I emptied my family's possessions to join the army, and my abstinent superior doted on me.

Chapter 105 Qiao Zhengshan Arrives

The three people turned around at the sound; it was Uncle Gu and a soldier.

"Uncle Gu, Dad, why are you two together?"

Qiao Muting's tone of voice was clearly completely different when he addressed the two of them.

He hadn't uttered that word for so many years, and when he suddenly tried to call it out, he felt as if all the parts of his mouth wouldn't cooperate.

"Dad"—this word is so cheesy, so awkward to say, and so uncomfortable to hear.

“I was on a business trip and passed through Los Angeles. I was thinking that Han Chuan’s wedding was coming up soon, and your mother and grandmother were in Xinshi. So I took a detour and invited your father along as well.”

Gu Weijia, with a kind face, smiled at Qian Lai: "I really didn't expect that you would have such a connection with our family."

"Uncle Gu, let me introduce you."

Qiao Muting was still too shy to call him "Dad," and when introducing him, he only mentioned him briefly.

"Old Joe, it's been years since you've seen Mu Ting? You must be so proud to have such a son!"

Gu Wei's family has only one daughter, whom they cherish like a precious jewel. Among the younger generation of the Gu family, Gu Hanchuan is outstanding but has a cold personality; Hanze is too young and is still an innocent child, but fortunately, he is kind.

The eldest brother's two sons have become mercenary; although they are smooth, their character is hard to judge.

The fifth son, Hanfeng, is just like his parents—petty, even more so, sharp-tongued and mean-spirited.

He had only ever liked this son of the Qiao family since he was a child.

He is handsome, kind-hearted, and has top-notch professional skills.

Unfortunately, this father was somewhat negligent, constantly beating and scolding his child, treating a four- or five-year-old like a greenhorn.

Tsk tsk! He couldn't accept it even if he heard it, let alone a child.

These days, it's rare to see the father and son meet, and they're indeed more estranged than strangers.

"So, Old Joe? My car's right outside. Are you coming with me, or going back to the military region with your son?"

The father and son looked at each other, both hesitant.

"Uncle Gu, are you going back to the city?" Qian Lai broke the ice first. She could see that there was a deep rift between Qiao Muting and his father, and wanted to create an opportunity for them to get closer, so she said, "I live in the city now. Can we hitch a ride back to the city with you?"

"no problem!"

Gu Weijia readily agreed.

Qiao Muting was quite surprised and tugged at Qian Lai's hand.

She leaned closer and whispered, "It's been a long time. Talk to your dad more. He can't beat you now!"

Several people walked together towards the outside of the station.

Gu Weijia had the driver change cars and personally drove Qian Lai and her two daughters to tour the new city.

Have you been to Xinshi before?

Liu Huiru sat in the passenger seat, her mood just as it had been when Qian Lai first arrived.

All my knowledge of this era comes from TV dramas and novels.

Seeing it with my own eyes now feels both novel and familiar.

"No. This is the first time. Xinshi truly lives up to its reputation as the largest city in the south; it's far more prosperous than our Nancheng."

Flower beds celebrating National Day have been set up on both sides of the street, and the festive atmosphere is everywhere.

Qian Lai suddenly thought of Xiao Fan, wondering what the arrangements were. Xiao Fan and Fatty Wang couldn't cause any more trouble during the National Day holiday.

"You haven't met Mu Ting's mother yet, have you?"

Gu Weijia, who rarely speaks, became unusually enthusiastic and talkative today for some reason.

"He is a person who loves children very much. Although we haven't met many times, you can rest assured that you will have a comfortable relationship with this in-law."

How did we get onto the topic of in-laws?

Liu Heqing glanced at Qian Lai furtively, smiling without saying a word.

Liu Huiru had just seen Qiao Muting's father, and couldn't help but feel some resistance.

She had only ever seen people with an iron-faced expression in novels before, and she thought it was an artistic creation.

Surprisingly, in reality, there are people whose facial features are stiff and motionless, unable to make even the slightest expression.

"They look unapproachable." "Well, the child's father and mother have quite complementary personalities," Liu Huiru said, unsure how to comment.

"Hahaha," Gu Weijia found the woman's words amusing. "It's alright, just say it directly, they're incompatible. Sigh, it's really too painful for two people with incompatible personalities to be tied together for life."

It's better to be like me, all alone, enjoying my freedom.

"Uncle Gu, haven't you found anyone you like all these years? After all, Sister Shanshan already has her own little family."

Qian Lai had always wanted to ask this.

Gu Weijia paused for a moment, then replied, "If you meet someone you're compatible with, of course you'll want to be together without even thinking about it."

But if choosing a suitable person to be with is for the sake of marriage, then it's better to be single and free. Focusing entirely on work means there are no worries.

The four of them, chatting and laughing, drove into the vicinity of the medical university.

Gu Weijia did not intend to drive directly into the medical university; instead, he took them to the State Guest Hotel.

"Since this is your first time in Xinshi, you must try our most famous Guobin Hotel. Come on, I'll treat you to a meal and show your in-laws the hospitality of a good host."

On the other side, Qiao Muting and Qiao Zhengshan remained silent the entire way.

As they were about to enter the military region, Qiao Zhengshan awkwardly asked, "Your mother, is she in good health?"

"Ah."

"Your work is going well, isn't it?"

"Ah."

"That girl"

Qiao Muting turned to look at him.

"Good."

He breathed a sigh of relief and turned back.

"I heard you adopted two children?"

"Ah."

"Can you take care of children?"

For a long time, Qiao Muting remained silent.

Just as Qiao Zhengshan was trying to find another topic, he continued, "No one is born knowing how to take care of children. But as long as someone truly loves children, they wouldn't intentionally hurt them, would they?"

At least, I won't treat my child like a soldier, nor will I deliberately find fault with him to make mistakes and then whip him with a belt.

Then tell him that this is to make him remember so that he won't do it again.

They certainly wouldn't believe that hitting or scolding children is for their own good.

I will not vent my frustrations on my children.

I don't know if this counts as knowing how to take care of a child!

Qiao Zhengshan swallowed hard.

He knew that every word his son spoke reflected his own mistakes.

He really went too far when he was young.

What does her own emotional hurt and being bound to love by her family have to do with the weak and innocent Qiao Muting?

Why didn't you realize this at the time? Why did you insist on using the child as a bargaining chip in your game with Cheng Fang'an, leaving the child battered and bruised?

He also had moments of heartache, but they were fleeting.

Indeed, there is a huge difference between biological children and those born to one's parents.

"Mu Ting, Dad was too strict with you before."

This was probably the softest tone Qiao Zhengshan could muster.

Qiao Muting had imagined countless times that one day his father would grow old, be bedridden and unable to move, or, on his deathbed, offer a sincere confession to him and his mother.

He will not choose to forgive!

Every scar on my body is like a mark engraved on my heart.

May he never forget: Fatherly love is like a mountain, causing the mountain to collapse, the earth to split, the house to crumble, and the pain to be shattered to pieces!