You have to know that his grandfather has always been strict with him, and he never praises him easily no matter how well he performs in study or work.

Even as the eldest grandson, he always refused to get married and start a family after he grew up. He was disliked by his grandfather all these years, and he would frown when he saw him. Now he has found his aunt and won his grandfather's praise again. It is not easy.

Xu Hengkai was in a good mood and was no longer so serious. He contacted Shen Yu on the phone and started to joke with his cousin half-seriously.

Cousin: "Brother, do you want to... uh, find a concubine for your dad? Then you can have a stepmother, too?"

The microphone was silent. After a while, Shen Yu spoke, his voice suppressing his excitement: "You, found it?"

"right."

"Where?"

"I'm asking you, do you want a stepmother? A very young one."

"How young?"

"I'm younger than you anyway."

Xu Hengkai didn't mean to say that. Xu Meixia had scars on her face from domestic violence, and she didn't know how to make up for it, but she didn't look old in the photo. Later, her aunt's soul took over her body. Her aunt loved cleanliness, and she would keep herself tidy even if she didn't dress up. Moreover, she had been recuperating at Widow Mu's house for half a year, and her complexion was not bad. She did look younger than Shen Yu.

Shen Yu: “…”

My mother is younger than me? That's a bit... well, it's hard to call her that.

Cousin: "Do you want it or not? Say something."

"want!"

"Bring me some wine in exchange."

"Sure, tell me where you are and I'll be there right away."

"Not yet. You stay here and wait for news. The latest will be tomorrow morning." Then he hung up.

Shen Yu was speechless. Is this his biological cousin? She is his biological mother, and there is still a conditional exchange.

Without making things clear, he just left people hanging. Don't you know that he will be anxious to death? Shen Yu and his father Shen Heping stayed in a county guesthouse that night. They received a call from his cousin Xu. Shen Heping happened to be out. Shen Yu did not plan to tell him that his cousin Xu had already found someone. He was worried that his father would be so excited that he would go to his cousin immediately after knowing the situation. The problem was that Shen Yu did not know where his cousin was. He would have to wait until tomorrow to find out. He could not rest that night.

Cousin Xu, who has always been absolutely trustworthy to his brothers, did not keep his word this time. However, it is not his fault. It was a decision made after discussion between Grandpa Xu, Grandma Xu, and my two uncles.

So at noon the next day, cousin Xu rushed to the guesthouse where Shen Yu and his son were staying. When he saw Shen Yu, his face was full of apology and a little regretful: he was afraid that the wine his cousin had promised him would be ruined.

Shen Yu asked: "Where are the people?"

Xu Hengkai spread his hands and said, "He's gone. My mom, your aunt, flew here last night and took him away."

"I'll tell you in detail when I get inside. Where's your uncle?"

"He's inside. He wanted to go out to look for him early in the morning. I didn't let him go. He was angry and blamed me for not paying attention."

Shen Yu now felt that it was the wisest decision not to tell his father about the phone call last night. Otherwise, his father would have been anxious all night and still not been able to see the person... one can imagine the consequences.

Xu Hengkai nodded: "Leave it to me, he won't be so irritable after I finish talking to him."

The father and son talked with Xu Hengkai in the room for about an hour. In fact, it would not have taken so much time. When Shen Heping learned that Xu Jia had been found, he was not allowed to see him or even discuss it with him. He was taken away directly and was specifically told that before this year's Spring Festival, Shen Heping could not see Xu Jia or mention this matter to anyone. Everything should be done according to Grandpa Xu's arrangements.

Shen Heping couldn't accept it and was a little bit stubborn.

Shen Yu immediately understood his grandfather and uncle's considerations, and after some effort with his cousin, he finally managed to persuade Shen Heping.

Then Xu Hengkai left, and Shen Yu and Shen Heping also left soon. As agreed, Shen Heping would return to the steel plant for the time being, while Shen Yu would go to Xingyang County, Mengzhou to pick up his wife.

The father and son returned to the provincial capital of Province D. As soon as they entered the house, Shen Heping fell ill. Shen Yu knew that he missed his mother Xu Jia too much, but he couldn't see her and he was so angry.

There were various medicines left by Meng Tao at home, and there were also space ingredients and spring water in the storage room and refrigerator. Shen Yu cooked for his father. Shen Heping loved these in the past, but now he had no appetite.

As the saying goes, heart disease is difficult to cure and no panacea works.

Shen Heping lay in bed listlessly for two days. Probably he figured things out, so he got up, prepared his own food, cleaned the house, and told Shen Yu not to stay at home but to go and pick up Taotao.

Shen Yu saw that his father had lost a lot of weight. Although he still looked a little haggard, he had no problem taking care of himself. He also missed his young wife very much, so he did not delay any longer and drove to Mengzhou overnight.

Meng Tao had no idea what was going on between the father and son, and she had no idea that Xu Jia had been found. She took Xiao Wangcai and lived in Zuoxing Lane in Mengzhou City for five days. When Zhang Fu knew she was back, he immediately came to Mengzhou City from Xingyang County and took her to see the newly rented warehouse, which not only stored a large number of mountain products purchased by Ma Fengnian, but also all kinds of goods from Boss He in Guangshi. Zhang Fu made this stall very successful and had become the number one wholesaler of black market goods in Mengzhou area.

Meng Tao got a set of keys to the new warehouse, and looked for an opportunity to store all of Ma Fengnian's mountain products in the space, still using the excuse of "asking the boss above to come and take them away."

Zhang Fu's girlfriend, Yu Li, is now his fiancée. Zhang Fu used his connections to get a quota to return to the city and work as a salesperson in a supply and marketing cooperative. The two have a very good relationship and are planning to get married on National Day next year.

Zhang Fu also asked his future father-in-law for help and bought a yard in Mengzhou City, on a street not far from Xingzi Lane. The yard was bigger than Meng Tao's and had been renovated. During holidays, Zhang's father and mother brought Zhang brother to stay for two days and get together with the in-laws. The two families got along very well.

Driver Xiao Guo, who came with Meng Tao, arranged for him to stay at Zhang Fujia's house.

When Meng Tao arrived in Mengzhou City, it was the time of continuous winter rain and the weather was very cold. People all wore cotton-padded jackets, but the bonsai flowers and trees in the small courtyard of Zuo Xingzi Lane were still lush and green, with colorful flowers. This was probably the beginning of spring. Meng Tao watered them with spring water and dripped two drops of pine needle dew into the small pond next to it. After she went to the capital, she asked Jinniu and Zhou Cuiling to come over from time to time to take care of the courtyard and water the flowers and trees with water from the small pond.

Aunt Wang, the neighbor on the left, and Aunt Zhao, who lived across the street, were very happy to see Meng Tao come back, pregnant. They came over to ask Meng Tao about her well-being. Some other neighbors also came to watch the fun. The yard was full of adults and children. Meng Tao was worried that the children were too curious about the dog and might pet Xiao Wangcai without knowing the severity and irritate him. So she asked Xiao Wangcai to stay in the inner room and not come out, and distributed some candy to everyone.

After staying in Xingzi Lane for a few days, the sky cleared up when the sun came out. Then Meng Tao took driver Xiao Guo and Xiao Wangcai back to the countryside of Xingyang County.

(End of this chapter)