Chapter 21
Perhaps because she had a dream half the night before, Gu Xi woke up later than usual in the morning. The sun was already high in the sky, and the house was quiet with hardly anyone around.
Seeing the typhoon-like mess in the living room, she realized that things must have been more exciting than she imagined when Gu Maowen and the others got home from get off work yesterday. It was a pity she wasn't home.
When I came back last night, it was too dark. I was also exhausted from being on edge yesterday and having successfully survived a near-death experience. I didn't pay much attention and went upstairs to rest after passing the mess in the living room.
Looking at the living room during the day, one can imagine the scene when Gu Maowen went mad.
The coffee table was overturned, and the chairs and tables were all askew on the ground. Not to mention the bottles and jars, which were scattered all over the floor, with debris everywhere. Even the shelf against the wall had fallen over, and the items on the shelf were also scattered on the floor. There was also a dark red bloodstain on the floor, which must have been where Gu Maowen had fallen yesterday.
She clicked her tongue inwardly, thinking that she and Gu Maowen were indeed biological father and daughter, their ferocity in smashing things when they went crazy was exactly the same.
Gu Xi pretended not to notice the mess in the living room and went to the kitchen to find something to eat. She found the kitchen spotless, indicating that no one had left her breakfast today.
That's understandable.
Gu Xi didn't mind. She opened the rice and grain cabinet, took out noodles, eggs, and vegetables, and made herself a bowl of egg and vegetable noodles, adding two extravagant eggs to it.
Just as I finished making the noodles and brought them out, I heard a sound at the door.
She looked up and saw that it was Gu Yuanxiang returning with the groceries she had just bought.
Upon seeing Gu Xi sitting at the dining table, Gu Yuanxiang paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and greeted her, "Xi Xi, you're up?"
Gu Xi gave a casual "hmm" and focused on eating her noodles.
Perhaps after a night of reflection, Gu Yuanxiang no longer harbored the dissatisfaction and hatred she felt towards Gu Xi at the hospital the previous night, and reverted to her previous attitude.
She's always been a smart person; her outburst last night was only temporary, and she quickly returned to normal.
When facing Gu Xi, Gu Yuanxiang always maintained a friendly demeanor, regardless of her inner thoughts, and never gave anyone any leverage. Even Gu Xi, the person directly involved, only vaguely felt that Gu Yuanxiang's behavior made her uncomfortable in her previous life, but she couldn't quite put her finger on why.
Looking back after a lifetime, Gu Xi finally understood that it was a subtle form of rejection and malice, mixed with the Gu family's boasting, pride, and secret vigilance and suppression.
As long as Gu Xi is the daughter of the Gu family, she will constantly remind Gu Yuanxiang that she was switched at birth.
She wasn't a family-oriented person; she was an outsider.
Gu Yuanxiang needs to gain more favor from the Gu family, she needs to make Gu Xi feel inferior, and she needs Gu Xi to envy her more, so that she can confirm her status in the Gu family and prove that she is the true child of the Gu family.
-
Gu Yuanxiang walked over carrying groceries, saying, "Xixi, what do you want to eat for lunch? I asked someone to buy a chicken, and I'll make chicken soup for Dad to nourish him later... By the way, do you want to come with me to deliver lunch to Dad?"
Gu Xi didn't even look up, and said nonchalantly, "Okay, just call me when the time comes."
Gu Yuanxiang paused for a moment, then smiled and replied, "I didn't expect her to agree." She had only asked a question, but she was surprised when Gu Yuanxiang actually agreed.
After finishing breakfast, Gu Xi went back to her room.
Gu Yuanxiang stood at the kitchen door, watching her leave. She glanced at the mess in the living room and couldn't help but sigh. She knew that she would have to clean it up herself, and she couldn't expect Gu Xi to clean it up as she used to.
If I don't tidy up myself, my mom will probably be angry when she gets home from get off work and sees it.
The living room was so messy that Gu Yuanxiang was exhausted and her back ached after tidying up for a while.
She had hardly ever done housework in her life, but the amount of housework she had done during this period was more than she had done in the previous twenty years. Seeing the mess in the living room, and thinking about the pile of dirty clothes that the whole family had changed out of and hadn't washed in the yard, and the fact that she still had to cook and deliver food... she felt dizzy.
Why are there so many things to do? It seems like one thing after another, never-ending.
It's as if the days when she only needed to be fed and have everything done for her at home, and only had to worry about where to go on vacation, were a thing of the past, even though it hasn't even been half a month yet.
Gu Yuanxiang felt immense regret once again.
If she had known that the watch her second brother gave her that day would provoke a backlash from Gu Xi, causing her to completely explode and disrupt the peace of the whole family—she would never have flaunted the watch in front of Gu Xi, and might even have given it to Gu Xi.
Gu Xi is about to get married and will soon leave this family, so why make things difficult for her?
**
At noon, after preparing lunch, Gu Yuanxiang went to knock on Gu Xi's door to call her.
Seeing Gu Xi sleeping with her hair disheveled and marks on her face, and comparing it to her own disheveled state—having been busy since early morning and exhausted—she felt a lump in her throat, and her expression became somewhat strained.
Gu Xi yawned and said, "Is dinner ready? Let's go then."
"Aren't you going to eat lunch?" Gu Yuanxiang asked.
"I'm not hungry, I don't want to eat."
She ate breakfast too late, so she's not really hungry right now.
After Gu Yuanxiang packed the food in an aluminum lunchbox and put it in the basket, Gu Xi finished washing up, changed her clothes, put on her straw hat, and went out with Gu Yuanxiang.
Seeing the living room, which was barely tidied up, she looked at Gu Yuanxiang.
Gu Yuanxiang said, "It's too messy. I'll clean it up when I get back this afternoon." Her second brother and Yuanhui will be there to help.
Gu Xi gave an "oh" and made a sarcastic remark: "This is much messier than when I wrecked your room. Looks like Dad is still going strong!"
After being a ghost for a long time and influenced by the internet of later generations, she was no longer a tongue-tied, awkward person who didn't understand the art of speaking, and she was quite satisfied with herself now.
Gu Yuanxiang: "..." She felt that if her father heard this, he would probably be so angry that he would collapse on the bed.
Forget it, I'd better not tell Dad.
By now, Gu Yuanxiang had understood Gu Xi's personality; she loved to do anything that would make them unhappy.
That mouth is even more unforgiving, capable of stabbing someone until they vomit blood.
I wonder if her previous quiet and reserved demeanor was just an act? If it was, that's terrifying. Does the Shen family even know she's like this? If they do, given Feng Min's strong sense of justice, I doubt they'd like her.
On the way, they encountered some people from the family compound, who all greeted the two sisters.
Upon learning that they were delivering food to Gu Maowen, she asked them a few questions with concern. Although she had made fun of Gu Maowen and his wife yesterday, they all lived in the same compound, and she was still quite concerned when she learned that Gu Maowen was injured and hospitalized.
“My dad will have to stay in the hospital for a few more days,” Gu Yuanxiang said with a worried expression. “He fell very badly this time, and the doctor said he needs to be observed for a few days.”
Upon hearing this, everyone looked on with sympathy.
To fall like this in his own home, it seems Comrade Gu Maowen is quite unlucky.
After inquiring about Gu Maowen's health, they asked Gu Xi about her fiancé.
That's what they care about most.
After learning that Gu Xi's fiancé had personally brought her back yesterday, everyone in the family compound became very curious about her fiancé, a curiosity that overshadowed the fact that Gu Maowen had fallen and been hospitalized.
"Xixi, are you two planning to get married?" an older woman asked. "Your fiancé came to visit you yesterday, didn't he?"
I heard that people in the military are very busy, and it's not easy for them to get leave to come back.
When Shen Mingzheng suddenly appeared, everyone wondered if the two were about to get married.
Gu Xi didn't want to say that she wanted to break off the engagement, so she kept smiling and said, "We'll talk about this when my dad is feeling better."
Thanks to Comrade Gu Maowen for being hospitalized now, which gives me an excuse.
By the way, after the engagement is dissolved, we can steer the blame onto Comrade Gu Maowen. That way, everyone's attention will be on Gu Maowen, which would be quite good.
Unaware of Gu Xi's thoughts, the others felt sorry for her upon hearing this, and increasingly believed that Shen Mingzheng had intended to visit the Gu family yesterday to discuss marriage, but had to give up due to Gu Maowen's accident.
This kid is really unlucky.
No, it should be said that Gu Maowen was really too careless. Not only did he get injured and hospitalized, but he also delayed his child's wedding. His son-in-law rarely comes to visit, and then this happens.
Gu Xi is really unlucky to have such a biased father.
After saying goodbye to the enthusiastic and gossipy older women, the two took a bus to the hospital.
Passing by a supply and marketing cooperative near the hospital, Gu Xi saw peaches for sale and bought six, carrying them in a net bag.
It's peach season, and they look so fresh and tempting.
Gu Yuanxiang was still a little puzzled when she saw her buying peaches.
Gu Xi said, "Let Dad eat some fresh fruit to replenish vitamins, so he can recover faster."
Those around her, upon hearing her words, all thought this woman was a filial daughter, and they all smiled and echoed her sentiments.
Gu Yuanxiang: "..."
Gu Yuanxiang felt that her words sounded more like a perfunctory response than a genuine wish for their father to get better soon. After all, given that she was capable of such a thing, it was hard to believe that she had good intentions.
She was too embarrassed to say these things in front of everyone, so she pretended to believe them.
The two arrived at the ward and heard voices coming from inside.
When they entered the room, they found that there were quite a few people there. They were Gu Maowen's colleagues and friends who had come to visit him, as well as relatives from the Jiang family.
Today is not a rest day, and these people came to visit Gu Maowen during their lunch break.
Upon seeing them, everyone laughed and said, "It's Yuanxiang and Xixi! Are they bringing food to your dad? They're such good kids!"
Gu Yuanxiang greeted everyone with a shy smile, calling out to each person in turn.
Gu Xi also called out to the others. After she finished, she put the bag of fruit she had brought on the table and stood quietly to the side, as always.
When Gu Maowen saw Gu Xi, his expression froze. If there weren't so many people around, he would have wanted to tell this wretched girl to get lost.
I was furious when I heard that she actually showed up while he was asleep yesterday.
What angered him even more was that his son-in-law, Shen Mingzheng, also came. Seeing Shen Mingzheng in such a disheveled state made him even angrier.
Even though Gu Maowen disliked Feng Min's domineering way of protecting Gu Xi, he knew what the Shen family in the military compound represented, especially with Shen Mingzheng, a young and promising military officer son-in-law. The Gu family was considered to have climbed the social ladder.
If Gu Xi weren't so rebellious and infuriating, he would be very satisfied with this marriage.
She felt a pang of regret again. Why wasn't it the obedient and filial Gu Yuanxiang who was engaged to Shen Mingzheng? Feng Min really had no taste. Gu Yuanxiang was clearly better raised by them than Gu Xi, who was spoiled by that ignorant and foolish rural couple.
Seeing that it was almost time, the people in the ward stopped disturbing them and got up to leave.
Even though Gu Maowen was furious about what Gu Xi had done, he didn't react on the spot and smiled as he said goodbye to them.
In the end, besides the Gu family, only the Jiang family members who came to visit were in the ward.
Today, Jiang Chengye and Tang Fengzhen, a married couple, came over.
The old lady of the Jiang family and her husband had three sons and two daughters. Only the eldest son Jiang Chengye's family and the eldest daughter Jiang Huijun, who married into the Gu family, lived in Beijing. The other children lived in other places and rarely saw each other once a year.
It was Jiang Chengye who recognized that Gu Xi and Old Madam Jiang looked alike, and then suspected that Gu Xi and Gu Yuanxiang had been switched at birth. He even helped them find evidence at the hospital, and they actually found it.
Gu Yuanxiang and Gu Xi obediently greeted them, "Uncle and Aunt."
When Jiang Chengye saw them, he said with a smile, "Oh, you're all so good!" Then he stared at Gu Xi's face, a look of nostalgia on his face, "Xi Xi is growing more and more like her mother. If her mother were still here, she would be so happy to see Xi Xi."
Aunt Tang Fengzhen nodded and said, "That's right. None of the children in our Jiang family have inherited my looks, but I never expected that Gu Xi would inherit them so perfectly. It's really fate."
Grandma Jiang always regretted that her children didn't resemble her, and few of her grandchildren looked like her either.
She was extremely confident in her beauty when she was young and often thought how wonderful it would be to have a child who looked like her. When she met Gu Xi, you can imagine how happy she was. Even when she passed away, she was still talking about Gu Xi.
It was precisely Grandma Jiang's attitude that influenced the Jiang family.
Gu Xi smiled at them, pursing her lips.
Although Uncle Jiang's family also lives in Beijing, the two families live in different parts of the city, one in the south and the other in the north, which is quite far apart. In addition, they both have jobs, so they don't see each other much except during holidays or when there are important matters.
Every time Uncle Jiang and his wife see Gu Xi, especially now that Gu Xi has fully grown up, they think of the old lady who passed away a few years ago. They inevitably pull her aside and talk to her, reminiscing about Old Lady Jiang through her.
The Gu family was already used to it, so they weren't surprised to see this scene.
Gu Yuanxiang took out the lunchbox, placed it on the small table propped up on the bed, looked around the ward, and asked, "Dad, where's Yuanhui?"
Because Gu Maowen has a back injury, he can only lie in bed and cannot move easily.
"He went to the water dispenser to get water," Gu Maowen said, his face looking unwell because he had pulled his back when he sat up.
Gu Yuanhui wasn't one to sit still. With so many people around, he had no interest in listening to the adults' polite banter. So he made an excuse to go to the water room to get some water, took the thermos, and went out. He hadn't returned yet.
Over there, Tang Fengzhen, who was talking to Gu Xi, said, "Xi Xi, I heard from your mother that you don't plan to go to the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University like Yuan Xiang. Are you planning to get married first? I remember that the Shen family's child who is engaged to you is not young either."
Based on her own experience, she figured the Shen family was probably eager for the two children to get married.
Jiang Chengye laughed and said, "When you get married, let us know, and your uncle will give you a big red envelope."
Gu Xi lowered her head, her voice soft, as if shy and bashful: "Thank you, Uncle and Aunt."
After talking for a while, seeing that it was getting late, Jiang Chengye and his wife prepared to leave.
They took a day off specifically to come here, but they have to go back to work later, so they can't stay here any longer.
The two went to say goodbye to Gu Maowen, saying, "Maowen, take good care of your injury. We'll come back for Xixi's wedding next time, and we'll have a good drink together then."
Gu Maowen said, "Okay! Brother and sister-in-law, thank you for your trouble. Please take care."
Gu Xi personally saw the two off.
After they left, Gu Maowen's face immediately fell, and the veins on his forehead bulged. He was clearly enduring a lot of hardship. He couldn't stand hearing anything related to Gu Xi, and even seeing her made him feel uncomfortable.
If it weren't for her, would he be lying in the hospital, unable to move?
Gu Maowen asked, "Why is she here?"
Gu Yuanxiang said softly, "Dad, Xixi is worried about you too..."
Gu Maowen sneered repeatedly. Would that wretched girl worry about him?
If Jiang Chengye and his wife hadn't been there, he would have just told her to get lost, so as not to feel uncomfortable seeing her.
After seeing off her uncle and aunt, Gu Xi returned to the ward and saw Gu Maowen sitting on the hospital bed eating, looking at her with a cold expression and an unfriendly gaze.
She didn't seem to mind and asked, "Dad, how are you feeling?"
"He won't die," Gu Maowen said coldly.
Gu Xi nodded. "Since everything's alright, I'll be going now."
Gu Maowen: "..."
He didn't want to see her, but seeing her so indifferent, not even pretending anymore, and just leaving like that, he was really furious.
What angered him even more was that this wretched girl actually took the bag of fruit she had brought earlier.
Why did she bring fruit? Was it just to show off?
Gu Maowen was so angry that he almost overturned the table. His chest heaved violently, which startled Gu Yuanxiang, who quickly tried to calm him down to prevent him from getting sick from anger.
**
As Gu Xi walked out of the hospital, a child rushed over and bumped into her head. The child fell backward and landed on his bottom, causing her to drop the fruit she was holding.
"Sister, I'm sorry..."
The child fell and hurt his bottom. Realizing he had caused trouble, he didn't dare to cry out in pain and instead pitifully apologized.
Gu Xi looked at the little boy who had hit the person. He was about five or six years old, with fair skin and a clean appearance. It was obvious that he was well taken care of by his family and had plenty of food and drink.
Gu Xi wouldn't scold such a polite child. She said it was okay and bent down to pick up the peaches that had rolled all over the ground.
The child, rubbing his sore bottom, helped pick it up.
"Xiao Shen!"
A tall, long-legged young man ran towards them.
The child who was picking peaches looked up and called out happily, "Cousin!"
Zhou Huaimin, who was walking over, recognized Gu Xi at a glance. He had seen from afar that his own child had bumped into her, so he helped pick her up as well.
There were only six peaches, but they were all picked up in no time.
Gu Xi took the peaches they handed her and recognized Zhou Huaimin. It seemed that the child must be from the military compound, or at least a relative of the Zhou family.
She took out a peach and handed it to the child as a reward for his good behavior.
"No need to give it to him!" Zhou Huaimin said fiercely, arms crossed. "He was the one who wasn't watching where he was going and ran too fast, so he should apologize."
The child pouted and said, "Cousin, I apologized!"
Seeing the child's aggrieved look, Gu Xi smiled, reached out and patted his head, then put the peach in his hand.
Seeing that his cousin didn't say anything, the little boy smiled sweetly at her and said, "Thank you, sister."
Gu Xi's eyes softened. "Good girl."
Just then, a commotion arose, and a young man was seen carrying an unconscious old woman on his back. The old woman had a large frame and a somewhat plump figure, and the young man was struggling to carry her, his back hunched over.
Perhaps he was walking too fast, or perhaps he was exhausted, but as soon as he reached the steps at the hospital entrance, his legs gave way and he collapsed.
Just as Zhou Huaimin was about to help, he discovered that someone was faster than him.
Gu Xi took a step forward, supported the young man, and at the same time supported the old woman who was about to fall to the ground behind him. Seeing that the old woman's eyes were closed and her face was ashen, Gu Xi picked her up without saying a word and rushed to the hospital.
The exhausted young man slumped to the ground, staring blankly at the scene before realizing that she had already carried the person into the hospital.
"Eh eh eh..."
Seeing this, Zhou Huaimin grabbed the exhausted young man, picked up the child with one hand, and followed him over, his eyes full of interest as he watched the person carrying the old woman rushing into the hospital.
I originally thought she was a thin woman who needed to be taken care of, but I never expected her to be such a strong woman.
No wonder he was able to carry such a big package and walk so steadily that day.
The child hanging in his arms exclaimed in surprise, "Cousin, that pretty lady is so strong!"
The young man he was supporting also said, "Indeed, she actually managed to carry the fat auntie around..."
It's already tiring to carry someone on your back, let alone hold her horizontally like this, but she walks very fast and seems to be doing it very easily.
After Gu Xi handed the unconscious old woman over to the medical staff for emergency treatment, the young man also caught up and thanked her.
"You're welcome." Gu Xi waved her hand, seeing that the young man was covered in sweat and almost exhausted, she took out a peach and gave it to him to quench his thirst.
The young man blushed deeply: "...Thank you, comrade!"
Gu Xi glanced at the remaining peaches in the net bag. She had bought these peaches to make it look like a visitor to Gu Maowen today, so she had to keep up appearances.
Although she didn't care about the life or death of the Gu family, she couldn't go too far on the surface, because if her reputation was ruined, it would affect the Shen family.
This is what she can't tolerate the most.
She also hoped to maintain friendly relations with the Shen family in the future, and to be a good daughter to Aunt Feng and the others, so as not to cause them worry or affect them.
Not intending to take the peaches home, Gu Xi started dividing them again, putting one into the child's hand and handing one to Zhou Huaimin, saying, "Thank you for helping me pick up the peaches earlier."
Zhou Huaimin: "..." What does she mean by that?
Four peaches were given away at once, leaving two left over.
Just as Gu Xi was thinking about what to do with the two peaches, a voice rang out.
"Gu Xi".
The voice was very distinctive, and Gu Xi turned to look at the person walking in this direction, somewhat surprised.
"Big brother!"
Zhou Huaimin also recognized Shen Mingzheng and looked at him with some surprise. Then he looked at Gu Xi and remembered that they seemed to be engaged.
Today, Shen Mingzheng was still dressed in a crisp military uniform. As he walked in under the scorching sun, it seemed to dispel some of the summer heat.
He walked into the hospital, and people around him instinctively made way for him.
Besides his overwhelming presence that intimidated people, it also stemmed from the natural respect that the people had for the People's Liberation Army.
Shen Mingzheng's gaze swept over Gu Xi and a tall young man standing there, recognizing them as Zhou Huaimin, the youngest son of the Zhou family, and noticed that they were both holding peaches.
It looks like they're dividing up peaches?
"Brother Mingzheng!" Zhou Huaimin greeted him.
Shen Mingzheng hummed in response and asked, "Huai Min, what are you doing here?"
Zhou Huaimin patted the child's head and said, "This is my aunt's child. I brought him here to see my aunt. My aunt works at this hospital."
The child was very polite. He looked at Shen Mingzheng and said obediently, "Hello, Uncle. My name is Xiao Shen."
Shen Mingzheng hummed in agreement.
Gu Xi looked at the two men standing together. Although Zhou Huaimin was also an unruly troublemaker in the military compound with a very arrogant aura, his arrogance was somewhat suppressed in front of Shen Mingzheng, who had a stronger presence. He looked like a rash young man who had just come of age.
Among his peers, Shen Mingzheng is indeed the undisputed leader, standing out from the crowd.
If Aunt Feng hadn't arranged a marriage between her and Shen Mingzheng so early on, Shen Mingzheng would definitely have been a highly sought-after son-in-law, the most popular unmarried young man in the compound.
Zhou Huaimin exchanged a few words with Shen Mingzheng, then took the child to find his mother.
The child twisted his body and waved to Gu Xi and the others, politely saying, "Goodbye, sister! Goodbye, uncle!"
Shen Mingzheng: "..."
Zhou Huaimin: "..."
Gu Xi also felt that the child's way of addressing her was inappropriate. He called her "sister" but Shen Mingzheng "uncle," which was a difference in generation.
She stole a glance at Shen Mingzheng and saw that he looked calm and didn't seem to care.
Seeing Shen Mingzheng carrying a bag of fruit, Gu Xi knew he had come to visit her father in the hospital. She asked, "Big brother, are you here to see my dad?"
Shen Mingzheng hummed in agreement and asked, "When did you arrive?"
She honestly said, "I just arrived a little while ago. Gu Yuanxiang and I came together to bring lunch to my dad."
Shen Mingzheng asked her if she wanted to come in together, but Gu Xi shook her head. "I just went to see my dad, so I'd better not go. I don't want him to be upset if he sees me, which would affect his recovery."
She spoke with remarkable composure, simply looking at him and meeting his sharp gaze.
Some things can't be hidden. She didn't want to hide her discord with the Gu family from him. There was no point in hiding it anyway, so she might as well lay it out in front of him openly, rather than trying to cover it up and making herself look too embarrassed.
In front of him, Gu Xi was honest and open, leaving it to him to judge what kind of person she was.
Shen Mingzheng didn't insist, saying, "Wait here for me, I'll go up and take a look."
Gu Xi also wanted to talk to him about breaking off the engagement. Even if he didn't say anything, she wouldn't leave, so she immediately agreed.
**
Shen Mingzheng arrived at the ward, and his keen hearing allowed him to clearly hear the voices inside.
"...She's really gone too far. What does she mean by this? Did she come here specifically to upset Dad? Second sister, you shouldn't have let her come. She's infuriating as soon as she arrives, and she's so arrogant."
"She wants to come see Dad, I can't stop her, can I?"
"Don't let her come next time. She acts all sweet and charming in front of outsiders, but she's just infuriating in private. She brought peaches with her, and then took them away. What does she mean by that? She really can't stand to see Dad doing well..."
"..."
Shen Mingzheng listened calmly for a few minutes. Every sentence was an accusation and disgust towards Gu Xi. It was as if in their eyes, she was utterly wicked, and even her own brother wished she were dead, believing that her existence was a mistake.
The father's silence is also a cruel form of tacit agreement.
Shen Mingzheng knocked on the door, interrupting the conversation inside.
A moment later, the door to the ward opened from the inside.
When Gu Yuanxiang saw Shen Mingzheng standing at the door in his military uniform, a look of surprise appeared on her face. She subconsciously wondered if he had heard what she had just said.
She said softly, "Hello, are you here to see my dad? Please come in."
Seeing Shen Mingzheng walk in calmly, she felt somewhat relieved, thinking that he probably hadn't heard anything, since the door was closed.
Regardless of the circumstances, Shen Mingzheng is Gu Xi's fiancé, and his actions last night clearly showed that he was trying to protect Gu Xi.
If he hears them talking about Gu Xi like that, he'll probably be unhappy.
When Gu Maowen saw Shen Mingzheng enter the hospital, he was initially puzzled, but upon noticing the military uniform he was wearing, he immediately realized that it must be Shen Mingzheng.
He already knew that Shen Mingzheng had come over last night.
Thinking of his youngest son's harsh criticism of Gu Xi, Gu Maowen felt a little uncomfortable and hurriedly said, "You must be Ming Zheng? When did you get back? I'm sorry to have troubled you to come over, but I'm fine."
Shen Mingzheng placed the fruit he had brought on the table and sat down in front of the hospital bed.
His posture was upright, his back straight, clearly that of a soldier, exuding an indescribable rigidity and domineering presence that made one feel somewhat intimidated.
Gu Yuanxiang poured him a glass of water.
He calmly declined, saying, "No need for that, I'm not thirsty."
Gu Yuanxiang looked embarrassed, put down her water glass, and stood silently at the foot of the bed, glancing at him intermittently. From her angle, she could see his profile; his features were smooth, his bone structure beautiful—a man who was handsome from any angle.
I felt inexplicably uneasy again.
Gu Yuanhui still remembered how Shen Mingzheng had pinned him against the doorframe like a chick last night. Shen Mingzheng had left him with a deep psychological scar, and he was now cowering in a corner like a mouse seeing a cat, completely unlike his previous harsh criticism of Gu Xi when the door was closed.
Neither the siblings dared to utter a sound, watching Gu Maowen and Shen Mingzheng exchange pleasantries.
Shen Mingzheng said, "Uncle, I'm sorry to bother you. I've been busy and haven't had time to visit. I'll come with my parents when I come back next time."
Gu Maowen forced a kind smile: "It's nothing, you're busy in the army, this is only right."
Although he was the son-in-law, the son-in-law in front of him had such a strong presence that he felt like he was facing a leader. He unconsciously sat up straight, which caused a sharp pain in his lower back and his face to turn pale.
"Dad..." Gu Yuanxiang called out worriedly.
"It's alright, it's alright!" Gu Maowen gritted his teeth, unwilling to show weakness in front of his son-in-law. He carefully changed his posture to relieve his back pain and continued talking to Shen Mingzheng, changing the subject and asking him about his work.
Shen Mingzheng simply said what he could say, and kept quiet about what he couldn't say.
Even so, Gu Maowen was still very happy. He finally had a real sense of his son-in-law's identity. This was a young officer in the army. When he learned that he had been promoted to the rank of regimental commander at the end of last year, his eyes lit up.
A 27-year-old regimental-level officer is too young. If word gets out, his father-in-law will be embarrassed.
Although his eldest son is also in the military and was promoted earlier this year, he is a few years older than Shen Mingzheng.
This comparison further highlights Shen Mingzheng's excellence. Having such a son-in-law makes his father-in-law very proud.
Gu Maowen immediately became enthusiastic.
If they weren't in the hospital, he would have liked to have a good chat with his son-in-law and introduce him to the people in the family compound.
With a son-in-law like that, people will only be envious; all the gossip and rumors will just be sour grapes.
After sitting for a while, Shen Mingzheng got up to say goodbye and leave, saying that he had other things to do.
Gu Maowen naturally couldn't keep him any longer, and asked reluctantly, "Mingzheng, when are you coming back next time?"
Shen Mingzheng, holding his military cap, said, "I will ask for leave from the army when I go back this time. If there are no unexpected events, I should be able to come back next month."
"Okay, okay, then we'll wait for you to come."
Even after Shen Mingzheng left, Gu Maowen still stared longingly in the direction of the door, his previous anger completely gone.
Gu Yuanhui said somewhat bitterly, "Dad, they're all gone, so don't bother looking anymore." Then he muttered, "What's so great about them? My older brother is a regimental commander too, very capable!"
Although Shen Mingzheng is indeed very capable, as long as he is Gu Xi's fiancé and has anything to do with Gu Xi, he will hate him in the same way.
Gu Maowen didn't take it to heart: "When your older brother was his age, he was just a battalion commander."
He valued his son-in-law Shen Mingzheng highly, not only because of the Shen family behind Shen Mingzheng, but also because of Shen Mingzheng's own excellence. Who wouldn't like such a son-in-law?
Even my dislike for Gu Xi, who was like a troublemaker, has lessened.
**
When Shen Mingzheng found Gu Xi, she was busy helping an old man with a cane to sit down and getting his medicine. After getting the medicine for the old man, she went to help an illiterate old woman give directions, speaking softly and gently. The old woman's worried face quickly relaxed.
At this moment, Zhou Huaimin brought her a glass of water. She wiped the sweat from her face and thanked him.
Shen Mingzheng watched for a while, then walked over.
Upon seeing him, Zhou Huaimin said, "Brother Mingzheng, are you done with your work? I'll be going now."
As he spoke, he called over his cousin, who was playing hopscotch with the other children, and then took the child away.
Gu Xi looked at Shen Mingzheng and asked, "Big brother, do you have anything else to do later?"
Shen Mingzheng said, "We're going to another place this afternoon."
She nervously clenched her fingers. "Then..."
"Have you had lunch?" Shen Mingzheng asked again.
Gu Xi shook her head first and said, "I got up late this morning and ate breakfast late, so I'm not hungry yet."
Shen Mingzheng said, "I haven't eaten yet. Let's go get something to eat together."
Gu Xi looked up at him and finally agreed.
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