Chapter 480 It's True Without a Doubt
The trickle of water was gentle and quiet, leaving two hot tear marks on Gu Mengzhen's face, which made him feel moved and guilty.
I feel touched by my stepfather's caring attitude; I also feel guilty for misunderstanding and wrongly accusing him.
For the first time in his life, he felt that his heart was dark and his whole body was dirty, unlike his uncle Zhuang, who was as white as jade.
At this moment, he suddenly understood why people in the world like good people and hate evil people.
Not to mention them, even he, a cunning guy, likes kind people.
Seeing him crying, Zhuang Zhe's eyes were filled with deep sorrow.
"Zhen'er, don't cry."
"It's my fault. I came too late and caused Madam and you to suffer so much. Look at your defensiveness. It was caused by me. It's my fault that I failed to protect you."
As soon as these words came out, Gu Mengzhen burst into tears.
"Uncle Zhuang, I'm sorry..."
Zhuang Zhe patted his shoulder to comfort him, and the two of them got along as equals, like good friends.
"It's me who should apologize to you."
"Zhen'er, I'm sorry."
Knowing that he deliberately lowered his posture, Gu Mengzhen felt deeply touched and filled with warmth.
"Uncle Zhuang, thank you very much."
Zhuang Zhe smiled helplessly, with a kind face and a gentle expression, consistent in his words and deeds.
"Why thank you?"
"Zhen'er, remember, no matter what I do for you, it's what I should do."
"You and I have no blood relationship in this life, but we do have feelings for each other. In my heart, you are my beloved son, no different from Shao'er."
"It's natural for a father to love his children, so you don't have to thank me. As long as I see you carefree and smiling, I will be satisfied."
He thought for a moment and then added.
"If you really want to thank someone, I should be the one to thank you."
"Thank you for not opposing my wife's marriage to me; thank you for loving Shao'er for so many years; thank you for accepting me and calling me Uncle Zhuang."
Gu Mengzhen sobbed and trembled slightly, and his white teeth chattered.
"Uncle Zhuang, you are so kind."
"No wonder people all over the world praise you for your kindness."
"I always thought that all good people were hypocrites; that stepfathers and stepmothers all had bad intentions; I never knew that there were such good people as you in the world."
Zhuang Zhe took out the silk handkerchief he carried with him and wiped his tears with his own hands.
Because his wife loved to cry, he always kept a silk handkerchief ready. He never expected that it would come in handy at Zhen'er's place today.
"Zhen'er, you are so kind."
"Whether I am kind or not is just a false reputation. I am no different from ordinary people."
"I just thought that since I have become your stepfather, I must fulfill my mission and duties, strive to have a clear conscience, and resolutely not let you down. You may not have seen it with your own eyes, but other stepfathers and stepmothers are the same, and they are many times better than me."
"My humble thoughts are indeed insignificant."
Gu Mengzhen shook his head and disagreed.
"Uncle Zhuang, you are wrong. They are definitely not like that. Only you are so good."
Zhuangzhe is kind and cheerful, Yuanzhi and Lilan are charming.
"You have a kind heart, so you can understand my kindness."
"Speaking of this will make you cry. A man crying is a joke to others."
"Let's change the subject."
He reached into his sleeve, took out a brocade box and handed it over.
"I came here today to give you a birthday present for your eighteenth birthday."
"The relationship between you and my wife is not known to others. We have never been able to attend your birthday party. We can only come to you in secret or at an earlier or later date. This is something I owe you. I only give you a small gift to express my apology and blessings. I hope you don't mind."
Gu Mengzhen carefully took the brocade box and held it in his palm like a treasure.
Every year on my birthday, Uncle Zhuang would emphasize again that he would not be able to attend the birthday party.
I remember he said that it was to express his regret and to remind himself that Zhen'er was still in Gu's house. Many people in Gu's house treated her coldly, so he had to work hard to help his wife win the right to raise her and save Zhen'er from the sad place.
Although these words are repeated, Gu Mengzhen feels differently moved every year.
"Why would I feel guilty about this? Why would I feel disgusted?"
"Uncle Zhuang's gift, I treasure it very much."
Hearing that he claimed to have changed, Zhuang Zhe was slightly surprised.
Only when facing his parents will he call himself a child. Is Zhen'er recognizing him?
After six years of hard work, there was finally a result, and Zhuang Zhe cried with joy.
"Just cherish it, and like it. Zhen'er's filial piety moved the heavens. He can be called the most filial son in Yuesheng."
Gu Mengzhen followed suit with a smile, and there were ripples of clear spring water between them due to his happiness.
"If you like gifts, you are filial. Uncle Zhuang is very easy to please."
As his smile spread, Zhuang Zhe sensed a tear. He looked embarrassed and quickly rolled up his sleeves to wipe away his tears.
"Look at me, crying and wailing. I'm such a mess. I'm setting a bad example for you. You can't blame me for crying."
"Be good, Zhen'er, don't learn my cowardly behavior."
As he spoke, he urged with some anticipation.
"Take a quick look at this year's gifts and see if you like them."
Gu Mengzhen opened the brocade box and was slightly startled.
"Jade ring?"
He never uses a ring, so why would Uncle Zhuang suddenly come up with the idea of buying one as a gift?
Zhuang Zhe smiled and spoke slowly.
"The other day, I was walking around the market with my wife. We passed by your favorite store, so we went in to pick out a birthday gift for you. I heard from the clerk that Master Gu had just left and said that you loved this jade ring very much. Unfortunately, I was short of money, so I had to reluctantly give it up and say goodbye to you."
"I was just wondering what to give you, and fortunately the clerk gave me some good advice, so I bought this and gave it to you."
Gu Mengzhen was partly anxious and partly angry.
"Oh, Uncle Zhuang has been deceived."
Zhuang Zhe put away his smile and was also stunned.
"how you said that?"
Gu Mengzhen answered with a question in return, full of anger.
"I haven't been to the market for more than a month. How could I have ever seen a jade ring that I liked?"
"Which fellow is so greedy and bold as to lie to you? Please let me know, Uncle Zhuang, and I will go and settle the score with him right away."
Zhuang Zhe was at a loss and tried to stop him in a hurry.
"It's not a big deal, don't be impulsive."
"To put it bluntly, isn't he just looking for a living? We are a noble family, so we should be more understanding and lenient towards the common people."
Gu Mengzhen refuted it sternly.
"If you dare to deceive an official appointed by the imperial court, you are a criminal, not a commoner."
Zhuang Zhe was timid and didn't want to make a big deal out of it.
"Forget it, just consider it as giving me some face, okay?"
Gu Mengzhen was indignant.
"Uncle Zhuang is always so considerate, so he dares to bully you with just a servant like him."
"Please tell me which store and which clerk it is. If you don't tell me, I will go and ask mother."
Zhuang Zhe asked in confusion.
"Do you mean to put him in jail?"
Gu Mengzhen responded solemnly.
"Well, it must be closed and never condoned."
Zhuang Zhe nodded happily and accepted his kindness.
"Okay, I'll do as you say."
After the lawsuit, Gu Mengzhen realized that Uncle Zhuang's so-called "not much money" actually cost him two years of savings. Not only did the clerk make up the story, he also raised the price, took advantage of his honesty, and then did whatever he wanted.
As ugly as the fellow is, as noble as Uncle Zhuang is.
After this incident, he became even more clear-headed. He knew that Uncle Zhuang treated him well with sincerity.