Yu Xiaohan has always wanted to take Yu Meiru to Hong Kong. If possible, he wants Yu Meiru to find a son-in-law to inherit the family business. He has worked hard all his life and does not want to end up with no family left.
Yu Xiaohan and Qian Yuxin agreed that one of Yu Meiru's future children would have the surname Qian, and Qian Yuxin readily agreed.
Yu Meiru was unwilling to do so. She felt that N City was her and her mother Chen Xiaoyue's home. Ever since Yu Xiaohan married into the Qian family, Yu Meiru had considered her father dead.
Yu Meiru was only ten years old when Yu Xiaohan left home. Because Yu Xiaohan had gone to Hong Kong, a capitalist land, Yu Meiru and her mother, Chen Xiaoyue, were placed under surveillance. As the family member of a "defector," Chen Xiaoyue volunteered to clean public toilets before dawn each day. At eight o'clock in the morning, Chen Xiaoyue would work at the neighborhood match factory, pasting paper boxes until six o'clock in the evening, earning a meager salary to support herself and her daughter, Yu Meiru.
Chen Xiaoyue doesn't make much money every month, but for every meal, she would scoop the little rice in the pot into Yu Meiru's bowl, and she would only drink some clear rice soup to fill her stomach. Every time Chen Xiaoyue talked about Yu Xiaohan with her daughter, she was happiest. In Chen Xiaoyue's heart, Yu Xiaohan was a man who dared to think, take risks, was smart, and had superb means. When Chen Xiaoyue talked about Yu Xiaohan, she would always say:
"Xiaoru, your father is just so awesome."
"Xiaoru, your father is so smart."
"Xiaoru, your father is the bravest man in the world."
"Xiaoru, your father will be back to pick us up soon."
······
Chen Xiaoyue never waited for Yu Xiaohan to come back to pick her up. One afternoon, Chen Xiaoyue collapsed on her way home from work. Long-term hunger and malnutrition had damaged Chen Xiaoyue's health.
Yu Meiru will never forget the moment when Chen Xiaoyue breathed her last. She was already skin and bones, but she still stubbornly held her daughter's hand, staring at her with bright eyes, asking her not to hate her father.
Dad, this word was just a vague face in Yu Meiru's mind. In order for Chen Xiaoyue to leave with peace of mind, Yu Meiru nodded but said nothing.
After Chen Xiaoyue's death, Yu Xiaohan secretly returned to City N, hoping to bring Yu Meiru to Hong Kong. Yu Meiru refused. This was the home she and Chen Xiaoyue had lived in for over a decade. Now that she was gone, who would burn incense for her poor mother during the Qingming Festival?
Seeing that Yu Meiru refused to go with him, Yu Xiaohan had no choice but to leave some money for her. The child was already twelve years old, half an adult, and with him secretly taking care of her, he thought he could live a good life.
Yu Meiru lived alone like this for six years until she met Zhao Guohui who barged into her house.
Chen Xiaoyue had been dead for six years. Yu Meiru had grown from a little girl into a beautiful young woman.
Ever since Yu Xiaohan forced her to go to Hong Kong, Yu Meiru has been thinking about leaving City N all the time.
Yu Meiru hated Yu Xiaohan and would never allow herself to live with him. Seeing Yu Xiaohan and Qian Yuxin being affectionate, Yu Meiru felt she was going crazy. Chen Xiaoyue left her impression not only as a great mother but also as a pitiful woman.
Yu Meiru even suspected that Yu Xiaohan had played a role in Chen Xiaoyue's death. Otherwise, why was Chen Xiaoyue fine before, but something happened to her after Qian Dabao proposed to Yu Xiaohan?
Yu Meiru just wanted to run away to a place far away from Yu Xiaohan and start her own life. She didn't want to be Yu Xiaohan's daughter, and she didn't want to be exploited by Yu Xiaohan to drain her surplus value. Yu Xiaohan wanted her to be a reproductive tool to continue the Yu and Qian families' incense. Dream on!
The Kyoto City Guards' Family Building has been abuzz these past few days. Many people are privately discussing Zhou Zhixin's family. Of course, aside from a few who like to make sarcastic remarks, most people are happy for Zhou Zhixin and his family.
General Zhou went to the Guard Regiment that day. After completing his inspection, he walked up to Zhou Zhixin without hesitation, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Grandson, well done. Grandpa was right about you. Even without Grandpa to protect you, you've walked steadily. Grandpa is proud of you."
Zhou Zhixin was stunned. Although he felt that General Zhou's face was very familiar, as familiar as seeing himself in the mirror decades later, from beginning to end, Zhou Zhixin never once thought that General Zhou was a relative.
The officers present were stunned. General Zhou of China was Zhou Zhixin's grandfather? Wasn't this a dream? Wasn't Zhou Zhixin just a poor kid from a rural area in the north?
However, no one dared to act recklessly in front of General Zhou. It wasn't until Zhou Xi laughed heartily and announced that the cafeteria would have an extra meal tonight to celebrate General Zhou's finding his long-lost grandson that everyone finally came to their senses.
Zhou Xi had two pigs and ten sheep sent over. Regardless of whether Zhou Zhixin's story was true or not, this rich food would definitely be eaten by everyone tonight. For a moment, everyone was beaming.
Although Ren Dahai had long suspected the relationship between General Zhou and Zhou Zhixin from Zhou Xi's care for him, speculation was just speculation after all. How could it be as shocking as General Zhou admitting Zhou Zhixin in front of everyone? Seeing Zhou Zhixin stunned by the news, Ren Dahai quickly pulled Zhou Zhixin's clothes and gently reminded him, "You've been working hard all day. Captain Zhou, shouldn't you invite the commander to your home for a visit?"
Zhou Zhixin was pulled back to his senses by Ren Dahai and said to General Zhou, "Yes, please come to my house and sit for a while. I'll ask my wife to cook a few dishes for you. Please have a good meal at my house."
After he finished speaking, Zhou Zhixin touched his head sheepishly. He was truly shocked, and his mind was still fuzzy.
"You were right to call me Chief while we were working, but now that the work is over, what should you call me?" General Zhou said with a stern face, somewhat unhappy. Did his eldest grandson despise him? Or did he simply refuse to acknowledge him?
"Commander, no, Grandpa, please come to my house and have a seat." Zhou Zhixin then called out "Grandpa", which made General Zhou's stern face reveal a hint of a smile.
Zhou Xi followed behind General Zhou. After all, he was a frequent visitor to Zhou Zhixin's house. Even if Zhou Zhixin didn't invite him, Zhou Xi wouldn't be embarrassed to go and eat for free.
"Don't blame me if I really recognize the wrong person," Zhou Zhixin muttered as he walked. Today's events felt like a dream, and Zhou Zhixin was afraid that something dramatic would happen next, like General Zhou mistaking someone for someone else.
Zhou Zhixin's voice was quiet, but General Zhou heard it. General Zhou's face remained unchanged, but his heart was filled with joy. His eldest grandson! He was so adorable!
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