129. The Declaration: Astonishment in the Dilapidated Courtyard

Naturally, Jing Qingxin and her group encountered some very curious and thick-skinned villagers who stepped forward to ask directly: "Oh my, are you all back from visiting relatives? You have so many bags and packages; are you planning to host some sort of event? Hehe, if you need any help, don't be shy! Just give us a shout!"

Gao Shen stepped forward, exchanged greetings, and satisfied the man's curiosity by answering, "Yes, we are hosting a wedding banquet in a few days. These are all our relatives and friends, so we will surely be troubling everyone then."

"Oh! A wedding is wonderful! Our village hasn't had a wedding in several months. Is the officer going to marry Miss Jing here? Then let me congratulate you both in advance! Haha!" the villager said with a flattering laugh.

"Yes, thank you! Now, we must head home," Gao Shen said with a nod. His wedding to Qingxin was only a few days away, and since someone had asked out of curiosity, he was happy to share the good news. He believed that without him having to tell every household, the whole village would know by nightfall, which was even better.

He desperately wanted the whole world to know that he was marrying Jing Qingxin! She was his woman, his wife. It would also discourage those with ill intentions from getting too close to her.

The group soon arrived at Gao Shen’s small courtyard. Li Xiaomei was chopping pig fodder in the yard. The gate was open, and upon hearing the commotion and seeing Jing Qingxin and the others, she immediately dropped her cleaver, wiped her hands on the hem of her clothes, and ran out of her own courtyard.

"Sister Jing, Brother Gao, you're back!" Li Xiaomei called out happily, her lips curling into a smile.

Jing Qingxin glanced at Li Xiaomei’s joyful expression and couldn't help but smile, "Yes, we’re back!"

"Brother Gao, the day before yesterday, your older brother and sister-in-law came looking for you. I told them you weren't home, but I didn't say where you had gone, and then they left!" Seeing Gao Shen, Li Xiaomei quickly reported what had happened in the meantime.

"Did they say what they wanted?" Gao Shen asked expressionlessly.

"They didn't say," Li Xiaomei answered truthfully, though she recalled that their expressions were quite unpleasant at the time, and the woman had even grumbled a few curses upon hearing they weren't home.

"Alright, we understand! Thank you, Xiaomei. We’ve just arrived, so we’ll go inside to tidy up. Later, after Uncle Li and Aunt Li get back, please have your whole family come over for dinner," Jing Qingxin said with a smile.

Li Xiaomei immediately waved her hand to refuse, "No need, Sister Jing! You must be tired from the ride, hurry inside and rest! If you need anything, just call me!"

"I actually do need your help with something, so that’s why I want you to come over for dinner—we can discuss it then! Alright, enough talk, just come over in the evening," Jing Qingxin instructed.

The seven of them walked into Gao Shen’s small courtyard. As the gate opened, a wave of floral fragrance greeted them, making everyone feel quite comfortable.

"It smells so good!" Jiang Min’s eyes brightened as she exclaimed.

"It really does, it’s such a pleasant scent!" Aunt Liu agreed with a smile.

Jing Suyun walked into the courtyard, and as she turned her head, she spotted the cluster of vibrant flowers along the wall. No woman could resist flowers, and she exclaimed in surprise, "Xinxin, you’ve planted so many flowers here! They are truly beautiful!"

Hearing this, everyone turned toward the corner of the wall. Sure enough, a cluster of flowers was swaying in the breeze, colorful and stunning.

"Yes, we dug them up from the mountains!" Jing Qingxin replied.

Having been away for two or three days, Jing Qingxin wasn't worried about the flowers or the vegetable patch. With the nourishment of the spirit creek water, their vitality had improved significantly; they wouldn't just wilt because no one had tended to them for a couple of days.

"Is this the vegetable patch?" Zhang Liangping noticed the difference in a small plot of land at a glance. He had planted things in his own yard before, so he could naturally tell that this patch had been specially cared for, and tiny seedlings were already poking through the soil.

"Yes, that's right. Gao Shen set it up so we could grow some vegetables to eat at home; it’s convenient!" Jing Qingxin said with a laugh.

"Everyone, let's go inside, put your things down, and rest for a while," Gao Shen said, noticing that as soon as everyone entered, they were distracted by the flowers and the vegetable patch. He wondered if they didn't feel tired standing there with all their heavy bags to discuss the garden.

"Hehe, that's true!" Aunt Liu realized they were still holding their luggage.

Entering the main room, everyone quickly set their belongings on the table or the floor. Only then did they realize how small the house was—just a main room and a bedroom, with no door separating them, only a coarse cloth curtain.

The inner room was hidden from view, so they couldn't see its layout, but the main room was clear as day. Everyone couldn't help but sigh in their hearts: this house was far too simple; even their own homes were better than this!

Apart from a table, four long benches, and a wooden bed against the wall, there was nothing else. Nothing! There wasn't even a wooden cabinet. It was brutally simple.

At this point, everyone realized something was wrong. Zhang Liangping, who knew the Gao family best, was the first to ask, "Xiaoshen, what is going on? Why aren't you living with your parents?"

Except for Aunt Liu and Jiang Min, who were bewildered and looked at the others in confusion, the rest—Zhang Liangping, his wife, and Liu Gang—knew about the Gao family members and the fact that their relationship was distant. However, no one knew about Gao Shen’s injury or that he was living alone, as Gao Shen hadn't mentioned it when they met a few days ago. They had all assumed he had returned on leave to marry Jing Qingxin and were unaware of what had transpired.

Seeing everyone looking at him as if waiting for an explanation, Gao Shen, knowing he was among those close to him, gave a brief account of being injured, returning to his hometown, and living alone. He felt there was no need to go into the painful details.

But none of them were fools. Even without the details, they could imagine and deduce quite a bit. After all, what parents wouldn't feel heartache and take care of their own son if he were injured? Why would Gao Shen have to move out and live alone?

"Sigh, your parents, they really grow more foolish as they age," Zhang Liangping sighed indignantly. In his younger years, he had never thought much of Gao Yaohua—the man had little substance but put on airs of being a refined scholar.

Initially, he had no intention of dealing with the Gao family, let alone tutoring Gao Yaohua’s son. But the Gao family elders were sensible and realized Gao Yaohua’s limited knowledge couldn't properly educate their descendants, so they approached him. Gao Shen was bright and had caught his eye, so he took him on as a student.

As for Gao Yaohua’s eldest son, he had no regard for him; the boy lacked the aptitude and was stubborn. Yet, Gao Yaohua valued his eldest son highly, insisting on teaching him personally and forbidding anyone else from interfering. His attitude was so rigid that the elders had simply let him be.

Now, the difference between the two sons was clear. Gao Yaohua was not only conceited and a poor teacher, but he clearly lacked the most basic principles of character.

"Who’s to say otherwise! Look at the things they’ve done!" Jing Suyun also lamented, speechless.

Aunt Liu, unaware of the situation, didn't dare to speak up and simply listened quietly. However, she no longer had a good impression of Gao Shen’s family.

Jiang Min was inwardly shocked. She hadn't expected her brother-in-law’s family to be even more heartless than her own parents. At least she hadn't been kicked out. Or wait—if she lost her value, perhaps she would be cast out of her home too?

A bitter feeling welled up in Jiang Min’s heart, but she shook her head. She should learn from her brother-in-law and make herself stronger, just like he had.

After hearing the account, Liu Gang was furious. "Company Commander, why didn't you notify me when you were injured? I could have come to take care of you! It’s not like you don't have brothers! Why suffer alone here? Look at this run-down yard, it’s not even as good as my home!"

Hearing this, Gao Shen curled his lips slightly. He knew Liu Gang was concerned and angry that he had kept it a secret, but at the time, hearing that he was crippled, he had given up on himself. How could he think of burdening his brothers?

However, thinking about it now, he had to thank the military and his family. If not for their actions, how could he have met his Qingxin?

Perhaps this was what the elders called a blessing in disguise. He was content and filled with gratitude.