Chapter 876: The Road South Is Not Easy to Travel

He Yuzhu leaned in close to Shen Guizhi and asked curiously, "Mom, I've never asked you all these years—where exactly in Wuxian, Jiangsu, is your hometown?"

Shen Guizhi turned and went back into the room, returning a moment later with a newspaper, which she handed to him: "It's Zhouzhuang. I saw in the newspaper that they're developing tourism there now. Perhaps it will be demolished and rebuilt soon, and by then, I might not even be able to find the old family home, so I wanted to take a look while I still can."

He Yuzhu was stunned, his voice rising half an octave before he realized it: "What? You aren't mistaken, are you? Your hometown is Zhouzhuang?"

"What's wrong with Zhouzhuang? Why are you making such a fuss? Have you been there?" Shen Guizhi was startled by his outburst.

He Yuzhu froze for a full two seconds, then laughed: "Nothing, nothing—that place has indeed started to become a tourist area! There are quite a lot of people there during holidays. The Wansantui there is quite delicious; you'd think, it's just a pig trotter, so why is it called Wansantui? I went there with some friends a while back..."

In truth, he hadn't been there at all a while back.

But if he didn't say that, he was afraid the old lady would grow suspicious.

He Yuzhu had been there in his past life. By then, Zhouzhuang was already world-famous, with its small bridges and flowing water, crowded with tourists, bustling beyond measure. He never imagined that his mother's roots were actually in that place.

Shen Guizhi smiled: "There's actually an anecdote about Wansantui. Back then, Zhu Yuanzhang came to the Shen Family to ask for money to build the city of Nanjing. To make things difficult for Shen Wansan, he pointed at a pig trotter and asked, 'What is this?' At that time, one had to avoid using the character for 'Zhu' (pig/Zhu Yuanzhang's surname), so pigs were called 'shi'. Shen Wansan, being incredibly clever, said it was called 'Wansantui'. Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang immediately burst into loud laughter."

"Mom, wow, your Shen Family had such a renowned, glorious moment?"

"Isn't that so? Back then, who dared to talk about these things? So I never mentioned it to you siblings."

"Indeed, in those years, who dared to be associated with a big landlord? It's different now; even China Television has started making programs about tracing one's roots," He Yuzhu said.

"Isn't that the truth? Only now are the days truly good, which is why I've been feeling restless," Shen Guizhi said, mocking herself.

This New Year, everyone did not gather together for a reunion dinner. This was something He Yuzhu had specifically ordered—each household was to celebrate on its own, staggering the times, and then pay New Year visits to the old family home.

He did this to avoid suspicion.

Wang Xia came over specifically to tell him about Yan Bugui spreading rumors everywhere in the Old Age Home.

After hearing it, He Yuzhu wasn't particularly angry—he understood Yan Bugui too well; this person had had this character since he was young, the same for decades, unable to stand others living better than him.

Wang Xia, however, warned him: "Zhuzi, you are now the Chamber of Commerce President. Even though it's not a government position, reputation is something that's hard to fix once it's ruined. If there are people spreading rumors behind your back every day, can you have an easy life? In the future, you should have fewer of these big family gatherings. During the New Year, have people come in waves; don't make it a huge, noisy spectacle that draws attention."

He Yuzhu nodded: "Thanks, Sister. I'll keep that in mind. If it weren't for the fact that Yan Laoxi is getting on in years, I'd really like to set him straight."

Wang Xia sighed: "Sigh, his life isn't easy either. He's got prostate cancer and is miserable every day, suffering quite a bit. He doesn't have many years left to live."

He Yuzhu laughed, a laugh with an indescribable flavor: "'The righteous are often among the dog-butchers, the heartless are often among the scholars'—that saying is truly correct. Among those old men, the worst one is Yan Laoxi."

Wang Xia patted his shoulder: "Regardless, you can't let people wag their tongues about your affairs. It's better to keep a low profile."

He Yuzhu nodded again.

The arrangements for the New Year days went exactly as He Yuzhu had said—one group after another, taking turns visiting.

He Xiao and Fang Deng were already married.

He Yuzhu specifically introduced Fang Deng to Lin Wanning and He Yaozu.

The three of them started chatting the moment they met, and the more they talked, the more they hit it off. After all, they were all in medicine, and they discussed cases, medication, and clinical experience with great enthusiasm.

The more Lin Wanning listened, the more she felt that this young woman, Fang Deng, had a sharp mind and clear thinking, so she spoke up on the spot, inviting her to join her biopharmaceutical team.

Fang Deng didn't agree immediately and turned to ask He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu thought for a moment and said slowly: "You are just an ordinary doctor right now; go to work as you should. If you have the energy, you can help your Auntie Lin with some things. But I suggest you don't resign—if anyone in our family gets sick in the future, we still have to go to these big hospitals. Although we have your Auntie Jiang Mei and Auntie Huang Ying there now, they will be retiring in a few years. In the hospital, you still need one or two of your own people to feel at ease. I'll have Wan Ning give you a position; if you have any scientific research results, you can provide them here, provided it doesn't affect your hospital."

After hearing this, Fang Deng's eyes lit up, and she beamed: "Dad is still the best; he can solve anything."

He Yuzhu said: "You need to persuade your mother; I think she's too tired now, even thinner than when she was young."

Fang Deng shook her head and sighed: "I've tried to persuade her, but it's no use. She is too serious about her work, wanting everything to be perfect; nothing I say works. She even wants to expand the scale. If you want to find the source of this, it's all your fault—you gave her some money. She always wants to expand this Old Age Home and take in more people. She says she has no other skills in this life and wants to help those who are worse off than her."

After listening, He Yuzhu was silent for a long while, then let out a long sigh: "I didn't expect... that she would be the one with the most compassionate heart."

Fang Deng said: "My mom says every day that you have a face like a Vajra, but the heart of a Bodhisattva!"

He Yuzhu shook his head: "Am I that ugly?"

Fang Deng said with a giggle: "She says you are fierce! She said she saw you when you were young, using a dagger to kill wolves; you killed dozens of them, the ground was covered in blood, and you finally collapsed in the blood and fell asleep..."

He Yuzhu laughed, suddenly remembering the events of '48.

That time, if it hadn't been for Wang Xia entrusting someone to buy medicine for him, he might not have survived.

He smiled and said: "Thinking back to that event, more than forty years have passed. That time, it was your mother who saved my life."

He Yaozu looked at He Yuzhu in surprise: "Dad, you could kill dozens of wolves by yourself? That's unbelievable."

"A hero doesn't dwell on past glories. I'm old now and can't kill that many anymore," He Yuzhu said modestly.

This day passed in the midst of the hustle and bustle, and the New Year also passed quickly.

He Yuzhu, along with his parents and Lin Wanning's family, embarked on the road heading south.

The entire motorcade consisted of over a dozen vehicles, setting off in a grand procession.

At the very last moment, He Yulu also followed along, bringing her youngest son, Zhou Wei.

Zhou Wei was six years old this year and would be starting school next year.

He looked very much like He Daqing and wasn't particularly handsome. But this child had one advantage—he was familiar with everyone immediately.

Upon seeing He Yaozu's children, He Yian and He Duoduo, he became familiar with them in no time. He even put on the airs of an elder, making the two of them call him Uncle.

He Duoduo didn't mind and called him that right away. But He Yian was several years older than him, so naturally, he refused.

Zhou Wei played rock-paper-scissors with him. He Yian lost every round and, in the end, had no choice but to call him Uncle.

Just as the group reached the border of Cangzhou, a group of uninvited guests had already quietly set their sights on them.