Chapter 387| Chapter 388| Chapter 389
Chapter 387: Promotion and Dinner
Pan Yue simply followed Sheng Wanyan’s lead, pretending not to hear the knocking. She asked Grandpa and Grandma Sheng to ignore the door as well, not wanting Hu Zi to catch another cold.
Grandma Sheng naturally hadn’t wanted to open it in the first place, and with Pan Yue’s agreement, she completely ignored the visitors. After all, outsiders meant nothing compared to her great-grandson. If they opened the door and let the freezing wind in, what if Hu Zi fell ill again? Wouldn’t that just be asking for trouble?
Realizing that neither family was going to answer, the visitors knew they weren’t welcome. They had no choice but to take their gifts and leave, cursing under their breath. If Gu Tingxiao and Sheng Wanze weren’t their husbands’ superiors, they never would have bothered visiting in the first place. Yet here they were, their “kindness” completely ignored.
But no matter how furious the women in the family compound were, the drama finally came to an end. Sheng Wanyan and Pan Yue’s homes returned to their usual peace and quiet.
The next day, Sheng Wanyan woke up early to prepare the ingredients for the evening’s dinner party. Before long, Pan Yue arrived with Grandpa and Grandma Sheng in tow.
Grandpa Sheng was holding two pounds of pork, insisting that she cook it to nourish her body.
“Grandpa, Grandma, Sister-in-law—we already have everything we need here,” Sheng Wanyan protested. “Isn’t my brother hosting his own dinner party in a couple of days? You should take this back.”
She knew that most families relied heavily on their winter food stores during these months, and her brother, Sheng Wanze, still needed to entertain his own guests soon. Wanyan had everything she could possibly need tucked away in her personal space; she could just secretly pull ingredients out whenever Gu Tingxiao wasn’t home. Her brother and sister-in-law, on the other hand, had limited supplies, and making a trip to the supply and marketing cooperative in the dead of winter was no easy task.
“Here, just take it.” Grandma Sheng refused to take no for an answer, shoving the meat into her hands despite Wanyan’s continued protests.
“Just accept it, little sister,” Pan Yue urged. She knew Wanyan was well-stocked, but this meat was a token of their family’s appreciation, and it was only right to offer it.
Unable to out-argue them, Sheng Wanyan finally relented, taking the meat to the backyard to bury it in a pile of snow to keep it fresh.
“I’ll help you with the cooking,” Pan Yue said, placing Hu Zi into the crib to play with Yi Yi before following Wanyan into the kitchen.
“You girls go ahead, we’ll watch the children,” Grandpa and Grandma Sheng offered. The elders took charge of the little ones. Yi Yi had only just recovered from her cold and was being quiet and well-behaved.
A short while later, Aunt Xie, Captain Wang’s wife Yang Wanshu, Deputy Captain Feng’s wife Qiao Hehua, and Deputy Company Commander Wu’s wife Niu Chunhua arrived to lend a hand.
They all piled into the kitchen, bringing extra stools, bowls, and chopsticks from their own homes. After all, with so many guests attending, Sheng Wanyan didn’t have nearly enough tableware. In these times, no one thought twice about a household lacking enough bowls—having meat on the table was the only thing that truly mattered.
This was Niu Chunhua’s first time sharing a meal with the group since marrying Deputy Company Commander Wu. Around the time of their wedding, Gu Tingxiao had been dealing with some trouble, so her family hadn’t hosted a banquet.
And now that her husband had been passed over for a promotion, she was even more hesitant to host a dinner. After all, as his wife, she knew exactly how upset he was, yet he still had to plaster on a smile when facing his superiors. If they hosted a dinner party right in the middle of everyone else’s promotion celebrations, their household would become the primary subject of compound gossip. People might even think they were deliberately trying to embarrass the newly promoted officers.
It was an uncomfortable situation for her. She had married a divorced man without a wedding banquet to celebrate it, leading many to believe the Wu family didn’t value her. But what could she do? Now was certainly not the time to draw negative attention to her husband.
Though Niu Chunhua came from a respectable, working-class family in the city, this was the first time she had witnessed Sheng Wanyan’s level of extravagance. So many meat dishes were being prepared—didn’t she feel the pinch of spending so much money on food? Niu Chunhua felt a twinge of envy, but all she could do was watch. After living in the military compound for a few months, she had heard all the rumors about Sheng Wanyan earning thousands of yuan a month. How could her own family possibly compare?
“Yan’er, how are you cooking this fish?” Yang Wanshu asked, handing over the cleaned and prepped fish. Sheng Wanyan already had the day’s menu mapped out.
“We’ll braise it,” Wanyan replied. “Sister-in-law, could you slice some green onions and ginger for me?”
“Sure thing.” Yang Wanshu immediately got to chopping.
With Sheng Wanyan acting as the head chef, Aunt Xie took charge of tending the stove. She was an expert at managing the fire, keeping a close eye on the flames to ensure nothing burned.
Before long, the house was filled with a mouth-watering aroma. The children visiting the house caught the scent and rushed to the kitchen to see what was cooking.
“It smells so good!”
“Auntie, what are you making?”
Yang Wanshu’s youngest son, An An, had been well-fed lately and was no longer the scrawny little boy he used to be. Standing by Wanyan’s side, looking shy and well-behaved, he was absolutely adorable.
“I’m cooking fish,” Wanyan smiled. “An An, make sure you eat a lot later, okay?”
An An nodded bashfully. But where there was one child, a second was sure to follow. Soon, the kitchen was completely overrun with kids. To keep them from getting underfoot, the adults began shooing them back out.
“An An, go play with the others outside. Everyone here is busy,” Yang Wanshu said, taking her youngest son’s hand to lead him back to his older brother, Pingping.
“Go play in the living room,” Sheng Wanyan added, smiling as she ruffled An An’s hair. “There are snacks and candies on the table. Help yourselves if you get hungry.”
Obediently, An An followed his mother back out to the living room.
With the children out of the way, the cooking proceeded at a much faster pace. Before long, Gu Tingxiao returned from work, bringing his comrades home with him. The moment the children spotted their fathers, they rushed over to greet them.
Even little Yi Yi, seeing Gu Tingxiao walk through the door, immediately reached her little arms out for a hug.
Gu Tingxiao quickly washed and dried his hands before scooping his daughter up. He bundled Yi Yi into his heavy military coat to ensure she wouldn’t catch another chill. Safe in his arms, she poked her little head out, her big, round eyes curiously observing the strange uncles who had entered her home.
Yi Yi was dressed in a festive red dress today, with little tiger shoes on her feet. Her fine, sparse hair had been tied into two tiny buns on top of her head. No matter the angle, she was overwhelmingly cute. Her chubby little face turned left and right as she studied the visitors.
There were so many people crowding the house, including a bunch of unfamiliar men in matching uniforms. It was a little intimidating for a toddler. To her, they all looked like they could be her dad!
Yi Yi tilted her head back to carefully inspect Gu Tingxiao’s face. Once she confirmed she hadn’t accidentally hugged the wrong father, she finally relaxed and snuggled comfortably into his embrace.
Hearing the commotion, Sheng Wanyan emerged from the kitchen, pouring a few glasses of water and inviting the men to sit down and chat.
“Sister-in-law!”
“Hello, Sister-in-law!”
The soldiers quickly stood to attention to greet her. Sheng Wanyan walked over with a warm, gentle smile, offering them tea.
“Please, everyone, make yourselves at home,” she said. “We don’t have anything fancy prepared yet, so please enjoy some tea and snacks for now. The food will be ready in just a moment.”
Wanyan was just being modest, and everyone in the room knew it. The men quickly waved off her polite humility; her culinary skills were already the stuff of legend around the compound.
“You’re too modest, Sister-in-law!”
“That’s right, we’re just happy to be here.”
“Exactly! Your cooking is famous. We’ve been thinking about it ever since the last time we ate here!”
Chapter 388: A Bitter Disgrace
Ever since they had first tasted Sheng Wanyan’s cooking, the men had been utterly obsessed. They spent their days wondering when they might get another invite, the memory of those flavors still fresh enough to make their mouths water. They couldn’t help but deeply envy Captain Gu and Captain Sheng for being able to enjoy such incredible food all the time.
Captain Gu was especially lucky to eat like this every single day. Truly, comparing yourself to others only led to a profound sense of defeat.
Sheng Wanyan smiled warmly as she set the water on the table, gesturing for them to help themselves. “Please don’t stand on ceremony. Just treat this place like your own home. Make yourselves comfortable while I finish up in the kitchen.”
Her welcoming words instantly put the men at ease. It was clear their sister-in-law truly regarded them as family, showing no pretense or stiffness.
“We can manage, Sister-in-law!”
“That’s right, go ahead and do what you need to do, don’t worry about us.”
Sheng Wanyan smiled and slipped back into the kitchen, determined not to keep everyone waiting too long.
Just then, Political Commissar Xie arrived. The moment he walked through the door, he overheard the young soldiers singing Sheng Wanyan’s praises. A bunch of greenhorns, he thought with an amused smile. The woman they were idolizing was Gu Tingxiao’s wife; if they kept carried away like this, Gu Tingxiao would surely discipline them double time during training tomorrow.
Inside the kitchen, the work wrapped up quickly. The military wives began carrying the steaming dishes out to the dining room one by one. Meanwhile, Sheng Wanyan went down to the cellar and brought up ten bottles of wine.
This was peach blossom wine she had brewed herself, and she had a generous stockpile of it. Because today was a day for celebration, she was more than happy to share it with everyone.
As the feast was laid out on the table, the men in the living room could no longer sit still. They had been catching mouth-watering whiffs of the food while chatting, but as disciplined soldiers, they had done their best to hide their eagerness. Now that the food was right in front of them, however, resisting the temptation of such a magnificent spread was next to impossible.
“Everything is ready, let’s eat!” Sheng Wanyan called out with a bright smile.
Gu Tingxiao stood up. “Let’s take our seats.”
The moment the words left his mouth, everyone surged forward. They had been waiting for this exact command!
“Sit down, sit down, everyone,” Grandpa and Grandma Sheng urged, ushering the guests to their chairs so the children wouldn’t have to wait any longer to eat.
Sheng Wanyan picked up Yi Yi and settled into her seat. Gu Tingxiao wheeled Yi Yi’s stroller over, telling Wanyan to place the little girl inside whenever her arms grew tired.
Yi Yi’s eyes went wide as she stared at the massive spread of food. What was all this? It looked infinitely more delicious than her usual plain porridge and egg custard.
Sheng Wanyan had prepared a small portion of egg custard for both Yi Yi and Hu Zi, but the bowls were still steaming hot, so the little ones had to wait.
Once everyone was seated, Gu Tingxiao took his place at the head of the table. To his right sat Grandpa Sheng and Political Commissar Xie; to his left were Sheng Wanyan and Grandma Sheng.
Before the meal, the men had expected Gu Tingxiao to deliver a formal, polite toast. But when the Captain noticed his daughter drooling with hunger, he completely bypassed the pleasantries.
“Let’s eat,” he announced bluntly. “Dig in.”
True to his efficient style, Gu Tingxiao immediately ladled out bowls of hot chicken soup, placing them directly in front of the two elderly Shengs and his wife. The message was crystal clear to everyone at the table: Don’t expect my wife to spend the meal serving you.
“We’ve got it, Captain!”
“Yes, sir, we’ll serve ourselves.”
The soldiers quickly raised their hands to help themselves. Seeing how fiercely their commander doted on his wife, none of them dared to expect her to cater to them.
Sheng Wanyan turned her attention to feeding Yi Yi. Testing the bowl with her hand, she found the egg custard had finally cooled to a safe temperature. She blew gently on each spoonful before offering it to her daughter, who eagerly opened her mouth with a happy “Wow!” and swallowed the bites down one after another.
By the time Wanyan finished feeding the baby, her own soup had cooled to the perfect temperature, courtesy of Gu Tingxiao. He placed the bowl directly in front of her and began piling vegetables into her empty dish, ensuring she wouldn’t be left empty-handed. After all, with a pack of hungry wolves at the table devouring the food, his wife wouldn’t stand a chance if she had to compete.
As it was Niu Chunhua’s first time dining with the group, she felt terribly clumsy and self-conscious, but Deputy Company Commander Wu didn’t notice her discomfort at all. Watching how attentively Gu Tingxiao cared for Sheng Wanyan, Niu Chunhua couldn’t help but compare him to her own husband, a deep wave of envy washing over her.
Furthermore, Deputy Company Commander Wu’s two sons from his previous marriage were incredibly ill-mannered. Their biological mother had raised them to be ruthlessly selfish, teaching them that if there was meat on the table, they had to grab as much as possible without a single thought for anyone else—not even their own family.
Sheng Wanyan chose to ignore them. Since the boys’ biological father and stepmother were right there and saying nothing, she wasn’t going to stick her nose in and court trouble.
“Dad, why does my sister get her own bowl of egg custard?” Deputy Company Commander Wu’s youngest son demanded, glaring at Yi Yi. He couldn’t understand why a mere baby girl deserved such a delicious, individual portion.
“Your sister is still small, she can only eat soft foods,” Deputy Company Commander Wu explained.
“I want one too!” the boy whined.
“Here, eat this.” Deputy Company Commander Wu picked up a piece of food from one of the platters and dropped it into his son’s bowl. But when the boy saw it wasn’t a separate, special dish like the baby’s, he instantly threw a tantrum.
“Dad, that’s completely different! I want what she’s having!”
Deputy Company Commander Wu’s face darkened with embarrassment. To have his children acting so picky and demanding while guests in someone else’s home was mortifying. “That’s your sister’s dinner.”
“I want it! I want it!” the younger boy shrieked.
As soon as the younger brother started making a scene, the older brother joined right in, howling for his own portion. Deputy Company Commander Wu felt a massive headache coming on. These two boys had inherited every single one of Zhang Zhaodi’s worst traits! Looking at their unreasonable, spoiled behavior, a burst of rage flared within him.
“Eat what’s in front of you or don’t eat at all! No one is going to coddle you here!” Deputy Company Commander Wu barked, his face turning black.
Niu Chunhua watched the display in silence, offering no comfort. Since they weren’t her biological children, there was absolutely no reason for her to get involved and draw fire.
Sheng Wanyan continued to look away, pretending not to notice. There were plenty of rich meat dishes on the table; the two boys certainly weren’t going to starve. Besides, how other people raised their children was none of her business. If they chose to go hungry out of spite, that was their choice.
Meanwhile, seeing that someone was trying to claim her food, little Yi Yi quickly scarfed down the remaining egg custard in a few big bites. Once her small bowl was scraped clean, she turned her head and flashed a bright, triumphant grin at Deputy Company Commander Wu’s two sons.
Sheng Wanyan: “…”
My sweet girl, pulling a stunt like that is going to get you beaten up one day.
Sure enough, the two boys erupted in fury. This little girl was actively mocking them!
“You little money-loser! What the hell are you smirking at?” the older boy snarled.
“Yeah! Why does a useless money-loser get to eat a whole bowl of egg custard by herself? You selfish brat!” the younger one chimed in.
The moment those vile words left the boys’ mouths, the lively, joyous atmosphere in the dining room instantly vanished, plunged into a suffocating, dead silence.
Thud!
Sheng Wanyan slammed her bowl heavily onto the table, her expression turning incredibly cold as she fixed her gaze on the two boys.
Gu Tingxiao set his chopsticks down with an ominous click. His face was an icy mask as he stared down Deputy Company Commander Wu’s sons, before slowly shifting his lethal glare directly onto Deputy Company Commander Wu himself.
“If you don’t know how to discipline your own children,” Gu Tingxiao said, his voice dropping to a dangerous, low register, “I don’t mind teaching them a lesson on your behalf.”
A cold sweat instantly broke out across Deputy Company Commander Wu’s back. His sons were truly ruined. He had falsely assumed that with time, he could slowly correct their behavior. Now, he realized with horror just how deeply Zhang Zhaodi’s toxic, resentful influence had poisoned them over the years.
Chapter 389: Setting Boundaries
If he didn’t put a stop to this behavior immediately, his career would be over before it even began!
Spurred by pure panic and rage, Deputy Company Commander Wu swung his hand.
Smack! Smack!
In an instant, sharp slaps echoed through the room, leaving red handprints on both boys’ faces. The two children froze, utterly stunned and too terrified to make a sound.
Spoiled and coddled their entire lives, they had never been beaten. To be violently struck and publicly humiliated by their own father in front of so many people was more than they could handle. As young as they were, they were scared out of their wits. They wanted to burst into tears, but one look at their father’s furious, trembling expression forced them to choke back their sobs.
“Who taught you to speak like that? Apologize right now!” Wu roared. “If you don’t apologize, get out! I don’t have sons like you!”
His threat terrified the boys completely. Shaking from head to toe, they forced out a whimpering apology.
“S-sorry…”
As adults, it was beneath Gu Tingxiao and Sheng Wanyan to engage in a petty argument with children, especially since their father had stepped in to discipline them. However, Gu Tingxiao knew exactly how passionately his wife felt about gender equality. She refused to let Yi Yi grow up in an environment where she was treated as inferior or made to feel like an afterthought just because she was a girl.
Unsurprisingly, the icy look on Sheng Wanyan’s face didn’t soften. She had spent the entire morning working herself to the bone to prepare a beautiful feast for her guests, only to have Deputy Company Commander Wu’s family bring their toxic prejudices into her home.
“I don’t know what kind of values Deputy Commander Wu teaches his children at home to make them harbor such blatant discrimination against women,” Sheng Wanyan said, her voice dripping with calm disdain. “But even if my child is a girl, I will never tolerate anyone treating her with such disrespect. Deputy Commander Wu, perhaps you should properly educate your children before bringing them out into polite society.”
Her words hit like a physical blow, leaving Deputy Company Commander Wu burning with embarrassment. He hadn’t expected Sheng Wanyan to humiliate him so thoroughly in front of his peers.
But Wanyan didn’t care about saving his face. She couldn’t retaliate against young children, but she could certainly hold their biological father accountable. Whether it was the father’s fault or the stepmother’s neglect, she had every right to demand justice under her own roof.
Speechless and humiliated, Wu opened his mouth to defend himself but found no words. He turned his eyes toward Gu Tingxiao, desperately hoping his superior officer would throw him a lifeline to ease the tension.
Gu Tingxiao, however, didn’t even grant him a glance. Instead, he scooped Yi Yi up from her seat and carried her toward the bedroom to shield her from any further malice. His silent stance spoke volumes—he stood entirely by his wife’s side. His wife was completely in the right.
Seeing her husband backed into a corner, Niu Chunhua quickly stepped in to smooth things over. Captain Gu was her husband’s superior, after all. If Wu’s career was ruined over the stupidity of her two stepsons, she would die of sheer frustration.
“Captain Gu’s wife, please don’t take it to heart—the children are just young and ignorant,” Niu Chunhua said, forcing a placating smile. “I’ll apologize to you on their behalf. Look, the boys have already apologized, and today is supposed to be a celebration… let’s not let this ruin the wonderful atmosphere.”
Sheng Wanyan internally rolled her eyes. This woman was truly a master at twisting the narrative, trying to paint over the malice as a minor mishap while positioning herself as the reasonable victim. But Niu Chunhua had underestimated her host. Everyone sitting at this table was sharp-witted; no one was buying her excuse.
“You’re quite right. A child who isn’t properly educated won’t know how to guard his tongue, and that certainly ruins the atmosphere,” Sheng Wanyan replied smoothly. “As adults, we naturally won’t stoop to holding a grudge against little boys. However, even as a stepmother, you are still the mother in that household. It’s your responsibility to see that they are raised with better manners.”
Hearing this, several of the military wives covered their mouths to hide their snickers. They couldn’t help but admire Wanyan. Educated women really knew how to handle themselves—she had completely dismantled Niu Chunhua without uttering a single vulgar word. It was masterfully done.
“Come, come, everyone, let’s keep eating,” Sheng Wanyan continued, effortlessly pivoting the room’s energy. “It was just a minor distraction. Let’s not let it spoil our fun. Please, try some of this wine. It’s actually brewed to be gentle enough for women and carries great health benefits.”
Aunt Xie’s interest was piqued immediately. She had never heard of alcohol being good for one’s health. “Is that true, Wanyan?”
“Of course. It’s a specialized peach blossom wine. Drinking a small amount occasionally is actually wonderful for a woman’s constitution,” Wanyan explained. “Just be mindful not to overindulge.”
As a renowned pharmaceutical researcher, Wanyan’s word carried immense weight. Believing her implicitly, the military wives eagerly poured themselves a glass. Within moments, the dining room came alive with chatter once more, leaving Deputy Company Commander Wu and his family sitting in somber, tense silence, unable to utter another word.
“Deputy Commander Wu, please eat. Don’t let the children go hungry,” Sheng Wanyan added, offering a polite nod.
Wu could only nod back with a strained, hollow smile. What else could he do? Sheng Wanyan had just slapped him across the face metaphorically, and now she was offering him a sweet treat to keep him quiet. He had no logical defense and no ground to stand on, so he could only swallow his pride and accept it.
Sitting across the table, Political Commissar Xie took a slow sip of his wine, watching Wanyan handle the situation with quiet amusement and deep admiration. Why did her tactics feel so incredibly familiar?
Then it hit him—this was the exact playbook of an experienced political commissar! Strike hard with a firm boundary, then immediately extend a olive branch to maintain control. It was pure psychological strategy. He hadn’t realized Comrade Sheng Wanyan was such a natural at conflict resolution.
By the time Gu Tingxiao returned after rocking Yi Yi to sleep, the lively chatter had fully resumed. He wasn’t surprised in the least; he knew his wife had a unique talent for managing people.
“Look who decided to show up! You’re late to your own party,” Political Commissar Xie called out, refusing to let him off the hook so easily. “As the man of the hour, leaving to put the baby to sleep deserves a penalty. Three cups!”
“Yes! The Captain must penalize himself!” the soldiers cheered in agreement.
Without a single complaint, Gu Tingxiao picked up his glass and downed three cups in rapid succession. The men roared with approval, praising his bold and straightforward nature.
“The Captain is always a good sport!”
“Cheers to that!”
The camaraderie flowed freely once again. Seizing the shift in mood, Deputy Company Commander Wu stood up to raise a glass to Gu Tingxiao. Gu Tingxiao met his gaze and emptied his cup in a single swallow, showing no lingering hostility.
With that shared drink, the ugly incident from earlier was officially laid to rest. Watching from the side, Sheng Wanyan chose to let it go. These were men who served together; they had to trust each other with their lives when out on dangerous missions. For Gu Tingxiao’s sake, she wouldn’t hold a grudge—provided Wu kept his sons’ mouths shut from now on.
Once dinner concluded, Grandpa and Grandma Sheng excused themselves, feeling too old to keep up with the late-night energy of the younger crowd. As the night wore on and the remaining children grew drowsy, the military wives pitched in to clear the table and wash the dishes before taking their sleepy little ones home.
Seeing that the men were still drinking but the food platters were empty, Sheng Wanyan went back into the kitchen to whip up three quick snack platters to go with the wine.
Gu Tingxiao walked in, looking at her gently. “Wife, go on to bed and get some rest.”
Sheng Wanyan nodded, setting the snacks on the table. “Enjoy your drinks,” she murmured softly before heading toward the back of the house.
Before returning to his guests, Gu Tingxiao quietly brought a basin of hot bathwater to her room.
Wanyan carried a small bowl of warm water over to the crib to gently wipe down Yi Yi’s face and hands. She carefully applied baby cream, hand lotion, and lip balm. The winters in the northern Bing City were brutal; without proper care, a child’s delicate skin would chap and crack in no time. Once the baby was comfortable, Wanyan took a quick shower and finally crawled into bed to sleep.
It was well into the middle of the night when Gu Tingxiao finally returned to the bedroom, bringing a heavy scent of alcohol with him.
When he drank, Gu Tingxiao became incredibly clingy, his hands instinctively seeking her out the moment he slid under the covers. The sharp scent of the wine woke Wanyan up. Assessing his heavily intoxicated state, she sighed softly, threw her coat over her shoulders, and prepared to head to the kitchen to mix something to settle his stomach.
“Where are you going, wife?” Gu Tingxiao mumbled, his voice thick and hoarse from the alcohol. He wrapped his arms tightly around her waist from behind, pulling her back against his chest and refusing to let go.
“To get you a glass of honey water,” she whispered affectionately, patting his arm.
