Chapter 570 | Chapter 571 | Chapter 572
Chapter 570: The Heroic Men of the Gu Family!!!
“Yi Yi, when we get there in a moment, don’t be afraid.”
“The elders resting there are all very, very good people. They were the heroes of our nation.”
“Yi Yi must greet each and every one of them.”
Sheng Wanyan gently stroked Yi Yi’s head, instructing her in a warm and soft voice. Yi Yi nodded obediently.
“Yi Yi will remember.”
It took a full hour of driving before they arrived at the Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery. It was a very solemn and incredibly vast place, but it was also filled with thousands of final resting places.
Yi Yi looked at her surroundings. She saw rows upon rows of tiny stone houses, each with a tablet inscribed with characters that she was still too young to read. Remembering her mother’s words, she repeatedly greeted the graves in a soft voice along the path, introducing herself.
“Hello, grandpas and grandmas~ I am Yi Yi.”
Supported by his orderly, Grandfather Gu hurried forward with a swift pace, his aged hands trembling as he stopped before a particular tombstone.
The inscription on the monument read: Head of Huaxia’s Top Ten Revolutionary Heroes, Gu Rongguo!
“Big Brother, I’ve come to see you.”
Grandfather Gu’s eyes rimmed with red as he stared at the tablet before him, setting down the two bottles of liquor in his hands. This man was Grandfather Gu’s biological elder brother. Back then, to defend the country, to protect the nation’s fortress, and to shield the civilians in the city, every single soldier in the city fought until the last man, falling under the gunfire of the invaders who trampled upon Huaxia.
In the end, he was the only commander left alive. The enemy wanted to capture him to force out state secrets. But he had long anticipated this outcome; he knew he would die, but even knowing he would die, he chose to shield the civilians to the very end! He had strapped explosives to his body long beforehand, and in his final moments, he blew himself up along with the invading enemies!
The grave before them was merely a symbolic structure… Inside lay nothing but a handful of soil from the place where Gu Rongguo had perished. His body had long since been obliterated by the explosion.
Extending behind Gu Rongguo’s tombstone were rows upon rows of monuments—every single one of them belonged to the heroic souls of generations of the Gu family line!
Grandfather and Grandma Gu led the family’s juniors to pour fine liquor before each tombstone, offering the best sacrificial offerings, lighting incense, and burning ritual paper money. Sheng Wanyan followed the elders in bowing to each ancestor, and Yi Yi clasped her small hands together, mimicking them from behind.
Sheng Wanyan looked at the nearly one hundred tombstones bearing the surname Gu. These were all the ancestors of the Gu family; except for Grandfather Gu, not a single one had survived. Her heart filled with a bitter ache along with immense admiration and respect for these heroes, deeply grateful to them for using their blood to trade for the peace of today.
“Junior Gu Ronglong brings his descendants to pay respect to you all!” Grandfather Gu raised his cup high, his voice resonant yet heavy with sorrow as he toasted the heroic men of the Gu family.
“Fine liquor! Fine food! Heroic men of the Gu family, please do not spurn them!”
“On another day, I will come back to have a proper drink with you all again.”
Overwhelmed with intense emotion, Grandfather Gu’s eyes turned completely bloodshot. In silence, he tilted his head back and drained the liquor in his cup. The heroic souls of the Gu family lay in eternal sleep, yet amidst this drizzling weather, their presence felt monumental, as if they were using their spirits to guard this piece of sacred land!
Grandfather Gu was deeply emotional. He stood continuously before the graves of his biological brother and parents, reluctant to depart for a long time.
Gu Jinfang and Gu Jingjing took Yi Yi along to help their parents sweep the ancestral graves, leaving Grandfather Gu a quiet space alone with his parents and elder brother. Grandma Gu and Mother Gu personally swept these three primary graves, refusing to let the others intervene.
Once the graves were swept clean, Grandfather Gu squatted before his parents’ monument, wiping away the dust until the surface was spotlessly bright.
After paying respects to the ancestors of the Gu family, Grandfather Gu introduced the household’s juniors to the family elders, letting them know that the Gu family was thriving today, and that the juniors were inheriting the Gu family’s patriotic spirit!
You all are the direction and the future that the juniors of the Gu family aspire toward.
After the ritual concluded, the family headed back. Grandfather Gu remained in low spirits along the way, so Grandma Gu explicitly brought Yi Yi into their car to coax Grandfather Gu and cheer him up.
However, Grandma Gu had overestimated Yi Yi. The moment Yi Yi climbed into the car and saw how sorrowful Grandfather Gu looked, she wrapped her arms around him and burst into a stream of tears.
“Great-grandpa~ I feel sad too~”
“Waaaaah…” Yi Yi covered her small face as she wailed, pulling Grandfather Gu to cry along with her. Once he cried it out, he wouldn’t feel so miserable anymore.
Grandfather Gu: “……” Could this great-granddaughter of mine be a total crybaby?
Yet, it had to be said that watching Yi Yi cry made the weight in Grandfather Gu’s heart ease slightly. The little girl… was a total character, yet she understood him implicitly in every single way.
Grandfather Gu stroked her head and smiled. Ah well, he would just protect Old Third’s household properly from now on. For the sake of this girl, he had to live on healthily to watch her grow up, paving the way for her so her entire life would be smooth sailing.
Sheng Wanyan rode in a car with Father Gu, Mother Gu, and Eldest Sister-in-law Gu. Mother Gu educated them on the past history of the Gu family. Eldest Sister-in-law Gu knew a fair bit, but Sheng Wanyan had only known that the Gu family’s ancestors sacrificed themselves for the nation; she hadn’t known that every single sacrifice was this tragic and brutal.
“In previous years, you and Old Third weren’t in the Capital, and the political atmosphere was volatile. With the old man holding his current position and so many eyes fixed on him, we absolutely couldn’t go sweep the graves.”
In the past, superstitious practices weren’t permitted, and when Sheng Wanyan had just returned to the Capital last year, the household was frantic, leaving them with no time to go. This year, taking advantage of this perfect opportunity, the people who needed to be purged from the family had all departed, so they didn’t have to fear the ancestors blaming the Gu family descendants for recognizing the wrong bloodline.
If Wang Chunmei and her son were still part of the Gu family, Mother Gu could easily imagine how furious the ancestors would have been if they had brought Zhang Jinmin to pay respects this year.
A drizzling rain fell during the Tomb-Sweeping season, keeping the Capital wet and making the weather turn chilly over the next few days.
Sheng Wanyan didn’t have many days of leave left, so their family of five had to head back to the vicinity of Peking University. Mother Gu reluctantly cradled the twins.
“Head back early. The weather will turn cold later, so don’t let the children catch a cold.”
No matter how reluctant she was, Mother Gu had to let go, seeing the family of five off at the door and only returning inside once the vehicle vanished from sight.
When Sheng Wanyan returned to the university, the campus leadership approached her, asking her to make a trip to the administrative office.
Sheng Wanyan walked into the dean of students’ office. Seeing her arrive, the dean gestured for her to sit down and speak with a beaming smile.
“Dean, you were looking for me?”
The dean poured a cup of tea for her and settled into his seat to face her. “Yes. Comrade Sheng Wanyan, you still remember the trade exchange conference you attended with your classmates recently, right?”
Sheng Wanyan nodded. It had been less than half a month ago, so she naturally remembered.
“It’s like this: due to your exceptional performance at the exchange conference, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs approached the university directly.”
Sheng Wanyan looked at the dean with a trace of surprise. The dean rubbed his hands together and began laying out the core matter.
“Comrade Sheng Wanyan, the foreign merchant you were responsible for previously has successfully entered a cooperation agreement with the state. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs highly commends your work. Therefore, the university intends to recommend you to accompany the state’s scientific research personnel to Hong Kong in three months to participate as an interpreter in a scientific research symposium.”
“Do you have any interest in this?”
Hearing the dean’s words, Sheng Wanyan was thoroughly shocked this time. Hong Kong!!! The very place to buy stocks!
She had originally planned to wait until graduation, join the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and use business trips as an opportunity to dabble in stocks later down the line. Yet… the opportunity had laid itself out right before her eyes just like that.
Chapter 571: Subjected to the Roommates’ Tribunal
“Of course, the state will arrange for other personnel to accompany you to guarantee your safety.”
The dean looked at her. The truth was, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was severely understaffed. The country was aggressively driving economic development, and managing so many foreign merchants daily was giving the diplomats massive headaches. The scientific research symposium in Hong Kong would be gathered with scientists from various countries, which demanded an interpreter with an extensive vocabulary.
After mulling it over, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs felt Sheng Wanyan was the most suitable candidate. Young people needed to go out and see more of the world.
However, what the dean saw went beyond that. He saw that Sheng Wanyan had already caught the attention of the Capital Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If she successfully completed this mission, the Ministry would likely secure her a spot on the official state payroll ahead of time. One had to understand… the country was severely lacking in talent of all kinds right now.
“Dean, I’m willing to go.”
Sheng Wanyan agreed without a second thought. Ever since she visited the Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery during Tomb-Sweeping Day, a bitter ache had lingered in her heart. She found herself thinking that if the nation developed rapidly and became an unassailable superpower, perhaps fewer people would have to suffer.
In an instant, she overturned all her previous ideas. Before, she had only pursued her own quiet life, intentionally keeping a low profile to avoid being disturbed by others. But this time, she had witnessed the helplessness and shortcomings of her country. She possessed the capability, and she carried the foresight of the future. Since she had received the highest level of education, why should she shrink back?
She had merely been afraid of drawing trouble to her family or compromising her own interests. But she was already back in the Capital, and Grandfather Gu was the one backing her from above. If she truly made significant contributions, Grandfather Gu alone would be more than enough to protect her interests.
Seeing her agree, the dean smiled instantly and carefully briefed her on the arrangements for the trip to Hong Kong.
“The group will depart on July 10th. Including travel time, it will take a month before you return to the Capital. Your primary duty is to remain by their side and translate. Someone will come to your house to pick you up when it’s time to assemble and set out.”
Sheng Wanyan nodded. She didn’t know exactly whom she would be accompanying, but they were bound to be the nation’s scientific researchers, so she just needed to prepare herself thoroughly.
“Alright. Thank you, Dean, and thank the university for giving me such a wonderful opportunity. I will not disappoint your expectations.”
Hearing her words, the dean’s smile practically split his face to his ears. Comrade Sheng Wanyan was truly sharp and sensible!
“Comrade Sheng Wanyan, you’re too polite. There’s nothing else, you can head back to study.”
“Understood, Dean.”
Sheng Wanyan left the dean’s office. When Gu Tingxiao returned home that evening, she discussed the matter with him.
“How long will you be gone?”
“A month. Departing on July 10th.”
Gu Tingxiao nodded upon hearing this. Though his heart was loath to see her leave, he had always respected his wife’s choices.
“Go ahead with peace of mind. Leave the children to me.”
By then, Lailai and Maomao would be half a year old, so it would be fine to wean them from breast milk a bit early; after all, they had spent the majority of their time being raised on milk powder anyway. They had grown exceptionally well—fair, chubby, and incredibly lively—not showing a single sign of being unhealthy or stunted as others claimed. Sheng Wanyan had initially worried about the effects of milk powder, so she had fed the two babies a couple of drops of spiritual spring water. Today, they were healthier than anyone.
“It will be hard on you then.” Sheng Wanyan felt a bit protective of Gu Tingxiao. Managing both fronts entirely on his own would be exhausting.
“It’s not hard, Wanyan. I’m just worried about you.” Gu Tingxiao clasped her hand. Going to Hong Kong… was not a simple matter.
“I will protect myself well.” Sheng Wanyan reached out to caress his face, slowly tracing the contours of his features.
Gu Tingxiao scooped her up into his arms and carried her toward the bedroom. Sheng Wanyan hurriedly glanced toward Aunt Hu’s bedroom door, petrified that she might wake up.
“Keep it down, Aunt Hu is here.” Sheng Wanyan thudded her fists against Gu Tingxiao’s back in annoyance.
Gu Tingxiao softened his movements slightly, but his hands didn’t remain idle. “Wanyan, you’re the one who needs to keep it down. Don’t wake Yi Yi.”
Gu Tingxiao glanced at his daughter sleeping spread-eagle at the foot of the bed, her small mouth slightly open and her little hands balled into fists.
“Tomorrow, Yi Yi is getting her own room,” Gu Tingxiao gritted out under his breath. He could only restrain his movements, unable to fully let loose.
Sheng Wanyan’s face was thoroughly flushed. She shot a flustered, annoyed glare at Gu Tingxiao, clutching his powerful arms tightly as she bit her lip hard.
A night of ripples ensued.
Following the conclusion of Tomb-Sweeping Day, time gradually eased back into its proper track. Regarding Sheng Wanyan’s upcoming trip to Hong Kong, the university provided an alibi in advance, framing it as an off-campus academic study trip to prevent anyone from raising suspicions.
The classmates in her department were envious to no end. Yet despite their internal envy, they genuinely wished Sheng Wanyan well; after all, none of them possessed Comrade Sheng Wanyan’s sheer caliber.
When the monthly exams rolled around, Sheng Wanyan clinched first place in her major yet again, far surpassing everyone else. Those who had harbored any hidden resentment immediately shut their mouths.
At noon, Sheng Wanyan returned to the dormitory to rest, only to find several of her roommates sitting on their beds, each holding a different “weapon” as they glared at her. Seeing this full interrogation setup, she seriously considered whether she should pull back the foot she had just stepped through the door.
“Comrade Sheng Wanyan, don’t even think about running!”
Liang Fanghua was the first to hook an arm around her neck, pulling her straight into the dorm. Wei Lili slammed the door shut, and Liang Fanghua forced her to sit right in the center to face everyone’s tribunal.
“Comrade Sheng Wanyan, confess honestly.”
Sheng Wanyan looked at the “weapons” held in everyone’s hands, finding it thoroughly amusing. One held a broom, one held a book, and another held a ruler…
“Confess what?”
“What do you think…” Zheng Lingling looked at her with a definitive “we already know everything” expression.
Seeing her being interrogated, Liu Na stepped forward to help her speak. “Oh, come on, if you want to ask something, just ask nicely. What is all this?”
Seeing someone provide cover for Sheng Wanyan, the other roommates instantly turned their glare toward Liu Na, amused and exasperated. Goodness, there’s an accomplice here?
“What do you all want to ask? I promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” Sheng Wanyan looked exceptionally sincere, but the roommates didn’t believe a single word of her nonsense. They had finally realized that Sheng Wanyan was a total little fox.
“Tell us, does that ‘Huayi’ clothing store belong to you?”
Sheng Wanyan was just about to deny it… no, she was just about to explain, when Liang Fanghua straight up launched into a theatrical threat.
“Let me tell you, when we went to the general store to buy things, your mother admitted it herself! She said since we’re your classmates, and that clothing store also belongs to you, she could give us a discount.”
Liang Fanghua mimicked Mother Sheng’s tone and gestures with flawless precision. One look and Sheng Wanyan felt like she was looking at her biological mother in the flesh.
“Comrade Liang Fanghua, your impression is uncanny!” Sheng Wanyan grasped her hand in amazement, marveling at how the impression was several degrees more accurate than anything she, the actual daughter, could manage.
The rest of the roommates couldn’t help but chuckle softly at Liang Fanghua’s impression of Mother Sheng, but they didn’t forget what their mission was.
“Don’t change the subject on me! Speak honestly, does it belong to you?”
Chapter 572: Wei Lili Makes a Fool of Herself at the Clothing Store
Sheng Wanyan nodded, admitting it.
The roommates stared at her with their mouths agape. What kind of situation was this? A general store, a clothing store, and university studies—every single thing she touched, she did exceptionally well! How on earth did she manage it? How could she be so outstanding in every aspect?
“It’s really yours?”
“It is.”
“And you didn’t tell us before!”
Liang Fanghua reprimanded her, but Sheng Wanyan just shrugged. “You guys never asked.”
After saying this, Sheng Wanyan climbed up to her bunk, making a tactical escape from the primary interrogation zone below.
“Comrade Sheng Wanyan, come down here!”
“Not happening.”
Sheng Wanyan remained righteous and unyielding. The roommates, now fully engaged, scrambled up her bunk and pinned her down. “Nice try, you thought you could escape us?”
Sheng Wanyan watched the girls on her bed with amusement. She felt like she had entered a village of bandits—one by one, they were even more shameless than actual bandits. “Alright, alright! I’ll give you all a 20% discount. This week only!”
Having secured their discount, the roommates immediately helped her tuck in her bedding and supported her to lie back down with exaggerated tenderness. “Oh my, you should rest well. Don’t exhaust yourself.”
Wei Lili smiled sweetly as she tucked her in, checked that her blanket was secure, and ensured there wasn’t a single spot left uncovered.
“You may withdraw.”
“As you command!”
Wei Lili and the others scrambled down with practiced agility, diving into their trunks and cabinets to dig out their cash. Wei Lili wasn’t satisfied with just that; as soon as classes were over, she rushed to the post office to call home, pestering her brothers to buy her pretty dresses.
Her family was a bit puzzled. Wasn’t Shanghai full of dresses? Why did their girl act as if she looked down on everything else? Nevertheless, Wei Lili was the only girl in the family, so she got whatever she wanted. She never hid what she needed money for, openly telling them exactly what she was buying. Her parents would send her the money without a second thought, doting on her to the marrow of her bones.
Li Jiahua looked at her own funds. Seeing that she didn’t even have enough to buy one of Sheng Wanyan’s items, she wilted instantly. If she bought a new dress, she wouldn’t have enough money to eat.
As soon as class ended, Sheng Wanyan went to the office to help Professor Zhao get off work. Mistress Zhao spent every day at the general store chatting with Mother Sheng; since she had nothing to do at home, the store was her perfect time-killer. She reported for duty once a day, and Professor Zhao knew exactly where to find her after class.
Li Jiahua bit her lip as she watched Sheng Wanyan depart. The roommates headed straight for the clothing store after class.
“Jiahua, aren’t you coming?” Liu Na asked. Although she was also from the countryside, her family situation was decent. Her husband was a truck driver, and he managed to save a fair amount each month. Furthermore, truck drivers were constantly on the move and had many opportunities to make extra cash, so buying a new dress was well within her means.
“I have something to do, so I won’t go. You all go ahead.” Li Jiahua offered a strained smile. Liu Na didn’t probe further and left with Liang Fanghua and the others toward the store.
Sheng Wanyan personally hosted them, selecting the most suitable and price-appropriate clothing for each of them.
“Wanyan, do you have anything around 30 yuan?”
“Could you help me put together an outfit?” Liu Na asked openly. Since she had a family, she had more reservations, but she didn’t feel any shame in buying something cheaper.
“I do. I have every price point. Let me pick some out for you.” Sheng Wanyan smiled and selected a few sets, choosing thin, long blouses paired with skirts that suited Liu Na’s figure. Despite being from a village, Liu Na had a gentle, maternal aura about her. She was perfectly suited for a laid-back, relaxed style.
“We have many end-of-the-line items in the warehouse. We always discount them whenever the season changes. If you don’t mind, I can show them to you.”
Liu Na nodded eagerly. Why would she mind? They were all brand new clothes, and as long as she was satisfied, that was all that mattered.
Sheng Wanyan brought out the end-of-the-line pieces from the warehouse, which were originally slated for a clearance sale when the season changed.
“This style looks great.”
“This one suits you perfectly, and it’s your exact size. Go try it on.”
“And this short-sleeved top; it’s a style from last year. If you don’t mind, you can take it back to wear when summer comes.”
Liu Na nodded with a smile. There were even some short-sleeved tops for children, which she could mail back to her daughter.
“Oh! You had good stuff and didn’t tell us!” Wei Lili and the others rushed over, squatting down to find sizes that fit them. Only a fool would mind that these were clearance items. In this day and age, wearing any new piece of clothing out on the street made people envious, to say nothing of such beautiful styles.
Wei Lili picked out several summer dresses. Since she had fair skin, every color looked good on her, and she ended up buying a mountain of items.
“These clearance items are 5 yuan each for you all.”
“This dress has a simpler design, but it’s tailored at the waist to emphasize the waistline. It really suits your skin tone. After the discount, it comes to exactly 20 yuan.”
Liu Na tried it on, and it indeed suited her perfectly, landing right within her budget. Liu Na chose two clearance mother-daughter sets and added this dress, totaling exactly 30 yuan. Wei Lili, on the other hand, had bought so much that she had spent every cent of the pocket money she’d saved since starting university.
“This, this, and this—I want them all!”
“I’ll come back in a few days. Remember to give me a discount then!”
Sheng Wanyan nodded with a smile. This girl had never had any restraint when it came to shopping. She wondered who would ever be wealthy enough to support her in the future.
Liu Na and Wei Lili went to the post office together to mail the clothes they’d bought home. After paying the postage, Wei Lili stared with wide eyes at the mere five jiao left in her hand.
It’s over! I forgot to keep money for food!
Liu Na’s mouth twitched as she looked at the five jiao in her hand. This girl was truly a total space cadet.
“I only have a few yuan left on me, too.” Liu Na didn’t have much money either; she relied on her monthly stipend for meals, and the next installment wasn’t due for a few more days.
“Then let’s go find Beautiful.”
Liu Na hurriedly grabbed her. Everyone in the dorm had spent all their extra money on new clothes; who could possibly have any money left?
“Let’s go, I’ll walk you back to find Wanyan.”
Liu Na pulled Wei Lili back to the clothing store. Wei Lili couldn’t face anyone; she kept her head bowed, too embarrassed to look up.
Sheng Wanyan felt a bit confused seeing the two of them return, glancing at Wei Lili, who kept her head down in silence. Liu Na looked at the customers in the store; with so many people around, the girl would definitely be even more humiliated.
“Let’s go to the warehouse.”
Wei Lili breathed a sigh of relief at Sheng Wanyan’s words. Sheng Wanyan led them inside. Liu Na explained the whole sequence of events, and Sheng Wanyan looked at Wei Lili with amusement.
Wei Lili lowered her head even further. How could she be so incredibly stupid!!!
