Chapter 237: Chapter 217: A Change of Heart

Tang Qingshan said, "Father, have you forgotten? Qi Yue and I were childhood sweethearts, always together. But she fell in love with Zheng Yixiao at first sight, willing to follow him to the ends of the earth and even give up her life for him!"

"Our Manman isn’t Qi Yue. I’m a good enough judge of character to know that!"

"But I want Manman to be free. I want to let her grow up without pressure, to take her time and find a man she genuinely loves, not just accept whoever the elders thrust upon her based on their own wishes!"

"Qingshan, I’m her grandfather. Of course I dote on Manman. Looking at all the young men from the great families in Beijing, Shaojun is the best. He’s worthy of Manman!"

"I know, and I admit, Shaojun is outstanding. But Father, have you considered this? Shaojun had a marriage contract with Xuanxuan, and everything was fine, wasn’t it? So why is he suddenly demanding to break the engagement now? He’s just returned from the battlefield a decorated hero, rewarded by the nation, admired by the public, a source of pride for his ancestors. This is the only time he could propose breaking the engagement without facing the elders’ wrath! But a Miss Tang is not an easy bride to win, yet he chose to give her up. Why? There can only be one reason: he has another girl on his mind! If that’s so, is he still worthy of your granddaughter? Father, I will not permit a forced union. Our Manman deserves true love. The man who marries her must love her with his whole heart!"

"This... Why exactly does Shaojun want to break the engagement? Your Uncle Gu said he was in a hurry that day and didn’t have time to ask, saying he’d ask in a few days. I don’t know if he’s asked yet." Grandpa Tang blinked, then stood up and went straight for the phone. "No, I have to get to the bottom of this right now! If it’s really like you say, that the boy has another girl in his heart... then of course we can’t let our Manman be wronged!"

「Gu Mansion」

After speaking with Grandpa Tang, Mr. Gu hung up the phone, his expression grave. He quickly picked it up again and dialed a number. After a few connections by the operator, Gu Qiming’s voice came through. "Father, you’re still up this late? You must take care of your health!"

Mr. Gu grunted in acknowledgment and asked, "Has that boy Shaojun called you recently?"

"Not in the last ten days. Shaojun is temporarily assigned to the core command of the border defense combat unit. You know how difficult, demanding, and dangerous the defense command work is after a major battle. He often has to go to the very front lines..."

"I’m not asking about that. The last time you sent someone over, did they see any girls around him?"

Gu Qiming: ...

"Shaojun is fighting on the front lines, where would he find any girls? Well, if you count military doctors and nurses, then yes, there are some. He was injured, and although it wasn’t serious, all injuries are checked by the military doctors and nurses..."

"If they’re female, they count! That rotten kid!"

"Father, what do you mean?"

"That rotten kid made a request to me a while ago. Since he grew up right by my side, I didn’t suspect he had any ulterior motives, so I didn’t think much of it. I just figured that at worst, he didn’t like Xuanxuan. That girl isn’t a true Tang by blood, so of course she’s not good enough for my eldest grandson. I was planning to wait for Shaojun to come back and tell him that Manman is the one he’s supposed to marry... But today, Qingshan suddenly brought it up: Shaojun is dating another girl his age! I don’t believe it, but with the precedent set by your sister, this is no laughing matter! You find Shaojun immediately and have him report to me personally!"

Gu Qiming: "...Yes! I’ll contact him right away!"

Gu Shaojun’s call came through to the house the next day. He was still in a crude command post on the front lines and only had three minutes to talk. The whole family gathered around, listening with bated breath. Faintly, the WHIZZ of a few stray shots could be heard through the receiver. Zhou Hui Lan clenched her fists tightly, her face pale. Old Mrs. Gu’s eyes were red as she strained to get her ear closer to the phone. Mr. Gu waved at them impatiently, but no one would move back an inch!

Between his desire to hear his grandson’s voice and Old Mrs. Gu trying to snatch the phone and making a fuss next to him, Mr. Gu barely got a chance to say a few words, let alone scold Gu Shaojun. As for the question of whether he was dating someone, Gu Shaojun admitted it directly, and stated with surprising candor:

"Grandpa, I tried. I really tried to see Tang Yaxuan as my fiancée, but I never developed romantic feelings for her. I can only see her as a sister! I’m not dating anyone, but it’s true... there is a girl in my heart! You can just say I’ve had a change of heart! I’m willing to accept any punishment, but please, you must break the engagement. Explain it to the Tang family as soon as possible, and don’t hold up Sister Xuanxuan’s future!"

The line went dead. Mr. Gu was stunned for a long moment, as if only then processing what his grandson had just said. Enraged, he roared into the receiver, "You rotten kid! You little bastard! You dare! Just you try it! You have the guts to have a change of heart... Well, I have the power to change it right back for you!"

Of course, Gu Shaojun’s words weren’t something to be spread around lightly. But there were no secrets between Mr. Gu and Grandpa Tang. Mr. Gu and Old Mrs. Gu went to the Tang Mansion and stated their position firmly: this marriage contract, arranged by their ancestors, absolutely could not be broken. Anyone who wished to defy it would have to wait until they were in their graves!

Grandpa Tang and Mr. Gu were of one mind, two brothers so close that no one could drive a wedge between them—an absolute alliance. When Mr. Gu stated his intentions, Grandpa Tang immediately agreed. Tang Qingshan was utterly speechless.

Grandma Tang said to Old Mrs. Gu with a warm smile, "Of course the ancestors were wise, but they couldn’t have known how future generations would turn out, could they? Young people these days care about the freedom to marry and the freedom to love. We already forced the issue once; I really don’t have the heart to do it a second time."

Old Mrs. Gu looked awkward, and Mr. Gu’s face reddened. He thumped his chest and declared, "Sister-in-law, don’t you worry, something like that will absolutely not happen again! Look, the Gu family has more than just Shaojun. There’s also Shaofeng, Shaozheng, Shaolian... Let Manman choose! Whichever one she likes, that’s the one!"

"Oh, we couldn’t possibly! Everyone in Beijing knows the Gu brothers, including Shaolian and Shao Jin, are all exceptional. Our Manman just grew up in the countryside. If she were to be so presumptuous as to pick and choose among them, wouldn’t all the young women in the country resent her? What I’m worried about now is, what if Manman is like Shaojun and has already set her sights on someone..."

"That can’t happen!" Mr. Gu’s eyes widened. He looked anxiously at Grandpa Tang. "Brother, Manman is a future daughter-in-law of the Gu family! We have to tell her as soon as possible she can’t fall for anyone else!"

Grandpa Tang comforted him, "Don’t worry, don’t worry. Manman is only thirteen. She doesn’t understand anything yet!"

"Doesn’t understand anything? You say that, but can you take responsibility for it?"

Grandma Tang shot a sidelong glance at Grandpa Tang. "Are you daring to say *I* didn’t understand anything?"

Grandpa Tang: ...

’Suddenly, the image of a small, exquisitely beautiful, doll-like bride appeared in his mind. She stood before him, declaring arrogantly yet seriously, "You are my man. You must behave yourself when you’re out. If you dare to flirt around with other women, I will never forgive you!"’

Grandpa Tang coughed twice, his old face flushing red. "Well... my granddaughter isn’t as precocious as you were!"

"Just keep playing dumb," Grandma Tang snorted.

Tang Qingshan said, "I’m leaving for Liaozhou tomorrow, and I don’t know when I’ll be back. So let me state my position now: I agree with Shaojun. Break the engagement! Manman is indeed still young. Perhaps in a few more years, she’ll know what kind of husband she truly wants. Shaojun, on the other hand, is already of marriageable age. We shouldn’t hold him back!"

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