At the same time, in the main hall.
Xiao Gang was also telling Grandpa Su about this matter.
His previous request to change his surname had not been agreed to by Shen Zizhen and Su Taohua.
But Xiao Gang was a child who, once he made up his mind, would not change it. Since he had expressed the idea of changing his surname, it meant he had thought it through carefully.
Therefore, when he came over today, he intended to take this opportunity to say it.
If one were to speak of it, their family in the capital, apart from Grandpa Su and Grandma Su, had no other elders.
He could only ask Grandpa Su to help persuade Shen Zizhen and Su Taohua.
"Xiao Gang, have you really decided?" Grandpa Su took a puff of his pipe and looked intently at Xiao Gang.
Everyone present was actually a little surprised by what Xiao Gang had suddenly said.
Shen Zizhen looked at Xiao Gang with a complex expression. He had previously thought Xiao Gang was just casually mentioning it, but he hadn't expected the child to bring it up at this occasion.
"Yes, I've thought it through, Uncle Grandpa." Xiao Gang nodded resolutely.
He looked at Shen Zizhen and gave a happy smile.
"From now on, Dad is my real father, and I only have Dad as my father. Dad raised me when I was young, and I will support Dad when I grow up!"
As for Li Changming, the person who had hurt them mother and son, Xiao Gang did not want to mention him anymore, nor did he want to continue being the son of such a person!
Xiao Gang's words were spoken with great conviction and firmness. Grandpa Su heard deep affection in his words, the genuine sincerity towards a father.
Grandpa Su knew that Xiao Gang was not acting on impulse but had truly made up his mind.
"Xiao Gang, although I am not your biological grandfather, I have watched you grow up. I know what kind of child you are. If you have decided, then change it."
"But my mother disagrees, and my father also disagrees!" Xiao Gang said with some resentment.
He wondered what his mother was thinking, why she just wouldn't agree?
"I'll talk to your mother, and she will agree," Grandpa Su readily agreed.
He was an adult and saw things with a longer perspective. This matter, in fact, was a good thing.
Although Taohua and Shen Zizhen had a good relationship, they didn't have any children between them, which always felt like something was missing.
After Xiao Gang took the surname Shen, their relationship should become even better!
Su Xiaomei and Su Xiaotian were sitting to the side and unexpectedly heard Xiao Gang say these words.
Seeing her brother like this, she was filled with mixed emotions.
Regarding Shen Zizhen, Su Xiaomei inwardly approved and had long regarded him as her biological father.
But for some reason, she just couldn't bring herself to call him "Dad."
She didn't expect Xiao Gang to be the first to achieve this. When Xiao Gang suddenly called him "Dad" one day, it shocked everyone in the family.
Afterward, Xiao Gang actually requested to change his surname to Shen.
She didn't know what kind of feeling it was – happiness for Xiao Gang's maturity, or shame for having such a father?
Undoubtedly, Li Changming was a failure as a father.
So much so that his biological son was willing to take another surname.
However, Su Xiaomei also worried that Xiao Gang was just acting on impulse and might regret it someday.
No matter what, a father is a father. The blood relationship does not change because of whether the person is good or evil.
Xiao Gang was young now and might feel that his biological father was hateful, but would his thoughts change someday?
Xiao Gang didn't know his sister was thinking so much. He was overjoyed after hearing Grandpa Su's words.
"Grandpa Su, you really promised to help me persuade my mom?" Xiao Gang's smile was so wide his mouth could barely close.
His dark face, which hadn't lightened even after being in the capital for a long time, was full of radiant smiles.
Shen Zizhen coughed softly before speaking, "Xiao Gang, actually, no matter what your surname is, in my heart, you are my child. This will not change."
What did it matter if the child was his biological child or not?
Taohua's children were all good at heart. Even if they weren't his biological children, as long as he treated them with care, they would surely treat him with care in the future.
Shen Zizhen had firmly believed this from the beginning.
He felt that perhaps he was destined not to have his own biological children, so nurturing Xiaomei and Xiao Gang into talented individuals was his wish.
"Uncle, in my heart, Xiao Gang, Xiaomei, and Xiaoliang are all treated as my own children. I have never thought of having them take my surname."
Xiao Gang resolutely shook his head.
"From the day I called you Dad, you have been my real father in my heart. Since you are my real father, what reason do I have not to take your surname?"
Xiao Gang was a very persistent child. Since he had made up his mind, he would strive towards this goal.
"Since this is the child's wish, you and Taohua should agree," Grandpa Su said with a faint smile.
Shen Zizhen still had concerns, "But..."
Grandpa Su waved his hand and said, "There is no 'but.' Xiao Gang has grown up. He can decide what he wants to do. Unless you don't like this child!"
Shen Zizhen said no more. How could he not like Xiao Gang?
He truly liked this child, Xiao Gang.
Among Su Taohua's three children, Xiaomei was a girl, and as a stepfather and a teacher, it was not easy to be too close. He hadn't met Xiaoliang yet. It was the youngest, Xiao Gang, who had the closest relationship with him.
When Su Taohua and Grandma Sun and others arrived, they learned that the matter had been settled.
Su Taohua breathed a sigh of relief.
She had been unable to make up her mind about this matter, and now it was all resolved.
In front of everyone, Xiao Gang officially changed his surname and was given a new name, Shen Chenggang.
The Shen family's affairs came to a close. In the evening, Grandpa Su and Grandma Su couldn't help but sigh on the kang, saying that good deeds are rewarded.
Shen Zizhen treated the children sincerely, and the children could feel it, thus they also treated this stepfather sincerely.
"I just don't know what Xiaoliang will feel when he returns someday."
Xiaoliang was older. Would he be unable to accept that his mother had a new family, and even his younger brother had changed his name?
"Xiaoliang already knows about this and will surely accept it. Let's not worry about this matter," Grandpa Su comforted Grandma Su. "Let's get some rest early!"
The old couple stopped talking, but at this moment, in the Shen household, Shen Zizhen was very excited.
Xiao Gang had changed his name and called him Dad. He felt an overwhelming sense of excitement.
He lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep, feeling like he did decades ago when he first became a father.
Back then, he thought he had a pair of twins, and he was overjoyed. He did everything himself, pouring all his heart and soul into treating the two children well.
But he never expected it to end so abruptly.
Now, it was good. He had another son. Although this son was not related to him by blood, he could truly feel the father-son affection.