Chapter 56
"Which accent do you think it is from?" Mr. Jiang asked.
"I can't really put my finger on it," Wang Weiguo said. "The accent is quite strange, not like any dialect from anywhere. Actually, now that I think about it..."
He rubbed his hands nervously. "Looks a bit like a foreigner. But I can't really tell. I'm just guessing."
Jiang Nuo's heart moved, "Go on, tell me everything you know."
Wang Weiguo: "It sounded like a Southeast Asian accent, a bit like a Lion Country blogger I follow online. They also speak Chinese, but with a strange accent. But Gu Min was dressed in rags, tall and thin, and looked malnourished. How could he look foreign? That was thirty years ago. He was probably fourteen or fifteen when he came here. I was only twelve, and my sister was sixteen."
"Actually, this isn't really a secret. My old lady always tells us not to talk about it, as if no one can harm him. The more she does this, the more I suspect Gu Min has a mysterious background and might be a juvenile delinquent on the run!"
Jiang Nuo couldn't help but frown. He was disgusted by Wang Weiguo's words. It reminded him of the time when Wang Weiguo scolded Gu Jiangkuo as a "juvenile delinquent".
But Jiang Nuo held back and didn't show it. "Continue."
Wang Weiguo opened up, seemingly needing no persuasion, and began pouring out his sorrows: "I was still young at the time, and I told my friends about this suspicion. Somehow, it got to my mother's ears. The old lady beat me without any reason, and ordered me not to tell anyone about Gu Min's background again. If they asked, I would say he was my mother's godson, and that he was an orphan who had escaped from famine."
"Later, we moved. Now, the old neighbors in the old town all think of him as my live-in son-in-law, a 'child husband' that my mother raised for my sister. They also praise my old lady for her vision and how excellent the son-in-law she chose is."
Wang Weiguo was indignant. "That's not the case! She just can't figure it out. She doesn't care much about her own son, but treats Gu Min like a treasure. Tell me, who would marry a daughter without a betrothal gift? In our time, wasn't the betrothal gift for daughters used to marry sons? The old lady is just biased!"
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At the same time, Gu Jiangkuo also found the teacher who helped Old Lady Wang write her will.
The teacher had actually moved to a building in another district a long time ago, and the old house had been empty until it was demolished and she returned to handle the paperwork. After not seeing him for many years, she recognized Gu Jiangkuo immediately and asked him the first thing: "Which university did Dajiang get into?"
Gu Jiangkuo said truthfully: "Yanlin University."
Hearing this, the teacher was a little surprised, then sighed, "Unexpected, but reasonable. However, you can still concentrate on studying in that environment, which is really rare. You have lived up to Aunt Wang's efforts."
"I couldn't have endured this on my own." Gu Jiangkuo's eyes were filled with tenderness. "I met a very good and kind person who sponsored my schooling. ...Teacher Zhao, I'm sorry to bother you today mainly because of my grandmother's will. I'd like to ask you to sign a certificate proving that she was mentally sound and fully competent when she wrote it. Only then will the will be valid."
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Inside the private teahouse, Wang Weiguo continued to complain, "My family wasn't well off back then, but Gu Min was incredibly naive. One time, he went into a small shop and actually asked for a certain kind of imported candy. I remember it clearly: the candy was covered in foreign characters, and even the owner couldn't quite read them, yet he blurted out the English name. I found it bizarre at the time. Guess what's even more bizarre?"
Jiang Nuo was interested: "What is it?"
Wang Weiguo: "I definitely didn't buy it at the time because it was so expensive, but within a month, my stingy mother actually plundered him! She bought him that piece of candy! She also asked me not to know! But I saw it anyway! Do you think there's something wrong with this? Don't tell me he's my mother's illegitimate child outside!"
Jiang Nuo: “………………”
Wang Weiguo said angrily, "Otherwise, why would someone be kind to outsiders but harsh to their own son?"
.
"Your grandma has had a tough life. Although she can't read, she's very sensible." Teacher Zhao said as she searched for her reading glasses. "I remember back then, your dad and your uncle worked together on the housework—they were still teenagers back then—and your uncle was sneaky and went out to play, leaving your dad to quietly do all the work. Your grandma and I happened to run into us. Your grandma didn't say anything at the time, but went to the store and bought two very expensive imported candies. I thought she'd give one each to your dad and your uncle, but guess what happened?"
"How is it?" Gu Jiangkuo asked cooperatively.
He lost his parents when he was fourteen. It would be a lie to say that he didn't miss them. In fact, he was very willing to listen to people talk about his parents.
Teacher Zhao: "I gave both pieces to your father! Guess how your father divided them up?"
Gu Jiangkuo recalled his father's way of dealing with people and said, "Give it to my uncles, and each of them a share?"
Gu Min is a person with good observation and high emotional intelligence, so he does a good job and was promoted to senior engineer at a young age. His family is not rich, but above average. In fact, before Gu Jiangkuo was 14 years old, his life could be considered happy.
Teacher Zhao smiled and shook his head: "Your father gave both candies to you, Mom!"
Gu Jiangkuo: “…”
Teacher Zhao: "You should learn from your father in this regard. If he didn't always think about the person he liked, how could he have won over you, Mom? Your father was very cost-effective. He didn't even pay the bride price! What a huge amount of money he saved. Because of this, your uncle has always been upset. Some people are like this, thinking that since they are the son of the family, everything in the family belongs to them."
This was also the first time that Gu Jiangkuo heard about this inside story. He was young before and naively thought that his family and his uncle's family were born with incompatible auras. He didn't expect that there were so many past events.
"That's why I say your grandma is truly remarkable." Teacher Zhao pulled out her reading glasses. Seeing that Gu Jiangkuo didn't urge her, she didn't rush to put them on. She continued, "Your grandma isn't like some old ladies who only seek gifts and insist on marriage. She values character more. She thinks little Gu is a good kid, hardworking and sincere to you, Mom. So, despite your grandpa and uncle's objections, she agreed to this marriage."
"But your father is also a good man, truly worthy of being half a son. He takes care of all the hard work at home, big and small, and gives you gifts every festival. Later, his salary increased every year, and the red envelope he gives to your grandmother every year has long exceeded the betrothal gift. On the other hand, your uncle works but doesn't contribute to the family expenses. He is also lazy and does nothing - I also heard your grandmother complain about him in the past."
"I guess this is why your grandma left the house to you alone. Like a heart for a heart, like eight ounces for half a pound. Your parents are both filial, but it's a pity... well," Teacher Zhao realized he'd said the wrong thing. He put on his reading glasses awkwardly and apologized, "I talk a lot as I get older. I always like to reminisce about the past. Don't be offended, Dajiang."
"How could that be?" Gu Jiangkuo said, "I haven't heard anyone mention them in years, especially since grandma got sick... Teacher Zhao, I have to go back to pick someone up soon. Could you please take a look at this certificate and sign it for me if it's all right?"
Upon hearing this, the lawyer waiting on the side quickly handed over the prepared certificate.
"Okay, okay," Teacher Zhao glanced at it and signed it readily. "Is this okay?"
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In the private teahouse, Wang Weiguo suddenly slapped his thigh and said, "I know a secret!"
However, President Jiang was already a little tired of hearing this. This Wang Weiguo did know a little, but not much. So far, apart from the fact that "Gu Min was likely from Lion Country," which matched the Nanyang Gu family and was valid information, Jiang Nuo's ears were filled with the middle-aged man's incessant complaints.
Mr. Jiang even wanted to leave.
Then Wang Weiguo said, "I'm afraid my old lady doesn't know about this. Mr. Jiang, are you asking about this on behalf of Dajiang? What's your relationship? Did Dajiang cause you any trouble?"
"If you don't want to talk, please go back." Jiang Nuo said impatiently, "That's all for today."
He had heard enough of Wang Weiguo's so-called "secrets", either that he didn't spend his sister's betrothal gift on him, or that Old Lady Wang wouldn't let him take care of her children, but instead was very devoted to her grandson of the opposite sex.
If it weren't for the fact that he is old and probably doesn't understand internet slang, Jiang Nuo would have wanted to say to this uncle, "The Qing Dynasty has fallen, wake up old man." Why should he feel at ease to monopolize all the family resources and make his family members, including his sister, sacrifice everything for him just because he is a man?
"No." This time it was Wang Weiguo who stopped Jiang Nuo. "Actually, Dajiang once asked me if he suspected his father was from a wealthy family. Did he want to trace his roots back to his ancestors?"
"I didn't think of it at the time, but just now, while we were chatting, I remembered that many years ago, Gu Min once let slip that he was kicked out of his family."
Jiang Nuo: “!”
Wang Weiguo said with some pride: "Gu Min's father may have a little money, otherwise how could he know those imported things in that era? But that old man was so cruel to drive Gu Min out back then, and now he won't recognize Gu Min's son. So, it will be difficult for Dajiang to recognize his ancestors."
I'd better give up on this idea. -- Wang Weiguo thought maliciously.
Dajiang is lucky to have met such a heavyweight and upper-class person like Mr. Jiang, but how could he be so lucky to have such a rich grandfather?
Wang Weiguo thought, Gu Min and Gu Jiangkuo, father and son, one of unknown origin, the other prone to violence, a perfect example of a juvenile delinquent in the making. Neither of them was a good person, sucking the blood of the Wang family. Neither of them deserved a good life.
So what if Gu Jiangkuo could hook up with General Manager Jiang? No matter how powerful General Manager Jiang was, at most he knew the leaders of his own unit and could only make things difficult for him.
Once he gets his compensation back, he won't have to work any harder! With so much savings, he can just scrape by until retirement!
Moreover, he didn't find any "will" in the old house that day. Judging from Gu Jiang Kuo's expression, he didn't seem to know anything about the will. Maybe Teacher Zhao was fooling him and there was no such thing at all.
Thinking of this, Wang Weiguo straightened his back a little. Facing a "powerful person" like Mr. Jiang, he suddenly felt less afraid. He mustered up the courage to say, "Mr. Jiang, I can't think of anything else. Please tell Gu Jiangkuo the truth. I'm afraid his plan to find a rich grandfather is over."
"Okay, then I won't keep you here. Goodbye." After hearing this, Mr. Jiang was not angry, but in a good mood.
Jiang Nuo was naturally in a good mood. "Kicked out" was an important piece of information. If he had been unsure before about the relationship between Gu Jiangkuo and the super-rich Nanyang Gu family, and whether they were close relatives, now he was certain:
Gu Jiangkuocai is the eldest son and grandson of the Nanyang Gu family with the most legitimate family background.
With him around, even the real protagonist of this world has to stand aside.
Gu Jiangkuo's father, Gu Min, should be the eldest son of the Gu family, but Jiang Nuo does not know why he was driven out.
However, since Gu Jiangkuo was adopted by the Gu family in his previous life, there should be no problem in this life. But why did Gu Jiangkuo keep a low profile in his previous life? Why didn't he reveal his identity to the public and didn't inherit the family business? Could it be... because of his physical disability?
...It's very likely!
Just at this moment, Gu Jiangkuo's message came:
[I'm downstairs. I'll pick you up when you're done.]
Now when Jiang Nuo looks at the three words "Gu Jiangkuo", he feels as if they are shining with golden light. The eldest son and grandson of the Gu Group!
What kind of wealth is this? Being my own driver? I'm too extravagant!
"Jiang Kuo, wait for me to take you to find your ancestors." Meeting me in this life is considered as your spiral rainbow luck. With the help of me, Young Master Jiang, I will definitely let you live the carefree and extravagant life of a young master a few years in advance. All the hardships of life will not bother you. You don't have to suffer so much before you can finally enjoy the sweetness as in your previous life.
Jiang Nuo himself didn't notice that his first reaction after figuring out Gu Jiangkuo's identity was not to feel proud that he had chosen the right person and snatched Ding Pingzhou's "protection umbrella", so that he could do whatever he wanted in the future.
Instead, he was sincerely happy for Gu Jiangkuo and couldn't wait to start planning Mr. Gu's journey to return to his roots, all for his own good.
However, Young Master Jiang quickly remembered something more serious:
"It's over. Let's go out for lunch and talk while we eat. I know a place with medicinal food that's very nutritious. You must eat more later."
The author has something to say:
There should be an additional update tomorrow. Please give me some sticky nutrient solution!
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