Shitou had almost played there all afternoon, and before dinner, he went to the information team to learn about computers from the experts for an hour; Shitou’s days were very fulfilling.
Half a month later, Shitou began to join the Special Forces for outdoor training, always accompanied by Gao Jiaxing, of course.
This time, Shitou found another energy stone and thought about going back with his grandma to collect it.
Throughout the summer vacation, Shitou trained in the military, never afraid of hardship or tiredness. Even when injured, he did not cry. The soldiers had gained a whole new appreciation for him, admiring him immensely.
Moreover, Shitou got along very well with everyone, sweetly calling them uncle and grandpa, which warmed the hearts of these tough men. Initially, Shitou had asked to join them for fun, but eventually, without needing Gao Jiaxing, a group of uncles and grandpas voluntarily taught him and included him in their activities.
Until the vacation ended, Shitou was about to leave the Special Forces, and everyone was reluctant to see him go, Shitou included. He was already looking forward to the coming winter vacation when he could return for training.
What pleased Shitou the most was that he finally got his hands on that exquisite, small "toy gun."
"Grandma, I’m back. Did you miss me? Did you miss me?" Having not seen Xia Xiao all summer, Shitou missed her greatly and ran to hug her as soon as he returned.
"Of course, I missed you. How was it playing in the military?" Xia Xiao asked, embracing Shitou.
"It was great. I liked it a lot. I want to go back during the winter vacation." Shitou felt he had learned a lot in the military which was very useful.
And in a low voice, he whispered in Xia Xiao’s ear, "I found an energy stone there. We can go get it when we have time."
"Okay." Xia Xiao’s eyes lit up at the mention of the energy stone.
Xia Xiao and Gao Jiaxing had also not seen each other all summer. Gao Jiaxing was busy, and she too was constantly occupied, attending one meeting after another, participating in various events, and occasionally traveling out of town. She had no time to visit Gao Jiaxing and Shitou in the military.
"Feiyang called. Beibei will be studying in their military district’s kindergarten, which will make it easier for them to look after her," Xia Xiao said.
"That’s good." Gao Jiaxing nodded. It was naturally good for the child to be close to her parents.
Thinking of Shitou’s exceptional talent, Gao Jiaxing said to Xia Xiao, "I’m going to call Feiyang."
At this moment, Gao Jiaxing was calling Feiyang to ask him and Li Min to nurture Beibei well and not to let her talents go to waste.
After hanging up, Gao Jiaxing said to Xia Xiao, "Once the younger ones grow up, they should spend every summer and winter vacation training in the military."
Xia Xiao naturally had no objections. The military was indeed a great place for training. Shitou had spent a summer there, and he had transformed significantly, alert all over, like a little cheetah.
Gao Guoqiang and Zheng Xianghong were delighted to see Shitou return. That day, Feiyue and Ye Jia were also at home, along with Feiyi, Li Manzi, and Feiteng, Yu Jialin.
Li Manzi was very busy now; apart from singing at concerts, she also attended various events and was involved with Mei Ziran’s skincare products.
The Gaoxia Group now owned:
Gaoxia Commercial City, Century Square
Gaoxia Real Estate
Xiaozi Clothing
Nanhua Mountain Wildlife Park
Gaoxia Biological Technology Co., Ltd.
Mei Ziran Skincare
Feise Cosmetics
At that time, Feiling was in a semi-retirement state, the child still young, with Feiling investing most of her care in her child while also managing Tianyu International and Xiaozi Clothing.
Having started her career as a child star, Feiling had acted for many years, having won numerous awards, big and small, and she had no intention to leave the entertainment industry, just that currently, with the child still young and having three children in total, Feiling couldn’t let go.
Despite that, Feiling still took on one film per year, just that now she became pickier about the projects.
Feiling was busy, having lived at the Jing Family’s side, and because of her busyness, she seldom met her sister-in-law, Wen Shufei, and hence had little conflict.
Wen Shufei had disappointed Mrs. Jing with her inability to have children, and now Mrs. Jing had put her energy into helping Feiling with the kids, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law setting aside their prejudices to get along quite well.
Yet that didn’t sit well with Wen Shufei, for even though Jing Yao and Feiling had their own house, they chose to live here with their kids, which unsettled Wen Shufei.
Previously, although she had been jealous of Feiling’s three children, thinking that with Feiling having children, Mrs. Jing wouldn’t watch her as closely gave her some relief, but now Wen Shufei, coming home to see Feiling’s children, felt very dissatisfied and let it affect her mood.
Despite the tepid relationship with Jing Hao, as spouses, they still had to live their life together, especially since theirs was a marriage between two families, and they couldn’t just divorce over being incompatible.
Also, spurred by Feiling’s children, the proud Wen Shufei finally humbled herself, took the initiative to repair her relationship with Jing Hao, and even grew very kind to Feiling’s children.
Everyone noticed Wen Shufei’s goodwill, and although Mrs. Jing had harbored thorns in her heart over Wen Shufei in the past, she ultimately hoped for her eldest son’s happiness, and a continued strained relationship between son and daughter-in-law wouldn’t foster the possibility of children.
Mrs. Jing mediated, and Jing Hao and Wen Shufei put their past grievances to rest, achieving a married life.
Today, having looked at a room full of toys and the children in the living room, Wen Shufei lost the patience she once had.
She touched her belly, which now housed a child, giving her a new confidence.
Wen Shufei felt so confident because of the recent ascendancy of the Wen Family, while the Jing Family post-Old Sir Jing’s death had declined.
Wen Shufei believed that as the eldest daughter-in-law, she was superior to Feiling, especially since Jing Hao pursued politics and Jing Yao business, it was clear who held the higher stature.
Feiling had had children before her, and though triplets were enviable, with her own child now, Feiling’s children had no business hovering around her turf.
Continuing like this, by the time her own child was born, they’d be living under the shadows of Feiling’s children, and Wen Shufei was too prideful to accept her children being overshadowed.
"What’s wrong?" asked Mrs. Jing, noticing Wen Shufei’s upset complexion.
Wen Shufei shook her head, expressing discomfort before returning to her room.
Mrs. Jing looked towards Feiling who shook her head, finding it hard to discuss the emotional side of her sister-in-law.
In Feiling’s eyes, Wen Shufei was somewhat temperamental, sometimes too fervent for comfort, and at other times dismissive, her moods shifting between storms and calms, impenetrable to Feiling.
Feiling and Wen Shufei were like water from different wells, never troubling one another, and indeed, the sisters-in-law had never clashed or conflicted, at least not on the surface, and everyone still maintained peace.