383: The precious medicinal herbs were picked by Xiao Niannian from cliffs and deep forests.

After arriving at the Arms Factory, Xiao Niannian and Lu Jing went to the Research Institute.

The comrades at the Research Institute had arrived very early, and many of them were overjoyed upon seeing Xiao Niannian.

"Little Xiao is here."

"Little Xiao, come quickly and let Grandma take a look."

"Little Xiao, hurry over."

Xiao Niannian was instantly surrounded by many comrades.

"We heard you went to the Military Academy. Are you on vacation now?"

"How did you do on your final exams? Do you want Grandma Wang to tutor you?"

Xiao Niannian listened to their words of concern and replied with a smile.

"Thank you, Grandparents, Uncles, and Aunts, for your concern. I did go to the Military Academy, and my test scores were decent..."

Xiao Niannian smiled while talking with the elders.

Time flew by, and five days passed. After Xiao Niannian finished her work at the Military Factory, she saw her Father standing at the entrance.

"Dad."

Chief Gu smiled as he watched his daughter run toward him.

"Dad came to pick you up."

Xiao Niannian nodded and glanced around.

She didn't see Lu Jing's figure.

When Chief Gu saw his daughter looking around, he immediately understood. He had just sent Lu Jing away.

"Niannian, have you been tired these past few days?"

"I'm not tired."

After returning home, Xiao Niannian saw Gu Ying and Ma Xue. Furthermore, her Maternal Grandparents, Zhang Fu, and Zhang Xiaorou were also there.

Xiao Niannian greeted them.

"Grandparents, Maternal Grandparents..."

Seeing Xiao Niannian, Zhang Xiaorou and Ma Xue stared at her.

They had been calling each other for the past few days. Xiao Niannian hadn't been at the Gu Family home for days, and they didn't know where she went. They had originally planned to invite Xiao Niannian to a Cafe and shopping to show her the gap between her and them. However, when they called, they were told Xiao Niannian wasn't home. They didn't feel comfortable asking where she was.

And these past few days, Qiao Zhu and the others also said they hadn't seen Xiao Niannian.

"Younger Female Cousin, you're back! Where have you been these past few days?"

"Younger Female Cousin, Maternal Grandparents want to take you to the Zhang Family to stay for a few days," Zhang Xiaorou stood up and said with a smile.

"I still have things to do, so I won't go this time."

Xiao Niannian refused directly.

Hearing Xiao Niannian's words, a smile appeared on Zhang Xiaorou's face.

She knew Xiao Niannian would refuse.

"Younger Female Cousin, Maternal Grandparents have missed you so much these days. Why don't you stay at the Zhang Family for a few days? You still have a month until school starts... You should properly show filial piety to your Maternal Grandparents..."

Ma Xue also chimed in with a smile.

"That's right, Younger Female Cousin. Grandpa Zhang and Grandma Zhang have also been thinking of you and Eldest Maternal Aunt for the past twenty years. Now that you are back, go stay at the Zhang Family for a while and properly show them filial piety..."

Listening to their coordinated attack, Xiao Niannian retorted.

"You're really nosy. What business is it of yours?"

What?

Hearing Xiao Niannian speak so directly, Zhang Xiaorou and Ma Xue were stunned. Immediately afterward, they rejoiced internally, thinking that if Xiao Niannian spoke like this, the elders would definitely be angry.

Grandpa Zhang and Grandma Zhang both looked at Xiao Niannian.

"Younger Female Cousin, don't be angry. We said the wrong thing."

"Younger Female Cousin, we're sorry. We apologize to you."

Xiao Niannian saw the smug smiles on their faces, and she also smiled.

"Whether I am filial or not, you have no right to comment, and whether I choose to show filial piety to my elders, you have no right to arrange..."

Gu Ying and Zhang Xiaorou hadn't expected Xiao Niannian to be so arrogant as to speak about their daughters this way.

Grandma Gu's expression also became serious, but Father Gu spoke first.

"Niannian is right. You two Older Female Cousins have no right to manage Niannian's affairs. Niannian never boasts or publicizes anything she does; she simply does it quietly. The ginseng and other Medicinal Materials Niannian gave to her Maternal Grandparents were all picked by her from Deep Mountains and Old Forests and Cliffs. Isn't that filial piety..."

Xiao Niannian was deeply moved by her father's words.

Her Dad truly stood firmly on her side, no matter the time or the matter.

Grandpa Zhang and Grandma Zhang were shocked and moved when they heard their Eldest Son-in-Law's words. They never expected that those two ginseng roots and the other Medicinal Materials were actually picked by their Maternal Granddaughter herself.

"Niannian, this is too dangerous... Grandma..."

Grandma Zhang's voice trembled as she spoke. Although she hadn't personally witnessed her Maternal Granddaughter picking these Medicinal Materials, decades ago, they too had traveled through Grasslands and Snowy Mountains. They knew exactly how dangerous Deep Mountains and Old Forests and Cliffs were.

"Good child." Grandma Zhang excitedly hugged Xiao Niannian.

Grandpa Zhang was also too moved to speak, wiping tears from the corners of his eyes.

Gu Ying and Zhang Fu and the others hadn't expected that the situation, which was supposed to expose Xiao Niannian's lack of manners to everyone, would be completely reversed by Chief Gu's words. Were those Medicinal Materials really picked by Xiao Niannian herself?

They didn't believe it. Even if Xiao Niannian knew some Martial Arts, it was impossible for her to go into those Deep Mountains and Old Forests or climb Cliffs to pick Medicinal Materials.

Grandma Gu also wiped away tears. She had received many Medicinal Materials before, but she never imagined that these herbs were picked by her Granddaughter herself.

"Niannian..." Grandma Gu also hugged Xiao Niannian and started crying.

Grandpa Gu's eyes were also red. Niannian, this child, was truly too filial. She hadn't even mentioned doing something like this. His Granddaughter usually didn't talk much, but she was extremely filial toward them.

"You apologize to Niannian," Grandpa Gu said angrily.

Hearing her Maternal Grandfather's words, Ma Xue's eyes turned red. What did they say? They were actually being told to apologize.

Was Xiao Niannian a biological Granddaughter? She was an Imposter! Xiao Niannian clearly retorted against them, yet they hadn't said anything offensive. Eldest Maternal Uncle protected Xiao Niannian, and Maternal Grandfather also protected Xiao Niannian.

For the past twenty years, she had been the most favored child in the Gu Family. Why should she be overshadowed just because Xiao Niannian arrived?

"Apologize quickly." Seeing Grandpa Gu and Chief Gu's expressions, Gu Ying immediately pulled her daughter. She knew her daughter's temper. At a time like this, they could only bow their heads and couldn't say anything more, or else they would certainly anger her parents and Eldest Brother. That would be even more disadvantageous for them.

Zhang Fu also quickly pulled her daughter aside and scolded her.

"You said the wrong thing. Quickly apologize to Younger Female Cousin Niannian."

"I'm sorry," Zhang Xiaorou immediately apologized.

If she didn't apologize and ended up being disliked by Grandpa Gu, Grandma Gu, and Uncle, it would be even more troublesome later. They would have even less opportunity to do all this.

She had originally planned to get Xiao Niannian to go to the Zhang Family so she could help her Mother create an opportunity with Uncle... But now, no opportunity was created, and she had made Grandpa Gu, Grandma Gu, and Uncle dislike her even more.

Zhang Xiaorou said tearfully.

"Niannian, I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to. I just feel bad for Maternal Grandparents... They were sick before, and their health hasn't fully recovered yet..."

"I'm sorry," Ma Xue also apologized.