CHAPTER 427: CHAPTER 429: COMING WITH GREAT MOMENTUM

Xue Baozhu and Yu Zhen’s departure allowed the Gao family to breathe a sigh of relief, and everyone from the old house had now returned.

It was unclear who had spread the news, but Old Lady Gao stormed in full of fury. She had always been rather odd, and now she was so thin she looked like a gust of wind could blow her away, yet the chilling aura she exuded was truly alarming.

Had it been dusk or pitch-dark, or even the dim light of dawn, Old Lady Gao in that state could have frightened anyone to death, but even now, it was nearly the same.

Truly, as Old Lady Gao came barreling over, that posture, that face, it frightened quite a few people.

Following the arrival of Old Lady Gao, Gao Guofu, and Lin Xuebi, everyone gathered around the Gao family.

"Zheng Xianghong, come out here," Old Lady Gao yelled fiercely, her shrill voice seemed like it could alarm the entire production team.

It was precisely lunchtime when Gao Guoqiang, Zheng Xianghong, Gao Jiazhi, and Sun Yuhua were eating. Hearing Old Lady Gao’s voice, they all frowned.

Zheng Xianghong stood up, and Gao Jiazhi said, "Mom, I’ll go out, you don’t need to."

"I should go out. Your grandma, sigh," Zheng Xianghong sighed.

Gao Guoqiang also got up; at this moment, who could continue eating? Even Sun Yuhua followed them out.

"Mom, what are you doing?" Gao Guoqiang stepped outside and saw Old Lady Gao, then turned his gaze to Gao Guofu and Lin Xuebi, "What is the meaning of this from the two of you?"

Gao Guofu and Lin Xuebi exchanged glances before saying, "Big brother, it was Mom who insisted on coming; we were merely accompanying her."

"Then why did you come? And since you’re here, why not come inside instead of making a fuss out here like this?" Gao Guoqiang’s face was filled with sternness, even anger, as he looked displeased with Old Lady Gao, Gao Guofu, and Lin Xuebi.

"Gao Guoqiang, you tell me, is Gao Jiazhi your son or not?" Old Lady Gao stared intently at Gao Jiazhi’s face, questioning Gao Guoqiang.

"Who’s been feeding you nonsense? Jiazhi is indeed my son," said Gao Guoqiang, clearly aware of why Old Lady Gao had come.

Gao Jiazhi said, "Grandma, if you’ve come for this matter, please go back."

"This is Zheng Xianghong’s son, isn’t he? It’s not just Guangming Production Team that’s talking; the news has even spread to Red Star Production Team. You still play dumb," Old Lady Gao said with a face full of anger, her eyes filled with hatred as she looked at Gao Jiazhi and Zheng Xianghong.

Zheng Xianghong had always felt guilty towards Gao Guoqiang and the Gao family before Gao Jiaxing was born. That’s why no matter how Old Lady Gao treated her, she endured it.

After Jiaxing was born, Xianghong finally felt relieved, but because Jiazhi was being raised in the family, she still endured.

But now, knowing that Jiazhi’s true identity couldn’t come to light, Xianghong was also livid as she said to Old Lady Gao, "Mom, you’re too gullible, believing rumors that Guoqiang isn’t your son. Speaking of which, I’m starting to wonder if Guoqiang is really born of you. Why else would you treat Guoqiang and my youngest brother so differently? You’d rather live unhappily in my brother’s home than go back to the production team. Looking at you like this, it’s as if you’ve been terribly ill."

"You’re talking nonsense; you’re the one cursing me," Old Lady Gao quickly retorted.

Xianghong was speechless. "If I really cursed anyone, I’d curse Guoqiang and my children first. But Guoqiang and my children are all fine. I don’t know why mom thinks I’ve cursed you, dad, and my older brothers."

"Since grandma thinks my mother could curse you, then don’t get too close to her. Otherwise, if something happens, you’ll blame it on my mom again," Jiazhi spoke up as well.

Guoqiang sighed at Old Lady Gao and said, "Mom, since you’re back, you should stay at the old house. Making a scene out here is just a joke to onlookers. Even if Jiazhi isn’t my biological son, he’s the son I’ve raised."

"So you admit it, Jiazhi isn’t your son," Old Lady Gao said.

"Admit what? If mom continues to talk like this, please leave," Guoqiang said sternly.

At that moment, Li Shengmei’s stepfather came out and said, "Guoqiang’s mom, I think Jiazhi is indeed Guoqiang and Xianghong’s son. Although Jiazhi looks more like his mom, he also resembles Guoqiang. You’re making too much fuss over this."

Jiazhi was the child Guoqiang had raised for over thirty years; it was natural for him to resemble Guoqiang in some ways. Moreover, there’s a saying that appearances come from the heart. Even though Jiazhi did not resemble Guoqiang as closely as Jiaxing, there were aspects where they did resemble each other, so no one would doubt their father-son relationship.

"It’s not right, definitely not," Old Lady Gao persisted. "Otherwise, why would Xianghong feel guilty? Over the years, she’s always acted like a submissive daughter-in-law in front of me. If she didn’t have a guilty conscience, why would she feel guilty?"

Xianghong chuckled, "I’m wrong for being respectful to my mother-in-law now? Mom is Guoqiang’s mother, and my own mother has long since died. I chased after my brother to the army, where I met Guoqiang. Under the arrangement of the army’s leadership, I married Guoqiang. He has always treated me very well; it’s just mom who has never liked me. Even though I’ve given birth to a few daughters, Guoqiang has never despised me for it and has always been kind to them.

Because of Guoqiang’s kindness, and because you are his mother, I’ve always indulged you. Considering your poor health, I’ve accommodated you too. But my concessions never made you think I was a qualified daughter-in-law. You’ve always been prejudiced against me, looked down on me, drove me out of the old house, and prevented me from entering its doors, and I’ve complied. But mom, you can’t wrong me like this. My own son, yet when you hear someone else’s remarks, you say Jiazhi belongs to another man. Mom, this is too hurtful to me, as well as to Guoqiang and Jiazhi.

Guoqiang is your son, yet you doubt your grandson is his, how do you think that makes Guoqiang feel? And Jiazhi, does that make him feel good? Mom, you’ve gone too far this time. You’d rather listen to outsiders than believe us. I could let my injustice pass, but my heart aches for Guoqiang, I’m saddened for Guoqiang."

Guoqiang was silent. Though Jiazhi wasn’t his child, over the years, Old Lady Gao’s attitude toward his part of the family had disheartened Guoqiang.

"If mom thinks that even our respect for you is wrong, then we have nothing more to say. Let’s disperse if there’s nothing else. Jiazhi is my son, and I hope no one will spread rumors anymore. I, Guoqiang, have always been kind and harmonious with the neighbors. As the captain of the production team all these years, I believe I’ve always held my post with integrity, without fault, and I always felt that I had everyone’s approval. But now, the rumors in the production team, so slanderous, chill my heart."

Guoqiang, saying thus, could not help but get emotional, his eyes welling up with tears. The Guangming Production Team compared to others was very harmonious, but where there are people, there will be disputes, and with many people comes much gossip. Therefore, it was possible that the matter might spread to other production teams and even reach the county town.

Three people make a tiger, and collective voices can melt metal; who knows what the rumors will eventually turn into.