The 1970s: Married First, Fell in Love Later-Chapter 96 - 95: Guo Jinfeng Remarries

A piece of paper and a photograph fell out.

Xue Xingzhou picked up the photograph. If he hadn’t known it was his mother, he would have almost mistaken her for Yue’er.

The person in the photo looked to be only in her twenties, the corners of her mouth curved into a brilliant smile.

Xue Xingzhou couldn’t reconcile the woman in the photo with the person in his memory. In his memories, his mother had always been silent. She would sometimes smile at him and Yue’er, but she had never shown such a free-spirited, heartfelt grin.

The edges of the photo were frayed, a clear sign that it had been taken out and looked at often. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Xue Xingzhou unfolded the paper. Its contents were simple, just as Zheng Guofeng had said—a few words of complaint. However, the final phrase, full of despair, definitely hinted at suicidal intentions.

Xue Xingzhou mulled it over for a long time. Compared to his father, Zheng Guofeng’s words were logical and well-supported, seeming more believable. But when it came to his own origin, Xue Xingzhou was also a little lost.

’For one, the technology isn’t advanced enough to perform a paternity test. Besides, I’m not the original owner of this body, even if I have his memories. The real Xue Xingzhou is already gone. So even if Zheng Guofeng is my biological father, what difference would it make?’

’But I have to get to the bottom of this, if only for Yue’er’s sake.’

It was just that Xue Changlin’s attitude was growing stranger and stranger. When Xue Xingzhou went to see him again to try and talk, Xue Changlin’s face immediately darkened.

"I don’t know what you people want! Your mother is gone, so why are you harping on about this now? Anyway, I have nothing to say."

After that, he refused to even see him.

So, Xue Xingzhou was helpless. Xue Changlin’s stance was clear, and there was nothing he could do.

Xue Xingzhou didn’t tell Xue Yue about this. Since things weren’t clear yet, telling her would only give another person something to worry about.

One day, as Xue Yue was out pushing Ruanruan in her stroller, she overheard a few old women gossiping.

He Zhen Guo’s wife, Zhang Ping, saw Xue Yue approaching and whispered to her, "Have you heard? Guo Jinfeng got remarried. She married a widower whose wife just died. I hear he’s almost fifty and has four kids from his previous marriage. The Guo Family took a 500-yuan bride price and married her off."

Xue Yue was surprised. "But Guo Jinfeng is only in her thirties, isn’t she?"

Zhang Ping nodded. "Exactly! She’s only two years older than me. That man could be her father. I don’t know what she was thinking."

"Her parents probably arranged it."

Xue Yue had guessed right. The Guo Family took the man’s money and sent Guo Jinfeng over without even discussing it with her.

Guo Jinfeng only found out after she arrived. Not only was the man ugly and old, but crucially, his wife had only been dead for two months. Of his four children, the eldest was already married. So she wasn’t going there to be a mother, but to be a mother-in-law.

Guo Jinfeng refused with all her might, but the Guo Family had already taken the money. No one cared whether she was willing or not; they just left her there.

They called it a marriage, but there was no ceremony. They simply delivered her to him.

Looking at the old man, Guo Jinfeng suddenly started to miss the good things about He Nan.

But who cared what she thought? The Guo Family was ecstatic. For a twice-divorced woman like Guo Jinfeng to fetch such a high price, the Guo Family was a hundred percent on board.

The He Family heard about this too. He Nan was stunned for just a moment, but Mrs. He said angrily, "She had a perfectly good life as a mother but had to go looking for trouble. Now she’s run off to be someone else’s mother-in-law. How are her two children supposed to face anyone in the future?"

In the surrounding villages, it didn’t take long for any bit of news to become common knowledge.

Meanwhile, Wang Qiming, who was in the army, received a letter from Wang Shumin.

After reading the letter, Wang Qiming was a bit bewildered. From the way Wang Shumin wrote, it seemed she was very fond of this new cousin.

Wang Qiming didn’t rush to write back. Instead, he made a phone call home.

Li Wanqing had just gotten home when she received Wang Qiming’s call.

"Qiming, when are you coming home?"

"Mom, Xiao Min sent me a letter."

Li Wanqing said with a smile, "Is she asking you for spending money again?"

"No. Xiao Min told me you went to see her and that you found your sister over there. She also said she has a new cousin now. Mom, what’s going on? How come you never told me I had an aunt?"

The smile vanished from Li Wanqing’s face. "That Shumin... you’re so busy in the army. Why would she bother you with this?"

"Mom, is it true or not?"

Li Wanqing nodded helplessly. "Yes. But she’s already dead."

"Dead?"

Wang Qiming was taken aback. Wang Shumin hadn’t mentioned that in her letter.

"Yes. So just focus on your duties in the army and don’t worry about it."

The mother and son chatted for a little longer before hanging up.

The moment she put down the phone, Li Wanqing’s expression changed.

’I suddenly regret this. I shouldn’t have gone to see Zheng Guofeng. While knowing Li Wan Yi is no longer alive has put my mind at ease, it’s also brought her daughter into the picture. They look so much alike... I’m afraid some new trouble will arise.’

Just then, Wang Tianzhu came in and saw Li Wanqing leaning back on the sofa, one arm resting on her forehead, covering her eyes.

He recalled what the driver had told him earlier, his eyes narrowing for a moment before he quickly masked his emotions.

"You’re back?"

Seeing it was Wang Tianzhu, Li Wanqing stood up and walked toward him. She took the bag from his hand, hung it on the coat rack, and then took the jacket he handed her.

"How come you’re home so early today?"

Wang Tianzhu looked at her and said with a light chuckle, "Isn’t it because I knew you were coming back today? Did the business trip go smoothly?"

Li Wanqing nodded. "It went well, but it was exhausting. If the factory has another business trip this far away, I’m not going. Let someone else go instead."

Wang Tianzhu walked toward the sofa and asked casually, "Since you went to Black Province, didn’t you stop by to see Xiao Min?"

A flicker of something crossed Li Wanqing’s eyes. She shook her head. "How would I have the time? It’s such a long way back and forth. I rushed back as soon as I finished my business."

Wang Tianzhu watched her. "You went all that way. There was no need to rush back. Seeing Xiao Min wouldn’t have taken much time. Besides, isn’t Zheng Guofeng there too? It’s always good to catch up with old acquaintances."

Li Wanqing studied Wang Tianzhu’s expression carefully, wondering if he knew something.

"Why aren’t you saying anything?"

Li Wanqing turned her head to the side. "Are you mocking me? Weren’t you the one who always hated the idea of me seeing him?"

Wang Tianzhu smiled. He reached out, caressed Li Wanqing’s face, and said slowly, "What would I have to be upset about? Isn’t he your brother-in-law? Even if he never formally married your sister, he was in name. And he’s remained devoted to your sister’s memory for over twenty years, never starting a family of his own. I actually admire him for that. A man like that, with a dead person living deep in his heart... how could any living person ever compare?"