Chapter 14
Wang Maoxiu wasn't the eldest son in his family. His eldest brother was more than ten years older and had some business acumen. Their family was in the catering business, and his eldest brother had already been involved in its operations. Judging from the elders' wishes, the family business would be handed over to his eldest brother.
With an heir, if he wanted to achieve something and stand out, he could only rely on himself. As a second-generation rich kid, he naturally had some investments. Now he had a project he wasn't sure about and wanted to consult Gu Shi. Ideally, get his investment too.
So the three men went downstairs to the study to discuss matters.
Luo Zhengzheng stayed in the living room to entertain Zhang Xuan and Su Mengrou.
As for Chengjia and Xingyue, the two little ones, they were taken to the children's playroom by Nanny Wang and Xiao Zhang to play games.
Zhang Xuan smiled at Luo Zhengzheng and said, "I've always wanted to get to know you, but I've never had the chance."
Luo Zhengzheng poured them a cup of herbal tea: "Now that we're acquainted, let's meet up sometime."
Zhang Xuan took out her phone: "Want to add each other on QQ?"
"Sure!" Luo Zhengzheng also took out her phone, and the three of them added each other on QQ.
Su Mengrou was rather shy. She had been observing Luo Zhengzheng and Zhang Xuan, and only after seeing that they didn't seem to exclude her did she relax and whisper to them, "What do you do at home every day? I want to go out and work, but I don't know what to do."
Actually, Wang Maoxiu didn't agree to her going out to work, but she wasn't familiar with Luo Zhengzheng and Zhang Xuan, so she couldn't tell them the truth.
Luo Zhengzheng pointed to her phone and said, "I just got back from Yunnan a few days ago. After returning, I took care of the kids and downloaded a few novels online. I've been reading them these past few days."
Su Mengrou looked at her in surprise: "You like reading novels too? I like reading novels too! What novels are you reading?"
Luo Zhengzheng smiled and said, "A few days ago I found a novel called 'Home and Country'. That's really good. I've been reading it these past few days."
Su Mengrou exclaimed excitedly, "Ah, I'm reading that novel too! I follow the updates every day. I even joined the author's group. But now the novel is finished, the author said in the group that someone wants to buy the film and television rights and he's still hesitating." She became quite talkative when talking about her hobbies.
Luo Zhengzheng was unaware of all this. She had only discovered the novel by chance and hadn't paid attention to who the author was. In her previous life, with the internet so readily available, she had followed some entertainment news and knew about several popular TV shows and movies. She didn't know if this novel had been adapted into a film or television series, and even if it had, she figured it would have made very little splash and not attracted much attention; otherwise, she would have known about it.
Speaking of the novel, Su Mengrou couldn't stop talking: "I like both the male and female leads. Although the ending is open-ended, I still hope they didn't end up together. After all, a life was lost between them, and they were originally on opposing sides, each serving their own master. Although the female lead put aside their hatred for the sake of the people and for the sake of justice, I still don't want them to be together."
[The opening of *Home and Country* was set in the late Liang Dynasty. The land was desolate, littered with the corpses of the starving. Small groups of emaciated refugees wandered aimlessly, trying to find something to eat.
The male and female leads were among these refugees. The female lead's dad was once saved by the male lead's father, and even though he later starved to death. The female lead's mother remained deeply grateful to the male lead's family, repeatedly offering them her own food. Although the female lead was reluctant, remembering they were her father's saviors, she restrained herself and gave them her provisions. One day, when the female protagonist found some dry rations for her sick younger sister, her mother went behind her back and gave the rations to the also ailing male protagonist with tears in eyes and helplessly watched the younger sister starve to death.
The female protagonist erupted in anger. One life for one life, they no longer owed the male lead's family.
After several twists and turns, the male and female leads joined different factions, serving different masters.
Though militarily capable, the female lead's master was cruel and ruthless, treating the people like cattle.
However, the male lead's master was eager to recruit talent, cared for the people, and was also militarily capable, showing signs of a wise ruler.
The female lead's feelings towards the male lead were complex. On opposing sides, each serving their own master, they clashed several times. In their final battle, when the female lead's master once again shielded a subordinate's bullet, she personally killed her master.
Later, the master the male lead served declared himself emperor, and the female lead went into seclusion.
[In the extra chapter, the male lead was injured in battle against the Tatars. Just as the enemy army was at the city gates, the female lead's reinforcements arrive.]
The author's writing style was refined and skillful, the plot twists and turns were frequent, and both the main and supporting characters were well-developed. Luo Zhengzheng was captivated after only a few chapters and was currently only halfway through. She wondered if the male and female leads end up together.
Luo Zhengzheng said, "By the end of this novel, whether the male and female leads end up together is no longer important. The female lead's character and sense of justice have already won over the readers."
Su Mengrou frowned, "I wonder how it will turn out in a TV series. If the adaptation is bad, it will ruin the novel."
Zhang Xuan joked, "If you're worried about others adapting it badly, why don't you invest yourself?"
Su Mengrou's eyes lit up, but then she said dejectedly, "I don't have any money."
Zhang Xuan pointed to the study, teasing her, "Have your Wang Maoxiu, invest."
Su Mengrou shook her head vigorously, "He has a project right now and is still looking for investment."
Reading novels was just a hobby for her. Even if a novel was adapted into a terrible film, she could only murmur a few words about it; she wouldn't let a novel interfere with her fiancé's career.
Luo Zhengzheng recalled the two popular TV dramas adapted from popular IPs that Su Zhilan starred in during her past life, both of which became hits. She had roughly read those two novels; they were just ordinary historical romance dramas, nothing like this novel. This novel had themes of national righteousness, family, and love.
In the face of millions of suffering people, the female lead set aside her prejudices and killed the master she had always served, elevating the entire novel.
She didn't understand why the TV adaptation hadn't made much of a splash. Was it, as Su Mengrou worried, that the novel had been poorly adapted?
The three of them chatted from the novel to children, then from children to their respective husbands and fiancés, and finally to clothing and fashion. They were having a very pleasant conversation. When Gu Shi and the others came out of the study, they were still whispering and laughing.
Wang Maoxiu plopped down next to Su Mengrou: "What are you talking about, so happily?"
Su Mengrou blushed and looked at him: "Don't ask about our affairs."
Wang Maoxiu raised his hands in surrender: "Okay, okay, I won't ask."
Gu Shi was somewhat surprised that his wife could chat so easily with Zhou Chen's wife and Wang Maoxiu's fiancée. He had always thought Luo Zhengzheng was introverted. Despite the recent change, she wasn't the type to enjoy making friends. He was surprised and delighted that he had misjudged her, feeling he had discovered another side of his wife.
Lunch was naturally lavish. After lunch, the three men went to the study to discuss business.
Zhang Xuan glanced at their backs and asked Luo Zhengzheng: "Is Aunt Ye home? It's been a long time since I visited her."
Luo Zhengzheng replied: "She's home."
Zhang Xuan stood up: "Let's go see Aunt Ye."
It wouldn't be appropriate to come to the Gu Family and not visit the elders.
The group, along with the children, went to Ye Li's place.
Upon arriving at the Ye family home, Luo Zhengzheng discovered that Gu Hualuo and Su Zhilan were already there.
As guests, Luo Zhengzheng greeted them with a smile, "Elder Sister, Miss Su, you've arrived."
Su Zhilan looked at her and nodded with a smile.
Gu Hualuo gave Luo Zhengzheng a critical look: "This is my home. I can come and go as I please." A country girl married into the Gu Family, yet she acted like a mistress.
Luo Zhengzheng smiled but didn't respond.
Zhang Xuan and Su Mengrou exchanged awkward glances. Had they arrived at the wrong time?
Zhang Xuan had always known that Gu Hualuo and Aunt Ye didn't get along, but she hadn't expected them to be this tense. She was somewhat taken aback. Aunt Ye was so kind; she hadn't mistreated the siblings. The Ye Group seemed to have more potential than the Gu Group and wouldn't compete with them for anything. What was Gu Hualuo after?
Zhang Xuan quickly said, "Aunt Ye, I heard you have many flowers in your yard. May we go see them?"
Ye Li smiled and said, "Of course." She then had someone lead them to the garden to see the flowers.
Watching them go to the garden, Ye Li smiled and said, "Zhengzheng, come sit down."
She then took her grandson into her arms. Luo Zhengzheng was her daughter-in-law and Ye Li naturally wouldn't stand by and watch outsiders bully her.
Gu Hualuo's face turned somewhat pale. Su Zhilan patted her hand reassuringly, signaling her to be mindful of the situation.
Gu Hualuo glanced at her, indicating that everything was alright.
With Gu Hualuo present, Luo Zhengzheng naturally didn't rush to the garden to accompany Zhang Xuan and Su Mengrou. Instead, she stayed here to keep mother-in-law company, not wanting her to be isolated and helpless. She looked at Ye Li and asked, "Mom, Uncle Wang and the others are marinating barbecue ingredients. Come over for barbecue tonight?"
Ye Li naturally gave her daughter-in-law face: "Sure, tell your Uncle Wang to prepare more ingredients. We'll all go. Your dad can't eat spicy food, so make him something mild."
At this time, Gu Boyuan came downstairs: "I can eat a little spice."
Luo Zhengzheng smiled at Ye Li: "I'll listen to Mom."
Gu Boyuan: "You silly child, why listen to your mom in everything?"
Luo Zhengzheng smiled sweetly, "Mom is doing this for your own good."
Gu Hualuo was furious to see her dad treating Luo Zhengzheng more kindly than he treated her. Remembering the purpose of her visit to her parents' home, she said, "Dad, what's your opinion on Zheng Weiming's proposal?"
Gu Boyuan gave her a stern look, "This matter ends here."
Seeing that he still disagreed, Gu Hualuo couldn't help but stomp her foot, "Dad..."
Gu Boyuan waved his hand, "It's alright, just go back. Don't come back unless it's absolutely necessary."
He didn't want to say anything too harsh in front of so many people. But Hualuo was pressuring him in front of everyone; wasn't she forcing him? She had no regard for their father-daughter relationship.
Gu Hualuo looked at her dad in disbelief: "Dad, are you kicking me out?"
Gu Boyuan looked at her sternly: "If you continue with this attitude, then I'm kicking you out. You're married now. Since you only care about the Zheng Family and neglect your own family, you should come back less often."
He was helpless and pained that his daughter had become his enemy. As the head of a company, he had to be responsible for his employees and couldn't just invest in a project that was destined to have no return. Was Gu Hualuo treating him, her father, like a fool, or did she think that because he was her dad, he should give in to her every whim, or else he was a stepfather?
Her dad had already said this much, Gu Hualuo couldn't stay any longer. She grabbed her bag and was about to leave when Su Zhilan tugged at her arm and looked at Luo Zhengzheng.
Gu Hualuo glanced at Su Zhilan, then at Luo Zhengzheng. She squinted as she asked, "You're treating people, so why not invite me too? What, am I, your elder sister-in-law, not worthy of your invitation?"
Luo Zhengzheng, seeing her arrogant demeanor, smiled and said, "Not really. It's just that we have guests at home and don't have time to entertain you."
No time to entertain her? Gu Hualuo laughed in exasperation, looking at her father, "Dad, now even an outsider can belittle me?"
Gu Boyuan waved his hand dismissively, "Alright, go ahead. Zhengzheng is Gu Shi's wife, the Gu Family's daughter-in-law, not an outsider."
Ye Li, holding her grandson, pinched his little cheek, "The mother of our Ye Group's heir, the wife of the Ye Group's president, is not an outsider. Not everyone can compare. Isn't that right, little Jiajia?"
Gu Hualuo suddenly looked at Ye Li, staring at her blankly.
Seeing her murderous gaze, Gu Boyuan said coldly, “Quick go, quickly go. Zhilan, Uncle must trouble you to take her away."
Su Zhilan looked at Gu Boyuan: "Uncle, I..."
Gu Boyuan raised his hand, stopping her: "Come visit with your parents when you have time."
Su Zhilan could only reluctantly pull Gu Hualuo away from the Gu Family home.
That evening, a group of people were having a barbecue in the yard. With friends and family around, and still young, Luo Zhengzheng was relaxed and happy, and unconsciously drank a few more glasses with her three sisters-in-law, Zhang Xuan, and Su Mengrou.
Zhou Chen looked over and saw them staggering around, laughing, "Three women make a drama, these women are something else."
Seeing his wife so drunk wasn't surprising at all; after all, she got drunk once or twice a year.
Wang Maoxiu looked at Gu Shi with a half-smile: "Looks like mine and yours get along well. Would they drink together if they didn't get along?
Gu Shi looked at Luo Zhengzheng, saw her down her drink in one gulp, frowned, and said nothing.
After seeing the guests off, Gu Shi saw his wife sitting on the sofa, her face flushed, lost in thought.
Luo Can finished cleaning up the kitchen waste, looked at Elder Brother-in-law, and pointed to Elder Sister: "My Elder Sis might be drunk."
Gu Shi looked at Younger Brother-in-law and said, "You go and rest, I'll take care of your elder sister."
Luo Can nodded; he trusted Elder Brother-in-law.
Gu Shi sat down next to Luo Zhengzheng, gently rubbing her rosy cheeks. "Zhengzheng, are you drunk?"
Luo Zhengzheng looked at him groggily and asked, "Who are you?"
Gu Shi sighed softly, "Really drunk? Don't you even recognize your husband?"
Luo Zhengzheng suddenly pointed at him, "You're Gu Shi, Chengjia's father."
Gu Shi couldn't help but laugh, "Should I be glad you still recognize your husband?"
Luo Zhengzheng leaned in and vigorously rubbed his face, "You're alive? Really alive?"
Gu Shi: ......