Chapter 342| Chapter 343| Chapter 344
Chapter 342: A Good Cry
Because of the way he was raised, Huzi felt completely secure and trusted his parents. At the very least, he wouldn’t grow up to resent them for taking control of his belongings without his consent.
Once the family arrived at the auditorium, they made their way over to sit next to Auntie Xie. They were in the second row, which offered a perfectly clear view of the stage.
A few other military wives had wanted to snag seats in this section, but their husbands quickly pulled them away before they could even sit down. Are you crazy? the men hissed. You dare to sit right behind the military district leadership? Do you think you’re Sheng Wanyan? Do you think your family brings as much value to the base as hers does? Is your father her former mentor? Are your in-laws high-ranking officials? Or do you honestly think your husband’s rank is higher than everyone else’s here? What a joke!
Consequently, this exclusive row remained relatively sparse, occupied only by the wives and immediate family members of the top military brass.
“Yan’er! Xiaoyue! Over here!” Auntie Xie waved energetically.
Sheng Wanyan shifted Yi Yi in her arms and walked over to take her seat. It was Yi Yi’s first time seeing such a massive crowd of adults and children, and her little eyes darted around in absolute fascination. Sheng Wanyan gently turned the baby around to face the stage so she could get a front-row view of the action.
Before long, the military district leaders arrived, and the members of the art troupe filed into the auditorium one after another.
The star of this year’s performance was no longer Liang Qian—she was no longer even a member of the troupe. Pan Yue, on the other hand, was scheduled to return to her position in the art troupe next year. She was still young, and she had been working incredibly hard to regain her physical flexibility after childbirth. With enough effort, there was no reason she couldn’t take the stage again and win back her former center position.
Sheng Wanyan knew exactly how highly respected the military art troupe was, even if one wasn’t the main dancer. In ten or twenty years, Pan Yue would become an esteemed veteran and an object of admiration for the next generation. Working for a prestigious state-backed institution like this was a completely different concept from being a regular dancer in the entertainment industry; the stages they could step onto were on an entirely different level. This was precisely why, in later generations, no matter how wealthy or famous celebrities became, they still clamored to take the civil service exams. How could relying on a fickle entertainment market ever compare to having the solid backing of the motherland?
As the leaders finished settling into their seats, the lights dimmed and the performance officially began.
With the tall leaders sitting directly in front of them, little Yi Yi’s view was instantly blocked. She could only strain her neck, leaning her small head as far forward as possible.
Political Commissar Xie was just about to turn around to say something to Auntie Xie when he caught sight of Yi Yi frantically craning her neck to see over the seats. Meanwhile, Huzi had already climbed comfortably onto Father Pan’s lap—the little boy knew better than to waste the prime real estate of his own grandfather’s shoulders.
Amused by Yi Yi’s wide, watery eyes and determined struggle, Political Commissar Xie reached out toward her. “Comrade Sheng Wanyan, pass Yi Yi over to me. The view is completely unobstructed from where I’m sitting.”
Sheng Wanyan looked down at her daughter, who was still straining to look around the high chair backs, and carefully handed her over. “Thank you, Political Commissar. Sorry for the trouble.”
Political Commissar Xie took the baby into his arms. At first, Yi Yi stiffened slightly, unfamiliar with his embrace. However, the Political Commissar had raised several children of his own and was quite skilled at handling babies. Besides, the show had just started, and the bright lights and music on stage instantly captured everyone’s attention.
Sitting high on Political Commissar Xie’s lap, Yi Yi found her view suddenly wide open. It was a spectacular vantage point.
Holding her for the first time, Political Commissar Xie was genuinely surprised by how heavy the little girl was. Yi Yi adjusted herself against his chest, settling into a perfectly comfortable, relaxed posture to watch the dancers.
Political Commissar Xie: “…” Did I just become a human booster seat?
Tonight’s program featured a lively mix of singing, dancing, and a few comedic skits. Though the performances carried the distinct political flavoring of the era, the sketches were highly entertaining and a novel treat for the audience. Entertainment options were scarce during this time—the community rarely had the chance to watch stage shows or movies.
When the final act concluded, Political Commissar Xie stepped up to the microphone and made an unexpected announcement: from now on, the base would host a movie night at the end of every single month! The leadership had successfully petitioned their superiors for a black-and-white projector screen specifically so the soldiers and their families could unwind.
The auditorium erupted into thunderous cheers. Being able to watch a movie once a month was a luxury they hadn’t dared to dream of. Normally, their only window to the outside world was the military radio broadcast, which aired just once a week. How could merely listening to a radio compare to actually watching a silver screen? There was no comparison at all. The entire crowd was ecstatic.
The lively chatter continued all the way down the dark paths as families walked back to their quarters, their words reflecting a deep, renewed confidence in the military administration.
Sheng Wanyan watched the smiling faces around her, a knowing smirk playing on her lips. Political Commissar Xie certainly knew how to win over the hearts of the people. After the recent devastating flood, the community’s trust in the leadership had wavered. By rolling out these small, tangible benefits, the administration was steadily rebuilding that faith piece by piece. It was an incredibly smart move. Only when the military wives felt cared for and secure could the soldiers head out on their dangerous missions with total peace of mind.
Sheng Wanyan bundled a drowsy Yi Yi tighter into her blanket. Feeling the cozy warmth, the little girl drifted off to sleep before they even reached their doorstep.
Once home, Sheng Wanyan gently wiped the baby down with a damp cloth. The auditorium had been packed and stuffy, and little Yi Yi had sweated a fair amount. After changing her into fresh clothes, Sheng Wanyan tucked her into her crib before slipping into her spatial dimension to take a proper bath herself.
———
Two weeks later, a large package arrived from the Capital. It was clear the Gu family had been absolutely overjoyed by the photographs of Yi Yi. They had purchased a mountain of baby clothes, specifically sizing them up to match the chubby, healthy physique they saw in the pictures.
But the most shocking item came from Father Gu. He had somehow managed to procure a massive, oversized stuffed rabbit doll for his granddaughter.
Sheng Wanyan stood frozen in astonishment as she pulled it from the crate. The plush rabbit was easily a meter tall. She couldn’t even begin to guess how much a luxury item like that cost in this era. She secretly wondered if Father Gu had emptied out every single penny of his hidden private savings just to buy this for his granddaughter.
When Yi Yi spotted the giant rabbit, her eyes went wide with sheer shock. What on earth is that?!
She looked down at the small, ordinary dolls clutched in her tiny hands, then looked back at the magnificent, giant plush creature lying on the bed. In a split second, she dropped her old toys onto the floor without a hint of hesitation and began scrambling forward. The ruthless, fickle nature of a true materialist was on full display.
She crawled onto the giant rabbit, burying her face in the plush fabric. Feeling the incredibly soft, velvety texture, she fell madly in love with it on the spot.
However, while Sheng Wanyan was happy to let her play with it under supervision, she had no intention of leaving it in the crib during bedtime. A stuffed animal that large posed a serious suffocation risk for a baby; a wonderful gift could easily turn into a tragedy if the little girl rolled over and couldn’t breathe.
“Mommy needs to clean it first, sweetie. You can play with it again in a couple of days.”
Sheng Wanyan gently lifted the giant doll away, taking it into her spatial dimension to throw it into the washing machine. She made sure to seal it inside an extra-large mesh laundry bag first to prevent the plush stuffing and lint from ruining the machine’s filter.
When Yi Yi realized her magnificent new toy had vanished, she instantly panicked. She began babbling frantically, waving her arms and demanding its immediate return.
Sheng Wanyan tried handing her one of her old small dolls, but Yi Yi turned up her nose at it, completely uninterested.
Sheng Wanyan refused to coddle her. She was determined not to let Yi Yi develop a spoiled tantrum habit where she believed she could get whatever she wanted just by screaming.
Seeing that her mother wasn’t budging, Yi Yi’s face crumpled, and she burst into a loud, dramatic sob.
Sheng Wanyan remained unfazed. She pulled up a chair and sat nearby, quietly watching her daughter cry without making any move to return the toy or offer a comforting hug.
Yi Yi wailed for a good few minutes, but as she sneaked a peek through her tears, she froze. Why wasn’t her crying working today? Normally, the moment a single tear fell, her mother would rush over to scoop her up and comfort her. But right now, her mother was sitting there perfectly still, calmly observing her with a neutral expression.
The little girl was suddenly at a total loss. She had already committed to the tantrum, and stopping now felt like a blow to her pride. But if she kept crying, it seemed like she was the only one who was going to end up exhausted.
Chapter 343: Rescue
Yi Yi didn’t know what to do next. She could only freeze and stare at Sheng Wanyan, not daring to move an inch. She could clearly feel that her mother was angry, so she didn’t dare to push her luck any further.
Sheng Wanyan handed her a bottle of warm water so she could rehydrate after her crying fit. The little girl grabbed the bottle with both hands and began to gulp it down, sneaking cautious, tentative glances at her mother from time to time.
Sheng Wanyan found the baby’s guilty look incredibly amusing, but she maintained a stern, serious expression on the surface. She handed back the small, ordinary doll, and this time, Yi Yi didn’t dare throw it away. She clutched it tightly against her chest. Having learned her lesson, she became thoroughly obedient and didn’t dare challenge her mother’s authority again.
Seeing that the baby had completely calmed down, Sheng Wanyan carried her over to the crib and began feeding her some fruit puree. Today, she had prepared cherry puree. Yi Yi absolutely adored cherries, and the sweet taste instantly wiped all memory of the giant rabbit doll from her mind.
Once she coaxed the baby to sleep, Sheng Wanyan slipped into her spatial dimension to take the stuffed rabbit out of the washing machine and hang it up to dry. Only then did she finally have a moment to eat lunch.
Ever since she started taking care of the baby alone, her own diet had become completely irregular. She ate when she had time; if she didn’t, she just had to ignore her rumbling stomach and prioritize her daughter’s needs.
Sheng Wanyan let out a tired sigh, wondering when Gu Tingxiao would finally return. She told herself that she absolutely didn’t want him back just to help with the childcare—she was simply worried about him. After all, he had been gone for a whole month now without a single word of news. The collapse of a major reservoir could devastate an entire city and endanger everyone in it.
Needing some comfort food, she cooked a bowl of pungent snail noodles inside her space. It had been ages since she last enjoyed them, and she had missed the spicy, sour flavor terribly. However, after finishing the meal, her entire body reeked of the distinct snail noodle broth. Fearing that the strong scent would bother Yi Yi, she quickly took another shower, changed into fresh clothes, and gave her teeth a thorough brushing. After all, she was the type of mother who couldn’t resist constantly kissing and nuzzling her sweet, milk-scented baby.
While Yi Yi was deep in her afternoon nap, Sheng Wanyan used the quiet window to deep-clean the house. She focused heavily on the kitchen, scrubbing it inside and out to prevent any mice or pests from moving in.
Next, she took stock of their household provisions. There wasn’t much food left out in the open, though they had more than enough winter supplies safely secured. This was the perfect opportunity—while Gu Tingxiao was away—to quietly bring out fresh ingredients from her space. That way, she wouldn’t have to make tedious trips into the city whenever she wanted a specific dish. She also prepared the monthly allowance and food coupons for Gu Tingxiao’s parents, setting them aside to mail out the moment the postman arrived.
By the time she finished organizing everything, it was already four o’clock in the afternoon, and Yi Yi woke up right on cue. The little girl had completely forgotten her midday tantrum and was raring to go, bursting with energy. To keep her from immediately messing up the freshly cleaned rooms, Sheng Wanyan carried her straight out to the courtyard pavilion.
The little girl had an abundance of toys, but the moment she grew bored of one, she would simply hurl it aside. As a result, her toys were constantly strewn across the tables, floors, and beds. And then there were the cloth diapers. Sheng Wanyan’s hands were perpetually sore from washing them every day. She had originally considered switching Yi Yi back to modern disposable diapers while Gu Tingxiao wasn’t home, but she worried the baby would get used to the convenience. If she had to switch her back to cloth later, the transition would be uncomfortable for the child, so she ultimately abandoned the idea.
Instead, she meticulously washed her own hands and disinfected them with baby-safe sanitizer after every change. Then, she used the separate washing machines inside her space—keeping her own laundry and the baby’s diapers strictly isolated—to run them through another cycle. If she didn’t have the incredible convenience of her spatial dimension, Sheng Wanyan was certain she wouldn’t even have enough time to cook a basic meal.
Back when Yi Yi couldn’t crawl or explore, it was manageable. But now, the baby required undivided attention every single second. Sheng Wanyan lived in constant fear that she would put something dangerous in her mouth or accidentally hurt herself.
She was feeling thoroughly overwhelmed, and she could clearly recognize the burnout creeping in. After all, human patience has its limits. Even though she was a highly rational and emotionally stable person by nature, the relentless, repetitive nature of solo childcare was bound to leave her with some repressed emotions. All of her time was consumed by the child. Even when she needed to use the restroom, her mind remained hyper-focused on the baby’s safety, unable to relax for a single moment.
If she let her guard down for even a second, something could go wrong. On top of that, she still had to drag herself out of bed in the middle of the night for night feedings.
Sheng Wanyan let out a long breath, settling Yi Yi onto the pavilion blanket to play while she sat nearby, finally catching her breath.
Yi Yi scrambled around on her hands and knees, eventually exploring every square inch of the pavilion floor. Looking at the dust and dirt smudging her daughter’s clothes, Sheng Wanyan could only shake her head in resignation. The little girl didn’t mind being filthy in the slightest; she would only cry at the top of her lungs the exact moment her diaper became wet or soiled. When it came to playtime, she couldn’t care less about cleanliness and thoroughly enjoyed herself.
Completely oblivious to her mother’s internal judgment, Yi Yi crawled right up to Sheng Wanyan’s feet. Grabbing onto her mother’s trousers for leverage, she pulled herself up and wobbled onto her own two feet.
Sheng Wanyan gasped, her heart leaping into her throat as she quickly reached out to steady the baby’s hips.
Yi Yi was now ten months old, and this was the absolute first time she had stood up on her own using an external support. Sheng Wanyan stared at her in utter astonishment. She hadn’t even begun teaching her how to stand, yet the little girl had figured it out all on her own!
Sheng Wanyan had originally planned to wait a couple of days until she was less busy to slowly guide her through standing exercises, wanting to nurture her motor skills so she wouldn’t lag behind. Who knew the child would bypass the lessons entirely? This realization made her feel remarkably unfulfilled as a mother!
Witnessing her daughter’s milestone brought an indescribable flood of emotions to Sheng Wanyan’s heart. There was pride, joy, and profound surprise—but also a sudden, sharp pang of melancholy. She realized that as Yi Yi grew more independent, she would gradually learn to navigate the world all by herself. Just thinking about the distant day when her daughter would no longer need her mother made her feel incredibly wistful.
But sooner or later, every parent has to learn to gracefully step back and allow their children to make their own major life choices.
Sheng Wanyan scooped the baby up into her arms, gently pinching her chubby cheek. “Look at you, Yi Yi! You are so amazing!”
Yi Yi beamed up at her, flashing a proud smile. Having tasted success the first time, she immediately wanted to do it a second time. Gradually, she fell completely in love with the sensation of standing.
Sheng Wanyan didn’t restrain her curiosity; instead, she hovered closely by her side every single time to ensure she didn’t take a nasty spill. As Yi Yi grew more active, Sheng Wanyan’s days became increasingly hectic. Before, she only had to worry about her crawling into trouble; now, she had to constantly watch her to make sure she didn’t try to stand up when no one was paying attention and crack her head.
Fortunately, Maodou proved to be an excellent babysitter. During one of Yi Yi’s clumsy attempts, she lost her balance and began to fall backward, but Maodou instinctively slid in behind her to act as a soft, furry cushion.
Unfortunately, she landed right on Maodou’s head—and promptly let out a loud fart.
Sheng Wanyan would never forget the look of sheer, suffocating betrayal on the dog’s face as he was blasted by the fumes. She had felt so guilty that she fetched a bowl of premium, delicious dog food from her space just to compensate him for his psychological trauma.
“If you keep acting like a little rascal, be careful or the other kids on the base won’t want to play with you,” Sheng Wanyan scolded her daughter helplessly. She was genuinely worried the girl would grow up to fart in front of her future playmates and earn herself an embarrassing nickname.
Yi Yi merely bared her tiny baby teeth and giggled happily.
When Sheng Wanyan set her back down on the ground, Yi Yi immediately tried to scramble over to play with Maodou again. Terrified, the dog bolted instantly, sprinting away so fast he left behind nothing but a blur of paw prints and a cloud of shedding fur.
Sheng Wanyan shook her head at the sight. Now her daughter had officially become a terror that even the family dog despised.
Carrying Yi Yi back inside, Sheng Wanyan prepared to change her into clean clothes. The moment she unfastened the diaper, she finally understood Maodou’s intense pain. The little girl hadn’t just farted—she had pooped, too. No wonder the poor dog had run away as fast as his legs could carry him.
Sheng Wanyan sighed, thoroughly cleaned her up, and walked out of the house with the baby in her arms. She needed to find someone to borrow a recent newspaper from so she could check the latest updates on the reservoir rescue mission. Over the past few days, a persistent sense of unease had been weighing heavily on her chest.
Chapter 344: The Rescue Team Returns, But He is Not Among Them
Sheng Wanyan went to find Auntie Xie. Political Commissar Xie read the newspapers daily and kept the most recent editions at home.
Seeing her come to borrow them, Auntie Xie went to fetch a stack without a word of question. “Your Uncle Xie has already read through all of these, so feel free to take whichever ones you need.”
“Thank you, Auntie.”
Sheng Wanyan took several of the latest copies back home, sitting down to scan the pages carefully. The reports detailed how numerous soldiers had been swept away by the raging torrents during the operation, making rescue impossible. Many had drowned.
Sheng Wanyan frowned deeply. Even in future generations with advanced technology, the breach of a major reservoir was always an catastrophic crisis. In this era, with a severe lack of proper rescue equipment, it was a localized apocalypse. They had no speedboats, no specialized water-rescue gear, and no modern tracking systems. Everything depended entirely on raw manpower. Once the water level reached extreme depths, the consequences were devastating.
She could vividly imagine what the country was up against, and what Gu Tingxiao was facing out there.
Clutching her chest to soothe a sudden ache, she paused as her eyes locked onto the front page of the absolute latest edition. The headline read:
Rescue Operation Concludes; 200 Soldiers Sacrifice Their Lives in Reservoir Collapse Disaster!
Sheng Wanyan’s eyes widened as she stared at the words. Her hands trembled so violently that the newspaper slipped from her fingers and fluttered to the floor. She remained frozen, staring down at the print with bloodshot eyes.
Though she firmly believed Gu Tingxiao was too strong to succumb, the sheer number of casualties made her chest tighten with dread. Was he truly alright?
For several consecutive nights, Sheng Wanyan was plagued by recurring nightmares. She repeatedly dreamed of Gu Tingxiao being swallowed by dark, violent waters, struggling vainly to surface.
Four days later, the rescue contingent finally returned to the military base. The moment she heard the trucks, Sheng Wanyan bolted out the door, cradling Yi Yi tightly in her arms to meet them.
Scanning the disembarking soldiers, she spotted Sheng Wanze. His uniform was torn, his body was covered in visible cuts and bruises, and his eyes were heavily bloodshot. Grandpa Sheng, Grandma Sheng, and Pan Yue had also rushed out, with Pan Yue holding Huzi. Relieved to see him alive, they immediately crowded around him, gripping his hands in gratitude.
But the moment Sheng Wanze caught sight of his sister, his gaze shifted guiltily away. He didn’t dare meet her eyes.
Sheng Wanyan’s heart dropped. She stepped forward and gripped his arm tightly. “Brother, where is Tingxiao?”
She stared at him intently, but Sheng Wanze merely lowered his head in agonizing silence.
“Yes, where is Xiao Gu?” Grandpa Sheng asked, looking around the courtyard. “Has he gone to report to the commander first?”
Grandpa and Grandma Sheng looked left and right, but Gu Tingxiao was nowhere to be found among the ranks. All the soldiers had already stepped off the transport trucks. Why was Xiao Gu still missing?
Noticing Sheng Wanze’s evasive posture and downcast eyes, the elderly couple felt a cold dread sink into their chests.
“O-Ozawa…” Grandma Sheng stammered, her voice trembling as she probed for an answer.
It wasn’t just Sheng Wanze whose eyes were red with unshed tears. His comrades, who had served alongside him on the mission, all looked toward Sheng Wanyan with expressions of profound grief and pity.
In that moment, it felt to Sheng Wanyan as though all sound had been sucked out of the air, leaving only the whistling of the wind. She could no longer hear the joyful reunions of the other military families around her. All she could see were the bloodshot eyes of the soldiers, and the grim, heavy silence of Political Commissar Xie and the district commanders.
Suddenly, Captain Feng dropped to his knees right in front of her. Without warning, he began to slap himself across the face, repeatedly and violently.
Each strike delivered a loud, echoing crack. Qiao Hehua gasped, her eyes widening in horror as she watched her husband punish himself.
“Sister-in-law… it’s all my fault,” Captain Feng choked out between strikes. “The Regiment Commander… he was swept away by the current because he stayed behind to pull me out.”
“We searched downstream for three entire days, but we couldn’t find him…”
“Sister-in-law, it’s all my fault! My commander was washed away because of me!”
“It’s all my fault… Please, Sister-in-law, just beat me to death!”
Captain Feng wept bitterly, prostrated on the ground in agonizing confession. Hearing that Regiment Commander Gu had been lost to the river specifically to save her husband, Qiao Hehua broke down as well. She knelt beside him, sobbing as she begged for forgiveness, even pulling their young son down to kneel with them. Their entire family felt an immense, crushing debt to Sheng Wanyan—a sin they knew they would have to spend the rest of their lives trying to atone for.
The surrounding onlookers wiped their eyes, unable to contain their tears. Commander Gu’s baby girl wasn’t even a year old, and she had already lost her father. And his poor wife… she had only been married to the commander for two short years before being left behind.
Sheng Wanyan stared blankly at the family kneeling on the gravel. Her throat felt as though it were pierced by a thick thorn; she couldn’t form a single syllable. Tears flooded her eyes, blurring her vision until the world before her dissolved into a smear of grey.
Political Commissar Xie and the district commanders stepped forward, opening their mouths to offer words of comfort, but seeing her utterly hollow expression, the words died in their throats. They knew as well as anyone that Gu Tingxiao’s chances of survival were practically zero. The torrents had been incredibly deep and violent; surviving being swept away in such conditions was a miracle beyond scope. The troops had conducted a thorough search for three full days without uncovering a single trace of him. No one had any idea how far downriver he had been carried.
“So… you all assume he’s dead? Is that why you stopped looking?”
Sheng Wanyan finally spoke, her voice incredibly hoarse, her eyes wide with a quiet, devastating disappointment as she looked at the leadership.
“Comrade Sheng Wanyan, the men combed the banks for dozens of kilometers…”
If he were still alive, he would have been found by now. The commander couldn’t bring himself to utter the second half of that sentence, but Sheng Wanyan understood the unspoken words perfectly. Thousands of men had searched for three straight days and found absolutely nothing belonging to Gu Tingxiao. They couldn’t afford to keep an entire division tied down indefinitely when so many civilian areas were still desperate for disaster relief.
She understood the duty of a soldier, and she understood the harsh pragmatism of the military leadership. But right now, she just found it entirely absurd. How completely, utterly ridiculous! To call off the search without even confirming whether a man was dead or alive!
The agonizing wails of grieving families and the desperate apologies of Captain Feng’s family swirled around her, growing louder and louder until her consciousness began to fray. The sounds began to fade into a dull, distant hum.
“Yan’er!”
“Little Sister!”
“Sister-in-law!”
Sheng Wanyan’s knees buckled and she collapsed. Sheng Wanze lunged forward, catching her and little Yi Yi just before they hit the ground.
“Quick! Get the vehicle! Get them to the hospital!” Political Commissar Xie bellowed, barking orders to the medics to clear a path immediately.
The courtyard dissolved into absolute chaos. Grandma Sheng wept so violently that her legs gave out, leaving Pan Yue to quickly scoop up Yi Yi and carry both children back to the safety of the house. Sheng Wanze lifted his unconscious sister into the back of a military jeep and sped toward the hospital, with Political Commissar Xie jumping into the passenger seat to accompany them.
Back in the courtyard, Grandpa Sheng pulled his weeping wife up from the dirt, his own eyes brimming with tears. Supported by sympathetic neighbors, the two elderly grandparents slowly shuffled back to the house, their posture instantly aging by a decade as their spirits completely broke.
“My poor, miserable Yan’er!” Grandma Sheng wailed the moment they crossed the threshold.
The thought of her young granddaughter having to navigate the harsh world alone as a single mother tore her apart. Why did Wanyan have to endure such a cruel twist of fate? What would become of her now? A lone woman raising a child by herself in this day and age was bound to face endless hardship and scrutiny. The sheer injustice of it made Grandma Sheng’s chest ache with physical pain, and the thought of little Yi Yi growing up fatherless left her suffocating with grief. Why couldn’t Heaven show a shred of mercy to her beautiful granddaughter?
In this era, a young widow was often looked down upon, gossiped about, and openly taken advantage of by malicious people. Grandma Sheng cried until she gasped for air, nearly fainting from the sheer weight of her sorrow.
Pan Yue, having settled Yi Yi and Huzi safely in the bedroom, rushed back out to help steady Grandma Sheng. “Grandpa, Grandma, listen to me,” she urged, her own voice thick with emotion as she held Grandma Sheng’s hands. “They just haven’t found Brother-in-law yet. That doesn’t mean he’s gone for good. The Gu family in the capital will definitely receive word soon, and they have the influence to pull strings and keep the search going.”
