Chapter 297: Full Moon
Sheng Wanyan absolutely did not dare to give Gu Tingxiao any reason to suspect the existence of her spatial domain, so she had no choice but to grit her teeth and endure the deprivation.
Consequently, aside from acting as a secret pantry for extra snacks, her magical space proved entirely useless during her confinement. The spiritual spring water had technically already repaired and revitalized her postpartum body, leaving her perfectly healthy, but with both her husband and her mother-in-law keeping a relentless, hawkish watch over her, she could do nothing but lie quietly in her bed and play the part of a fragile patient.
The days crawled by, one after another, until Sheng Wanyan finally crossed the threshold and officially completed her confinement month.
Her absolute first priority was to wash her hair and scrub her body. Anticipating her desperation, Gu Tingxiao had already boiled several massive pots of water and had a steaming basin waiting for her in the washroom.
Today was also little Yi Yi’s official “Full Moon” milestone, a deeply important cultural celebration marking a newborn’s first month of life. The entire extended family was gathering for a lavish celebratory dinner.
Mother Gu’s train back to the capital was scheduled for the end of the following month, meaning she only had a few precious weeks left in Bing City before returning to her duties. Similarly, Gu Tingxiao’s convalescent leave would expire in about two weeks, after which he would return to the barracks. This meant Sheng Wanyan was rapidly approaching the day when she would be the sole adult running the household and caring for the baby.
Recognizing the impending shift, Mother Gu and Gu Tingxiao took over practically all of the child-rearing duties, allowing Sheng Wanyan to enjoy this final window of profound rest and minimal worry.
Mother Gu absolutely adored Yi Yi. The moment the infant let out even a whimper, she was right there to scoop her up and comfort her.
Sheng Wanyan wasn’t nearly as indulgent with the child as the doting grandmother, but she understood Mother Gu’s perspective. Since the older woman would be returning to the Capital soon and wouldn’t be able to see her granddaughter for months, it was only natural for her to miss the baby. Since she had the opportunity to spend time with her now, she wanted to cherish every single second.
Mother Gu also noticed that Gu Tingxiao frequently visited the supply and marketing cooperative to purchase premium groceries for the household. Not wanting to be a financial burden, she tried to contribute her own monthly salary to the pot. When Gu Tingxiao flatly refused her cash, Mother Gu simply marched down to the cooperative herself and began directly purchasing bulk supplies for the kitchen.
She had lived in Bing City for quite some time now, and every single meal and comfort she enjoyed had been entirely funded by the third branch. Although her presence was technically to care for Sheng Wanyan, the Gu family estate had legally been divided into separate households. Consequently, her other two sons back in the capital were technically responsible for sharing the financial burden of her retirement, yet she was currently residing exclusively under Gu Tingxiao’s roof.
Throughout her entire stay, Sheng Wanyan had continued to religiously wire Mother Gu’s designated monthly pension and food allowance back to the capital without missing a single cent. The young woman had never once suggested that Mother Gu’s living expenses in Bing City should be deducted from that allowance. Instead, Sheng Wanyan treated her mother-in-law with impeccable respect, constantly preparing various high-end goods and luxuries for her comfort. The daily meals were built around expensive refined grains and premium meats, offering a standard of living that easily surpassed the rigid domestic structure back in the Capital.
If it weren’t for the fact that she held a vital administrative job in the capital, Mother Gu honestly wouldn’t want to return at all.
Most importantly, residing in Bing City meant she didn’t have to endure Wang Chunmei’s relentless, toxic drama, granting her a profound sense of peace. Living alongside her third daughter-in-law was incredibly comfortable and deeply relaxing. Sheng Wanyan never instigated senseless trouble; on the contrary, she was deeply considerate of her mother-in-law’s feelings and consistently treated her with genuine respect.
If I had gone to look after Wang Chunmei during her confinement instead, Mother Gu thought with a shudder, I’m certain she would have found a way to complain every single day that the food wasn’t luxurious enough.
Mother Gu knew exactly what the financial reality was for the fourth branch; they simply didn’t possess the elite wealth or resources that Gu Tingxiao had built. Now that they had added another mouth to feed, their budget would undoubtedly be stretched to its absolute limit. Naturally, a part of Mother Gu wanted to offer financial support to the fourth branch, but the mere thought of Wang Chunmei instantly extinguished that maternal instinct. She knew that if she offered assistance, Wang Chunmei would greedily accept it as her absolute right and demand even more. Conversely, if she chose to withhold her aid, Wang Chunmei would undoubtedly launch a smear campaign, branding her a stingy, heartless mother-in-law.
Whenever the image of Wang Chunmei’s smug, calculating expression crossed her mind, Mother Gu felt her blood pressure spike. Her heart broke for little Jingjing; the poor girl was the true victim in that household. Now that Wang Chunmei had successfully birthed a son, there was no telling what kind of miserable, neglected existence Jingjing would be forced to endure moving forward. Wang Chunmei was Jingjing’s biological mother, yes, but Mother Gu knew she couldn’t shield the girl forever.
There was also the complicated reality of the eldest branch. The Eldest Gu brother and his wife were currently sharing the primary residence with the Gu elders. While the eldest daughter-in-law was a kind woman, abruptly forcing another child onto her household would inevitably create logistical burdens and domestic friction.
When Jingjing had briefly lived in the central compound, Wang Chunmei had constantly used “visiting her daughter” as a convenient excuse to barge into the main house, making unreasonable demands and stirring up endless trouble. Over time, even the patient eldest daughter-in-law might reach her breaking point.
Yet, if Jingjing were returned to her parents’ house, the girl would absolutely suffer. Feeling trapped by the impossible situation, Mother Gu had decided to keep Jingjing anchored by her side in the capital for the time being, resolving to figure out a permanent solution once the girl grew a bit older.
If my fourth son had simply married someone else, none of these horrific complications would exist! Mother Gu lamented inwardly. They might have lived a completely harmonious, happy life.
It broke her heart to dwell on it. Thank goodness the Gu estate had already been legally divided into separate branches; had they all remained under one roof, the sheer volume of toxic drama would have torn the family to shreds by now. She couldn’t even begin to imagine the catastrophic, explosive war that would have erupted between the third daughter-in-law and the fourth branch.
Having lived under the same roof as Sheng Wanyan for half a year, Mother Gu thoroughly understood the young woman’s formidable personality. Wanyan never instigated trouble, but she absolutely did not back down when trouble came knocking. She prioritized her own peace and happiness, fiercely refusing to swallow any insult or tolerate being wronged. She was highly capable, deeply decisive, and possessed a radiant confidence born from growing up in a progressive, intellectual family that genuinely valued gender equality.
Given her unshakeable nature, Wanyan would never accept being bullied or marginalized by Wang Chunmei. While the eldest daughter-in-law possessed the gentle, endlessly tolerant demeanor of a traditional matriarch who sacrificed herself for the peace of the family, Sheng Wanyan operated on a completely different frequency. She was not the eldest wife, and she harbored absolutely zero desire to play the role of the long-suffering matriarch. She simply wanted to live her life happily, and she would strike back ruthlessly against anyone who dared to provoke her. Her brilliant, flawless execution of justice against the malicious Dahua at the hospital proved exactly how lethal she could be.
Thank the heavens the third branch is stationed all the way up here in Bing City, Mother Gu thought, deeply relieved. If they had been residing in the Capital, Wang Chunmei’s toxic personality would have inevitably driven her to sneer at Wanyan for delivering a daughter, undoubtedly spewing unforgivable insults. Wanyan wouldn’t have tolerated a single syllable of disrespect and would have absolutely decimated her in retaliation.
Mulling over the inevitable family politics, Mother Gu truly dreaded her impending return to the capital. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a choice she could avoid; her administrative role was vital, and she was duty-bound to continue serving the state.
For Yi Yi’s Full Moon celebration, Mother Gu pulled out all the stops, preparing an incredibly lavish, sprawling feast to demonstrate the sheer magnitude of the family’s joy.
When Grandpa and Grandma Sheng arrived at the courtyard and saw the magnificent spread covering the dining table, their hearts swelled with profound relief. It was absolute, undeniable proof that the Gu family deeply cherished their new granddaughter.
“Please, Grandpa, Grandma, make yourselves comfortable,” Gu Tingxiao urged warmly, pulling out their chairs. “Today is Yi Yi’s Full Moon. Let’s celebrate properly as a family.”
“Yes, yes, of course,” Grandma Sheng smiled, her eyes misty. “It’s already been a full month. Time truly flies by in the blink of an eye.”
Across the room, little Yi Yi was lying comfortably in her wooden crib, staring up at the ceiling pattern, completely oblivious to the cultural significance of the day. Yet, the rich, savory aromas drifting from the dining table seemed to catch her attention, and a thin line of drool slipped from the corner of her tiny mouth.
While the adults enjoyed the lively feast, Gu Tingxiao noticed the drool and immediately stepped away from the table to gently wipe his daughter’s chin. His little girl was an absolute germaphobe; if her face remained sticky for even a minute, she would undoubtedly burst into an aggrieved fit of tears.
“Ah~!” Yi Yi babbled happily, reaching up with her tiny hands to securely grasp one of Gu Tingxiao’s large fingers.
Gu Tingxiao’s eyes melted into pure, unvarnished tenderness. Seeing how entertained she was, he didn’t pull away, happily standing by the crib to let her play with his hand for several long minutes before finally returning to his meal.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk… just look at this absolute slave to his daughter,” Sheng Wanze commented, his tone thick with sarcastic envy.
Hearing his father’s voice, little Huzi immediately looked up from his highchair. “Eat!” he demanded loudly.
At his age, Huzi could easily comprehend the basic intent behind adult conversations, even if he couldn’t grasp the complex vocabulary. He picked up on the distinct, sour note of envy in his father’s voice and instantly felt a surge of indignation.
What exactly is wrong with your own son?! Huzi’s expression seemed to demand. We are both children! Why are you looking at her with such envy? Am I not causing enough chaos for you? Do I need to be naughtier so you stop yearning for other babies?
“Eat!” Huzi barked again, staring dead into Sheng Wanze’s eyes.
Sheng Wanze looked down, highly amused by the intense, unmistakable glare of pure jealousy burning in his son’s eyes. How on earth is he already this territorial at his age? Sheng Wanze chuckled.
Deciding to tease the boy, Sheng Wanze picked up a piece of steamed egg and guided it toward Huzi’s mouth. But the exact millisecond Huzi opened his lips to accept the bite, Sheng Wanze smoothly pulled the spoon away.
