Chapter 225 Political Review 2
The next morning, the sky was clear, the snow had melted, and water was dripping from the eaves.
Gu Yan and Ruan Wenjing packed their luggage and prepared to leave.
Nan Zhiyi carried the prepared Beijing-style snacks and candied fruits, chattering on and on: "I'll take them with me to eat on the way, and I can share them with my friends when I get back."
Gu Yan looked at the large bags and quickly waved his hand, "Really, no need! Carrying so much stuff on the road is too much trouble. When I want to eat something, I'll just call you and you can send me some. It's very convenient!"
He bent down, picked up Xiaoman, and gently rubbed his chin against the little one's face, making Xiaoman dodge and laugh at the same time.
"Our Xiaoman, be a good girl, listen to your mom and dad, and grow up quickly!" He hugged Xiaoman and teased her for a while. "Uncle misses our Xiaoman the most. I'll send you some good stuff from the south later!"
He held Xiaoman close for several minutes before giving him a big kiss on the cheek and putting him back on the ground.
Standing up, Gu Yan said to Nan Zhiyi, "Zhiyi, we're leaving now. Don't bother seeing us off. We'll come again when we have the chance!"
Ruan Wenjing also politely said goodbye: "Sister-in-law, thank you for your hospitality. I'm sorry to have troubled you."
Gu Yan insisted on not letting Nan Zhiyi and the others see him off out of the compound, and pulled Ruan Wenjing along, nimbly getting into the jeep that Xiao Liu had driven.
The car started, kicking up some snow water.
Gu Yan leaned out of the car window and waved vigorously.
Nan Zhiyi stood at the gate of the courtyard, holding her son, waving until the car turned the corner and disappeared from sight.
After Gu Yan left, the atmosphere of the New Year seemed to fade considerably, and the days passed by in a flash.
Sometimes, while playing, Xiaoman will suddenly stop, blink her big eyes, point towards the door, and utter a few simple words: "Uncle, car, go?"
Nan Zhiyi was somewhat surprised by his memory.
When Gu Xiao came home from get off work, she held her son and said to him, "He's so young, yet he still remembers Gu Yan? We've only known each other for a few days."
Gu Xiao was not surprised at all: "A child who is almost two years old, what could he not remember? You still treat him like a little baby who doesn't understand anything."
He reached out and ruffled Xiaoman's hair. "Isn't that right, Xiaoman? You remember your uncle, don't you?"
Upon hearing the word "uncle," Xiaoman happily waved her toy car, shouting, "Big car!"
Nan Zhiyi was filled with pride, "Wow, is Xiaoman a little genius?"
Gu Xiao was amused and laughed, but he couldn't help but tease her, "When Gu Yan was his age, he could speak in complete sentences and remembered everything."
She immediately deflated, "Oh."
Gu Xiao put his son aside and hugged her, "It's good to be an ordinary child, isn't it?"
Nan Zhiyi didn't know how to describe this feeling. She hoped that her child would be able to travel all over Chang'an in a day when he grew up, but she also felt that it would be best if he could become a high-ranking official without any disasters or difficulties.
She held Gu Xiao's hand and watched her simple-minded son blow on the toy car to make it speed up.
The background check came sooner than expected.
On the morning of the tenth day of the first lunar month, the spring chill was still in the air. Nan Zhiyi was playing with building blocks with Xiaoman when a regular knocking sound came from outside the courtyard gate.
Sister Zhang opened the door and brought in two comrades.
They were dressed in crisp Zhongshan suits, with bright red instructor badges pinned to their chests, and their expressions were solemn.
The older man spoke up, his voice steady: "Excuse me, is this the home of Comrade Nan Zhiyi? We are from the Political Review Team of the District Admissions Office, here to conduct a home visit and external investigation in accordance with procedures."
Nan Zhiyi's heart jumped, and she quickly stood up to greet him: "Yes, comrade, please come in."
She asked Sister Zhang to take Xiaoman upstairs to play, and quickly brought over two cups of hot tea.
Almost at the same time, the sound of a jeep came from outside the courtyard.
Gu Xiao strode into the room, his military uniform radiating a chill, clearly indicating he had rushed back from the office without even wearing an overcoat.
He shook hands briefly and firmly with the two staff members: "You two have worked hard. I am Gu Xiao, Nan Zhiyi's husband."
His return was like a stabilizing force, instantly calming Nan Zhiyi's mind.
Both parties took their seats.
Without any further pleasantries, Gu Xiao took out two documents bearing official seals from the file bag he had brought back and solemnly placed them on the coffee table: "This is the official document regarding the rehabilitation of my wife Nan Zhiyi's parents, Comrades Nan Jin and Li Jingsi. This one is jointly issued by the Jian'an City Revolutionary Committee and the Rehabilitation Office, confirming that the original conclusion of 'suicide out of fear of punishment' was wrong and is hereby revoked, restoring the reputations of the two individuals. This is a copy filed with the organization department."
The older staff member put on his glasses, picked up the document, and examined it word by word, the only sound in the room being the soft rustling of turning pages.
Nan Zhiyi's palms were slightly sweaty, and her eyes unconsciously followed the staff member's fingers.
Gu Xiao noticed her nervousness and gently patted her arm under the coffee table to comfort her silently.
After reviewing the exoneration documents, the staff member's expression softened slightly, but he immediately raised a crucial question with sharp eyes: "Does Ms. Li Jingsi have a cousin in Singapore?"
Nan Zhiyi's heart tightened. She steadied her breathing and answered truthfully, "There is a maternal uncle in Singapore. But we lost all contact after 1949. My mother mentioned before she passed away that he was a patriotic overseas Chinese leader who donated medicine to airplanes during the War of Resistance."
Gu Xiao then interjected, "The organization has already reached a conclusion regarding the situation of this Mr. Li."
He took out another letter, which read, “This patriotic overseas Chinese leader has been donating money and goods to China through the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese to support national development. This is a statement issued by the United Front Work Department, confirming that he is an active patriotic united front target and that his family relationship falls within the normal category of overseas Chinese relatives.”
He passed on this weighty piece of evidence.
The staff carefully reviewed the United Front Work Department's certificate, exchanged hushed conversations, and their cautious expressions transformed into a calm and businesslike demeanor.
After briefly inquiring about Nan Zhiyi's daily conduct, they rose to take their leave: "We understand the situation, and the information will be reported truthfully. Thank you for your time."
After the two saw the staff off, Nan Zhiyi realized that her back was slightly damp.
Gu Xiao had to rush back to work, so he could only comfort her for a few moments before leaving quickly.
He was worried about Nan Zhiyi, afraid she would get stuck on something, so he deliberately left work early and went home, only to find her focused on writing in her study.
"What? You're not worried anymore?"
Nan Zhiyi put on a calm demeanor: "I have Fifth Brother to take care of me, what's there to worry about?"
Gu Xiao, annoyed by her stubbornness, pulled her into his arms: "Don't worry. Dad called this afternoon. The Political Department of the Military Region has reviewed all your files, and the conclusion is clear. Your mother-in-law's overseas connections are a positive factor in patriotism and united front work, and will not affect the political review. Don't worry."
She smiled slightly, raised her hand to stroke his brow, and said, "Don't worry about me. If it really doesn't work out, then so be it..."
Gu Xiao pinched her chin, "Mrs. Gu is talking nonsense again. She'll definitely pass."
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