After seeing off Old Mr. Gao, Old Mr. Shen apologized to Tian Jing and thanked her:
"As soon as I returned that year, I used the ginseng slices Little Li gave me and told them with certainty that you were a person with special abilities."
"They've been paying attention to you ever since. You've been living as a dutiful farmer's wife, which put them at ease. I also strongly requested that they not pressure you. If there were any special circumstances, I would come to Kushan Mountain to ask you to come out of seclusion."
"It wasn't until Sun Liyang provoked you, and Little Li brought the two children to see me, and at the same time revealed that you were the sister Captain Zeng had been searching for for many years, that they knew the opportunity to recruit you had arrived..."
"Formally recruiting you would put them completely at ease and allow you to enjoy the respect you deserve."
"I'm sorry for using you, which allowed me, who returned relatively late, to immediately establish a foothold in Kyoto."
"And thank you, thank you for saving my life, and for your trust in me through Little Li. I am ashamed."
Tian Jing quietly looked at the elder who sincerely apologized to her. This was an elder with means and schemes, but also principles. And he was her husband's former superior. What could she do?
She reached out to help him up: "It's not that serious. I wanted a stable life before."
"Being a pillar for my family and children now is also good."
"We are tied together now, so let's not be so polite."
As for Zeng Jingrong, who had actively played matchmaker without telling her beforehand, she would settle the score with him personally.
Tian Jing forgave him. Old Mr. Shen smiled and apologized to Li Zhengguo:
"Your son marrying into the Yu family was my arrangement. Please don't hold any grudges against him in your heart."
Yu Jinghai put his arm around his old comrade's shoulder: "Our trust in each other will always be there. Dad, please don't worry about it. It was all due to the circumstances."
"When we returned that year, there was almost no place for us to settle in this circle."
Li Zhengguo looked at his wife.
Tian Jing was amused by his stunned expression: "Town Mayor Li, have you become foolish from being a village cadre? Brotherly love and marital love do not conflict."
"Now, I only care about the children. Their starting point is not high, but their mother's is, eight zhang high."
"Pfft," Shen Jianrong chuckled, "Tian Jing, your description is both exaggerated and factual. I can't find any words to object."
"From Xiaobo, I can see that your children must all be very good."
"Having a low starting point also has its advantages; they aren't arrogant. Haven't you seen some of the children in the compound who are so arrogant they're about to fly to the moon?"
"It's good," Tian Jing quickly said with modesty, "The children are all promising. Ziyu is also very good, generous and cheerful..."
The two mothers went on to praise each other's children.
The two old comrades then slung their arms over each other's shoulders and reminisced about the past. Old Mr. Shen also joined them, as he was part of their past.
...
Old Mr. Gao returned to his second son's home and sat on the sofa without a word. Gao Wenshi and Lou Caiyun accompanied him breathlessly.
After a long time, Old Mr. Gao finally came to his senses: "Wenshi, investigate how many children Li Zhengguo in Kushan Mountain has. Find out their genders and ages, and whether they are married."
"Act discreetly. Make sure no one notices, and Li Zhengguo doesn't notice either."
"Yes," Gao Wenshi immediately replied, "Dad, are you thinking of a political marriage?"
"Mm," Old Mr. Gao nodded, "We've already fallen too far behind the Shen family. We can't catch up."
"Now, we can only use a marriage alliance to bind ourselves to the Shen family and Captain Tian."
A political marriage?
Lou Caiyun's eyes darted around. Her sons couldn't have in-laws who were so rustic. Having a stunningly beautiful sister-in-law was enough for her to handle; another stunningly beautiful mother-in-law would be unbearable.
"Dad, this is a good opportunity to persuade Ming Xiu to return. Wasn't he very eager to join the special skills team?"
Old Mr. Gao nodded, "If Captain Tian has a daughter, then only Ming Xiu's appearance would be worthy of her."
Gao Wenshi glared at his wife. Such a good opportunity, and she wasn't considering her own son.
He asked his father, "Dad, didn't you disown Ming Xiu because of that Lili?"
"He'll come back," Old Mr. Gao said confidently. "When he's suffered enough outside, when Lili despises him for having no money, he'll realize that without the Gao family, he is nothing."
"Do you want to...?" Gao Wenshi tentatively asked.
"Don't act rashly," Old Mr. Gao shot his second son a sideways glance. "No one in the Gao family is allowed to cause trouble. If something happens, what will Captain Tian think of us Gao family members?"
"Before Ming Xiu left, he said that you could force him, but don't touch Lili."
"Wenshi, create some more difficulties for Ming Xiu, and make him come home."
After saying that, Old Mr. Gao went upstairs to rest.
Gao Wenshi questioned his wife why she wasn't fighting for her own son.
Lou Caiyun pouted, "If Ming Fei and Ming Xue had a father-in-law and mother-in-law from the countryside, could they still hold their heads up in their workplaces?"
"Even if Captain Tian's daughter is beautiful, if she's as earthy as Captain Tian, would they agree? Wouldn't that ruin Dad's great plan?"
"Ignorant! Ignorant!" Gao Wenshi roared at his wife. "What if a grandson with special abilities is born? Why aren't you thinking about descendants, but only about your two sons?"
"Short-sighted! You've also corrupted both sons."
A grandson with special abilities?
That would not only give him a very high status in the Gao family but also make him a figurehead in their social circle.
Lou Caiyun became anxious, "Then what should we do?"
"You do this..." Gao Wenshi whispered into his wife's ear for a long time.
Lou Caiyun nodded as she listened.
...
Meanwhile, Gao Ming Xiu had packed two boxes of personal belongings and stopped. Liu Ailing was still taking clothes out of the closet for her son:
"Take this, take this too, and shoes. Take a few more pairs of shoes."
Gao Ming Xiu refused, "I don't need these anymore. My dorm won't fit them, and I can't carry them. Mom, I'm leaving now."
"Put them in the car," Liu Ailing stopped her son, "Your grandfather didn't say you couldn't keep your car."
"Mom~" Gao Ming Xiu was very annoyed, "The car runs on gasoline, not water. I have to support myself, and I can't afford to support a car."
"Mom has money," Liu Ailing busied herself looking through her bag. "Your grandfather told me to help you. He loves you, so don't argue with him."
"Mom!" Gao Ming Xiu said with a serious expression, "I said I won't go back and beg him, and he shouldn't come begging me."
"Also, no matter what you and Dad do, please don't sell me out. I am a person, a person with thoughts, flesh, blood, and emotions!"
"The keys are on the coffee table. Please take them back and don't follow me anymore."
Looking at her son's resolute back, Liu Ailing's resentment towards Lili intensified.
...
Li Weili heard a knock on the door and thought Du Hongjuan had brought her vegetables.
"Du..." she called out as she opened the door, only to find the person she didn't want to see standing outside. "How are you? How did you know where I live?"
"Lili," Gao Ming Xiu said, looking disheveled as he dragged two suitcases. "You were right. I couldn't break free from my elders' arrangements."
"But I wasn't convinced, and I wanted to try, so Grandpa kicked me out."
"I... I can't go back to the dorm; they'll laugh me to death."
"When we were still giving each other the cold shoulder in the library, I saw you enter this alley. I followed you and found you entering here."
"I even asked the auntie next door curiously. She said you rented her courtyard."
"This entire courtyard belongs to you, right? Can you lend me a room? Even a side room will do."
"I'll find a job tomorrow, and I'll pay rent."