My Taoist nun girlfriend is from the Republic of China era, 1942.

Chapter 88 Father and Son
Before we knew it, it was the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month.

The day before Lunar New Year's Eve, the festive atmosphere was already so strong it was almost palpable.

Chen Xiaomiao got up early and cleaned up every last nook and cranny of the house until it was sparkling clean.

There's one last thing: I have to visit Zhou Yanchun and her two grandchildren before the New Year.

I earned 2,800 yuan from selling calligraphy, and after buying New Year's goods, I still had 1,200 yuan left.

Chen Xiaomiao exchanged her money for cash at the shop downstairs and also asked for four red envelopes, dividing the money into 200, 200, 200 and 600 yuan respectively.

Looking at her serious expression, Lu Yuan understood perfectly.

Even though Zhou Yanchun was over eighty years old, she was still a junior in Chen Xiaomiao's heart.

It is only natural for elders to give younger generations lucky money!

……

The two drove to Zhou Yanchun's residential community.

Because he had called ahead, a slender boy in a blue school uniform was waiting at the entrance of the residential area early in the morning.

Compared to his initial gloomy and wary demeanor, Huang Jietao now has a more cheerful expression befitting his age.

Upon seeing Lu Yuan and Chen Xiaomiao, he immediately jogged over to greet them and considerately helped lead the way: "Brother Lu Yuan, Sister Xiaomiao, Happy New Year!"

Lu Yuan rubbed his head, feeling the short, neat hair.

"How have you been lately? Are you settling into your new school?"

Huang Jietao helped carry things from the trunk. Upon hearing this, the young man sighed, trying to sound mature: "My classmates and teachers are all very nice, it's just... it's just that my grades are a little behind."

I used to be in the top three in junior high school in town, but here I'm ranked at the bottom of the class.

My classmates from the city know so much; their English sounds just like it does on TV, and I can't understand a lot of it.

“It’s normal, don’t be too stressed,” Lu Yuan comforted him. “Take it slow and let nature take its course.”

Huang Jietao nodded vigorously, his eyes revealing a defiant spirit: "Yes! I will try my best to catch up and strive to get into the top ten in the class next semester!"

As Huang Jietao went upstairs and opened the door, the aroma of flour mixed with the fresh smell of meat filling wafted towards us.

Niu Niu Huang Lingshu was standing on a small stool, her hair in pigtails, her little face as white as dough, following the nanny's lead in making dumplings.

Grandma Zhou Yanchun sat on the sofa to the side, covered with a soft wool blanket, watching with a smile, her face full of love.

Upon seeing Lu Yuan and Chen Xiaomiao enter, the little girl's eyes lit up instantly. She dropped the dumpling wrappers in her hand and ran over, her voice as sweet as honey.

"Brother Lu Yuan! Sister Xiao Miao!"

Zhou Yanchun also tried to stand up shakily, but Lu Yuan quickly stepped forward and pressed her down.

"Grandma Zhou, please sit down, don't be shy."

After putting down the bags of New Year's goods, Chen Xiaomiao took out three red envelopes she had prepared in advance from her pocket, squatted down, and handed one to each of Niu Niu and Huang Jietao.

"Here's some New Year's money for you two."

"Thank you, Sister Miao!"

Niu Niu and Huang Jietao spoke in unison.

Chen Xiaomiao then walked up to Zhou Yanchun and handed over the thickest red envelope.

"This... is for you."

Zhou Yanchun was taken aback, and quickly waved her hand: "No, no! Sister..."

"You really want it!"

Chen Xiaomiao forcefully stuffed the red envelope into the old man's hand, her attitude firm.

Zhou Yanchun couldn't refuse her any longer and finally accepted it.

Everyone sat down on the sofa, but the atmosphere was inexplicably awkward.

Especially when Niu Niu and Huang Jietao called her "Sister Xiao Miao" and Zhou Yanchun called her "Little Sister," Chen Xiaomiao's expression looked strange, she seemed uncomfortable, and her posture was somewhat stiff.

She would touch her nose for a while, then pick up her teacup to drink water, her eyes darting around, but she dared not make eye contact with the three of them.

Seeing her like this, Lu Yuan chuckled inwardly, knowing that she had once again fallen under the spell of being a "senior."

Being called "sister" or "younger sister" by a group of "juniors" makes me feel awkward.

Seeing that she was really uncomfortable, Lu Yuan exchanged a few pleasantries and then made an excuse to leave early.

The two had just reached the entrance of the residential complex when they heard hurried footsteps behind them. "Brother Lu Yuan, wait a minute!"

Huang Jietao caught up, carrying a file folder in his arms, his cheeks flushed from running.

He handed the file bag to Lu Yuan, panting, "This is... something Grandma asked me to give you. She said it was left by Great-Grandpa. She's about to be buried, so there's no use for her anymore. I'm giving it to you to keep safe."

Lu Yuan handed the file bag to Chen Xiaomiao: "Alright, it's quite cold, go back now."

Huang Jietao didn't move; he stood there, his lips moving as if he still had something to say.

Lu Yuan softened his tone: "Is there anything else?"

The boy looked up, mustered his courage, and asked, "Brother Lu Yuan, I want to ask about my dad's situation."

"You want to see him?"

Lu Yuan said gently, "After the New Year, I can help you apply for visitation."

Huang Jietao shook his head, clenched his fists, a sinister glint in his eyes, and asked, word by word, "Will my dad be executed?"

In the boy's clear eyes, an unimaginable hatred and determination surged.

"Why do you ask?"

"If he's executed, he won't come back to harm my grandma and sister!"

Huang Jietao's words were clear and cold.

Lu Yuan was completely speechless.

What could he say? That blood is thicker than water? That he's your biological father?

Witnessing Huang Wei repeatedly run off with the family's money, which led to thugs like Cai Dabao kicking down the door...

During the countless days and nights that his grandmother and sister lived in fear, the so-called "father" had already been sentenced to death in the boy's heart.

After a long while, Lu Yuan exhaled a long breath of white air, dispelling the heaviness in his chest.

He reached out and pressed hard on Huang Jietao's shoulder, saying in a deep voice, "I can't give you answers about legal matters. But I can tell you one thing."

Huang Jietao looked up at him.

"By the time he comes out, you will definitely be all grown up! As a man, you will be able to protect Grandma and your sister."

The boy's body trembled slightly as he stared intently at Lu Yuan, the coldness in his eyes melting slightly.

"Ok!"

Huang Jietao nodded emphatically and waved goodbye to the two.

Lu Yuan stood there, speechless for a long time.

Until Chen Xiaomiao gently tugged at his sleeve.

"Lu Yuan, look at this."

Lu Yuan snapped out of his daze, only to find that Chen Xiaomiao had already opened the file bag, which contained three black and white photos.

The first photo was very familiar to Lu Yuan; it was exactly the same as the group photo left by his maternal grandfather.

The second photo shows the old city gate of Furong City in the background. Chen Xiaogu is wearing a military uniform and facing the camera, with several Japanese soldiers' corpses lying at his feet.

The third photo is a picture of the two of them together.

Chen Xiaogu was dressed in casual clothes, his lips tightly pressed together, his eyes filled with aloofness and disgust. Beside him, a middle-aged man with a blank expression and puffy eyes held a pipe of opium.

Lu Yuan asked curiously, "Who is this man?"

"It should be... Xiao Gu's father."

She sighed softly, her voice distant: "I remember, Brother Gu hated his father back then, saying that his father was a scoundrel who married prostitutes, smoked opium, squandered the family fortune, and almost killed his mother."

Little Gu told us several times that he wished his father would die sooner, but when the news of his father's death reached the mountains..."

Chen Xiaomiao paused for a moment, then exhaled a puff of white mist.

"That night I got up to use the bathroom and saw Brother Gu kneeling alone in front of the Three Pure Ones, his eyes red and swollen from crying."

That was the first and only time I saw Xiao Gu cry.

As soon as the words were spoken, the two of them looked up at Huang Jietao's thin and straight back in the snow, and remained silent for a long time.

(End of this chapter)