Chapter 259: Gu Tingxiao Goes on a Mission
Since Gu Tingxiao was deploying on a mission, Sheng Wanze naturally had to deploy alongside him. When Grandma Sheng heard the news, she immediately offered to take care of Sheng Wanyan. Gu Tingxiao had actually been planning to ask the two elders to look after her, primarily by taking over the cooking duties.
However, Sheng Wanyan didn’t really want to head across the lane for every single meal. Even if she brought over her own rations, Pan Yue had recently given birth, meaning the household’s expenses were already tight. Naturally, their standard of living wasn’t quite as lavish as before. If Sheng Wanyan went over to eat, Grandma Sheng would undoubtedly prioritize feeding her the best ingredients to keep her nourished. Over time, that kind of favoritism would inevitably make Pan Yue feel uncomfortable.
As sisters-in-law living in such close proximity, Sheng Wanyan knew she couldn’t simply treat Sheng Wanze and Pan Yue’s household as her own personal dining hall. When she visited, she was still a guest! If they were back in Chengdu at her parents’ house, that would be a different story—that was her true home. But Grandpa and Grandma Sheng had come here to care for the newest generation, and Pan Yue had graciously accommodated the two elders without a single complaint about their age. Sheng Wanyan was deeply grateful to her sister-in-law for that.
As a married woman, she could lean on her own parents, but she couldn’t demand the same endless indulgence from her brother and sister-in-law. Sheng Wanze and Pan Yue didn’t owe her anything; they were siblings, not father and daughter!
When Gu Tingxiao heard she didn’t want to eat across the lane, he couldn’t hide his worry. With him away on a mission, Sheng Wanyan would be completely alone.
“Don’t worry,” she reassured him. “I’m only a little over six months along. It’s really no hassle to cook for myself. Besides, Grandpa, Grandma, and my sister-in-law are just a few steps away. They can look out for me if I ever need anything.”
Gu Tingxiao understood her reasoning, but as her husband, he naturally couldn’t help but fret about leaving her unattended.
“I usually help with the cooking anyway,” she pointed out reasonably. “Isn’t it just as easy to make my own portions now? I can take care of myself. If anything at all happens, I’ll just call for Grandpa and Grandma.”
Gu Tingxiao finally yielded. His wife was a fiercely independent woman with a mind of her own. Even if he stubbornly refused to agree now, the moment he deployed tomorrow, she would simply find a way to eat at home anyway.
“Alright, but only do what you can handle comfortably. Call for help the moment you need it,” he compromised. “If you ever feel too tired to cook, just trouble your grandparents, or ask Political Commissar Xie to bring you a meal back from the military cafeteria.”
Sheng Wanyan smiled and nodded obediently. With her spatial domain fully stocked with ready-made food, there was zero chance of her starving, even on days she didn’t feel like lifting a spatula. “Okay, I’ll listen to you.”
Knowing he was deploying early the next morning, Sheng Wanyan busied herself preparing his travel rations. She also packed extra cash for him to carry. Although the military provided full financial and logistical support for these missions, it never hurt to be over-prepared for emergencies.
Every single item she packed for him was made from high-quality, fine grains. When Gu Tingxiao saw her attempting to empty their entire pantry of premium ingredients just for his pack, his eyebrow twitched.
“Wife, you don’t need to pack this much. Just enough for the road is fine,” he said, gently stopping her hands. “The fine grains are meant for you and the baby.”
Sheng Wanyan knew she was acting overly anxious. Pregnancy hormones combined with the stress of his departure were causing her imagination to run wild. “There’s still plenty of food left at home. The baby and I will have more than enough.”
Still, she realized that overloading his pack would only become a physical burden during a covert operation. After dialing back her initial impulse, she settled on packing ten large meat buns, ten hard-boiled eggs, a tightly sealed lunchbox of savory braised pork, and a stack of savory pancakes. The pancakes she had made were stuffed with minced meat and smelled incredibly appetizing. These dry rations were convenient to carry and more than enough to sustain Gu Tingxiao during his journey.
“What time do you leave tomorrow?” she asked.
“Eight o’clock in the morning.”
“I’ll see you off.”
Gu Tingxiao paused, highly doubtful. Was she absolutely sure she could wake up that early? “…Alright.”
The next morning, Sheng Wanyan truly couldn’t pry herself out of bed. It wasn’t entirely her fault; the baby simply demanded the extra rest.
Before leaving, Gu Tingxiao quietly prepared a warm breakfast and left it on the stove. He even went outside to sweep the fresh snow from the courtyard.
“Woof!”
Ever since they had returned from the capital, Maodou had been stationed with the military working dogs. Knowing the energetic Labrador’s temperament hadn’t been fully stabilized yet, Gu Tingxiao had arranged for him to undergo several months of professional training. Maodou technically had one month of training left, but since Gu Tingxiao was deploying, he had pulled strings to bring the dog home early.
The moment Maodou trotted into the yard, he eagerly sniffed around, looking for Sheng Wanyan. Gu Tingxiao shot the dog a stern, icy glare, and Maodou instantly froze, not daring to take another step.
“Do not disturb my wife’s rest,” Gu Tingxiao ordered in a low voice. “Guard the house well, and don’t let anyone bully your mistress.”
“Woof,” Maodou barked softly in compliance.
Maodou had grown massive over the past few months, his stature now quite majestic and intimidating. Strangers would definitely be frightened at first glance; it would be strange not to be wary of such a large, muscular Labrador.
Gu Tingxiao checked his watch. It was already half-past seven; time to head out. He stepped quietly back into the bedroom and stood by the bed, gazing down at his sleeping wife for a long moment. Bending over, he pressed a tender kiss to the corner of her mouth.
“Wait for me to come back,” he whispered.
Straightening up, Gu Tingxiao grabbed his military cap, strode out of their home, and headed firmly toward the assembly point.
Sheng Wanyan slept entirely through his departure. She had been so consumed with worry the night before that she had tossed and turned for hours before finally succumbing to exhaustion. Gu Tingxiao had predicted she wouldn’t be able to wake up, and honestly, he preferred it this way. He didn’t want to see her cry. He might be a ruthless, hardened soldier on the battlefield, but the sight of his delicate wife shedding tears—dropping little golden beads of sorrow—was something he couldn’t bear to face.
He carried a fierce devotion to his country, balanced by a deep, aching guilt toward his wife. Yet, when placed before the needs of the nation, everything else became secondary, including himself. He was just one man in the vast machinery of the military.
The engines of the transport vehicles roared to life, carrying the men forward to execute their mission.
Sheng Wanyan slept deeply until ten o’clock. When she finally woke and felt the cold, empty space beside her beneath the quilt, she knew instantly that Gu Tingxiao had slipped away in secret. She understood his silent departure was his way of sparing her the pain of a tearful goodbye. But she was not a fragile woman. Now that Gu Tingxiao was gone, her primary duty was to take immaculate care of herself and their unborn child.
She got out of bed, changed her clothes, and washed her face. Stepping into the kitchen, she paused at the sight of the breakfast carefully keeping warm on the stove. What time did that man get up? she thought fondly. Not only had he cleared the entire courtyard of snow, but he had also prepared a breakfast perfectly tailored to her tastes.
“Woof!”
Maodou came bounding in from the front yard, his sudden appearance taking Sheng Wanyan completely by surprise. After Gu Tingxiao had left, the dog had dutifully remained outside to guard against any approaching strangers.
She hadn’t seen him in months, and he had grown incredibly large.
“Woof, woof, woof!”
“Maodou!” she called out happily.
The massive dog excitedly dashed to her feet, circling her in a joyful frenzy. It was obvious how much he had missed her.
“Come on, Maodou, let’s go inside.” Sheng Wanyan grabbed her breakfast and led him back into the warm house. Although it was already April, Bing City was still dusted with light snow. True spring wouldn’t arrive until the following month.
Maodou eagerly followed her indoors. As Sheng Wanyan sat down to eat, he flopped down right beside her chair, watching her every move with rapt attention. Sheng Wanyan couldn’t help but smile at his bright, sparkling eyes. Was he hoping for a drink of the spiritual spring water?
“I’ll take you inside the space later,” she promised softly.
“Woof, woof!”
Maodou sat up straight, his tail thumping against the floor. His gaze kept shifting from her face to her swollen belly. He seemed to understand perfectly that he was about to get a little master. He had been waiting for so long, and seeing his mistress’s belly grown so large, he knew the little one would be arriving soon.
Once his little master was finally born, he was determined to be the best protector and playmate in the world!
