“Thank you, Uncle Tianqing.” Ning You saw that Chu Tianqing was sincerely thinking of her, and smiled as she thanked him.
The next moment, she politely refused. “But it’s not necessary. I already have other plans.”
The three members of the Chu family were all shocked.
Did she even understand what a job meant?
A “iron rice bowl”—a guaranteed lifelong job!
Stable state-supplied grain wages!
Chu Tianqing frowned. “Youyou, arranging a job for you isn’t difficult. Don’t be afraid of troubling me.”
“I grew up with your mother. In my heart, I’ve always treated you like my own daughter. I already failed your grandfather’s trust by not taking good care of you all these years. Don’t refuse me, alright?”
Hearing a sensitive phrase, Shao Yu suddenly stiffened, her smile becoming unnatural.
Ning You didn’t notice the woman’s emotional shift and said to Chu Tianqing, “I know. And I believe you really want to help me, Uncle Tianqing. But I really do have plans already, so I’ll have to disappoint your kindness. I’m sorry.”
Chu Tianqing saw in her eyes the same determination as Wen Ya, and his expression became complicated.
“…Alright. If you run into any trouble, come find me.”
He asked for a piece of paper and wrote down the Chu family’s address.
“The person backing you is back now. From now on, don’t endure bullying. Hit back. If you cause trouble, I’ll take responsibility.”
He came today specifically to support the girl.
He wanted the Ning family to understand—Ning You was no longer the helpless little girl they could bully at will!
Ning You replied calmly and politely, “I remember. Thank you, Uncle Tianqing.”
Chu Tianqing looked at her gently.
This scene made Shao Yu frown slightly again.
To be honest, she didn’t want her family to get too close to Ning You…
Ning You put away the note and asked, “Uncle Tianqing, earlier you mentioned my grandfather. Do you know where my grandfather is?”
Chu Tianqing hadn’t even responded when Shao Yu’s expression changed. She said sternly, “Youyou, this isn’t something you should be asking about.”
“Then what am I allowed to ask?” Ning You gently asked back.
She continued without leaving any gap. “I just want to know about my grandfather. Is that wrong?”
“Even if my grandfather was someone educated, nowhere did it say that educated people can’t have family, right?”
Her eyes were dark and clear, like a mirror reflecting the hidden darkness in people’s hearts.
Shao Yu only felt that under that gaze, she had nowhere to hide and subconsciously avoided eye contact.
She quickly tried to explain, “That’s not what I meant. You know how serious the outside situation is. If outsiders hear what you just said…”
Ning You smiled. “But there are no outsiders here, are there? Besides, I’m not speaking loudly.”
She felt that this woman… didn’t want her to mention her grandfather.
Was it just her imagination?
But why?
Chu Tianqing also felt that his wife was being overly sensitive, a faint trace of suspicion flashing in his eyes.
Why did she seem a little strange today?
That thought passed quickly but still left a mark in his mind.
He would wait for the right moment—everything would eventually become clear.
Chu Jin stepped in to smooth things over. “Youyou, don’t overthink it. My mom is just scared stiff by those people outside. Our pretty little Youyou doesn’t need to mind her, okay?”
Shao Yu realized she had overreacted and had aroused her husband’s suspicion. She quickly took the opportunity to recover, forcing a bitter smile.
“…Yes, I was frightened earlier. Sorry, Youyou, I spoke too loudly.”
“It’s okay. Aunt Shao meant well,” Ning You smiled as if nothing had happened.
Chu Jin: …I really don’t understand women.
Ning You didn’t care about Shao Yu’s odd behavior. Whether she was human or something else, time would eventually reveal everything.
The priority now was still to find news about her grandfather.
So she asked again.
Chu Tianqing shook his head. “I don’t know either. You know I was stationed on an island for several years. When I came back, everything had changed. I only know your grandfather is still alive.”
Back then, many of them had tried to help the Wen family, but it hadn’t been very effective.
They had only managed to ensure that Uncle Wen’s life was not in danger.
Ning You smiled brightly. “As long as he’s alive, that’s good. As long as he’s alive, there will be a day we meet.”
Chu Tianqing nodded. “Yes!”
After the Chu family left, they were still talking about the Ning family on the way.
Chu Jin clenched his fists angrily. “Dad, Youyou has changed a lot. She doesn’t feel close to me anymore, her childhood brother. She must have suffered a lot.”
“Now that we’re back, we should visit her more and not let her be bullied again!”
A hot-blooded youth, full of righteousness.
He had always disliked injustice, and seeing his childhood friend suffer made him even more unable to tolerate it.
Chu Tianqing agreed. “Good thinking. You’re older than Youyou, and she calls you brother—you must take responsibility as one. Don’t let anyone bully her again.”
Chu Jin patted his chest loudly. “Don’t worry, Dad. I will!”
Shao Yu watched father and son completely focused on Ning You, a dark flash passing through her lowered eyes.
When she looked up again, she was smiling gently.
“You’re right…”
Not wanting to continue talking about the Ning family, she asked about Chu Tianqing’s work.
“Has the personnel decision for that factory project been finalized?”
The infrared searchlight could be used on tanks, showing how important it was.
The higher-ups attached great importance to it.
Shao Yu was very concerned.
Chu Tianqing was not used to discussing work with his wife and replied casually, “That’s up to the leaders. We just follow orders.”
Chu Jin leaned in jokingly. “Dad, aren’t you afraid you’ll be sent to some remote place again like before?”
Chu Tianqing tapped his son on the head seriously. “What is there to fear? Wherever we are, we’re contributing to the country. That kind of thinking is unacceptable.”
Chu Jin immediately straightened up. “I know, I was just joking. I’m just a brick of the revolution—wherever I’m needed, I go.”
Shao Yu felt increasingly irritated.
So father and son are noble, and I’m the only one without vision?
She lowered her head and looked at her rough hands, feeling bitter.
Still… was it worth it back then?
No—it was worth it!
At least she was alive. She had a loving husband and a sensible son. Unlike Wen Ya, who died young and tragically.
Seeing his wife silent with her head down, Chu Tianqing thought she was worried about his work and felt guilty.
He held her hand. Feeling the roughness of her fingers, his guilt deepened.
Shao Yu didn’t want him to see her aged appearance and tried to pull her hand away, but stopped when she saw the tenderness in his eyes.
“I’m sorry. Don’t worry—if I’m assigned to a difficult place again, I’ll go alone. You stay and take care of our son,” Chu Tianqing said.
Shao Yu, who had suffered on the island before, didn’t refuse. “We’ll see.”
Since they were in public, Chu Tianqing soon let go of her hand.
“Don’t worry about it. I just came back recently—I won’t be assigned out again so soon.”
Shao Yu forced a smile.
She knew that was true.
He was likely to stay in Haicheng.
But that wasn’t enough.
She had suffered so many years and grown so old—was it too much to hope her husband would achieve great success?