Chapter 124: 90: Quan Shui Family Chapter 124: List of Martyrs, With Grandfather Around, No One Dares to Bully You

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Protagonist:

Lin Xiyu

"Cough, cough."

Guben knew Grandma had never let go of her resentment over Grandfather snatching away her precious grandson back then, and even after all these years she still couldn't put it down; whenever he was mentioned, her resentment ran especially deep.

Fine, let it be broken—he didn't want to quarrel with Grandma over such a small matter.

As long as Grandma was happy, she could say whatever she wanted; anyway, Grandfather couldn't hear.

"Hello, Grandpa and Grandma."

Wang Fan and Li Liang had both been to the Military Region Courtyard before and had met the two elders.

Seeing Guben a bit embarrassed now, as childhood friends, the two felt obliged to speak up for him.

"Xiao Fan, Xiao Liang, you're both here."

Fu Nainai saw the two spirited young men and was indeed very happy, instantly forgetting that annoying old man at the back of her mind.

"Grandma, I remember you love nectarines most, so I specially bought some for you this time."

Wang Fan had a silver tongue and knew best how to make people happy; he handed over the fruit basket in his hand, smiling as if he were their own biological grandson.

"Coming is coming, why buy anything?"

Fu Nainai said she disliked it with her mouth, but in her heart she was beaming with joy.

"Hello, Grandma."

Lin Xiyu and Wu Meng also took advantage of the old man's happiness to step forward and greet her.

"Who are these two girls? They're really pretty."

Fu Nainai looked at the two girls, fresh and tender as flowers, and smiled even more broadly, her kind gaze deliberately lingering on Lin Xiyu's face for a while.

The Quan Shui Family Documentary was broadcast locally, and Lin Xiyu's performance as herself was deeply rooted in people's hearts.

Fu Nainai took one look and recognized her identity, but with outsiders present, she didn't feel comfortable asking directly.

"She's my classmate."

Guben hesitated not at all; in front of everyone, he took Lin Xiyu's hand: "And also your future granddaughter-in-law."

"Classmate, hello..."

Fu Nainai first smiled, then her smile froze again; her gaze fell on their tightly clasped hands, and she was stunned, finding it hard to believe.

"Granddaughter-in-law? Whose?"

Fu Yeye's legs and feet were inconvenient; he sat in a wheelchair, pricking up his ears to listen to them talk, and when he heard the three words "granddaughter-in-law," he was also greatly shocked.

"Your..."

Guben raised his eyebrow slightly, deliberately teasing him.

"You brat, don't interrupt me."

The old fellow laughed in anger, his cane thumping against the floor: "I'm asking whose granddaughter-in-law? Your brother's or yours?"

"My granddaughter-in-law."

Guben raised his clasped hand with Lin Xiyu, declaring sovereignty.

"You're only eighteen..."

Fu Yeye found it hard to believe: "Your brother doesn't even have a partner yet, and you already have a girlfriend?"

"My brother hasn't found a partner, so why can't I have a girlfriend?"

Guben smiled and asked back: "Besides, brother isn't without one; he just doesn't want to let you..."

"Cough, cough."

Fu Zheng's heart skipped a beat; he pretended to cough and kept giving him meaningful looks.

Good younger brother, whatever you do, don't say it out—I'm begging you.

I'm covering for you; what's in it for me?

You help me, and I'll put in a good word for you in front of Mom; we'll be even.

Fine, seeing as you're also a romantic, deeply devoted to your girlfriend, I'll keep covering for you.

The two brothers exchanged blows in private, drawing Fu Nainai's displeasure: "What are you two doing? Making eyes at each other—what are you hiding from us?"

"No, nothing..."

Fu Zheng's heartbeat was in disorder, and he almost bit his own tongue.

"Eldest Brother said..."

Guben appreciated his eldest brother's rare flustered expression with great satisfaction: "My luck is very good; I found such a girlfriend who suits my heart."

"Tsk."

Fu Zheng saw that he hadn't given himself away and quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

"You two brothers really..."

Fu Nainai glared at Fu Zheng with quite some resentment: "As the elder brother, should you be looking or not, while the younger brother jumped the gun instead."

"That's fate."

Guben seemed to be joking, but was actually advising his eldest brother: "What's destined to be yours, you can't run away from even if you try; what's not destined, you can't get even if you beg."

"I'm just a Heavenly Slaughter Lone Star; I don't have the fate to marry a wife."

Fu Zheng heard the meaning behind his words and gave a self-mocking smile.

"What nonsense are you talking?"

Fu Nainai slapped him in dissatisfaction: "You're only 23, you've got a whole life ahead of you. Say such depressing words again and see if Grandma doesn't hit you."

"Grandma, spare me, I was wrong."

Fu Zheng decisively admitted defeat, clutching his head and begging for mercy.

"Aiyo, this child, so grown up and still not giving people peace of mind."

Fu Nainai pretended to be angry and punched him hard again.

"Grandma, I'm still young."

Guben deliberately teased Grandma into happiness, shaking her arm and acting coquettishly.

"Stinky brat, don't try that on me."

Fu Nainai laughed and scolded: "Honestly confess, when did the two of you start this? You've kept it so tight, not even giving us a heads-up......."

"I haven't been hiding it."

Guben smiled black-belliedly and shifted the blame: "Eldest Brother knew long ago; I thought he had told you."

"Xiao Zheng, do you know?"

Fu Nainai's face indeed sank, and she took her anger out on the eldest grandson: "Why didn't you tell Grandpa and Grandma? Guests are at the door, and there's not a bit of preparation in the house. You're deliberately trying to make people laugh at us."

"Cough cough."

Fu Zheng, constrained by the fact that his younger brother had leverage over him, had no choice but to grit his teeth and take the blame for him: "I didn't know they were moving so fast either; they brought her home after only two months."

"Is that considered fast?"

Guben pointed at Li Liang again and smiled black-belliedly: "He's the real fast one; they're already engaged."

"Xiao Liang is engaged?"

Fu Nainai was indeed shocked again, clutching her chest, barely able to bear it.

"Grandma, don't get excited."

Fu Zheng, fearing she might have a heart attack, hurriedly supported her.

"What am I excited about? I'm happy."

Interrupted by Guben, Grandma really wasn't in the mood to blame him anymore; all her thoughts were occupied by the two words "engaged."

"Xiao Liang's father and your father were Tiegexi; he's also someone Grandma watched grow up, as close as a biological grandson. To see him engaged in my lifetime is enough to satisfy me."

"Grandma......"

Fu Zheng frowned tightly: "A perfectly good engagement, and you make it sound so sorrowful for no reason."

"Slap."

Fu Nainai laughed in anger and slapped his forehead: "Sorrowful my foot; can't I say a few sentimental words?"

"Grandma, may you have good fortune and longevity, and live to be a hundred."

Guben had a sweet mouth, coaxing Grandma into happiness: "You Old Man live well, and you'll surely see all our juniors marry and have children, with four generations under one roof."

"Xiao Bin knows how to speak."

These words truly hit Grandma's heart, coaxing her Old Man into beaming with joy: "Unlike your Eldest Brother, single-minded since childhood, like a wooden clog, just knows how to make people angry."

"Eldest Brother is a Pilot, he must be steady."

Guben stifled a laugh, deliberately not looking at Eldest Brother's embarrassed expression.

"What does flying a plane have to do with it? He's just like your father, both shaped by your Grandpa."

Fu Nainai looked at the two grandsons she raised herself, who were obviously not as likable in temperament as the ones raised by Qinjiayi, and had some complaints: "What militarized education, just rigid dogma......."

"Old Woman, what are you saying again?"

Fu Yeye poked his cane hard, expressing protest: "I'm not dead yet; this house isn't for you to call the shots."

"Listen to them, listen to them......"

Fu Nainai was displeased and didn't indulge him, retorting immediately: "Sitting in a wheelchair unable to move, still such a stinky temper. If I hadn't indulged him and endured for a lifetime, I couldn't have gone on."

"Was it you indulging me?"

Fu Yeye also lost his temper and argued with her: "I say one sentence, you can say ten. Since we were young, you've picked at my faults, disliking this and that. I never argued with you, and now you're acting up."

"Was it me picking at your faults?"

Fu Nainai didn't want to lose face in front of the juniors and had to win a breath: "You take off your stinky socks and throw them under the bed, piling up a large heap, not washing them for half a month. Ask those young girls, who can stand that smell."

"Cough cough."

Fu Yeye choked, his old face turning the color of pig liver.

Lin Xiyu and Wu Meng were both stunned, stifling their laughter and not daring to make a sound.

"Grandma, let's not mention this matter."

Guben laughed helplessly: "It affects Grandpa's glorious image as a revolutionary too much."

"Don't speak up for him."

Fu Nainai had the upper hand and was somewhat smug: "What I say are all facts."

"Grandma, there are outsiders here."

Guben advised in a low voice: "Give Grandpa some face."

"Hmph."

Fu Nainai tsundere snorted from her nostrils: "I knew it. You few stinky brats all side with your Grandpa. I don't have that good fortune. I can't even hope for a granddaughter. Five daughters-in-law, not one born is a little cotton-padded jacket; they're all Debt Collectors......"

"No granddaughter, a granddaughter-in-law works too."

Guben raised his eyebrows and made eyes at Lin Xiyu: "There's a ready-made one right here. As long as Grandma wants, Xiyu can be your biological granddaughter. From now on, with her and I together to coax you into happiness, I guarantee you'll like her. In no time, you'll treat her even closer than a biological granddaughter."

"Hello, Grandma."

Lin Xiyu understood and sweetly called out "Grandma."

"This child, she looks quite well-behaved."

Fu Nainai was delighted to hear this, immediately slipped into character, and activated household-registration inquiry mode: "How old are you? How many people in your family? What do your father and mother do? How many brothers and sisters do you have?"

"Grandma, you're asking so many questions at once—how can anyone answer?"

Guben saw Lin Xiyu's nervous palms were sweating, and spoke up for her: "Why not find a place to sit, have a cup of tea, and take it slow."

"It's all because your grandpa made him angry."

Fu Nainai, reminded by him, finally realized, and smilingly greeted the guests: "I forgot about that, come on, come on, children, all come in, don't go to the restaurant for noon, I'll have Xiao Zhou make some dishes, and we'll eat at home."

"Hehe."

Wang Fan fawned and acted cute: "I really am a bit hungry, just waiting for your old words."

"Little slippery head."

Fu Nainai was happy to hear it, and laugh lines appeared at the corners of her eyes.

——

"Grandpa, Xiyu's biological father also served in the Jinan Military Region during his lifetime, and sacrificed during the Self-Defense Counterattack War against Vietnam."

The group sat down in the living room, and Guben immediately revealed Lin Xiyu's identity as a martyr's child, playing the emotion card.

"What is your father's name?"

Fu Yeye heard these words, his cloudy eyes instantly lit up, and his gaze toward Lin Xiyu was full of kindness.

"Lin Jianjun."

Lin Xiyu thought of her biological father, and her eyes welled up.

"Lin, Jian, Jun."

Fu Yeye repeated the name slowly, word by word, searching his brain for related memories.

"He was only 31 when he sacrificed, still very young."

Guben saw Grandpa lost in thought without speaking, and tentatively said: "Grandpa perhaps never had contact with him, so has no memory."

"No."

Fu Yeye raised his hand, interrupting him: "Back when the war ended, I personally went to the front lines to bring back their ashes. Every sacrificed martyr is recorded on the roster. They were soldiers of our department; I must have seen him. Go to the study, bring the roster, and we'll know with one check......"

"How would he know where the roster is......"

Fu Nainai got up from the sofa: "Let me go instead."

"Grandma, I'll go with you."

Guben stood up right after, affectionately supporting Grandma's arm.

One old and one young went to the study, and before long returned carrying a roster of yellowed paper that looked like it had some years on it.

Grandpa put on reading glasses and flipped through page by page.

He turned the pages very slowly and read very carefully, as if through every martyr's name recorded on the roster, recalling the events of those years.

The living room was silent; everyone held their breath, not daring to make the slightest unusual sound, lest they disturb the old man at this time.

"Found it."

Time passed minute by minute and second by second. After fifteen minutes, in the silent living room, the old man's voice finally rang out—slightly hoarse, choked, and filled with extreme surprise.

The young men and women gathered around together and looked at the roster.

Where the old man's right hand pointed, the three characters Lin Jianjun were clearly written.

"Dad."

Lin Xiyu burst into tears in an instant, covering her mouth and crying out loud.

Guben pulled her into his arms and patted her back comfortingly.

"Good child."

Fu Yeye wiped away his weathered tears, his choked voice carrying an unquestionable dignity: "Your father was Grandpa's soldier; you are Grandpa's child. From now on, this is your home. With Grandpa here, no one dares to bully you."

"That's settled then."

Guben used his fingertip to wipe Lin Xiyu's tears, smiling and teasing: "Your family status has skyrocketed. From now on, I won't dare bully you either."

"If you dare bully Xiao Lin, Grandpa won't let you off."

Fu Yeye pretended to be angry, raised his cane to hit him.

"Grandma, save me! Grandpa's going to hit me."

Guben wouldn't wait to be hit; he flashed aside and hid behind Grandma.

"Not feeling sentimental anymore?"

Fu Nainai put on a stern face and glared at Grandpa discontentedly: "Just now you were crying like a baby, but you've got plenty of strength to hit people."

"Who cried."

Fu Yeye refused to admit it: "I'm just annoyed with myself for not checking the roster and actually forgetting my sacrificed comrades."

"Your snot isn't even dry yet."

Fu Nainai teased him with a smile.

"Uh."

Fu Yeye felt embarrassed and involuntarily sniffed his nose.

"Pfft."

Lin Xiyu laughed through her tears. The originally sentimental atmosphere was interrupted by Grandma and instantly changed flavor.

"That was ten years ago."

Guben didn't want the two elders to start snapping at each other again, so he quickly changed the subject: "It's normal to have fuzzy memories. Xiyu also lived in the Military District Compound when she was young; she probably doesn't even remember those things herself."