Strange Cards

Chapter 461 Tell them why you are my son

Looking at the large and small bags of things Gu Yue had prepared for him, Gu Nian smiled wryly.

"Sis, you really don't need to prepare so much stuff."

"I..."

"Stop talking nonsense!"

As Gu Yue spoke, she pushed over a small cart and put all the items inside.

"I know you're very strong; you don't even need to eat to replenish your energy."

"Then you have to eat something, you have to find some satisfaction."

As Gu Yue spoke, she stepped forward and helped Gu Nian straighten his collar.

"Once you leave this time, I don't know when you'll be back. As your older sister, all I can do is talk to you here."

"Take good care of yourself, don't mistreat yourself."

"I know what heavy burdens you are carrying, and I don't blame you."

"Your happiness is the best news for us."

"Do you understand?"

Gu Nian nodded, looked at Gu Yue with a complicated expression for a while, and then said.

"I see..."

"Thank you, sister."

Gu Yue looked at the reserved Gu Nian in front of her and gently hugged him.

Just as Gu Nian was about to turn and leave, an old voice rang out.

"Hey kid, come here."

"I have something to tell you."

Grandpa Gu gently nudged Gu Nian with his cane, then slowly walked away into the distance.

Gu Nian looked at his father, who was already old and frail, and obediently followed him.

When they arrived at a place where no one could hear them, the first words spoken by Old Master Gu startled Gu Nian.

"You brat, tell me the truth."

"Will you come back alive after this trip?"

"Dad, you..."

Looking at Gu Nian's surprised face, Old Master Gu gave a strange smile and then tapped Gu Nian's head with his cane.

"How do I know, right?"

Gu Nian nodded blankly, and then saw a single clear tear in Old Master Gu's cloudy eyes.

"I was a man who fought on the battlefield and killed enemies back in the day, so of course I understand the meaning behind your look."

"I've seen countless comrades look at me with that look, and then rush to the front lines to their deaths without hesitation."

As Grandpa Gu was speaking, he suddenly gave Gu Nian a shove.

"My son, how can you be so heartless?"

"What is it that's worth risking your life to accomplish?"

"Don't you think about us, the two old folks, burying our child?"

"Aren't you afraid that if you leave first, your mother and I will arrive right after you?"

Gu Nian remained silent for a while, but still chose to be honest.

"I am willing to sacrifice myself for my elder brother and take on the responsibilities that are in my hands."

"I'm rebellious, but my older brother isn't."

"He was the guardian of the fire before dawn, and he entrusted this responsibility to me with his life."

"To fulfill my elder brother's last wish, and also so that my sister can live happily."

"Even if it costs me my life, I will not hesitate."

"Even if I end up like my older brother, nailed to the pillar of shame, and never even have a tombstone."

Grandpa Gu was stunned for a moment, then slammed his cane on the ground a few times.

"In your bastardly eyes, am I really such a person who can't distinguish right from wrong?"

"Yes, that's right, I really hate you two heartless bastards."

"I hate that you've been gone for so many years. Yue'er, your mother and the others have cried countless times."

"But I've kept your names because I believe they need to be remembered."

Even if the world says you are all rebels, to me, you two are still my sons.

"I've always believed you weren't like that. I couldn't have given birth to such a wicked child."

"I have been waiting for the day when your names are cleared and your deeds are proven. I have kept your names and recorded your deeds."

"I fear that your injustices will not be cleared until after I die. I have always been afraid that your deeds will be buried in the past."

After Old Master Gu finished speaking, his back seemed to become more defined. He coughed heavily a few times and then turned around.

"Come with me."

As he spoke, Grandpa Gu walked forward and then led Gu Nian to a grave.

The area around the grave was very clean, which showed that it was regularly maintained.

Even the longevity candles in front of the tomb had not been extinguished, and were swaying gently in the wind.

Gu Nian looked at the words on the tombstone, his eyes instantly filled with shock.

"This is..."

Grandpa Gu, leaning on his cane, half-squatted down and gently touched the two characters "Gu Ri" on the tombstone.

"Your elder brother's grave, though it's just a cenotaph."

"I erected this tombstone when I learned of your elder brother's death."

"I've never believed that Ri'er was that kind of person, and I certainly don't believe that you are either."

"Even if you are never exonerated and are forced to kneel forever like Qin Hui, being slapped and beaten by future generations."

"But with me, you will always have a place of rest for your souls."

As he spoke, Old Master Gu stood up and handed a silver coin to Gu Niandao.

"This thing is yours now."

Gu Nian looked at the silver coin in his hand, his face full of confusion.

Looking at the parts of the silver coin that were soaked with gunpowder and the flames of war, Old Master Gu lit his pipe and said.

"This fake silver coin once saved your father's life."

"I got this by trading a pair of new shoes I was issued during the war with someone. I was originally planning to send it to your mother."

"But then someone told me that this thing was fake, and I was so angry that I couldn't sleep for three days."

"So I just put this thing in my left pocket, but I never expected that putting it in there would save my life."

Grandpa Gu took a puff of his pipe, a look of reminiscence appearing in his eyes.

"I was hit by a grenade, and the powerful impact knocked me unconscious."

"When I woke up, I saw someone excitedly holding this silver dollar and talking to me about it."

"Old Gu, you're so lucky!"

"You almost died after being hit by that thing; there were stray bullets embedded in your body to varying degrees."

"But this fake silver dollar saved you from the most fatal blow, the one aimed at your heart."

"From then on, this thing became something I always carried with me."

As he spoke, Grandpa Gu burst into laughter.

Grandpa Gu's eyes widened with laughter, and he looked like a blooming chrysanthemum.

"I know my son is destined for great things, and I, as his father, shouldn't try to stop him."

"I'm entrusting this thing to you. I hope it can save you again, just like it saved me back then."

"This thing was originally meant for your older brother, but there wasn't enough time. Now it's finally in your hands."

As he spoke, Grandpa Gu patted Gu Nian on the shoulder and said with a serious expression.

"Now, stand tall and proud."

"Then tell them."

"Why are you my son?"