Chapter 349: Chapter 349: The First Day of Reporting
Overwhelmed by grief, Elder Xiao could only transfer schools and study abroad. Many years later, his parents insisted on bringing him back from overseas to marry and have children.
After they married, their relationship was one of polite respect. His wife gave birth to three sons and a daughter, but knowing he could never get over his childhood sweetheart, she eventually died of sorrow.
The two young men’s faces turned pale as they listened, and they trembled uncontrollably as if they’d caught a chill.
Gu Jiaojiao was someone who had experienced the prosperity of a future age. She knew that even in such a flourishing society,
there were still people who would engage in sordid, despicable acts and harm others for the sake of so-called love or money.
Seeing the old gentlemen and the young men lost in sadness, especially the two boys, she worried the experience would leave a shadow on them.
She thought for a moment and said, "To live a wonderful life, you must have hope. You don’t need to be so sad.
"That incident wasn’t your fault, so why punish yourselves for someone else’s mistake?
"The classmate who caused Ziyan’s death must have been someone she was very close to. An ordinary classmate could never have deceived her.
"So you must remember: only by associating with good people will your life get better and better.
"But if you get entangled with bad people, your life will only get worse, your inner turmoil will grow, and you’ll be unwittingly hurt by so-called friends."
Mr. Han and Old Mu nodded in thanks. In truth, they also knew that Elder Xiao had been overly fixated for decades.
"Just as Jiaojiao said, none of this is your fault. Fate simply arranged different paths for you."
’You shouldn’t magnify your own sorrow. You should look forward. Back then, you should have cherished your wife!’
Mr. Han didn’t say that last sentence out loud, lest Old Xiao get stuck in a dead end of guilt again.
Old Mu remained silent, but he gave his own grandson a serious look, hoping he wouldn’t remain obstinately blind. ’Jiaojiao is already married!’
Mr. Xiao looked at Gu Jiaojiao, his eyes glinting. "Jiaojiao, you truly are worthy of being our sworn sister. You see things even more clearly than we do.
"The one who caused Ziyan’s death was her best friend. She was jealous of Ziyan’s good family background and her lover, who also came from a good family.
"So she conspired with other female classmates who liked me to punish Ziyan, wanting to make her suffer a little.
"Later, when things got out of hand, she hid at home, too afraid to go to school, and it ultimately led to a disaster.
"And I have been living in regret ever since, unable to escape it. I regretted not protecting the woman I loved and hated how cruel those female classmates were.
"After hearing what Jiaojiao said today, I finally realize how terribly wrong I’ve been."
Seeing that everyone’s emotions had stabilized, Gu Jiaojiao said, "Elder Xiao, although your love life has been unfortunate, in your career you have been a formidable and influential figure.
"You hold a great sense of righteousness. Not only have you made immense contributions to the country yourself, but you have also raised your sons very well.
"They have also made great contributions to the country. Perhaps if your love life had been perfect, your career would not have reached its current heights.
"Life is about gains and losses. You elder brothers are all truly worthy of the entire nation’s admiration."
Hearing Gu Jiaojiao’s words, the gazes of the three old gentlemen became complex and unreadable. It seemed they were all reminded of their own pasts.
Elder Xiao and Old Mu fell silent. Their wives were no longer alive.
Mr. Han shook his head and sighed. "Jiaojiao is right. Life is short, and I’m already very content to have met someone who truly loves me.
"When I get home, I must cherish every single minute and second I have left with my wife."
"Tomorrow, I won’t be afraid to go to school anymore! For a moment there, I was terrified of going back!" Xiao Rui said, patting his chest.
"From now on, I’ll keep my eyes wide open when making friends. I’ll never befriend anyone with a rotten heart," Han Jingyi said, still shaken.
This made the three old gentlemen roar with laughter.
"Since everyone’s in a good mood, I’ll cook lunch myself today and show you what I can do," Gu Jiaojiao said with a radiant smile.
"Grand-aunt, you can cook too? Our grand-uncle’s cooking is delicious!" Han Jingyi blurted out, unable to keep his mouth shut.
"Su Shuochi can cook? How come I didn’t know that? You rascal, when did you ever have a meal cooked by Shuo Ci?" Old Sir Han asked in surprise.
Old Mu and Elder Xiao didn’t know Su Shuochi well and were unaware of his past, so they had no say in the matter.
"Yesterday! The meal for Grand-aunt’s housewarming party was cooked by our grand-uncle. It was really delicious."
Gu Jiaojiao was assigning some medicinal herbs to the young men to be ground into powder, and then mixing some of the powder for the old gentlemen to roll into medicine pills.
Then she went to the kitchen to prepare lunch, saying she would go next door and ask Fu Guoguo to come over and help.
In reality, she first needed to enter her space to catch a chicken and pick some vegetables. She was already raising over fifty chickens in her space.
There was also donkey meat and wild boar meat, which stayed as fresh as if just butchered as long as it was kept in the space.
On the black soil plot that was later awarded in the space, Gu Jiaojiao and Su Shuochi had also planted various kinds of green vegetables.
Su Shuochi went to the research institute to report for duty. The director had already received a call from his superiors and was waiting for him.
The director had long known that a comrade with a military rank would be temporarily working at the institute because his leg injury hadn’t healed yet.
The blueprints Su Shuochi had developed had already been given to the institute, and many of their experienced comrades admitted they were no match for him.
All the researchers at the institute were guessing that Su Shuochi must be an elderly man.
The director hadn’t even looked at his file carefully, having been completely absorbed by the blueprints, so he thought the same thing.
When he saw Su Shuochi, he was stunned. "Comrade... Comrade Su, you’re so young?"
"And you are?" Su Shuochi wanted to roll his eyes. ’Am I supposed to be old? Where are you getting the idea that I’m ancient?!’
"I’m the director here, Xiao Zhenyu. Comrade Su, please, come in. On behalf of the institute, I welcome you."
Xiao Zhenyu was Elder Xiao’s second son. The Xiao Family now also managed the state-owned pharmaceutical factory and the medical equipment manufacturing plant.
The Xiao Family’s eldest son, Xiao Rui’s father, was managing the factory. The several Xiao sons had all trained in the military for many years.
Old Three, Xiao Yue, was still serving in the military and held a rather high position. Su Shuochi had heard all this from Gu Jiaojiao.
But Su Shuochi pretended not to know anything. "Director Xiao, it’s a pleasure to meet you. You’ve seen my file, I presume? I look forward to working with you."
"I’ve... I’ve seen it. Actually, we’ll be asking you to guide everyone, Comrade Su." Only then did Xiao Zhenyu remember that he hadn’t actually read Su Shuochi’s file.
He wasn’t usually a talkative person, but he felt an instant connection with Su Shuochi, as if they were old friends. He showed Su Shuochi around the facility.
The two of them were like old friends who had known each other for a long time as Xiao Zhenyu gave him a tour.
The research lab was surrounded by several hidden one-way windows that allowed them to monitor any activity outside, but no one outside could see in.
They had to be searched every time they entered or left, and they also lived and ate at the institute.
Normally, you couldn’t easily take a leave of absence unless it was for something important. This made Su Shuochi a little reluctant to work at the institute; he just wanted to be by his wife’s side every day.
