News from Taiwan

Chapter 79 Mother's Teachings
Emerging from the oppressive, cold smell of disinfectant in the hospital, Jiang Guier remained in a heavy mood the entire way.

"Don't think too much about it. When you see your mother, have a good talk with her." Shen Huaizhou felt a little sorry for Jiang Guier when he saw her frowning.

"Mmm, I know." Jiang Guier nodded perfunctorily.

Shen Huaizhou didn't say anything more. He drove quietly, and only after arriving at Jiang Yun's company did he speak, "I'll wait for you downstairs."

"No, no, I don't know how long I'll be gone, you should go home first."

"It's alright, I'll see how it goes." Shen Huaizhou didn't say much, and pushed Jiang Guier into the elevator. Once upstairs, Jiang Guier followed the secretary into her mother's office. The office was filled with a faint aroma of tea and incense, a stark contrast to the awkward confrontation in the hospital corridor, which made Jiang Guier's tense emotions relax slightly.

Nestled on the sofa, staring at the ceiling, she couldn't help but think that she had always believed herself to be a savior. Whether it was going to Taiwan or finding her great-grandfather, she knew her grandmother would be unhappy, but she still clung to a sliver of hope, thinking that taking her great-grandfather to see her great-grandmother would fulfill her filial duty and resolve her regrets. But in the end, she had only torn open her grandmother's lifelong scabbed wounds, bringing the already tense family conflicts to the forefront. It was a difficult situation...

Jiang Yun pushed open the door and saw her with her brows furrowed.

"You're back?" Jiang Yun's voice was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger. She walked over, sat down in a chair, and began to handle her work methodically.

Jiang Guier, with her shoulders drooping, responded softly, "Mom."

"I know about the hospital."

"How did you know! I just got here." Jiang Guier was puzzled. She came straight here after leaving the hospital without wasting a second.

“This is an information society. You don’t need to come in person to discuss something.” Jiang Yun’s tone was sarcastic as she calmly looked at her daughter’s face. Her daughter’s silly appearance was truly exasperating. She didn’t scold her, but her expression was serious and left no room for argument. “You took Wu Wenhao directly to the ward without informing anyone beforehand or considering your grandmother’s feelings, didn’t you?”

A soft question made Jiang Guier lower her eyes instantly, her nose tingling slightly. She nodded gently and honestly told the whole story: "Grandpa... was so anxious that he lost his composure and insisted on rushing to the hospital immediately. I thought that he had cared for Grandma for half his life and shouldn't be unable to see his closest relative one last time, so I thought I would take him to try my luck, maybe Grandma would agree."

Her voice grew softer and softer, her confidence waning: "But I didn't expect my grandmother to react so strongly. She refused to accept it at all, wouldn't let him come near the ward, and said a lot of very harsh things."

Jiang Yun listened quietly, her fingertips gently tracing the edge of the paper, her eyes showing no surprise whatsoever.

She knows her daughter well; she has grown, but not much.

“It’s not that you didn’t expect it, it’s that you didn’t anticipate the consequences at all.” Jiang Yun leaned back in her chair, her body slightly reclined, and her tone became serious as she relaxed. “Gui’er, you are too young, too eager for perfection, and too convinced that true feelings can withstand the erosion of time. But you’ve forgotten that all of your grandmother’s obsessions, sharpness, and lack of dignity throughout her life were forced out by the passage of time.”

"She endured the hardest years by taking care of her elderly mother and supporting her empty home. No one shared her burdens, no one provided for her. For so many years, she has survived and supported this family by suppressing her resentment. You rashly brought Wu Wenhao to her, forcing her to confront her most unwanted past at the most vulnerable and tense moment. This is not fulfilling her wishes, but coercing her."

Jiang Yun saw things clearly; she had anticipated all the circumstances. Her mother was stubborn and inflexible, and for many years she had been in a weaker position in her relationship with her mother, unwilling to say much. Her mother's personality had its flaws, but in that era, it was precisely this personality that allowed them to survive.

"What you perceive as kindness and consideration is actually making unreasonable demands." Looking at the confusion and frustration in her daughter's eyes, she continued to analyze slowly, "Your grandmother's reaction was never harsh; it was instinct. The dignity, grievances, and perseverance she valued most in her life have all been shattered by your rash actions this time. The current stalemate, with one person stubbornly blocking the way and the other waiting patiently day after day, is an inevitable outcome."

Jiang Yun shrugged. "No solution."

Jiang Guier was stunned at this moment and finally realized that her enthusiasm was ultimately too naive and too self-righteous.

She wanted to resolve everyone's regrets, but she overlooked the fact that her grandmother was also the most innocent and hurt person in this turbulent time.

"I...I didn't know it would turn out like this." Jiang Guier's voice was hoarse, her eyes glistening with tears, filled with helplessness and confusion. "I just wanted Grandma to see Grandpa."

She had never felt so powerless.

Her search for her family was fraught with difficulties. She crossed the strait, investigated past events, and endured confusion, but ultimately she was stuck in the most unsolvable emotional knot, caught in a dilemma, helpless and at a loss. The office quieted down, the aroma of tea wafting through the air, but it couldn't suppress the deep melancholy in her heart.

Just when Jiang Guier thought her mother would continue to criticize her and teach her how to handle the family stalemate, Jiang Yun suddenly changed the subject, putting away her previous seriousness and softening her tone, abruptly changing the style: "Let's not talk about family matters for now. How was your trip to Taiwan? Did you encounter any difficulties along the way?"

The sudden concern startled Jiang Guier slightly. Her mind was still on the setbacks in the family affairs. She nodded absently, "It went quite smoothly. We found a lot of clues and thoroughly figured out the truth about why my great-grandfather was trapped in Taiwan and unable to return home. All the misunderstandings have been basically cleared up."

She deliberately simplified the entire process, glossing over the twists and turns along the way, and subconsciously avoiding mentioning all of Shen Huaizhou's sacrifices. She never mentioned that he turned down a big order, mortgaged his studio to accompany her to Taiwan, never mentioned that he protected her along the way, investigated all the risks for her, never mentioned that he stayed up all night to investigate clues, and made all the sacrifices for her.

She harbored a hint of girlish awkwardness and shyness deep down.

The two had just argued about the concepts of giving versus owing, independence versus being bound. She didn't want to mention his sacrifices again and feel guilty, nor did she want to openly admit to her mother that she had been repeatedly favored and protected by Shen Huaizhou.

But the fleeting glint in her eyes, her deliberately indifferent tone, and her evasive wording had already revealed her true thoughts.

Jiang Yun looked at her feigned composure, her eyes darkening slightly. She smiled knowingly and cut to the chase, saying directly, "Your journey has been so smooth, didn't Shen Huaizhou help you?"

“Yes… Ah!” Jiang Guier’s heart skipped a beat. She instinctively avoided her mother’s gaze and turned to look out the window. “The journey is just a normal trip, nothing troublesome. I can handle it myself. By the way, Mom, how should we resolve the stalemate between Grandma and Great-Grandpa? We can’t let them stay like this forever…”

She was eager to change the subject, her tone revealing obvious panic, and the unspoken worries and embarrassment of a young girl were laid bare.

Seeing her daughter's deliberate avoidance and awkwardness, a hint of disappointment flashed in Jiang Yun's eyes. It wasn't that she couldn't understand her daughter's shyness, but she just didn't want her daughter to be so conflicted.

"Jiang Guier".

Jiang Yun put away her gentleness and straightened her tone again, "I'm not going to talk to you about family matters today, I'm going to talk to you about feelings."

"No need... We can say this anytime..." Jiang Guier was very resistant.

“I never interfere with your choices in relationships, nor will I force you to date or settle down. This is out of respect for you. Compared to these things, I would prefer you to read more books.” Jiang Yun looked directly at her with a frank gaze, her words clear and insightful. “But I hope you remember that a truly independent woman is not only economically and personally independent, but also able to take things in stride and let them go in relationships, openly and gracefully.”

"Don't deliberately avoid or try to make up for the kindness others show you, and don't hide it or act coy. It's a blessing if someone favors you and helps you; just accept it openly and thank them sincerely. If you feel indebted, then reciprocate in kind and get along well without hiding or feeling awkward."

Looking at her daughter's reddened ears and awkward movements, she continued to gently advise, "The way you are now, hiding things, afraid of owing favors, afraid of getting emotional, afraid of not being able to explain yourself, is actually a bad thing. The worst thing in a relationship is to be coy and ambiguous. Whether it's liking someone or being grateful, these are all open emotions, not things you have to hide."

"No way! Mom, you can't just criticize me. You and Dad were also... a mess." Jiang Guier refused to admit defeat and started talking about her parents' past. "My dad always said that you didn't love him and were super cold, but you said that he was incompetent, irresponsible, and immature."

Jiang Yun wasn't angry; instead, she laughed. "That's a matter of how you get along, and it's not the same as what I'm telling you now. You need to remember that being able to take a relationship seriously means knowing how to cherish kindness; being able to let go means being able to stay true to yourself."

Jiang Yun's tone was calm, "Don't reject all kindness out of fear of indebtedness, and don't let your feelings make you anxious and conflicted. You are an independent individual, and so is he. Your mutual support is fate, not a burden. The most clear-headed approach is to openly acknowledge the other person's contributions and honestly face your own feelings. Do you hear me?"

"Oh... I understand." Jiang Guier's cheeks flushed as her mother spoke, and her awkwardness and shyness became unmistakable.

She lowered her head, clutching the hem of her clothes, her eyes filled with embarrassment. She had to admit that she had indeed been acting awkwardly.

Seeing her daughter's downcast and embarrassed demeanor, completely like a little girl, Jiang Yun sighed softly. The disappointment in her eyes gradually faded, leaving only gentle understanding. She understood all too well the feelings of a young girl—naive, awkward, sincere, and exceptionally clumsy.

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