Madam Song was at her wit’s end!

Her son was curious but instead of asking, he just made wild guesses and refused to speak up.

Rather than questioning Xia Xiaolan directly talking to his father, or even following his father around to observe, he was just absent-mindedly playing tourist. How hard would it have been to speak up?

Mao Guosheng’s courage was truly only the size of a quail’s egg.

The Cultural Revolution had traumatized this son.

No, she couldn’t blame everything on the Cultural Revolution. Everyone had their personality, and compared to his siblings, Guosheng had never been the bold type from childhood. Unlike his mischievous first and second brothers, when it came time to arrange jobs for the children, she and Old Mao had discussed keeping Guosheng by their side. Among all their children, only Guosheng remained at the Provincial Construction Institute.

Right under Mao Kangshan’s nose, to prevent this child from being afraid, and to have someone to fall back on if things went wrong.

But plans couldn’t keep up with changes. In the blink of an eye, everything changed, and Guosheng, who stayed at the Provincial Construction Institute, not only failed to receive protection but was traumatized instead.

Madam Song didn’t know what to say to Mao Guosheng anymore.

As his mother, how could she not know what was going on in her own son’s mind?

Guosheng had issues with his father!

They were family – if he had complaints, he should just speak up. Madam Song didn’t know how else to deal with her son anymore.

When it came to exchanging houses, she and Old Mao had done that too.

If they didn’t love their children, Old Mao would have cursed Guosheng until he bled with his temperament.

They both knew their daughter-in-law Zheng Shuqin was full of schemes, but weren’t they enduring it?

It was only because Old Mao had been sent to the cowshed back then, and her thoughts were all with her husband, that she hadn’t noticed the true character of their newly married daughter-in-law in time.

Mao Guosheng stammered, unable to speak.

Madam Song had lost interest in sightseeing as well.

“Forget it, the weather is too hot. Let’s go back to the hotel.”

Suspecting Little Xia of having ill intentions?

Who would come offering genuine gold and silver just to harm the Mao family?

Madam Song trusted her husband’s judgment, and she wasn’t blind herself. Little Xia wasn’t just spending money on her and Old Mao, but also showing genuine care.

If she didn’t care, why would she bring Guosheng to Pengcheng?

Madam Song was grateful for Xia Xiaolan’s good intentions – she was trying to help father and son resolve their estrangement!

It was just that Guosheng was being useless. Little Xia had set up everything, yet Guosheng was still being timid.

They had only explored half of Xiangmi Lake when Madam Song said she wanted to return. Ge Jian, who was acting as the driver, was surprised:

“Miss Xia wanted you to stay at the resort for a few days, and you could spend the nights here too. But if you want to return to the hotel, I’ll get the car ready.”

Stay for a few days?

This resort had both a lively water park and peaceful accommodations.

If it weren’t for Mao Guosheng being so anxious, Madam Song would have really liked to stay for a few days.

“Little Ge, why don’t you drive me to find Little Xia? These past two days she’s been inseparable from my old man, I’m worried his temper might scare her.”

With her son being so hesitant, Madam Song had to speak up herself.

After saying this, she was afraid Ge Jian would laugh at her – she had thrown away her pride!

Fortunately, Ge Jian was naturally quiet and usually expressionless. Perhaps following Xia Xiaolan’s instructions, he went along with whatever Madam Song wanted. Without any hesitation, Ge Jian said:

“Then I’ll take you there. Miss Xia and Old Mao have been at the construction site these past two days.”

Mao Guosheng’s ears perked up – what construction site?

But being a man of few words was Ge Jian’s trademark. After saying that one sentence, he didn’t continue, driving Mao Guosheng crazy with curiosity!

Madam Song didn’t ask further either.

Who told Guosheng not to ask himself? Madam Song intentionally let her son stew in his anxiety.

Ge Jian drove them from Xiangmi Lake to the Nanhai Hotel.

The Nanhai Hotel’s renovation had started in June, and now after more than two months, the infinity pool was finished, while other areas were still under renovation. The site was dusty, with interior and exterior renovations happening simultaneously. People from Huajian and Yuanhui were mixed – this kind of construction site was something Mao Guosheng, who stayed at the Provincial Construction Institute, rarely saw.

He mostly just drew plans.

Because of his poor communication skills and lack of courage, even for projects he had designed, he never got to visit the actual sites.

Fortunately, his father was Mao Kangshan, so no one at the Provincial Construction Institute dared to steal credit for his work. Otherwise, he would have been like those young people at the Hubei Provincial Architectural Design Institute who were exploited by Nie Weiguo, always working for free for others.

Such a site…

Madam Song murmured, “Little Xia has it tough.”

Looking at such a delicate young lady, who would have thought she could stay constantly at such a messy construction site?

As Mao Guosheng looked around, Liu Yong, wearing a safety helmet, came running over:

“Teacher Song’s wife, why did you come here? Ah, it’s so messy here! Ge Jian, didn’t Xiaolan tell you to show Teacher Song’s wife around Pengcheng properly?”

Mao Guosheng recognized Liu Yong.

The day they arrived in Pengcheng, Liu Yong had treated their family to dinner.

Liu Yong was Xia Xiaolan’s uncle.

Looking at the busy construction site, Mao Guosheng wasn’t sure about Liu Yong’s position.

Right, how had Liu Yong introduced himself that day? He said he did home renovations… Of course, the building before them was also for people to live in, but it was massive and unusual.

“What’s being built here?”

Mao Guosheng finally couldn’t help but ask: “Where are my father and Little Xia?”

Liu Yong pulled out a cigarette and offered it to him, “Have a smoke, have a smoke. It’s all because of that girl Xiaolan calling people whatever she wants, messing up our generational order. Let’s each stick to our terms and ignore her way of addressing people. Brother Guosheng, this is the Nanhai Hotel, invested in by Hong Kong people. My small company got some renovation work too, thanks to Xiaolan’s renovation proposal being approved by the Hong Kong investors. They allowed my company to work alongside Huajian’s people on the hotel renovation. Of course, Huajian has the majority of the project, we’re just getting the leftover soup.”

Liu Yong spoke humbly.

But as he spoke, several groups of people came to seek his decisions, all referring to him as Boss Liu.

Watching from the side, Mao Guosheng couldn’t believe Liu Yong was just “getting leftover soup.”

So Little Xia’s confidence came from her uncle?

The uncle’s business seemed quite substantial…

Mao Guosheng quietly noted this in his mind.

Liu Yong finally finished his business. “Teacher Song’s wife, Old Teacher Mao, and Xiaolan have been wandering all over the site these days. You and Brother Guosheng should rest in the work shed first, it’s too dusty here. I’ll ask Old Teacher Mao to come over. Ah, Teacher Song’s wife, please advise Old Teacher Mao too – I don’t mind him teaching Xiaolan knowledge, but I’m worried about him getting too tired.”

The workshed was simple.

But being slightly far from the construction site, it had less dust.

After a while, Xia Xiaolan and Mao Kangshan came over wearing safety helmets.

Mao Kangshan had a dark expression, “What are you doing coming to the construction site? This is nonsense!”

Mao Kangshan had gotten addicted to teaching his students these past two days, and being suddenly interrupted put him in a bad mood. Fortunately, it was Madam Song – if it had been anyone else, Mao Kangshan’s temper would have been worse.

Madam Song pointed at Mao Guosheng, “Your son was worried that Little Xia was deceiving you, so I brought him to see for himself.”

Mao Guosheng gaped – what was his mother doing, how could she just blurt out the truth like that?!