Chapter 1978 - 1978: 1978

Liu Zhizhong chuckled and said, "Chief of Staff Ruan, I didn't mean it that way! Rather, it's..."

Ruan Juhai shook his head regretfully, waved his hand, and said, "Zhongshui, you don't need to say anymore. I'm a soldier, even if I'm a bit rough, I can see it clearly."

"Uh..." Grandpa Lou was stunned for a moment and said, "Juhai, what can you see?"

"Actually, our President is somewhat smitten with that Princess Gu Yan from Great East Pot. The Princess herself seems to have some affection for the President, hehe..."

Ruan Juhai laughed self-deprecatingly, "Alas, my daughter's family background just isn't weighty enough! However, I can understand. If the President married the Princess from Great East Pot, it would surely promote the relations between our two countries. It's called self-sacrifice, or it might also be fulfilling oneself, and fulfilling our country!"

"Zhongshui's words are quite insightful. The marriage of the Chief of Staff's daughter to the President is a military-political union, which might spark gossip. In the past, I never considered these aspects. Indeed, Wale Republic cannot enter a new era of warlord dictatorship."

"So, Zhongshui marrying Gu Yan is rather sensible. Marrying my Ah-Yu poses some complications... We must talk politics, hehe, talk politics indeed..."

"Oh dear, Chief of Staff Ruan, my Uncle Juhai..."

Liu Zhizhong felt a bit embarrassed, quickly resorting to using intimate addresses.

"Alright Zhongshui, Brother Ah-gong, dinner is ready, and the soup is cooked. Let's not discuss these matters, but enjoy a good meal together. It's been a long time since we gathered together, hehe..."

With that, Ruan Juhai led the way with a cane. Liu Zhizhong and Grandpa Lou naturally followed, as they were somewhat hungry.

Grandpa Lou felt a bit lost, but Liu Zhizhong's considerations were correct, and Ruan Juhai expressed understanding too!

Within Liu Zhizhong's heart, he indeed felt conflicted, somewhat guilty.

He wanted to reunite with his wife to be spouses, openly and rightfully; yet he didn't want to let down Ruan Yu's feelings. Balancing both was very difficult.

Ruan Juhai had made remarkable contributions to Wale Republic's founding history. Their proactive proposal of marriage was considerable importance! However, to refute such a notion would indeed feel somewhat regrettable, alas...

Of course, nevertheless, this day's dinner was enjoyed happily.

After all, three old acquaintances from Chishui Village reunited, two elders and one young, having a meal together after a long time.

Sharing some wine together, reminiscing about the days in Chishui Village, viewing the current life in Wale, turned out to be quite pleasant.

People, after all, tend to reminisce about the past.

Comparing past and present times, life has become increasingly better, naturally making one cherish the present more through recalling the past.

Take Grandpa Lou, for instance, had Liu Zhizhong not led the revolution, he might still be a barefoot army doctor, tending to poor people's ailments, unable to earn unscrupulous money, and occasionally having to cover medical costs.

Ruan Yu would still be his apprentice, traversing through the rural villages and mountains, enduring significant hardship.

As for Ruan Juhai, no need to mention, he would still be a former military leader's son-in-law with a concealed identity, limping with one leg, struggling with farm work, being a burden to his daughter.

Worker Xingban would still be working, fishing, carrying debts for life, secretly pining for Ruan Yu.

Liu Zhizhong perhaps would have returned domestically, continuing to muddle through officialdom. To what extent he could thrive in it, no one could tell. Fortunately, having grand ambitions led to a revolution, becoming the President, hahaha...

The current happiness and great change made everything feel so hard-won, urging everyone to cherish it deeply.

Of course, sipping wine and chatting, Liu Zhizhong suddenly remembered something, and using his wine courage, he asked.

"Uncle Juhai, I noticed Ah-Yu's appearance and complexion doesn't seem to be typical of the Wale bloodline! Could it be that her mother or grandmother has a different origin?"

Liu Zhizhong spoke a fact.

Ruan Yu's skin differed from other Wale women's, as tropical ultraviolet rays subtly rendered a coppery complexion.

Ruan Yu's skin remained very pale and fair. Her facial features appeared extraordinarily delicate, exceptionally beautiful like a deity.

Even as Ruan Juhai had enough wine, he genuinely laughed and said, "Since you've asked, I'll tell you! Ah-Yu's grandmother wasn't a Huazhu here in Wale!"

"Oh?" Liu Zhizhong's curiosity was piqued.

Grandpa Lou also grinned, nodding, "Does that mean there's a story?"

Ruan Juhai said, "Yes, there is a story. Ah-Yu's grandmother was found by her grandfather during his travels in Southern Thailand."

"Found?!"

Liu Zhizhong and Grandpa Lou exclaimed in unison.

"Back then, Southern Thailand had a couple who had smuggled over from Great East Pot, with a sixteen-year-old daughter, who was Ah-Yu's grandmother."

"This couple didn't have identification and upon arriving in Southern Thailand, were robbed by gangsters. Resistance proved futile, and both were killed."

"My father-in-law was traveling with some followers, all armed. Seeing the daughter's plight, he intervened and eliminated the petty gang members. Subsequently, he took Ah-Yu's grandmother back to Wabei District."

"Later on, naturally, Ah-Yu's grandmother became one of my father-in-law's concubines, giving birth to Ah-Yu's mother."

"The grandmother only mentioned being from Great East Pot but didn't specify where. She also said she never wanted to return to Great East Pot."

"In a blink, you see, Ah-Yu is 21 years old now. Her mother was also 21 when she gave birth to her! It's been almost forty or fifty years... haha..."

Liu Zhizhong listened and felt relieved, nodding, "Forty or fifty years ago, Great East Pot was still impoverished and backward. It was common for nationals to smuggle away. If trying to trace her roots, it's bound to be difficult."

"Yes, it would indeed be somewhat challenging. However, both Ah-Yu and I have reconciled these thoughts. Life always has hardships; regardless of past generations, our current generation is quite well off, devoid of much pressure to pursue bloodline origins."

Ruan Juhai spoke, then recalled something, adding, "To truly trace Ah-Yu's grandmother's homeland might involve some secret matters!"

"Why is that?"

"Because my father-in-law said, those parents of Ah-Yu's grandmother didn't appear ordinary. They also possessed firearms and were exceptionally skilled shooters. Two individuals took out more than twenty armed gang members. At their death, the father told Ah-Yu's grandmother never to contemplate returning, as returning meant death!"

Ruan Juhai spoke seriously, shocking both Liu Zhizhong and Grandpa Lou.

Liu Zhizhong said, "Could it be they were notable figures in Great East Pot? But why smuggle?"

Ruan Juhai said, "Perhaps they offended someone they couldn't afford to in Great East Pot. According to my father-in-law, the guns used by that couple were those belonging to an army colonel in Great East Pot at that time!"