I Have Decided to Go Look for My Father

“Then, Uncle Zhou, you should remind Grandpa that he shouldn’t hang too much stuff on it. The tree just might get crushed.” It was, after all, a tree that was “tied” to her future. It just might not hold up much longer at this rate.

The Gu family today was very ceremonious. The dishes on the table could rival a holiday meal.

The Little Uncle of the Gu family merely mumbled a “so exaggerated” and he got a stare from Old Mr. Gu.

“What’s so exaggerating about it?” Old Mr. Gu hrumphed. “She did well in her examinations so, naturally, we would need to celebrate. This is our Gu family’s tradition. We award the good and punish the bad.”

Gu Xian, upon hearing that, “……” The three of them were quite outstanding and got their fair shares of #1s. How come Old Mr. Gu never celebrated those with them?

When they made a mistake, however, the punishments from Old Mr. Gu would startle the neighbors!

Old Mr. Gu was the classic case of being fond of the second generation down.

***

The father and daughter stayed over at the main residence that night.

Returning to the room that was her, Gu Xi noticed that there seemed to be more clothes and stuffed animals in her room than the previous time that she was there.

When she heard knocking on the door, Gu Xi assumed it was Gu Chenyi and the others. When she opened the door, it was Gu Shao outside of her room.

“Dad?”

“You did well on your examinations,” said Gu Shao.

Ever since they had left the school, then went to the technology center to talk business, then to the main residence, all night long and Gu Shao had yet to have an opportunity to opine of Gu Xi’s academic performance.

Gu Xi couldn’t even help her smile when she heard Gu Shao said that to her.

She didn’t know why either but, when she heard Gu Shao saying that she had one well, she was happier than receiving 39 exercise books, or that the class teacher praised her at the parent-teacher conference, or when her grandfather and uncles and uncles praising her.

Looking at the look on Gu Xi, Gu Shao’s smile deepened some more, and he asked, “What would you like as a reward?”

As he said that, Gu Shao suddenly recalled how much the girl liked money and he had a bad feeling.

She wouldn’t ask for money, would she?

Thought Gu Shao to himself.

Lo and behold, the very next second, he heard Gu Xi asking, “I can ask for anything?”

“Yes.” Gu Shao nodded and added, “As long as it won’t affect your study.”

“What about cash?” Gu Xi looked up at Gu Shao, her eyes sparkling.

Old Mr. Gu had given her, Gu Yanxiao and Gu Chenyi each a big red envelope.

Judging from the thickness of the envelopes, the amount most likely corresponded with their performances at school.

Gu Xi planned to deposit it at the bank tomorrow.

If Gu Shao, too, would give her a big red envelope, she could deposit them at the same time!

Gu Shao, “……”

“No, think of something else,” said Gu Shao.

Gu Xi was taken aback a little when she heard that. All she wanted was money. She didn’t seem to have any desires besides that.

Gu Xi lowered her head and thought about it some. Suddenly, she got one. Looking back to Gu Shao, she said excitedly, “I got one.”

“What is it?”

“Come watch us at the ‘Youth Innovation Competition’!” After the re-evaluation, Gu Xi’s team had moved onto the final round of the competition.

The final round was opened to the public and each team would have their own area to display their own topics and concepts.

Meaning to say that even parents and families could go and visit as regular visitors in addition to professionals and judges that were invited.

Gu Xi, “But it is alright if you don’t have time.”

Gu Shao, “Sure I do.”

Pausing, he added, “I’ll be there.”

He would be there regardless of what he had planned that day.

Added Gu Shao in his mind.

With Gu Shao’s response, the smile on Gu Xi brightened. She was delighted.

As though something had occurred to her, Gu Xi looked over at Gu Shao with a guilty conscience, “There’s this other competition……”