Back To The 80s-Chapter 596 - 588: Recognizing Relatives_1

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhanguo stopped eating and, dragging Li Duo with him, insisted on visiting Old Jin.

Xiaopang and Mo Wang decided to go together, while Gu Xiaobei, having no idea of what was happening, walked out of the kitchen to join them due to the commotion.

"No more dumpling making for now, we will continue when we get back." said Lu Zhanguo.

Seeing Lu Zhanguo’s urgency, Gu Xiaobei threw on her coat without asking further questions and headed out the door with them.

It was only when they reached the courtyard that she learned that Li Duo could possibly be Old Jin’s biological son.

When Ji Xiangdong saw Li Duo while holding Tiantian, he was taken aback. The man he had been searching for so desperately was suddenly standing right in front of him.

Ji Xiangdong handed Tiantian to Bai Xiaolan and rode off to bring Old Jin.

Old Jin, who hadn’t shed a tear from the wounds he’d sustained in wars or even when he was unjustly held captive, began weeping loudly upon seeing Li Duo. This was his own flesh and blood! Li Duo bore resemblance to his mother, though he still slightly resembled his five to six-year-old self.

Li Duo couldn’t help but tear up when his mother’s last words before her death echoed in his mind: "Don’t blame your father. It’s I who let him down."

Over the years, Li Duo thought about seeking his birth father multiple times. However, he was only five when he moved to province X with his mother, and since then, his memories of his father became increasingly hazy. His uncle’s family insisted his father had already passed away.

Ecstatic but at a loss for how to express his joy, Old Jin directed Ji Xiangdong to buy wine and meat for a well-deserved celebration.

With reddened eyes, Gu Xiaobei sat under the grape trellis and silently watched the joyous scene unfold — tears welled up in her eyes, undoubtedly mixed with a taste of happiness.

Old Jin took his newfound son into the house for a private, detailed conversation about their lives over the years.

Sitting under the grape trellis, wiping away her tears and laughing, Wen Xiuqing commented, "Finally, he’s found. This is a blessing for you and your elder brother. Many families have been torn asunder and remained separated until death. It makes me want to exact justice whenever I hear about kidnappers, especially those who steal infants from hospitals. These people are devoid of humanity and no punishment seems harsh enough."

As Gu Xiaobei watched the three children running around the yard, she also felt moved. When Mo Wang was taken away, she felt like dying was a better alternative. If Mo Wang hadn’t been found, she wasn’t sure if she could’ve carried on with life.

The reunion of Old Jin and Li Duo brought great joy to everyone. Wen Xiuqing and Gu Xiaobei prepared a lavish lunch, and Lu Songyuan even shared the Maotai that his brother Lu Aiguo had gifted him.

Old Jin, becoming more jovial by the moment, took several drinks and exclaimed, "Who would have thought that I would reunite with my son before I die? I couldn’t have imagined this." mid-sentence, he asked Ji Xiangdong to refill his glass.

Concerned about Old Jin’s health, Ji Xiangdong cautioned him, "Let’s arrange a banquet later for a proper celebration."

Old Jin, slapping the table in agreement, said, "That’s right — a banquet. We should invite everyone we know so they can see that I’ve found my son. Seeing my Little Goudan really made me feel better."

Li Duo appeared slightly embarrassed because no one had referred to him as Little Goudan for a long time.

However, seeing his father so delighted, he let it be.

After lunch, Old Jin urged Ji Xiangdong to start preparing for a feast to celebrate the father-son reunion.

Aside from a handful of relatives in the city, mostly for the sake of liveliness, Lu Zhanguo suggested inviting Zhang Lijun’s and Wu Guanghan’s families. Gu Xiaobei decided to invite the Zhuang family, who were also celebrating good fortune, as Jin Cheng had returned.

After settling the guest list and deciding to host the party at home, everyone agreed that sitting beneath the grape trellis for a meal and a chat would be cozy, especially considering the summer heat.

Between bouts of laughter and tears, Old Jin held his son’s hand and didn’t forget to instruct Ji Xiangdong to buy a lamb for roasting, planning a whole-roast lamb party for next Sunday.

Li Duo also phoned his military unit to request half a month’s leave to spend quality time with Old Jin.

...

Upon hearing that her rescuer Uncle was Old Jin’s son, Jiujiu was so thrilled that she hugged Ou Ruoshui and said, "Mom, let’s go to Auntie’s house together next Sunday."

Ou Ruoshui, touched by her daughter’s maturity, gently tapped on her forehead and asked, "Didn’t you say that you want to visit the hospital with your little uncle next Sunday? Why do you want to go to your aunt’s house now?"

With sparkling eyes, Jiujiu replied, "Mom, didn’t you tell me that Grandpa Jin found his son, and they are throwing a party at the courtyard next Sunday?"

Seeing her daughter’s glowing, flushed face, Ou Ruoshui couldn’t help but ask, "Are you fond of that uncle?"

Jiujiu nodded and said, "Yes, I think the uncle is great. Whenever I see him, I feel a sense of security. Moreover, I think my father might have been like him."

Gently caressing Jiujiu’s hair, Ou Ruoshui said, "But isn’t Uncle a great hero too? Why don’t you feel he resembles your father?"

"Uncle is Uncle. He’s Xiaopang and Mo Wang’s dad. How could he be like my dad? Mom, do you think if dad were alive, he would also appear if I were ever in danger, just like the uncle?" Jiujiu looked up with wide eyes, a hint of unidentified sadness suddenly echoing in her voice.

Ou Ruoshui embraced Jiujiu’s shoulders. She had a hunch that Jiujiu’s fondness for the young man had started to become more than just a girl’s admiration for a male figure. Jiujiu was just an innocent girl getting to know her feelings, which might have been distorted by lacking a father figure in her life. She comforted her daughter softly, "Jiujiu, don’t worry. Even though your father is not here anymore, he is watching over you from heaven and will protect you, making sure you grow up healthy and joyful."

Jiujiu pursed her lips without uttering a word. She wished from the bottom of her heart that her father could still be alive and by her side, spoiling her as Uncle Xiaopang and Mo Wang did. But she couldn’t voice her wish, knowing it would hurt her mother’s feelings.

"If you want to go to your aunt’s house next Sunday, then we will visit your little uncle at the hospital this Saturday, okay?"

Jiujiu nodded, her heart brimming with excitement and anticipation.

...

Early Sunday morning, preparations began in earnest at the small courtyard. Ji Xiangdong and Lu Zhanguo were handling the lamb, while Li Duo and Old Jin set up the two Eight Immortal Tables they borrowed from the neighbors under the grape trellis.

Originally, everyone planned to set up three separate tables.

Gu Xiaobei suggested pushing the tables together. Sitting as one big group would be more festive, she argued.

Old Jin agreed. After all, they were all family, and it would be easier to converse and celebrate together.

Zhang Lijun and his family also came early to lend a hand. Li Fengmei instructed Dadong and Xiaodong each to bring a chicken.

Dadong and Xiaodong had grown into big boys. Xiaodong was now half a head taller than Gu Xiaobei.

Looking at the grown boys, Gu Xiaobei couldn’t help but smile. "Seeing how big the kids have gotten, I suddenly feel so old."

Xiaopang was quick to interject, "Mom, you never age. Dad says you’re an enchantress and you never grow old."

Instantly, Gu Xiaobei turned bright red. Fortunately, only Li Fengmei and Bai Xiaolan were present. That would have been so embarrassing otherwise.