Chapter 469: Don't know whose first love is a guy whose braid wasn't cut off thoroughly

Gu Zhi Yao raised her eyes, glared at Second Brother, and complained to Lin Zhao softly?

"Mom, look at my Second Brother!"

Her mouth pouted slightly, humming, "He wishes I would break up."

"So what's going on with you and Maodan?" Lin Zhao asked, "Looking at your appearance, it seems you don't plan to go out, are you two having a conflict?"

"No. He has something to do today, we agreed to meet tomorrow." Thinking of her sweetheart, Gu Zhi Yao's smile was sweet.

Gu Zhihang: "That's really a pity."

Lin Zhao pinched his arm, "Your father and I don't urge or care whether you date or not, and you should care less about Yaobao. If you make my son-in-law disappear, see how I teach you a lesson."

Gu Zhihang put on a complex face, "Son-in-law is more important than son, understood."

"Haven't you heard that a son-in-law is half a son, son-in-law is naturally important," Lin Zhao said casually.

"Half a son is not as popular as a son. Mom, you should be sober."

Lin Zhao ignored this, glanced at Gu Zhihang, "You and Maodan aren't the best buddies, isn't it good for him to be your brother-in-law? Maodan has upright character, respects women, has academic qualifications, has a job, and is handsome, can be called flawless in the blind date market, why are you so disgusted with him, is there something I don't know?"

Regarding his good brother's innocence, Gu Zhihang hurriedly explained, "No. Maodan is quite good, quite good in all aspects."

"I'm just unhappy that they didn't tell me until they had been dating for almost a year."

Lin Zhao was between laughter and tears, "Your eldest brother has been with him every day, didn't he only know half a day earlier than you."

"Maodan and I are like biological brothers, in the future, if he and Yaobao quarrel, I don't know who to help," Gu Zhihang felt a headache as soon as he thought of this.

"You think too far," Lin Zhao said speechlessly.

"Sigh." Gu Zhihang sighed.

"My opinion is don't care," Lin Zhao gave advice, "Unless it's a major matter of principle, it's normal for a couple to quarrel, let them grind together, they will get better slowly. If you care too much, small things will become big things, which is bad for Yaobao."

"Mom, did you and Dad quarrel before?" Gu Zhi Yao asked, she and Ning Xiao were already talking about engagement, the first time in her life, still a bit nervous.

"... Emm, we've argued, but it never escalated into a real fight," Lin Zhao said awkwardly.

"Your dad has a stable temperament. He only ever solves problems, never people."

"He understands me very well and knows the reasons why I get irritable or angry, so he can always soothe me quickly. That's why I'm always happy when he's around."

The brother and sister inexplicably felt stuffed.

Glancing at the children's expressions, Lin Zhao cleared her throat and then said seriously, "When two people live together, every aspect requires time to adjust. You'll understand once you get married."

Gu Zhihang scoffed; he hadn't reached that stage yet and had no interest in the matter of marriage.

Gu Zhi Yao, however, was facing the imminent prospect and asked curiously, "For example?"

"Very trivial details. For instance, if you don't go to sleep until ten, but your partner doesn't sleep until eleven and makes noise in the house, you definitely won't rest well, right? Or, for another example, if you have the habit of scalding your towel with boiling water after using it, but your partner doesn't wash their towel even a few times all year round..." Lin Zhao gave examples at random.

Gu Zhi Yao's pretty face wrinkled, her expression reluctant and troubled.

"Brother Xiao wouldn't have these bad habits, would he?" She looked at Gu Zhihang uncertainly.

Gu Zhihang was close with Mao Dan'er; they slept in the same room when they were little and were as thick as thieves.

Even if he wanted to badmouth his good brother, he couldn't.

In his heart, Mao Dan'er held a status similar to Li Bao—as heavy as Mount Tai.

After graduating, Li Bao worked under Gu Zhihang and had long since achieved financial freedom. This honest lad dated a delicate and cute girlfriend in college. Over the years, the two focused on their careers and hadn't discussed marriage. The two young people were very affectionate, and walking down the aisle should be a matter of time.

It wasn't that the family hadn't urged them, but Gu Zhili and his girlfriend were unhurried. He hoped everything would come naturally rather than getting married just for the sake of marriage.

Neither of them wanted the other to have even a hint of reluctance.

Gu Zhihang couldn't lie just to put Mao Dan'er down.

He said, "Mao Dan'er is very much like Big Brother; his sense of order is stronger than average. To be honest, I can't name any of his flaws. I truly think you're quite capable for being able to win Mao Dan'er over."

Gu Zhihang couldn't help but laugh, "I actually thought he would be single for life."

Emm, that was also the image Big Brother had in his heart.

He didn't dare say it.

Distance makes the heart grow fonder; the eldest and the third didn't stay home often, and his mom protected them tightly.

"Unh-huh." Gu Zhi Yao was full of pride, "Of course, I have a discerning eye."

Gu Zhihang sneered in his heart.

And he didn't know whose first love was a guy who hadn't cut his braid off completely.

Haicheng First Hospital.

The hospital room was filled with gloom.

The middle-aged man lying on the bed had a numb look in his eyes.

How did he end up with this illness?

"Father of the children, don't overthink it, it will be cured." The woman in front of the hospital bed was afraid the man would do something foolish, so she grabbed his hand and spoke to comfort him.

Thinking of the constantly dwindling savings at home, her heart was full of sorrow.

"Mm," the man said.

He looked out the window, "Life was finally getting better, how did it... I don't know if I still have a chance to work for Gu Zong. Gu Zong is benevolent and righteous; I'm afraid I won't be able to repay his kindness in this lifetime."

"There will be a chance. You just focus on recovering, and go back once you're cured." The woman's fingers applied slight pressure, as if trying to transmit some kind of belief into her husband's body.

"... Things change so fast, who knows if there will still be a spot for me in the transport team in the future." The man was very pessimistic.

Just as they were speaking, the brothers from the transport team arrived.

The leader said, "Don't worry, there's a spot for you."

Another person put down the gifts they brought, sat down, and looked at the brother they had worked with for many years, "Your truck hasn't been driven by anyone; it's sitting at the factory. Gu Zong said that when you recover, the truck will still be yours."

"That's right, we all heard these words clearly. Ping'an, you just focus on recovering. I heard that a good mood is beneficial for the condition to improve, so stop worrying about this and that. You should worry about yourself for now."

The man on the hospital bed saw the group of good brothers, his eyes brightened slightly, and his complexion even improved.

"Why did you all come? Aren't you running the trucks? Don't delay Gu Zong's business, you should all go back soon."

"Don't worry, we swapped shifts, we didn't delay work," the leader said.

He handed an envelope containing money to the woman who had poured them water.

"Sister-in-law, this is Ping'an's salary for this month. Gu Zong instructed us to bring it. You take good care of Ping'an, we'll wait for him to return."

The woman looked at the envelope, her lips trembling wildly.

"This... Ping'an isn't working anymore, how is there still a salary?" Her expression was stunned, and she didn't dare to take it.

The person who gave the money looked at the man on the hospital bed, "You didn't tell sister-in-law about your leave without pay suspension..."

Ping'an didn't expect this to be true.

He was completely stunned, and it took a long while before he found his voice, which was extremely hoarse, "It actually wasn't a joke?"

"What kind of joke!" The person who came to deliver the money glared at him, "When has Gu Zong ever joked with us? He is a man who keeps his word; he never takes back what he has said. Gu Zong is very concerned about you. He specifically called to let us come see you and told us to bring a message for you to focus on recovering..."

The man hadn't been able to eat or sleep well these past few days, fearing he would become a burden to his family. Several nights he had wanted to jump off the roof to end it all. Looking at that envelope and then at the generous gifts brought by his good brothers, tears fell down.

"Thank you." He lowered his head in embarrassment, rejoicing countless times that he had been a soldier before. He hadn't expected that his experience as a soldier would allow him to enjoy conveniences and benefits he had never imagined.

"Thank Gu Zong." The leader patted his shoulder, "Recover your health and come back quickly. You're not here, and that truck of yours is almost rusting."

The man on the hospital bed had light in his eyes, "Mm."

After the few left, the woman buried her face in the hospital bed and cried out. She had been under a lot of pressure during this time; the elderly needed to eat, the children needed to go to school, the man's medical expenses, the family savings were bottoming out, and there was no income at home. She couldn't sleep night after night.

Now, no matter how much money was in that envelope, it had relieved a lot of pressure.

Ping'an gently patted his wife's back and said, "I will get better and support this family."

The woman looked up, "That's what you said."

She gripped her husband's hand tightly, "You cannot leave me alone."

Many times, when she met Ping'an's eyes, chills would rise from the bottom of her heart.

He didn't want to be a burden to the family; he wanted to leave.

She could tell.

"I won't leave, I'm going to support the family with you," Ping'an said seriously.

Now that the family had a chance to breathe, he would follow the doctor's orders and take good care of his health.

Just at this moment, the doctor came for rounds.

He told them some good news.

"The test results are out; it's benign, and the surgery can cure it."

These words were like heavenly music.

The couple's expressions were ecstatic, and after the doctor left, they hugged each other and cried loudly.

"Father of the children, did you hear? The doctor said you're fine! You will be okay, everything will be okay." The woman gently pounded the man's back, "You scared me to death, I was so afraid something would happen to you. If something happened to you, what would the children and I do..."

From the time she knew the man was ill until now, several months had passed, and the emotions pressed in her heart were finally vented.

They had checked several times before, but it was always uncertain and required further examination. Now, it was finally settled.

"It's okay, I made you worry," Ping'an comforted his wife.

When the woman's mood improved, he said seriously, "Let our son study hard, get into a good university in the future, and work hard to get into the company Gu Zong opened to help him. I heard Gu Zong is lacking all kinds of talent."

Worried that his wife wouldn't be willing, he added, "He is a righteous man. Following such a boss, there's no need to worry in the future."

The woman rolled her eyes at her husband, "As if you need to tell me. Your son treats Gu Zong as a role model for learning and says he wants to get into the university Gu Zong graduated from. The child already has plans in his heart and says he will go help Gu Zong as soon as he graduates."

"As expected of my son, he really has vision," Ping'an said.

The stone in his heart fell to the ground, and that night he slept very soundly. In his dreams, his son got into a good university, entered the Gu Group after graduation, and stood beside Gu Zong, looking like an elite—it couldn't have been more impressive.

Waking up the next morning, Ping'an's complexion had improved a lot.

The woman's heart, along with the lunch box she put down, fell back to where it should be.

Sure enough, people live on spirit and energy.

The news that the veteran of the transport team had no major issues after the surgery reached Gu Zhihang's ears.

He was somewhat happy.

He told this news to Lin Zhao.

"This is a good thing." Lin Zhao was indeed happy. In this world, the passing of any life makes one feel regretful; she had never liked partings.

"Help me find a runner to send a large gift box to the hospital room, and also pack a red envelope."

Gu Zhihang smiled and said, "Okay, I'll arrange it in a while."

"Mm," Lin Zhao nodded in satisfaction.

Just as they were speaking, Gu Zhi Yao walked in, arm-in-arm with Ning Xiao.

"Your sister and Mao Dan'er are here, I'll hang up first." After Lin Zhao hung up the phone, she greeted her future son-in-law affectionately.

"Mao Dan'er is here, sit down quickly, have some tea."

Ning Xiao sat down. He was watched by Lin Zhao as he grew up, and being at the Gu house was no different from being at his own home. After he started dating Yaobao, there was a period of awkwardness, but now he had long since adapted well.

"Thank you, Auntie."

He used to call her Auntie, but now he had changed the form of address.

Auntie still sounded better.

Lin Zhao, the mother-in-law, liked her son-in-law more the more she looked at him, "Why be so polite? We're all one family. There are fresh lychees in the fridge that Zhihang bought. I'll go wash some, you and Yaobao sit and chat."

Ning Xiao took the initiative to step forward, "I'll do it. Auntie, you and Yaobao watch TV."

Lin Zhao didn't beat him to it and smiled helplessly, "What's there to fight over? It'll be washed in no time."

"Then it's the same if I wash them. Didn't you say we're all one family? A son-in-law is half a son. Just feel free to order this half-son around; I can do anything." Ning Xiao's expression was full of warmth.

He lost his mother when he was very young. Thanks to the twins, Lin Zhao gave him a lot of maternal care. Deep in his heart, Ning Xiao had long regarded Lin Zhao as another mother of his own.

The mother who accompanied his growth, the mother who gave him much kind guidance.

Ning Xiao was very satisfied with his current self; he knew the Gu family had a great influence on him.

"Mom, listen to Brother Xiao and order him around a lot. If you don't order him around... he won't feel at ease, right, Brother Xiao?" Gu Zhi Yao's voice was sweet and sticky.

"Yes," Ning Xiao said with a smile. This was limited to the Gu family; let others try to order him around.

The few of them sat back on the sofa.

Lin Zhao looked at her daughter reproachfully, "Yaobao, don't bully Ning Xiao just because he likes you. Living together requires mutual understanding and mutual accommodation, you know?"

In the heat of love, everything the other person says or does is lovely, but living together isn't like that; there will always be friction. She didn't want the original intention of these two young people to be ground away by those trivialities.

Before Gu Zhi Yao could say anything, Ning Xiao spoke up for his partner, "Auntie, Yaobao is quite good, she's not bullying me, she's just playing around."

Lin Zhao smiled.

Forget it, one is willing to hit and the other is willing to suffer.

She wouldn't say anything more.

Gu Zhi Yao ate a lychee and said to Lin Zhao with a grin, "Mom, I heard Brother Li Bao is getting married, have you heard?"

Lin Zhao shook her head, "Haven't heard. Who did you hear it from? Is this melon ripe?"

She muttered, "Your eldest aunt didn't give me any hint either."

Gu Zhi Yao's expression was wistful, "Maybe she didn't have time to tell you? I got this news from Sister Yu'er, who said it seems like something happened in the girl's family."