Chapter 48: Grandpa is Very Good

Gu Yan’an spent two days and two nights on the train, and as soon as he got off, he rushed straight to the siheyuan. If Grandfather wasn’t home, he must have gone to the hospital.

Seeing his eldest grandson suddenly appear in the courtyard, Old Master Gu Guozhong quickly put down the newspaper in his hand. “Yan’an, why are you back?”

“Grandfather, are you alright?”

“I’m fine, it’s just that without you at home, nothing tastes good to me.”

Grandfather was perfectly fine. Had he been tricked by his mother?

Why would she do such a thing?

Was it just because he had found a partner in Haishi?

Gu Yan’an’s expression turned cold, and his hands involuntarily clenched into fists.

Seeing his eldest grandson’s troubled expression, Gu Guozhong hurriedly asked as he rushed in carrying something, “Yan’an, what happened? Who sent you a telegram to come back? Is your leg alright now? Has the shrapnel inside been removed?”

Gu Yan’an first set down his luggage, then pulled Grandfather to sit at the stone table in the courtyard. “Grandfather, I’ve already had surgery on my leg, and the wound has healed. As long as I take it easy, it won’t hurt even when the weather turns cold.”

“It’s good that you had the surgery. Take good care of yourself! Who sent you a telegram in such a hurry? Did someone use me as an excuse to force you back?”

Momo was right—old people really do become shrewd.

“Grandfather, I sent a telegram earlier to tell my parents that I found a partner. Maybe they weren’t happy about it, so they sent a telegram calling me back.”

“Did your mother say I was seriously ill? How outrageous! Your father has spoiled her all these years. She’s living too comfortably and itching for trouble, daring to use me as an excuse.”

Gu Yan’an lowered his head in embarrassment. His mother’s mistake was because of him. No matter how out of line she acted, she was still his mother. Even if he resented it, he couldn’t disregard her image.

“Grandfather, she probably doesn’t want me to find a girl from Haishi. My mother is simple-minded and doesn’t really have bad intentions.”

“Just because your mother opposes you finding a partner there, does that mean you won’t look anymore?”

Gu Yan’an stood up abruptly. “How could that be? No matter who opposes me marrying Momo, I won’t let it go. At worst, I’ll go back to Haishi and become a live-in son-in-law.”

Gu Guozhong’s sharp black eyes flickered. “Would you really abandon even me? I’m still counting on you to take care of me in my old age.”

Gu Yan’an quickly explained, “Does Grandfather also oppose me finding a girl from Haishi? My Momo is so good—why would you oppose her?

Look, this jar of Beef Sauce was made by her own hands, and there’s also a twenty-year-old wild mountain ginseng in my bag.

As soon as she heard you were sick, she specifically told me to take good care of you. This ginseng is also for you to nourish your health.”

Gu Guozhong patted Gu Yan’an on the shoulder and said slowly, “Yan’an, no matter where the girl is from, first, her character must be good; second, her family background must be clean; and third, her heart must be with you. As long as she meets these three conditions, I’ll agree no matter where she’s from.”

His eldest grandson had finally found a partner, and he was incredibly excited. However, he still appeared very calm. After all, he had weathered many storms. If he acted like a reckless young man now, wouldn’t he seem like an old fool?

“Grandfather, as long as you support me, I’ll bring my partner from Haishi to our Jingshi.”

“What a fine lad, you’ve really made something of yourself! By the way, where’s that ginseng the girl gave me? Let me take a look. I’ll buy a chicken one of these days to stew with it. I need to build up my health so I can help take care of your children in the future.

Don’t think that just because I’m seventy-two, I can’t keep going. If I take good care of myself, I can live at least another ten years or so. Once I’ve helped raise your children, I can die in peace.”

“Grandfather, why talk like that? You’ll definitely live to a hundred, don’t worry. Momo and I will take good care of you and show you our respect!”

Gu Yan’an handed the ginseng wrapped in silk cloth to Gu Guozhong, then used a small pair of scissors to break the white wax sealing the jar and pulled it out.

When he opened the lid, a fragrant aroma wafted out, and Gu Yan’an took a deep breath.

“Several times on the journey, I wanted to open the jar to taste what Momo’s Beef Sauce was like, but I was afraid the sauce might spill out if I opened it, so I didn’t dare touch it.”

Gu Guozhong leaned in and sniffed. “Very fragrant, seems like it’ll go well with rice. Your girl has good skills. Go to the kitchen and get a bowl and spoon, let me try some.”

Gu Yan’an immediately ran to the kitchen, returning with a large bowl, a big soup spoon, and two pairs of chopsticks.

He first scooped a large spoonful of Beef Sauce into the bowl, then handed the chopsticks to his grandfather.

“Grandfather, you try it first! If it’s good, I’ll leave you a few more spoonfuls.”

“This girl of yours is really generous—such big chunks of beef in here, plenty of ingredients and delicious flavor, not bad at all! Yan’an, why don’t you take a bowlful back with you? Leave the rest for me to enjoy slowly. One of these days, I’ll invite Old Zhu over to have a couple of drinks with this Beef Sauce.”

What could Gu Yan’an say? His grandfather had always been so good to him. If he wanted to eat it, he should leave it for the old man. He’d just find a way to buy more beef later and ask Momo to make another jar for him.

“Grandfather, taking a whole bowl would be too conspicuous. Do you have any empty cans? I’ll take one for my dad, keep one for myself, and leave the rest for you to enjoy slowly.”

“Alright, what’s in that other package?”

Gu Yan’an asked with a smile, “Beef jerky, Grandfather. Do you think your teeth can still handle it?”

Gu Guozhong looked at Gu Yan’an as if he were an idiot. “Hand me a piece of beef jerky, and you’ll find out!”

Gu Yan’an shook his head helplessly and handed a piece of five-spice beef jerky to Gu Guozhong.

The old man chewed slowly. Hmm, his teeth were still holding up—he could eat this jerky too.

“This beef jerky tastes good, and it’s not too hard. I can still chew it. Leave half of it for me! Your grandfather doesn’t smoke; in my old age, I just snack a bit and take the birds for walks.”

He’d already given all the Beef Sauce to his grandfather, and now the old man wasn’t planning to let go of the beef jerky either?

“Grandfather, I brought you pastries and biscuits from Haishi. If this beef jerky loosens your teeth, it won’t be good.”

“Jingshi has pastries and biscuits for sale too. Why waste money buying those things? Alright, just leave half of this beef jerky for me to chew on when I have a little drink.”

What could Gu Yan’an say? If the old man liked it, he should let him have it. It was just strange—anything Momo prepared, his grandfather wanted to keep. Was he planning to show off these things to his friends?

“Don’t look so pained, kid. Hurry up and pack your things, make me an early dinner. After eating, go to your house and settle accounts with your mom.”

He wanted to see just how his wonderful daughter-in-law would explain herself—how dare she use him as a scapegoat!

Upon hearing that his father was going to settle accounts with his mother, Gu Yan’an thought, Go ahead. If Dad can’t handle Mom, then let Grandfather step in.

Gu Yan’an simply fried three eggs, boiled two bowls of noodles with some greens, and placed a small bowl of Beef Sauce on the table.

“I asked you to cook, and you just made noodles. But I have to admit, these noodles mixed with Beef Sauce are pretty tasty. I could’ve made them myself.”

After finishing the noodles, Gu Guozhong called a driver to take him and Gu Yan’an back to the Railway Bureau compound.

Seeing the sudden appearance of Old Master Gu and her eldest son at home, Pan Huijuan immediately stood up from the dining table.

“Dad, what brings you here? Yan’an, you’re back…”

Gu Guozhong snorted heavily. Ignoring his mother, Gu Yan’an placed his luggage directly on the coffee table.

Gu Wenlin stood up and walked over. “Dad, have you had dinner yet?”

Gu Guozhong said angrily, “Thanks to your wife, I’m already lying in my coffin. How could I possibly have the strength to eat?”

Gu Wenlin was taken aback. Didn’t I tell my wife not to curse recklessly? Well, now karma has come knocking.

He hadn’t expected Yan’an to return so soon. It seemed the telegram he’d sent later must have arrived too late—Yan’an definitely hadn’t received it. This is bad, really bad…

Anxious and cautious, Gu Wenlin said, “Dad, whatever the matter is, let’s talk after we’ve eaten!”

“No need. I’m so full of anger, I couldn’t possibly eat anything.”

Gu Yan’an glanced at Gu Guozhong. Grandfather can’t eat anything? Who was it that just devoured a huge bowl of noodles, two fried eggs, and several spoonfuls of Beef Sauce, and even claimed he could still eat half a bowl more?