"I... wasn't threatening them either. I just told her to keep her daughter in check and stop pestering my son. That would be better for everyone."
Gao Xiang was brimming with anger and about to speak when Gao Ming gestured to stop him, looking coldly at his wife: "You keep throwing around the phrase 'our Chen Family,' so you should know that Dad has worked hard in Clear Ridge for nearly 20 years to build Clear Ridge Winery to its current scale. The incident with Ziyu caused significant damage to the company's reputation and finances, and with your outburst on top of that, do you know how others see us? It's one thing if ordinary people think we're nouveau riche running amok, but most people in official circles are keeping us at arm's length. The company is adjusting its strategy this year and undergoing large-scale expansion, just at a critical juncture. We need policy support and cooperation from various departments more than ever. Your reckless, self-serving way of doing things really has to change."
Chen Zi Hui had never paid much attention to what Gao Ming said. In the past, she would have jumped up and argued with him, but now her husband was being more severe than ever, her father Chen Li Guo was sitting nearby with a grim expression, and her son Gao Xiang stood to the side with arms crossed, his face dark and refusing to look at her. Even with her thick skin, she knew she had messed up, but her stubborn nature made it hard to back down: "How was I supposed to know all these things were involved? Besides, our Chen Family has long been a major taxpayer in Clear Ridge. What can Secretary Hu possibly do to us?"
Chen Li Guo let out a long sigh: "Zi Hui, you never admit you're wrong. Are you forcing me to admit that I've completely failed as a parent? Let me tell you, Secretary Hu was very polite, but his words were pointed and impeccably delivered. I had to use what's left of my dignity to promise him that nothing like this would happen again. Listen to me—take good care of Bao Bao, learn to cultivate yourself, and stop stirring up trouble."
Chen Zi Hui still refused to yield: "Dad, you and Gao Ming always said I didn't care enough about Gao Xiang. Now that I'm showing concern, you're all blaming me. Haven't you considered what might happen if Gao Xiang keeps getting entangled with that girl?"
Gao Ming said bluntly, "Gao Xiang isn't Chen Zi Yu..."
This angered Chen Zi Hui, and her voice rose sharply again: "What do you mean by that? No matter how much you disliked Zi Yu, you can't talk about him like that after his death. Let me tell you, he'll always be my brother. If it weren't for that Zuo Si'an and her father, he wouldn't have had to leave so soon."
Gao Ming had never been able to counter his wife's one-sided logic and didn't want to argue with her in front of his father-in-law and son, so he conceded: "Alright, I didn't mean anything by it. I just meant that Gao Xiang is 24 years old—he knows his limits."
"He might be sensible in other matters, but he hasn't shown it in this one. I'm really afraid he might also fall into this family's hands."
"Zuo Si'an is just a young girl. Don't be so paranoid."
"If she were an adult, I wouldn't bother. It's precisely because she's so young and clinging to Gao Xiang—what if something happens?"Gao Xiang had remained silent all along, but now his anger was uncontrollable with no outlet. He raised his hand and swept the teacup Wang Yujiao had brought onto the floor, sending tea splashing everywhere and shards flying in all directions. Everyone in the living room was instantly stunned, and Wang Yujiao hurriedly went to fetch a broom to clean up.
Chen Zi Hui was the first to react, flustered and exasperated as she said, "Look at this, just look! Now he's throwing a tantrum like this over that girl—does he even see me as his mother anymore?"
"Xiao Xiang, calm down." Chen Li Guo's aged eyes seemed dim, yet they appeared to perceive everything clearly. He felt a chill in his heart and shook his head. "I have nothing more to say. I want to move out and find some peace and quiet."
Before anyone else could speak, Gao Ming objected first: "No, you can't. Since you've acknowledged Bao Bao as your son, you must shoulder the responsibilities of a father. You can't abandon such a sickly and weak child for your mother to care for alone."
Gao Xiang was left speechless, filled with frustration, and could only storm upstairs to his room with his travel bag in a rage.
After a while, Gao Ming knocked and entered, sitting down opposite him. "Aside from the time you took the blame for Chen Zi Yu in middle school and I punished you, I've never seen you lose your temper like this."
Gao Xiang fell silent. Of course, he knew that his outburst today was completely out of character with his usual calm demeanor.
"You know your mother well. I never dared to hope she could cultivate herself and nurture her character as your grandfather demanded. Besides your grandfather, only you can somewhat restrain her. If you move out, you'll have peace and freedom, but what will happen if she causes trouble again? How will we handle it?"
"Dad, after graduating from university, I entered the company without a word of complaint. No one ever asked if I had other aspirations. Do you really think my life is just about working for Clear Ridge Winery and keeping Mom in check for you?"
Gao Ming was taken aback and remained silent for a long moment before saying, "I truly never considered that you might have other plans."
"This job has given me great challenges, and I have no complaints. I'll do my best to excel at it. No matter how bad Mom's temper is, she's still my mother. But I really need some space of my own."
"Gao Xiang, I understand that you feel trapped. However, shackles aren't always imposed by others; sometimes we place them on ourselves. I hope you understand what I mean."
Gao Xiang had always been closer to his father and naturally understood his meaning. Gao Ming was born into a large, impoverished family. He struggled hard to graduate from university, joined Clear Ridge Winery, earned Chen Li Guo's appreciation, married his daughter, and became the company's second-in-command. Though it seemed like a smooth rise to success, his marriage with Chen Zi Hui was far from harmonious, and he endured much gossip. He had a deeper understanding of gains and losses, effort and responsibility than most people.
"The reason I opposed you acknowledging Bao Bao as your son back then was that I didn't want you to take on such a burden without careful consideration."
"I've never regretted becoming Bao Bao's father."
"That's good. You'd better be mentally prepared—being a father isn't just about changing diapers or signing consent forms for surgeries. As for Zuo Xuejun's daughter—" Gao Ming paused. Gao Xiang watched his father warily, only to hear him say calmly, "On this point, I agree with your mother. You shouldn't have any further contact with her."“She never pestered me.”
“I know. But she was a victim of Chen Ziyu’s wrongdoing and was forced by your mother to carry the baby to term. No matter how you look at it, you two shouldn’t have any further entanglement. Taking her to see her father was already your way of making amends. It’s better for everyone if you both move on with your lives.”
5
Zuo Si’an performed exceptionally well in her high school entrance exams, scoring 12 points above the admission line for the Affiliated High School of Normal University, and she confidently received her acceptance letter. Meanwhile, Jingjing also achieved her goal and was admitted to Qinggang Middle School.
With Yu Jia and Aunt Mei’s permission, Zuo Si’an invited Jingjing to stay at her home for a week. She and Liu Guanchao took Jingjing on buses and ferries to explore various attractions around Hanjiang City. After visiting pedestrian streets, night markets, and major department stores, Jingjing’s initial excitement wore off. When Yu Jia asked for her impressions, Jingjing candidly admitted that she liked the zoo, botanical garden, the Yangtze River, the large and beautiful libraries, and the universities, but she didn’t like the city itself. Apart from the unbearable heat, there were too many people, too much noise, chaotic traffic, and everyone’s expressions seemed a bit fierce.
Yu Jia was quite fond of Jingjing’s lively personality and was amused by her childish complaints: “You must be missing your mom, right?”
Jingjing nodded vigorously: “Yes. Auntie, let Xiao An come back with me. You said you have to go on a business trip, and if I leave, she’ll be all alone.”
Yu Jia was indeed in charge of an important water conservancy project survey and had been coordinating her business trip schedule with her superiors. She hesitated as she looked at her daughter: “Would you like to stay in Liu Wan for a while?”
“Sure, I like the peace and quiet there, and I can keep Jingjing company.”
Yu Jia studied her daughter thoughtfully. Zuo Si’an appeared as calm as ever, showing no discernible emotions. Yu Jia didn’t often discuss family matters or parenting tips with her colleagues, but she had heard many complain about their children suddenly losing their childhood cuteness and displaying various rebellious behaviors that left them overwhelmed. She, however, had almost never encountered this issue. Zuo Si’an’s period of emotional instability had been brief. Since returning from Tibet, she had been as obedient and gentle as before, to the point where it made Yu Jia vaguely uneasy. Yu Jia, a firm believer in science and rationality, was not particularly sensitive and naturally dismissed such baseless suspicions. She merely found it somewhat odd for a girl her age to prefer the quiet rural life. Still, considering that Liu Wan was mostly populated by the elderly, women, and children, and that Zuo Si’an would be under the careful care of Aunt Mei and accompanied by Jingjing, it was undoubtedly much safer than leaving her alone in Hanjiang.
Yu Jia called Aunt Mei to ask for her opinion, and of course, Aunt Mei agreed wholeheartedly.
Compared to the scorching heat of Hanjiang City, summer in Liu Wan, 200 kilometers away, was relatively mild. The air was fresh and cool in the mornings and evenings, and even at noon under the blazing sun, standing in the shade was far more tolerable than the suffocating heat of the city.A few days later, Liu Guanchao also returned to Liu Wan. The three of them spent their days watering the vegetable patch and pulling weeds, feeding the chickens and pigs, fishing in a small river not far from the village, gathering mushrooms on the nearby hills, and identifying various wild berries. Liu Guanchao would tutor them in their studies, while Zuo Si'an would help correct his English pronunciation. In the evenings, they would enjoy the cool breeze under the osmanthus tree in the yard, listening to Aunt Mei share interesting stories from her medical visits to other villages or to Jingjing tell her whimsical little tales.
Zuo Si'an didn't find this peaceful, repetitive life monotonous. Aunt Mei treated her with the same warmth as before, while respecting her need for distance. Jingjing was at the age Zuo Si'an subconsciously missed the most—bright, lively, and friendly, with a sunny disposition that brought joy to everyone around her. She even thought that if she could choose, she would be willing to live here forever. This fleeting thought made her uneasy; she didn't want to delve into the hidden sorrow deep within her heart, much less expose it to others.
One evening, the weather was overcast. Zuo Si'an was working the hand pump in the backyard, drawing well water to fill a bucket. As she lifted it with both hands and turned around, she was startled to find Gao Xiang standing behind her. Surprised, she blurted out, "What are you doing here?"
"Aunt Mei asked me to buy some medicine. I was back in Qinggang for a meeting, so I brought it over."
"Oh."
As she was about to walk past him, he took the bucket from her, lifted it effortlessly, and carried it straight to the kitchen to give to Aunt Mei. When he came back out, he looked Zuo Si'an over. "You seem to have grown a bit taller."
She lowered her head, avoiding his gaze, and said softly, "Yes, I'm 164 centimeters now."
The rural dusk was filled with the warmth of daily life. Pale blue smoke from cooking fires curled up from the rooftops of houses, while clouds gathered and dispersed rapidly in the sky, making the twilight thicker than usual. Zuo Si'an stood by the well, her hair tied in a ponytail with the ends brushing against the nape of her neck. She still wore a student-like white T-shirt and jeans, but not only had she grown taller—her face and posture had shed the last traces of childishness, and she now exuded the aura of a young woman, appearing somewhat unfamiliar.
"I heard you did very well in your high school entrance exams. Congratulations."
"Thank you."
They both fell silent, the only sound the weary birds returning to the woods, their wings flapping noisily overhead. Something unsettling lingered in the air. Fortunately, Jingjing ran out just then: "Uncle Gao Xiang, thank you for bringing me so many books again. When I went to the provincial capital this time, Aunt Yu bought me lots of books too." She tugged at Zuo Si'an's sleeve. "Sister Xiao An, Mom asked us to pick some pumpkin vine."The tender pumpkin vine leaves of this season were finely chopped, lightly salted, and stir-fried with red chili peppers to make an exceptionally delicious dish rarely found in the city. The other vegetables were also freshly harvested from Aunt Mei’s own garden, yet Gao Xiang ate with little enthusiasm. Of course, Aunt Mei had indeed asked him to buy medicine, but it was only after hearing that Zuo Si’an had also moved to Liu Wan that he personally came to deliver it. Seeing Zuo Si’an in person, aside from realizing she had truly grown up, he sadly discovered that not only was he beginning to make excuses for his actions, but he also seemed unable to face her with ease anymore. Zuo Si’an kept her head down while eating, and Liu Guanchao didn’t even glance at Gao Xiang. Only Jingjing remained cheerfully chatting and laughing as usual, completely unaware of the tension.
OpenNovel