Chapter 554 - 477: Reluctant to Part
Chapter 554: Chapter 477: Reluctant to Part
Hearing Bai Junfan say this, Tang Yaxuan was a little stunned. She blinked her long, almond-shaped eyes at him, unsure how to respond for a moment.
She had indeed stayed with Tang Qingyun and Wu Xiaowen in G Province, in Wancheng, and in several of the counties, towns, and villages under Wancheng’s jurisdiction. But she would never develop any feelings for that poor, backward dump of a place. Gongdao Village, in particular, was like a living nightmare she never wanted to think about again. Besides, that place wasn’t her hometown. To be precise, it was Mo Xiaoman’s hometown.
’I’m not Mo Xiaoman, I’m Tang Yaxuan. I have nothing to do with Gongdao Village!’
If it had been anyone else, Tang Yaxuan could have just stayed silent and let the topic pass. But this was Brother Junfan. And what had she just heard? Brother Junfan himself said he couldn’t bear to part with her and wanted her to see him off!
’Is this a declaration of love? Is Brother Junfan professing his feelings for me?’
The more Tang Yaxuan thought about it, the more excited she became. The frantic THUMP-THUMP-THUMP of her heart nearly drowned her out. Her round face turned bright red, looking more and more like a ripe apple. Bai Junfan couldn’t resist reaching out to touch her cheek, which made her even more delighted and shy.
In such an enchanting and happy atmosphere, even a topic she was reluctant to touch could be discussed smoothly.
Since Bai Junfan was leaving Beijing in two days and it was still before the school semester started, Tang Yaxuan agreed to accompany him to the provincial city of G Province. She would then take a military flight straight back to Beijing. She wouldn’t be going to Wancheng. As for how to convince Wu Xiaowen, she would leave that to Bai Junfan.
Wu Xiaowen had a long enough afternoon nap and was full of energy when she woke up. She was delighted to see Bai Junfan and invited him to dinner—not a home-cooked meal, but out at a restaurant.
When Tang Yaxuan heard they were going to a restaurant, she remembered her current "injured" appearance and worried Wu Xiaowen wouldn’t let her go. She hurried into her room to find a hat that could cover the white gauze wrapped around her head.
Seizing the opportunity, Bai Junfan smiled at Wu Xiaowen. "Just now, Xuanxuan was complaining to me about how boring her winter break has been. And it’s true, no one has had the time to take her out. She also mentioned wanting to take a trip. I think that’s an easy problem to solve. I’m returning to my unit in the South in two days on a military plane. If she’s willing, I can take her along. She can look around the provincial city of G Province for a bit, and then I can arrange for her to fly back the same way. It’s a short, convenient trip that would be enough to cure her boredom, and it won’t interfere with the start of school."
Wu Xiaowen glanced at Tang Yaxuan’s closed bedroom door and said reproachfully, "That child. What does she have to be bored about? The weather is still so cold. Traveling by helicopter, isn’t that dangerous? Won’t she freeze?"
"Don’t worry, Aunt Wu. It’s fine. I’ll be right there with her. Traveling is a form of training, too."
Wu Xiaowen recalled how every time Xiao Man and Hao Hao went to Wancheng in G Province, they also flew back and forth by plane. Although Xuanxuan never said anything, the envy in her eyes was blatantly obvious, along with the look of grievance and loss on her face... ’Sigh. She used to be like a high and mighty little princess with so many luxuries and privileges, but Xiao Man snatched them all away. And she was cruelly abandoned by the Tang family. The poor child is truly pitiful.’
Wu Xiaowen sighed and nodded. "Alright, Junfan, I’ll leave it to you. If it’s not too much trouble, take Xuanxuan out for a change of scenery. Think of it as a bit of training."
Bai Junfan agreed with a smile, his mind quickly modifying and perfecting the plan he had formed long ago.
Tang Yaxuan came out after changing her clothes. When she learned that Wu Xiaowen had given her permission to accompany Brother Junfan to the provincial city in G Province, she was so happy she hugged Bai Junfan’s arm and shook it, giggling nonstop. ’To be able to travel with Brother Junfan, flying together through thick and thin—what a wonderful and romantic thing to do! An experience like this will become a precious memory just for the two of us, one to last a lifetime! That Yang Liu’er would be furious if she found out, right? That ignorant shrew is all looks and no brains. Who does she think she is? Brother Junfan doesn’t even give her the time of day!’
Thinking of Yang Liu’er, Tang Yaxuan’s eyes narrowed. ’On the way to the South with Brother Junfan, I have to tell him how that vicious Yang Liu’er harmed me. I’ll make him see her true, ugly colors so he’ll cut ties with her as soon as possible.’
Gu Shaojun’s leave was also ending, and it was time for him to return to his unit. During his half-month vacation, he and Xiao Man saw each other several times a day, but it still didn’t feel like enough. Before he left, they were so reluctant to part they wished they could be together forever. They were inseparable, stuck to each other like glue and going everywhere as a pair. The adults in both families understood the young couple’s feelings, so no one teased or chided them. In any case, this marriage was as solid as it could get—it had the full blessing of both families, and the two were so deeply in love they couldn’t imagine being with anyone else. Even Tang Qingshan couldn’t find a reason to delay their wedding anymore.
Tang Qingshan’s opinion was that his daughter was still young and in no rush to marry. Although Gu Shaojun was a good man, some things—like feelings—could easily change. He wanted to test him for a few more years! However, he couldn’t withstand Gu Qiming’s daily phone calls, one after another, playing on their long-standing friendship. On top of that, Mr. Gu and Mr. Tang were also applying pressure. Then, his own daughter stopped listening to him, following Gu Shaojun around like a shadow and hanging on his every word. Tang Qingshan was speechless. He could only sigh. ’The old sayings are true: a daughter’s loyalties lie elsewhere. It’s truly heartbreaking.’
He finally had to relent. But it couldn’t be this year. Even an engagement ceremony shouldn’t be rushed or sloppy. This year was absolutely out of the question. They could get engaged next August.
Getting it moved up by a year was great news for Gu Shaojun. He was very satisfied and happily told Xiao Man that when conditions allowed in the future, he wanted to personally craft beautiful root carving decorations for each of the elders as a thank-you gift.
The Gu family hosted a few tables for a simple family banquet, inviting close relatives and friends to gather. It also served as a farewell for their eldest grandson. Gu Shaofeng had remained in the South to accompany that Miss Wu of his and hadn’t returned to Beijing. He had only called a few times to discuss his own marriage and to let the family know he would return directly to his unit when his leave was over.
Their second grandson was dead set on marrying Wu Xiangyun and had even requested to skip the engagement and file a marriage report directly. Although Mr. Gu wasn’t too pleased, feeling it was too rushed, he thought about how the young woman had nearly been tormented to death by his second daughter-in-law. Given his grandson’s temperament, his patience had already reached its limit. If they tried to hold him back and force him to follow the family’s step-by-step arrangements, it would be unrealistic. So, he had no choice but to let him have his way.
The second and third grandsons had left Beijing just a few days after the Lunar New Year. Now the eldest grandson was also returning to his unit. The only male grandchild left at home was Shaoyu. Old Mrs. Gu couldn’t help but wipe away tears several times. ’When my grandsons were little, I always wished for them to grow up quickly so they would stop being naughty and causing trouble. But now that they’re grown, they’re like birds that have sprouted wings, each one eager to fly away from home. It’s so hard to even see them. I know it’s inevitable, but my heart just can’t bear to let them go!’
Zhou Hui Lan’s eyes were red as well, but she couldn’t cry. Instead, she had to comfort the old lady with kind words.
Fortunately, the brothers Zheng Shaolian and Zheng Shaojin came over and finally managed to cheer Old Mrs. Gu up a little.