Rebirth: Splendid Marriage in the 80s Chapter 2311 - 2247: Not as Good as a Granddaughter

The speed of his promotion wasn't what troubled her; instead, she couldn't help but wonder, "Big brother, when will you finally stop going on these missions so you can spend more time by my side?"

She kept these feelings hidden, of course. The thought merely flickered through her mind for a fleeting moment.

In Jiang Xiao’s eyes, Meng Xinian belonged in the field, navigating through the chaos of gunfire and explosions. It wasn't that she lacked concern for his safety, but rather she felt his unique skills and temperament were perfectly suited for such a life.

She believed it was a far better fit for him than being confined to an office, sipping tea while reading newspapers and sitting through endless meetings.

While his body was still brimming with vitality and strength, why shouldn't he go out and let his hot blood boil?

Furthermore, his presence on the front lines genuinely protected others from life-threatening dangers. His combat prowess, after all, had far surpassed everyone else's by a significant margin now.

Meng Xinian must have shared this perspective at some point in his life.

Old Yang glanced at the containers Yang Zhiqi was holding and asked indifferently, "What did you bring back?"

"I bought pan-fried buns, Dad. Weren't these always your favorite?"

Yang Zhiqi quickly held out the food to his father.

He didn't anticipate that this simple act would provoke Old Yang's temper. The old man slammed his chopsticks onto the table and barked, "Take them away! Go ahead and eat them yourself! What is the point of raising a son? You aren't even worth a single strand of a granddaughter's hair!"

A granddaughter?

Who was he talking about? He didn't even have a daughter of his own.

And hadn't his father always loved pan-fried buns in the past?

Yang Zhiqi stood there, completely bewildered.

Ignoring him, Old Yang turned toward Jiang Xiao with a total shift in his demeanor, asking softly, "How many bowls of porridge can Grandpa have today?"

Pfft.

Jiang Xiao was stunned by the sudden change.

Did she possess some kind of natural charm that attracted the elderly? First, Grandpa Chen Baoshen was determined to claim her as his granddaughter, and now Grandpa Yang was doing the same?

Just a moment ago, she had been calling him "Big Master."

It seemed that when he insisted she call Yang Zhiqi "Uncle" earlier, he had been planning this all along.

"The porridge is quite thin, so having two bowls shouldn't cause any issues," she answered truthfully.

"Good, then Grandpa will have two." Visibly pleased, Old Yang picked up his bowl and began to eat.

Aunt Yang smiled as she reached for her own porridge before telling Yang Zhiqi, "There isn't any porridge left for you. Go eat those buns."

Previously, they had hidden the truth because they didn't want him to worry or let it interfere with his duties. Now that the crisis had passed, why shouldn't they let out some of their frustration?

After all, as their own flesh and blood, he hadn't noticed such a massive problem.

Even Buddy Meng had been aware of the situation.

It seemed that even the elderly were prone to throwing small tantrums occasionally.

Yang Zhiqi: "..."

He felt as if he had stepped into a meeting and returned to find the world had completely changed while he was gone.

Meng Xinian stood up, gave him a meaningful look, and the two men retreated to the side room.

A short while later.

With eyes turning red and hands trembling slightly, Yang Zhiqi instinctively asked Meng Xinian, "Do you have a cigarette?"

The moment the words left his mouth, he laughed bitterly at his own foolishness.

He really was out of his mind. Meng Xinian didn't smoke; how could he possibly have a cigarette on him?

However, learning that his father had faced such a grave health crisis without him knowing a thing made Yang Zhiqi feel like an utter failure as a son.

No wonder his parents had suddenly insisted on moving in with him despite living comfortably back home.

When his wife had mentioned that something felt off, he had dismissed her concerns, insisting they just missed him.

Miss him? What a joke.

Reflecting on it now, he realized that after they arrived, they never actually ate the cafeteria food he brought them. They had even gone so far as to start a garden on the roof just to ensure he wouldn't have to provide their meals anymore.