Chapter 179: The Proud Grandfather
She seasoned the meat paste with a dash of white pepper powder, shaped it into patties, and fried them until golden brown and sizzling in the wok.
Once these savory meat patties were done, she stuffed them inside the freshly steamed white buns, layering in crisp lettuce and sliced tomatoes. The result looked exactly like a modern hamburger—a Chinese version, but every bit as hearty.
Sheng Wanyan made ten of these packed buns, then reheated the savory stir-fried wild rabbit left over from the day before. Next, she fetched the pig’s trotter she had brought out from her space, simmering it into a rich broth enhanced with three precious drops of spiritual spring water. She then lifted the tender trotters out of the pot to be served with a robust, garlic-soy dipping sauce, creating a magnificent centerpiece for the table.
Since she was cooking a private family reunion dinner today, she poured her absolute heart into the kitchen. She cracked six eggs to whip up a perfectly smooth, silky egg custard tailored for her elderly grandparents, and rounded out the menu with a crisp, spicy, and sour pickled cabbage dish designed to satisfy Pan Yue’s pregnancy cravings.
After an entire afternoon of continuous chopping and cooking, Wanyan checked the clock. Seeing that the hour was close, she began laying out the massive spread on the dining table.
A few moments later, the unmistakable rumble of a military vehicle echoed from the lane outside. Wanyan wiped her hands, hurried across the yard, and unbolted the main gate.
“Grandpa! Grandma!”
Grandpa and Grandma Sheng heard their granddaughter’s clear voice before they even stepped out of the vehicle.
“Wanyan!” Grandma Sheng scrambled out of the car, hurrying forward with quick, eager steps. Wanyan dashed down the path to meet her halfway.
“Grandma, I missed you so much!” Wanyan threw her arms around the elderly woman.
Grandma Sheng hugged her back just as fiercely. Her granddaughter had only been married and gone for a month, but the family back in Chengdu hadn’t been able to adjust to her absence at all. For the first week, whenever mealtime rolled around, Grandma Sheng would habitually march down the hall to knock on Wanyan’s bedroom door to call her to the table. Facing nothing but an empty room and realizing her beloved granddaughter was hundreds of miles away always left a heavy ache in her chest.
It wasn’t just Grandma Sheng who struggled with the habit; even Mother Sheng would instinctively call out Wanyan’s name for help whenever she was managing chores around the house. Worst of all were the mornings; before heading out for her factory shift, Mother Sheng would regularly walk to Wanyan’s room to wake her for breakfast, only to be met with a hollow, crushing silence.
Father Sheng had his own moment of reality checking when they first moved back to Chengdu. One evening, he noticed Wanyan wasn’t at the table. He glanced at his watch, saw it was already past seven, and immediately grabbed his coat, assuming she was working late at the office and needed a ride home—only for the bittersweet reality to hit him halfway out the door.
As for Grandpa Sheng, his routine was completely thrown off. Every single time he sneaked a celebratory glass of wine or indulged in a forbidden snack, he would glance warily over his shoulder, terrified that Wanyan was about to catch him and report him to Grandma. It took him weeks to realize that the sharp-tongued granddaughter who loved to police his diet had married and moved away. There was no one left to bust him.
The family’s brief return to Chengdu had actually felt lonelier than their years in the Capital. Fortunately, Pan Yue’s sudden pregnancy had provided a burst of profound joy, helping ease the quiet melancholy binding the four elders.
Now, holding the granddaughter she had been constantly worrying about, Grandma Sheng simply refused to let go.
“Let Grandma look at you, child.” Grandma Sheng gently pulled back, gripping Wanyan’s hands tightly as she inspected her from head to toe several times. Her face immediately filled with maternal distress. “You’ve lost weight. You’ve gotten entirely too thin!”
Sheng Wanyan, who had actually gained two full pounds since arriving at the compound: “…”
Wanyan merely smiled, wrapping her arms around Grandma’s elbow and leaning in with a soft, affectionate whine. “Grandma, I really missed you.”
“I missed you too, my sweet girl,” Grandma Sheng murmured, smoothing back Wanyan’s hair with eyes full of unconditional love.
Grandpa Sheng, Sheng Wanze, and Pan Yue approached the gate heavily laden with luggage and packages. Wanyan immediately stepped forward to lighten their load.
“Grandpa, Brother, Sister-in-law!”
“Little sister,” Wanze and Pan Yue greeted her, their faces splitting into bright grins.
Knowing Pan Yue was in the fragile early stages of pregnancy and that she would soon be an aunt to a beautiful niece or nephew, Wanyan couldn’t resist darting an excited glance at her sister-in-law’s flat belly. Pan Yue caught her look, touched her stomach tenderly, and offered a playful wink and a firm nod to confirm the wonderful news.
Wanyan’s smile widened instantly. “Congratulations, Brother, Sister-in-law! You’re finally going to be parents. Sister-in-law, please go straight inside and rest on the sofa. Leave all the heavy bags to my brother.”
Sheng Wanze smoothly took the remaining parcels from his wife’s hands. The bags Pan Yue carried weren’t heavy by any means, but the entire Sheng lineage treated this first expected great-grandchild like absolute porcelain.
“It’s really not heavy, little sister,” Pan Yue laughed, walking beside her. “How have you been settling into the military compound? Are you liking it here?”
Pan Yue was genuinely thrilled to see her. Now that Wanyan was living within the same residential quarter, she would finally have someone her own age to talk to and confide in. More than anything, she felt deeply guilty that her elderly grandparents had traveled across the country just to manage her pregnancy household; with Wanyan living right across the lane, the elders wouldn’t feel isolated or bored, which eased a massive burden on her conscience.
“I’m doing wonderfully, Sister-in-law. Go on inside and take a seat.”
“You little rebel, you only have eyes for your grandmother,” Grandpa Sheng huffed from behind, though the grumpy exterior couldn’t quite hide his childish jealousy.
Wanyan laughed, turning back to him. She smoothly transferred the heavy bundle from his arms into Gu Tingxiao’s grip and wrapped her arms securely around Grandpa’s elbow, leaning in close. “Grandpa, I’ve been dreaming about you every single night.”
“Hmph… I don’t believe a word of your sweet talk,” he grumbled, though his chest puffed out with pride.
Grandpa Sheng scrutinized his granddaughter thoroughly, nodding to himself with quiet satisfaction. It was clear that young Gu was treating his girl exceptionally well. Her cheeks held a healthy, vibrant flush, her clothes were pristine and new, and she radiated high spirits. Seeing proof that her married life was comfortable allowed him to finally relax.
“Come inside, Grandpa. I cooked a mountain of your favorite dishes,” Wanyan smiled, guiding Grandpa Sheng with one arm and Grandma Sheng with the other into the living room.
The moment Grandma Sheng stepped over the threshold and caught sight of the custom sofa, she lowered herself into the cushions—only to instantly bolt back upright. She raised a hand and gave Wanyan a firm, maternal tap on the forehead. “You extravagant little creature! Your husband works himself to the bone to earn a living, and you squander his wages on luxury like a total spendthrift…”
Wanyan rubbed her forehead, pouting in playful grievance. Gu Tingxiao walked out of the kitchen carrying a tray of sweet sugar water, and seeing his wife being thoroughly scolded by her grandmother, he immediately stepped in to shield her.
“Grandma, please have some water. You must be parched.”
“Oh, thank you, Tingxiao. You’ve had a long day,” Grandma Sheng smiled warmly, accepting the glass and taking several long gulps. The cross-country train ride had left her entirely dehydrated.
Grandma Sheng could tell her grandson-in-law was deliberately diverting the conversation to protect Wanyan, but she remained deeply concerned. In this era, a soldier’s income was earned at the risk of his own life; her granddaughter couldn’t be permitted to blow through resources so recklessly.
“Tingxiao, Wanyan is still young and terribly naive about running a household,” Grandma Sheng said softly, stepping forward to clasp his hand with a trace of embarrassment. “Please don’t hold her extravagance against her.” As the grandmother who raised her, she felt she bore the responsibility for her granddaughter’s lack of domestic thrift.
“Grandma, Wanyan is wonderful. She keeps our home incredibly comfortable,” Gu Tingxiao replied, his voice firm and completely earnest. “Wanyan holds the final say over our household affairs, and I have absolutely no objections.”
Hearing his protective declaration, Grandma Sheng could only smile and shake her head. Seeing the young couple share such a deep, unshakeable bond allowed her lingering worries to evaporate. Her primary fear had been that Wanyan’s urban spending habits would drive a wedge into her marriage, but it was clear her grandson-in-law doted on her granddaughter completely.
“Well… as long as you two are happy and living well, we elders can rest easy,” Grandma Sheng smiled. Tingxiao nodded respectfully, guiding her back down into a comfortable seat.
Meanwhile, Sheng Wanze and Pan Yue were busy testing the sofa cushions. Pan Yue, despite her sophisticated upbringing in the capital, was thoroughly amazed by the sheer luxury of her sister-in-law’s living room. But she held the same practical philosophy: as long as Gu Tingxiao was fully supportive of Wanyan’s lifestyle, the neighbors’ opinions didn’t matter.
A short while later, Father and Mother Pan arrived at the courtyard after finishing their shifts at the command headquarters and the base hospital. The two extended families shared a warm, boisterous chat for a half-hour before Wanyan called everyone to the table.
“Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Pan, Aunt Pan, Brother, Sister-in-law—dinner is served!”
Gu Tingxiao carried out the steaming tureen of pork porridge, while Wanyan followed closely behind, arranging the platters and passing around the fresh chopsticks to their loved ones.
