“The road—our villagers have already given it a name,” said the village secretary with a smile.
After confirming that Gu Jianing would fund the road construction, he had gathered the villagers to share the news, mainly to ensure they would remember this kindness.
Only by learning gratitude can people thrive in the future.
Upon hearing the news, the villagers were deeply moved. Someone soon proposed a name for the road, which was then unanimously agreed upon.
“Once this road is built, it will be called Anning Road.”
“Ning,” of course, comes from Gu Jianing’s name. “Anning” (安宁) also carries a beautiful meaning—peace and tranquility.
Gu Jianing hadn’t expected that her simple act of building a road for her hometown would lead to the villagers naming it after her. She understood this was their way of expressing gratitude.
Truthfully, Gu Jianing didn’t mind whether the road bore her name, but since the villagers had decided, she saw no reason to object.
“Alright, then it’s settled.”
As construction on the road began, Gu Jianing and her family of four were about to embark on their journey to the eastern islands.
The Gu family was reluctant to see them go.
Zhuangzhuang and the other children were especially heartbroken at the thought of parting with Xingxing and Yueyue, bursting into tears upon learning of their departure.
Yao Chunhua, Old Man Gu, Gu Yunting, and the others accompanied them to the train station to see them off.
Yao Chunhua clung tightly to Gu Jianing, unwilling to let go, her eyes red-rimmed.
“Who knows how long it’ll be before we see each other again after this farewell.”
“I thought a month at home would feel like a long time, but now it feels like it passed in the blink of an eye.”
Gu Jianing hugged her mother back, savoring the warmth and familiar scent. “Mom, don’t worry. We’ll come back whenever we have the chance.”
Gu Jianing cherished every moment with her family. For a married daughter, each return to her parents’ home meant one fewer reunion in the future. How could she not treasure it? How could she not want to come back?
Her reluctance was palpable. In the end, it was Yao Chunhua who composed herself first, even comforting Gu Jianing in turn.
Then she hugged Xingxing and Yueyue.
“Xingxing, Yueyue, you must take good care of your mom, understand?”
“Grandpa, Grandma, we will!”
“Good children, such good children.”
At that moment, Gu Yunzhou stepped forward and looked at Sheng Zexi. “Zexi, is your transfer to the eastern islands only for a year?”
“Yes, that’s the plan. After a year, I’ll likely be transferred to the capital.”
“Third Brother, focus on your studies. Didn’t you say you wanted to get into Capital University? Go ahead and wait for us there. In a year, once Zexi is transferred to the capital, we can all reunite.” Gu Jianing handed him a key. “This is for a courtyard house I own near Capital University. You’re welcome to stay there if you need to.”
“And Sister-in-law…”
Gu Jianing turned to Gu Yunting. “Big Brother, I’m not sure about Sister-in-law’s academic level or which university she might get into. But if she ends up in the capital and needs a place, she’s welcome to stay there too.”
Gu Yunting nodded. “We’ll see. If your sister-in-law gets into a university in another city, I’ve been thinking of moving there with the kids once she’s settled.”
It wasn’t that he distrusted Yang Manman. Rather, Gu Yunting sensed that since last year, the political climate had been shifting—becoming more open.
He believed bigger cities and new opportunities lay beyond their small village of Huaihua.
He had no intention of staying confined here.
He wanted to give his wife and children a better life.
Gu Yunting shared his thoughts.
Gu Jianing hadn’t expected her eldest brother to be so forward-thinking. Indeed, the coming era would be one of boundless opportunities—gold could practically be found everywhere, and fortunes would be made with ease.
“Big Brother, I support your idea. I believe you can definitely succeed.”
“Whatever you need, just let us know. We’re siblings, born of the same parents. Helping each other is only natural.”
Gu Yunting gently patted her head, his eyes filled with warmth. “Mm, I know.”
After hugging everyone, saying their goodbyes, and exchanging heartfelt reminders, Gu Jianing’s family of four finally boarded the train.
Only when the train began moving and the figures on the platform faded from sight did Yao Chunhua and Old Man Gu finally let their tears fall.
They had held back earlier, afraid that seeing their sorrow would make Gu Jianing even more reluctant to leave.
Gu Yunting watched his parents’ tears, then turned his gaze to the departing train. “Mom, Dad, let’s go home. I believe Little Sister’s family will thrive.”
“We can’t lag behind either. We must seize the opportunities ahead and build up the Gu family. We’ll always be her strongest support.”
Old Man Gu and Yao Chunhua nodded immediately, their focus shifting somewhat. “Yes, our family must grow stronger too. If Ningning ever needs us, we’ll be there to help. Even if we can’t, at the very least, we’ll always stand firmly behind her!”
…
Meanwhile, on the train, Xingxing and Yueyue were also feeling down.
The two little ones had red-rimmed eyes—clearly, they, too, were reluctant to part with their grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, and the others.
Though they had only spent a month together, children bond quickly, especially when connected by blood.
Eventually, Sheng Zexi pulled out a new storybook and began reading to them, slowly diverting their attention.
The journey to the eastern islands would take just a day and a night by train.
However, after the train ride, they still needed to board a ship, cross a stretch of sea, and finally arrive at their destination—a garrisoned island called Huansha Island.
Sheng Zexi told stories to the children while Gu Jianing checked the weather forecast.
Since she was on a moving train, the forecast updated based on her changing location.
For now, she couldn’t pull up the weather for Huansha Island.
But from what she’d heard, the climate there wasn’t ideal.
In the peak of summer, temperatures could soar past 40°C, sometimes even higher. Winters, however, were relatively mild, rarely dropping below freezing.
Because of this, Huansha Island never saw snow.
But…
Being an island surrounded by vast stretches of ocean, it was frequently hit by typhoons. Whenever a major typhoon struck, the impact on Huansha Island—its residents, the stationed soldiers, and their missions—could be severe.
That was why Gu Jianing felt the weather forecast ability she possessed was especially valuable.
“Do the islanders make their living by fishing?” Gu Jianing asked Sheng Zexi.
He nodded. “Yes. As the saying goes, ‘Depend on the mountain to eat from the mountain, depend on the sea to eat from the sea.’ There isn’t much arable land there, so fishing is their only option.”
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