Chapter 49: The Retribution of Pan Huijuan Has Arrived

Pan Huijuan had only eaten half a bowl of rice and now dared not touch her chopsticks again. Why had she impulsively sent Yan’an that telegram saying “Grandfather critically ill, return immediately”?

What should she do now? Who could save her?

Her father-in-law had always been the unquestioned authority in the Gu family. Clearly, his siheyuan had so many rooms, yet he had divided the family without hesitation, driving out all his children and living alone with her mother-in-law in that courtyard house for so many years.

Pan Huijuan was now terrified. Would her father-in-law hit her? Even her gentle-tempered mother-in-law feared his temper, let alone her.

Pan Huijuan shot a glance at Gu Yanting, but Gu Yanting was also afraid of her grandfather! Her grandfather had truly shouldered rifles, fought on battlefields, engaged enemies, and been tempered by war—that aura of bloodshed alone made her tremble with fear.

Adhering to the principle of sacrificing others rather than oneself, Gu Yanting nudged Gu Yanbei. After all, he was Mom’s most favored youngest son; this matter required him to step forward.

Gu Yanbei was no fool. He smiled awkwardly and said, “Second Brother, Mom hasn’t had dinner yet.”

Seeing that no one else dared to speak up, Gu Yannan couldn’t bear it any longer. He walked over and sat down beside Gu Yan’an, saying, “Elder Brother, how is your leg recovering?”

Gu Yan’an’s expression remained indifferent as he parted his thin lips slightly. “Post-surgery recovery is going quite well.”

Gu Yannan then turned to Grandfather Gu and said, “Grandfather, why don’t we eat first? Look, Elder Brother just returned and hasn’t eaten yet.”

Gu Guozhong glanced at this equally outstanding third grandson and replied, “Yan’an and I have already eaten. Now, let’s talk about your mother’s matter—you need not concern yourself. Your mother has quite the audacity, actually sending Yan’an a telegram claiming I was critically ill, forcing him to rush back from Haishi.

As soon as Yan’an returned, he hurried to the siheyuan to see me, deeply worried I might be suffering. And your mother? It seems she wishes for my early death, doesn’t she? This old fool, to avoid being a burden, divided the family and sent you all away, living alone with your grandmother in the siheyuan.

Now I neither eat your food nor live under your roof, yet you all wish for my swift demise. Wenlin, tell me, are your wife’s words even human?”

Gu Guozhong’s tone remained calm throughout, but a faint sorrow lingered in his eyes. With his wife gone, was he now even more despised?

Gu Yan’an instructed Gu Yannan, “Yannan, take Yanbei and Little Sister back to their rooms. Don’t come out until I call for you.”

Gu Yannan knew this matter was beyond their intervention. His mother had gone too far this time, not only hurting Grandfather’s heart but also offending Elder Brother.

His mother had acted foolishly, inflicting eight hundred points of damage on the enemy while suffering a thousand herself.

Gu Yannan grabbed Gu Yanbei by the back of his collar with one hand and dragged Gu Yanting with the other, returning to Gu Yanbei’s room.

Now, only Pan Huijuan, Gu Guozhong, Gu Wenlin, and Gu Yan’an—three generations of grandfather, father, and son—remained in the living room.

Pan Huijuan’s eyes were red, tears welling up in them. Gu Wenlin saw his wife’s sorrowful expression but could offer no help.

He said softly, “Go, apologize to Dad and Yan’an. Give them an explanation.”

Pan Huijuan wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and looked at her eldest son. Gu Yan’an met his mother’s gaze briefly before quickly turning away.

Pan Huijuan knew Yan’an was angry with her. He was her first child, after all!

She had labored for three days and three nights to bring him into the world, raising him bit by bit.

She had originally thought calling him back was for his own good, but she never expected him to be so ungrateful. Not only did he blame her, but he also brought his grandfather back to make things difficult for her. Why was her fate so bitter?

Pan Huijuan also understood that since the problem had already arisen, she must find a way to solve it. Impulsiveness was the devil, and indeed, she could not escape the punishment of fate.

Pan Huijuan walked up to Gu Guozhong and knelt down with a thud. “Dad, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have used you as an excuse to trick Yan’an into coming back.”

Gu Guozhong remained silent, simply watching Pan Huijuan quietly. Gu Wenlin didn’t interject either. When he was young and made mistakes, his father would whip him with a belt. If he dared to speak up now, his father would probably reach for his cane, wouldn’t he?

After Pan Huijuan knelt for a few minutes, Gu Guozhong finally spoke. “Old Pan’s daughter, whether I forgive you or not doesn’t matter—after all, we’re not related by blood. But Yan’an is your own son… How could you deceive him into coming back from Haishi for your own selfish reasons? How long has it been since his leg surgery? How could you not consider him at all?”

Pan Huijuan raised her eyes stubbornly and said, “Dad, if I hadn’t called Yan’an back, he would probably have been so bewitched by that girl from Haishi that he wouldn’t even think of returning.”

“Tell me, why do you dislike Yan’an finding a girl from Haishi? Did my son Wenlin find a woman from Haishi outside and offend you?”

Gu Wenlin couldn’t sit still any longer. “Dad, I’ve only ever had Huijuan as my woman in this lifetime. Don’t wrongfully accuse me! No matter where Yan’an finds a girl, as long as he likes her, I’ll support him. I believe Yan’an’s taste won’t be bad.”

Gu Guozhong snorted lightly. Yan’an’s taste isn’t bad, but yours is a bit lacking—you found a woman who is easily swayed, acts impulsively, and doesn’t like to use her head.

Pan Huijuan opened her mouth but couldn’t utter a sound for a long time.

She had originally wanted to say that girls from Haishi were all delicate young ladies, and she didn’t want her son to be burdened by someone. But when she glanced at Yan’an and saw his furrowed brow, she swallowed her words.

“Get up! Whether you’re Yan’an’s biological mother or not, I don’t care. You have no say in Yan’an’s marriage. If you want to be the one in charge, you can manage Yannan and Yanbei’s marriages. Just wait and see—if you arrange their marriages single-handedly, see if they’ll end up happy or not.”

Gu Wenlin walked over and pulled Pan Huijuan to her feet. “Dad, let Yan’an decide his own marriage. Huijuan and I won’t interfere anymore.”

Gu Guozhong gently tapped his fingers on the tea table a few times and said slowly, “I hope you keep your word. If your wife doesn’t like Yan’an’s partner, Yan’an can move with his partner to the siheyuan. That house will be his sooner or later, so don’t blame me for being partial. No matter how many grandsons I have, Yan’an will always be the eldest grandson of the eldest branch. He was raised by my wife and me when he was young. As long as Yan’an likes her, even if the girl looks like a yaksha, I’ll accept her.”

Calling his partner a yaksha made Gu Yan’an unhappy again.

He pursed his lips and glanced sideways at Gu Guozhong. “Grandfather, my partner is a fairy, not a yaksha. In all my life, I’ve never seen a female comrade more beautiful than my partner.”

“Understood. Your partner is a fairy, not a yaksha—beautiful, kind, and capable. Is that better?”

Gu Yan’an smiled and nodded, “My partner is naturally a little fairy. Could the Beef Sauce she made possibly taste bad?”

“Alright, you’re right about everything! Your place here is so cramped, come stay at the siheyuan when you have time. I’ll head off now—if I don’t leave soon, your mom will probably keep crying.”

He wouldn’t stay here and make himself unwelcome. What needed to be said had been said. If Pan Huijuan still couldn’t see reason, she would only end up hurting herself in the end.

He wasn’t dead yet—this family wasn’t hers to control.

Gu Wenlin instructed, “Yan’an, see your grandfather out.”

Gu Guozhong waved his hand and said, “No need. I can still chew beef jerky—I’m not so old that I can’t find my way. Yan’an, you stay here and have a good talk with your mom.”

Seeing this, Gu Wenlin directly took Gu Guozhong’s arm. “Dad, I’ll walk you over.”

As soon as Gu Guozhong left, Pan Huijuan began sobbing loudly. Gu Yan’an said coldly, “Mom, you actually don’t want me to be happy at all, do you? Because I was close to Grandfather and Grandmother when I was little.”

Pan Huijuan paused, then sniffled, “How could I not want you to be happy? You were my first child—I was in labor with you for two or three whole days.”

“Mom, thank you for going through so much to give birth to me. You brought me into this world and raised me, and I’m grateful for that! But please, don’t interfere with my marriage, okay?

Do you have any idea how hard I worked to win over my current partner? I’ve lived over twenty years and never liked a girl before.

When Momo refused to agree to be my partner at first, I would watch her from afar near her home every day. For her sake, I secretly infiltrated her grandfather’s senior citizens’ group. To save her, I would even sacrifice my own life.”

Hearing that her son was willing to give his life for an outsider, Pan Huijuan immediately became displeased.

She pointed at Gu Yan’an and said, “How can you be so unfilial? Willing to sacrifice your life for a woman you’ve only just met.”

Gu Yan’an closed his eyes in pain, furrowed his brows, and said coldly, “I don’t know why either. Call me terribly unfilial if you want—I just want her to be safe and well. Nothing else matters.”

His voice was as cool and detached as ever, almost unnervingly aloof, as if no one but Momo held any importance in his heart.