Who doesn’t yearn to be cherished deeply?
Mom’s happiness lifted the spirits of Xingxing and Yueyue as well.
By evening, it was time for the awards ceremony.
The event was held in the auditorium of the Huansha Island military base.
Sheng Zexi, Xingxing, and Yueyue all received awards, earning honorary medals.
Amber also took the stage, representing herself and her four pups as she accepted the honorary medals.
As the medals were draped around her neck, she knew most of them were meant for her pups.
Her pups—though not yet official military dogs—had already earned honors through their outstanding performance.
Once they officially became military dogs, their achievements would surely surpass even hers. They would undoubtedly outshine their mother.
At this moment, Amber felt nothing but pride for her pups.
…
The awards ceremony was attended by many from the military base.
Naturally, the most unwelcome guests were also present.
Like Lin Chushi and his wife.
Gu Jianing could clearly see the envy in Lin Chushi’s eyes as he glared at her “Brother Xi.”
Zhang Qiumei, on the other hand, regarded them with an indifferent gaze, as if she had risen above such trivial matters.
Gu Jianing merely glanced at them, not bothering to pay them any further attention.
After the ceremony, their lives returned to peace.
Xingxing, Yueyue, and Amber received news from Sheng Zexi that the four pups were doing well at the military dog training base—highly regarded and thriving. This brought them all a sense of relief.
The atmosphere at home gradually improved.
After all, no matter how painful the separation, life had to go on.
It was already August, and Gu Jianing was now nine months pregnant.
They say pregnancy lasts ten months, and Gu Jianing was nearing her delivery date.
In August, the national college entrance exams were held again during the summer break.
For those who had already been admitted, it was summer vacation.
During this time, the third brother, Gu Yunzhou, who had been away for school, returned home.
Eldest sister-in-law Yang Manman also came back.
But this time, the eldest brother and his wife made a decision.
Yang Manman planned to take her husband and children to live in Haicheng.
However, this decision led to some disagreements within the family.
Soon, a phone call reached Gu Jianing.
“Ningning, you have no idea how much Haicheng has changed since the beginning of this year—it’s practically transforming month by month.”
“I can feel everything becoming freer, more open.”
“The authorities are even encouraging economic development. Nowadays, no one’s arresting small business owners anymore.”
“I even think private entrepreneurship might soon be fully legalized.”
“Ningning, you know what? I feel like we’re standing at the cusp of a new era. We have to seize this rare opportunity.”
“I’m not entirely sure what your eldest brother and I will do in Haicheng at first, but I believe opportunities will come—plenty of them.”
“Your eldest brother—he’s no less capable than I am. I think he deserves more room to grow.”
…
Over the phone, Gu Jianing listened to her sister-in-law’s excited words.
She could sense Yang Manman’s fervor and enthusiasm.
It surprised her how keen her sister-in-law’s instincts were. As someone reborn, Gu Jianing already knew how the future would unfold.
But Yang Manman didn’t.
Her sister-in-law was analyzing everything purely based on the present, using her observations and intuition to foresee the coming changes.
As Yang Manman spoke, she suddenly realized she was the only one talking.
Ningning hadn’t said a word.
Could it be…
“Ningning, you don’t think I’m just spouting nonsense, do you?” Yang Manman asked cautiously.
She valued Gu Jianing’s opinion greatly.
Her sister-in-law’s judgment was something she deeply respected.
And it wasn’t just her—the entire family did.
So, Yang Manman really hoped to win her sister-in-law’s approval.
Just as she was growing anxious, Gu Jianing finally spoke.
“Of course not, Sister-in-law. I think your foresight is amazing.”
“You’re really impressive.”
“I also believe in our country’s future economic development. I agree with everything you’ve said.”
Yang Manman’s heart leaped with joy. “So… Ningning, you support your eldest brother going to Haicheng with me to seek opportunities?”
“But if he comes with me, he’ll have to resign from his job at the steel factory.”
“That’s an iron rice bowl we’re talking about.”
This was the harsh reality staring them in the face.
And it was precisely what Yao Chunhua and Old Man Gu were worried about.
A position as a steel factory clerk was stable, secure—an iron rice bowl that could even be passed down to future generations.
Back when the eldest son had landed this job, it had caused a sensation in the village. Everyone remembered it.
That alone showed just how precious this job was.
“Sister-in-law, let me talk to Mom and Dad. I’ll convince them,” Gu Jianing said.
“Ah, yes, of course!”
Soon, the matriarch of the family, Yao Chunhua, took the call. Old Man Gu listened in beside her.
At first, Yao Chunhua didn’t bring up the eldest son and his wife’s plans. Instead, she asked about Gu Jianing’s current condition.
“Ah, if it weren’t for your second sister-in-law also being heavily pregnant, I’d go to Huansha Island to take care of you during your confinement.”
Yes, Second Sister-in-law Su Miao was also expecting.
She was already over seven months along, entering the late stages of pregnancy.
But her pregnancy hadn’t been smooth.
That was why Yao Chunhua was worried.
Torn between her second daughter-in-law and her own daughter, she felt deeply conflicted.
“Don’t worry, Mom. Brother Xi’s grandmother will come to take care of me. You just focus on Second Sister-in-Law.”
“Pay close attention to her condition. When the time comes, if there’s any difficulty, make sure she takes the smooth delivery pill I gave you.”
“Mm, I understand, I understand.”
Gu Jianing was well aware of her second sister-in-law’s pregnancy complications.
She hadn’t expected that, in this life, things would unfold the same way as in her past one.
This pregnancy was proving just as difficult as before.
She was afraid it might end in a difficult birth, like last time.
But this time, with the smooth delivery pill and her repeated reminders to her mother, things should turn out fine.
After discussing this, mother and daughter moved on to the matter of the eldest brother and his wife.
“Ningning, it’s not that we don’t want your brother to leave home. If he has a better opportunity, we’d support him.”
“But… is going to Haicheng really better than keeping his job as a steel factory clerk?”
“That’s an iron rice bowl—something that can last a lifetime!”
Gu Jianing wasn’t surprised by her parents’ concerns.
In truth, it wasn’t just them. Many people caught in the tides of this era thought the same way.
But…
“Mom, Dad… what if one day, that ‘iron rice bowl’ isn’t so ironclad anymore?”
“What if the steel mill goes bankrupt one day?”
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