Chapter 38

“Dear daughter, it’s not that I can’t think things through, I’m just afraid that you can’t. Even if you do this, Zhou Zheng won’t feel sorry for you, so you mustn’t eat it.”

Seeing these two acting so dramatically, Gu Nian and her companions lost their patience.

“Alright, since neither of you want to take the medicine, then stop acting as if you’re threatening us. Let me tell you, Zhou Zheng will never marry you.”

“It’s not that he can’t, but the military district leadership won’t allow him to get a divorce. His marriage is a military marriage, and what you’re doing is interfering with it. I don’t need to tell you how serious the consequences are, do I?”

“Whether you want to continue causing trouble is up to you.”

Gu Nian was exhausted. She had already said enough, and there was nothing more to add.

Upon hearing this, Wang Hongmei and the old woman panicked. They stopped crying and arguing, cast a glance at Zhou Zheng, and left.

“Alright, you all can go home now. Live your lives properly. They probably won’t dare to come and make trouble again.”

“Thank you, sister-in-law.”

Zhou Zheng was truly grateful to Gu Nian—she had solved a big problem for him.

“Sister-in-law, you’re amazing.”

Jiang Susu was also thoroughly impressed by Gu Nian. The two of them left.

After that, Gu Nian focused entirely on her studies, determined to complete all her university courses by the end of the year.

Of course, making money was also a priority. During this period, she had already figured out how the black market in Beijing worked.

She had done business with the black market boss two or three times. He was a young man with whom she got along well.

They had already become long-term business partners.

That day, Gu Nian brought more supplies from her shopping mall system to trade with the black market boss.

“Comrade, my boss went to Nancheng. He said he was going to reunite with his family.”

Gu Nian knew that Xiao Mo was an orphan, so this meant he had found his biological parents.

She was happy for him, though it also meant that today’s transaction was off. She could only return to school.

As soon as she entered the dormitory, Zhou Meimei and Liu Peiran rushed up to her.

“Gu Nian, did you know? Hu Liping is getting married!”

“I didn’t know. She didn’t tell me. Who is she marrying?”

“You’d never guess.”

Gu Nian wasn’t very close to Hu Liping. Since she didn’t spend much time in the dormitory, she had no idea who she was marrying.

“It’s one of the male teachers from her department. He’s more than ten years older than her, but she says he’s very caring, so she decided to marry him.”

Later, Gu Nian saw Hu Liping and the male teacher eating together in the school cafeteria.

The teacher did indeed take great care of her, just as she had said. Zhou Meimei whispered beside her,

“I heard that this teacher already has a child. If Hu Liping marries him, she’ll be a stepmother.”

“He seems to treat her well, though.”

Zhou Meimei and Liu Peiran continued chatting, but Gu Nian didn’t comment. It was Hu Liping’s life—if she thought it was good, then it was fine.

Hu Liping invited everyone to her wedding, and after offering their blessings, they started preparing gifts.

Gu Nian planned to pick something from her shopping mall system. After school, she returned home to help Xiuzhi take care of the children.

That evening, when Gu’s parents returned, it wasn’t surprising. They had mentioned wanting to visit Nancheng, as they hadn’t been back in decades. Gu Nian had encouraged them to go.

What was surprising, though, was that they came back with a man.

Even stranger—it was Xiao Mo.

“Gu Nian, why are you here? Is this your home?”

Gu Nian was speechless. This guy really had no sense of awareness.

“Of course, this is my home. Whose home did you think it was?”

Seeing the two of them bicker, Gu’s father stepped in to mediate.

“Alright, this is your home too, Xiao Mo. Sit down first. Let us explain everything to your sister.”

Gu Nian had a bad feeling. Then she heard Gu’s father announce:

“Xiao Mo is actually our youngest son—your younger brother.”

“Dad, Mom, why haven’t I ever heard of having a younger brother before?”

Gu Nian thought carefully. The original host’s memories contained no mention of this.

At this, Gu’s mother looked sad and took Xiao Mo’s hand.

“I lost Xiao Mo not long after he was born. We were traveling at the time, and I misplaced him.”

She had blamed herself for years, believing it was all her fault.

Gu’s father had comforted her, and to avoid making her sad, they had never mentioned it to their other children.

Since Xiao Mo had been a newborn when he was lost, Gu Nian had been too young to remember anything.

This time, when they returned to Nancheng, they specifically searched for him.

They eventually found Xiao Mo, who had also been looking for his biological parents all these years.

As soon as he learned they wanted to meet him, he agreed immediately and traveled to Nancheng.

Gu Nian hadn’t expected that Xiao Mo’s family reunion would involve her own parents.

“Sis, I told you we were fated! You’re my real sister!”

Gu Nian smiled but didn’t say anything. This was unbelievable—her black market boss turned out to be her biological brother. Who was she supposed to make money from now?

“Gu Nian, did you and Xiao Mo know each other before?”

“We only met by chance. We’re not that close.”

Gu Nian thought about her black market dealings—her parents absolutely couldn’t find out. She had no way to explain where her goods were coming from.

Xiao Mo followed her lead and simply said they had met before.

Since he planned to stay and live with their parents, Gu Nian had no choice but to agree.

“Sis, don’t worry. From now on, we’ll do business together. I’ll take good care of you.”

“I see. Get some rest.”

That night, Jiang Huaijing noticed that Gu Nian seemed a little off. He assumed it was because she had just found her brother, but in reality, she was thinking about new ways to make money.

“Wife, my retirement request has been approved. I’m going back to the military district tomorrow for a farewell ceremony.”

“I’ll go with you. I need to pack up the house in the family compound so someone else can move in.”

“Okay.”

—-

The next day, as they were about to leave, Sister Xu mentioned that she also needed to go back.

Her situation had stabilized, and she wanted to move her whole family over so her children could go to school here.

“Sister Xu, you’re pregnant. It’s inconvenient for you to travel. Why not let Jiang Huaijing bring the children over instead?”

Gu Nian, being a mother herself, understood the hardships of pregnancy.

But Sister Xu shook her head with a smile.

“I’m fine.”

Li Pandi also wanted to go back, so they all took the train together.

Upon arriving at the family compound, Gu Nian and Li Pandi met the man Sister Xu had chosen.

He seemed to be about her age, with tanned skin but a kind appearance. Three women clung to his arm, clearly depending on him.

Both Gu Nian and Li Pandi thought he seemed like a good father.

Sister Xu was also satisfied. After greetings, everyone went their separate ways.

Back at home, everything was as it had been before. Gu Nian packed up what needed to be packed.

After attending Jiang Huaijing’s farewell ceremony that night, they would return to Beijing the next day.

Meanwhile, Li Pandi went home, only to find that her husband, Liu Chuanzhi, and their three children were missing. Instead, a woman was hanging bed sheets in her yard.

Li Pandi’s face darkened instantly.

“Who are you? Why are you in my house?”

“Your house? Oh, I see. You must be Chuanzhi’s wife.”

“I’ve heard about you. Hello, I’m the person Chuanzhi hired to take care of the kids.”

“Where is Liu Chuanzhi?”