Chapter 126: First Arrival in the Capital — Part 2
Once the family had finished their dinner, Pan Yue and Sheng Wanze quickly cleared the table, leaving the traveling party to finally get some much-needed sleep.
Gu Tingxiao didn’t linger long either. Wanyan walked him out to the door and watched his car disappear down the lane before heading back inside.
The moment Gu Tingxiao stepped through the doors of the family home in the military compound, his mother bombarded him with questions. She had desperately wanted to welcome her future in-laws at the station herself that day, but work commitments had tied her down. More than that, she had worried about overwhelming the Sheng family on their very first day when they were bound to be exhausted from the train.
To make up for it, she had already secured a leave of absence for the following morning. Her itinerary was packed: tomorrow they would conquer the Great Wall, and the day after would be dedicated to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square.
“Well? Did my third daughter-in-law and her family arrive safely?”
Father Gu, Grandpa Gu, and Grandma Gu were all staring at him expectantly. Under the collective, intense gaze of his elders, Gu Tingxiao felt his scalp prickle.
“They’re here,” he replied. “They’ve eaten and are resting now.”
“Good. Get up early tomorrow and show them a proper time around the Capital.”
“I know, Mom.”
“You know nothing,” Mother Gu countered sharply. “Your single most important task is to ensure my daughter-in-law has fun. If you don’t, she might just realize what a block of ice you are and call off the wedding.”
In her heart, Mother Gu always felt that her third son had somehow tricked Wanyan into marrying him. How else could a girl that brilliant and outstanding fall for a stoic stone like him? Because of this, she harbored a quiet sense of protectiveness toward the Sheng family. Once Wanyan crossed their threshold, she was determined to treat her with absolute kindness. Her son had managed a miracle, and as his mother, she had to do everything in her power to ensure the girl never regretted her choice.
“Is the third boy’s bridal suite completely ready?”
Tingxiao’s new quarters had been personally overseen by Grandma Gu, who had replaced every single piece of linen and furniture for the occasion. The sheer speed and care put into the room showed just how anxious the Gu elders had been about his bachelor status. Over the years, their standards for a granddaughter-in-law had dropped sequentially: from a perfectly matched elite lineage, to an intellectual scholar, and finally to simply any woman of decent character.
“Everything has been styled precisely to the standards of the eldest and fourth sons’ weddings. There isn’t a single flaw,” Grandma Gu nodded firmly. Managing a massive family with multiple adult children was always a delicate balancing act, and things only grew more complex once separate households were established.
“Good. Have the invitations been fully distributed?”
“Yes,” Mother Gu confirmed. “Every single household in the compound has received one, right down to the cafeteria staff.”
“Mm. Keep a sharp eye on the proceedings,” Grandpa Gu commanded, his voice dropping an octave. “Do not allow anyone to look down on our third grandson’s wife.”
His final warning caused a quiet ripple of understanding to pass through the room. They all knew the reality of their social circle: the Sheng family was an easy target for snobbery. To the elitist families living within the military compound, a civilian bride from a working-class background was undeniably marrying far above her station.
Behind closed doors, the neighbors were already whispering, wondering what madness had possessed the prominent Gu family to agree to such a match. In their eyes, the Gus were actively sabotaging Tingxiao’s promising career. The spouses of his siblings brought powerful political backing and influential connections to the table; a working-class girl from Chengdu would be a miracle if she didn’t actively drag him down.
Yet, no matter how much the local gossips looked down on the Sheng family in private, they had no choice but to maintain a polite facade in front of the Gus. Outwardly smiles, they secretly waited for the day the Gu family would regret bringing a common troublemaker into their prestigious lineage.
Meanwhile, a few young women in the compound who had quietly harbored designs on Gu Tingxiao felt a bitter sting when the wedding invitations arrived. Another prime bachelor was officially off the market, narrowing their pool of eligible suitors even further. If they had known Tingxiao’s criteria were so remarkably low, they wouldn’t have wasted years putting on high-class airs. Now, the most coveted officer in the compound belonged to an outsider, and it was far too late to do anything but swallow their regret.
The next morning, Mother Gu arrived at the small courtyard alley before the dew had even dried. Inside, the Sheng family had just finished clearing their breakfast bowls.
“In-law, I’m here!” her cheerful voice echoed from the gate.
Mother Sheng dropped what she was doing and hurried out to the front yard to greet her guest. “In-law! I’ve been waiting for you!”
The two mothers instantly locked hands, their faces lighting up with shared affection.
“Oh, ever since I returned to the Capital, I’ve done nothing but miss our long chats back in Chengdu,” Mother Gu gushed, squeezing her hands. “I’m so incredibly happy to see you again.”
“Me too! I’ve been thinking about you every single day.”
“Hurry now, I’ve brought two military cars to take everyone out for the day!” Mother Gu urged, practically turning to pull Mother Sheng out the gate.
Amused by her frantic enthusiasm, Mother Sheng gently caught her arm. “Wait, In-law, let me at least grab my purse first.”
“Hurry, hurry! Grandfather, Grandma, Father-in-law, Wanyan—let’s pack up and head out!” Mother Gu called toward the house. “Third son, help your grandparents into the first car.”
Gu Tingxiao stepped forward, carefully guiding Grandpa and Grandma Sheng into the vehicle and ensuring they were comfortably seated. Mother Gu, accompanied by her personal guard, took the second car alongside Father and Mother Sheng. Wanyan, Tingxiao, and the two elders claimed the first car, and their convoy set off toward the Great Wall, with a planned stop afterward for authentic Peking duck.
Although Grandpa and Grandma Sheng were advanced in years, Wanyan’s meticulous dietary care over the past few months had left them in exceptionally robust health. As long as they paced themselves, climbing wouldn’t be an issue.
The Great Wall was teeming with visitors, though the crowd consisted almost entirely of energetic youths. Most elderly tourists lacked the stamina for the steep stone inclines and restricted their sightseeing to the flat expanse of Tiananmen Square. But the Sheng elders were cut from different cloth; this was their first time in the nation’s capital, and they were fueled by pure, unadulterated excitement. They climbed steadily for over three hours, refusing to stop for anything more than a quick sip of water.
In fact, if Wanyan hadn’t been anchored by her own spatial fitness, she would have struggled to keep pace with her vibrant grandparents. Sensing her slight fatigue, Gu Tingxiao walked directly behind her, keeping a steady, supportive hand against the small of her back to ease her climb.
“Hurry along, Wanyan! The view up here is absolutely breathtaking!” Grandma Sheng called back, her eyes wide with wonder. Wanyan could only shake her head in silent amazement at her elders’ stamina.
“The vantage point from this peak is incredible,” Wanyan gasped, finally reaching the summit pavilion. She downed several gulps of water before her breathing stabilized. “You can see the entire expanse of the Capital.”
“Our Wanyan needs to incorporate more physical training into her routine,” Grandpa Sheng teased, casting a pointed look her way.
Wanyan immediately took two defensive steps backward, shaking her head in a flat refusal. She had absolutely zero desire to adopt a rigorous fitness regime. Diligence was not her primary directive in this life; her ultimate goal was a comfortable, peaceful existence—and perhaps a bit of lazy indulgence.
“Your grandparents possess phenomenal health, In-law,” Mother Gu remarked, her thoughts drifting to her own aging parents back in the compound. For them, a brief stroll around Tiananmen Square was a major physical milestone. Having sustained severe injuries on the battlefields during their youth, the Gu elders required frequent medical interventions just to cope with the harsh northern winters.
“Our physical well-being is entirely thanks to Wanyan’s care,” Mother Sheng explained proudly, joining them. “When the girl was in school, she spent all her free time devouring medical texts and even mastered traditional massage therapy. She gives us targeted massages every single evening, and it has done wonders for our sleep.”
“Really?” Mother Gu’s eyes flashed with absolute delight. This future daughter-in-law was a never-ending source of brilliant surprises. “Wanyan understands traditional medicine?”
“I simply used to enjoy reading the classic manuals,” Wanyan replied modestly. “I began practicing the techniques on my family based on the steps layout in the texts, and I occasionally brew wellness tonics according to the ancient recipes.”
Mother Gu nodded, her estimation of the girl soaring to even greater heights. She truly hadn’t expected the third son’s wife to possess such practical, life-saving capabilities. With a girl this attentive and knowledgeable anchoring his household, she could finally let go of her maternal worries for Tingxiao’s future.
