open the door, the first thing he heard was a burst of girlish laughter. Looking up, Xiaobei recognized the laughing girl as the one he had seen yesterday wearing the red dress with large waves, named Yuan Tan. She was sitting next to Shen Heng. Yuan Tan, today, was also dressed in a red sleeveless knee-length dress. More importantly, she was still wearing a deep-V neckline. Looking at her closely, she was clearly a striking beauty. With big, charming, lively eyes, and red, strikingly sexy lips. Her outfit, in all of T City, was undeniably unique.

On hearing the door open, Yuan Tan, who was sitting on the sofa, dramatically stood up and said, "Oh, this must be my sister-in-law. You’re so petite and lovely."

She then walked over warmly and linked arms with Gu Xiaobei. Seeing how much taller Yuan Tan was, Gu Xiaobei was ready to burst into tears. Yuan Tan continued in her sweet voice, "Sister-in-law, my name is Yuan Tan, you can call me Tantan. I grew up with Brother Zhanguo."

If Gu Xiaobei couldn’t see through this girl’s intentions now, then all the time he spent in the 21st century reading various palace and home dispute novels and watching TV dramas would have been in vain.

Gu Xiaobei immediately forced a smile and said, "You’re so beautiful, you look like someone straight out of a movie."

Looking at Gu Xiaobei, who was petite, with a slightly pale face and large eyes, yet not particularly beautiful, Yuan Tan wondered how such a woman could be a match for Lu Zhanguo. When Gu Xiaobei started to speak, she came across as innocent and naïve.

While Shen Heng and Lu Zhanguo sat motionless on the sofa, they watched the two women exchanging words at the entrance. Shen Heng raised an eyebrow at Gu Xiaobei, who was playing the harmless pig only to eat the tigers.

Gu Xiaobei then said with a smile, "You guys go ahead and sit down, I’ll go and prepare dinner." She then turned and said unusually softly to Lu Zhanguo, "Zhanguo, I didn’t know we were having guests, and thus didn’t buy any groceries. Should I go and buy some now?"

Lu Zhanguo was almost choked by his own saliva, for when had she been so courteous? "No, I bought some in the afternoon."

Nodding her head, Gu Xiaobei proceeded cautiously, "Alright then, I’ll go and cook."

Yuan Tan laughed from the side and said, "Look, Brother Zhanguo, you are so stern all day, even your wife is scared of you."

Shen Heng laughed beside him, Lu Zhanguo looked over at Gu Xiaobei, who was pretending to be a bullied little wife. Deep down he laughed too, being fearful of him was the last thing this girl, who was always aggressive, would be.

He said nothing, just quietly nodded. Gu Xiaobei then headed to the kitchen, playing the role of an obedient and bullied character to a tee.

Yuan Tan looked very pleased. How could such a couple be close? Looking at the simple and down-to-earth Gu Xiaobei, she thought, this woman is no match for the prestigious Lu family.

Inside the kitchen, Gu Xiaobei wore a serious look on her face. Seeing the contempt in Yuan Tan’s eyes, and her blatant admiration for Lu Zhanguo, Xiaobei pondered over all these annoying admirers that Lu Zhanguo had collected.

Gu Xiaobei was never a good-natured person. She could not tolerate other people coveting her man. While thinking about this, she started cooking. Lu Zhanguo didn’t buy many ingredients, just some fish, a little over a pound of meat, and some celery and chili.

It was hot outside, and the kitchen didn’t have an exhaust fan or a range hood. As a result, when she cooked, smoke wafted around, creating a stifling heat.

Nevertheless, Gu Xiaobei insisted on cooking several hot dishes and preparing two cold dishes with the windows open. By the time the meal was ready, her entire back was damp with sweat.

When preparing to serve the dishes, Lu Zhanguo entered the kitchen and saw that Gu Xiaobei’s hair was damp with sweat and sticking down her face, which was glowing from the heat.

"Next time we have guests, let’s go out for a meal," Lu Zhanguo looked somewhat regretful, "Go wash up. I’ll serve the food."

Laughing at Lu Zhanguo’s awkward remark, Gu Xiaobei said, "Sure, I’ll go clean up and change my clothes."

When Yuan Tan saw how Gu Xiaobei was smoked by the kitchen fumes, she couldn’t help but show a look of disdain.

After a quick wash and change of clothes, Gu Xiaobei returned to find the dishes already served. Shen Heng stood up politely and said, "I’m sorry for putting you through the trouble of cooking in this heat."

"No trouble at all. I just made a few simple dishes."

Braised fish, twice-cooked pork, scrambled eggs with chili peppers, stir-fried baby bok choy, cucumber salad, and sweet mixed persimmons. Reds and greens spread across the table, the colors were appetizing.

The four sat down, and Yuan Tan proposed that everyone have a glass of foreign liquor that she brought from abroad.

Drinking red wine with cucumber salad. How very cultured, thought Gu Xiaobei sarcastically.

Given that the house was rented, it didn’t have a lot of things, including wine glasses. As she watched Yuan Tan pouring red wine into a large enamel basin, Gu Xiaobei’s eye twitched.

Yuan Tan wanted to pour some for Gu Xiaobei, but Xiaobei laughed and shook her head, "I really can’t handle this foreign stuff. It looks like a basin of soy sauce."

This made Shen Heng chuckle, "When you put it like that, it does kind of resemble it."

Yuan Tan was a little embarrassed about losing face, but managed to laugh while secretly scolding Gu Xiaobei for being a hick. "Sister-in-law, try it. Foreign women love this and say it’s good for their skin."

In her heart, Gu Xiaobei laughed: If I drink it, you’d lose all your shine. "Well, just give me a little then."

Trying hard to get everyone to take a sip, Yuan Tan insisted that they try this famous red wine from F country.

Lu Zhanguo took a sip and felt it lacked the punch of T city’s liquor made from millet. Meanwhile, Shen Heng, who had seen a lot from being overseas for many years, took a sip and nodded, "It’s quite good."

Gu Xiaobei took a big gulp, then commented, "Why does this wine have a musty taste? I have often heard people say that foreigners are quite wild and like to eat raw food. Tantan, is that true?" She then looked at Yuan Tan with a horrified expression.

Looking at Gu Xiaobei who clearly did not have much exposure to the outside world, Yuan Tan, overjoyed, said, "That’s not true. F country is quite romantic, and the men are very polite and gentlemanly. Moreover, their dressing style is quite western, unlike our country."

Gu Xiaobei secretly rolled her eyes. Seeing this boot-licking behavior, if Lu Zhanguo liked it, that would be a miracle, she pretended to be envious and said, "Really? I really want to go and see it too."

Lu Zhanguo, looking unhappy, said, "What’s so good about it? It’s not as good as our country."

Yuan Tan was secretly upset. She knew that Lu Zhanguo had a deep-rooted love for his country and realized she unknowingly made him resent her.

Gu Xiaobei pouted and said, "Oh", while watching Yuan Tan’s disappointed look, she was overjoyed inside.

Shen Heng, knowing full well that Yuan Tan couldn’t get any advantage over Gu Xiaobei, decided to help smooth things over, given that they had grown up together. He commented, "Tantan, you need to try sister-in-law’s cooking. It’s really good."