For the next few days, Ling Ruoke dragged Tan Peishi along to choose furniture.
She was very excited to be able to decorate her own home, so her standards were high. She would insist on visiting every single furniture store to find the perfect piece before buying it. If she wasn't satisfied with even the smallest detail, she would give up on it.
"If you're okay, I don't want to go shopping with you anymore, I'm exhausted!" Tan Peishi plopped down on the side of the road, she was really so tired that she was about to dehydrate.
"You used to dislike shopping, so how come your magical power has increased so much? The power of love is truly astonishing!"
Ling Ruoke smiled but didn't say anything. She had indeed exhausted Peishi these past few days. She herself was also tired, but it couldn't compare to the strong desire in her heart to create a warm and beautiful home.
"Peishi, why don't you go back first? I can shop by myself." Anyway, the furniture is delivered to my door, so I don't need to carry it.
Tan Peishi waved her hand, panting, somewhat weak, but still insistent. "That won't do. I have to keep a close eye on you. If anything goes wrong, the captain will skin me alive."
Ling Ruoke knew this was just an excuse; Peishi simply wanted to stay with her, worried that something might happen to her. So she said nothing more and sat down with her to rest for a while, since there was no rush.
"Hey Ruoke, is the captain planning to get married once the house is furnished?"
The captain really acted quickly; he had already secretly bought and renovated the house. He deliberately left the furniture purchase and arrangement to Ruoke, reinforcing the idea that "this is our home" in her mind. What a cunning old fox!
Just as Ling Ruoke was about to speak, someone shouted it out before she could.
"Brother Huo won't marry her, absolutely not! Grandpa and Grandpa Huo said that only Miaomiao is Brother Huo's wife!" Gu Miaomiao rushed in front of them, her cheeks puffed out angrily.
Ling Ruoke had a bit of a headache. This little girl wasn't a bad person, at least she wasn't scheming. But she was so eager to marry Huo Qingfeng that every time she saw her, she had to assert her claim. And somehow, she always seemed to run into her.
Tan Peishi is not Ling Ruoke; she doesn't care whether you're a good person or a bad person. When it comes to sharp tongues, the naive Gu Miaomiao is no match for her.
"Your grandfather and Grandpa Huo said so, so you should marry them. The one getting married now is Huo Qingfeng, not his grandfather or your grandfather. You're just a greenhorn who hasn't even grown up yet, and you dare to shamelessly compete for a man? Aren't you ashamed? I think you should go back to your wet nurse. Huo Qingfeng wouldn't marry a snot-nosed little girl. He's not a pedophile!"
"You, you—" Gu Miaomiao's eyes widened, she was so angry that she couldn't speak.
"What? Besides not being fully grown, you also stutter? That's it, Huo Qingfeng definitely won't like you! You should go back and marry your grandfather or Grandpa Huo."
Tan Peishi waved her hand, her "you're finished" expression was infuriating.
Ling Ruoke almost burst out laughing, but she didn't want to kick someone when they were down. She reached out and tugged at Pei Shi, signaling her to stop. "We still need to buy things, let's go."
Tan Peishi made a face at Gu Miaomiao, wiggled her waist, and decided to tease her a little before leaving.
"Uncle Huo and the others won't like you either!" the little girl shouted loudly from behind.
Tan Peishi couldn't help but turn around and say with a smile, "I know Uncle Huo likes you, but are you sure Huo Qingfeng is willing to let you be his stepmother?"
"Peishi, don't talk nonsense!" Ling Ruoke was also anxious. How could she say such things when the other person's mother was perfectly fine?
"Hehe, sorry, I just blurted it out."
The two walked further and further apart, leaving only a huffing Gu Miaomiao stamping her feet.
...
Huo Qingfeng came over that evening, and Tan Peishi brought up the matter at the dinner table. Ling Ruoke wanted to stop her, but it was too late.
Colonel Huo's face darkened instantly. His hand gripping the chopsticks felt like it was about to crush them to powder.
The next day, he took leave and went straight to the Gu family compound with Ruoke.
"Wouldn't this be a bit inappropriate?" Ling Ruoke hesitated as she was pulled out of the Hummer. Although she wanted to resolve Gu Miaomiao's matter, she felt it was a bit excessive to so openly declare her ownership.
"It's alright, leave it to me." He dislikes dragging things out and creating unnecessary complications.
...
"Old Gu."
"It's Changkong. It's been a long time." Old Master Gu is over 70 years old, but he is in good health and spirits. People who have come from the battlefield all have an intimidating aura.
When Ling Ruoke met his all-seeing eyes, she was so frightened that she wanted to hide behind Huo Qingfeng. Although she held back, her scalp tingled. "Hello, Grandpa Gu, I am Ling Ruoke."
General Gu Weiguo looked Ling Ruoke up and down, nodded, and then turned to Huo Qingfeng. "Is this the wife you've chosen?"
Huo Qingfeng held Ruo Ke's hand in his palm, trying to soothe her anxiety. "Yes, Elder Gu."
Gu Weiguo looked at them for a moment, then gestured to the seat next to him. "Sit down. Someone, pour some tea."
"Everyone in the family knows." Huo Qingfeng was his preferred grandson-in-law, so how could Gu Weiguo be content with that? However, he also understood Huo Qingfeng.
Huo Qingfeng turned to look at Ruo Ke's somewhat flustered face and patted the back of her hand. Then he turned to Old Master Gu. "Not yet. However, I'm choosing my own wife, and I believe they won't have any objections."
Gu Weiguo looked at Ruoke for a moment and nodded. Some things can't be forced. "What makes Zhenzhen and Miaomiao inferior to her?"
Huo Qingfeng met his gaze without flinching. "So many talented young men want to be Old Master Gu's grandson-in-law, but Old Master Gu doesn't think much of them. They're not necessarily inferior to me in any way."
Gu Weiguo suddenly burst into laughter and patted Huo Qingfeng on the shoulder. "Kid Huo, I love your personality!"
Huo Qingfeng secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Old Master Gu was not such a stubborn and rigid person, otherwise things would have become very troublesome.
"You haven't been here in a long time. How about we play a few games today? Let me see if your chess skills have improved." Although the old man was asking, he had already ordered someone to bring over the chessboard and pieces.
"Do you know how to play chess?" Huo Qingfeng turned to ask Ruo Ke.
Ling Ruoke nodded. Compared to her peers, her chess skills might be acceptable. But compared to an old general like him, they were probably insignificant. "I know a little, but I'm not a master."
"Old Gu, how about I let my wife play a few rounds with you?" Old Gu likes Ruoke, so there will be fewer unexpected complications.
Gu Weiguo's eyes were sharp, and he readily nodded. "Alright."
"If I don't play well, please don't laugh at me, Elder Gu."
Ling Ruoke had already composed herself, meeting Old Gu's sharp gaze with a beaming smile. Actually, if you don't think of him as a veteran general from the battlefield, he's just an old man with a strong personality. Old people are often quirky and endearing, if you're willing to discover it.
Huo Qingfeng then switched places with Ruo Ke, and immediately became calm as he watched the two people, one big and one small.
No wonder people say that playing chess is the best way to cultivate one's character.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com