yournovel Chapter 129: Facing a Tough Battle
Chapter 129: Facing a Tough Battle
Chapter 129 Going Back to Face a Tough Battle (5k)
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting long, thin streaks of light on the floor of Gengzhi's room.
Gu Wanning was sleeping soundly. When she opened her eyes, she was momentarily dazed.
An unfamiliar ceiling, an unfamiliar room, an unfamiliar angle of light. Then memories flooded back, and her cheeks flushed.
She actually slept on Gengzhi's bed all night, and slept very soundly.
Gu Wanning rolled over, picked up her phone, glanced at the screen, and instantly woke up. Oh my God! It's 8:30!
I woke up two hours later than usual!
Gu Wanning awkwardly got out of bed quickly, tiptoed to the bedroom door, and listened carefully to the sounds coming from the living room, but it was completely quiet.
She breathed a sigh of relief and first sent a QQ message to Geng Zhi.
[Gu Wanning]: "Hey, you big liar, are you awake yet? I'm getting ready to go out now?"
Send, waiting.
One minute, two minutes, three minutes. The message disappeared without a trace, and the chat box remained completely silent.
Gu Wanning stared at the screen, feeling inexplicably disappointed.
That lazy bum actually woke up later than me?!
She then thought about it again and found another reason for Geng Zhi: He must have been exhausted after driving all day yesterday, so it's normal for him to sleep a little longer.
She tiptoed to Geng Zhi's desk, quickly tidied her hair in the small mirror on the desk, checked her clothes to make sure they were neat, and then carefully opened the door.
The living room was empty.
The neatly folded blankets on the sofa proved that Geng Zhi did indeed sleep here last night, but now only a blanket folded into a square is left quietly leaning against the corner of the sofa.
There was a slight noise coming from the kitchen.
Gu Wanning walked over and saw Yao Shufen busily working at the stove. The pressure cooker was hissing and steaming, and the chopped scallions on the cutting board were bright green.
"Good morning, Auntie!" Gu Wanning greeted softly.
Yao Shufen turned around, her face immediately breaking into a smile: "Oh, Wan Ning, why are you up so early? Did Auntie wake you up?" She wiped her hands, her tone apologetic, "I tried to be as quiet as possible, but I still woke you up, didn't I? I'm so sorry."
"No, no!" Gu Wanning quickly waved her hand. "Auntie, I slept until I naturally woke up, and I slept very soundly."
"That's good, that's good." Yao Shufen breathed a sigh of relief, her eyes full of affection. "Wan Ning, go wash up first, breakfast will be ready soon. Today Auntie made a special breakfast from Shandong Province, you must try it."
"Thank you, Auntie!"
Gu Wanning responded, but her gaze unconsciously drifted towards the master bedroom and the balcony. She didn't see Geng Zhi's figure.
"Auntie, where's Geng Zhi?" she finally couldn't help but ask.
"Oh, Gengzhi went to your Uncle Geng's hometown in the countryside to pay New Year's visits early this morning. He goes back every year on the first day of the Lunar New Year, but he should be back soon. Wait a little while, okay?"
"Okay, Auntie." Gu Wanning nodded, and the inexplicable sense of loss in her heart quietly dissipated.
After washing up, Gu Wanning returned home to find that the straightforward father and son were still not home. Gu Wanning sat down on the sofa and took out her phone.
Several red dots have appeared on my best friend Luo Yanling's profile picture.
[Luo Yanling]: "Wanning, Wanning! Are you up yet?"
[Luo Yanling]: "Tell me quickly, where did you stay yesterday?"
[Luo Yanling]: "??? Where is everyone???"
[Luo Yanling]: "Gu Wanning, you're not still in bed, are you? (Shocked.jpg)"
Gu Wanning couldn't help but laugh and typed a reply.
[Gu Wanning]: "Yanling, I just woke up. I bought a ticket for 3:10 PM today at Beijing Capital International Airport. Remember to pick me up!"
The message was sent and the other party replied instantly.
But as a bystander, Luo Yanling's first concern was whether Gu Wanning had gone to Geng Zhi's house, so she deliberately tried to trick him.
[Luo Yanling]: "Wan Ning, did you stay in a hotel yesterday? Geng Zhi didn't even invite you to his house? That's so heartless!"
Gu Wanning stared at the message, her finger hovering above the screen, unsure how to reply.
If she tacitly agrees with Luo Yanling's statement that Geng Zhi didn't invite her to his home, it would be tantamount to saying that Geng Zhi is heartless. That's extremely unfair to Geng Zhi.
But if I tell the truth and say that I slept at Geng Zhi's house, it's easy to not be able to explain it clearly and it would be too awkward.
Gu Wanning felt her face burning just thinking about Luo Yanling's expression when she saw this message.
After hesitating for a full two minutes, she decided to tell the truth.
[Gu Wanning]: "I originally planned to stay in a hotel, but all the hotels in the small county were closed for the New Year and there were no rooms available. In the end, I had no choice but to stay at Geng Zhi's house."
send.
There was a three-second silence on the other end, and then the message notification sound went off like crazy.
Luo Yanling: "!!!"
[Luo Yanling]: "What nonsense! Hotels closing for the New Year?! Are you kidding me?!"
[Luo Yanling]: "So you two—have—met the parents???"
[Luo Yanling]: "Hahahaha!"
[Luo Yanling]: "(So full from eating melon seeds).jpg"
Gu Wanning sighed, rubbing her forehead. She knew it would turn out this way.
Having gotten her hands on some juicy gossip, Luo Yanling is ready to dig deeper.
[Luo Yanling]: "Does Geng Zhi live in a big villa? Does he even have a room just for you to sleep in?"
This message made Gu Wanning's fingers freeze again.
How should she answer? Should she say she slept in Gengzhi's room? That would be even more difficult to explain. Should she say she slept in the living room? Luo Yanling would definitely ask why she didn't let Gengzhi sleep in the living room and instead slept in her room.
She now deeply regrets discussing this topic with her best friend, who's a total paparazzi.
[Gu Wanning]: "Asking about someone's house is considered intruding on their privacy, and that's not a good habit!"
[Luo Yanling]: "Alright then, I'll only ask about your own affairs!"
[Luo Yanling]: "So, are you getting used to sleeping at your in-laws' house?"
When Gu Wanning saw the words "in-laws," her face flushed even more.
[Gu Wanning]: "They're not in-laws at all! They're just ordinary friends visiting each other during the Spring Festival! Luo Yanling, what nonsense are you spouting! Goodbye!"
She quickly typed the message and sent it, then decisively logged out of QQ, tossing her phone onto the sofa as if it were something too hot to handle.
Parents-in-law.
These two words kept swirling in my mind, and I just couldn't shake them off.
She touched her cheek with the back of her hand; it was frighteningly hot.
Just then, the sound of a key turning in the lock came from the door.
Geng Zhi and Geng Youcai entered the door one after the other. Geng Zhi was carrying two red plastic bags, each containing a local specialty.
"Wan Ning, you're up?" Geng Zhi's eyes lit up with a smile when he saw her. "Perfect timing. I just brought back some glutinous rice balls from my hometown. They're still warm. Try some."
Gu Wanning hummed in response, but her gaze involuntarily darted away.
The lingering warmth of those two words was still on my face.
An hour later.
After the four of them finished breakfast together, Yao Shufen habitually began to clear the dishes.
Geng Zhi quickly took the plate from her hand: "Mom, don't you have to go to the hospital for your shift today? I'll wash the dishes, you go and get ready for work."
"No need, I'll wash them. There's still time," Yao Shufen said, reaching for the bowls and chopsticks in Geng Zhi's hands.
"Auntie, you still have to go to work during the Spring Festival?" Gu Wanning asked in surprise.
"Yes." Yao Shufen nodded. "In a hospital, there's no such thing as the Spring Festival. People have to be on duty all the time."
-
"Oh. Auntie, you go ahead and do your work. Gengzhi and I will clean up." Gu Wanning said, taking a rag and starting to wipe the dining table.
Watching the two naturally divide the work and cooperate, one washing the dishes and the other wiping the table, working together quite well, Yao Shufen felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction.
The old Gengzhi was a bookworm, only interested in books, and would never have taken the initiative to help with housework.
It seems Wan Ning is a great teacher!
As she thought this, her smile deepened.
Before leaving, Yao Shufen took out a thick red envelope from her down jacket pocket. The bright red cover had the character "福" (fortune) printed in gold.
"Wan Ning, this is your first time coming to our house for Chinese New Year." She handed over the red envelope. "This is a small token of appreciation from Aunt Yao and Uncle Geng. Please accept it."
Gu Wanning was stunned for a moment, then quickly waved her hand: "Ah, no, no, no, Auntie, I can't take this!"
"Here you go, Wan Ning." Yao Shufen shoved the red envelope into Gu Wan Ning's hand without further ado. "This is a custom in our Shandong province; children who visit for the first time are given a red envelope. When in Rome, do as the Romans do!"
"Auntie, really, you don't need to!" Gu Wanning put her hands behind her back. "I'm already embarrassed to be here for free meals and lodging, how could I possibly accept a red envelope!"
"This child, what do you mean by freeloading!" Yao Shufen pretended to put on a stern face. "If you don't accept them, then you're disrespecting your aunt."
"No, no, I didn't mean that—" Gu Wanning looked to Geng Zhi for help.
He shrugged, with an expression that said, "I can't help it."
The two went back and forth pushing and shoving for several rounds.
Gu Wanning was no match for Yao Shufen in this regard, and in the end, Yao Shufen successfully slipped the red envelope into Gu Wanning's pocket.
"Yes, that's more like it!" Yao Shufen smiled happily. "Alright, Wan Ning, I have to go to my shift now. I'll have Geng Zhi take you to see some nearby attractions later. I'll make you something delicious when I get back from my shift."
"Auntie—" Gu Wanning hesitated for a moment before speaking, "I've already bought my plane ticket to Beijing, and I'll be leaving soon."
"Huh? You're leaving already??"
Yao Shufen, who had just stepped out of the house, immediately pulled her foot back, her face full of reluctance: "Wan Ning, you have to stay at our house for a couple more days! You've come all this way, how can you just leave after only one night!"
She was truly reluctant to let her future daughter-in-law stay at home for just one night.
"Auntie, I really have something to do—" Gu Wanning looked at Geng Zhi for help again.
Geng received the signal directly and said, "Mom, Wan Ning really has something to do, let's not hold her back." He paused, looked at Gu Wan Ning, a mischievous glint in his eyes, "Wan Ning will have plenty of opportunities to come in the future, right?"
As he spoke, he blinked subtly.
Gu Wanning understood and, in order to extricate herself smoothly, could only nod in agreement: "Yes, Auntie, there will be many more opportunities to visit you and Uncle later. This trip was really arranged in advance; I have to go back to the capital to handle some matters."
Yao Shufen looked at Geng Zhi, then at Gu Wanning, and sighed, "Alright, alright, you young people all have your own plans, I won't force you to stay."
She stepped forward, took Gu Wanning's hand, and said, "Wanning, next time you come, you must stay for a few more days. Auntie will cook you lots and lots of delicious food!"
"Okay, Auntie, definitely!" Gu Wanning nodded earnestly.
"Gengzhi, you go and take Wan Ning home. Be careful on the road. Wan Ning, send Auntie a message when you get there." Yao Shufen said, then asked Gu Wan Ning for her phone number and QQ number.
After giving her a few more instructions, she reluctantly left for work.
Gu Wanning quickly packed her suitcase and asked Geng Zhi to take her to the airport. She also asked Geng Zhi to drive her Maserati back to Shanghai.
The two said goodbye to Geng Youcai, went downstairs, and got into their car.
The car started and slowly drove out of the residential area.
Outside the car window, the small county town unfolded quietly in the sunshine after the snow.
Most of the shops on both sides of the street were still closed, with red lanterns at their entrances swaying gently in the wind. Occasionally, children dressed in new clothes would chase each other along the roadside, holding sparklers and laughing crisply.
The car turned onto the main street, passed the central square of the county town, and then began to drive onto the main road outside the town.
Gu Wanning looked out the window, watching the unfamiliar small county town slowly recede after the snow, and remained silent for a moment.
"Geng Zhi, your mother—" she suddenly began, then stopped.
Geng Zhi glanced at her sideways and asked, "What's wrong with my mom?"
Gu Wanning shook her head: "It's nothing."
After a moment of silence, she spoke again, her voice softer than before: "Your mother is such a kind person."
Geng Zhi laughed: "That's because you didn't see her scolding me. I got scolded a lot when I was a kid. Once, I carelessly made a big mistake on a test, and she nagged me about it for the entire winter break."
Gu Wanning imagined the scene of Xiao Gengzhi being nagged by Yao Shufen, and couldn't help but laugh: "Then you definitely deserve to be scolded."
""
"Hey, why are you siding with my mom?"
"I'm stating the truth."
The car entered the highway and headed north. The atmosphere inside the car relaxed, and the two chatted casually.
Upon arriving at the airport, Geng Zhi parked the car at the departure level and helped Gu Wan Ning carry her luggage down: "Remember to send me a message when you arrive."
"Hmm." Gu Wanning looked at him, and the moment their eyes met, she suddenly felt that she had a lot to say, but didn't know where to begin.
In the end, he only said five words: "Then I'm going in."
"Okay, have a safe journey."
Gu Wanning turned around and pushed her suitcase towards the terminal. After walking a dozen steps, she couldn't help but look back.
Geng Zhi was still standing by the car, his posture upright, his eyes following her direction.
A warmth filled her heart, and she raised her hand to wave.
Geng Zhi also raised his hand and waved.
Gu Wanning turned around, this time without looking back, and pushed her luggage into the terminal.
Only after her figure completely disappeared through the door did Geng Zhi turn around and get into the car. He shifted gears and slowly drove out of the airport.
When he got home, Geng Youcai was sitting on the sofa watching TV.
The screen was playing a replay of the Spring Festival Gala. This year is the Year of the Tiger, and it happened to be the Little Tigers' performance—three middle-aged men in their forties standing on the stage, singing their reunion song, "Reunion."
Yesterday, because they had to wait for their son, he and his wife only watched less than two hours of the Spring Festival Gala, missing out on so much.
"Geng Zhi, did Wan Ning board the plane smoothly?" Geng Youcai turned down the TV volume.
"Yes, she just sent a message saying she's boarded the plane and her phone is on airplane mode." Gengzhi sat down next to his father.
"Okay, okay." Geng Youcai nodded.
After a few seconds of silence, Geng Youcai looked at Geng Zhi seriously and finally prepared to start talking about work.
At first, Geng Zhi never talked to his family about his entrepreneurial venture.
It was after his interview with CCTV aired that the head of the department at the county's No. 1 Middle School saw the news of Geng Zhi on TV and told Geng Youcai, who then learned that his son had appeared on CCTV news.
Subsequently, Geng Youcai and Yao Shufen kept a close eye on every news item related to "Jiaotong University matchmakers".
As parents, they are proud of their son and extremely proud of his achievements.
Especially after the white paper was released, the public praised their son extensively, especially the title of "a valuable asset in the industry," which made the couple extremely happy.
However, the public opinion soon reversed, labeling Geng Zhi as "inconsistent with his words and deeds," "pretending to be high-minded," and "hypocritical," which infuriated the couple.
They believe in their son, but are more worried about his condition after being criticized by public opinion.
With his wife away, this is the perfect opportunity for Geng Youcai to talk to Geng Zhi about work.
"Geng Zhi, I see a lot of people online criticizing you and wronging you. What exactly is going on? You should talk to your dad about it." Geng Youcai's face was full of worry.
Geng Zhi quickly organized his thoughts—he needed to explain clearly without revealing too much about his plans, and he couldn't let his father worry.
Seeing his son remain silent, Geng Youcai, a political science teacher, felt a sinking feeling in his heart. He thought the criticisms online were true, and that his son had really done something he shouldn't have.
"Son, your mother and I both know that making money is very important," Geng Youcai said solemnly, "but to achieve great things, you must first be a good person."
2
Geng Zhi: "Yes, Dad, I know. I've been influenced by you guys in this regard since I was little, so—"
"Therefore, we shouldn't compromise our conscience for the sake of making money," Geng Youcai interrupted him.
"Hmm?" Geng Zhi frowned. "Dad, don't you trust your son? Are you worried he'll go astray? My political ideology class has always been ranked among the top in the whole school!"
Geng Youcai remained silent.
Getting first place in exams, getting full marks in moral education, and shouting slogans loudly—can these be the same as actual performance?
He'd seen far too many people shout slogans at the top of their lungs, only to end up getting free meals.
Seeing that his father still had doubts, Geng Zhi had no choice but to tell Geng Youcai the general story, while avoiding sensitive information.
"Damn it, those radish legs!" Geng Youcai blurted out after hearing his son's story.
Geng Zhi paused for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh.
In his memory, this was the first sentence his father had ever uttered that could barely be considered a swear word.
Geng Youcai had been a political teacher for over twenty years. He always spoke in a gentle and refined manner, and rarely even used the word "bastard."
This phrase, "Damn it, that little brat," is probably his limit.
"These people are utterly heartless!" Geng Youcai exclaimed indignantly. "Isn't this blatant bullying?"
"Dad, you and Mom are my strongest support." Geng Zhi patted his father's shoulder with a smile. "Trust your son. Believe that with Wan Ning's help, I will turn the tide."
Upon hearing Gu Wanning's name, Geng Youcai's expression softened somewhat: "That's right! I absolutely believe in my son and Wanning!"
come on!"
For the next few days, Geng Zhi was so busy he barely had time to breathe.
In addition to visiting relatives and friends as usual, he also handled several work emails.
It wasn't just iDreamSky; Tencent also sent an inquiry email, wanting to distribute "Fruit Ninja" in China. They exchanged several emails, asking about various details.
In addition, he also took the time to look at several new housing developments.
In his past life, he failed in his own business, and his parents sacrificed so much for him. In those years, he watched his parents scrimp and save, running all over the market to save a few dollars on groceries, and he felt nothing but guilt.
Now that he's made his own money, he wants to get Teacher Geng and Head Nurse Yao to move out of this old, dilapidated apartment and into a spacious, bright house.
Ultimately, he chose a garden-style residential complex. It was a fully furnished apartment with an elevator, three bedrooms and two living rooms, excellent natural light, beautiful landscaping, and an artificial lake.
Most importantly, it's close to the county hospital and the No. 1 Middle School, making it convenient for my mother to go to work and for my father to go to school.
-
It's already the fifth day of the Lunar New Year.
At six o'clock in the morning, Geng Zhi got up on time. He packed the last few pieces of luggage into the trunk of his Maserati and said goodbye to his parents.
"Drive slowly and be careful," Yao Shufen said, holding his hand. "Call Mom when you get there."
"Okay, Mom."
"Wan Ning's side—" Yao Shufen hesitated, "You all need to be well."
Geng Zhi laughed: "We've always been doing fine."
"That's good, that's good." Yao Shufen released her hand. "Go ahead."
The car drove out of the residential area, through the county town shrouded in the morning mist, and onto the highway.
His first stop was Zaozhuang, where he picked up his fellow villager Niu Baoguo.
Niu Baoguo had already finished handling the thesis proposal before the winter break.
As the legal representative of Momo, he has decided to go directly to Shanghai to prepare for the postgraduate entrance examination of Huashi University.
After picking up Niu Baoguo, Geng went to Nanjing to pick up Zou Lu and they returned to Shanghai together.
The real battle begins after the New Year.
PS: Just wanted to tell my readers that I've had so many social engagements these past few days and have been constantly on the road, so my update speed has slowed down.
Once the holiday is over, I'll make up for all the debts I've accumulated as soon as possible!