Chapter 189: Gu Tingxiao is Back
Pan Yue was now four months pregnant. Her belly was already starting to show, and the little ones growing inside her—Sheng Wanyan’s future nephew and niece—were proving to be quite a handful.
Every day, meal times were interrupted by bouts of morning sickness, leaving Pan Yue drained and unable to focus on much else. She spent her days feeling sluggish and listless. Fortunately, Grandma Sheng wasn’t a rigid traditionalist. In many other households, a daughter-in-law who slept through the day instead of working would be harshly criticized. But to Grandma Sheng, a pregnant woman’s health and comfort were the absolute top priorities.
“Is it really Yan’er coming over?” Grandpa Sheng asked, squinting into the distance.
Grandma Sheng immediately shot back. “I just told you it was Yan’er, but you never believe me!” She turned toward the path. “I have to be the one to tell him. Otherwise, even if you shouted at the top of your lungs, your grandfather wouldn’t hear a thing.”
Grandpa Sheng scowled. How could this old woman badmouth him in front of their granddaughter?
“Don’t listen to your grandma, Yan’er,” he grumbled. “If she doesn’t nag me for a day, she feels sick all over.”
Hearing this, Grandma Sheng planted her hands on her hips, demanding backup. “Hey! What’s that supposed to mean? Am I wrong? Yan’er, tell me, was I wrong?”
Caught in the crossfire of their bickering, Sheng Wanyan immediately stepped in to coax them both. “Grandma, you’re right. You’re just telling the truth.”
Grandma Sheng looked vindicated. This stubborn old man refuses to admit his hearing is going, yet he still tries to pick fights with me.
But Grandpa Sheng frowned at Wanyan’s words. So he was the one in the wrong?
Wanyan quickly pivoted, adding, “But Grandpa is right, too. He works so hard! He’s the perfect example of putting your whole heart into everything you do. When my brother’s babies are born, Grandpa will be a great role model for them.”
At that, Grandpa Sheng’s expression instantly relaxed into a bright, self-satisfied smile. His granddaughter’s words hit the mark perfectly. He did want to be a great role model for his future great-grandchildren.
Seeing his smug look, Grandma Sheng just smiled, shook her head, and went back to turning the soil. It wasn’t worth arguing with the old man anymore—best not to get him riled up again.
Sheng Wanyan smiled helplessly as she watched them. Even though her grandparents bickered constantly, whenever anything actually mattered, they were always the first to fiercely care for and protect one another.
After about half an hour, Pan Yue woke from her nap. Seeing Wanyan, she quickly brought out some pastries to entertain her guest.
“Sister-in-law, try this pickled radish I made,” Wanyan offered, pulling out a jar.
Because of her pregnancy, Pan Yue had been craving sour foods. She popped a couple of pieces into her mouth and immediately brightened, praising the flavor.
Seeing how much Xiaoyue enjoyed it, Grandma Sheng mentally noted that she should prepare a large batch of pickled vegetables so her granddaughter-in-law could eat to her heart’s content. She hadn’t dared to strictly police Pan Yue’s diet. As long as it didn’t harm the babies, a pregnant woman should eat whatever she wanted. Sleeping when tired, eating well, and staying happy were the most important things.
“It’s so tasty,” Pan Yue mumbled, munching on the crisp radish. The sourness was incredibly appetizing, and she found herself feeling hungrier by the second.
“If it’s delicious, I’ll definitely make more for you next time,” Wanyan smiled.
“Grandma, I’m actually hungry,” Pan Yue said, rubbing her belly.
Grandma Sheng beamed with joy. Lately, it was a victory if Pan Yue just managed to keep her meals down—she almost never asked for food on her own! This was the very first time she had actively requested a meal, and the older woman couldn’t contain her excitement.
“Just wait a minute, Grandma will make you a nice bowl of noodles!”
Grandma Sheng immediately bustled off to the kitchen. Seeing that her sister-in-law was in good hands, Sheng Wanyan didn’t stay much longer and headed back to her own home.
Recently, Sheng Wanyan had been plagued by restless sleep. A heavy, suffocating feeling pressed against her chest every night, drowning her in chaotic dreams. She would jolt awake in the dead of night, staring into the pitch-black room. Taking a deep breath, she would massage her aching chest and force herself back to sleep.
Another week slipped by. More than half a month had passed since the deployment, and Gu Tingxiao still hadn’t returned.
Still, Sheng Wanyan refused to let herself drown in anxiety. She maintained her routine, eating and drinking normally, and making sure to regularly bring supplies back to the house.
“They’re back!!! The soldiers from the mission are back!”
Sheng Wanyan froze at the sudden shout from outside. For a second, she thought she had imagined it. But when the next cheer rang out, she immediately grabbed Maodou and threw the door open, straining to hear the commotion.
“They’re back! Captain Gu and his team have completed their mission!”
At that exact moment, the door to the courtyard opposite hers opened, and Pan Yue hurried out, supporting her heavy belly.
Looking at her sister-in-law, Sheng Wanyan finally understood how military wives always seemed to know when their husbands’ missions were over, even before the men reached the front door. Sometimes, there was just an unexplainable, tacit connection. They could just feel it.
“Yan’er… is it your brother? Are they back?” Pan Yue asked, her voice trembling with hope.
“Yes, sister-in-law, let’s go!”
Sheng Wanyan quickly stepped forward to help support her, with Grandpa and Grandma Sheng hurrying close behind.
Sheng Wanyan guided Pan Yue toward the gate of the family compound. Military transport trucks had parked, and the returning soldiers were jumping down one by one.
“You’re finally back! Are you hurt?” “How are you? Did everything go well?”
The military wives rushed forward, swarming their husbands to check for injuries. In times like these, simply returning home safely was the greatest luxury of all.
Sheng Wanyan scanned the crowd but couldn’t spot Gu Tingxiao. Instead, she saw Captain Fang walking toward them. His expression was painfully solemn.
Sheng Wanyan’s heart skipped a beat. What… what does that look mean?
Captain Fang stopped in front of them and delivered a rigid, formal salute.
Pan Yue’s legs gave out, causing her to stagger two steps back. Having grown up in a military compound, she knew exactly what this kind of greeting meant. It meant that either the men were critically injured in the hospital… or worse.
“Sister-in-law…” Captain Fang’s voice was hoarse. “Tingxiao and Wanze are at the hospital. Wanze was critically injured. He’s unconscious…”
The last bit of strength drained from Pan Yue’s body. Her eyes went completely hollow as she collapsed toward the ground.
“Xiaoyue!” “Sister-in-law!”
Sheng Wanyan and Grandma Sheng lunged forward, catching her just in time and hauling her back up.
Pan Yue stared at Captain Fang in utter disbelief. “Say… say that again?” she whispered. “What do you mean, unconscious?” Frantic, she stumbled forward and grabbed Captain Fang’s arm, her eyes instantly welling with bloodshot tears.
“Sister-in-law… Wanze was shot,” Captain Fang choked out. “The bullet… it hit right by his heart. They just rushed him to the hospital for emergency surgery.”
Captain Fang lowered his head, his own eyes red and watery with grief. He blamed himself entirely for failing to protect his men. Unforeseen variables had derailed the mission, and his preparations hadn’t been enough. In the chaos, Sheng Wanze had thrown himself in the line of fire to shield his comrades.
Even though sacrifice was a reality of a soldier’s duty—a job they swore to complete even at the cost of their lives—Pan Yue was heavily pregnant. If Sheng Wanze didn’t survive, how could Captain Fang ever look the Sheng family in the eye again? How could he possibly face Commander Pan?
Grandpa and Grandma Sheng nearly fainted on the spot. Wanze was their only grandson! If the worst happened, how would Pan Yue survive? What would they do? Without Sheng Wanze, their entire family would be shattered.
“This… this can’t…” Grandma Sheng stammered, covering her mouth as agonized sobs tore from her throat. “My grandson…”
Having fought in wars during his youth, Grandpa Sheng possessed a stronger mental fortitude. He immediately stepped forward to support his weeping wife. “We need to get to the hospital right now,” he ordered firmly, forcing himself to stay strong for the family.
His commanding tone snapped Grandma Sheng out of her daze. She immediately turned and rushed back home to pack a hospital bag for Wanze.
Meanwhile, all the color had drained from Pan Yue’s face. Before Sheng Wanze had left for this mission, he had looked her in the eyes and promised that he would come back to her safely.
He had promised that as soon as he returned, he would build a little crib, carve wooden toys, and make a tiny stool for the babies growing inside her.
