Xu Jiefang's tombstone is located further inside, with his name and life story engraved on it, and a black and white photograph in the very center.
In the photo, Xu Jiefang is wearing a military uniform, with handsome features, a firm gaze, and an aura of righteousness. His young face has distinct features.
Xu Ningyan squatted down and stared at the photo for a long time. She could vaguely see a familiar shadow in Xu Jiefang's features.
My eyes resemble his, my nose is somewhat similar, and my overall features are also similar.
If Xu Jiefang were still alive, the two of them walking together would be easily recognized as father and daughter.
For some reason, Xu Ningyan's heart suddenly felt sore.
Reaching out to touch the photo on the tombstone, he silently said, "You must be able to see your daughter down there now, right? I wonder if you two have been reunited in the afterlife? I have donated your pension and her allowance to the families and orphans of your comrades. I hope that the tragedy that befell your daughter will not be repeated in others."
“Meng Qingsong ruined you, and you can see what will happen to him! Wu Hongqin will be trapped in that small county town for the rest of her life. The retribution they are receiving is what they deserve! If you have a spirit in heaven, teach them a good lesson after they die!”
"I'm leaving after visiting you! This is our first meeting, but not our last! Don't worry, I'll live well, carrying on Siya's legacy! And you take good care of yourself too!"
...
While Xu Ningyan touched the tombstone in silence, Gu Zhiyuan left for a while.
He's back now, carrying some things in his hands. He squatted down and silently placed the items one by one in front of the tombstone.
There was meat, wine, cigarettes, and fruit. These were things that Xu Ningyan had asked Gu Zhiyuan to prepare. These things are hard to come by now, so they were only delivered now.
He poured the liquor onto the tombstone, then carefully dipped his hand in the liquor and wiped the tombstone clean.
When only half a bottle of wine remained, Gu Zhiyuan spilled it on the ground as a tribute to all the martyrs in this cemetery.
Xu Ningyan wasn't in a good mood. She stood up, looked at a cluster of wildflowers not far away, pursed her lips, and decided to pick a bunch to offer to Xu Jiefang.
Seeing that Xu Ningyan had walked away.
Gu Zhiyuan stood quietly in front of Xu Jiefang's tombstone and saluted.
"Uncle, hello! I am Gu Zhiyuan! I am Aning's fiancé, although it's only in name. But soon, I will become Aning's real fiancé and husband! Uncle, don't worry, although Aning has no relatives in the world, she still has me! As long as I am here, I will protect her! Please entrust Aning to me with peace of mind!"
“My family likes her too, so don’t worry. Now that I’ve decided to marry Aning and cherish her for the rest of my life, I will never let her suffer or be wronged! I, Gu Zhiyuan, swear on my life that I will cherish Xu Ningyan for the rest of my life, and I will always be loyal to her, no matter what, whether she is sick or alive! I will never leave her!”
The young man in the photo on the tombstone looks at Gu Zhiyuan with a determined gaze, as if to say: Young man, you must do what you say!
Xu Ningyan picked a bunch of wildflowers, wove a wreath on the spot, and walked over.
Gently placing the wreath atop the tombstone, Xu Jiefang's face seemed to soften beneath the wreath as he quietly gazed ahead.
Xu Ningyan knelt down and sincerely kowtowed three times to Xu Jiefang: "Don't worry! I will be fine! If I can get married and have children someday, I will bring them to see you!"
Behind him, Gu Zhiyuan also knelt down and kowtowed three times to Xu Jiefang.
Then he got up and helped Xu Ningyan to her feet.
Xu Ningyan glanced at him but said nothing about his earlier kowtow.
Gu Zhiyuan was secretly pleased. Was this tacit agreement?
Overwhelmed with emotion, Gu Zhiyuan couldn't bear to let go of Xu Ningyan's hand that had just helped her up.
He held Xu Ningyan's wrist tightly and led her outside.
Xu Ningyan blushed slightly, but did not object and obediently followed behind.
After leaving the martyrs' cemetery, the two stood at the entrance and looked back. Gu Zhiyuan's voice was unusually gentle: "Now that things are done here, would you like to come back to Beijing with me for a few days? My mother and younger brother want to see you!"
His eyes were filled with bright anticipation.
Xu Ningyan hesitated for a moment: "Is this a good idea? We've been out for so long, wouldn't it be bad if we didn't go back soon?"
Gu Zhiyuan patiently persuaded him: "What's wrong with that? You've been through so much, going to the capital to relax is a good idea! Besides, if you go back now, you'll probably be in the eye of the storm again because of Xu Changfeng's matter. It's better to go to the capital to avoid things and wait until things calm down before making any decisions."
Xu Ningyan wavered even more.
"And I happen to need your help with something!" Gu Zhiyuan immediately added fuel to the fire upon seeing this.
"What do you need my help with?" If it were anything else, it would be fine, but Gu Zhiyuan actually needs my help?
Xu Ningyan was both curious and somewhat worried.
Gu Zhiyuan sighed, "When I went back to Beijing last time, I advised my mother to divorce Gu Yong. She said she would think about it, but I feel like she hasn't thought it through and is still being manipulated by Gu Yong. So I'd like to ask you for a favor: go to Beijing and see if you can persuade my mother to escape this hellhole of the Gu family and divorce Gu Yong—"
He then told Xu Ningyan everything he had done at the Gu family in Beijing and what he had told Jiang Yuan, including the fact that the Gu brothers, Gu Dajun and Gu Daikui, had hired someone to kill someone.
Xu Ningyan never expected that the Gu family was so dangerous that they had even hired someone to commit murder.
And Gu Yong, that biased guy, actually cleaned up his two sons' messes! He's utterly unworthy of being a father! He's a complete scoundrel!
She suddenly remembered that Xu Zhenzhu had no impression of Gu Zhiyuan in the original book; Gu Zhiyuan only appeared in Lu Kai's narration later on.
Lu Kai's family was not found to be involved with spies, and Meng Ruyi remained undetected, later enjoying wealth and luxury alongside Lu Kai.
Lu Kai's entire fortune was eventually given to Meng Ruyi and their two sons.
Is it possible that if I hadn't appeared and saved Gu Zhiyuan's life in time, Gu Zhiyuan might have suffered irreparable harm in this murder case hired by Gu Dajun and his group?
Although he survived, the mission to investigate the espionage case failed.
Later, Lu Kai wanted to expand into the Beijing market, but Gu Zhiyuan blocked him. It seems that Gu Zhiyuan had suspected the Lu family back then, but he was injured, his mission failed, he was powerless to do so, or something major happened, so the Lu family escaped a disaster.
Later, Gu Zhiyuan probably didn't find any substantial evidence, so he could only let the Lu family go free and their business grow bigger and bigger.
However, Gu Zhiyuan did not have a good impression of the Lu family, so he warned Lu Kai.
Lu Kai returned from the capital in a state of shock and dared not expand further north. It was likely that Gu Zhiyuan had leaked something, which frightened him.
That makes sense.
Otherwise, given Gu Zhiyuan's current workplace and nature, why would he switch to doing business?
Something major must have happened that made him unable to stay in the National Security Bureau, forcing him to change careers!
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