Chapter 198: Gu Jianing—The Pride of Huaishuai Village!

As soon as Sheng Xinhao thought about how, just this morning, he had sworn he’d never have to beg that woman for anything, and now he’d ended up having his wife go to her for help, he felt not only his hand aching, but a stabbing pain in his chest as well.

Sheng Xinhao was about to die of frustration!

But as for how upset Sheng Xinhao was, Gu Jianing neither knew nor cared.

After all, her lecture had gone off without a hitch.

That very day, newspapers in the capital and all over the country reported on it, praising Gu Jianing highly.

Gu Jianing immediately called home to share the good news with her family.

“What? Ningning, you made it into the newspaper? You even gave a lecture? You’re about to become a professor?!”

On the other end of the line, Yao Chunhua felt like a series of huge surprises had fallen from the sky, hitting her right on the head. She was so overjoyed she couldn’t react for a moment.

When she finally came to her senses, she grabbed her old man and shared the news in a fit of excitement.

“…Old man, the Gu family’s ancestors must be blessing us from above!”

Father Gu was deeply moved as well. “Yes, yes, our ancestors must be watching over us to give us such an accomplished daughter like Ningning.”

“Ningning, can we buy that newspaper here? I want to get a copy and save it.”

“Yes, it’s been reported in papers all over the country,” Gu Jianing replied.

“Good, good, that’s wonderful.”

Yao Chunhua then asked what kind of lecture Gu Jianing had given. When she heard it was about how to treat tuberculosis, she was even more stunned.

“What? Treating tuberculosis?” Oh my heavens, she’s actually treating tuberculosis!

My Ningning can treat tuberculosis, and even gave a lecture in front of so many doctors from all over the country—no wonder she made the news!

That’s tuberculosis we’re talking about!

There had been people in the village who’d gotten tuberculosis before, but once it was confirmed, there was only one outcome: death.

But now, her daughter could treat tuberculosis.

How could Yao Chunhua not be shocked?

She didn’t doubt Gu Jianing’s words for a second.

Whatever Gu Jianing said, they believed her completely.

“Ningning, are we your pride and joy?” Gu Jianing asked softly over the phone.

“Of course you are! Absolutely!” Yao Chunhua replied, triple-confirming it.

Father Gu squeezed in as well. “Ningning, your father is proud of you too. You’re even more accomplished than your brothers.”

“But you have to take care of yourself, too.”

“I know, I will.” On her end, Gu Jianing’s voice was choked with emotion.

How wonderful—it was finally her turn to make her parents proud, to let them be proud of her.

She was no longer the source of worry she’d been in her previous life, no longer the one who’d brought them so much trouble and, in the end, even cost them their lives.

How wonderful.

Gu Jianing’s heart was full of emotion, her eyes rimmed red.

Yao Chunhua and Father Gu gave her more reminders, telling her to take good care of herself.

“Ningning, once your sister-in-law has her baby and I’ve helped her through her confinement, I’ll go to the Northwest Military District to help you.”

“Mom, there’s no rush. Xige’s grandmother will be coming with me to the Northwest Military District soon.”

“Oh, by the way, I’ll send more milk powder and supplements home. The milk powder can be for Zhuangzhuang and for your new grandchild. As for the supplements, save some to cook for my sister-in-law after she gives birth, and the rest, you and Dad should eat too. They’re good for your health. You both need to stay healthy.”

“Yes, yes, we know.” Listening to her daughter’s caring words, Yao Chunhua felt her heart warm all over.

Father Gu, meanwhile, was quietly wiping away tears on the side.

At that moment, the village secretary, who had inadvertently overheard their conversation, was getting impatient.

He hadn’t meant to eavesdrop.

It was just that the phone was at the village committee office, and he happened to be working there and caught part of the conversation.

But what he heard left him stunned!

Gu Jianing—the most accomplished girl in their village, the one who’d married an officer from the capital—could actually treat tuberculosis, that deadly disease.

She’d even given a lecture and been featured in national newspapers, almost a professor now.

What a success! She was truly accomplished!

She was the pride of Huaishuai Village!

He waited anxiously, planning to ask as soon as Yao Chunhua and Father Gu finished their call with Gu Jianing.

But who would have thought the couple would go on and on, repeating their reminders and reluctance to hang up.

Still, the village secretary understood.

If it were his only daughter, he’d be the same.

Fortunately, Yao Chunhua and Father Gu eventually remembered how expensive the phone call was. As much as they wanted to keep talking, they reluctantly hung up.

The village secretary immediately asked, “Old Gu, Chunhua, I just heard you say Ning gave a lecture and can treat tuberculosis…”

Yao Chunhua and Father Gu were still caught up in their joy and hadn’t quite recovered.

But when the village secretary asked, they snapped out of it and shared the good news with him.

“Wonderful, just wonderful! Ning is really something!”

“I’ll head to the county seat right away and look for the latest newspapers.”

“We’ll go with you!”

That day, Yao Chunhua and Father Gu went home and shared the good news with the rest of the family.

Everyone in the Gu family was delighted for Gu Jianing.

The next day, the couple went with the village secretary to the county post office, where they saw newspapers from all over the country, each with a front-page story and the biggest headlines about Gu Jianing’s lecture, teaching doctors nationwide how to treat tuberculosis.

The articles even mentioned that Gu Jianing would be receiving an award from the authorities.

“Old man, look, isn’t that our Ningning?”

There was a black-and-white photo of the lecture in the newspaper, and Yao Chunhua immediately recognized her precious daughter, Gu Jianing, at the very top.

“It’s been so long since I last saw Ningning.”

Who would have thought the next time she’d see her would be in the newspaper?

Yao Chunhua tried to judge from the photo how Gu Jianing was doing—whether she’d lost weight, if she was doing well.

No matter how well their children said they were doing over the phone, parents could never be truly at ease without seeing them in person, especially when they were so far away.

But from the photo, Gu Jianing seemed to be doing well.

Still, Yao Chunhua’s eyes turned red.

“Chunhua, let’s not cry. Our daughter has made something of herself—she’s a famous doctor now. We should be happy,” Father Gu said, his own eyes red as he comforted her.

“Yes, yes, we should be happy.”

At that moment, the people around them buying newspapers overheard their conversation.

They glanced at the front-page news and immediately asked, “Is this Dr. Gu your daughter?”

“Wow, you’re amazing—raising such an accomplished daughter!”

Thank you all for your love and praise for this book! I’ll keep working hard!"