Chapter 444| Chapter 445| Chapter 446
Chapter 444: A Massive Harvest
“Why is your face so swollen?” Sheng Wanyan asked, her heart dropping as she pulled her daughter closer. “And look here—you’ve been scratched right behind your ear.”
She carefully inspected the long, angry red mark running along the back of the toddler’s neck.
“I already took my medicine, Mommy~” Yiyi piped up, not caring about the injury at all. Her mind was still completely consumed by the exhilarating thrill of victory and the treasure she had amassed.
Sheng Wanyan looked down at the toddler’s clothes and let out a breathless gasp. My goodness. The knees of her corduroy overalls were completely shredded into two gaping holes, as if she had spent the morning performing solemn prostrations. Her pristine, fluffy white coat had been dragged through the slush until it was a dingy charcoal gray, and her boots were thoroughly caked in thick, frozen mud.
The only item on her person that remained completely immaculate was her miniature schoolbag. It was stuffed so full that the fabric was taut, though Sheng Wanyan had no idea what was weighing it down. She reached out to slide the straps off the child’s shoulders, noting that the bag was surprisingly heavy.
“Yiyi’s!” the toddler squeaked instantly, lunging forward to clutch the canvas bag against her chest like a pirate guarding a chest of doubloons.
“Yes, yes, it’s all yours, baby. Mommy is just taking it off so we can get you out of these filthy clothes,” Sheng Wanyan coaxed gently. “Do you want to carry it up to our room?”
Only after securing a firm promise that her treasure would remain within arm’s length did Yiyi finally relent, allowing her mother to hoist the heavy bag. “Carry it together.”
“Alright, Mommy will carry it up for you safely.” Hearing this, Yiyi let out a satisfied sigh, content to let her mother guard the prize.
Down in the foyer, Grandpa Gu was still enduring a furious tongue-lashing from Grandma Gu, who showed zero signs of calming down anytime soon. At this volatile moment, not a single soul in the Gu residence possessed the courage to step forward and plead for the old patriarch’s salvation. Sensing the danger, Gu Jinfang and Gu Jingjing had already quietly slipped along the hallway and bolted back into their respective bedrooms.
Gu Tingxiao and Sheng Wanyan carried their daughter upstairs to change her wardrobe and thoroughly check her limbs for any hidden injuries. Sheng Wanyan breathed a sigh of relief when she stripped away the padded layers and verified there wasn’t a single broken bone or open wound on her torso. To her, it was entirely natural for children to roughhouse and scrap. Minor bumps and bruises were simply a part of growing up; as long as an altercation wasn’t severe or life-threatening, there was absolutely no need for parents to overreact.
“Look at Daddy, Yiyi,” Gu Tingxiao instructed softly, his voice thick with a father’s protective anxiety. He knew children shouldn’t be coddled and that a bit of rigorous physical activity was healthy, but he couldn’t shake the worry that his daughter was a little girl who might easily be overpowered by the neighborhood boys. “Does your body hurt anywhere else?”
“My face~” Yiyi whimpered, pointing a chubby finger at her cheek. Her skin was naturally fair and pink, which made the swelling from being pinched look exceptionally bright and angry.
Sheng Wanyan retrieved a soothing, cooling salve from her medical kit and gently dabbed it over the red skin. The icy ointment brought instant relief, causing the toddler to sigh with comfort.
“That big brother called me a chubby little fatty~” Yiyi grumbled, her tiny lips puckering as she recounted the battlefield details. “He pinched my face, so I tackled him to the ground and hit him!” She clenched her tiny fists as she spoke, her eyes flashing with lingering defiance.
Gu Tingxiao’s brow furrowed heavily. His daughter’s round, soft face was undeniably adorable, and whenever they walked through the markets, passersby routinely cooed over her and tried to pinch her cheeks. He could understand why the neighborhood kids were drawn to her, but using physical force on his daughter was a different matter entirely.
“When I couldn’t overpower him with my hands, I just bit his cheek~” Yiyi continued proudly. “He was a whole year older and much heavier than me, so I couldn’t beat him with just wrestling~”
Sheng Wanyan bit her lip to suppress a sudden burst of laughter. This little girl was a fierce, ruthless strategist.
“And what happened after that?” Gu Tingxiao asked evenly, trying to maintain a stern parenting facade. His precious daughter was clearly using a selective military filter, highlighting only her triumphant counter-strikes while completely glossing over her defensive struggles. “How many other children did you engage with?”
“Sigh~”
Yiyi let out a heavy, dramatic sigh. She looked down at her hands, carefully counting on her tiny fingers before proudly thrusting three digits into the air. “Three big brothers and sisters~”
Given the strict code of the military compound, the older, adolescent children would never stoop to bullying a toddler, meaning the only kids willing to tussle with her were the ones close to her own age group.
“Two big sisters, and one big brother~” she clarified.
So, arithmetic dictated that this little girl had initiated and concluded four separate physical engagements in the span of two and a half hours?
Yiyi was legally the youngest child in the entire neighborhood block, and it was blindingly obvious that the older kids had thoroughly held back and indulged her. If they hadn’t deliberately given in to her toddler tantrums, there was absolutely no way she could have survived four consecutive brawls and bounced back into the house looking this vibrant and energetic.
“My daughter is truly formidable,” Gu Tingxiao murmured, a quiet spark of pride entering his eyes. “I’ll take you out to visit the other courtyards again tomorrow.”
Hearing this, Sheng Wanyan shot her husband a sharp, warning glare. This man was completely addicted to the martial spirit. One didn’t need a map to see exactly which branch of the family tree he had inherited his competitive nature from. Caught under his wife’s disciplinary gaze, Gu Tingxiao coughed guiltily, quickly turning his attention to pulling a fresh pair of socks onto Yiyi’s feet.
“Mommy~” Yiyi chimed, tugging at her sleeve. “Look!”
She unzipped her canvas bag and began systematically pouring her spoils onto the center of the mattress. The moment the items caught the light, Sheng Wanyan’s eyes widened into saucers.
A solid gold nugget… a brilliant, raw diamond… a flawless, polished emerald…
Sheng Wanyan stared at the glittering pile, her capitalistic instincts tingling. Perhaps we should let her go out and fight a few more rounds tomorrow?
These treasures were the historical collection of Grandpa Gu’s old military comrades. The old patriarch had personally marched his descendant onto their porches to demand tribute, and not a single retired commander possessed the audacity to slight the Gu main line. Furthermore, these old men had braved thick and thin alongside Grandpa Gu during their youth; they viewed his descendants as their own blood. Even if a few of the families maintained a frosty, competitive rivalry with the Gu estate on the surface, they still felt obligated to slip a massive red envelope or a precious heirloom into the child’s bag out of mutual respect.
Sheng Wanyan watched the toddler scatter wealth across the quilt, entirely unsure of where to look first. The sheer volume of precious gems was staggering.
“Mommy, this one is for you,” Yiyi said softly. She carefully selected a vibrant, translucent green jadeite bracelet from the pile. The very second she had received the piece from an old commander, her immediate thought had been to carry it home to her mother.
Studying the flawless clarity and rich depth of the jade, Sheng Wanyan realized the retired generals of the capital compound held an unfathomable amount of historic wealth in their private safes. It made historical sense—Grandpa Gu’s comrades had spent their youth tearing through the nation, systematically dismantling and destroying dozens of elite bandit fortresses and outlaw dens. A vast portion of the captured spoils had been officially turned over to the provisional state treasuries, while the remainder was naturally distributed among the surviving brothers-in-arms to sustain the war effort.
During those chaotic decades of conflict, Grandpa Gu had shouldered the immense burden of financing and feeding thousands of troops. If he hadn’t retained a private reserve of capital, his battalions would have starved in the field. He had routinely deployed his personal wealth to subsidize his men, purchase black-market munitions, and provide generous pensions to the families of fallen martyrs. Every cent he claimed had been spent on legitimate military survival.
When the smoke finally cleared and the new government stabilized, Grandpa Gu had quietly divided the remaining treasures among his surviving brothers. But out of the massive cadre of soldiers who had originally sworn allegiance alongside him, fewer than ten had lived to see the victory… The rest had perished on the battlefields, their ashes scattered across the soil of the homeland they had bled to protect. This heavy toll included the ancestors of the Gu lineage itself—Grandpa Gu’s own parents, brothers, and sisters had all been wiped out in the line of duty.
The historical wealth they had recovered from the outlaws was immense; a single bandit mountain fortress in those days routinely concealed an entire cavern packed with plundered silver, gold bullion, and ancient imperial jewelry. Yet the surviving brothers had strictly prioritized settling the accounts and providing for the widows of their fallen martyrs before dividing the remaining assets equally among themselves. Consequently, every single one of these old patriarchs sat upon a vast cache of gold, silver, and precious stones, though the public remained entirely oblivious to their holdings.
“This is a formal blessing from your elders, Yiyi,” Sheng Wanyan said gently, her expression turning serious as she looked at her daughter. “You must remember: you cannot casually re-gift an item that someone else gave to you as a token of their affection. This represents their deep love for our Yiyi, and we must never trample on their kindness.”
Yiyi offered a compliant nod, but her chubby hands remained stubbornly extended, lifting the heavy jadeite ring toward her mother. “But Yiyi only wants to give it to Mommy. I don’t want to give it to anyone else.”
She looked up with wide, eager eyes, her young mind clear about her intentions.
Sheng Wanyan’s heart swelled with maternal pride. What mother wouldn’t be deeply moved by her child’s absolute devotion? Still, whenever an opportunity arose, she made sure to instill proper principles of conduct, terrified that any parental negligence now might cause Yiyi to grow up with an entitled or extreme personality.
“Thank you, my precious girl. Mommy loves it immensely,” Sheng Wanyan smiled, allowing the toddler to slide the cool jadeite over her fingers.
Sheng Wanyan’s skin was exceptionally fair and flawless, and the vibrant, imperial green of the stone contrasted beautifully against her hand, making her look incredibly elegant. Gu Tingxiao watched his wife, his eyes filled with warm admiration. His wife was naturally suited for fine jewelry; her refined aura caught the light perfectly, and she looked stunning when adorned with such vivid gems.
He knew that once the nation’s economic reforms took firm root and the society opened up completely, his brilliant wife would finally be able to dress impeccably every day, wearing the fine clothes she desired and adorning herself with the beautiful treasures she deserved.
Chapter 445: Planning to Buy a Yard
I need to start setting aside more jewelry for my wife so she can dress up exactly as she pleases in the future, Gu Tingxiao thought to himself as he watched her.
Upstairs, Sheng Wanyan helped Yiyi tuck all her treasures into the toy chest and locked it securely. Once Yiyi saw the padlock click into place and watched her mother store the key away for safekeeping, she finally felt at ease and was ready to go downstairs for lunch.
Sheng Wanyan kept the imperial green jadeite bracelet hidden inside her pocket. She knew it wouldn’t be appropriate to flash such a high-end heirloom around the estate right now, but since Yiyi was watching her every move, she couldn’t easily take it off without making the child upset.
The moment Grandma Gu saw Yiyi padding into the dining room, she immediately brought out the warm dishes and fussed over her face. Once she verified the marks were just minor scratches and superficial swelling, her racing heart finally settled.
Yiyi trotted straight over to Grandpa Gu and climbed onto the seat next to him. The old patriarch’s face lit up so dramatically with joy that his white beard practically flew upward. His old woman had spent the last two hours nagging him, swearing up and down that Yiyi would grow to despise him after the morning’s chaos. But look at this! The child had marched right back to his side. How could she possibly dislike her great-grandfather?
In the span of a single morning, the toddler and the old general had forged a flawless, unspoken understanding. Their relationship had progressed by leaps and bounds the moment they stepped out the front gates.
Sheng Wanyan set the table and ladled out the food for the two family patriarchs. Gu Jinfang and Gu Jingjing didn’t require any adult supervision at all; they scooped their own portions and ate neatly. Sheng Wanyan had whipped up a simple lunch consisting of two meat dishes and two vegetable sides, but she had prepared massive portions, ensuring there was more than enough to go around with the hot rice.
“This is amazing!” Gu Jinfang cheered. “Third Aunt, your cooking is absolutely delicious.” He was right in the middle of a childhood growth spurt, completely clearing two large bowls of rice before finally setting down his chopsticks.
“I’m glad you like it,” Sheng Wanyan smiled. “I’ll cook something special for you next time. How about I bake a batch of thousand-layer sweet cakes for you tomorrow?” She had a bit of downtime, and she thought it would be lovely to create some soft, traditional pastries for the household.
“Yes, please!” Gu Jingjing squealed with delight. The last time she had tasted her third aunt’s baking was nearly three years ago. The pastries her third aunt made were always incredibly soft, fluffy, and sweet—tasting infinitely better than ordinary candies.
True to her word, Sheng Wanyan bundled up after lunch to head out and source the baking ingredients, determined to put together an exceptional feast for the family’s dinner tonight.
Yiyi curled up for her afternoon nap, and the moment she woke up, she didn’t cling to her mother at all. Instead, she trotted straight into the courtyard to find Grandpa Gu. Seizing this rare pocket of privacy, Sheng Wanyan and Gu Tingxiao slipped out of the base to visit the downtown Overseas Chinese Store.
Before they left, Gu Tingxiao had reached out to a few childhood friends in the compound to exchange currency for Overseas Chinese shopping coupons. When the family of three had traveled down from the Bing City, their trunks had been packed strictly with their own cold-weather gear and personal essentials, leaving them empty-handed for the reunion. Sheng Wanyan planned to purchase premium gifts for the children and select high-quality New Year goods for the family elders.
The couple unlocked the family’s vintage bicycles and rode out together. Arriving at the grand Overseas Chinese Commercial Center, they secured their bikes near the entrance and stepped inside.
The grand shopping center was bustling. With the Spring Festival just five days away, crowds of locals had flooded the aisles to secure their holiday provisions. There was also a highly visible presence of international shoppers and diplomats browsing the displays. Noting the influx of foreigners, Sheng Wanyan’s mind drifted back to her business plans. Things are shifting rapidly these days. Once our northern operation is stable, I need to convince my parents to relocate to the capital as soon as possible so they won’t be so lonely up in the north.
Working with sharp efficiency, Sheng Wanyan quickly selected her items, even picking out two tailored new outfits for her husband.
Gu Tingxiao, meanwhile, had stopped in front of a clothing rack, holding a striking crimson dress featuring delicate lace detailing along the sleeves. The garments of this era carried an undeniable, elegant retro silhouette—a classic style that Sheng Wanyan had always gravitated toward.
“Wanyan, try this one on,” Gu Tingxiao suggested, holding the fabric against her. He wanted his wife to wear beautiful things, refusing to let the restrictive conventions of the era stifle her natural love of fashion.
A warm happiness bloomed in Sheng Wanyan’s heart; no woman could look at such an exquisite dress without her heart fluttering.
“That piece just arrived from an international shipment, young lady,” the sales associate chimed in, recognizing instantly that the couple possessed serious purchasing power. They were carrying several high-end shopping bags and didn’t look strapped for cash. “The color will make your porcelain skin look incredibly bright and radiant.”
Sheng Wanyan admired the reflection in the mirror, and seeing her genuine delight, Gu Tingxiao dipped directly into his private savings to purchase it for her. The imported dress was far from cheap, commanding a steep price tag of eighty yuan—effectively wiping out the majority of the private allowance he had quietly amassed this year.
Sheng Wanyan rarely had access to a premium metropolitan boutique, so she naturally pivoted to selecting new outfits and toys for Yiyi. Given that her daughter had transformed into a little roughneck who loved picking fights across the compound, she realized she needed a substantial wardrobe reserve. She purchased three durable, stylish sets of children’s clothing to ensure the girl wouldn’t be sporting shredded knees during the formal New Year celebrations.
After completing her main shopping, Sheng Wanyan selected a variety of premium nutritional supplements tailored for pregnant women to gift to Eldest Sister-in-law, and the couple finally began their ride back to the estate.
“Tingxiao, if your schedule clears up the day after tomorrow, do you think we could head into the city center to scout for standalone courtyards and commercial storefronts?” Sheng Wanyan asked as they pedaled through the streets.
“Of course,” Gu Tingxiao replied instantly. He had always kept his wife’s entrepreneurial ambitions at the forefront of his mind.
Sheng Wanyan knew that securing real estate right now was an incredible opportunity; prices would never be lower, especially for prime locations within the historic heart of the capital. It was vital to purchase early before the market caught on.
Within a matter of months, the metropolitan avenues would inevitably be teeming with independent street vendors, private small businesses, and ambitious college students. Anyone with a modicum of foresight would be able to chart the Capital’s soaring trajectory. Even if the average citizen couldn’t map out the exact blueprint of the future economic boom, they understood an undeniable historical truth: the Capital was the capital of the nation, positioned right under the feet of the emperor, and it was destined for staggering prosperity.
“I’ll reach out to some of my childhood friends tomorrow morning to see if anyone has leads on historic courtyards or commercial properties hitting the market near the university districts,” Gu Tingxiao noted. Utilizing his deep-rooted network within the capital was infinitely more efficient than wandering the streets blindly.
“Perfect,” Sheng Wanyan smiled.
With their strategy locked in, the couple returned to the estate, put away their packages, and immediately stepped into the kitchen to prepare dinner.
By five in the evening, Sheng Wanyan had washed and diced the fresh ingredients. Mother Gu arrived home from her administrative shift at the bureau and immediately tied on an apron to join her daughter-in-law at the stove.
When Eldest Sister-in-law walked through the front door, she immediately tried to ease her way into the kitchen workflow. She felt terribly awkward letting her husband’s younger brother’s wife handle the heavy dinner prep the moment she arrived in the Capital.
Sheng Wanyan gently blocked her path. “Sister-in-law, Mother and I have everything under control. You’re expecting a baby, so please go sit down and rest.”
“Third Sister-in-law, that’s really not right,” Mrs. Gu protested weakly. “I should at least help chop the vegetables.”
“Sister-in-law, your pregnancy is still in the fragile first trimester. Keeping the baby safe is the absolute priority right now.”
“Listen to your sister-in-law,” Mother Gu chimed in firmly, gently nudging her eldest daughter-in-law toward the living room. “Go lie down and rest. Wanyan and I can handle this easily.”
Faced with their united front, Eldest Sister-in-law stopped being stubborn. After all, her condition was still delicate, and she needed to exercise extreme caution. “Then I’ll trouble you tonight, Third Sister-in-law.”
Sheng Wanyan offered a warm nod, turning back to coordinate the multi-course meal with Mother Gu. The provisions she had purchased were incredibly rich and varied, but since she was working inside her mother-in-law’s kitchen, she felt a bit self-conscious about using too much cooking oil. To circumvent the issue, she had explicitly purchased a fresh bottle of premium rapeseed oil during her shopping trip, knowing certain traditional dishes simply lost their depth without a generous sear.
Fourth Brother Gu Tinghao and Wang Chunmei wouldn’t be joining the estate for dinner tonight. Grandpa Gu had issued a strict, permanent directive: unless it was a formal national holiday or a major family milestone, there was absolutely no reason to invite Wang Chunmei back to disrupt the household harmony.
Sheng Wanyan set to frying crispy golden potatoes, savory chicken wings, and seasoned pork meatballs. Watching the shimmering pool of oil in the wok, Mother Gu’s traditional heart ached slightly with financial anxiety. She had truly never seen anyone quite as lavish and extravagant with provisions as her third daughter-in-law; using such a massive quantity of oil for deep-frying felt like an incredible luxury.
However, she noted that the oil was completely fresh and that her son’s wife had provided the ingredients entirely out of her own pocket. Mother Gu forced herself to look away, choosing a path of selective blindness to spare her nerves.
“Wanyan, should we pan-sear this cured bacon?” Mother Gu asked, holding up a beautifully marble-cut slab of meat.
Sheng Wanyan glanced over and smiled. “Mom, let’s dice it up and layer it directly over the rice so the juices steam through the grains together.”
Chapter 446: Buying Gifts for Family
Hearing her daughter-in-law’s plan, Mother Gu nodded in approval and layered the marble-cut cured bacon over the rice. She never questioned Sheng Wanyan’s culinary instincts. After all, she had enjoyed her cooking numerous times back in the Bing City. Her third daughter-in-law always introduced novel techniques into her dishes, making every meal exceptionally delicious.
To balance out the rich spread, Sheng Wanyan prepared a light, refreshing napa cabbage and tofu soup. Since there was already an abundance of savory meat on the table, a clear vegetable broth provided the perfect palate cleanser.
The rest of the menu was an absolute feast: rich braised pork with preserved mustard greens, a perfectly glazed whole braised fish, a classic savory braised pork belly, fragrant fish-flavored eggplant, and a fiery stir-fried pork with hot pot spices. For side dishes, she added crisp stir-fried seasonal greens and a bowl of crunchy roasted peanuts.
By the time Mother Gu and Sheng Wanyan began transferring the steaming platters to the dining room, the intoxicating aroma had already filled the entire estate.
Yiyi, tagging along behind her older cousins, poked her little head out from the kitchen doorway, her nose twitching as she sniffed the air appreciatively.
Just then, Father Gu walked through the front door, returning from his shift at the military headquarters. While everyone was initially captivated by the magnificent scent of the food, the moment they sat down, their attention shifted entirely to the little girl.
“What on earth happened to Yiyi’s face?” Father Gu barked. He hadn’t seen his granddaughter for a single day—how had she returned looking as though she had been through a physical brawl?
Mother Gu and Eldest Sister-in-law leaned in to get a closer look. When the toddler had first come inside, she had immediately run off to play in the backyard with Gu Jinfang and Gu Jingjing, so no one had noticed the marks in the dim afternoon light. Now, under the bright dining room chandelier, her little face was exposed for everyone to see.
The bright red swelling stood out starkly against her fair, porcelain skin. It looked incredibly jarring, sending a wave of shock through the elders.
Before any of the adults could demand an explanation, Yiyi proudly tilted her chin up, looking around the table with absolute triumph. “Yiyi went out to beat the winter heat~” she announced grandly. “And I won~”
The Gu family: “……”? ? ?
You’ve only been back in the capital for a single day, and you’ve already initiated a turf war? She truly was a textbook descendant of the Gu lineage—a fierce little tiger through and through.
“Oh, my precious darling,” Mother Gu cooed, her heart aching as she pulled the toddler into her lap, barely daring to brush her fingers against the bruised skin. “Does it hurt terribly?”
Yiyi gave an honest nod. It certainly throbbed, but the lingering sting vanished the moment she remembered the glittering mountain of gold and gems currently padlocked inside her toy chest upstairs.
“It hurts a lot~” she whimpered softly, snuggling deeper into Mother Gu’s shoulder. “Grandma, blow on it for Yiyi~”
She unleashed her ultimate coquettish charm, turning into a helpless little lamb in her grandmother’s arms. Hearing how much pain her darling grandbaby was in, Mother Gu frantically began blowing gentle breaths over her cheek.
“There, there, the pain is going to fly away. Grandma is blowing it all away, see?”
“Mmh~” Yiyi hummed contentedly.
Sitting across the table, Sheng Wanyan watched her daughter’s performance, utterly speechless. She truly had no idea where the little girl had picked up such an incredibly dramatic, theatrical tone for acting spoiled.
“Wanyan, have some meat,” Gu Tingxiao said, interrupting her thoughts as he dropped a succulent piece of braised pork belly into her bowl. Noting the glistening layer of fat on the cut, Sheng Wanyan shot her husband a pointed look.
“I don’t want to eat the fat,” she murmured.
“This part isn’t pure fat; it’s a fat-and-tendon cut. It’s incredibly chewy and flavorful,” Gu Tingxiao explained softly.
Sheng Wanyan inspected the morsel closely, verifying that it was indeed a tender, gelatinous piece of tendon before popping it into her mouth. She chewed, her eyes lighting up at the rich flavor.
“Grandma~ I don’t want to eat the green vegetables~” Yiyi piped up, staring down at the vitamins her mother had placed in her bowl with a face of pure misery. Back north, her unscrupulous mother routinely forced her to finish her greens, but now that she was back in the capital, she knew she had an ironclad network of elders to back her up. She had zero intention of submitting to her mother’s dietary restrictions without a fight.
Hearing her grandbaby’s sweet plea, Mother Gu’s instinct was to capitulate instantly. It was a rare joy to have her granddaughter clinging to her so affectionately; she would have gladly handed her the moon if she asked for it.
But just as Mother Gu opened her mouth to excuse the toddler from eating the greens, her third daughter-in-law’s cool, even voice cut across the table.
“No. Green vegetables are essential for your nutrition.” Sheng Wanyan’s gaze locked onto her daughter. “You are not allowed to be a picky eater.”
Yiyi immediately pouted, throwing a desperate, pleading look at Mother Gu. Mother Gu opened her mouth, intending to gently persuade her daughter-in-law that missing a single serving of vegetables wouldn’t harm the child. But before she could utter a word, she caught the stern, unyielding expression settling over her third son’s face, and she wisely swallowed her argument.
“Absolutely not,” Gu Tingxiao stated, his deep voice carrying a terrifying weight. “Yiyi, your mother’s word is final. Eat your vegetables.”
He pinned his daughter with a sharp, disciplinary gaze, thoroughly disapproving of the way she was attempting to leverage her grandparents’ affection to challenge parental boundaries. Upon hearing her father’s commanding tone, Yiyi’s manufactured arrogance evaporated in an instant. She swiftly buried her nose in her rice bowl, using her spoon to shove the greens into her mouth, not daring to test her parents’ authority a second further.
Fine, fine! she thought grumpily, chewing furiously. I’ll eat them! Why must Daddy look so terrifying? I’m a highly logical child who can be reasoned with, there was absolutely no need to give me such a fright!
Yiyi was a remarkably bright child who understood the family power dynamic perfectly. She knew exactly who held the ultimate crown in their household. No matter how much Gu Tingxiao dotes on his daughter in private, his loyalty to Sheng Wanyan was absolute. He would never tolerate his child undermining his wife’s authority. Yiyi was welcome to enjoy the boundless love of her elders, but she was never permitted to display disrespect or throwing tantrums because of it.
Mother Gu shook her head in silent amusement at the display. Her third son cherished his wife so intensely that he didn’t even hesitate to side against his own flesh-and-blood daughter.
Watching the interaction, Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law were deeply moved. They truly hadn’t expected their rugged third brother to be such an absolute devoted husband. It was one thing to be clingy and attentive during the early honeymoon phase of a marriage, but the couple had been together for years and their daughter was already over two years old, yet their bond was clearly deeper and more romantic than ever before. Most importantly, Gu Tingxiao possessed an ironclad rule: he would never allow his wife to suffer a shred of stress or disrespect, not even from their own child.
“Third Sister-in-law, your culinary skills are truly exceptional,” Eldest Sister-in-law praised, neatly clearing her plate. “I couldn’t help but serve myself a second bowl of rice.”
Ever since her pregnancy had taken hold, her appetite had been completely non-existent, but the brilliant flavors of Sheng Wanyan’s cooking had thoroughly stimulated her palate.
“Let me get that for you, honey,” Eldest Brother Gu smiled, instantly leaping up to take her empty bowl and refill it at the rice cooker.
Beside them, Gu Jinfang swept up the last grains from his own bowl and held it out as well. “Third Aunt’s cooking is out of this world!”
As a young boy entering his prime development years, Gu Jinfang’s appetite was legendary. There was an old proverb that a growing son could consume half his father’s salary just in groceries, but in Gu Jinfang’s case, his singular appetite possessed the power to bankrupt a small household. His parents had long resigned themselves to his massive consumption, and now that they were expecting a second child, they were privately wondering how they were going to finance their future grocery bills.
Gu Jinfang proceeded to devour three massive bowls of rice in a row, matching the consumption metrics of a fully grown infantry soldier.
“Xiaofang, since your winter break has officially commenced, you have too much free time on your hands,” Eldest Brother Gu noted, setting his chopsticks down. “Starting tomorrow, you will accompany me to the military headquarters every morning to undergo physical conditioning.”
As a soldier’s son, Gu Jinfang knew better than to question a direct command. In their household, his father’s word was a military order. “Understood, Dad.”
He had long since grown accustomed to the rigorous routine. While his academic marks hovered steadily around the upper-middle average, his athletic performance and physical endurance were nothing short of extraordinary. At just ten years old, he had already shot up to a commanding height of 1.55 meters, carrying himself with the powerful, muscular build of a boy who spent his weekends running drills at the base. If he hadn’t been fiercely determined to pass the elite military academy examinations in the future, he would have likely abandoned his traditional schoolbooks long ago; in his opinion, there was nothing in this world more grueling than memorizing classical text.
Once the dinner dishes were cleared away, Sheng Wanyan went upstairs to fetch the packages she had secured at the Overseas Chinese Store, distributing the gifts to the family in the living room.
For the young boys, she had purchased realistic toy pistols, while the girls were presented with beautiful new outfits. Every child under the roof received a share, and she had even pre-purchased a gift for Fourth Brother’s son, Gu Jinmin, which she planned to hand over the next time they crossed paths.
“Oh, Third Aunt! This is the most beautiful skirt I’ve ever seen!” Gu Jingjing gasped, her eyes completely sparkling.
Sheng Wanyan had selected matching, ultra-modern pink princess gowns for both Yiyi and Jingjing.
“I’m so glad you love it, sweetheart,” Sheng Wanyan smiled warmly. “Go run up to your room and try it on to see if the measurements are correct.”
Gu Jingjing clutched the fabric to her chest, nodding happily before sprinting up the stairs. Within minutes, she emerged to show off the gown. The fit was absolutely flawless. Under Mother Gu’s meticulous care over the past few years, the young girl had thoroughly filled out; her skin was bright and fair, and she no longer carried the frail, skeletal thinness of her early childhood. As she matured, her delicate facial features were becoming increasingly defined, and she carried herself with a beautiful, quiet confidence. Inheriting the stellar genetic traits of her parents, she looked exactly like an elegant, refined little scholar.
“It’s a perfect fit. Our Wanyan truly has an impeccable eye for fashion,” Mother Gu praised, thoroughly impressed that her daughter-in-law had accurately gauged the girl’s growth metrics from thousands of miles away.
“Third Sister-in-law, you must take these cans back so Yiyi can drink them,” Eldest Sister-in-law protested, her hands trembling slightly as she looked at the mountain of premium maternal supplements Sheng Wanyan had placed before her. “These imported nutritional powders are far too extravagant. I cannot possibly accept such an expensive gift.”
She was genuinely shaken by her younger sister-in-law’s boundless generosity. Sheng Wanyan hadn’t just bought a token tin; she had presented her with five or six large cans of top-tier, imported maternal milk powder, which commanded an astronomical price tag in the current economy.
