Gu Zhiyuan let go of the doorknob and walked out, where he saw Jiang Yuan and Gu Zhixing coming out of his room after hearing the noise.
Seeing the worry on their faces, Gu Zhiyuan shook his head slightly to indicate that everything was alright.
The two were then relieved.
Gu Zhixing glared at Gu Dajun and said sarcastically, "Whose fault is that? It's because you two grown men have a son who's four or five years old, yet he's still like a baby, always going to his father for everything! He's practically tied to his father's waistband. What can we expect from you? You're so short-sighted, always focused on this little corner of the family, afraid of being taken advantage of. Of course, you're not noticed by anyone!"
These words struck a nerve with Gu Dajun, whose face immediately turned red: "Fourth brother, how dare you talk to me like that? I'm still your eldest brother—"
Gu Zhixing wasn't buying it: "My brother is right here. I'll talk to you the way you usually talk to me!"
The two started arguing right there in the hallway.
Jiang Yuan frowned, wanting to go forward and offer some words of advice, but Gu Zhiyuan pulled her away and led her straight downstairs.
Gu Zhixing didn't linger and followed behind.
Gu Dajun angrily turned to look at Gu Yong: "Dad, look, the third and fourth brothers don't respect me, their eldest brother, at all—"
In the past, if he complained like this, Gu Yong would definitely scold the Gu brothers.
But today, Gu Yong was unsure about Gu Zhiyuan and didn't know what his son would do next, so he was very upset.
Looking at Gu Dajun again, just as Gu Zhixing said, he was almost forty years old and still had to argue with his younger brother who was a teenager. That was bad enough, but he couldn't even win the argument and had to ask his own father to take his side. Wasn't that just like someone who hadn't been weaned?
So, annoyed, he waved his hand and said, "Shut up! The third brother just got back, why are you provoking him? Behave yourself!"
After saying that, he got up, left the study, and slammed the door shut.
Then he hurried downstairs.
Leaving Gu Dajun alone, he angrily kicked the study door a few times before following him downstairs.
Downstairs, it's quite lively right now.
Besides Gu Dajun, Gu Daikui also returned.
The food was already laid out in the dining room, and the Gu family patriarch and matriarch were already seated at the table, while Gu Da Kui was teasing them from the sidelines.
Fang Dani watched as the nanny set out the dishes and chopsticks. Seeing Jiang Yuan and the others come down, she quickly greeted them, "The food is ready! We've been waiting for you. Please take your seats!"
Gu Daikui rolled his eyes and said sarcastically, "This third brother is so arrogant since he came back. He won't come down for dinner, and we have to send people to urge him three or four times, making our grandpa and grandma wait—"
Old Master Gu coughed once: "Third son, your return this time is all thanks to your father and your two brothers. If it weren't for them, they should have kicked you out and severed ties with you when you were labeled one of the 'Five Black Categories'! It's only because your father and your two brothers are soft-hearted that you've come back. You must remember their kindness! Otherwise, even if you were exonerated, I'm afraid you wouldn't be able to return to the capital, let alone the Gu family—"
Hearing this, Gu Yong, who was following closely behind, immediately looked at Gu Zhiyuan's expression as a reflex.
Gu Zhiyuan remained calm as he comforted Jiang Yuan, whose face had turned pale with anger.
Gu Zhixing's face turned red with anger, and he clenched his fists. If Gu Zhiyuan hadn't glared at him, he probably would have confronted Old Master Gu.
Gu Yong quickly coughed and said, "Alright, it's good that he's back! Let's eat!"
As he spoke, he took the first seat. Gu Daikui and Gu Dajun, who followed behind him, immediately sat on either side of Gu Yong, followed by Fang Dani. The remaining three seats were left for Jiang Yuan and the Gu Zhiyuan brothers.
Gu Zhiyuan did not sit down, but instead looked at Gu Zhixing: "When I wasn't home before, did we sit like this when we ate at home?"
Gu Zhixing nodded.
Jiang Yuan wanted to settle things peacefully, since her son had just returned home and she was too lazy to argue with those people. She pulled Gu Zhiyuan aside and said, "Alright, we're at home, you can sit anywhere. Let's eat!"
Fang Dani seemed to realize something was wrong and immediately stood up, looking flustered: "Jiang Meizi, you, you sit down!"
Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu immediately said, "You should sit there. What are you doing getting up?"
Fang Dani smiled apologetically at Jiang Yuan, then sat down steadily.
Gu Zhiyuan patted Jiang Yuan's hand, signaling her to let go.
Then he walked a few steps to the dining table, smiled, and then raised both hands, instantly overturning a table full of food onto the ground.
Gu Yong was agile and stepped back a few steps, only getting a few drops of oil on his body.
Gu Zhiyuan acted with restraint, flipping the table directly at Gu Dajun and the others. Their reaction was not as good as Gu Yong's, and the food and oil splattered all over them, from head to toe, leaving no spot untouched.
Then I saw two brothers, one with a fish hanging from his head, the other with a few vegetable leaves on his shoulder, their faces and heads covered in soup, which was dripping down their hair and eyebrows...
Fang Dani was also affected, with oil splattered on her body, causing a sharp popping sound.
Before anyone could react, Gu Zhiyuan helped Jiang Yuan walk out, calling to Gu Zhixing, "What are you all standing there for? Come on, I'll take you to a restaurant—"
Upon hearing this, Gu Zhixing's eyes lit up. He didn't care about the rest of the Gu family and eagerly followed them out of the Gu family gate.
It wasn't until they left the courtyard that they heard a burst of angry curses coming from inside the Gu family's house...
After walking quite a distance, Jiang Yuan finally came to her senses and hesitated before saying, "Zhiyuan, isn't this a bit inappropriate? What about your grandparents—"
Gu Zhiyuan calmly said, "Don't worry about them! Let's go eat first! After we eat, I'll take you to work! Don't worry, with our sensible and good father around these days, things won't escalate."
Gu Zhixing excitedly said from behind, "Brother! The way you flipped the table just now was so cool! Haha, look at Gu Dajun and the other guy with soup all over their faces and hair, it was hilarious! It was so satisfying!"
Jiang Yuan playfully patted Gu Zhixing, but didn't say anything else.
Gu Zhixing chattered on and on: "If I had my brother's strength, I'd flip tables every few days! I'd drive them crazy!"
When they arrived at the state-run restaurant, which Gu Zhiyuan and his group frequented, they were all familiar with each other, especially Jiang Yuan.
The lobby was full of people, so they were led directly to a private room at the back.
Gu Zhiyuan ordered several dishes that everyone liked.
While waiting for the food, Jiang Yuan finally had a chance to ask Gu Zhiyuan about his situation over the past two years.
Gu Zhiyuan naturally only reported the good news and not the bad. He described his time in the countryside as lightly as possible, and talked more about what delicious food he ate and what fun things he did with Xu Ningyan in Jingshan County. Even his clever dog, Gou Lüzi, was mentioned several times.
But Jiang Yuan was someone who had fought and marched with the army back then, so she knew perfectly well that Gu Zhiyuan was avoiding the important issues.
As a mother, it's a sign of filial piety for her son to keep it from her! Besides, her son has returned safely and is right in front of her, so she won't pry into it.
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