Chapter 57: Seeking Reinforcements

When Mr. Gu returned home from work, he immediately noticed the somber expressions on his wife and daughter's faces. A sudden pang gripped his heart, an inexplicable sense that something had happened at home again.

Lately, so much had been unfolding in their household, often kept from him. Immersed completely in his work, Mr. Gu was usually the last to know about family matters.

“What’s wrong with you two? What happened?” he asked urgently.

Aside from family issues, nothing else came to his mind. If there were problems at work or involving their three sons, someone would surely have informed him.

“It’s that mother-in-law of Mingzhi’s again. She’s pressuring her to have a child,” Mrs. Gu sighed, her voice heavy with worry. With three sons to care for and now their daughter, the worries seemed endless.

Mr. Gu was at a loss. Despite consulting numerous doctors and undergoing countless tests, nothing had changed.

If not for every medical examination confirming that Mingzhi was capable of bearing children, he might have begun doubting his own daughter.

As for their son-in-law, Wan Ning, he had also undergone tests—no issues there either.

Two perfectly healthy individuals, yet they couldn’t conceive. It was baffling.

“So, what do we do now?” Mr. Gu asked, genuinely at his wit’s end. There were no more doctors to consult, plenty of medications had been tried, and their health had been carefully managed. Surely, they couldn’t let their two children divorce!

A childless couple divorcing would be the talk of the town.

Besides, Wan Ning was truly a good man who never treated Mingzhi any differently because they had no children.

The real problem was Wan Ning’s mother, but she was not entirely to blame. No matter how much they discussed it, the situation remained unresolved.

“How should I know?” Mrs. Gu admitted helplessly. The couple could only exchange worried glances.

“Let’s eat first. We can think about it after dinner,” Mr. Gu said, exhausted. Filling their stomachs might help clear their minds.

The three of them quietly finished their meal. Mingzhi lingered, unwilling to return home and face her mother-in-law.

Mr. and Mrs. Gu sat together on the sofa, pondering. Finally, Mrs. Gu thought of their second son.

“I’ll call Xiao Gu and ask him to inquire around there—maybe there’s a doctor who can help,” she decided. It was their last hope.

Far away, stationed with the military, Gu Fenggu received the call from his mother.

Mrs. Gu recounted all the recent family troubles, including the impending divorce of their eldest son Gu Fengrui, the forced marriage of Gu Fengji to a countryside bride, and finally, Mingzhi’s predicament.

Gu Fenggu was speechless. So much chaos at home—what good was hearing all this now? Especially since he couldn’t offer any help.

Fortunately, his mother soon got to the main reason for her call: to ask him and his wife to seek out doctors who might assist Mingzhi. If they could even bring back some effective medicine, that would be ideal.

“Mom, I’ll look into it. Since both of them are healthy, waiting another two or three years isn’t a big deal. Mingzhi and Wan Ning are still young,” Gu Fenggu said, understanding his mother’s nature. Without hesitation, he agreed, though he didn’t think they needed to rush.

“What do you know? Without children, a marriage is fragile—one day it can just fall apart. Having a child binds them and gives the couple hope,” Mrs. Gu insisted, her maternal instincts aligning with traditional beliefs. Yet, as a mother-in-law herself, she sympathized with Mingzhi’s mother-in-law’s anxiety. If her daughter-in-law couldn’t conceive for years, she would be equally distressed. Hence, she lacked the courage to argue with her.

“Mom, Xiao Rou and I will look into it. We’ll let you know as soon as we have news.”

“Good. You and your wife must pay close attention—it’s your own sister, after all. By the way, how are Xiao Luo and Xiao Rui? You haven’t seen them in a year since you’re so far away.”

“They’re fine, all is well. Don’t worry.”

“Will you be coming home to visit this year?”

“Not sure yet. It depends on arrangements.”

“Alright then, I’m counting on you for your sister’s situation.”

“...Alright, goodbye, Mom.”

After hanging up, Gu Fenggu wiped a nonexistent bead of sweat from his forehead. His mother was always like this.

He had heard about his eldest brother’s divorce. His sister-in-law had long stopped coming home, causing scenes whenever she did, disregarding the children’s feelings. It was better to separate than live unhappily.

As for the youngest brother’s marriage, forced or not, Gu Fenggu wasn’t sure what to say. Since his brother was willing, there was little else to discuss.

His sister’s case was even more complicated—healthy but unable to conceive. Gu Fenggu feared she might eventually face divorce as well.

Returning to the military housing, he shared everything with his wife.