Chapter 178: The First Photo Together
It seemed they had reached the end, but around the bend were the same mountains and the same water.
The group ambled along, stopping here and there. Uncle Dong took out his work-issued camera to take photos of everyone.
First, he took a big group photo, then a family portrait of the Gu Family.
Then it was time for Jiaojiao and Su Shuochi to take a photo as a couple, which reminded Gu Jiaojiao of the wedding photos from her previous life.
Su Shuochi sat in his wheelchair while Gu Jiaojiao stood at his side, her hands resting on his shoulders as they gazed into each other’s eyes.
Su Shuochi tilted his head, his gaze falling on his wife’s lively, doe-like eyes. He felt as if a sweet arrow had shot straight through his heart.
He broke into a sweet smile. The couple looked at each other and laughed, with eyes only for one another. It was a truly beautiful picture.
"Wow! That’s absolutely perfect! Let’s try another one from a different angle. I brought two whole rolls of film today, you know!"
Dazzled by their radiant smiles, Uncle Dong rapidly pressed the shutter, taking several pictures in a row.
Eldest Brother Gu was too tired to walk anymore, and Geng Ruixian happened to have much more to discuss with his father, so they stopped to rest under a large tree.
In those days, Yun Lake hadn’t yet been developed into a tourist area, so there were no pavilions where everyone could sit down and rest.
Gu Jiaojiao pushed Su Shuochi’s wheelchair as she, Grandpa Gu, and the others walked for a long time. The view of Yun Lake, however, remained just as it was.
Su Shuochi suggested they take a ride on one of the wooden boats. Once on board, Gu Jiaojiao sat and dipped her bare feet into the water.
The cool, gentle water lapped at her feet, and a feeling of being one with nature welled up inside her.
"Oh my gosh! The lake is so enchanting, the wind is so fresh, the sun is so bright, and the trees are so green.
The birdsong is so lovely. I wish I could stay here forever, with the mountains for company and the water for a neighbor.
To feast my eyes on this beautiful scenery every day... now that would be a truly carefree life."
"Haha! So, Jiaojiao, you’d enjoy this kind of life?" Mr. Sheng asked, clearly in high spirits.
He was filled with regret. ’Why on earth didn’t I bring Jiaojiao and the family to see Yun Lake sooner!’
"Hehe, I was just speaking my mind. I’d probably get tired of the view if I really saw it every day."
Mr. Gu agreed wholeheartedly with his daughter. Sitting on the bank, he watched his daughter and son-in-law on the boat and said,
"That’s true. It’s like that old parable: A rich man sees a fisherman angling by the sea."
"He asks with concern, ’How can you make any real money like this? If I were you, I’d find a way to buy a fishing boat. You’d catch more fish and make more money that way.’"
"’And then?’"
"’Then I’d invest the money I earned.’"
"’And then?’ the fisherman asked again."
"’For example, I’d open a factory, then I’d invest again, make even more money, and become an even wealthier man.’"
"’What would you do after you have all that money?’"
"’Then I could go on vacation to a beach in Hawaii and enjoy a life of leisure!’"
"’Well, don’t you see that I’m already enjoying that kind of life right now?’"
"So sometimes, when you finally understand what you’ve been pursuing, you realize it’s what you had all along."
"It’s scary how profound you are, turning everything into philosophy. I think I’ll just look at the mountains and the water. The water is so enchanting, and the mountains are no less spectacular."
Gu Jiaojiao dangled her feet in the water, a smile on her face as she listened to everyone talk. She then turned her gaze to the mountains on either side of Yun Lake.
The countless mountains seemed to possess a competitive spirit, vying for prominence and trying to outdo one another in height.
And on these mountains, nameless trees silently adorned the awe-inspiring peaks.
They clung tightly to the mountainsides, as if the mountains were their guardian angels.
Immortal Lake, a place that captivated countless tourists, was but a mere snapshot of Yun Lake.
Yun Lake had a long history, having formed during the Han Dynasty. It was fed by a hundred springs and possessed a thousand years of wetland culture.
’In the future, developers would turn it into a tourist destination, and countless visitors would be captivated by Yun Lake’s intoxicating beauty.’
Yun Lake was divided into eastern and western sections. The lotus pond of the East Lake rippled with jade-green water, its surface glittering, creating a sense of peace and tranquility.
Broad lotus pads linked together, blanketing the surface as far as the eye could see in a sea of vibrant green.
It set one’s spirit free and filled the mind with endless daydreams. Graceful lotuses dotted the greenery, like elegant and poised young maidens.
The reed marshes of the West Lake were as dense as rolling clouds, a spectacular sight to behold. The view was refreshing and delightful, making one feel as if they had entered a fairyland.
Su Shuochi’s backpack held an inexhaustible supply of water and drinks. Of course, the others, lost in the fun of the outing, didn’t notice a thing.
They merely thought that this young man, usually as cold as an ice cellar, also had a surprisingly thoughtful side to him.
Mr. Sheng thought he had Su Shuochi all figured out. ’He’s always been ruthless, decisive, and a man of few words, never speaking more than he has to.’
’But this person right now, handing out water and snacks, grinning from ear to ear at Jiaojiao... is this really Su Shuochi?’
As it grew late, the group reluctantly started their journey back, still wishing for more time.
The car pulled right up to the gate of the Su family’s small courtyard, where they saw a large crowd of onlookers gathered in front of Su’s house.
It was half an hour after the end of the workday, so an enormous crowd of gawkers had formed, packing the area in front of the Su family’s courtyard solid.
"Who’s causing trouble for the Su family now?" Mr. Sheng bellowed, his anger flaring. After many years in a position of power, his presence was overwhelming.
The gawkers instinctively parted to create a path, and Gu Jiaojiao heard a woman’s sharp, piercing wail.
"Gu Jiaojiao! Please, I’m begging you! Come out and see this old woman! Let my son go! I’ll kowtow to you..."
To the dumbfounded stares of the crowd, Old Mrs. Li was a mess of tears and snot, all semblance of dignity gone.
It was as if she was trying to cry out all the grief and bitterness stored in her heart. The scene fell silent, with no one daring to so much as whisper.
Su Shuochi’s face was a cold, expressionless mask. ’Every cell in his body screamed at him to beat that wailing hag to death.’
But Gu Jiaojiao held him back. A quick scan of the crowd and she spotted Sheng Yueyue hiding among the onlookers.
Gu Jiaojiao immediately understood what was going on. She handed Old Mrs. Li a bottle of water and asked,
"Ma’am, this family has gone to Yun Lake for the day. Why are you kneeling and crying here? Who told you to cry in front of Su’s house?"
Old Mrs. Li didn’t recognize Gu Jiaojiao. She only saw a young woman as beautiful as a fairy offering her some water.
She gratefully accepted the water and took a few big gulps. GLUG, GLUG. She finally felt a little better.
She had already been crying here for ages. At first, a few busybodies had come up to ask her what was wrong.
But once they heard she was there to cause trouble for Gu Jiaojiao, the gawkers hadn’t said another word to her.
’The people inside let her roll around on the ground throwing a fit and didn’t come out. So it’s because they weren’t home!’
"Miss, do you know where Gu Jiaojiao went?" Old Mrs. Li asked, looking right at her.
"They went to Yun Lake today for an outing. Tomorrow is Sunday, so they won’t be back until the day after. Aren’t you tired from kneeling, ma’am?"
As she spoke, Gu Jiaojiao’s gaze flickered over to the crowd, and she shot a provocative look at Sheng Yueyue, her expression shifting.
Sheng Yueyue threw a dark look at Gu Jiaojiao. She’d never dreamed that Gu Jiaojiao wouldn’t be home.
’She’d never seen this side of Gu Jiaojiao before—so brazen and sharp, impossible to control.’
’She was afraid she’d be exposed if she stayed a second longer, but she didn’t want to leave the scene. Gu Jiaojiao was back, and this was bound to be an exciting moment.’