Chapter 271: Flaunting the Watch
“My third daughter-in-law gave me a watch, cosmetics, clothes, and shoes,” Mother Gu countered, her voice carrying across the garden plots. “Who else could be as filial and devoted as her?”
She leveled a cool, assessing gaze at Zhang Zhaodi. Did this girl truly think she was some wicked, bitter mother-in-law who couldn’t bear to see her daughter-in-law thrive?
“As a husband, it is only natural for my son to dote on his wife! If he didn’t care for her, I’d kick him out of the house myself. Not to mention how beautifully my daughter-in-law treats her elders—she bought me a woolen coat during the Lunar New Year that is absolutely stunning.”
Mother Gu smoothly unbuttoned her cuff. “And look at this. This watch was a personal gift from my daughter-in-law.”
She extended her left wrist, proudly presenting the gleaming timepiece to the crowd.
The surrounding aunties and military wives stared, their eyes turning green with envy. In this day and age, which daughter-in-law could possibly be generous enough to buy a brand-new wrist watch for her mother-in-law?
“I cannot tell you how deeply devoted my third daughter-in-law is to me,” Mother Gu continued, thoroughly enjoying their reactions. “She treats me with nothing but kindness. Now that she is pregnant and navigating such a difficult stage, it is only right that I come down to take proper care of her, isn’t it?”
The neighborhood women nodded in silent agreement, completely jealous of such a relationship. If their own daughters-in-law bought them luxury imports like that, they wouldn’t just cook for them—they’d gladly carry the basin to wash their feet every single night without a word of complaint.
Mother Gu checked the time on her gleaming dial, suddenly slapping her thigh in mock surprise. “Oh goodness, look at the hour! I must get going, ladies. Enjoy your chat.”
Shouldering her iron hoe, she turned and walked briskly down the lane, leaving behind a graceful, untouchable silhouette.
Standing at the edge of the plots, Zhang Zhaodi watched her go, secretly cursing Sheng Wanyan for being a complete fool. What a stupid idiot, she thought bitterly. Squandering such expensive luxury items on a mother-in-law? How is an old woman ever supposed to remember your worth?
Forget buying a watch for her own mother-in-law; Zhang Zhaodi couldn’t even afford one for herself. Besides, Sheng Wanyan was undoubtedly using Captain Gu’s military salary to fund all these grand gifts for Captain Gu’s mother anyway. What kind of true filial piety was that?
Zhang Zhaodi marched back to her courtyard, her face thoroughly dark. It seemed that every single time she tried to find a way to humiliate Sheng Wanyan, she was the one who ended up suffering the blow. Yet, she couldn’t stop envying the woman’s life. From the very first moment she had crossed paths with Sheng Wanyan, she knew that was the exact level of luxury and ease she aspired to achieve.
But why did Sheng Wanyan get to live that reality while she struggled? Did city people truly believe they were born superior to everyone else?
Zhang Zhaodi gritted her teeth, the vast chasm between her circumstances and Sheng Wanyan’s eating away at her peace of mind. A wave of sharp resentment washed over her as she recalled the physical scoldings she had endured from her husband and mother-in-law because of her past conflicts with the woman.
By the time Mother Gu walked through the front door, Sheng Wanyan was already busy in the kitchen preparing lunch. She had just finished kneading a fresh batch of dough and prepping the meat, intending to throw together a quick dish of hand-pulled noodles.
The moment Mother Gu spotted her working near the stove, she immediately marched over and gently ushered her out of the kitchen. “Why are you kneading heavy dough in your condition?”
“Mom, it’s fine. I can still handle light chores like this,” Sheng Wanyan smiled.
Mother Gu wasn’t having it. She hadn’t traveled all the way from the capital just to sit back and watch her pregnant daughter-in-law labor over a stove. Since she had taken a formal leave to care for her, she intended to ensure the girl did nothing but nurture the baby.
“Go on and rest. Let your mom handle the cooking,” Mother Gu commanded softly, steering her toward the living room. “Sit down on the sofa and have some fresh fruit.”
Seeing the fierce, protective look in her mother-in-law’s eyes, Sheng Wanyan decided not to argue further to avoid causing her unnecessary anxiety. She retreated to the living room, retrieved a bundle of premium wool from her basket, and settled onto the cushions. With the quiet afternoon ahead of her, she figured she could start knitting a few thick winter garments for the upcoming baby.
Before long, Mother Gu finished boiling the noodles and carried two steaming bowls to the dining table. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law sat together, enjoying a peaceful lunch.
“Eat up, sweetheart, and then head straight to bed for a nap,” Mother Gu urged.
When she noticed Sheng Wanyan lingering near the table after finishing her portion, she knew the girl was waiting to help wash the dishes. Mother Gu immediately waved her off. “It’s just two simple bowls, I can wash them in a blink.”
“Alright, thank you, Mom.”
Sheng Wanyan was indeed fighting a sudden wave of drowsiness. She had spent the entire morning focused on her technical translations, and the mental exertion had left her thoroughly drained. After tiding her knitting needles away, she retreated to her bedroom, falling into a deep, uninterrupted sleep the moment her head hit the pillow.
Once the kitchen was immaculate, Mother Gu walked into the living room, neatly folding the remaining skeins of wool left on the sofa and storing them in the basket. Finding herself with a few hours of quiet, she returned to her own room to rest, knowing she would need plenty of energy to prepare the grand family dinner later that evening.
The moment Mother Gu woke up from her nap, she immediately busied herself in the kitchen. Her first priority was getting the rich chicken soup base on the stove so it could simmer slowly and absorb all the flavors.
She was in the middle of washing and chopping the various ingredients for the feast when a crisp knock sounded at the front door. Wiping her hands on a kitchen towel, she went to answer it and found Pan Yue standing on the porch, a fresh, plump carp dangling from her hand.
“Auntie Gu, it’s been so long,” Pan Yue greeted her with a warm, respectful smile.
Pan Yue had crossed paths with Mother Gu a few times during her childhood in the capital, and after growing up, she had relocated north to Bing City alongside her parents. Their most recent interactions had been brief catch-ups within the military compound during the past Lunar New Year celebrations. Ever since her sister-in-law had officially married into the Gu lineage nearly a year ago, their family ties had grown much closer.
“Xiaoyue! Come in, come in out of the cold,” Mother Gu welcomed her warmly, immediately moving to pour her a glass of warm water.
Pan Yue held up the fresh catch. “Auntie, I brought this over for my sister-in-law. It’s perfect for nourishing her body during the final trimesters.”
Mother Gu’s automatic instinct was to politely decline the gift, but the moment she heard the fish was specifically sourced to boost Sheng Wanyan’s health, she accepted it with a grateful smile. “You are incredibly thoughtful, dear.” She carried the carp into the kitchen, placing it safely in a large ceramic pot. The fish was impressively sized, easily weighing over a kilogram.
After finishing her water, Pan Yue rolled up her sleeves and headed straight into the kitchen to help with the dinner preparations. Since her entire household was expected over for the feast, she couldn’t possibly sit back and allow Mother Gu to manage the heavy labor entirely on her own.
After all, who exactly was Mother Gu? She was a high-level department head within the Capital Ministry of Finance and the undisputed mistress of the elite Gu household! While the two families were closely related by marriage, and her grandparents were senior elders who could rightfully wait to be served, Pan Yue belonged to the younger generation. It was her duty to provide labor.
“Auntie, let me help you prep,” Pan Yue insisted, reaching for a knife.
Recognizing the proper etiquette, Mother Gu didn’t refuse her assistance. It was always better to let a capable young relative help out so everyone could feel more at ease. “Alright then, you handle washing and chopping the vegetables, and I’ll focus on slicing the pork.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
The kitchen quickly filled with the rhythmic sounds of chopping and the rich aroma of simmering broth. Meanwhile, back in the master bedroom, Sheng Wanyan remained fast asleep, entirely undisturbed by the domestic bustle outside.
When evening approached and the table was fully set, Mother Gu walked down the hallway to wake her daughter-in-law. Instead of bursting straight into the room, she gave a polite, measured rap against the wooden door.
Sheng Wanyan stirred at the sound, blinking up at the ceiling in a sleepy daze for a few moments.
“Wanyan, sweetheart, dinner is ready,” Mother Gu called out gently.
“Coming, Mom,” Sheng Wanyan responded, her voice thick with sleep.
Hearing her reply, Mother Gu returned to the kitchen to begin transferring the hot dishes onto the table.
Sheng Wanyan checked the clock on her nightstand and saw it was already six in the evening. She quickly slid out of bed to change her clothes. It was mid-May, and while the daytime weather was pleasant, the northern evenings still carried a sharp chill. A long, flowing skirt paired with a light layer was the perfect choice. Ever since her baby bump had become prominent, she preferred wearing dresses; it made moving around infinitely more comfortable.
She selected a light blue long skirt, threw a thin white knit jacket over her shoulders, and stepped out into the dining room just as the rest of the Sheng family walked through the front gate. With everyone gathered, the welcome feast officially commenced.
Mother Gu had even taken the time to prepare a special designated bowl for Maodou. Ever since she had learned how fiercely the Labrador had shielded Sheng Wanyan from Liang Qian’s assault, she treated the animal with immense respect. In her eyes, the dog was a decorated hero of the household who deserved the absolute best treatment. She laid out a hearty portion of marrow bones and a bowl of thick, freshly cooked corn mush that she had simmered until it was perfectly soft and easy to digest. Maodou devoured his dinner happily, being a thoroughly appreciative, non-picky eater.
Grandma Sheng carefully wheeled little Huzi into the room inside his wooden crib. The baby was in a wonderful mood, babbling happily as his tiny fists batted against a miniature toy drum. Since they were all trusted family members sharing a private meal, there was zero need for rigid, formal protocols. Everyone chatted and laughed, the atmosphere thick with genuine warmth.
Sheng Wanyan, who had always possessed a deep fondness for rich broths, happily drank a full bowl of chicken soup before reaching for her main portions, concluding her meal with a second warm cupful. The nourishment left her feeling deeply comfortable and relaxed.
Mother Gu’s culinary spread was exceptionally generous, featuring three hearty meat dishes, a fresh vegetable stir-fry, and the slow-simmered soup: a plate of glistening braised pork belly, a savory mince-stuffed eggplant stew, stir-fried green beans with thick cuts of bacon, and a platter of crisp cabbage greens. Even the tender chicken from the soup pot had been carved up and served alongside a specialized dipping sauce, effectively adding an extra meat dish to the table.
The family enjoyed a spectacular, satisfying meal. Once the chopsticks were set down, Pan Yue immediately cleared the table and headed to the sink to wash the dishes. Meanwhile, Sheng Wanyan and Grandma Sheng remained in the comfortable living room, relaxing on the sofa as they played with little Huzi.
The baby’s limbs were growing remarkably strong, his tiny legs kicking rhythmically beneath his blanket as he cooed up at his doting relatives.
