AYLS -Chapter 169

Su Weizhen had great cooking skills. Although her belly was big now and she couldn’t make complicated dishes, she still had clever ideas and made things the children liked to eat.

She knew the inside story—she knew these two children had suffered quite a bit.

Xu Yuanzheng had mentioned in his memoir that back then, these two children did not get taken in by their older brother and sister-in-law. Their mother probably saw that no one would take care of them, so she divorced Chief Gu. But even then, the children had still been affected. Later on, both of them struggled through life.

Now that these two were Little Qiao’s younger siblings, Su Weizhen naturally cared for them even more.

Seeing how happily the two children were eating, she chatted with Lin Qiao on the side and asked about their future plans.

Lin Qiao said, “Huayuan and I have already discussed this. No matter what happens in the future, their studies cannot fall behind. And we can’t spoil them—spoiling children is the same as harming them. They’re not that young anymore; they need to grow.”

She herself was a living negative example, so she absolutely wouldn’t spoil the children unconditionally.

She compared her own childhood to the children in the compound.

Su Weizhen said, “They really should be sent to school. At their age, taking the college entrance examination in the future would be just right.”

Lin Qiao had the same plan.

Su Weizhen then asked how the two kids’ grades were. If they weren’t good, she could help tutor them.

“…They should be okay, I think,” Lin Qiao said uncertainly. After all, Gu Huayuan was very smart—his younger brother and sister shouldn’t be too bad.

After dinner, the two kids were sent out to play.

It was their first day here anyway; letting them get familiar with the environment made sense.

She and Gu Huayuan went to register the two of them for school.

Winter break was about to start, but it didn’t matter—learning whatever they could was still better than nothing. Not a single day could be wasted.

Both of them were in junior high. The teachers lit up the moment they heard they came from the capital.

The capital—what kind of place was that? The best teachers were all there.

Just being influenced by that environment meant they’d be different.

Hearing people talk like this, Lin Qiao also felt the two children must be good students. On the way back, she told Gu Huayuan that if they got good grades, she would treat them equally with the other kids and try to let them join in the work-study program at the livestock farm.

Since the siblings were away from their parents, even though she and Gu Huayuan were their brother- and sister-in-law, the kids would definitely feel insecure.

But once they had work-study opportunities like the other kids, those feelings should fade.

Meanwhile, the siblings were bragging to the other children in the compound, talking about their glorious life in the capital.

They talked about all the fun amusement facilities in the big city.

About what they ate and what they drank.

The compound kids didn’t know their family had run into trouble.

They thought the siblings had simply run out of options at home, so they came here to stay with relatives. Now hearing how well they lived before, Zhang Lanlan curiously asked, “If life in the capital was so good, why’d you two come here?”

Gu Huayin said, “My parents are busy with work. They’re on a long business trip.”

“Aiya, then life must be tough for you two now,” Sheng Wen sighed, feeling sorry for them. Such a good life, yet now they were here.

What sort of business trip was so long that they couldn’t even take care of their kids?

But Gu Huayin and Gu Huarui didn’t worry at all. Gu Huarui said, “It’s great here, not hard at all. My brother and sister-in-law treat us really well. My sister-in-law makes amazing hotpot. And my brother is super generous.”

Gu Huayin chimed in, “Exactly. My sister-in-law said an elder sister-in-law is like a mother. She’ll treat us the way a mom would.”

Everyone believed this deeply. Sister Qiao was known to be kind.

She treated other people’s children so well—she would surely be even better to her own siblings-in-law.

In an instant, all the kids looked at the siblings with envy.

Those envious gazes filled Gu Huayin and Gu Huarui with pride.

It was a feeling they rarely experienced even back in the capital.

Their vanity was greatly satisfied.

That night, when they returned home, Lin Qiao had indeed prepared something delicious again. Even though material conditions here weren’t as good as in the capital, both Lin Qiao and Gu Huayuan earned salaries. They had no other burdens, and the house even raised old hens. Their living conditions were well-secured.

At the very least, in terms of food and drink, the siblings didn’t feel much difference from before.

After the meal, Gu Huayuan beckoned the kids over to talk about something serious.

Their schoolbags were prepared, stuffed with borrowed old textbooks.

A stack was placed in front of each of them.

“…What’s this?” Gu Huarui stared at the schoolbag, dumbfounded.

Gu Huayin didn’t understand either.

Lin Qiao said happily, “School, of course. Your brother and I registered you this afternoon. The moment the school heard you’re from the capital, they were thrilled. They even approved your transfer right away.”

“…”

Gu Huarui was emotional. “But… brother, I already came here. I still have to go to school?”

He thought that leaving the capital meant leaving school forever.

Lin Qiao said, “Of course you have to go. Kids can’t just stop going to school. You’re not adults yet.”

Gu Huarui said, “But I’m not that young. I’m already fifteen.”

Gu Huayin said, “I’m twelve!”

“Yes, and you’re still not adults. This is exactly the age to study.” Lin Qiao sighed. “When I was your age, I didn’t study properly. Now…” She regretted it deeply!

The siblings, remembering her background, thought she was lamenting her lack of opportunity and felt sad for her.

Gu Huarui coughed. “Sister-in-law, don’t say that. We’ll study, okay?”

“Of course! Good kids.” Lin Qiao felt very accomplished, proud that she could teach children.

Gu Huayuan drank his water quietly, swallowing back all the stern lectures he had prepared.

He didn’t have Lin Qiao’s patience. If the kids didn’t listen, he had planned to beat Gu Huarui once—just to warn Gu Huayin.

The next day, Zhang Lanlan and a group of kids arrived to escort the siblings to school.

They were very enthusiastic, worried the two might not be used to their first day, and planned to accompany them.

Seeing such a big group, the siblings felt relieved. Going to school with so many kids meant it wouldn’t be as boring as before.

But on the way, Zhang Lanlan and the others started chatting.

Discussing how many points they wanted to score in the upcoming final exams, and what ranking they aimed for.

“…”

Zhang Lanlan blushed and said she had some questions she couldn’t solve, and asked if she could consult them later.

She had borrowed a very precious exercise book from the teacher, published by a capital publishing house. Some of the problems were too difficult.

Gu Huarui: “…”

What made them think we could solve those problems…?

For the sake of having a name to register with, he of course didn’t refuse. He accepted it with a frown, planning to forget all about it later.

But once they got to the school, the teachers took them very seriously.

They even specially introduced the two children to the class, saying they were from the capital—and had excellent grades.

After all, when they registered earlier, their sister-in-law Comrade Lin Qiao had personally verified it.

The teachers naturally assumed they must be outstanding. Children from a military compound in the capital had to be excellent.

“……”

As for the children’s studies, Lin Qiao didn’t bother paying much attention anymore.

Because Gu Huayuan was on leave.

Gu Bicheng’s situation had indeed affected him.

There was even an official notice issued requiring Gu Huayuan to be transferred.

Commander Sheng had immediately blown up in his office.

A transfer? What kind of joke was that?

Gu Huayuan was a core elite of the reconnaissance company.

He was also a key cultivation target. The unit he led wasn’t some ordinary company—it was a sharp blade meant to pierce straight into the enemy’s heart in the future.

The most critical point was that the department issuing this notice wasn’t even familiar to them.

One look and you could tell it wasn’t proper. Some newly established department of sorts.

Commander Sheng didn’t want to pay them any attention, but he still had to put on a show. So he gave Gu Huayuan a few days of leave, telling him to go through the motions and then come right back.

Commander Sheng’s wife even came over to comfort Lin Qiao, telling her not to feel pressured.

Everyone here understood the situation. No one would let outside issues affect their daily life.

Lin Qiao wasn’t really worried either. She only felt even more urgency—just right, since she and Gu Huayuan were both trying to hurry and complete the task so they could finish compiling the history book and send it out as soon as possible.

Gu Huayuan wasn’t worried about himself; he was more concerned with news about his father, Gu Bicheng.

He had already been sent to the farm where the Construction Corps had previously been stationed.

Gu Huayuan didn’t have time to visit, so he wrote a letter. He also wrote one to Zhang Tuo, asking him to help check on them. He sent a package too—at least to provide some supplies for Gu Bicheng and Zhang Wenjuan. Since they were going to a farm, they definitely wouldn’t have been allowed to bring much luggage.

Not long afterward, Zhang Tuo called back, saying he had visited. The place was harsh, but the people were in good spirits—and their voices were still loud.

To avoid dragging Zhang Tuo into trouble, they told him not to visit again.

Hearing this, Gu Huayuan stopped worrying and focused entirely on helping Lin Qiao complete the mission.

With a man-woman pair, work really was easier. The two of them finally completed all the required historical knowledge.

It wasn’t too much—just a few dozen pages thick.

It mainly detailed the historical development over those ten years, major events, and finally a summary of the impacts of that decade.

Once everything was organized, Lin Qiao and Gu Huayuan had Fat Cat copy and paste it to the Great Leader.

A history book like this definitely couldn’t be shown to outsiders. From the beginning, they had prepared it specifically for the Great Leader.

They believed he was the only one capable of changing anything.

Throughout this period of history, they had unwavering faith in him. He truly cared for the country. It was only that during such a special time, he lacked experience, giving certain people beneath him the chance to stir trouble.

The night they delivered the history book, Lin Qiao was terribly nervous.

After confirming that the Great Leader had discovered the book, she immediately closed the video and exited.

Her heart was tight with nerves, but she refused to peek.

That night, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep. “Gu Huayuan… do you think… it’ll work?”

Before, she had been full of hope—thinking that once they completed the history book, everything would be solved. Now that it was finished and sent out, her heart instead became uneasy. Everything now depended on the outcome.

Gu Huayuan said, “This is the only thing we can do. Just calm down.”

“Mm. Gu Huayuan, now that the history book is done, let’s find some time to visit Dad and Aunt Zhang. It’s going to snow soon—let’s bring them some things.”

“Okay.”