Chapter 211: In This Life, Gu Jianing Values Family Above All

“Both times I saw them, it was the dead of winter, yet the siblings were dressed so thinly…”

Qin Zhihong and Du Lan listened intently as Gu Jianing recounted what had happened.

From the very beginning, their brows furrowed in concern.

They had been sending money home.

So why did the two children still have to go up the mountain to gather medicinal herbs, relying on exchanging them for food to survive the winter?

They knew how bitterly cold winters were in the northwest.

Yet the children wore such thin clothes.

So, where had all the money they sent gone?

And to think—Granny Qin had even come down with tuberculosis!

Qin Zhihong’s heart sank.

That was his mother. He knew that after leaving home for eight years without returning or sending word, he was unfilial.

But sometimes, one cannot have both great love and small love.

He had always hoped to finish his project as soon as possible, so he could return home in glory and bring honor to his mother.

But if something had already happened to his mother, then… then…

Tears streamed down Qin Zhihong’s face, his heart full of guilt.

It wasn’t until Gu Jianing said she had visited and personally cured Granny Qin’s tuberculosis that the couple’s mood improved a little.

But when Gu Jianing went on to explain how Qin De had colluded with postal workers to steal the money they’d sent home, the couple’s hearts sank once more.

Especially when they heard that Qin De had even planned to sell off Qin Tian, their faces were etched with grief.

Qin Zhihong and Du Lan never imagined that in these past eight years, all the wages they had sent home, every month without fail, had never reached their family.

How had the old and the young at home survived all these years?

No wonder—no wonder the siblings had to gather herbs in the freezing winter.

No wonder Granny Qin fell ill and had no money for treatment.

“It’s my fault. I’m not worthy to be a son, nor a father,” Qin Zhihong said, consumed by self-blame.

Du Lan, too, felt she was unworthy as a mother.

When they left, the siblings were so small, only two years old, and she had been so heartless as to leave them behind.

“Dr. Gu, thank you, thank you so much.” Once they recovered from the shock, Qin Zhihong and Du Lan stood up and bowed deeply to Gu Jianing.

They knew that without Gu Jianing’s help, by the time they returned home, who knew what would have become of their mother and children.

Perhaps their mother would have died of tuberculosis.

With their mother gone and their son sold, the daughter left behind would hardly fare any better.

They thought, if their family was gone—

What meaning would all these years of perseverance have left?

So, to them, Gu Jianing was their benefactor.

Grandpa Sang hadn’t expected that by simply bringing two highly talented young colleagues from the northeast home for a visit, he would discover such a deep connection between his granddaughter-in-law and them.

It was fate, in a way.

To ease Qin Zhihong and Du Lan’s worries, Gu Jianing also shared how the three members of the Qin family were doing now.

Learning that their money had been recovered, the thief arrested and sentenced, and that the Qin family’s life had improved, Qin Zhihong and Du Lan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“Dr. Gu, I heard you’ll be returning to the Northwest Military District soon. Would you mind taking a letter from us back home?” Du Lan pleaded.

Though she and Qin Zhihong were now in the capital, they were here for a weapons research project.

Until the project was complete, they couldn’t contact their family, let alone return home.

But they believed that, at most, in half a year, they would be able to go back.

“Of course.” It was a simple favor, and Gu Jianing readily agreed.

She imagined how happy Qin Tian, Qin Qing, and Granny Qin would be to receive the letter.

So, Qin Zhihong and Du Lan didn’t leave the Sang house until they had finished writing the letter, handed it to Gu Jianing, and given her careful instructions.

“Ningning, when you’re back in the Northwest Military District, look after the Qin family when you can,” Grandpa Sang reminded her.

“Don’t worry, Grandpa. I will.”

Grandpa Sang felt deeply for Qin Zhihong and Du Lan’s family.

He asked Gu Jianing to look after them for two reasons: First, only another scientist like himself could truly understand how hard Qin Zhihong and Du Lan had it, and by extension, how hard it was for their family as well. Qin Zhihong and Du Lan were contributing to the country, and their family, as their support and motivation, deserved to be cared for.

Second, Qin Zhihong and Du Lan were young and talented, and they were leading this project. Once it succeeded, the authorities would surely reward them.

The Qin couple had a bright future ahead.

It could only be a good thing for Ningning to befriend them.

Gu Jianing carefully put away the letter Du Lan had given her.

Holding it, she couldn’t help but feel emotional.

There was no doubt that Qin Zhihong and Du Lan were great people. But in this life, if not for her intervention, the siblings left behind in Qin Family Village, along with Granny Qin, would have ended up just as she’d seen in those flashes of the future.

By the time Qin Zhihong and Du Lan returned home in glory, all that would have awaited them were three graves.

Gu Jianing couldn’t imagine how Qin Zhihong and Du Lan would have felt then.

But…

Gu Jianing thought, if it were her, “grief” would hardly be enough to describe it.

Especially in this life, Gu Jianing cherished family above all.

She couldn’t imagine what she would do if something happened to her loved ones in this life—she’d probably go mad.

“Maybe I’m just a selfish person,” she thought.

Selfish enough to only want to take care of her own little family, to want her loved ones to live well.

As for making greater contributions…

That could only happen if her family was safe and sound.

She never considered herself a great person—sacrificing her family for the greater good, for selfless devotion—Gu Jianing knew she couldn’t do it.

“Ningning, Xiao Xi is on the phone!”

Gu Jianing was still lost in thought when Grandma Sang’s voice called from outside, snapping her back to reality.

Finally, he called!

Gu Jianing had been waiting all day for Sheng Zexi’s call.

“Yes, Grandma, I’m coming!”

Putting the letter away, Gu Jianing hurried out of the room and quickly picked up the phone.

On the other end, Sheng Zexi’s deep, magnetic voice came through. Maybe he had run over in a hurry, because he was a little out of breath.

In the quiet of the call, his breathing was especially clear—and especially captivating.

It made Gu Jianing think of those nights.

Her ears flushed red.

“Ningning, did you need something?” Sheng Zexi asked on the other end.

After training, he’d just gotten back when he heard from the communications office that Gu Jianing had called twice and wanted him to call back as soon as he returned.

Sheng Zexi knew something must be up for Gu Jianing to be so anxious to reach him.

He was a little worried.

So before even going home, he rushed to the communications office to call Gu Jianing."