Chapter 351| Chapter 352| Chapter 353
Chapter 351: The Arrival of Father and Mother Gu
“Reporting to the Commander-in-Chief! I will absolutely deal with this matter with the utmost severity!” Political Commissar Xie barked.
When Father Gu heard his words, he merely sneered. The leadership always promised to handle things seriously, yet his family was still being targeted and bullied right under their noses!
“I would love to see just how capable Chief of Staff Liang really is!” Father Gu’s voice dropped, ice-cold. “Does he honestly believe he can cover the sky with one hand? To shield a daughter who openly insults the child of a missing officer—a child who may very well be the orphan of a martyr!”
He took a step forward, his towering presence casting a heavy shadow. “Our nation has countless martyrs who laid down their lives for our freedom. If every military dependent acts with such vile malice, how can we ever look those fallen soldiers in the eye? Is Political Commissar Xie trying to alienate the families of our heroes and destroy their faith in the army and the country?”
Political Commissar Xie’s legs went completely weak with terror. Defaming the family of a military hero was a massive political offense. “Commander-in-Chief! I swear I will launch a thorough investigation into this matter immediately! We will aggressively rectify the conduct and atmosphere within this unit!”
“You had better clean house,” Father Gu warned, his gaze piercing. “Otherwise, I will seriously begin to question your capability as a leader. If this rectification is handled poorly, we will have no choice but to replace you with someone who can actually get the job done.”
“Yes, Sir!” Political Commissar Xie saluted sharply, sweat pouring down his face as he vowed to completely overhaul the discipline of the base.
Having thoroughly reprimanded the Political Commissar, Commander-in-Chief Gu turned his attention back toward Sheng Wanyan, his icy glare locking onto Liang Qian.
“To dare bully my Gu family’s daughter-in-law, and to spread vile rumors that my Gu family’s grandchild is a curse…” Father Gu’s voice boomed with terrifying authority. “I intend to find out if Chief of Staff Liang is plotting to usurp military command entirely!”
Liang Qian felt as if her soul had left her body. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed heavily onto the damp riverbank.
Sheng Wanyan… was actually the daughter-in-law of the Commander-in-Chief. Gu Tingxiao… was Commander-in-Chief Gu’s own son. And the innocent baby she had relentlessly slandered was the Commander-in-Chief’s blood granddaughter.
Why…? Liang Qian’s mind reeled in a frantic, jealous panic. Why is it that even when Gu Tingxiao is presumed dead, Sheng Wanyan still has such terrifyingly powerful backing? Why?! Why?!
Liang Qian’s face drained of all color, and the remaining military wives stood frozen, scarcely daring to breathe. They were utterly ruined. They had blindly regurgitated a malicious rumor labeling the Commander-in-Chief’s granddaughter a disaster star, while secretly gloating over Sheng Wanyan’s misfortune. They cursed their own foolishness for not keeping their mouths shut.
Mother Gu stepped forward, looking down disdainfully at the trembling Liang Qian. “My daughter-in-law smashed up your house, didn’t she? Well, she did a magnificent job!”
She let out a sharp, cold laugh. “Go ahead and compile an itemized list of the damages! Our Gu family has more than enough money to compensate you down to the last penny. If smashing your house brings her peace of mind, it was worth every cent!”
Aunt Du had just hurried down the riverbank when she caught the tail end of the declaration. The shock was so great her eyes rolled back, and she nearly fainted on the spot. It was over. Their entire family was completely finished. Anyone in the military knew the devastating consequences of offending Commander-in-Chief Gu.
Liang Qian was too paralyzed with fear to form a coherent sentence. She couldn’t even summon the courage to look up at her mother-in-law, knowing with absolute certainty that there was no saving herself from this disaster.
“Thank you for your cooperation, Political Commissar,” Father Gu added, his voice ringing with absolute finality. “The administration should take this opportunity to launch a rigorous background check on every dependent residing within these quarters.”
Those words alone would ensure that many families on the base would lose sleep for weeks to come. True to his word, the subsequent investigation would eventually unearth a massive web of corruption and shameful secrets hidden among the ranks.
Political Commissar Xie wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and saluted. “Understood, Commander-in-Chief!” At that moment, he was profoundly grateful that he had always kept his own record clean and had never abused his authority for personal gain.
Standing nearby, Mother Sheng let out a quiet breath of relief as she watched the Gu family fiercely defend her daughter.
“In-law, thank you so much for rushing all this way to protect our Wanyan,” Mother Gu said, stepping forward to warmly grasp Mother Sheng’s hands in a gesture of profound gratitude.
Mother Sheng smiled gently. “You’re far too polite, my dear in-law. Wanyan is my daughter; shielding her from harm is my absolute duty. You and the Commander-in-Chief are managing massive national responsibilities, yet you still dropped everything to travel up north. I should be the one thanking you.”
The two mothers exchanged comforting words, a deep sense of mutual respect and relief settling between them.
Father Gu wasted no time. He marched directly to the base headquarters, called an emergency meeting of the entire leadership framework, and initiated a ruthless purging of the unit’s disciplinary issues. Under his direct orders, military guards marched forward to arrest Liang Qian and drag her away to a holding cell. Aunt Du and Captain Du were likewise taken into custody for immediate, aggressive interrogation regarding their involvement.
“Yan’er, let’s go back to the house first,” Mother Gu said gently, steering her daughter-in-law away from the chaotic scene.
Sheng Wanyan nodded quietly, helping her mother-in-law carry the heavy luggage back to her apartment. Mother Sheng, Sheng Wanze, and Pan Yue followed closely behind. Mother Sheng rolled her shoulders and stretched her arms, a look of immense satisfaction on her face.
Ah, that felt wonderful, she thought. It’s been far too long since I’ve had a chance to properly stretch my muscles. Back in Chengdu, she hadn’t been able to engage in a good neighborhood row for years, mostly because Father Sheng’s promotion to factory deputy director meant everyone treated their family with fragile handle-with-care politeness. Having been suppressed for so long, today’s physical release left her feeling entirely refreshed.
Once they crossed the threshold of the apartment, Mother Sheng immediately began gathering the belongings she had moved in the night before.
Now that Wanyan’s parents-in-law had arrived, they would naturally need to occupy the guest room. If Mother Gu was staying here, the couple shouldn’t be disrupted.
Seeing her preparing to vacate the room, Mother Gu quickly tried to stop her, feeling incredibly anxious. “Oh, wait—there’s no need for you to leave, in-law! I can easily have Old Gu sleep in the officers’ quarters. Why don’t you stay here and share the room with me? We can use the quiet evenings to chat and bond.”
Mother Gu felt terribly embarrassed. She had arrived completely unannounced, and the last thing she wanted was to drive out her daughter-in-law’s biological mother. It would look highly improper if word got back to the capital.
“My son’s apartment is right across the path, and my old bedroom is perfectly set up there,” Mother Sheng replied with a reassuring laugh. “You and the Commander-in-Chief have traveled a grueling distance to get here; how could I possibly justify forcing you to sleep in separate quarters? As for bonding, we have all the time in the world.”
Mother Sheng was far too pragmatic to create awkwardness. While this was her daughter’s home, it was also her son-in-law’s. Her own son’s place was literally a stone’s throw away, so moving across the street was no trouble at all.
“Don’t overthink it, in-law,” Mother Sheng added with a playful wink. “To tell you the truth, I’m just eager to get back over there so I can cuddle my sweet little grandson.”
Hearing her perspective, Mother Gu finally relented with a soft smile. Her arrival had been incredibly abrupt, and she felt a twinge of guilt for putting everyone out. “Alright then. Let’s make sure we go market shopping together tomorrow morning.”
“It’s a deal!” Mother Sheng agreed readily. Tackling the local markets would be infinitely more entertaining with a companion to help navigate the stalls.
Sheng Wanze and Pan Yue quickly stepped in to help Mother Sheng carry her things across the path. Her luggage was light, consisting mostly of a few changes of clothes, so the transition took only a few minutes.
Left in the quiet apartment, Sheng Wanyan went to retrieve little Yi Yi from her crib. The moment Mother Gu laid eyes on the baby girl, tears instantly spilled over her eyelashes.
“My poor, sweet Yi Yi,” she wept, her voice breaking as she cradled the baby against her chest. “To think those vile people targeted such an innocent soul.”
Mother Gu held the child in a tight, desperate embrace, her heart breaking over the cruel hand fate had dealt them. Her granddaughter Jingjing had endured horrific abuse from her biological mother back in the capital, and now little Yi Yi had been robbed of her father before she could even form memories of him. Why must the children in our family suffer so much?
Yi Yi, however, had absolutely no recollection of her paternal grandmother. The last time Mother Gu had visited, the baby was a mere two months old. Held tightly by a weeping stranger, the little girl grew frightened.
“Waaah!”
Yi Yi burst into a loud, panicked wail, catching Mother Gu completely off guard. She panicked, instantly worrying she had hurt the child.
“Mom, don’t worry, she’s likely just hungry and overtired,” Sheng Wanyan intervened gently, reaching out to take the crying baby into her own arms. “She hasn’t had anything to eat since early this afternoon, so she’s bound to be fussy.”
Hearing this, Mother Gu immediately handed the baby over, urging her to prioritize the child. “Yes, of course! Go tend to little Yi Yi first and get her settled. Don’t worry about us; we can manage.”
Sheng Wanyan nodded appreciatively, carrying Yi Yi back into the quiet sanctuary of the master bedroom to nurse her and rock her to sleep.
Once alone, Mother Gu set about organizing her and Father Gu’s belongings before boiling a large kettle of fresh water so they could wash away the grime of the railway journey. She and Father Gu had left the capital in such a frantic rush that they hadn’t even had time to purchase gifts or supplies for Wanyan and the baby, throwing only two changes of clothes into a bag before racing to the station. She resolved that before they returned to the Capital, she would leave a substantial sum of money with Wanyan to ensure she and Yi Yi wanted for nothing.
Later, Mother Gu quietly prepared a simple dinner. She ate a small portion herself, leaving the remaining dishes warming inside the covered wok on the stove for Father Gu and Sheng Wanyan whenever they returned.
As she sat in the dim kitchen, thoughts of her third son filled her mind, causing a dull, persistent ache in her chest. The Gu family had dedicated their entire lives to serving the nation, yet they felt a profound, heavy debt of guilt toward Gu Tingxiao’s young wife. His ultimate fate remained completely unknown; though the Gu family had pulled every available string to deploy private search teams along the river basin, they had yet to uncover a single trace of him.
Chapter 352: Mother Gu’s Request
If something had truly happened to their third son, how would his young wife survive alone with a child? Besides, Mother Gu couldn’t bear the thought of forcing Wanyan to live as a grieving widow for the rest of her days. She could only pray that Gu Tingxiao was merely stranded somewhere and unable to return, rather than gone forever.
Back in the capital, the family had deliberately kept the grim news tightly under wraps to prevent their political rivals from exploiting the situation. Even Second Aunt Gu, Gu Tinghao, and Wang Chunmei were completely in the dark; Grandpa Gu had intentionally omitted the details from them.
Eldest Brother Gu, working in the military, naturally found out, but he was a sharp man who understood the gravity of the situation and kept silent. As for Mother Gu, when she first received the notification, she would have ended up in a hospital bed herself if Father Gu hadn’t carefully analyzed the crisis to keep her grounded. Her first instinct had been to drop everything and search for her third son, the one child she felt the most profound guilt toward.
She had always wanted to make things up to him, but by the time she realized her past shortcomings, Gu Tingxiao had already grown into a man who no longer needed her coddling. Fortunately, he was a stoic, independent soul who didn’t dwell on grievances; any other child raised under those circumstances would likely harbor deep resentment. All she could do now was fiercely protect his wife and daughter, ensuring he would never have reason to resent her in the future.
Inside the quiet apartment, once she had safely coaxed Yi Yi to sleep, Sheng Wanyan stepped into the kitchen. She worried that her parents-in-law would be starving after their long journey and wanted to prepare a fresh meal. However, the moment she walked in, she found that Mother Gu had already finished cooking and was waiting to tend to her.
“Yan’er, is Yi Yi asleep?” Mother Gu asked softly.
“Yes, Mom. She just drifted off.”
Mother Gu nodded quickly, and only then did she have a quiet moment to really look at her third daughter-in-law. When she took a closer look, she was deeply shocked. How had Wanyan lost so much weight in such a short span of time? Her face was deathly pale and drawn, looking even more haggard than she had during her postpartum confinement period!
Distressed, Mother Gu hurried over to place a hot bowl of food in front of her, standing watch to ensure she ate.
“Mom, I can feed myself,” Sheng Wanyan said gently. “You’ve been confined to a train for days. Please, go sit down and rest.”
How could Mother Gu possibly rest? Seeing her daughter-in-law’s fragile state broke her heart. “Yan’er, tell Mom the truth,” she pleaded, her voice thick with emotion. “How long has it been since you had a proper night’s sleep?”
Sheng Wanyan remained silent, forcing large mouthfuls of food into her mouth to avoid answering.
How could she possibly sleep? Every time she managed to force down a meal, her thoughts were consumed by Yi Yi’s future, and every chore she used to keep herself busy was strictly to maintain stability for the baby. But the moment she lay down in the darkness of her bedroom each night, her mind was entirely flooded with images of Gu Tingxiao. Sleep eluded her completely, and the tears would flow silently, soaking her pillow until dawn.
The entire apartment was saturated with traces of him. She could see him everywhere—patiently cradling Yi Yi in the living room, looking after her tenderly in the bedroom, cooking her favorite dishes over the kitchen stove, or scrubbing their laundry out in the backyard. Every single corner of this home was filled with his shadow.
Mother Gu’s chest tightened as she watched her eat in silence. She knew that out of everyone, the one suffering the most profound agony over Gu Tingxiao’s disappearance was his young wife.
Sheng Wanyan knew there was still a shred of hope, that her husband might still be clinging to life somewhere. But she also knew exactly how microscopically slim that hope truly was. This state of limbo was a special kind of torture. If there were absolutely no hope left, she could at least force herself to accept that he was dead and begin the process of grieving. Instead, this agonizing, uncertain thread of hope felt like a cruel luxury—one that tormented her more slowly than death itself.
“Yan’er, you and Yi Yi are the absolute most important priorities right now,” Mother Gu said softly, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Even if… even if our third son really can’t make it back, you must take care of yourself for Yi Yi’s sake. That little girl cannot afford to lose her mother too.”
Mother Gu’s voice cracked, a sob catching in her throat. She felt terribly selfish for imposing such emotional demands on Wanyan during her hour of grief, but she was terrified of the child being left entirely alone. If Wanyan eventually chose to remarry down the road, Mother Gu only hoped she would wait a few years until Yi Yi was old enough to understand. At least by then, mother and daughter would have forged an unbreakable bond, ensuring that no future marriage could create an estrangement between them. She simply didn’t want the little girl to grow up feeling like an unwanted dependent without a single blood relative to defend her.
“Mom, I will never abandon Yi Yi,” Sheng Wanyan said, offering a faint, reassuring smile as she gathered the empty dishes and carried them to the sink to wash.
Watching her retreating back, Mother Gu was overwhelmed by a wave of complex emotions. The Gu family truly owed an immense debt of gratitude and guilt to this young woman. But just this once, she chose to be a selfish mother—all for the sake of her granddaughter’s future.
Father Gu remained at the headquarters meeting for hours, finally returning to the apartment just after seven o’clock in the evening. His face was grim and lined with exhaustion from cleaning house within the unit, but he carefully checked his temper at the threshold. After all, he wouldn’t dare display any aggression in front of his wife.
“Wife, where are little Yi Yi and our third daughter-in-law?” Father Gu asked the moment he stepped inside, eager to finally lay eyes on his granddaughter.
“Yi Yi is down for a nap, and Wanyan is resting in her room,” Mother Gu whispered, intercepting him. “Go take a hot shower and eat your dinner first. Once you’re clean, I’ll go bring the baby out to meet you.”
Father Gu caught a sniff of his uniform and frowned, realizing he did reek of sweat and smoke from the road and the tense meeting.
He had brought a personal guard with him on this journey, but he had already sent the soldier to lodge in the base dormitories; there was no need for a dedicated guard to hover over him constantly while inside a secure military installation. If a domestic army base wasn’t secure enough to guarantee his safety, then his position as Commander-in-Chief was entirely meaningless. He had traveled north under the official pretext of conducting a routine disciplinary inspection, meaning he could only remain at the Bing City base for a week before duty recalled him to the capital. Mother Gu, however, had a more flexible schedule; she intended to stay as long as necessary to nurse Sheng Wanyan and the baby through the worst of the crisis.
“I’ll go wash up right away!” Father Gu muttered.
“Make sure you scrub thoroughly. Don’t go bringing the scent of smoke anywhere near my granddaughter,” Mother Gu warned as she set his dinner out on the table. Once he finished eating, she shooed him toward the washroom.
She then walked down the hallway and gently knocked on Sheng Wanyan’s door. Wanyan had retreated to her room immediately after eating, clearly seeking a quiet sanctuary away from the world. She was currently sitting at her desk, staring blankly through the windowpane at the sea of bright, cold stars glittering in the night sky.
Knock, knock, knock.
The sound broke the heavy silence, snapping Sheng Wanyan out of her daze. She quickly wiped her cheeks with her palms and stood up to open the door. “Mom.”
“Yan’er, aren’t you tired? Why aren’t you resting?”
Sheng Wanyan shook her head slightly. She knew exactly why Mother Gu had come; her mother-in-law was eager to introduce the baby to Father Gu. “Come on in, Mom. Yi Yi should be waking up right about now.”
Hearing this, Mother Gu stepped into the softly lit bedroom. Seeing the baby sleeping peacefully in her crib, she walked over on tiptoe to peer down at her. “The little thing certainly sleeps soundly,” she whispered. “It must be incredibly demanding, raising a child all on your own.”
Looking at how plump, fair, and healthy little Yi Yi looked, Mother Gu knew that no matter how much Sheng Wanyan neglected her own well-being, she had never let her daughter want for a single thing.
“It’s not hard at all. Yi Yi is remarkably well-behaved,” Sheng Wanyan replied softly.
As the two women chatted in hushed tones by the crib, the baby began to stir. Yi Yi’s tiny fingers fluttered blindly through the air, and Sheng Wanyan automatically extended her index finger, letting the baby’s small hand clasp onto it tightly. This was a familiar routine before the child woke up; every time she transitioned out of sleep, she needed to anchor herself to her mother’s touch. Once she felt that solid reassurance, she would settle down and open her eyes peacefully.
Sure enough, after a few moments, Yi Yi blinked her eyes open, staring up at the ceiling in a quiet daze. Sheng Wanyan fetched a small, damp towel and gently wiped her face to help her wake up.
The refreshing water did the trick, and Yi Yi sat up, completely calm and content upon seeing her mother’s face. Clutching her mother’s hand, she opened her mouth and babbled clearly: “Ma~”
Sheng Wanyan froze in utter surprise. This was the absolute first time Yi Yi had ever articulated the word “Mom.” But given that the baby was already eleven months old, it was a perfectly natural milestone with enough daily exposure.
Her heart softening, Sheng Wanyan scooped her up. “Mommy’s right here, sweetie. Shall we go out and meet your grandpa?”
Yi Yi merely let out a happy little bubble of spit in response.
Chapter 353: The Bold Little One
Yi Yi pursed her tiny lips and blew a little bubble of spit. Seeing this, Sheng Wanyan didn’t scold her; she simply reached over and wiped the baby’s chin clean.
“Look, sweetie, this is Grandma,” Sheng Wanyan whispered.
Yi Yi blinked her wide eyes, staring at Mother Gu. It took her a long moment of studying the unfamiliar face before she finally connected it to the lady she had briefly met earlier that afternoon.
“Ah?”
“This is Yi Yi’s grandmother. She’s family.”
Yi Yi didn’t fully comprehend the explanation, so she simply wrapped her small arms tightly around Sheng Wanyan’s neck, burying her chubby face into her mother’s shoulder. The soft flesh of her cheek squished against the fabric, making her look incredibly endearing.
Mother Gu’s heart completely melted at the sight of her well-behaved granddaughter. She leaned in closer and gently pinched the baby’s soft cheek, and to her delight, Yi Yi didn’t pull away or fuss.
“Will you let Grandma hold you, sweetheart?”
Mother Gu opened her arms toward the baby. Yi Yi paused, turning her little head to look trustingly at Sheng Wanyan. When her mother gave an encouraging nod, the little girl finally extended her tiny hands and allowed herself to be transferred into Mother Gu’s embrace.
The exact moment she nestled the plump little baby against her chest, Mother Gu was filled with an overwhelming wave of joy. Yi Yi settled into her new vantage point, her liquid eyes darting around the room with an innocent curiosity that made it impossible not to adore her.
Mother Gu carried the baby out into the living room just as Father Gu stepped out of the washroom.
The sight of the imposing man caught Yi Yi completely off guard. Father Gu carried the hardened aura of a lifetime soldier, and a prominent scar cut across his stern face. The moment his eyes locked onto his granddaughter, he instantly tried to suppress his intimidating, commanding presence, terrified of frightening her. However, the deadly, razor-sharp edge he had forged through decades of battlefield experience was a permanent part of him; even when carefully managed, a hint of that fierce intensity still bled through.
Father Gu nervously braced himself, half-expecting the little girl to burst into terrified wails the moment she looked at him. But Yi Yi, having just woken from her nap, was still wrapped in a peaceful, clear-headed calm. She stared directly at Father Gu, her bright eyes filled with a total lack of fear.
Looking at her face-to-face for the first time, the formidable Commander-in-Chief suddenly found himself at a complete loss, utterly unsure of where to place his hands. In all his years, Yi Yi was hands-down the most beautiful child he had ever laid eyes on. She was fair-skinned, chubby, and possessed massive, expressive eyes framed by delicate features.
Father Gu scarcely dared to draw a full breath, deeply afraid that a sudden sound might startle the fragile little thing. Up close, she was infinitely cuter than she appeared in her photographs—and, of course, a good deal rounder. Her face was so exceptionally plump and healthy that she looked like a walking blessing, far surpassing the traditional New Year good-luck dolls depicted on calendar posters.
To think a granddaughter this incredibly blessed could be labeled a disaster by those ignorant gossips, Father Gu thought, his blood boiling. What kind of blind fools are they?
When it came down to it, this was entirely his third son’s fault. Gu Tingxiao had gone and gotten himself missing, leaving behind a mess that brought unnecessary grief and slander to his young wife and daughter. I’ve really spoiled that boy, Father Gu gritted his teeth. The exact moment our search teams pull him out of that river basin, I am going to beat him within an inch of his life.
“Yi Yi, look over here. This is your grandpa,” Mother Gu said softly. She took the baby’s chubby little hand and waved it toward Father Gu, guiding her to recognize him so her husband wouldn’t overthink things and worry that his granddaughter disliked him.
Yi Yi kept her eyes fixed on Father Gu. She had only recently woken up and was still slightly groggy, yet here she was, staring down a fierce-looking stranger. While she felt a tiny bit overwhelmed, she noticed that the man was wearing the exact same green military uniform her father always wore. That familiar sight instantly drew her in.
After studying Father Gu for a few more seconds, she suddenly leaned forward and stretched out her tiny arms, demanding to be held.
Now it was Father Gu’s turn to freeze in absolute shock. He had plenty of grandchildren back in the capital, but every single one of them bolted in the opposite direction the moment they saw his stern face. The stark scar across his cheek usually sent the kids running for cover; none of them had ever possessed the courage to willingly demand a hug from him. He usually considered himself lucky if they didn’t burst into tears when he walked into the room.
The Gu family’s traditional method of raising boys relied heavily on physical discipline whenever they stepped out of line, and their only other granddaughter, Jingjing, was so timid she actively hid whenever he came to visit. This was the absolute first time a child had looked at him without a shred of fear, let alone begged for his embrace.
“What are you just standing there for like an idiot? take her!” Mother Gu urged, rolling her eyes. Ever since they received the telegram, her husband had been relentlessly pestering her about when they would see the baby, talking about nothing else during the entire train journey. Yet now that she was being offered to him, he was paralyzed like a statue.
Father Gu quickly stepped forward and clumsily accepted the baby. The last time he had held an infant was when Gu Tingxiao and his siblings were small. After so many decades, handling a baby felt entirely foreign to him. Fortunately, despite his awkward grip, he managed not to make Yi Yi uncomfortable.
Cradled in his massive arms, Yi Yi tilted her head back to look up at him, and the hardened commander lowered his head to gaze down at her. The two of them engaged in a silent, intense staring match.
Suddenly, Yi Yi leaned toward Father Gu’s shoulder. She extended a chubby little hand and reached for the gleaming gold stars pinned to his shoulders. She had always possessed a profound weakness for bright, twinkling objects.
Mother Gu gasped, completely caught off guard. She hadn’t expected her granddaughter to be so bold as to immediately snatch at Father Gu’s military epaulettes—medals that her husband guarded with his life.
Sheng Wanyan was equally startled. This little girl was entirely too fearless. Those stars represented Father Gu’s highest military honors; no one in the family ever dared to touch them, and he kept them pristine.
“Yi Yi, no. Let go,” Sheng Wanyan said quickly, stepping forward to gently pry the baby’s chubby fingers away from the metal. But Yi Yi had decided she loved the shiny objects and gripped them with a stubborn, fierce strength.
“It’s alright, let her play with them,” Father Gu barked softly, a rare glint of amusement passing through his eyes. He was thoroughly surprised by his granddaughter’s audacity. So fearless? He thought proudly. She truly is a Gu through and through; the fierce blood of our family runs deep in her veins.
Father Gu carried the baby over to the sofa and sat down. The moment he lowered his frame, he froze, utterly stunned by the incredible softness beneath him. He looked down at the plush cushions, then raised his head in silent astonishment. His third daughter-in-law certainly knew how to cultivate a luxurious, comfortable lifestyle.
Yi Yi remained completely content in her grandfather’s lap, occasionally reaching up to tug at his uniform collar or pat his shiny medals. She simply grabbed whatever caught her fancy, showing absolutely no intimidation. Father Gu held her rigidly, scarcely daring to apply any pressure with his large, calloused hands, terrified that such a soft, delicate little creature might break if he squeezed too hard.
As the minutes passed, Yi Yi fully shook off her grogginess and began to brim with energy. She began to bound up and down on Father Gu’s thighs. Terrified that she might slip, the commander quickly tucked his large hands beneath her armpits to anchor her.
Seeing that the baby was bound to be hungry after her long sleep, Sheng Wanyan slipped into the kitchen to prepare her food. She mashed a fresh batch of apple puree for Yi Yi, and carefully sliced a platter of fresh fruit for her parents-in-law.
“Let me feed her,” Mother Gu requested eagerly the moment Sheng Wanyan walked back into the living room. She had never had the chance to feed her granddaughter before and didn’t want to miss out.
Sheng Wanyan gladly accommodated the elderly couple’s desire to bond with the child. She handed the bowl of fruit puree over to Mother Gu, stepping back to let the grandparents immerse themselves in Yi Yi’s world.
When it came to food, Yi Yi was entirely practical; she instantly loved whoever was handing her something delicious. Sitting securely on Father Gu’s lap, she happily opened her mouth for every spoonful her grandmother offered.
Watching the baby swallow each bite cleanly, Mother Gu beamed with absolute delight. “Look at how beautifully she eats! She’s not difficult or noisy like the fourth child’s boy at all.”
Gu Tinghao’s son was three months older than Yi Yi, but he possessed a terrible aversion to solid foods. The moment anyone tried to feed him a spoonful of basic rice porridge, he would intentionally gag and throw it up all over his clothes. The family had been utterly powerless to break the habit; even now, at fourteen months old, the boy still relied almost entirely on milk.
Yi Yi was the exact opposite; she happily devoured whatever was offered, remaining perfectly well-behaved throughout the meal.
“Yi Yi used to throw tantrums during mealtime too,” Sheng Wanyan noted dryly. “But I simply let her go hungry a few times, and she quickly learned her lesson.”
Sheng Wanyan saw no need to filter her parenting methods in front of her in-laws, as she had indeed enforced that exact boundary.
“You let her go hungry?” Mother Gu gasped softly, a wave of maternal anxiety tightening her chest. The thought of her precious granddaughter missing a meal pained her.
“Yes,” Sheng Wanyan explained calmly. “At first, Yi Yi would throw a fit and deliberately knock her food bowls onto the floor. So, I stopped feeding her entirely for that meal. Once a baby experiences what genuine hunger feels like, they naturally learn to appreciate their food and behave themselves.”
Mother Gu’s initial worry faded. Hearing that the little rascal had been intentionally flipping her bowls, she agreed completely with Sheng Wanyan’s firm boundaries.
