Chapter 106 Venture Out

Chapter 106 Venturing Out

The eldest sister gave birth to a healthy baby boy for the Chen family, and Big Chen was absolutely overjoyed.

Xie Xinyi’s mother went to help care for her eldest daughter during her confinement. However, within a week, she found her son-in-law’s meticulous fussing unbearable.

“…He’s even more anxious than young Gu was back then. The baby’s already born, and the wound is healing well, but he keeps nagging me every day. It’s giving me a headache.”

When Xie Xinyi visited her eldest sister, her mother couldn’t help but complain about Big Chen to her second daughter. Xie Xinyi, disbelieving, looked at her sister, who was trying to suppress a smile. “Is it really that bad?”

He talked a lot and was overly attentive.

But after working with Big Chen for so many years, how could she remember him being like that?

“He’s such a blockhead. When he saw the long scar on my stomach, he went to the kitchen, nicked his own finger with a knife, and then decided I must be in a lot of pain. He’s been so worried he can’t sleep at night.”

Xie Xinyue explained with a smile why Big Chen was being so cautious. Though her tone carried a hint of complaint, Xie Xinyi could tell she was actually happy and speaking tongue-in-cheek.

She just hadn’t expected Big Chen, who seemed so wooden, to go to such lengths to comfort his wife.

Cutting himself to empathize—that was a train of thought only he could come up with.

Xie Xinyi held back her laughter and tried to explain to her mother, “Brother-in-law treats our sister well. You should be happy about that.”

Her mother nodded. “I know that.”

It’s just that having a man chattering around her all day, especially compared to Gu Yu’s quiet nature, made her mother feel a bit uncomfortable.

Li Jiyun sighed helplessly. After talking about her son-in-law, she started worrying about Big Chen’s three daughters.

“You’ve given birth to a boy, and Big Chen is so overjoyed. Do the three girls feel… feel…”

“Feel what?”

Seeing her mother hesitate, Xie Xinyue thought for a moment and asked, “Feel like Big Chen will neglect them now that he has a son?”

Her mother nodded.

This is often the case with second marriages. No matter how much a man loved his children before, once he remarries and has a new child with his new wife, his heart tends to lean toward the new family, neglecting the children from the previous marriage.

People worry more about inequality than scarcity. The three girls were already lacking in affection, and now that their father and stepmother had a son, Xie Xinyi’s mother feared the girls would feel resentful. She was even more afraid that this resentment would harm her daughter and son-in-law’s relationship or affect her newborn grandson.

In the past, there had been plenty of cases in Guozi Alley where remarried couples argued over their children. There were even instances where older siblings, feeling neglected by their parents’ favoritism toward younger siblings, deliberately lost or abandoned their younger siblings.

A significant reason why Xie Xinyi’s mother had initially opposed her daughter marrying Big Chen was that she believed being a stepmother was difficult.

Even her second daughter’s mother-in-law, such a good person, had faced difficulties after marrying Gu’s father. How much more would her straightforward, single-minded eldest daughter struggle?

Big Chen’s family had three daughters. Though they were sensible, they were still girls with delicate feelings.

Xie Xinyi’s mother was happy that Big Chen treated her daughter well, but at the same time, she worried that his excessive attention toward the mother and son might backfire.

Xie Xinyi’s mother felt uneasy and advised her daughter and Big Chen to take it easy.

Xie Xinyue laughed. “Don’t worry, Mom. It won’t happen. The three girls are very good to their brother. They don’t have any of those bad intentions you mentioned.”

Xie Xinyi also believed Big Chen’s three daughters wouldn’t act that way.

After all, Big Chen wasn’t the scheming type, and the children he raised were unlikely to be so petty.

Moreover, after spending so much time with the three girls, Xie Xinyi and her sister knew very well what kind of people they were.

The two of them reassured their mother. That evening, when the three girls returned, Xie Xinyue even had their mother observe them discreetly.

As people age, they tend to worry more, especially someone like Xie Xinyi’s mother, who had been hurt by Second Xie’s family. Her concerns were naturally greater than most, unlike Gu Yu’s mother.

A woman who had experienced the difficulties of being a stepmother viewed things more liberally than Xie Xinyi’s mother.

When she heard that the eldest sister had given birth to a chubby boy, her first concern wasn’t whether Big Chen’s three daughters would be unhappy, but how her sister should balance the relationships within her new family.

“Don’t overstep, stay true to your heart. If the other party appreciates it, treat everyone fairly. If not, focus on taking care of yourself.”

This was the wisdom she had gained over decades, which she asked Xie Xinyi to pass on to her sister.

“Tell Xie Xinyue not to follow my example. I gave my sincerity to the wrong person, ended up being misunderstood by everyone, and damaged my marital relationship.”

This was the first time Wen Shuhua had spoken so openly to Xie Xinyi about her and Gu’s father.

Previously, it was always Grandma Gu who would sigh a few words when she saw Wen Shuhua being wronged. Although Xie Xinyi knew that Wen Shuhua and Gu’s father had a strained relationship because Gu’s father couldn't tell right from wrong, she hadn’t realized Wen Shuhua saw it so clearly.

A broken mirror is hard to repair. Even if Gu’s father was now trying to make amends, it was too late.

When Wen Shuhua first married into the Gu family, Gu’s father didn’t treat her well. She gave her all to her stepson, only to be falsely accused. The man, out of guilt toward his ex-wife, doted on his stepson but was harsh and neglectful toward the children Wen Shuhua bore.

People fear comparison the most.

Gu’s father’s attitude over the years had not only hurt Wen Shuhua’s heart but also damaged the relationship with Gu Yu and his sister.

During the incident with Zhang Xin, Gu Ying for the first time expressed her feelings in front of Gu Haoting.

Father and daughter had a big argument. Gu Ying had never had much affection for her father, and his slap finally severed the last bit of familial bond.

After that argument, Gu Ying ignored Gu’s father, and Gu’s father, as if aware he was unwelcome, didn’t return home for a long time.

Gu Ying and Zhang Xin registered their marriage without Gu Haoting knowing. It was only when Uncle Zhang, unaware of the situation, called Gu Haoting that Gu’s father learned his daughter had gotten married.

Gu’s father picked a day when everyone was home to return and offer his congratulations, only to find that his daughter had no plans for a wedding banquet and had gone on a trip alone with Zhang Xin.

He didn’t get to see his daughter or convey his blessings as a father-in-law to his son-in-law.

Xie Xinyi didn’t know what Gu’s father was thinking at the time, but she noticed that Gu Haoting seemed distracted during dinner that night.

Grandma Gu told everyone not to interfere, saying it was an opportunity for Gu’s father to reflect on his own.

Gu Yu had no intention of getting involved and said nothing.

As a daughter-in-law, Xie Xinyi naturally wouldn’t interfere in Gu’s father’s affairs.

As for Wen Shuhua, upon seeing her husband’s pitiful state, she simply said, “If you had known this day would come, why did you act the way you did?”

Gu Yu and Gu Ying paid no attention to Gu’s father’s belated concern, and Wen Shuhua had no intention of accepting it either.

Ice three feet thick is not formed in a single day.

After so many years of marriage to Gu Haoting, her passion had long been worn away by indifference and neglect.

When she needed his care and attention, he was absent. Why should she welcome his delayed change of heart with open arms?

Wen Shuhua wasn’t the type to be won over by a few sweet words. She knew that she and Gu Haoting could never truly reconcile and understood the real reason behind his sudden change.

She would neither forgive the past nor accept the present.

For now, she just wants to maintain the status quo, muddling through as before, leaving it up to her two children on how to treat their father.

Wen Shuhua hadn't wanted to interfere before, and she won’t interfere now either.

She pretended not to notice Gu Haoting’s sudden change in temperament, but when it came to Xie Xinyi’s eldest sister’s situation, she eagerly offered her advice.

"...Anyway, if you can’t be fair, then don’t even try from the beginning."

When Xie Xinyi relayed these words to her eldest sister, she pondered them for a long time, but in the end, she didn’t follow the advice.

She said every family’s situation is different—Big Chen’s three daughters are not like Gu Kai, and Big Chen isn’t Gu Haoting. Besides, from the moment she met the three children, she had decided to treat them well and compensate for their lack of maternal love and companionship they had growing up.

This "bowl of water" had been taken up by her ever since she decided to marry Big Chen. Since she had taken it up, she would strive to be as fair as possible.

Xie Xinyi thought her eldest sister’s approach was right. Seeing that she couldn’t persuade her daughter, Xie Xinyi's mother could only offer more support to her eldest daughter and show the three girls unreserved kindness.

They wanted to keep the bowl of water as balanced as possible, and Big Chen’s three daughters lived up to their expectations.

After Xie Xinyue gave birth to a little brother, the three not only divided the caregiving tasks for Xie Xinyue but also took on the responsibility of looking after their brother when Big Chen was working overtime away from home.

One of the girls cooked, another did the laundry, and the third stayed constantly by Xie Xinyue’s side. The harmonious and warm family atmosphere not only brought comfort to the Xie family but also earned praise from outsiders as a model family.

The eldest sister was doing well as a stepmother, and Big Chen saw it and held her even dearer in his heart.

Knowing how difficult it was, Big Chen treated her better and better.

While the eldest sister’s family was living smoothly, the youngest sister, Xie Xinhuan, also received great news at the end of the year.

“The school has only one opportunity for study abroad, and my mentor gave it to me, asking me to discuss it with the family.”

Studying in the U.S., with all expenses paid.

This news would be considered a huge deal even in future decades, let alone in the early 1980s when the country had just opened up.

Xie Xinyi was thrilled for her youngest sister and immediately voiced her support.

“This is a rare opportunity; you should grab it.”

“Going abroad… won’t that take a long time? You're just a girl, all by yourself…”

Unlike Xie Xinyi’s excitement, Xie Xinhuan's mother clearly didn’t approve of the youngest sister going abroad.

From her traditional perspective, she hoped her children would stay close to home, especially her daughters.

In Xie Xinhuan's mother’s view, the youngest sister should follow in the footsteps of her two older sisters—find a stable job in Beijing, meet a lifelong partner, and live a safe, steady life. That was the happiest outcome.

Going abroad?

So far away, all alone, unfamiliar with the place—setting aside safety concerns for a moment, but what if she gets sick? Over there, with no one around, what would she do?

Xie Xinhuan's mother was worried. Even after the youngest sister explained that technology and medical care were more advanced abroad, she still frowned.

“…Then, how long would you be gone?”

“Three years,” Xie Xinhuan explained to her mother. “It’s usually three years, and it will go by quickly. I’ll be back by the time Xiao Yueer starts elementary school.”

Xiao Yueer was already in kindergarten. By the time she started elementary school, Xie Xinhuan would return.

Calculating it this way, the time didn’t seem too long.

Mother Xie reluctantly softened her stance. Meanwhile, Gu Yu added, “It’s good to have such an opportunity. Not everyone gets it.”

Studying in an advanced country requires not only strong academic credentials but also exceptional ability to learn and adapt.

The fact that the youngest sister stood out among the competition shows her outstanding abilities.

There will surely be challenges abroad, but since she was selected, these challenges shouldn't be too much for her.

Besides, she’s still young. It’s a good thing to go out and see the world while she's young.

Like him—during his military service, he didn’t realize it, but after traveling around lately, he discovered the world is developing much faster than you'd think.

These aren’t the tense times like before. Economic development is driving social progress. Having the chance to go out and see the world is definitely better than staying at home.

He used his own experience to comfort Mother Xie and took the opportunity to mention that he and Xie Xinyi were planning to go to the coastal areas.

“You’re leaving too?”

Mother Xie had just come to terms with her youngest daughter leaving for a while, and before she could fully process it, her second daughter's husband announced they were leaving too.

She frowned slightly. Xie Xinyi glanced at Gu Yu and quickly explained, “The place we’re going isn’t far from Beijing. The factory is opening a new branch and wants me to go set up the research and development department first.”

As for Gu Yu.

She glanced at the man beside her.

Last time she came back and told Gu Yu about the factory sending her to the new plant, he didn’t say much then. But a few days later, the whole family learned he had left military service.

Grandma Gu had been consulted by Gu Yu earlier, so she didn’t comment on him leaving the military for business. Wen Shuhua, however, became so angry she stayed in bed for several days.

“You worked so hard to get there, and now you just leave? Are you trying to spite your father or kill me?”

After saying this, Wen Shuhua pushed Xiao Yueer into her son’s arms and “ran away from home” (actually, she went next door to Luo Jinxia’s house).

She didn’t support Gu Yu’s decision to strike out on his own, thinking he was giving up a comfortable life to take unnecessary risks.

She couldn’t understand it, assuming Gu Yu was acting out of spite toward his father because Gu Haoting always compared Gu Yu to his older brother, so Gu Yu felt he needed to prove himself.

Wen Shuhua complained to Luo Jinxia that Gu Yu had lost his mind. Having just gone through the incident with Zhang Xin, Luo Jinxia was more open-minded and advised, “The child is grown up. Letting him decide his own life isn’t a bad thing.”

Well, this well-intentioned advice backfired. Wen Shuhua felt her good friend hadn’t taken her side and stopped going to Luo Jinxia’s house altogether. She locked herself in her room and started a hunger strike.

Once calm and progressive, she suddenly became unreasonable. Gu Yu didn’t know how to handle his mother and could only turn to Grandma Gu for help.

Grandma Gu asked Gu Yu three questions.

“Have you thought it through?”

“Is it something you like?”

“Can you stick with it?”

Gu Yu answered truthfully, “I’ve thought it through, I like it, and I can stick with it.”

Without another word, Grandma Gu went straight to Wen Shuhua’s room.

Wen Shuhua and her daughter-in-law hid in the room, whispering about who-knows-what. Two hours later, Wen Shuhua, her eyes red, handed a box to Gu Yu.

Inside the box were a gold bracelet and a jade pendant. According to Grandma Gu, these were passed down to Wen Shuhua by her own mother on her wedding day—a family heirloom that had been handed down through generations.

Though Wen Shuhua didn’t explicitly say she approved, by entrusting the heirlooms to Gu Yu and telling him to take good care of them, Xie Xinyi understood that she was silently supporting his decision to go out and make his way in the world.

In contrast to their reaction to Gu Yu’s plans, the Gu family’s attitude toward Xie Xinyi’s assignment to the new factory was entirely different.

Knowing she wasn't used to places outside the capital, Nanny Wang began preparing her favorite foods early on—pickled sour beans, dried fruit slices—all neatly packed into her luggage.

Wen Shuhua made three trips to the department store to buy all the daily necessities Xie Xinyi was used to, making sure her clothes, undergarments, and other essentials were all ready to go.

Grandma Gu didn’t buy any material gifts but prepared a large *hongbao* (a traditional red envelope containing money) instead—both as a symbol of good fortune and so Xie Xinyi could buy whatever she needed after arriving.

The Gu family pulled out all the stops to prepare for Xie Xinyi’s journey, a stark contrast to the rocky path Gu Yu faced before his departure.

“How can it be the same? Xinyi is going to achieve great things. As for Gu Yu, as long as he doesn’t cause Xinyi any trouble, that’s good enough.”

On the day of their departure, the whole family came to see Xie Xinyi and Gu Yu off.

Wen Shuhua and Xie Xinyi's mother held Xie Xinyi’s hands, giving her endless advice; the younger sister cried her eyes out; the elder sister hid behind her husband, secretly wiping away tears. Only Zhang Xin and Gu Ying, who had experience being away, looked on with envy.

“Sis-in-law, I heard the breakfast over there is amazing. Once you learn how to make it, you have to come back and teach me.”

“Of course, I will.”

Xie Xinyi stepped forward and hugged Xiao Yueer.

At three years old, Xiao Yueer didn’t understand what goodbyes meant. She tilted her head and nestled against Xie Xinyi’s shoulder, cooing sweetly, “Mommy, come back soon. Xiao Yueer will miss you so much.”

Xie Xinyi held back tears as she covered the little one’s face in kisses. Gu Yu also set down the luggage to spend a moment with their child.

There was no helping it—sometimes a short separation is necessary for a better reunion.

The conductor’s announcement echoed over the loudspeaker, urging passengers to board. Xie Xinyi gathered her emotions, bid her family farewell, and boarded the train bound for a distant city with Gu Yu.