Chapter 189 The Ugly Daughter-in-Law Wants to Meet Her In-Laws
As the train pulled into the capital station in the morning light, fine snowflakes began to fall on the platform.
In the early winter of 1965, the city welcomed returning travelers and new guests in a crisp and understated manner.
Gu Baobao exhaled a puff of white breath, looking at the vast, ancient, and orderly city before her. Compared to when she left, it seemed to have gained an indescribable tension.
There are more slogans now, and pedestrians seem to be walking faster, but the deep-rooted charm of Beijing still flows silently among the gray walls, black tiles, and towering poplar trees.
They didn't attract too much attention.
A jeep with military license plates picked them up directly from the train station and took them to the vicinity of Houhai.
The car drove through several fairly wide alleys and finally stopped in front of a seemingly ordinary black lacquered wooden door that exuded a strong sense of history.
There was no plaque above the door, nor any stone lions on either side. Only the mottled red lacquer and the faint traces of old door nails on the door panels revealed the extraordinary nature of this courtyard in the past.
Now, it belongs to Gu Baobao.
"This is it."
Lu Zhanming got out of the car first and reached out to help Gu Baobao.
His back injury had long since healed and he could move freely, but his habit of taking care of the baby was ingrained in his bones.
Pushing open the slightly ajar wooden door, a neat and tranquil world slowly unfolds before your eyes with a creak.
The layout is a standard three-courtyard siheyuan (traditional courtyard house) facing south. The first thing you see is the rear building, a row of south-facing rooms.
The office has been renovated to meet the requirements of Lu Zhanming's new position, "Special Security Office," with reinforced doors and windows and a clear view to facilitate guard duty and work.
Passing through the hanging flower gate into the inner courtyard, there are three tall main rooms in front, and three side rooms on each of the east and west sides.
The courtyard is paved with square bricks. In one corner, there used to be an old pomegranate tree, but now all its leaves have fallen, leaving its branches strong and vigorous. There is also an old well covered with a stone slab.
The backyard is a bit small, and it's a rear building that's been planned as Gu Baobao's core research area. The doors and windows are closed and haven't been opened yet.
The house had clearly been carefully maintained. The roof tiles were neatly arranged, the walls were freshly painted, and the wooden doors and windows were also freshly painted, with little to no musty smell.
The main room and side rooms are fully furnished with basic furniture, including beds, tables, chairs, and wardrobes. Although the style is simple, the furniture is sturdy and clean.
The kitchen was even stocked with brand-new pots, pans, and a small bag of rice and flour.
What surprised Gu Baobao the most was that one of the rooms in the east wing had been set up as a small pharmacy and treatment room.
Several brand-new Chinese medicine cabinets stood against the wall, with blank labels on the drawers.
A large desk, a chair, and a simple examination bed. The windows are large, allowing plenty of natural light.
"When...when were all these preparations made?"
Gu Baobao stroked the smooth tabletop, a warm feeling welling up in her heart.
"Minister Sui and his team started making arrangements as soon as they returned. The old man also sent people to help and bought some furniture."
Lu Zhanming hugged her from behind, his chin rubbing against the top of her head.
"Do you like it? From now on, this will be our home. The front yard will be for offices and security, the middle yard for living, and the back yard for your research. When Grandpa, Grandma, and Mom and Dad come, there will be enough rooms in the side rooms."
"like."
Gu Baobao leaned against him and nodded emphatically.
An unprecedented sense of security and belonging quietly emerged.
This is her home, her home with Zhan Ming, and also a haven for future family reunions.
"but,"
She frowned slightly, and her voice lowered.
"Brother Zhanming, I'm still worried. Lavoisier... with us settling in so openly, what if he..."
Lu Zhanming tightened his grip, his tone calm and firm:
"Baby, don't be afraid. From the moment we set foot on this land, the safety network around you has been rewoven and fully upgraded."
The security measures in this courtyard, both overt and covert, were designed by a top-notch team. My people will be on duty 24/7, with fixed posts at the alley entrance and mobile sentries nearby. Moreover…
He paused, looking into Gu Baobao's eyes.
"This isn't F country or M country. This is our home turf. Any evil spirits who want to get involved here should think twice about the consequences. Your safety is the highest priority right now."
His words were like a reassuring pill, calming Gu Baobao's anxiety. Yes, she was home; here she had the strongest support.
It took most of the day to settle my luggage.
Actually, there weren't many things; mainly some medical books, notes, and personal belongings for the baby, as well as food and local specialties prepared by family members from the island.
Lu Zhanming's luggage was even simpler, consisting of almost a single military pack.
In the afternoon, the first thing Lu Zhanming did was take Gu Baobao to the political department of his military region and solemnly submit their marriage application.
Two reports, still wet with ink, were placed side by side on the leader's desk. The red seal fell down, symbolizing the start of the organizational process.
As they left the Political Department, Lu Zhanming held Gu Baobao's hand, his palms slightly sweaty, but his eyes shone with an astonishing light:
"Baby, the report is submitted. Once it's approved, we'll be a legally married couple. Today, I'll take you to Grandpa's house to formally meet the family."
Gu Baobao's heart skipped a beat.
Although I was mentally prepared, when the moment actually arrived, the nervousness of a daughter-in-law meeting her in-laws still overwhelmed me.
She had met Grandpa Lu before; he was the dignified yet kind old man at the airport.
But there are other people in the Lu family...
"I...I need to buy something." Gu Baobao subconsciously tried to delay.
"No need, we have everything we need at home."
Lu Zhanming noticed her nervousness, smiled, and squeezed her hand.
"Grandpa and Aunt have been looking forward to this day for so long; your presence is the best gift. However,"
He blinked.
"If you absolutely must bring it, your health-preserving pills have been on the old man's mind for quite some time now."
In the end, Gu Baobao used her own money and carefully selected two bottles of good wine and cigarettes for Grandpa Lu and her uncle when she passed by the grocery store, and also bought a few pounds of seasonal fruits and pastries.
Of course, the most important item in the small cloth bag was a health-preserving pill she had made herself with double the ingredients.
The Lu family lived in a strictly managed compound in the western part of the city.
The detached two-story house has a small yard planted with holly and pine trees, which remain green even in the bleak winter.
As soon as the jeep stopped at the gate, a loud and energetic shout came from inside:
"Are Zhanming and Bao Bao back? Come in quickly! It's cold outside!"
Grandpa Lu personally greeted them at the door, dressed in a crisp old military uniform, looking spirited, with an irrepressible smile on his face.
Several people suddenly appeared behind him.
Gu Baobao was a little bewildered by the scene as soon as she got out of the car.
Lu Zhanming quickly and quietly introduced it to her:
“In the middle is my grandfather. On the left is my eldest aunt, Lu Yuzhi, and my eldest uncle, Liu Haitang, who works at the World Trade Center.”
On the right is my aunt, Lu Yulan, and her husband, Song Xiang, who is a division commander in the XX Military Region. The boy peeking out from behind is my cousin, Liu Jianjun, from my eldest aunt's side. Next to him, with braids, is my cousin, Song Xiaomei, from my younger aunt's side.
Good heavens!
Apart from Lu Zhanming’s deceased parents, almost all the core members of the Lu family were present!
This level of attention made Gu Baobao's palms start sweating again.
[Host! Stay calm! You've seen it all! You've weathered the storms of France, are you afraid of meeting the parents? Show the confidence you have when confronting foreign experts!]
Defu was shouting in his mind, but it also sounded a bit like he was enjoying the excitement.
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