Chapter 141: Returning Home — Part 1
It was already eleven o’clock by the time they finally made their way downstairs. A light breakfast had been left out for them, but Wanyan only managed a few bites, her appetite still buried under a wave of exhaustion.
Seeing this, Gu Tingxiao poured her a warm cup of malted milk. He had quickly realized that his little wife’s stomach required delicate care. Her throat was on the smaller side, meaning anytime she ate anything slightly coarse, she had to chew it meticulously before she could comfortably swallow it.
“Wife, drink a glass of malted milk,” he coaxed gently. “You’ve eaten far too little.”
Wanyan shot him a pointed look. “And whose fault do you think that is?” How dare he stand there acting innocent? If he hadn’t kept her trapped in bed, she wouldn’t have completely missed the proper breakfast hour.
“It’s all my fault,” Gu Tingxiao admitted readily, entirely patient as he brought the rim of the cup directly to her lips to feed her. Since the house was entirely empty, Wanyan dropped her usual guarded posture and simply relaxed, thoroughly enjoying his undivided attention.
“I need to head out in a bit to source some wild game for the return gifts,” Gu Tingxiao mentioned after she finished. “Would you like to come along, wife?”
“Where exactly are you going to buy it?” Wanyan asked, her curiosity piqued. She knew for a fact he wouldn’t find fresh wild game sitting on the shelves of the local state cooperative.
“I’m going to see a contact of mine,” he replied, a faint trace of guilt flitting across his rugged features.
His contact operated within the local black market—a reality that was highly improper for a man of his strict military standing. He rarely frequented those shadowed lanes, reserving such trips strictly for moments when his family required an item urgently and legal avenues offered zero solutions.
Wanyan shook her head. “I’ll stay here. Grandpa and Grandma should be heading back for lunch soon, so I’ll stay behind to boil some fresh noodles for them.”
Both of his parents had already departed for their government shifts, leaving the grand residence entirely to the newlyweds, Aunt Lin, and the two elders who spent their mornings strolling through the nearby parks.
“Alright. I’ll make it a quick trip,” Gu Tingxiao promised.
He headed upstairs to shed his crisp military uniform. Wearing his official service gear into the depths of the black market was a logistical disaster waiting to happen. Before he stepped out the front gate, Wanyan pressed a fifty-yuan note into his palm. After all, one couldn’t execute a transaction without proper currency, and she intentionally withheld any official coupons; utilizing state-issued stamps in an underground market was an unnecessary risk. It was vastly safer to simply pay a slight cash premium.
“Secure an abundance,” she instructed. “The meat reserves in our kitchen are looking a bit depleted.”
“Understood.”
The second the front gate clicked shut behind him, Wanyan let out a long, sweeping breath. She could finally let her guard down. It would be an absolute lie to claim she hadn’t been an anxious wreck over the past forty-eight hours; this was her very first time navigating life as someone’s daughter-in-law, and a quiet layer of worry had constantly hovered over her. Fortunately, Father and Mother Gu were remarkably rational, fair-minded people who possessed zero desire to make life difficult for a new bride.
Wanyan walked back up to the bridal suite, unwrapped two pieces of White Rabbit milk candy to satisfy her sweet tooth, and then headed down to the kitchen to prepare a light midday meal for the grandparents. She fried two fresh eggs, intending to serve them over a simple bowl of hot noodles.
For aging bodies, a clean, light lunch was vastly superior. Furthermore, the noodles were pulled from refined white flour—a premium grain that was exceptionally gentle on an elderly digestive tract. Grandpa and Grandma Gu carried the physical scars of countless wartime injuries, meaning their daily menus required careful calculation. Flooding their systems with heavy meats and rich fish every single day wouldn’t heal their old traumas; instead, it would likely cause their chronic ailments to flare up. Strategic internal nourishment was an absolute necessity.
The exact second Wanyan finished ladling the hot broth, the front door swung open. The rich, savory aroma of the noodles instantly drifted down the corridor to greet the returning elders.
Old Master Gu sniffed the air, his eyes tracking the scent like a compass. His third grandson’s wife had clearly whipped up something magnificent. The old veteran practically marched into the dining parlor, planting himself firmly at the table, though his eyes kept darting covertly toward the kitchen entry.
Watching his childlike anticipation from the hallway, Grandma Gu merely shook her head in fond amusement.
Wanyan emerged from the kitchen carrying the steaming bowls, smiling as she caught the patriarch waiting expectantly. “Grandpa, Grandma, lunch is ready.”
She placed the fresh noodles before them, and Grandma Gu stepped away to wash her hands before taking her seat. “Have you eaten yet, Wanyan?”
“Yes, Grandma, I had a bite just a short while ago.”
Satisfied, Grandma Gu picked up her chopsticks and began to eat.
“Where did the third boy run off to?” Grandpa Gu asked between mouthfuls, scanning the quiet house. Why on earth had his grandson marooned his new bride at home all by herself?
“Tingxiao went out to secure the game for our formal return visit tomorrow,” Wanyan explained smoothly.
“Hmph. At least the brat has a trace of traditional decency,” the old patriarch grunted proudly.
Once the elders completed their meal, Wanyan cleared the bowls and retreated to the privacy of her room to rest. It had been several days since she had last stepped into her spatial warehouse, but she didn’t dare risk a sudden disappearance while inside the Gu estate. The household was packed with elite soldiers whose sensory perception and auditory tracking were top-tier; a single misplaced sound could expose her. It was vastly safer to remain patient until they officially relocated to the northern regiment, where Tingxiao would be deployed for days at a time.
To satisfy her cravings, Wanyan simply reached into her sleeve, retrieved a small cluster of fresh grapes she had pulled from her space earlier, and enjoyed them in silence, carefully tossing the skins and seeds back into her invisible inventory when she finished. By the time Gu Tingxiao quietly slipped back into the bedroom a few hours later, she was already resting comfortably, a light nap soothing her fatigue.
The heavy summer heat made her sleep restless, a faint frown marring her brow as she shifted against the pillows. Noticing her discomfort, Gu Tingxiao silently fetched a large palm-leaf fan, pulling up a stool beside the mattress to gently weave a cool breeze over her until her features fully relaxed.
The subsequent days dissolved rapidly, and the morning of the formal return visit finally arrived.
Wanyan rose before dawn to finalize her presentation. Gu Tingxiao was well aware of how deeply his little bride yearned for her loved ones, so the couple departed the compound early, the back of their vehicle laden with the grand mountain of gifts they had assembled.
Across town, the Sheng family was already gathered in the small courtyard, having been awake since the first light of dawn. Mother Sheng was completely detached as she stood over the washbasin, her eyes constantly drifting toward the lane outside.
Sensing her mother-in-law’s intense distraction, Pan Yue stepped up to smoothly take the dish towel from her hands. “Mom, go sit down and relax. I’ll finish up the cleaning here.”
“Alright, dear. I think I’ll go wait by the gate.” Mother Sheng dried her hands and hurried out to the courtyard, her thoughts already anchored entirely on her daughter. She began pacing the packed earth, with Father Sheng trailing closely behind her.
“What could be taking them so long?” Mother Sheng fretted, a heavy sigh escaping her. Her precious girl had been gone for three whole days; didn’t Wanyan miss her parents at all?
“Be patient, it’s still incredibly early,” Father Sheng reasoned, though his own eyes consistently tracked the edge of the alleyway.
Suddenly, the unmistakable hum of an approaching engine echoed down the lane. The parents exchanged a rapid, ecstatic look and practically broke into a trot toward the exterior gate.
The moment Father Sheng unlatched the door, he caught Wanyan stepping gracefully out of the passenger side, while Gu Tingxiao moved to unfasten the vehicle’s trunk.
“Dad! Mom!”
“Wanyan… my baby,” Mother Sheng cried, rushing forward to capture her daughter’s shoulders, her eyes frantically scanning her from head to toe. Seeing that her girl looked entirely vibrant—her complexion completely healthy and possessing a soft, radiant glow rather than any trace of exhaustion—the mother’s anxieties instantly dissolved.
Grandpa and Grandma Sheng, alongside Wanze and Pan Yue, streamed out into the alleyway to join the welcome. Witnessing Wanyan’s bright, blooming energy, every lingering trace of domestic worry vanished from the family’s minds.
“Grandpa, Grandma, Brother, Sister-in-law!” Wanyan cheered.
Grandma Sheng’s eyes crinkled with pure joy. Her precious granddaughter had only been separated from her side for three short days, yet it had felt as though she had been missing a limb every single hour. “It is so wonderful to have you back home, child.”
Grandpa Sheng, typically a man of few words, searched his mind for a grand statement before settling on a gruff, emotional murmur: “It is good that you’ve returned.”
Having gathered the heavy mountain of parcels from the vehicle, Gu Tingxiao strode up to the family group, his posture settling into standard military discipline as he addressed them with utmost gravity. “Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Mom, Brother, Sister-in-law.”
“Yes, yes, come in, son-in-law,” Mother Sheng beamed, her heart melting at his absolute respect. “Hurry inside now, both of you. Come sit and rest your feet.”
She eagerly ushered the newlyweds through the threshold. Sheng Wanze shot a brief, exasperated look at Gu Tingxiao’s broad back; no matter how protective he felt over his sister, there was zero sense in maintaining a cold front now that the man was legally his brother-in-law. His sister had been thoroughly captured; there was nothing left to do but accept reality. With a quiet, dramatic sigh, he stepped up to help Gu Tingxiao carry the massive haul of gifts inside.
The moment Wanyan and Gu Tingxiao settled onto the parlor chairs, Pan Yue emerged from the kitchen holding a tray of crystal-clear glasses. “Have some fresh sugar water to cool down from the drive.”
Mother Sheng refused to loosen her grip on Wanyan’s hand, her eyes locked onto her daughter’s face as if she could never look at her enough.
