Reborn: Back to the 1980s Chapter 78

Chapter 78: Visitors

The government kept the Zhao Shenggu kidnapping case under wraps, so it caused little stir among the general public. However, the Wu family's reputation had plummeted in the eyes of the higher-ups, all because of Wu Runduo.

With the emergence of Yuangu and Guyuan, the government was no longer as desperate for foreign investment, so they stopped granting the overseas Chinese everything they asked for.

Now, many upper-class families in Huaguo were watching the Wu family become a laughingstock. Everyone had assumed the North American market would belong to the Wu family this year, but who would have thought they would shoot themselves in the foot like this? Sensing blood in the water, the sharks swarmed — businesses seeking to partner with Yuangu in the North American market came in droves.

Wu Runduo's uncle was furious, smashing everything in his study to pieces.

"That damn brat... he actually dared to do something like this! If Yuangu comes after us, we won't have a place to stand in this country anymore."

Of course, Zhao Shenggu and Guan Yuan had no idea about the Wu family's turmoil—they were busy welcoming guests.

Guan Mumu and Guan Shitou's parents had both arrived in the capital.

The moment Li Ying and the others stepped into the courtyard, they were stunned by the luxurious villa before them. Their mouths hung open. "My god! This house is built better than a palace!"

After Guan Yuan gave them a tour of the entire villa, Li Ying and the others were so shocked they couldn't speak. In their eyes, this was simply a place where heavenly gods lived.

Actually, Guan Yuan had done all the interior design himself. It didn't look especially lavish, but every plant, every tree, every teapot and spoon was a pleasure to behold.

Then they saw the butler and the servants, and they were completely speechless.

It just so happened that it was Chanchan's dinnertime. When it came to his milk, no matter how soundly he was sleeping, he would always wake up. When Guan Yuan carried Chanchan out, Li Ying and the others' jaws dropped in unison. Li Ying, being closer to Guan Yuan and the others, was the first to speak up: "Xiao Yuan, where on earth did such a tiny baby come from?"

Guan Yuan was about to answer when Zhao Shenggu beat him to it: "He's mine and Xiao Yuan's child."

"Yours and Xiao Yuan's? What's that supposed to mean?" Guan Guo asked, confused. The others looked baffled too. Guan Mumu and Guan Shitou sat nearby without saying a word.

"Xiao Yuan and I are together. We're going to spend our whole lives together. This child belongs to both of us."

Before they could digest one bombshell, another exploded, leaving Guan Guo and the others dizzy and reeling. What on earth did that mean?

Seeing that they were about to ask more questions, Guan Shitou and Guan Mumu quickly intervened: "Alright, Mom, let's eat first—I'm starving!"

Li Ying and the others had no choice but to swallow their questions. After dinner, once they returned to their rooms, they each mulled it over.

The more Li Ying and Guan Guo thought about it, the more something felt off. "Hey, when Shenggu said he and Xiao Yuan are together—could it be like Cripple Li and his partner back in my home village?"

Guan Guo understood immediately. "What are you talking about? Cripple Li and his partner ended up like that because they couldn't find wives. Look at Xiao Yuan and Shenggu—they're the cream of the crop. Why would they need to do that?"

"Then what do you think is going on with them?" Li Ying thought it over and grew even more convinced of her theory.

"I bet that's exactly it. Why don't you call Shitou in and ask? They've been in the capital so long—they must know what's going on with Xiao Yuan and the others. And that baby—maybe Shenggu and Xiao Yuan asked someone to carry a child for them. Two men together, they'd definitely need a kid."

Guan Guo still didn't believe it. He called Guan Shitou in, and Guan Shitou confirmed the relationship between Guan Yuan and Zhao Shenggu, then told them not to breathe a word about it to anyone. As for where Chanchan came from, he left his mother to speculate.

Meanwhile, Guan Shulin and his wife were also discussing Guan Yuan and Zhao Shenggu.

Guan Mumu sat to the side, quietly reading a book.

Guan Mumu's mother was quite open-minded about it. "Those two kids have been close since they were little—they grew up together. It's no big deal that they're together now. And they even have a little one, so you don't need to worry about them having someone to care for them in old age. What are you fretting about?"

Guan Mumu found it amusing—he hadn't realized his mother was so open-minded.

"Mom, Dad, when you go back, whatever you do, don't tell the villagers about Xiao Yuan and Brother Shenggu. Who knows how many people would wag their tongues!"

"We know—do you think your mother's stupid? I'm not the gossiping type!"

Guan Shulin couldn't help but retort: "You're not the gossiping type? Name one person in the village who loves spreading nonsense more than you."

"What? What do you mean, spreading nonsense? Guan Shulin, I think your skin is itching for a beating!"

"Dad, Mom, keep it down—we're in someone else's house!"

Guan Mumu's mother fell silent. She had been especially obedient to him these days. He had gotten into a university in the capital, which was practically a sign of ancestral blessings. In her eyes, her son was the God of Literature reborn. No one was more outstanding than Guan Mumu.

Of course, Guan Yuan and Zhao Shenggu didn't count. Even biased as she was toward her own son, she wouldn't claim Guan Mumu's future achievements would surpass those of Guan Yuan and Zhao Shenggu.

The next day, the two families sat together, and sure enough, no one brought up Guan Yuan and Zhao Shenggu's relationship again. They only talked about village matters and their experiences in the capital over the past few days.

When Li Ying got to the topic of family matters, she frowned and said to Guan Yuan and Zhao Shenggu: "Xiao Yuan, Shenggu, you two need to be careful of those people from the Guan family. When we left, your father and several of your uncles were kicking up a fuss about coming to the capital to find you. Somehow they got wind that you've made a fortune here. Even your aunt wanted to tag along."

Guan Mumu's mother curled her lip. "They've got some nerve. What does Shenggu and Xiao Yuan making money have to do with them? Everyone in Guanjia Village has benefited from Xiao Yuan and Shenggu. And now some people are even saying Xiao Yuan has no conscience—making a fortune in the capital and not even caring for his own parents."

Guan Mumu's mother was always out and about in the village, so she naturally knew all the gossip in Guanjia Village.

When Zhao Shenggu heard that some people in Guanjia Village were speaking ill of Guan Yuan, his face darkened.

He didn't care what people said about him, but he couldn't stand anyone saying a single bad word about Guan Yuan.

"Auntie, please discreetly find out who's been gossiping about Xiao Yuan. I'll deal with it when I go back at the end of the year," Zhao Shenggu said to Guan Mumu's mother.

The moment Zhao Shenggu's expression darkened, the others felt the pressure. Li Ying's heart skipped a beat, and she looked at him with a hint of respect, thinking those people were probably in for trouble.

But then she reconsidered. Everyone in the village knew what kind of life Guan Yuan and Zhao Shenggu had lived as children. And now people had the nerve to say such things with no conscience? It was just jealousy. If not for Xiao Yuan and Shenggu, would Guanjia Village be where it is today?

Even as a woman, she understood that their business had long outgrown Guanjia Village. The village wasn't anything special compared to other places. It was only because Zhao Shenggu and Guan Yuan wanted to look after their hometown.