179 Three Joys at the Door

The entire backyard of No. 3 was filled with the laughter of Guan Yuehe and Lin Yiku, as well as the cheers of Chen Lizhong and Lin Sitian.

Hearing the noise from afar, Gu Yu took off running and quickly joined the shouting crowd. Lin Ting was also drawn out...

Guan Yuehua clicked her tongue; that couple really knew how to cause trouble. Turning her head, Gu Mannian urged her to hurry up, "Let's go cheer for Yuehe too."

"She's not short of fuel." With a little more fuel, she'll be soaring into the sky.

Gu Mannian could not possibly be unaware of her hypocrisy, and simply kept pushing her along.

Not only did the two of them return, but Guan Jianguo and Lin Yufeng's family of five also arrived before dinner began.

Guan Yuehe is about to go abroad for three months. Jiang Guiying and Aunt Fang discussed it and decided that the two families would have dinner together tonight, as if it were an early Spring Festival reunion.

"Everyone's here today, and there's so much to celebrate. Dad, would you like a drink?"

"Hey! You want to drink but you're using me as an excuse." Guan Canghai glanced at his wife, and seeing that there was no objection, he quickly gave Guan Yuehe a look: Go get the wine.

Guan Yuehe was prepared. She took a bottle of wine from beside her and said before opening it, "I have to get up early tomorrow, so I can only have a small drink."

He then added meaningfully, "Some older comrades also need to be careful. If they drink too much and start crying, my Lin will laugh at them."

Guan Canghai was furious. "Who's the one who can't hold their liquor and is crying like that? Nonsense!"

The others covered their mouths and chuckled.

Guan Aiguo whispered to Wan Xiujuan, "See? Even Dad can't control Second Sister, and he keeps revealing her secrets."

It means: I'm not the only one who's afraid of my second sister; even Dad can't do anything about her.

Wan Xiujuan smiled, but secretly pinched his waist with her hand hidden under the table.

She has been living in the house for two months and has talked to her second sister quite a bit. She used to think her second sister was hard to talk to, but after spending more time with her, she found that she is quite easy to get along with.

Compared to my eldest and second eldest sisters who seem difficult to talk to, my sister-in-law who lives far away is much harder to get along with. I have to think carefully before I say anything, for fear of saying the wrong thing.

—

Guan Yuehe poured herself only a small half-cup of wine and got up to pour wine for the others.

"Does our Director Guan want to say a few words?" Guan Canghai felt something was off; this girl was being a little too attentive today.

“The opportunity to speak should be given to Commander Lin.” Guan Yuehe turned her head to look at Lin Yiku, waiting for him to speak.

Commander Lin isn't good at showing off, but that's alright. With her around, she's bound to deliver some good news and give everyone a surprise.

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone turned to look at Lin Yiku, only to realize that he hadn't changed out of his military uniform the moment he returned today.

Just then, Lin Ting was trying to pull off the medal on his chest, but Guan Yuehe stuffed a small piece of steamed bun into his mouth before she stopped.

Lin Sitian was the first to react, her voice unconsciously rising, "Brother, you dropped the word 'deputy'?"

Amidst the expectant gazes of the crowd, Lin Yi nodded with a wry smile.

"Ouch!"

No wonder Yuehe said there were many happy events today.

"I should have ordered a roast duck from Lao Ming in advance. It's such a joyous occasion, we should have added an extra dish."

"There's enough food."

"Brother, congratulations!"

"Congratulations."

Everyone at the table offered their congratulations to Lin Yiku. Even Gu Yu, holding a soda bottle, leaned over to clink glasses and, like a little adult, earnestly said, "Congratulations, Uncle!"

Lin Yiku thanked him profusely, while also holding the hand that was resting on his knee tightly. Lin Ting kicked him, and the two released their hands in tacit agreement, while Lin Yiku also pinched Lin Ting's chubby little foot.

"Isn't today a double celebration?"

Guan Yuehe looked at Guan Yuehua directly opposite her and said, "Maybe there's also Sanxi."

Seeing that Guan Yuehua did not speak, Guan Yuehe urged Gu Manyian, "Brother-in-law, you are now the spokesperson for your family."

"Me! I'll talk!" Gu Yu shouted, raising her hand urgently. "My mom's going to act like a real justice judge... Ugh!"

Gu Mannian was a step too late and failed to stop the small strainer in time.

The room fell silent for a moment, and everyone politely held back their laughter.

Guan Yuehe didn't utter a sound of laughter, but still received a glare from Guan Yuehua: It's all because of the lousy nickname you gave her!

"Cough cough!" Gu Manyian cleared his throat and hissed in pain, clearly having been pinched, but quickly composed himself and announced the third piece of good news for the day.

"Yuehua's job assignment has been finalized. She will report to the Supreme People's Court after receiving her graduation certificate."

Another burst of delighted exclamations came from inside the room.

Guan Yuehua's graduation speed is already considered exceptionally fast. She completed her undergraduate studies in three years, followed by two years of graduate studies, graduating two years ahead of schedule.

She didn't reveal any information, and both Guan Canghai and Jiang Guiying thought she wouldn't graduate until next year.

Well, both sisters are the type to work quietly and only inform their families of the outcome once it's decided.

In fact, apart from Guan Yuehua and Gu Mannian, no one else really knew what the Supreme People's Court was.

Even though Guan Yuehua studied law, all they knew was that it was related to law. To be honest, ordinary people like them didn't know much about the law. They just knew that if they committed a crime, the police would arrest them. They only cared whether they would end up being shot or imprisoned in a labor camp.

Now I hear about the Supreme Court...

Although I don't know what kind of unit it is, the fact that it contains the word "highest" means it can't be a bad unit.

After Gu Mannian relayed Guan Yuehua's explanation to him word for word, Jiang Guiying slapped her thigh and thought to herself: This is indeed something a just and upright official would do!

"Oh, I'm so happy today, I'll have another drink." Guan Canghai poured himself another half glass, downed it in one gulp, and his face instantly turned even redder.

This time it was better; he didn't cover his face and cry because he drank too much.

Jiang Guiying, however, started to smile, but tears welled up in her eyes.

"I'm fine, I'm just happy."

The eldest daughter never missed a day of studying in the ten years before the college entrance examination was reinstated, and the younger daughter has been studying every day for more than ten years since she started attending the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University.

The good news they are receiving now is what they deserve.

Holding the cup quietly, she glanced at her eldest aunt and then at her youngest aunt, as if she had regained her strength.

The meal lasted until very late. Lin Sitian and Chen Lizhong planned to stay at home for the night and return to work the next morning.

After taking a shower, Lin Yiku walked back and forth between the living room, kitchen, and bedroom several times, making it hard for anyone not to notice him.

Lin Sitian knew perfectly well that her brother was silently reminding her to leave, but she hadn't finished whispering with Yuehe yet, so she pretended not to see it and continued to whisper secrets to Yuehe, shoulder to shoulder.

Chen Lizhong, on the other hand, was much more sensible. Seeing that Lin Sitian was busy whispering with her best friend, he knew there was no room for him to interrupt. If he stayed, his brother-in-law would stare at him so intently that his scalp would tingle. So he simply stayed at home and chatted with his father-in-law and mother-in-law.

After Lin Yiku coaxed Lin Ting to sleep and checked Guan Yuehe's luggage for her business trip, Lin Sitian finally finished speaking and made room for her brother.

Before leaving, he reminded those inside, "Commander Lin, I'm going home now. Don't worry, I won't let you sleep in the storage room tonight."

Lin Yiku was so angry that she gritted her teeth, but she still put on her coat, escorted her to her doorstep, and only turned around and went home after she went inside.

Today, before the power was cut off, the lights in Guan Yuehe's house went out ahead of schedule.

The next morning.

Guan Yuehe was afraid of being late, so she got up early and found that the pillow next to her was empty. Lin Ting had already slept in the corner at the end of the kang, curled up in a ball with her small pillow.

Guan Yuehe and Lin Yiku sat side by side, each eating the noodles in their bowls.

I've already said what I needed to say several times beforehand, so saying it again would be redundant.

Before they left, Aunt Fang came over and carried the still unconscious Lin Ting to courtyard number three.

Looking at Guan Yuehe with her large and small bags, Aunt Fang couldn't think of anything else to say for a moment, so she just straightened her scarf.

She's used to her child going on long trips, and saying too much only makes the child worry.

—

Guan Yuehe and Lin Yiku went out together and happened to run into Ding Xianzong and his family of four coming out of the No. 3 courtyard.

They came with lots of bags, but returned with much less luggage.

Guan Yuehe nodded to them as a greeting, and when they arrived at Changhu Street, Ding Xianzong's family of four went to wait for the bus, Lin Yiku was going back to the army, and she was heading to her workplace.

"I'm leaving."

"Okay. Take good care of yourself while you're away."

"Hehe, I have experience with this. Anyway, I won't treat myself badly." Guan Yuehe waved to him, started her motorcycle, and drove away with a clang.

Lin Yi stood there for a while, until she could no longer see the bike, before starting her bike and heading off to work.

—

"Director Guan, the car is waiting downstairs. We should get going."

"Okay, I'm coming." Guan Yuehe put the documents in her hand into her briefcase and locked the office door behind her when she left.

The sign in her office said she was on a business trip.

Not long after Guan Yuehe got into the car, the others arrived one after another. Sitting next to her was her colleague from upstairs who was fluent in French, and sitting in front of her was an old acquaintance.

"Teacher Zhang."

When the list of the inspection team was released, Guan Yuehe saw Zhang Xinbi's name first, not her own, as the first name she saw. Zhang Xinbi was a technical expert specially hired by the inspection team.

Zhang Xinbi wasn't surprised at all to see her. She smiled and said, "Now I can work with Comrade Xiao Guan again."

From the document translation team at Five Star Automobile Factory, to the Canton Fair, to automotive joint venture projects, and now to overseas inspection work.

When Guo Xusheng learned that Comrade Xiao Guan was also on the inspection team's list, he remarked with admiration, "Comrade Xiao Guan has truly made progress every single moment over the past ten years!"

Guan Yuehe wanted to say a few more words, but everyone had arrived, and the driver reminded everyone to sit down, as they were heading to the airport.

Guan Yuehe suppressed her excitement.

I'm really looking forward to it.

—

Ding Xuewen looked up and thought to himself that Yuehe should have already set off by now.

He glanced down at his watch again, then, without further delay, looked at himself in the mirror by the door several times before leaving.

"Comrade Ding didn't go to work today?"

"I've taken leave; I can't register my marriage on my day off."

Ding Xuewen finished speaking and left. The neighbor was stunned for a few seconds before realizing: Oh! Comrade Ding is going to get married and register his marriage today?!

Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait! I was a bit stuck while writing this chapter, but I'll try to update twice a day tomorrow.