Chapter 315: Chapter 315: Farewell Dinner, Gu Yunchuan

He’s doing well now. Let’s just treat everything as a test from fate—using the turbulence and hardship of his first half of life in exchange for today’s happiness and stability. It’s worth it.

After Yun Jiuzhou finished speaking, he gently pried Liu Guifang’s hands off, and strode away with Dacheng.

Liu Guifang was sobbing uncontrollably—probably mourning the loss of her long-term meal ticket.

Xu Mingshan couldn’t help himself and called out, “Huai’an! I… I’m sorry, son. Don’t hold a grudge against your dad.”

Yun Jiuzhou didn’t look back. He just waved his hand in farewell.

In this lifetime, they would never meet again.

After Yun Jiuzhou left, Xu Huaiyu whispered, “Dad, you’re just letting him go like that? After raising him all these years, aren’t we losing out?”

Xu Mingshan glared at his younger son, sighing with some regret. “I was short-sighted. If I’d treated him a little better back then, everything would be different now. Well, at least he still remembers your big brother’s kindness. We haven’t completely burned that bridge. Let’s just leave it at that.”

Today, there was no choosing the menu—they’d cook whatever ingredients were left.

Zhong Zijun used up all the remaining wheat and corn flour at home to make mixed-grain steamed buns. Whatever wasn’t eaten today could be packed for tomorrow.

At noon, everyone had a simple meal.

After lunch, they started preparing dinner.

The cured fish was simply pan-fried. The air-dried wild pheasant was boiled until tender, then shredded by hand—fragrant and perfect with a drink.

There was also garlic shoots stir-fried with cured pork, green beans with sausage, a platter of assorted cured meats, pork stewed with vermicelli, and tomato-egg soup.

All simple dishes, nothing complicated.

That afternoon, Ji Linhai went to the cowshed to bring over Zhong Weiqian and his wife.

Lin Xiaomeng rushed over as soon as she returned from the county. She’d bought a red dress from the county department store as a farewell gift for Gu Qinghuan.

Gu Qinghuan had never worn such a bright color before, but when she tried it on, it looked surprisingly good.

Not just one person—everyone praised how well it suited her complexion, making her look vibrant, passionate, and radiant.

Yun Jiuzhou’s eyes never left her.

Gu Qinghuan hadn’t dressed up in a long time.

As a teacher, she always wore simple shirts and pants at school, not daring to stand out.

Wearing a dress suddenly felt a bit strange, so after trying it on, she changed back.

Chen Fengqin and her husband also came early to help. They brought a fish, and Gu Qinghuan decided on the spot to cook it as pickled fish stew.

Zhu Chunlin and Lin Shengnan also arrived early with their child to help out, and instantly, the little one became everyone’s favorite—everyone wanted a turn holding the baby.

Some cooked, some chatted and laughed, some played with the kids.

Dabao, Dacheng, Erdan, and Beibei played children’s games in the yard, their laughter ringing out from time to time.

The whole courtyard was filled with a relaxed, joyful atmosphere.

At 5:30, Xu Huaizhi rushed back after work.

When the two brothers met again, so much had changed.

Xu Huaizhi was filled with guilt, but couldn’t find the words, so he just stood awkwardly at the door.

Yun Jiuzhou greeted him as usual, “Big brother, come in! What are you standing there for?”

“Hey! Coming!”

Some things didn’t need to be said.

Dinner started right at six. Since it was still light out, Gu Qinghuan moved the tables into the courtyard so everyone could eat outside.

Two tables packed with people, lively and bustling.

For this last meal together, Gu Qinghuan even brought out a bottle of Moutai to liven things up—just two glasses each, enough to enjoy without overdoing it.

She still had three bottles left in her space, but hadn’t had time to sell them yet.

She’d already said goodbye to Lu Jianye and the old Mrs. Lu. This bottle was a parting gift from Lu Jianye.

Though their relationship had been one of mutual benefit, there was still some genuine feeling there.

As the sun set, the dinner drew to a close.

All good things must come to an end.

Life is a series of meetings and partings—coming together, saying goodbye, leaving the shore, returning again.

Gu Qinghuan hugged Lin Xiaomeng, Lin Shengnan, and Chen Fengqin one by one, saying a heartfelt farewell.

Though she appeared aloof, she was deeply sentimental inside.

In this era when letters were the only way to keep in touch, a goodbye could mean a lifetime apart.

This might be their last time seeing each other, so they had to say a proper farewell, so there would be no regrets.

“Through mountains and rivers, it’s been my fortune to know you. I wish you all your heart’s desires.”

“Goodbye.”

Xu Huaizhi and Yun Jiuzhou also hugged in farewell.

“Big brother, I wish you all the best. Let’s keep in touch!”

“Huai’an, I wish you a bright future.”

The adults could hide their sorrow, but the children could not.

The four kids clung to each other, crying their hearts out.

The adults saw in them a reflection of their own childhoods, and smiled through their tears.

Such is life—partings are inevitable, as long as you’ve enjoyed the time together.

They tidied up the house, checked everything they’d need to take tomorrow.

With hope for the future in their hearts, the couple drifted off to sleep.

—

The Great Northwest.

This summer, Zhong Ziyan and his wife Bai Jie had been sent to support land reclamation at the Nuomuhong Farm. They had no choice in the matter, so they just tried to get as much nutrition as possible and grit their teeth to endure.

The farm was like a natural prison. The laborers were all convicts sent from various places. The area was desolate, not even a village nearby.

All around the farm was nothing but Gobi and desert—complex terrain and dangerous wild animals.

Within a three-hundred-mile radius, the only place suitable for human habitation was this farm.

Without transportation or a guide, escape was nearly impossible. In the endless wasteland, not only was it hard for escapees to find food, they might even become food themselves.

The couple had only been here a week, but already felt like they’d shed a layer of skin. Bai Jie cut her hair short, put on filthy clothes, and disguised herself as a man to avoid attracting attention.

In this hellish place, even Zhong Ziyan’s physical strength couldn’t guarantee her safety.

Their daily food was just boiled green beans and potatoes.

They divided the beef jerky Gu Qinghuan had mailed earlier into many portions and hid them, taking out a little each day for protein and nutrition.

One day, they were sharing some jerky in a corner when, in a moment of carelessness, someone snatched it from Bai Jie’s hand.

The man was filthy, hair matted like a madman, his exposed skin covered in whip marks—he looked utterly wretched.

Zhong Ziyan leapt up to snatch it back, but the man stuffed the whole piece in his mouth and ran. He seemed to have a limp, so he wasn’t fast.

Bai Jie sighed, “Ziyan, let it go.”

The fleeing man suddenly turned back at her words, and locked eyes with Zhong Ziyan—both instantly recognized each other.

This filthy wretch was none other than Gu Yunchuan, whom Zhong Ziyan had once wished to grind to dust.

And Gu Yunchuan recognized Zhong Ziyan—his former brother-in-law, now his enemy.

A thousand thoughts flashed through Zhong Ziyan’s mind. He’d always thought that if he ever saw Gu Yunchuan again, he’d want to kill him.

But now, Gu Yunchuan had clearly received his punishment. If not for those eyes, he wouldn’t have recognized this man as the once-dashing, flirtatious scholar.

Forget it. Let it go.

Gu Yunchuan never expected to run into the brother-in-law he’d once hurt, right at the lowest point of his life.

He thought he was in for a beating, so he closed his eyes and waited. But after a long moment, no punches came.

He opened his eyes to see Zhong Ziyan and Bai Jie already twenty meters away.

A complicated, indescribable feeling welled up inside him—suppressed, painful…

“Zhong Ziyan, what do you mean by this! Even now, you still look down on me? If you’ve got the guts, kill me!” He really didn’t want to live anymore.

His only answer was the whistling wind of the northwest.

Zhong Ziyan and Bai Jie had already let go of the past and were looking ahead. Good news was on the horizon—they could afford to wait.

Besides, Zhong Zijun had also moved on. Why should they be trapped in the past? Qinghuan had written to say her sister had a good new suitor, things were going well. If she could let go, as her brother, so could he.

All past grudges were settled—time to start over.

Three days later.

The farm leaders found them and handed over a document.

Their official rehabilitation papers had arrived.

At last, after the clouds parted, they could see the moon.

They happily packed up to return to Beijing.

The others looked on with envy.

Before leaving, Gu Yunchuan came to find them again.

“Big brother, I’m sorry.” At last, he repented for his past mistakes.

Zhong Ziyan didn’t magnanimously say he forgave him. He’d decided to let go, but that didn’t mean forgiveness.

“Please, tell Zijun I’m sorry. Back then… I lost my mind. I’m sorry to her and the kids.” Gu Yunchuan gave a self-mocking smile. “I probably won’t make it back in this lifetime. I wish her and the children all the best.”

Without him as their father, they’d probably be happier.

“All right, I understand. Don’t worry, Zijun is doing well. She has a new boyfriend—he works on fighter jets, younger than her, never married, treats her and the kids very well.”

Gu Yunchuan was devastated.

“R-really? That’s… that’s great.”"