Chapter 248 - 228: Another Grandson-in-law
Chapter 248: Chapter 228: Another Grandson-in-law
The Gu family gathered for a reunion, and Gu Qifan only returned just before the evening banquet began. Grandpa Tang had come over with him in his car. Grandma Tang, having recovered, had developed a liking for getting out and about; she was visiting Tang Qingshan and had not yet returned.
During the banquet, Gu Shaojun toasted the elders, offering three glasses to Grandpa Tang. After the meal, he served tea and spoke with Grandpa Tang with great sincerity for a while. As Mr. Gu put it, "Whether you’re in the right or in the wrong, you still have to apologize!"
Gu Shaojun readily and willingly complied. Grandpa Tang accepted with a cheerful laugh, declaring that he had always been one hundred percent satisfied with Shaojun!
Gu Shaojun could, of course, read between the lines. He was confident. ’With or without the marriage agreement between the Tang and Gu Families, Xiao Man and I will only ever belong to each other!’
While the Gu family was celebrating with a grand feast, the Bai Mansion a few streets away was also brightly lit, the air thick with the aroma of fine food and wine. In the main hall, however, only a few unrelated people were scattered around the table, each eating in silence.
The direct members of the Bai Family had all rushed to the hospital.
Perhaps from the excitement of seeing his eldest grandson and feeling that he had finally grown capable enough to shoulder the family’s burdens, Mr. Bai’s condition had taken a turn for the worse. He was once again declared to be in critical condition. A specially formed medical team had worked desperately for more than half the night to save him. They finally succeeded, but they only managed to restore his heartbeat. He remained on a ventilator, in a deep and unresponsive coma.
By the time they moved the old man back to the intensive care unit, it was the latter half of the night. Bai Lihua insisted on staying at the hospital to watch over him, telling the others to go back and rest.
Bai Junfan wanted to stay with his second uncle as well, but Bai Lihua refused. "Go back. You’ll only be in Beijing for another two or three days. Maybe Grandpa will wake up tomorrow. You can come back and keep him company then; he’ll be happier."
Bai Qingyue also chimed in, "Xiao Fan, be good. Grandpa is sick, so we have to take care of ourselves. We can’t all run ourselves into the ground. Who would take care of Grandpa is a small matter, but what would happen to the Bai Family?"
With red-rimmed eyes, Bai Junfan took one last look at his grandfather lying in the hospital bed, then turned and left. Bai Qingyue followed him out.
On the way, Bai Junfan and Bai Qingyue sat side-by-side in the back seat. The aunt and nephew spoke softly as Bai Qingyue told him about the Tang family’s granddaughter.
"I had someone look into it. There are several stories circulating. Some say she’s Tang Qingyun’s illegitimate child, placed under Tang Qingshan’s name to avoid a scandal. Others say she’s Tang Qingshan’s biological daughter. There are even those who claim two babies were swapped at birth, and the previous Tang family granddaughter wasn’t their biological child! Until the Tang family makes an official statement, these are all just rumors. But we don’t care about any of that. As long as she is a Tang Family Girl, that’s all that matters! Xiao Fan, your second uncle and I have both visited the Tangs. Mr. Tang and Mrs. Tang are incredibly shrewd and slippery—total old foxes. And that girl... she’s just too young. She used the excuse that she hadn’t completed her apprenticeship to refuse to help treat your grandfather. We were helpless. We can’t be the ones to bring it up again, or it will make things awkward in the future. Right now, you are our only hope!"
"Me? What can I do?"
"Xiao Fan, you know the kind of standing the Tang family has. You should understand how precious a Tang Family Girl is. If the Bai and Tang families were joined by marriage, not only might your grandfather recover immediately, but it would also be an enormous boost to your future and the future of the Bai Family!"
Bai Junfan was silent for a moment before saying, "Aunt, you know about Yang Liu’er and me..."
Bai Qingyue sneered. "That was just the Yang couple being greedy. You are the dignified scion of an aristocratic family, the eldest grandson of the Bai Family. Are you really going to debase yourself by marrying some country girl?"
"No... they were very good to me! I only agreed at the time so they could pass away in peace." Bai Junfan’s voice was flat. "Even if I don’t honor the marriage agreement, I can’t just abandon Liu’er. Liu’er is obedient and well-behaved. When we were little, she was like a younger sister. Now she’s my fiancée. I have to be responsible for her."
Bai Qingyue smiled and nodded. "Of course. Just treat her as an adopted sister. As for this ’fiancée’ business, don’t ever mention it again! Our Bai Family will support her. If she wants to go to school, that’s fine. We can even provide her with a dowry when she marries in the future. That’s much better than her prospects back in Pan Kou Village."
Bai Junfan lowered his eyes and nodded. "So, I’m definitely going to marry that Tang family granddaughter?"
"Just get engaged for now." Bai Qingyue smiled. "You probably don’t know, do you? The Gu family’s eldest grandson is also engaged to the eldest daughter of the Tang family’s second branch. Theirs is an engagement that was arranged by their ancestors!"
"Gu Shaojun?" A dark glint flickered in Bai Junfan’s eyes. He recalled the legendary figure who had turned the tide on the Western Front, a man who had become the pride of the entire military region. ’When we sparred as kids, he only managed a draw by relying on a clever trick. He didn’t dare to continue after that. His abilities are nothing special. If even he could achieve such a great distinction, then if that mission had fallen to me, I would have completed it far more perfectly and flawlessly!’
Bai Qingyue said, "That’s right, Gu Shaojun. His fiancée is named Tang Yaxuan. The one for you is named Tang Manman. The Tang family had no daughters before, but this generation has produced two girls. I can’t even count how many families have their eyes on them. I’ve met Gu Shaojun. He’s heroic and handsome, quite impressive. But compared to him, you are only more outstanding! In all of Beijing, there are no young men who can surpass the two of you. The Tang family values talent and has a good eye for it. What’s more, with Gu Shaojun there as a point of comparison, the other son-in-law position is destined to be yours!"
"Does the Tang family only care about talent? What if they care about family background and fortune? Our Bai Family has suffered this setback; we’ve fallen far behind the Gu family."
"The Gu family may be prominent now, but our Bai Family can’t lose our imposing air! Your grandfather and father were once on equal footing with Mr. Gu and Gu Qiming, sharing military power. Although the Bai Family is only just beginning its recovery, we still have a hundred-year legacy. Plus, you have studied Ancient Martial Arts, and your grandfather has many connections and hidden forces to pass on to you... Xiao Fan, are you getting cold feet?"
"How could I?"
Bai Junfan chuckled. "I was just wondering, of the two Miss Tangs, which one is the elder sister? I remember Gu Shaojun is the same age as me. I’ll have to make him call me ’brother-in-law’!"
Hearing this, Bai Qingyue found it amusing. "Everyone says Tang Manman is Tang Qingshan’s daughter, the eldest granddaughter of the first branch. So, who do you think is the elder sister? However, he’s already the legitimate grandson-in-law-to-be, while you haven’t even taken the first step. You need to hurry up! The other members of the Tang family aren’t a big deal, but Old Mrs. Tang is quite arrogant. I’ll tell you about her preferences when we get back so you can figure out the best approach. Go visit the Tang Mansion in the next day or two. You must show them your absolute best side and make them see that you’re better than Gu Shaojun! Then, when you get a long vacation, go to the South, find the girl herself, get close to her, and make her fall in love with you! You don’t need your aunt to teach you how to woo a girl, do you?"
"If you have good experience, Aunt, you should definitely teach me. I spend all my time in the army, so I really don’t know much about it!"
"You little rascal!"
Bai Qingyue laughed as she scolded him. The car had just arrived back at the Bai Mansion. Bai Junfan got out first, then turned to help his aunt out of the car.