Uncle Gu chid in, "Qiaoqiao is insightful and broad-minded. She sees things more clearly than most despite her young age. I, as an old man, admire her for that."
Gu Qiaoqiao felt a bit embarrassed and sowhat uneasy. In truth, she wasn’t just twenty years old. She had endured trials and tribulations beyond the experience of ordinary people to beco who she was now.
Gu Qingfeng glanced at Gu Qiaoqiao and suddenly asked, "Qiaoqiao, how much do you think Sect Leader Nie knows about this matter?"
"Great Grandfather, I was just about to discuss this with you. I think Sect Leader Nie is aware of the truth."
Gu Qingfeng furrowed his brows and sneered, "That old guy is still playing gas with . I feel like he hasn’t been honest with us."
"Great Grandfather, it’s quite normal. If this issue really involves his grandson, he would definitely protect him first."
"Didn’t they say he doesn’t get along well with his grandson?"
"That’s just what they tell outsiders. No matter what, they’re family."
Uncle Gu spoke up in front.
Gu Qingfeng nodded and asked Gu Qiaoqiao, "Qiaoqiao, should we still report this to the police?"
"Why report it now? It’s been several days. How will you explain it to them then?"
Indeed, this matter truly defies explanation.
Now even the Archive Room No.1 specifically handling this has had an incident, and we really don’t know who to tell about it.
Gu Qiaoqiao rembered sothing and suddenly asked, "Great Grandfather, who was here that morning?"
"Only Uncle Zhang knows. He didn’t return ho that day and stayed at the back courtyard of Yubao Square. He got up very early, so he was the first to notice... "
"Uncle Zhang shouldn’t have heard anything, right?"
"No, he said he didn’t hear anything—it was very quiet."
Clearly, soone used a Spirit Talisman and other Mystic Sect secrets, otherwise they couldn’t have co and gone so freely.
As far as Gu Qiaoqiao knew, Dongfang Yu could do that, but it was obviously not him.
What about Nie Luan?
Gu Qiaoqiao didn’t know him well enough to draw a conclusion.
"What about the other staff?" Gu Qiaoqiao asked.
"Back then, Uncle Zhang called and gave them the day off."
"Uncle Zhang really handles things promptly," Gu Qiaoqiao praised.
Gu Qingfeng nodded.
If not for Zhang Yi’s quick reaction, this matter would have blown up across the city.
Most importantly, it would have caused panic too easily.
"Great Grandfather, let’s resu normal business tomorrow. Just tell the staff those jade ornants need reassessnt and have been collected," Gu Qiaoqiao suggested.
Gu Qingfeng laughed, speaking to Uncle Gu ahead, "Uncle Gu, don’t you think Qiaoqiao is becoming more capable?"
"She’s getting more capable indeed. Qiaoqiao handles things more flawlessly now. That’s the best—no one will suspect anything."
Uncle Gu joined Gu Qingfeng in praising and encouraging Gu Qiaoqiao.
Young people, after all, need more praise to progress quickly.
Gu Qiaoqiao smiled contentedly. By this ti, the car had reached the gate of Gu Garden. When they got out, the nurous household lights were already aglow, stars sparkled across the night sky, and the moon sailed like a small boat gracing the heavens.
The feng shui of Gu Garden was exceptional, much like the premises Gu Qingfeng deed ideal in Jinling City. Even during hot sumr days, breezes sohow found their way here, casting montary relief. Such was the case now.
The cool breeze swept away the heat from their bodies. Gu Qiaoqiao supported Great Grandfather into the hall as its lights were surprisingly still on. The three won from the Gu Family whom Gu Qiaoqiao playfully dubbed "the three Yus" sat on the sofa.
Lady Yu, Zhao Yuxiang, Lian Yuhong.
Because all their nas bore the "Yu" character, Gu Qiaoqiao sotis just referred to them collectively as the three Yus. Whenever she called them that, her mother would always chastise her playfully for being impudent while laughing.
Over ti, mbers of the Gu Family ca to understand the origins of "the three Yus," and the three Yus themselves embraced it, feeling it was serendipity.
Now, with all three Yus present, it was evident they awaited Great Grandfather and her return.
Gu Qiaoqiao hesitated a mont. How co Zhao Yuxiang’s expression seed off, as if she’d been crying?
anwhile, Great Grandma’s face was no better, showing signs of lancholy, guilt, and other complex emotions.
It was already past ten at night, and ordinarily, these three won with extrely regular routines should have long retired for the night.
Gu Qingfeng noticed the anomaly too and asked, "What happened?"
Lian Yuhong opened her mouth but didn’t know how to proceed.
Gu Qiaoqiao sat beside her mother, quietly asking, "Did sothing happen?"
Lian Yuhong nodded, then shook her head.
Suddenly, Great Grandma spoke up, "Since we’re all family here, let be straightforward—at night, Niuniu saw her forr fiancé."
Gu Qiaoqiao was taken aback. Her grandaunt’s forr fiancé—she had never heard of this before!
Gu Qingfeng was evidently inford. He watched Zhao Yuxiang, whom he’d always regarded as a daughter. It was this kind-hearted woman who cared selflessly for his ailing wife without a word of complaint for decades, thus postponing her own marriage indefinitely—a weight of guilt he bore. Though he introduced her to eligible partners, Zhao Yuxiang turned them down. Only then did he learn Zhao Yuxiang had once been engaged.
Great Grandma noticed Gu Qiaoqiao’s surprise, realizing she was not privy to this matter.
She began, "Qiaoqiao, it’s a story you wouldn’t know. Let share it."
Gu Qiaoqiao promptly nodded and settled beside Great Grandma.
Lady Yu began softly, "That year, when your grandaunt was seventeen, when the two of us got stranded in a place called Yuanbaotun. We settled there, and after a year, soone proposed your grandaunt get engaged to an honest young man in the village nad Liang Tianzhu.
Originally, they planned to marry after the fall harvest. But your silly grandaunt demanded nothing except to bring into his family because she worried about ..." At this, Great Grandma choked with emotion.
Gu Qiaoqiao glanced at the downcast Zhao Yuxiang. She’d always acknowledged her grandaunt as a woman of deep sentint and loyalty.
Yuliang sighed and continued, "This condition wasn’t agreeable even for city dwellers, much less rural in-laws, hence the engagent fell through.
Later, I heard Liang Tianzhu was quite pleased with your grandaunt, readily agreeing. Regrettably, his parents didn’t agree.
During my muddle-headed days, Niuniu bore a lot of grievances I didn’t know about. Eventually, Niuniu took to join a logging team heading for Border City, never returning to Yuanbaotun again."
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