Chapter 23 Don’t Call Yourself Dad to Everyone

“Mm, this is the marriage certificate between Gu Xiao and me,” Song Youyou nodded.

Song Baozhu’s eyes widened. “Th-this is impossible!”

Song Youyou gave her a bland glance. “Song Baozhu, what now? Who are you going to say lied to you this time?”

“Comrade Song Youyou, don’t worry. No one will be able to falsely accuse you this time,” the leader from the Educated Youth Office stepped forward. “I often handle cases like this, and I can confirm that this marriage certificate is real.”

“This can’t be. You must have made a mistake!”
“Song Youyou can’t be married! She doesn’t even have a job, she’s a capitalist! She should be dragged to the countryside to be assaulted by vagrants, made to plant crops, carry manure, and feed pigs…” Song Baozhu muttered dazedly.

“So young, yet so vicious!”
Things had gotten to this point, and yet Song Baozhu was still fixated on harming others—and the person she was trying to hurt was the granddaughter-in-law of a revered retired general. This instantly drew disgust from many around her. Even Song Father, her own father, began to feel contempt toward her.

“Hmph. Good thing my granddaughter-in-law has severed ties with a family like that. Otherwise, she would’ve been tormented to death,” said Old Madam Gu, her heart aching. But she didn’t want to upset Song Youyou, so she only muttered it softly to her husband with a frown.

“It’s okay, don’t get upset. Isn’t she part of our family now? We’ll treat her well from now on,” said the old general, trying to comfort his wife.

While the old couple were talking, Song Youyou stepped straight up to the leader of the Educated Youth Office.

“Comrade, I would like to report Song Baozhu for falsely accusing and framing a military spouse.”

Falsely accusing a military spouse?!
Everyone was stunned by the accusation. That was a serious offense.

At the time, military personnel were the most respected in society. And the women who stood behind them—military spouses—were held in equal esteem. So accusing someone of framing a military spouse immediately tilted public opinion.

Given the current social climate, people loved making formal reports. But for reports made under one’s real name, if proven false, the reporter could be held accountable—sometimes even charged with the crime of false accusation and framing.

And wasn’t that exactly what Song Baozhu had just done?

“Wow, this young lady is clever! She even knows how to turn the tables and counter-report!”
“Exactly. Most girls would be in tears after something like this, but she stayed calm the whole time and even used the same tactic to fight back. Impressive!”
People in the crowd couldn’t help but praise her.

“That’s right! This is what it means to use policy as a weapon to protect yourself!”
Old Madam Gu nodded repeatedly, deeply satisfied with the move.

At first, she had simply liked the girl’s soft and sweet appearance—but now she admired her composure, clarity, and refusal to let injustice slide.

“My granddaughter-in-law is amazing. Just like me in my younger years!”

As the crowd buzzed with discussion, the leader from the Educated Youth Office looked even more serious.

“Alright, we’ll process your report. Song Baozhu’s accusation, being in her real name, was clearly unfounded. Whether it constitutes false accusation, we’ll launch a formal investigation to determine.”

“Okay,” Song Youyou nodded calmly.

“Hey! What do you mean, a report?! Song Youyou, are you even human? You’re really going to report me? But nothing even happened to you!” Song Baozhu couldn’t sit still and rushed over.

Song Youyou looked at her silently, her gaze unnerving Song Baozhu.

“W-why are you looking at me like that?”

Song Youyou spoke calmly. “Song Baozhu, the reason nothing happened to me is because I happened to be married—not because you’re innocent. As for your false accusation, the organization will make the judgment. It’s not up to you or me to decide.”

With that, she turned and began filling out the report, clearly unwilling to waste another word.

Seeing that her pleas had no effect and that Song Youyou really intended to go through with the report, Song Baozhu panicked and rushed to her father.

“Dad! Look at her! She’s so vicious—she’s actually reporting me!”

“Enough, Song Baozhu!” her father closed his eyes in exhaustion.

Just then, the officials who had been conducting a background check on Song Father walked over.

“Director Song, we’ll take our leave for now. The results of your background check will be sent to you later.”

Their tone was cold and distant—completely different from the respectful and warm demeanor they had shown before.

Song Father knew instantly—this promotion opportunity was gone. At his age, if this one slipped by, he would never get another.

He looked at the daughter who had just ruined everything for him, the one he had taken back in from the countryside.

He regretted it deeply. He should’ve never listened to his wife’s sentimental nonsense. So what if she was his biological daughter? If she could ruin his future, what use was she?

Then, he turned to look at the daughter he had once driven out of the house.

By now, she had finished filing her report and was politely thanking the general manager of the Xinhua Bookstore before heading over to greet the elderly Gu couple.

Right—the old general!
Song Youyou was now the granddaughter-in-law of Old General Gu. That made him the general’s in-law!

A light suddenly returned to Song Father’s eyes. All the gloom vanished.

If he could just recognize her again, maybe there was still hope…

With quick steps, he rushed over.

“Old General Gu! Hello! Youyou, my dear child, it was my fault before—I listened to Baozhu and caused you suffering. You don’t blame your father, do you?”

But how could the general not see through his motives?

“Director Song, there’s no need for formalities. We’re not that close.”

Old Madam Gu curled her lips and said sarcastically, “When you wanted to hurt her, she was ‘Comrade Song Youyou,’ and you were ready to throw her to the wolves. Now you want to cozy up? Calling her ‘Youyou’ like you’re close?”

She tugged gently on her granddaughter-in-law’s sleeve and leaned in to whisper, “Don’t trust him so easily. Just earlier, he was still swearing he’d sever ties with you and send you off to the countryside to be re-educated through labor.”

Grandma Gu was well aware of this man’s intentions and worried that the young Song Youyou might be fooled.

“Mhm, I know. Thank you for the reminder, Grandma Gu,” Song Youyou replied softly, then turned to Song Father and said calmly, “Director Song, I hope that in the future, you won’t go around calling yourself my father.”

Grandma Gu couldn’t help but burst out laughing. “My granddaughter-in-law is right. Honestly, it’s only because she’s so good-tempered. If it were someone else and you suddenly claimed to be their father, they’d probably slap you right across the face.”

As she spoke, she took Song Youyou’s hand. “Come, granddaughter-in-law, let’s go home. Grandma has so much to talk to you about.”

“Okay,” Song Youyou nodded. Though a bit surprised to have run into Gu Xiao’s grandparents today, she obediently followed them.

When they reached the door, Song Youyou noticed a guard waiting there. Upon seeing them come out, the guard promptly opened the door of a military sedan with practiced ease and said respectfully, “Old Commander, Madam, Young Madam—please get in the car.”

Seeing such a scene for the first time, Song Youyou was stunned: “…”

It was only then that she belatedly realized—Gu Xiao’s grandfather was the very “Old Commander” people kept talking about.

And when she later arrived at the military compound and stepped into a Western-style house, that realization only deepened.

Gu Xiao’s family… seemed to be far more distinguished than she had imagined.

She had known he was a child of the military compound, but she thought he was just from an ordinary officer’s family. She never expected he was the grandson of a highly decorated commander.

Back then, she hadn’t thought too much. Without meeting his family, she had just gone ahead and registered their marriage with him.

Now… would the Gu family think she had an ulterior motive?