"Mom, since Big Brother and Big Sister just got back to the country, why don't we…" Mu Rongxie had barely started when he was cut off by Gu Wan.
"If I wanted you to speak, then speak." Gu Wan's voice rose slightly. "Your brother and sister know what's important. They know where priorities lie."
Shu Lanzhou watched Mu Rongxie nervously. She had no idea what could be so significant that Gu Wan insisted on revealing it at this moment.
Could it be something that concerns the entire family?
Before her thoughts could settle, Mu Rongxie spoke up, "Earlier this morning, I received a message from the eldest son of the Zhang family. He wants to sit down with us for a talk."
"Talk about what?" Mu Ronghe's expression turned cold.
"For the sake of Elder Zhang, we've held back again and again, given in time after time. And yet they're still not satisfied. They keep provoking us," he said. "Now that they've lost, they want to talk? On what grounds? I don't think there's anything to discuss. Let's proceed according to the rules. Whatever legal responsibilities they should bear, let them bear them."
Mu Ya'an nodded in agreement.
"I don't think we need to be polite to the Zhang family this time. Those people deserve a lesson. We gave them enough face back then. Now there's no need to give them any more."
"The real reason I had you all come back in a hurry is because the Zhang family dragged up that incident from over twenty years ago online again," Gu Wan said, glancing at her children.
"At first, I didn't think much of it. But over the decades, I've gone over that event again and again in my mind. And I keep thinking—there was something off about it. With your father's medical skills back then, there should've been no incident."
"That's why I won't let them use that incident to manipulate our Mu family any longer. I want to settle things with them once and for all. But I was afraid history would repeat itself…"
"That's why I called you all back—to discuss a plan. But it turns out, we're luckier this time. Thanks to Shu Lanzhou and Mu Side, the public has chosen to stand with us."
"Since the outcome is now clear, maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to sit down and talk things out. What do you two think, Mu Ronghe, Mu Ya'an?"
Mu Ronghe and Mu Ya'an exchanged a glance.
"Mom, are you hoping we can reconcile with the Zhang family? To give the public a reasonable explanation for Elder Zhang's death—or are you hoping we can uncover the truth behind it?" Mu Ronghe asked.
Gu Wan let out a soft sigh. "Your father was weighed down by this for half his life. After that incident, he never returned to the hospital."
"I know he didn't quit being a doctor because he doubted his own abilities, but because he lost his dearest friend. He grieved. He blamed himself. He was never the same again."
"The dead can't come back to life. There was nothing I could do to help him. All I could do was watch as he grew more and more withdrawn, as the Mu family splintered, as our traditional medical clinics shut down one after another."
"But now that he's gone, I won't let anyone tarnish his name over this. Your father was a great doctor, a master of his field. He deserves every ounce of respect the profession can offer."
"Mu Ya'an, your acupuncture skills have always been excellent. Now with Shu Lanzhou, and with Mu Ronghe and Mu Yanning on board too, I believe if you all work together, you'll uncover the truth."
"I just want to know—what really happened to Elder Zhang back then?"
Listening to all this, Shu Lanzhou felt a pang in her heart. She could picture the bleak, heavy days Mu Lao had endured after Elder Zhang's death.
Mu Ronghe stood up. "Leave this to me. I'll speak with the Zhang family. Mu Rongxie, send me the case files related to them. I'll handle the rest."
"Then I'll study the acupuncture techniques Dad used back then, see if we missed anything," Mu Ya'an added.
Gu Wan nodded approvingly. "Good, good. With the two of you stepping in, Mu Yanning and Mu Rongxie can finally breathe a bit. They've been holding the family together for so long. It's your turn now."
"You're right, Mom." Mu Ya'an glanced at Mu Yanning. "She's been the backbone of this family for years. She's our greatest contributor. Here's to her."
Mu Ya'an raised her glass.
Everyone else followed suit. "To our hero."
Even Gu Wan grinned and clinked her glass against Mu Yanning's. "Our Mu Yanning was never meant to carry all this burden. It's been tough on you these past few years."
"..."
With everything more or less settled, the reunion dinner drew to a close.
As Gu Wan left, Mu Ronghe stopped Mu Yanning and Shu Lanzhou.
"Little Sis, help with Qianqian's school enrollment. She's here as part of an exchange program," he said to Mu Yanning.
Mu Yanning nodded. "Got it, big brother. But she's studying medicine? Didn't you ever consider getting her to switch majors?"
Studying medicine is tough—not every parent wants their child to go down that path.
"It was her choice. We tried to talk her out of it. We hoped she'd live like a little princess, doing whatever made her happy. But she's fascinated by medical research—what can we do?" Mu Ronghe said, exasperated.
"Every time I see how determined she is, I can't help but think of someone else. Guess who that is, Mu Yanning?"
Mu Yanning's expression darkened. "Stop teasing me, Big Brother."
"Pfft, I'm not teasing," Mu Ronghe laughed and clapped her on the shoulder.
"Little Sis, when we were young, Mu Ya'an and I were so envious of you. Dad used to say over and over, 'My little daughter should be a princess, carefree and joyful her whole life.'"
"He didn't want you to shoulder any burden. He asked us to study harder, learn more—enough to carry your share as well."
"But in the end…" Mu Ronghe's face flickered with guilt. "Mu Ya'an and I were selfish. We thought more about ourselves. Only you…"
"Little Sis, I'm sorry. Your big brother came back too late."
Mu Yanning's eyes turned red.
"Big Brother, you don't need to say all that. Everything I did, I did for myself. I've always been unwilling to accept that you and Big Sister were better than me. I wanted to prove that I could be even more useful to the Mu family."
"No matter what, I think I've achieved that. I may not be better than the two of you, but my student is definitely better. Shu Lanzhou, don't you agree?"
Shu Lanzhou didn't dare say yes, but she also wanted to stand by Mu Yanning. So she forced herself to nod. "Yes. I won't embarrass you!"
Mu Yanning looked smug. "Big Brother, did you see that? Our Shu Lanzhou is completely on my side. Don't you and Big Sister try to bully me again."
"When did we ever bully you?" Mu Ronghe chuckled. "Alright, get going. I want to have a quick word with Shu Lanzhou."
Mu Yanning looked nervous. "You're not going to bully her, are you?"
"Mu Yanning." Qin Xi waved her over. "Come here, I brought you a gift."
"Coming!" Mu Yanning glanced at Shu Lanzhou.
"Don't be scared. If he bullies you, just tell his son to stop being filial to him in the future."
"..."
Shu Lanzhou was caught between laughter and tears. Why am I always the one caught in the middle of their sibling banter? What did I ever do to deserve this?
"Come sit down." After Mu Yanning left, Mu Ronghe gestured to the couch across from him.
Unlike Mu Rongxie's gentle elegance, her father-in-law gave off a cold and commanding presence.
At last, Shu Lanzhou understood who Mu Side took after.
"What's your name?"