Back To The 80s-Chapter 86 - 85: Sisters_1

Gu Xiaobei’s heart clenched. Did that mean that Lu Zhanguo once faced mortality? Gazing at Lu Zhanguo with a pang of distress.

Lu Zhanguo affectionately patted her head, saying, "It’s all in the past."

Gu Xiaobei held his hand firmly and remained silent.

When they arrived at Qin Mei’s ward, Qin Li and a gentle-looking middle-aged woman in her forties were inside.

Then, Gu Xiaobei realized-- Qin Mei was Qin Li’s sister. Qin Li resembled their mother, but she looked more youthful and naive. She didn’t carry the gentle and calm demeanor of her mother. Qin Mei, on the other hand, took after their father and appeared more heroic.

As Qin Li was chatting with Qin Mei, the sound of the door made her look up. Seeing Gu Xiaobei and Lu Zhanguo, she jumped up in excitement, "Sister Xiaobei? My gosh, you know my sister? Mom, this is Sister Xiaobei I’ve told you about. She’s wonderful."

Qin Li spoke incoherently due to her excitement. Qin’s mother, Zhang Yufen, stood up with a warm smile.

From her bed, Qin Mei greeted them, "Squad leader, Sister-in-law, you’ve arrived." Turning to Zhang Yufen, she introduced, "Mom, this is our squad leader and his wife."

Zhang Yufen nodded at them with a smile, "Please, have a seat. It’s quite warm outside, isn’t it?"

Gu Xiaobei courteously addressed her as ’auntie’, while Qin Li, who was already cheerful, rushed over and took her arm, "I was just telling mom I have a good friend nearby. I was thinking how to find you when I realized you knew my sister." She held Gu Xiaobei’s arm, chattering away.

Lu Zhanguo politely nodded at Zhang Yufen and sat on a chair.

Qin Mei sighed, "Squad leader, I’m really out of luck this time."

Lu Zhanguo comforted in a soft voice, "It’s just a change of work environment. Adjust your mentality and you’ll find new challenges in the new job."

Zhang Yufen chimed in, "I think taking a new path is a good thing. Girls aren’t supposed to roll around in the mud like men every day. Nobody would dare marry."

Qin Mei felt a bit awkward- her mother had a knack for putting a marriage spin on any conversation.

Meanwhile, Qin Li was still excitedly talking to Gu Xiaobei when she suddenly noticed the nearly healed scratches on Gu Xiaobei’s face and exclaimed, "Yikes, Sister Xiaobei, what happened to your face?"

Her loud exclamation drew the attention of Qin Mei and Zhang Yufen, who were chatting. Gu Xiaobei felt embarrassed to say that she had been in a fight in front of them.

Qin Mei tactfully intervened by telling Qin Li, "Lily, go wash a few apples."

Qin Li laughed heartily and obediently grabbed a few apples from the bedside cabinet and went to wash.

Gu Xiaobei took a sigh of relief and handed a cloth bag to Qin Mei, "I made some sesame crisp cakes for you at home. You can snack on them when you’re free."

Qin Mei didn’t stand on ceremony and opened the bag to reveal stacks of golden, enticing thin cakes. She took one and gave another to Zhang Yufen. After taking a bite, she praised energetically, "Sister-in-law, these are delicious! So wonderfully flaky and aromatic."

Zhang Yufen also tasted one and indeed found it delicious. She complimented Gu Xiaobei, "You’re so much more mature and sensible than Li. Li is so restless every day. I wonder when she’ll grow up."

Lu Zhanguo looked at his wife approvingly. He’d had these crisp cakes last night and was amazed. He hadn’t realized she was such a good cook.

"What are you gossiping about?" Qin Li returned with a few wet apples.

Zhang Yufen barely held back her annoyance, "Can’t you use a bowl to carry those apples? Look at the mess you’re making."

Sticking out her tongue, Qin Li laughed. "Forgot about that. Here’s an apple for each of you. Hold it and eat directly." She handed an apple each to Gu Xiaobei and Lu Zhanguo. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

She gave the remaining apples to Zhang Yufen and pulled Gu Xiaobei’s arm, "Sister Xiaobei, come with me. I need to talk to you."

Without guessing, Gu Xiaobei knew it had something to do with Jin Cheng.

In the corridor, glancing around to confirm no one was within earshot, Qin Li pouted, "Jin Cheng brought home a girlfriend."

"What!" Gu Xiaobei was a bit surprised, "So soon?"

"Apparently, she works at the cultural center." Qin Li said with a pout.

"That’s it. Now that Jin Cheng has a girlfriend, you should give up." Gu Xiaobei didn’t know how to comfort her.

"Sister Xiaobei, I can’t let go. I feel heartbroken whenever I think about him." Qin Li’s eyes reddened.

Gu Xiaobei admired Qin Li’s determination and patience. Despite being heartbroken, she managed to act cheerful every day. Such is the depth of her feelings, but unfortunately, they were for the wrong person.

"Lily, you can’t force matters of the heart. If you can’t let go, you’ll suffer your whole life." Gu Xiaobei said sympathetically.

"No problem, I’m not afraid. No matter how much it hurts, I want to keep liking him." Qin Li sniffed, holding back tears while smiling.

Gu Xiaobei fell silent, realizing that every cell in this girl’s body was probably imprinted with Jin Cheng’s name.

They re-entered the ward and chatted with Qin Mei for a while before saying their goodbyes with Lu Zhanguo.

It was close to Shen Heng’s arrival so they took a leisurely walk to meet him near the post office. Despite being called a town, it was quite small and less developed due to its special location in the northwest.

The town consisted of only one cross-junction road with a few shops around the intersection, a post office, and a fairly large market to the west. The tallest building in town was only two stories high.

As Gu Xiaobei walked along, she kicked the rocks on the road. She seemed rather upset.

"What’s the matter?" Lu Zhanguo didn’t understand. She was fine just a moment ago.

"Jin Cheng has a girlfriend now and it just makes me feel sorry for Qin Li." Gu Xiaobei grumbled.

Lu Zhanguo knew Jin Cheng’s difficulties, but he couldn’t explain them to Gu Xiaobei. He just hoped once this matter was resolved, Jin Cheng could resume a normal life.

After a moment of silence, he told Gu Xiaobei, "Don’t worry too much. Jiadong’s brother definitely isn’t that bad. Maybe they just weren’t meant to be."

Gu Xiaobei looked surprised, "You know Jin Cheng’s older brother?"

"Yes, we get along pretty well," Lu Zhanguo replied, seeing no reason to hide it.

"Did you go to the front lines too?" Gu Xiaobei asked.

"Yes, I was in the second batch sent there," Lu Zhanguo answered.

"Was the severe injury from that time?"

Lu Zhanguo merely grunted in response, avoiding further explanation.

Gu Xiaobei stopped asking. She felt a bit upset; having heard too many heroic sacrifices in the past, she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of regret.

Now, she could only selfishly feel relieved that it wasn’t Lu Zhanguo who had been injured, even though she despised her own thoughts. However, she couldn’t help it. She wasn’t magnanimous enough to think otherwise.

She silently moved forward and held Lu Zhanguo’s hand.

Lu Zhanguo sighed in relief. He was worried about dealing with any further questioning from Gu Xiaobei.