CHAPTER 425: CHAPTER 427: I DON’T LACK MOTHERLY LOVE, NOR DO I NEED SUCH A MOTHER

At this time, Gao Jiaxing stopped calling Sun Yuhua his sister-in-law and his impression of her grew increasingly worse, let alone what she had said to Gao Jiazhi.

"Just by acknowledging the birth mother, one could join the army," they said, "just by acknowledging her, one could leave this place."

But it all depended on what kind of mother it was. If Xue Baozhu had accidentally lost her child and found them years later, that would be one thing. But this was abandonment for the sake of remarriage, and for thirty years, not just three or five.

Xia Xiao nodded in agreement, feeling that Sun Yuhua was selfish and had never considered the affair from Gao Jiazhi’s perspective nor his feelings.

Moreover, whether she was the birth mother was still uncertain. Without proof, could they take Xue Baozhu’s word that he was her biological son as the absolute truth?

This not only wounded Gao Jiazhi’s heart but also Zheng Xianghong’s as well. Regardless of what Gao Jiazhi thought, how did Gao Guoqiang and Zheng Xianghong feel when they heard about it? Plus, Gao Jiazhi and Sun Yuhua’s argument took place without considering their presence, somewhat disregarding them.

"Yuhua will regret this," Xia Xiao said.

Even though Gao Jiazhi wasn’t the most outstanding person, he had tried his best and was also quite good-looking. He treated Sun Yuhua well, but his rural origins were enough for Sun Yuhua to dismiss all his good traits.

Thinking back to what Ning Hui had once said, Sun Yuhua and Gao Jiazhi had divorced, then Sun Yuhua took the college entrance examination and returned to the city, while Gao Jiazhi eventually started a school with Yang Xuehua.

Xia Xiao thought to herself that next year, the college entrance examination would be reinstated. So, next year would be when it all happened for Sun Yuhua and Gao Jiazhi.

But would Gao Jiazhi be with Yang Xuehua?

Xia Xiao frowned slightly, hoping that Yang Xuehua could find someone better. Not that Gao Jiazhi wasn’t good, but he had been through a lot, and Xia Xiao hoped that Yang Xuehua could find someone who would love her wholeheartedly.

"What are you thinking about?" Gao Jiaxing asked.

Xia Xiao shook her head, "Nothing much, just thinking about visiting my parents and also about your school starting in September. You’ll need to report to the academy in advance at the very least."

Gao Jiaxing nodded, knowing that reporting to the academy in advance was necessary. As a soldier, one must adhere to discipline and punctuality; being late would leave a bad impression.

"Let’s sleep. We have to wake up early tomorrow," Gao Jiaxing said gently to Xia Xiao, who nodded in agreement. The two of them each took a side of the bed, with the children sleeping in between them.

Indeed, Gao Jiaxing had extended the bed with wooden boards, otherwise, it would have been too cramped for the family of five to sleep.

There was no peace for Zheng Xianghong and Gao Guoqiang; Zheng Xianghong had intended to confess everything to Gao Jiazhi today, but thinking of Gao Guoqiang, she decided it would be better to discuss it with him first out of respect.

After all, Gao Guoqiang had raised Gao Jiazhi for more than thirty years. Aside from not being his biological father, he had played the role of his adoptive father exhaustively and responsibly.

"Tell Jiazhi," Gao Guoqiang said. "He has the right to know. As for how he chooses and views it, that’s up to Jiazhi. Whether he acknowledges his birth mother or not, we can’t stop him."

"But..." Zheng Xianghong looked at Gao Guoqiang with some conflict.

Gao Guoqiang continued, "After all, she is his birth mother. Nine months of pregnancy, the blood ties are there. It’s only the abandonment that’s hard to accept, so if Jiazhi acknowledges his mother, we have no reason to be upset."

Zheng Xianghong exhaled heavily, "Anyhow, I hate her. I suppose I’ll talk to Jiazhi about it tomorrow."

"No, I’ll do it," Gao Guoqiang stood up. "You go to sleep. It’s better I talk to him."

With that, Gao Guoqiang left the house.

Zheng Xianghong watched his retreating back, then glanced at the sleeping Weilin on the bed and sighed.

In fact, Zheng Xianghong didn’t object to Xue Baozhu remarrying, but not in such a way. That morning when he opened the door to find a basket with an infant in it and realized it was his nephew, when he couldn’t find Xue Baozhu anywhere and there wasn’t even a note, Zheng Xianghong was nearly furious.

At the Gao Mansion, the arrival of Gao Guoqiang surprised Gao Jiazhi, who had some inkling of what might be discussed.

Upon welcoming Gao Guoqiang inside, Gao Jiazhi lit the oil lamp.

"Father, what brings you here so late?" Gao Jiazhi asked.

Gao Guoqiang looked at him and said, "Have a seat."

Gao Jiazhi sat down across from him, waiting for Gao Guoqiang to speak. Gao Guoqiang looked at him and said, "Before you know it, you’re already over thirty."

"Father," Gao Jiazhi’s heart fluttered with unease, fearing the moment of truth even as he dreaded it.

Gao Guoqiang revealed, "I’m not your biological father, nor is your mother your birth mother. Your parents are Zheng Xiangwei and Xue Guiying."

"Father, it’s not like this. I don’t want to listen anymore," Gao Jiazhi said, unwilling to hear it. He was curious about his origins, yet he never wanted them to come to light.

He was afraid that once he knew the truth, he would no longer be part of this family; afraid that his family would no longer want him.

"Jiazhi, I never intended to keep it from you forever, just hoped to tell you later in life."

Gao Guoqiang went on, "Your mother should actually be your aunt. However, she raised you for over thirty years, so calling her ’Mother’ isn’t too much. You can continue to call me ’Father’ as well, after all, you’re my adopted son, I admit. Between you and Jiaxing, I have always favored Jiaxing more, but I have always raised you as my own child all these years."

"Yes, Father, you’ve treated me well, just as much as Jiaxing," Gao Jiazhi said.

Gao Guoqiang nodded, "It’s good you see it that way. Jiaxing is now in the army, and you are not. You can’t blame your mother for that. You are the only child of your father, and your mother just wanted you to grow up safely. Because your father once had a dream of being a respected people’s teacher, to educate others, which is why we both supported you in becoming a teacher."

"As for Jiaxing joining the army, it was just fate’s design. Your mother didn’t want both of you in the army—I didn’t want you both to face danger, so I listened to her. But now your mother is the colonel’s wife, and if you wish to join the army, you could also forgive your mother, you can acknowledge her again."

As Gao Guoqiang finished speaking, Gao Jiazhi shook his head, "No, Father, you will always be my father, and she will always be my mother. I don’t want to acknowledge a birth mother. As for my birth mother, Little Mother has told me about her, and I respect and admire her. But since she is gone, it was you who raised me, and I am profoundly grateful for your care. I have no desire to acknowledge a birth mother. Not because I can’t forgive her, but because there is no need to acknowledge someone who abandoned me for so long. I don’t lack maternal love and don’t need hers."