Chapter 44

"Did you really go and sign?" Zheng Dongfang returned home in the evening and was confronted by his wife as soon as he entered the house. Taking the opportunity to turn around and change his slippers, he cleverly avoided his wife's questioning gaze.

"Speak!" The more he didn't give a direct answer, the more anxious Mrs. Zheng became.

Zheng Dongfang stammered, "What are you talking about? I just came back and you didn't even let me drink some water first..." He turned around and walked around his wife into the living room, where he suddenly saw Brother Lao Guan waiting at home.

Guan Ying trotted over, carrying Zheng Dongfang's special teacup and serving him tea: "Uncle Zheng, you are extraordinary!"

Old Brother Guan sat on the sofa with a sullen face, his wife following behind him anxiously. Only Guan Ying had a smile on her face at home. Zheng Dongfang suddenly had a savior: "Guan Guan, when will you be home? Don't pay any attention to that kid Ju Yong anymore. From now on, Uncle Zheng will only have you as his good daughter!"

It was clear that Zheng Dongfang was still thinking about cultivating his daughter. Guan Xiong frowned beside him: "Old Zheng, Old Zheng, you are kidding! Your steel plant can only be named Zheng, not Guan!"

When Mrs. Zheng heard the voice, she knew that the contract had really been signed. She suddenly felt dizzy and almost fell down.

"Aunt? Aunt!" Fortunately, Guan Ying was right beside her and supported Mrs. Zheng in time.

Zheng Dongfang was also startled. He picked up his wife and laid her down on the sofa. "Did you miss your blood pressure medication again?"

Guan Ying also said anxiously: "Ah? Aunt, didn't I tell you when we left? Don't worry about the side effects of antihypertensive drugs. Compared to the damage to the body caused by high blood pressure, they are negligible. You can't take them on and off! Isn't my dad a ready-made example?"

Previously, Guan Ying lived at home and made sure Mrs. Zheng took her blood pressure medication every day. But during the weekends, Guan Ying was temporarily called away by Ju Yong, and Mrs. Zheng stopped taking the medication again.

Mrs. Zheng explained weakly, "I heard that once you start taking blood pressure medication, you can't stop. I think I'm still young...it should be fine."

Guan Xiong was also concerned and heard this: "Ah, you two, how come you don't know how to take care of your own bodies!"

Aunt Lin urgently brought down some blood pressure medication from upstairs and handed it directly to Guan Ying.

Guan Ying glanced at the medicine box and asked, "Didn't I just switch Aunt's dihydrochloride tablets to sartan tablets a few days ago?"

"Oh yes, I forgot." Aunt Lin brought new medicine.

"Aunt, you have to listen to me. You complained about your legs swelling after taking medicine before. That's because you can't tolerate antihypertensive drugs like diazepam, and they are controlled-release tablets. If you break them into pieces and take them, the side effects will be even greater. Alas, you didn't feel comfortable taking the medicine before, but you didn't tell me earlier. It's no use taking medicine on your own! There are many kinds of antihypertensive drugs. I changed them to sartan tablets a few days ago. This type is more suitable for you. You can take them with confidence, but don't stop taking them blindly." Guan Ying broke off half of the sartan tablet and fed it to Aunt Zheng. At the same time, she held up two medicine boxes in front of Aunt Zheng and explained carefully, "Look, the previous box of diazepam is a controlled-release tablet, which must not be broken into pieces before taking; the new box of sartan is a regular tablet, which can be broken into pieces before taking."

Zheng Dongfang watched his wife swallow her blood pressure medication and finally felt relieved. He sighed and said, "This is the benefit of having a daughter. What's the point of raising a son? When has he ever cared about what medicine his mother takes?"

Guan Xiong sighed sympathetically, "Alas, my dear, you should stay here tonight and keep your aunt company. Old Zheng, come out to the yard and let's chat."

Zheng Dongfang was escorted out of the living room by Guan Xiong, while Guan Ying and Aunt Lin busied themselves with tending to Aunt Zheng. After a while, their blood pressure was measured and finally lowered. Aunt Zheng, startled, went to bed before it was completely dark.

Aunt Lin said pitifully, "Please take care of her. The wife has been sleepless for two consecutive nights since you were away. I can't persuade her to take the medicine. If you don't come back, I don't know what to do."

Guan Ying left the bedroom with Aunt Lin, closed the door, and comforted Aunt Lin: "You haven't had a good rest these past two days. Go to bed early tonight. I'm here for you."

"Oh, please take care of it. Don't blame Aunt Lin for complaining tonight. This family has been unable to do without you since the past. Why can't Ju Yong see this... Tell me, when that red-haired Miss Qiao comes to visit in the future, how can I serve her? Can this family still live in peace? Lately, whenever I think of that red... Miss Qiao, I have a headache and can't sleep. I'm afraid I can't do this anymore..." The atmosphere at home affected even Aunt Lin.

But what could Guan Ying do? Her last name wasn't Zheng, and she couldn't just keep coming and going as she pleased when Qiao Qi came in. Sooner or later, everyone would have to stop.

"Aunt Lin, you're overthinking it. The young couple probably won't be living at home anymore. Even if they do, Qiao Qi is a celebrity after all. She has a ton of assistants and nannies to serve her, so she won't need you, Aunt Lin, to order her around. Haha, stop worrying and get some rest."

After comforting Aunt Lin, Guan Ying went downstairs and saw Old Guan walking through the living room to the porch with a stern face. It seemed that he was not having a pleasant conversation with Uncle Zheng.

"Dad, are we leaving now?"

"Let's go! I'm old and useless, and no one will like me if I stay here!"

Guan Ying glanced back at the courtyard. Uncle Zheng was squatting by the small pond, smoking a cigarette. He thought to himself, "These two old men were such good brothers when they were young. Why are they acting so awkwardly and acting like little brothers as they get older?" He trotted out the door to chase after Uncle Guan. "Uncle Guan, Dad, why are you in such a hurry? It's getting dark. I'll take you home."

"Tsk, do you also think that I, your dad, am old and useless?" Guan Xiong sat in the driver's seat with a bang.

Guan Ying had no choice but to knock on the car window.

The car window rolled down, and Guan Xiong scratched his head. "Your Uncle Zheng wants to break up with me! That's perfect, I'm going to retire anyway!"

Guan Ying frowned. "What? What did you two talk about? Didn't you tell Uncle Zheng that you disagreed before because of me? Now that we've signed, how can we break up now?"

Guan Xiong sighed and waved his hand. "Oh, let's not talk about it. There is no feast that lasts forever in this world. It's a matter of time. But let's be clear. What happens between your uncle Zheng and me has nothing to do with you. You have to remember their kindness. The Zheng family is in chaos now. You should take care of your mother and me. Call home if you have any problems."

Despite their quarrels, their affection remained strong. Hearing Lao Guan's words, Guan Ying felt more at ease: "Okay, I understand. Then drive slowly on the way home and let my mom tell me when you get home."

"Well, don't worry about me!" Lao Guan stepped on the accelerator and drove out of the community. He did not release the accelerator even when encountering a downhill road. The car body tilted a little when turning. Guan Ying was worried when she saw it. Even with such a temper, he still told her to drive steadily.

When I returned to the courtyard, there were already four or five cigarette butts in the cracks of the stones by the pond.

"Uncle Zheng, you quit smoking with great difficulty, why did you start smoking again? I've only been away for two days, and you and my aunt are really a worry for me." Guan Ying moved a small stool and stuffed it next to Uncle Zheng's legs, saying some words of disgust, but did not try to snatch the half-smoked cigarette from Uncle Zheng's hand.

Seeing Guan Ying sitting next to him, Zheng Dongfang was afraid of choking her, so he shook the half-smoked cigarette in his hand, trying to clear the smoke in the air, but the more he swept, the more smoke there was. He simply took a deep puff of the half cigarette and pressed it into the edge of the pool.

"Guan Guan, I want to apologize to you about Ju Yong's matter."

"Oh, are you worried about this? Haha, uncle, do you really want me to call you dad? No wonder Old Guan is so angry. Didn't you see how he got in the car just now? He almost drove the car like a rocket." Guan Ying smiled nonchalantly.

Zheng Dongfang smiled relaxedly, picked up the fishing gear by the pond, and scooped up the floating leaves: "Your uncle Zheng doesn't have this blessing anymore."

"Tsk, how interesting! I call Lao Guan not Dad. Lao Zheng, I have to talk to you about this. What's going on? Do I have to marry your son in order to enter your family? Do you mean that I can't come to your house in the future? Now that you have a daughter-in-law, you're going to kick me, an outsider, out?"

Guan Ying had never spoken to Zheng Dongfang like this before. Although she was disrespectful to her biological father, Old Guan, she was always well-behaved and polite to Zheng Dongfang. Sometimes this made Zheng Dongfang feel bad, as he blamed himself for not having a daughter and didn't know how to get close to a little girl. Besides, he couldn't really take Old Guan's place.

Zheng Dongfang turned his head to look at Guan Ying and laughed: "Ha, hi, you clever monkey!"

Guan Ying took the scoop and picked up the broken leaves for Zheng Dongfang and threw them into the trash can. She also cleared out a few cigarette butts from the cracks in the rocks by the pool. "Old Zheng, if you don't chase me away, you have to listen to me. Don't smoke these cigarettes anymore!"

Zheng Dongfang brushed the water droplets off his fingers and said, "I'll just be accompanying the district government leaders today..."

Guan Ying placed the fishing tackle across the pond and said, "Oh, go ahead and smoke it. I don't care!"

"Oh, you...Okay, okay, I won't smoke anymore, I won't smoke anymore." Seeing that Guan Ying still ignored him, Zheng Dongfang had no choice but to take out the deflated cigarette box and dunk it in the pool water. "Look, uncle always keeps his word and never lies to you."

Guan Ying picked up the scoop again and took the soaked cigarette box to the trash can, only then was she satisfied.

Zheng Dongfang touched his empty trouser pockets and sighed, "Ah, Guan Guan, do you also blame your uncle for being so stubborn and making trouble at such an old age?"

Guan Ying: "How could that be? Uncle, didn't I tell you that when you walked in? My uncle either doesn't make a move, or when he does, it's definitely extraordinary. Hey, uncle, you're at the age to strive for success!"

Zheng Dongfang raised his eyebrows, feeling happy about what she said. He also said self-deprecatingly, "Oh, your dad said I'm in a rebellious phase now."

"Hehe..." Guan Ying stuck out her tongue. This is not what Lao Guan said...

"Lao Guan, it's all because of me... Uncle, don't take it to heart. Lao Guan has never thought about breaking up with you..."

Zheng Dongfang turned his chair around, facing Guan Ying, and interrupted seriously, "Guan Guan, it's me who wants to break up with your father. Alas, we are all fathers, how can I not know what your father is thinking? Your father has had a hard life. I, Zheng, can still stay at home with my wife and children, but your father has been running around outside. For Xicheng Steel, he has paid more than me. In his old age, he only cherishes a daughter like you. I see it with my own eyes, how can I not understand? The district government has allocated a total of 300 million yuan in special funds. The first 50% will be received next month. Recruitment Expanding the factory and purchasing equipment requires following the district government's policies for everything. Once the wheels start turning, there's no stopping. It's a daunting task, and I don't want your father to be dragged into this anymore. He deserves a better life. This time, it's my turn to go out and run. I plan to cash out your father's shares while we have enough funds now, and then merge the trading company into the steel plant's sales department. Manager Zhao can probably help me out for another three or two years. Your father said you've always wanted to study abroad, so go as soon as possible while you're still young. If you want to come back later, there'll always be a place for you in the factory. If you don't want to come back, go and live the life you want."

Guan Ying stared at Zheng Dongfang's eyes, which were already filled with red and yellow bloodshot, revealing fatigue and forbearance. He was like an old general who was about to put on armor and go into battle. Before the final charge, he had to be prepared to die if he failed.

"Old Zheng, are you really going to kick me and my dad out?"

"Let's go. Your father is right. The steel mill belongs to the Zheng family. No matter what happens to the steel mill in the future, the Zheng family will be responsible."

"But Juyong doesn't want to..."

"Hehe, this time this kid needs me to think carefully. I just want him to know what he is carrying on his shoulders." Zheng Dongfang got up and left without saying anything more.

Guan Ying sat alone in the yard, stirring the quiet pool of water in front of her. Ripples spread out under her hands, sweeping up the sand and gravel at the bottom of the pool and stirring them in the water... Alas, why bother?