Read Novel Full Chapter 531: Does She Really Need This Family Love?
Chapter 531: Does She Really Need This Family Love?
While Jiang Ning was lost in thought, the car had already stopped in front of the independent courtyard.
The stone outer wall was about two meters high, but the courtyard itself was spacious—about five or six hundred square meters.
In the middle of the courtyard was a mobile home with a total of five rooms, and a solar panel was installed on the roof.
This was the home of the head of the Fengcheng base.
Before the natural disaster, it could be considered a construction site shed, but after the natural disaster, it was already considered top-level treatment.
One of the rooms had its light on, and when a sound was heard from outside, someone quickly walked out.
She had short hair, dark pants, and a light-colored short-sleeved shirt and looked about forty years old. “Old Gu, did you pick up Jiang Ning?”
Jiang Ning was slightly surprised—it turned out to be Shu Xueqing.
Judging by her casual outfit, it seemed she and Gu Tinglin had finally become a couple.
In the dim night, Gu Tinglin’s expression was unclear. “Mm.”
Shu Xueqing came over enthusiastically and wanted to help carry their bags, but she was frightened by something that jumped out of the darkness and quickly took two steps back.
Secretary He explained, “Sister Shu, these are the wolf and dog raised by Jiang Ning.”
Raising a wolf and a dog in the end times? Shu Xueqing was surprised, but then she thought Jiang Ning must be living a good life. As long as Jiang Ning didn’t suffer, Old Gu could rest assured.
There were only two large hiking bags, both carried by Huo Yishen.
“Jiang Ning, you are finally here,” Shu Xueqing said with a smile as she walked forward. “It’s good to be reunited. Old Gu has been worried about you for the past two years.”
She led the group into the house. “I have cleaned up the house. Come in quickly.”
The house was not big, with an iron bed more than one meter wide. The sheets, quilts, and pillows were all new.
This was the leader’s home. Ordinary people couldn’t even get slightly used towels, which showed how much they cared about this.
Jiang Ning didn’t have a strong impression of Shu Xueqing, whether good or bad, but the idea that she could be a partner to Gu Tinglin and look after each other seemed like a good thing.
The house had five rooms: a master bedroom, a kitchen, a study, and two other rooms sometimes used for work or meetings, one of which was now allocated to Jiang Ning and her family.
Shu Xueqing had cleaned the room meticulously.
Worried she hadn’t shown enough care, she kindly said, “You must be hungry. I’ll go make some food.”
Jiang Ning stopped her. “We’ve eaten.”
It was Shu Xueqing’s first time being a stepmother, and she was really nervous, afraid she wouldn’t do it right.
Back at the base, Jiang Ning had been distant even from her biological father, let alone an outsider like her.
Standing next to Gu Tinglin, Shu Xueqing didn’t speak rashly. Instead, she observed the atmosphere between the father and daughter.
However, Jiang Ning didn’t speak, and Gu Tinglin didn’t know what to say either. After a long silence, he managed to say, “Jiang Ning, if you need anything, let your Aunt Xueqing know tomorrow.”
Jiang Ning replied calmly, “Everything is fine.”
Since they didn’t want to eat and nothing was missing, Gu Tinglin simply said, “It’s getting late, so you should rest early today.”
Shu Xueqing was very considerate. “I’ll boil some water so you can freshen up and sleep more comfortably.”
With a thermos of hot water mixed with some cold water, she quickly brought it over.
Huo Yishen thanked her and walked his father-in-law out.
It is unknown what the two talked about in the yard, but he came back several minutes later and did not forget to close the door.
Tired and covered in dust and sweat, the stickiness felt very uncomfortable.
Jiang Ning took Doudou into the space to take a bath first.
After washing, Doudou took Bai Xue and Coke to the next room to rest.
After turning off the lights, Jiang Ning entered the space with Huo Yishen for their turn.
After coming out and lying on the bed, Jiang Ning finally asked, “What did he say to you?”
“He asked how you’ve been these past years and told me to take good care of you.”
It was clear that Gu Tinglin cared about Jiang Ning, but the father-daughter relationship was so strained that he didn’t know how to express his concern. He also feared upsetting her.
Although she was exhausted and sore, Jiang Ning was not sleepy at all. “Did you promise him?”
“You’re my wife, and it is natural for me to take care of you.” Huo Yishen hugged her in his arms. “But he really does care about you.”
Jiang Ning rebelled in her heart. “Are you taking his side?”
Huo Yishen chuckled helplessly. “Anning, whether you choose to go or stay, I will respect your decision. But if you don’t mind him caring about you, I hope you’ll give him a chance.”
Humans are emotional beings. Even though she had lived two lifetimes, Jiang Ning still had her regrets.
“Even without Chief Gu, you can live well, but I hope your life can be more complete—just as you gave me a chance back then. There’s no need to rush to reject his care.”
After all, having one more person in the world who cares about her isn’t a bad thing.
Most importantly, he felt that Jiang Ning needed this family affection.
Her character wasn’t as sharp as it had been back then, but there were still many flaws, mostly caused by her parents not being around when she was younger.
If it were possible to make up for it, the remaining years of her life would likely be much happier.
“Of course, if you’re really against it, we can leave at any time.”
Jiang Ning didn’t respond. She lay there with her eyes open, staring at the dark ceiling, trying to figure out what she really wanted.
Does she really need this family affection?
On the other side, Gu Tinglin was lying on the bed but did not feel sleepy at all.
Shu Xueqing was worried that she hadn’t done enough. “Old Gu, Jiang Ning should have lived well in the past two years. I’m afraid she won’t be used to the food at home. How about I make some porridge tomorrow morning?”
“Okay.” Gu Tinglin wasn’t skilled in cooking. “Jiang Ning and Huo Yishen are both capable. They must be doing fine. The conditions at the base are a bit rough now. I’ll have the guards send over some supplies tomorrow.”
Shu Xueqing was uncertain. “She’s new here; do you need me to accompany her around?”
But the hospital had just started, and there were many things to do.
Gu Tinglin stopped her. “No need. She’s used to being independent.”
Jiang Ning grew up in an orphanage. She was independent and had a distant personality. Her environment made her uncomfortable with people who were too close or overly friendly.
Too much is as bad as too little.
Thinking of the suffering she had endured due to the absence of her parents and the harm Song Yaling had caused her, Gu Tinglin felt very guilty. If he had investigated more deeply at the time, he might have uncovered the truth that Song Yaling had concealed.
But later, at the base, he worked tirelessly to help more survivors, and yet he couldn’t even protect his only daughter.
Gu Tinglin felt mixed emotions and couldn’t sleep.
Shu Xueqing consoled him. “The past cannot be undone. Now that you and your daughter are reunited, you can make up for what she lost before.
“Everyone has a heart of flesh. As long as you treat her well, she will feel it. Don’t rush. Take it slow.”
Gu Tinglin hoped so, but the thought of Jiang Ning’s past left him feeling more unsettled.
***
In a daze, Jiang Ning was awakened by the military training in the distance.
The loud, energetic voices made her feel as if she had been transported back to the time before the disaster.
Stretching lazily, Jiang Ning noticed the sky was just beginning to brighten, but there was already movement in the yard.
The house was not very soundproof, and Shu Xueqing had already gotten up to do housework and make breakfast.
The ruthless wolf and dog also opened the door by themselves and started playing and running around in the yard.
Jiang Ning was used to sleeping in, but since this wasn’t her home, she didn’t want to laze around too long.
The two changed their clothes and opened the door. Shu Xueqing was busy in the kitchen. She had even prepared towels and toothbrushes, though there was no toothpaste, so they could use salt instead.
She reminded them, “The sea isn’t too far from here, and the well water doesn’t taste great. It might have parasites, so it’s best to boil it before drinking.”
The land had only risen a little over a year ago, and the ocean still carried ancient viruses. No one knew the quality of the water from underground sources, and many had suffered stomach pains after drinking it.
With Gu Tinglin’s special status, his family’s living conditions were better than most. They had solar panels for electricity, and Shu Xueqing cooked carefully, making sure to check everything that went into their mouths.
This was the best condition at the base, but it still couldn’t compare to what Jiang Ning was used to. Nonetheless, she didn’t complain and accepted things as they were.
Shu Xueqing’s inner thoughts weren’t clear, but at least she handled things perfectly on the surface.
After washing up, they sat down for breakfast.
There was porridge, boiled potatoes and sweet potatoes, canned meat, canned fermented soybeans, and a plate of fish cakes.
The soil was barren, and crops didn’t grow well. The sweet potatoes were small and tasted poor.
Even so, it wasn’t something that ordinary people could eat every day.
Let alone the porridge.
Fengcheng Base had dry rice fields, but the weather was harsh, and pest infestations were frequent. Even when managed well, an acre of dry rice yielded less than 200 pounds, not even enough to keep seeds for planting the next batch.
Shu Xueqing likely didn’t eat it often, but she had prepared it for Jiang Ning.
The canned food was also made before the ocean was polluted, and there probably wasn’t much left at the base.
Jiang Ning didn’t say anything, but she noticed everything.
She drank the porridge and didn’t touch anything else.
Shu Xueqing was very enthusiastic, constantly encouraging her to try this and that.
Jiang Ning just nodded but never moved her chopsticks.
The wolf-hearted dog hadn’t eaten anything last night, and now they were hungry, so they ran in to ask Jiang Ning for food.
“Woof!”
“Ah…woo…”
The whole breakfast was the greatest effort Shu Xueqing could offer, but Jiang Ning didn’t touch anything except the porridge.
Either she was being dismissive or didn’t like the food or their company.
Trying to please her, Shu Xueqing took a sweet potato and offered it to the wolf-hearted dog.
But they didn’t even glance at it…