CHAPTER 275: CHAPTER 208: RUSHING TO THE NORTHEAST

When he returned home and saw his wife looking at him expectantly, he chuckled softly, "It’s our sister and brother-in-law’s son, absolutely, undoubtedly. We have all the evidence and witnesses. Zhou Xiaozheng is the son of Zhou Jinyu and Gu Mingzhu. My dear, we found the child. I finally don’t have to be embarrassed to face Brother Jinyu like you." After saying this, Mr. Cheng wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes.

Watching his wife tearfully smiling foolishly with excitement, he quickly said, "Don’t rush, don’t get excited, we’ll go to the Northeast right away to settle accounts with that bastard from the Old Zhou Family. Bring all the things belonging to your sister and brother-in-law, don’t forget anything. We’ll take the military plane tonight to the Northeast, make good use of the time, and we can see the child tonight. Dress warmly, once the doctor comes, we will leave at once."

"Haha, this is really great, I knew Zhou Xiaozheng would be that child, our nephew. I’ve packed everything long ago, just waiting for you to take me to find the child. Child’s father, once you’ve arranged everything, we will leave," said Old Mrs. Cheng, her face flushed with excitement. She cheerfully wiped her tears and dashed toward the bedroom.

Seeing his wife busy with excitement, Mr. Cheng quickly found the maid, "Don’t prepare meals for the two of us tonight. When the children come back, just tell them we have found Zhou Xiaozheng, their cousin, and we are catching a military flight tonight. We will talk about everything once we are back." After saying this, he thought for a moment and decided he had to tell Old Lin, otherwise, he would surely get angry.

Mr. Cheng turned and left the kitchen, finding Xiao Chen, "Xiao Chen, go over to the Lin Family and check if Old Lin is back. If he is, ask him to come over, it’s urgent."

In a short while, Old Mrs. Cheng came out with two suitcases, "Let’s go. Everything’s packed in here." With that, she strode energetically out the door, showing no signs of the illness that had kept her bedridden just days before.

Following his wife out, Mr. Cheng had barely left the yard when he saw Mr. Lin approaching, "No need to come in, we are heading to the Northeast. To catch the military flight, I’ll keep it brief: your son-in-law Zhou Xiaozheng is my wife’s nephew. We’ve been searching for over forty years, but now we’re heading over to settle scores with Old Man Zhou, and to find that child."

"Who? Who did you say? Zhou Xiaozheng is your nephew, you’ve got to be joking?" Mr. Lin looked at his old friend in disbelief. Seeing they were about to get in the car, he hurried to grab his friend.

Mr. Cheng looked at him, patiently saying, "Remember I mentioned the youngest son of the elder branch of the Zhou Family had a photographic memory and the matter with the Jiangnan Gu Family? The youngest son, Zhou Jinyu, and Gu Mingzhu didn’t actually die. My wife is Gu Mingzhu’s sister, adopted by the Gu Family as a foster daughter, and also Gu Mingzhu’s distant cousin. Zhou Jinyu and Gu Mingzhu left behind a son who we couldn’t find for years. You mentioned Zhou Xiaozheng is from the Beijing Zhou Family, and Jiao Jiao also has a photographic memory. I found it odd, so I investigated over the past few days, and with evidence and witnesses, it’s confirmed that Zhou Xiaozheng is that child. Zhou Jiao inherited her grandfather’s photographic memory. We’ll discuss the details when we return, don’t stop me, time is of the essence." With that, he squeezed into the car.

Mr. Lin was stunned, and by the time he came to his senses, the car had already driven off. He stomped his foot and shouted for Xiao Zhou to bring the car around. When Xiao Zhou drove up, he realized he hadn’t told his wife yet, so he called the maid at the door, "When my wife comes back, tell her I went with the Cheng couple on a military flight to the Northeast to find his nephew Zhou Xiaozheng. For details, let her ask the Cheng Family."

The maid was still processing as the car drove off, worried she might relay it wrong, she kept repeating the message to herself, but the more she repeated, the more it seemed off.

Mrs. Lin, returning from the service center with her hair freshly done and carrying fish, slowly strolled into the yard. Seeing the maid pacing around, she curiously approached to see what was happening.

Upon seeing her, the maid said excitedly, "Good thing you’re back, or I would’ve forgotten. The master said he’s gone with the Cheng couple by military flight to the Northeast to find his nephew Zhou Xiaozheng. He told you to ask the Cheng Family if you’re unclear about anything."

Mrs. Lin frowned, "Did you say nephew Zhou Xiaozheng?"

The maid quickly nodded, "Yes, said he went with Old Cheng to find his nephew Zhou Xiaozheng. Didn’t even come inside, said it and then drove off."

Mrs. Lin nodded and straightaway headed to the bedroom with her fish. Watching her go in carrying the fish and close the door, the maid’s eyes widened; after a while, she clicked her tongue and returned to the kitchen.

On the lawn of the military district’s airport, besides Cheng Sijin who had rushed over upon hearing the news, stood the Cheng couple, Mr. Lin, a traveling doctor, and Xiao Zhou and Xiao Chen, both service soldiers.

Mr. Cheng sighed, "Eldest son, there’s really no need for you to go. We three old folks are going, not to fight, see, there’s a doctor following."

"I didn’t say I’m going to fight, I’m going to see Zhou Xiaozheng, isn’t he my cousin? Just right to let him host me, he returned without seeing his childhood mate and slipped back to the Northeast, it’s good to catch him now, also to see my niece, my grandniece, finally there’s a girl in our family. Hehe, Dad, given your seniority, have you and Mom prepared enough gifts, don’t go empty-handed."

Old Mrs. Cheng smiled brightly at her normally steady eldest son bantering, "I really didn’t bring anything this time. Next time, this time it’s about recognizing family and arranging the ancestral roots. Also taking them to the old house, that one’s his. At the time, your great-aunt’s donation documents are with me, that’s the best gift."

Cheng Sijin frowned, "Great-aunt gave everything, then the things you have also should be left to my niece. Girls like jewelry. Grandmother passed them to you just right to pass them to Jiao Jiao, as a rightful inheritance. We don’t have girls in the family too, see what’s for girls, pack it up, and say it’s from grandmother." The grandmother he spoke of is Gu Mingzhu’s mother, while his mother’s biological mother, who remarried leaving a newborn behind, had nothing to do with his mother or the Cheng Family.

Old Mrs. Cheng sighed, "It’s no use, if it’s your great-aunt’s granddaughter, she wouldn’t accept it. See, even your Uncle Lin nodded and smiled. That child’s roots are with them, even if never met, but genes are inherited. This good nature, let the wealth go, happiness to stay, your great-aunt hid their names fearing the Gu Family’s wealth might invite trouble. Even hid your cousin’s birth, otherwise, I wouldn’t have looked all these years. Afterward, for your cousin’s safety, she donated everything, but still didn’t reunite him back. If she hadn’t taken that bullet for me, she wouldn’t have died with resentment, even in death not reuniting with her son."

"Mom, don’t be sad, we siblings will respect our cousin like a big brother. From now on, we are four siblings. Didn’t you say when we were young we had an elder brother somewhere? Now he’s home, you should be happy. I’ve already called Si Yu and Ru Zhu, we’ve discussed it, when big brother comes back, we’ll bring the kids to welcome him home."

Old Mrs. Cheng grasped his hand joyfully, "Good, to think like that is right. Not to mention, mom’s life was saved by your grandmother once, and by your great-aunt once, mom owes your cousin a life. Just considering the elders’ friendship from three families, you all should maintain it through generations. Remember the tradition your grandfather spoke of within the three families?"

Cheng Sijin nodded, recalling more than his mother knew at this moment. As the eldest legitimate grandson, he knew more than anyone, even more than his mother. Old Mrs. Cheng patted his hand, indicating she understood. Both were filled with joy and anticipation of seeing their long-lost relative, Zhou Xiaozheng.

During the Kangxi Era of the Great Qing Dynasty, each elder branch’s heir from the three families studied at the Jiangnan Academy. Due to shared temperaments, they formed close friendships, and the eldest sons and grandsons of the three families would always remain united. Years later, the three ancestor founders built the Zhou Family’s official status in Beijing, maintaining political connections, the Gu Family created wealth through commerce in Jiangnan, and the Cheng Family oversaw the establishment of private schools, ensuring a network of talent. The three families supported each other for over three hundred years without discord.

During the decline of the Great Qing Dynasty, as the situation became unfavorable, the Zhou Family withdrew from the political scene, the Gu Family thrived in commerce, and the Cheng Family devoted itself to literature and opened numerous private academies, fostering talent. The three families maintained close ties for over three hundred years without any enmity.

During the fall of the Great Qing Dynasty, as the circumstances became unfavorable, the Zhou Family withdrew from officialdom, leaving the Gu and Cheng families unable to help, Mr. Cheng’s grandfather gave up his pursuit of art and devoted himself to military service. On his deathbed, he wept over the misfortunes that had befallen the Zhou and Gu families, that his family was unable to assist, and he urged his father to find his cousin, who shared their bloodline.

Cheng Sijin knew well his parents’ dedication to finding their cousin. His cousin’s existence was a matter of fulfilling a three-hundred-year legacy of the three families, beyond the couple’s own sense of guilt towards his great-aunt and uncle. This is also why he put everything aside to go see Zhou Xiaozheng.