Chapter 408| Chapter 409| Chapter 410
Chapter 408: My Daughter Is a Sweet and Caring Little Quilted Vest
If Yiyi hadn’t grown up so well, the house would still be quiet. Before she learned to talk, she mostly just made noise, but now she was constantly chirping “Daddy” in Gu Tingxiao’s ear.
Of course, she often babbled strings of words that no adult could decipher, but her ability to express herself was remarkably good. Seeing her so lively helped him slowly realize that all of this was real. Yiyi was real, and so was this life. Otherwise, he might have thought he was still trapped in a dream—the beautiful, desperate dream he had longed for for so many years.
Yiyi: “…” Am I a fake child??
Sheng Wanyan found Gu Tingxiao’s sentimental mood funny. This man really knew exactly what to say to make her heart skip a beat.
“Is that all the thanks I get?” she asked, tilting her chin up with a proud, teasing little smile.
Gu Tingxiao’s eyes darkened with affection. He leaned in and gently nipped her ear. “Isn’t a lifetime of devotion enough?”
His voice was magnetic and low, sending a shiver down her spine. Her ears turned crimson instantly.
“If that’s not enough,” he whispered, “I can only offer my body to pay the debt.”
Sheng Wanyan had experienced exactly what that “payment” felt like before, and it was truly exhausting.
“Enough… it’s enough!” she squeaked, quickly pushing him away and making a run for it. If she didn’t escape now, she definitely wouldn’t be getting any sleep tonight. “Go get the dishes and chopsticks!”
Gu Tingxiao watched her retreat, shaking his head with a chuckle before gathering the silverware.
When Sheng Wanyan emerged from the kitchen, Sheng Wanze took one look at her flushed face and narrowed his eyes. Gu Tingxiao, you dog!
Sheng Wanyan carried Yiyi into the bedroom to get her ready. She changed the toddler into a princess dress—a beautiful piece that Gu’s mother had sent recently. It was a high-end model from the Overseas Chinese Store and hadn’t been cheap; Mother Gu had spent quite a bit on it. But knowing Yiyi would wear it for her birthday, the older woman hadn’t felt a sting of regret.
Sheng Wanyan dressed her carefully, putting on white shoes and re-tying her hair. She swapped the previous hairpins for pink ones and settled the small floral wreath on top. A little forest elf was born.
Still smelling slightly of cooking oil and kitchen smoke, Sheng Wanyan then changed herself into a pink dress. This had been Yiyi’s choice; the little girl insisted that Mommy wear the same color as her.
She pinned back the hair on both sides of her face and donned her own designated wreath. Looking soft and elegant, she carried Yiyi back out into the living room.
The moment they stepped out, the mother and daughter captured everyone’s attention. Gu Tingxiao’s gaze, in particular, was incredibly passionate.
“Ah, look at that! Mommy and Yiyi look so good together.”
“Yiyi really looks like a little princess.”
“Come here and give Great-grandma a hug, you beautiful girl.”
Yiyi felt a wave of shyness at the chorus of praise. she took small, hesitant steps toward Grandma Sheng. “Great-grandma~”
“Oh, look at this! Whose little princess is this? Why is she so pretty?”
Yiyi covered her face with her tiny hands, bashfully hiding from the attention.
“Auntie, look at this baby. She’s just too cute,” Pan Yue teased.
Yiyi was completely overwhelmed by the shyness now and dove into Sheng Wanze’s arms, refusing to come out. Sheng Wanze finally had his niece all to himself. Usually, Gu Tingxiao guarded her so closely that even trying to hold her resulted in a stare so intense it made his scalp tingle. This time, his niece had come to him willingly!
“Yiyi is truly beautiful,” Grandpa Sheng joined in.
Even Huzi ran over to admire her. “My sister is so pretty!”
Yiyi’s face turned so red it looked like blood might drip from her cheeks. She was incredibly shy. Sheng Wanyan watched with amusement; just a moment ago, the little girl had been admiring herself in the mirror with great confidence. Why the sudden modesty?
Gu Tingxiao walked up to his wife and whispered in her ear, “Wife, you look amazing too.”
Sheng Wanyan shot him a mock-glare. With so many people around, he really had no shame.
“Alright, everyone! Let’s eat!”
At Sheng Wanyan’s call, the family moved to their seats. When Yiyi and Huzi saw the donuts and cupcakes, they nearly jumped out of their skins with excitement.
“Here, these are for the children,” Sheng Wanyan said, serving them. “Grandpa, Grandma, you try some too. They’re very soft.”
She made sure the elders and children were served first, while the others helped themselves.
“We’re fine, we’ll help ourselves,” Grandpa Sheng said, his face glowing with a permanent smile. In his old age, all he wanted was to see his family gathered together. Seeing them so happy brought him a profound sense of peace.
“Come on, everyone, raise your glasses! Let’s wish Yiyi a happy birthday!”
Yiyi picked up her own bottle and prepared to toast the room. “Cup!”
“Cheers!”
She took huge gulps of water from her bottle and let out a long, satisfied sigh, just like she’d seen Grandpa Sheng do. “Ahhh~”
The table erupted in laughter. So comfortable!
Next came the treats. Huzi polished his off in record time, clearly loving every bite. Yiyi took a few bites but couldn’t finish it all. Sheng Wanyan didn’t mind; she only wanted her to have a taste so she wouldn’t ruin her dinner. The leftovers went straight into Gu Tingxiao’s bowl, and he finished his daughter’s scraps without a second thought.
“Another toast!” Grandpa Sheng clinked his glass against Yiyi’s bottle.
“Bottoms up!” Yiyi responded boldly, gulping down several more mouthfuls to prove her sincerity.
Everyone was charmed. Where did this little thing learn that? Why is she so funny?
Sheng Wanyan stepped in before the girl could fill her stomach with water. “That’s enough drinking for now. Here, eat some fish and egg custard. Have some soup, too.”
Grandma Sheng served her a bowl. “She can eat almost anything now, as long as it’s soft.”
Yiyi accepted the food happily, eating in big mouthfuls until only a few grains of rice were left in her bowl. “Full~” she announced, patting her bulging tummy.
Sheng Wanyan set her down to play with Huzi. The two children sat on the floor with their toys while Maodou, the family dog, finished his own dinner in the corner. When Yiyi saw Maodou was done, she trotted over to pull him into their game.
Maodou gave a resigned look. What choice do I have? Human babies are impossible to say no to. He lumbered over to serve as a fluffy cushion for Yiyi. It was clear the girl knew exactly how to wrap the dog around her little finger—one trick after another, just like a master training a puppy.
The house was warm and bustling. After dinner, the family moved to the living room to chat. Worried that Yiyi might get sleepy soon, Sheng Wanyan brought out the cake and the gifts.
When Yiyi saw the cake, she actually jumped for joy. Even Gu Tingxiao had to suppress a gasp of surprise at the beautiful creation.
“Wow!” Yiyi’s eyes went wide. “So pretty! Yiyi likes it!”
“Yiyi, look here,” Grandma Sheng said, pointing out the details, but the little girl’s eyes were locked. She couldn’t look away from her very first birthday cake.
Chapter 409: Two Years Old
Wherever the cake moved, Yiyi’s eyes followed.
Sheng Wanyan placed the cake on the table. Since they didn’t have any birthday candles, she simply left it as it was. “Yiyi, come and make a wish.”
Following her mother’s instructions, the little girl clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, and made a wish. Sheng Wanyan didn’t know if she truly understood the concept of making a wish, but as long as the atmosphere and the sense of ceremony were there, that was what mattered.
“Happy birthday, Yiyi.”
Gu Tingxiao and Sheng Wanyan each leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. Yiyi squinted her eyes, beaming with happiness.
Gu Tingxiao then brought out the gift he had prepared—the box he had meticulously painted. Yiyi’s eyes went wide the moment she saw it, and she reached out with her small hands to explore it. Huzi couldn’t wait any longer either; he practically vibrated with the urge to run over and see the box.
However, Pan Yue held him back. It was Yiyi’s birthday, after all, and she didn’t want him upstaging the birthday girl. “Let’s watch from here for a bit. Today is your sister’s birthday, so she gets to look first.”
Huzi understood. In his heart, his sister was very important, so he suppressed his curiosity and waited his turn.
Yiyi hugged the box, turning it left and right, unwilling to look away for even a second.
“Yiyi, open the box,” Sheng Wanyan whispered, hugging her from behind and helping her lift the lid. Inside, the chest was overflowing with gifts.
Yiyi’s mouth formed a perfect “O” of surprise. “Wow! Toys! Yiyi likes them!”
At this point, Huzi couldn’t hold back anymore and craned his neck to peek inside.
“Huzi, look!” Yiyi chirped, eager to share her joy. Huzi instantly jumped up and ran over to see the treasures.
“Sister, there are so many gifts!”
“Yes!” She began pulling the items out one by one. They were all things she loved, and her face glowed with excitement. “Huzi, so many!”
“Yeah, I had a lot on my birthday, too,” Huzi replied. Once he saw the contents, however, his interest waned slightly—they were all “girl things.” What he really liked was the box itself.
“When Huzi turns three, Auntie will give you a box just like this, okay?” Sheng Wanyan said, rubbing his head. It was currently the end of August, and Huzi’s birthday was in January, so it wasn’t that far off.
“Really?”
“Of course. Auntie doesn’t lie.”
“Great! Thank you, Auntie!” Huzi was overjoyed at the thought of having his own box decorated with animals.
While the two children were engrossed in the beautiful box, Sheng Wanyan went to cut the cake. “Come here and eat, everyone. It’s sweet.”
The word “sweet” acted like a magnet, drawing the children over immediately.
Sheng Wanyan handed the first piece to the little birthday girl. Yiyi looked at her father and then her mother. She scooped up the first bite and held it out to her mother. “Mommy, you’ve worked hard. Eat!”
Sheng Wanyan felt a rush of warmth in her heart. Not wanting to waste the child’s kindness, she took the bite. “It’s delicious. Mommy loves anything you feed her.”
Yiyi swallowed hard at the word “delicious,” then glanced at her “old father.” Fine, fine, she seemed to think, I should comfort him too.
She gave the second bite to Gu Tingxiao. He looked at her with pure tenderness. “Daddy, eat!”
“Thank you, Yiyi.” Gu Tingxiao ate it, the sweetness reaching all the way to his heart.
Yiyi then looked at Grandpa and Grandma Sheng. Realizing she was quite hungry herself, a look of confusion crossed her face. Sheng Wanyan quickly stepped in, giving the next piece to Huzi and then serving the two elders.
“Great-grandpa and Great-grandma have their own pieces, see? They can eat by themselves.”
Grandpa and Grandma Sheng showed her their plates, and only then did Yiyi begin eating her own portion with peace of mind. The moment the cake hit her tongue, her eyes lit up. She looked at the cake in total shock.
“Mommy, it’s delicious!” her little face was a mask of surprise and disbelief.
“I’m glad you like it, baby. From now on, Mommy will make you one for every birthday.”
Yiyi nodded happily, blissfully devouring her treat. Mommy and Daddy are so nice. Yiyi is so happy.
The lively second-birthday celebration came to an end when Yiyi could no longer resist the pull of sleep. She began nodding off almost as soon as the cake was finished. Sheng Wanyan carried her to the bedroom, wiped her down, changed her into pajamas, and tucked her in.
Seeing that Yiyi was down for the night, the rest of the family helped clear the dishes and headed home; it was time for Huzi to go to bed as well.
Gu Tingxiao came in with water for a bath. Seeing Yiyi sleeping soundly, he gently pulled the quilt back over her legs where she had kicked it off.
Now that Yiyi was two, Gu Tingxiao and Sheng Wanyan sat down for a “serious meeting” to discuss her future.
“Comrade Gu Tingxiao, I think it’s time we start setting some firm rules for Yiyi,” Sheng Wanyan began. “What do you think?”
“Wife, I completely agree.” As he spoke, Gu Tingxiao pulled her into his arms.
“You’re so hot…” Sheng Wanyan complained. She didn’t like cuddling in the summer; his body heat made her sweat.
“Just hold me for a while.”
Sheng Wanyan reluctantly allowed it, knowing the “old man” had been drinking a bit today. She figured she’d indulge him. “I’m trying to talk to you about serious matters.”
She nudged his chest with her elbow, but Gu Tingxiao simply caught her hand. “Wife, it’s time for bed. We can discuss the rules when we wake up.”
Before she could protest, he turned over, pinning her beneath him. “Wife… the issue of education should be handled step-by-step, depending on the child’s development. Right now, we have a different problem to solve.”
He captured her lips before she could hide. “Gu Tingxiao…”
“I’m here…” his voice was hoarse and low. Sheng Wanyan felt her composure slipping as a shiver ran through her. Eventually, her protests turned to sighs, and her voice gradually faded into the quiet of the night.
The next day, Sheng Wanyan didn’t wake up until ten o’clock. By then, Gu Tingxiao had already taken Yiyi to the army base.
Yiyi, wearing a little straw hat and clutching a bottle of milk, sat on a flat rock and watched the soldiers train. She giggled to herself. Hehe, look at all the uncles in their vests.
By the time Sheng Wanyan finished cooking lunch, Gu Tingxiao returned, drenched in sweat. Yiyi ran straight to the kitchen to find her mother. Seeing the girl covered in perspiration, Sheng Wanyan knew she’d been running around all morning.
“Come and have some water. Go change her clothes so she doesn’t catch a cold,” Sheng Wanyan instructed while feeding Yiyi a drink.
Gu Tingxiao nodded and took the girl inside to change into fresh clothes. Yiyi ate a hearty lunch, clearly famished from her morning adventures.
“Daddy, I want to go back with you this afternoon!”
The weather was beautiful, and Yiyi didn’t want to stay cooped up inside. She wanted to go back to the base to play.
“You’ll get heatstroke if you go out in this sun again,” Sheng Wanyan countered. “Take a nap, and Mommy will take you fishing later this afternoon, okay?”
Yiyi’s eyes brightened at the mention of fishing, and she readily agreed. “Okay!”
Having worn herself out all morning, Yiyi fell asleep almost the moment her head hit the pillow for her nap.
Chapter 410: Playing in the Water with Yiyi
Gu Tingxiao didn’t take Yiyi out with him that afternoon. Knowing she was going fishing with her mother instead, Yiyi didn’t miss her “old father” at all.
Sheng Wanyan helped Yiyi change into loose, comfortable clothes and fitted her with small rubber boots and a straw hat. She also brought along a small shovel and a bucket. These were specially for playing in the mud; the little girl loved them dearly and insisted on taking them whenever they went out to dig.
“Carry them yourself, okay?”
Sheng Wanyan handed her the bucket and shovel. Yiyi gripped them tightly with her small hands, looking very determined. Sheng Wanyan followed closely behind, carrying her own bucket, worried the little one might trip.
“Yiyi, you have to stay on the bank later, understand?” Sheng Wanyan instructed. “If you want to go near the water, you have to tell Mommy first. You can’t go in by yourself.”
Though the river wasn’t deep for an adult, the water could easily reach the face of a child Yiyi’s height. Sheng Wanyan was concerned the girl might wander in while she was busy fishing. She didn’t want to overprotect her children—it was good for them to experience life and play outside—but they had to learn to consult an adult first.
“Okay~” Yiyi chirped, being perfectly obedient. Daddy had told her to listen to Mommy and not make her work too hard.
“What a good girl.”
Sheng Wanyan took her tiny hand and headed toward the river. At this hour, the area was bustling; people were washing clothes and fishing, and groups of children were nearby playing jump rope or war games. Yiyi didn’t have any friends her own age yet, so she watched the other children with wide-eyed curiosity. Since it was the weekend and the weather was pleasant, everyone had come out to enjoy the day.
“Mommy~ so many people.”
“Yes, the aunties are washing clothes and catching fish.”
“Mommy, take Yiyi fishing too!” Yiyi began to bounce with excitement. She wanted to run toward the water immediately but waited patiently for her mother.
Sheng Wanyan led her to the water’s edge. Several military wives noticed them and called out greetings.
“Captain Gu’s wife is out fishing today?”
“And little Yiyi is out to play, too!”
The women teased the toddler, who shyly hid behind Sheng Wanyan’s legs, though she still offered the aunties a bright smile.
“Yes, the weather is so nice, I thought we’d come out and move around a bit,” Sheng Wanyan replied.
“That’s right. It’s best to catch more now and dry them before winter sets in.”
Yang Wanshu was there as well. When she saw Sheng Wanyan, she walked over to join her. She had already caught a fish that looked to be about half a pound.
“You’ve got a lucky hand today,” Sheng Wanyan noted.
“Don’t even mention it. I’ve been here for over an hour and this is the only one I’ve managed to land.”
As soon as Yang Wanshu spoke, the other wives teased her, saying that if she was complaining about a half-pounder, they must be in truly miserable shape.
“Captain Wang’s wife, don’t be so modest! We’re still stuck with tiny ones.”
“Exactly, it’s not even enough for one dish.”
Yang Wanshu laughed. Compared to the others, her catch actually seemed quite decent.
Sheng Wanyan rolled up her trouser legs. Yiyi stood at the edge, looking at the ripples eagerly. Finding her daughter’s anticipation adorable, Sheng Wanyan picked her up to take her into the shallows.
“Yiyi isn’t tall enough yet, so Mommy will hold you while we play, okay?”
“Mm-hmm~” Yiyi looked at the depth of the water with a hint of fear, but she felt safe as long as her mother was holding her.
“Do you want to take off your shoes?”
“Yes~”
Sheng Wanyan removed the rubber boots, rolled up Yiyi’s pant legs, and let the little feet dip into the current.
“Wow~” Yiyi’s eyes widened in amazement. It was her first time actually feeling the river. To her, it was pure magic.
“How is it? Is it fun?”
“Fun~” Yiyi kicked her feet happily. Sheng Wanyan carried her to a quiet corner so they wouldn’t disturb the others. “Yiyi, no matter what we play, we have to make sure we don’t get in anyone else’s way, okay?”
“Understood!” the little girl nodded.
Sheng Wanyan set her down on a large, flat rock where she could sit and still reach the water with her toes. “Yiyi, you sit here and play while Mommy tries to catch a fish.”
“Okay~” Yiyi was already preoccupied. She found she could touch the water perfectly from her perch.
Sheng Wanyan placed the small bucket beside her. “Water~” Yiyi pointed. She saw the other aunties had water in their buckets and wanted some for herself.
Sheng Wanyan filled Yiyi’s bucket halfway and let her play with her shovel. She stayed close; she knew how quickly a child could slip, and she wasn’t taking any chances. Since they were tucked away in a corner, it was the perfect spot for Sheng Wanyan to discreetly retrieve a fish from her spatial storage.
Grandpa Sheng hadn’t come today, so Sheng Wanyan didn’t have to worry about being watched. She waded in the water for about ten minutes before “catching” a large fish.
Yiyi saw her mother’s success and began waving her arms and clapping excitedly.
“Mommy~ Fish!!!”
“Ahahahahaha~” She bounced on the shore, her little face flushed with thrill.
Hearing the commotion, the other women looked over and saw Sheng Wanyan holding a plump, one-pound fish. They were incredibly envious. Captain Gu’s wife was always so lucky; she caught several every time she came, and her hands were so quick. Though they were used to her skill, they couldn’t help but covet the catch. After all, a fish meant meat on the table!
Sheng Wanyan dropped the fish into her large bucket. Yiyi desperately wanted to put it in her own, but her bucket was far too small. Disappointed, she could only stare at the fish jumping in the big bucket, careful not to touch it.
“Mommy, can you catch some tiny fish for me?”
Sheng Wanyan nodded at her daughter’s request. She spent a few minutes gathering about a dozen minnows from the shallows and transferred them into Yiyi’s small bucket. Yiyi was overjoyed to finally have fish of her own.
“Fishy~” She squatted on the bank, her face inches from the water in her bucket. After watching them for a while, she reached in a tiny hand to feel the small fish swimming past her fingers.
While Yiyi was occupied, Sheng Wanyan “caught” two more large fish before deciding it was time to head back.
“Yiyi, come here. Mommy needs to wash your feet.”
Yiyi padded over barefoot, but the river stones were uncomfortable. “Mommy~ my feet are thorny~” She pointed at her soles.
Sheng Wanyan picked her up with an amused smile to check them. “It’s okay, you aren’t hurt. Next time, watch where you walk, and don’t go barefoot, okay? Shoes are meant to protect our feet, so we have to wear them.”
Yiyi nodded solemnly. Usually, she hated wearing shoes and preferred wandering the house in socks. Because Gu Tingxiao kept the floors pristine and free of hazards, she had never been poked by anything. This experience finally seemed to break her habit.
“It hurts~” she whimpered. “Mommy, blow on it so it doesn’t hurt.”
Sheng Wanyan took the tiny feet in her hands and blew on them gently. Yiyi decided that with Mommy’s help, the pain had vanished. Sheng Wanyan washed her feet, dried them on the bank, and put her boots back on.
“Mama… one, two, three…” Yiyi counted the big fish as they started their walk home.
