The Vicious Ex-Wife Stripped Me Bare, and Now the Commander Is Seeing Red Every Day - Chapter 17

Mother Gu’s expression shifted instantly. “No, that won’t do. It can’t be discovered by others; we can’t implicate you two.”

As she spoke, she turned toward Lin Ning. “Ningning, don’t worry. Even without a little notebook or our signatures and thumbprints, everything you’ve done for Xiao Yan and our Gu family is etched in our hearts; we will never forget it. In the future, no matter what happens, we will compensate you and give you the very best of everything.”

At this moment, Mother Gu had forgotten that just a moment ago she thought this was merely flirtation between the two youngsters. In just a few sentences’ time, she had become the guarantor!

Lin Ning looked at Mother Gu with a faint smile. “What are you saying! I was joking with Gu Yan. We’re all one family; there’s no need to talk about compensation.”

There was nothing wrong with these words, but for the first time, Mother Gu felt they didn’t sound quite right.

It sounded like polite social pleasantries. Why would family members exchange polite pleasantries?

Thus, Mother Gu grabbed Lin Ning’s hand with great seriousness, speaking almost as if taking an oath: “Ningning, Mom isn’t joking. Mom means that you deserve it. Although our family has fallen on hard times now, you know the specifics of our situation. Mom promises we will definitely not mistreat you. Do you believe Mom?”

She looked at her with such burning intensity that Lin Ning didn’t dare shake her head.

“I believe you. Of course I believe you!” Lin Ning acted as if she had been cornered into a corner, nodding to put her at ease.

But Mother Gu seemed to have one more request, her gaze still hopeful and scorching: “Then call me ‘Mom’ once.”

Ever since the family’s downfall and the two children’s divorce, she had never called them “Dad” or “Mom” again!

This was what weighed most heavily on her mind.

As soon as Mother Gu spoke, both Gu Yan and Gu Rou were stunned, raising their eyes to look at Lin Ning!

Lin Ning was also stunned. How did the topic suddenly shift to this?

However, she didn’t hesitate. With a slight curl of her lips, she smiled and called out: “Mom.”

Mother Gu’s eyes turned red instantly; she was incredibly moved!

Then she pulled her over to Father Gu. “Call your Dad, too.”

Lin Ning felt like a newlywed being forced to address her in-laws. “Dad.”

Is the ‘change-of-address’ fee coming next?

Just like Mother Gu, hearing that “Dad” allowed Father Gu’s heart to finally settle in his chest.

“Ah, ah, good child. It’s really been hard on you.” Although Father Gu’s eyes didn’t turn red like Mother Gu’s, the expression on his face relaxed significantly.

Lin Ning watched the change in the two elders’ expressions. It was clearly just an address!

Fine, she’d just treat it as humoring children.

Old children!

Turning her head, her gaze landed on Gu Yan. She didn’t know what he was thinking; his face remained expressionless.

What? Did Gu Rou not tell him the canned meat belonged to his “White Moonlight”?

That shouldn’t be right!

With Gu Yan’s personality, how could he not ask?

And if he asked, could Gu Rou not tell him?

If she told him, why was there no reaction at all?

She really wanted to see how the male lead would react upon learning the female lead was also in this village. She was looking forward to the scene of their first meeting.

And yet, this was it?

Could he be on guard against her, the “wicked ex-wife”?

Not likely, not likely. She, the “wicked ex-wife,” was now just an “ex-wife”!

But she didn’t dare say directly: “I’m here to help you two, not break you apart.”

Forget it, forget it. She’d better stick to hints!

“Rourou, leave the canned meat and eggs. It’s time for us to go back.”

Having said that, she turned to Father and Mother Gu: “We start work tomorrow. You and Mom will likely be assigned tasks as well. The village will distribute some grain to you; you can cook for yourselves…”

Before she could finish, Mother Gu interrupted her. “Right, right, right! We can earn our own grain now. Keep your grain for yourselves; you don’t need to deliver any more to us!”

Lin Ning smiled upon hearing this. “Mom, that’s not what I meant. I mean that since you can cook for yourselves, we won’t cook the meals and deliver them. Tomorrow, we’ll see what grain the village gives you, and we’ll also send some over to you. Mix it together and eat slowly; that way it’s less likely to be discovered.”

Father Gu felt that Lin Ning’s consideration was very thorough. He nodded, approving of her words: “Fine, we’ll do as Ningning says.”

Once everything that needed to be said was said, Lin Ning and Gu Rou headed back.

Just after they left, Father and Mother Gu sat down around Gu Yan, staring at him.

Gu Yan felt his skin crawl under the elders’ gaze. “Dad, Mom, if you have something to say, say it directly.”

Mother Gu spoke first: “Every time Ningning comes, can’t you say a few more words to her? Why are you talking to your sister for no reason? Didn’t you see that Ningning was angry?”

Gu Yan was utterly confused by the interrogation. “When was she angry?”

Mother Gu had a look of “hating that iron couldn’t turn into steel.” “She stopped calling your father and me ‘Dad’ and ‘Mom’—did you not notice?”

Gu Yan had noticed long ago, but… “Is it possible that because we are already divorced, she stopped calling you that?”

Mother Gu waved a hand, telling him firmly: “Your father and I don’t recognize this divorce. You also promised us that you wouldn’t have any fickle thoughts and wouldn’t fail Ningning—don’t you forget it!”

Gu Yan: “I haven’t forgotten, but this seems to be Lin Ning’s choice.”

Mother Gu interrupted him. “Her choice was to follow you to this ghostly place. Her choice was to take risks to care for you. Her choice was to still open her mouth and call us ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad’.”

Having said that, Mother Gu sighed. “Xiao Yan! Sometimes you can’t just look at the surface; you have to look through the surface to see her true heart. I don’t believe you’re truly this cold-hearted. Everything Ningning has done for you—are you not moved at all?”

Gu Yan was caught by her question.

Moved?

Naturally, he was moved.

Furthermore, he was not cold-hearted at all.

Just as he was wondering whether to answer her question, Mother Gu directly picked up the unopened can of meat. “Whose is this canned meat? Ningning didn’t notice just now, but I did. You asked Rou many questions about this canned meat. Now I want to ask you: that new educated youth, Ye Shiyu—do you know her?”

By the end, Mother Gu’s expression could be described as fierce.

As if if he said a single word wrong, she would immediately perform a “righteous execution of a relative.”

Gu Yan frowned upon hearing this. “Mom, how do you know about Ye Shiyu?”

He didn’t answer directly; instead, he asked her back.

Mother Gu suppressed the fire rising in her heart. Just as she was about to speak, Father Gu, sitting nearby, spoke: “I told your mother. Today at the village entrance, I recognized Ye Shiyu among the educated youths. She should be Regimental Commander Lu’s niece, right?”

Seeing that Father Gu had recognized her, Gu Yan didn’t intend to hide it. He nodded. “It’s her.”

Mother Gu’s temper could no longer be suppressed. “It really is her! I’m telling you, Gu Yan, your wife can only be Lin Ning. What ‘Comrade Ye,’ what ‘Commander’s niece’—if you dare to wrong Ningning, you… you would have been better off dying in battle back then!”

Within one hour, he had heard the words “died in battle” twice. Gu Yan lowered his eyes to look at his wound-covered body.

Perhaps he really should have died on the battlefield along with his comrades back then.