Chapter 465| Chapter 466| Chapter 467
Chapter 465: New Year’s Day and Paying Respects
Wang Chunmei curled her lip, realizing that the Gu family wasn’t paying her any mind—or rather, they didn’t care enough to even acknowledge her presence.
Could they have found out about me taking Sheng Wanyan’s admission letter? she wondered. No, that shouldn’t be possible. No one saw her at the time. She shook her head, racking her brain to think of any other way she might have offended them. But no matter how hard she tried, it never crossed her mind that the post office worker might have been careless enough to let the secret slip to the family himself.
After dinner, Mother Gu directed Wang Chunmei to clear the dishes. Wang Chunmei’s mood soured instantly. It wasn’t enough that she’d been expected to help cook; now she had to clean everything up on her own? It felt like an insult.
“Mom, shouldn’t the Third Sister-in-law be helping with the dishes?” she muttered.
“Your sister-in-law cooked the entire meal,” Mother Gu replied sharply. “What’s the problem with you cutting a few vegetables and washing up? What? You want to eat but refuse to work?”
“No, that’s not…”
Wang Chunmei tried to protest, but Mother Gu cut her off immediately. “If you don’t want to wash them, then get the Fourth brother to help you—if he’s willing.”
Hearing that made Wang Chunmei feel even worse. Gu Tingxiao was always helping Sheng Wanyan with chores, but her own husband? He wouldn’t lift a finger to help her, let alone sweep the floor.
“Yan’er has been helping manage the household for quite a while now; she hasn’t had a moment to rest,” Mother Gu continued. “You’ve been living in the Capital, yet I’ve hardly seen you show much care for us two old folks. I haven’t seen a single new piece of clothing from you for the holidays, either.”
With that, Mother Gu took Sheng Wanyan by the arm and led her into the living room, leaving Wang Chunmei behind with tears stinging her eyes. She was left to clean the dishes alone. Once that was done, it was time for the evening’s main event: the exchange of red envelopes.
Gu Jingjing led Yi Yi to kneel before Grandpa and Grandma Gu. Yi Yi looked a little confused by the ritual, but she mimicked the others.
“Happy New Year, Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma! Wishing you good health!”
“Happy New Year, Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma. May you stay healthy and have a wonderful year!”
“Zeng-Zeng, I’m healthy too!”
Yi Yi followed her siblings, offering her own New Year’s greeting. Grandpa and Grandma Gu burst into laughter at the sight.
“Good, good. They’re all such good children.”
The elders reached into their pockets and handed a red envelope to each of the children. Yi Yi’s eyes lit up as she finally understood what this was all about.
Next, it was time to wish Father and Mother Gu a Happy New Year. The children took turns kneeling down, pressing their palms together.
“Happy New Year, Grandpa and Nana!”
Yi Yi’s voice was so loud and enthusiastic that it drowned out her brothers and sisters. Father Gu was delighted to see how quickly she’d learned the routine, not to mention the volume of her delivery.
“Come here, come here! Grandpa and Grandma have a big red envelope for you.”
Yi Yi took it with both hands and immediately tucked it into her pocket. Not needing any prompting from her siblings, she marched straight over to her parents and knelt down.
“Daddy, Mommy, Happy New Year!” she chirped. “Stay healthy and keep smiling!”
Sheng Wanyan smiled warmly, slipping a stack of red envelopes she had prepared earlier into Gu Tingxiao’s hand.
“Our dear daughter, Mom and Dad have received your blessing,” she said. “Here is your red envelope. We hope you continue to grow up happy and healthy.”
“Grow up healthy and thrive,” Gu Tingxiao added. He didn’t say much, but Yi Yi could tell just how much her parents loved her.
“Thank you, Daddy and Mommy!” She took the envelopes with both hands, stashed them away, and headed off to wish all her aunts and uncles a happy new year.
It was a very profitable night. Once the children had finished their greetings, Sheng Wanyan and Gu Tingxiao took their turn paying respects to the elders. With four generations gathered together, Grandpa and Grandma Gu were beaming, their smiles never fading.
“Alright, alright, get up now,” they said.
The four elders offered their own red envelopes as a token of appreciation. It wasn’t about the money; it was the gesture that mattered.
“Everything is fine,” Grandma Gu instructed softly. “Educating the younger generation well is the greatest comfort to us elders.”
“We understand, Grandpa and Grandma,” the couple replied.
Gu Tingxiao helped Sheng Wanyan up, and the family settled in to chat comfortably in the living room. Since Brother Gu and his two brothers were staying overnight to ring in the New Year, they would be staying in the guest rooms.
Sheng Wanyan eventually took Yi Yi upstairs to rest. Once they were back in their room, Yi Yi began opening her stash. She had gifts ranging from five to ten yuan each—her family members were all very generous. Even Gu Tinghao and his wife had prepared five yuan.
Yi Yi didn’t fully grasp the value of money yet, but she knew it was for buying things, so she asked Sheng Wanyan to keep it safe for her. After Yi Yi drifted off to sleep, Sheng Wanyan took out one of the red envelopes and tucked it gently beside her pillow.
“Grow up healthy and stay well all your life,” she whispered. She didn’t have grand expectations for her daughter; she simply wanted her to be strong, vibrant, and free from sickness.
Gu Tingxiao came upstairs in the middle of the night to check on the two of them. He carefully adjusted the quilt they had kicked off before heading back downstairs.
When Yi Yi woke up the next morning, she saw two thick red envelopes resting by her pillow. She was confused, but seeing her father resting on the bed, she stayed quiet.
Sheng Wanyan came in a moment later to help her change. Yi Yi couldn’t help but ask, “Mom, red envelopes?”
“Yes, those are from Mom and Dad.”
“Only for Yi Yi?”
“That’s right. Just for you.”
Yi Yi beamed and threw her arms around her mother’s neck. For a child as sensitive as Yi Yi, this was an incredibly comforting gesture.
Gu Tingxiao had carefully filled the envelopes; he had scraped together thirty-three yuan, which was everything he had left after buying a skirt for Sheng Wanyan. Sheng Wanyan had also prepared thirty-three yuan. The couple had been perfectly in sync without even needing to speak about it.
“Thank you, Mom!”
Yi Yi felt her heart swell. She didn’t have a name for the feeling, but she knew she was incredibly happy.
“You’re very welcome, my darling.”
Sheng Wanyan kissed her cheek, finished dressing her, and carried her downstairs for breakfast. Mother Gu had already prepared the morning meal. Today was the first day of the New Year, which meant the children would be heading out to visit the neighbors to pay their respects.
After breakfast, Yi Yi scampered upstairs to check on her father, where Sheng Wanyan helped her change the dressing on her hand. Yi Yi kept glancing at the door, eager to join her siblings and head out.
“Alright, go ahead,” Sheng Wanyan said with a smile.
Yi Yi nodded eagerly, grabbed her little schoolbag, and headed out with her brothers and sisters. She looked adorable in her festive red outfit, her hair tied up in a neat bun with a bright red ribbon.
Chapter 466: The Mother-In-Law And Daughter-In-Law Went Out Shopping
The little girl looked delightfully festive at first glance, like one of those lucky New Year dolls pictured in magazines. Before letting her out the door, Grandma Gu and Mother Gu couldn’t resist showering her with kisses.
“Take good care of your sister. Walk slowly and watch the road,” Mother Gu called out, unable to stop herself from fussing.
Gu Jinfang nodded, tightly holding Yi Yi’s hand as they headed out. “I know, Mom!”
Yet the moment the words left his mouth, he took off running with his younger brother and sister. Watching them bolt, Mother Gu immediately huffed in exasperation. “What a bunch of rascals!”
Still, she smiled and shook her head. The New Year only came around once a year; the children deserved to have their fun.
Sheng Wanyan walked out into the courtyard and noticed how much the compound had transformed. Red couplets and bright lanterns were neatly pasted along the walls. It was a classic Chinese tradition, and now that society was opening up, people could finally display these festive decorations openly without fear. Everywhere you looked, the courtyard was bathed in a vibrant, celebratory red, thick with the nostalgic flavor of the Spring Festival.
In later generations, this kind of lively New Year atmosphere would vanish entirely, replaced by quiet, ordinary holidays that felt no different from any other day. It couldn’t compare to the warmth and excitement of this era. Sheng Wanyan genuinely adored the festive spirit of these times.
A stream of neighborhood children visited the house that morning. Many of them were seeing Sheng Wanyan for the first time and stared at her with wide, curious eyes. But the moment they realized she was the wife of the formidable Gu Tingxiao, they hastily offered their polite New Year greetings and practically scrambled out the door in fear.
By noon, the Gu children returned from their rounds with a massive haul, their little schoolbags stuffed to the brim with treats and coins. Because it was Yi Yi’s first time meeting many of the neighbors, people had been especially generous, slipping her plenty of red envelopes. After all, maintaining good relations with a child of the Gu family was only common sense.
Gu Tingxiao finally woke up around midday. After eating a quick lunch, he personally took Yi Yi around the compound to visit his brothers’ homes to collect even more red envelopes. She was his precious daughter, after all; shouldn’t her uncles and aunts spoil her a little?
Before they left, Sheng Wanyan made sure to pack Yi Yi’s bottle and some fresh fruit so she wouldn’t get hungry during the afternoon.
The house grew quiet after lunch, as the neighborhood children who had swarmed the area in the morning were now content to play out in the courtyard.
“Yan’er, let’s go out for a stroll,” Mother Gu suggested, gathering her and Eldest Sister-in-law Gu. Since the eldest sister-in-law was now three months pregnant and past her unstable period, a gentle walk would do her good.
“Alright,” Sheng Wanyan agreed. She went back to her room to grab her purse and followed them out.
Watching them leave, Wang Chunmei felt a sharp prick of resentment. Mother Gu hadn’t even bothered to invite her. Am I not a daughter-in-law of this family too? she thought bitterly.
In reality, Mother Gu had every intention of bringing Wang Chunmei along. If she left her behind at the house, who knew what kind of trouble she might stir up for the two elderly grandparents? She wanted the elders to live a long, peaceful life.
And so, the mother-in-law and her daughters-in-law went shopping. Wang Chunmei didn’t have much pocket money of her own, as Gu Tinghao controlled most of their finances. However, for the New Year, he had given her a small allowance, strictly instructing her to buy some gifts for the family elders. Wang Chunmei didn’t dare disobey him on this; Gu Tinghao would know at a single glance whether she had actually bought the items or not.
The four women headed directly for the Overseas Chinese Store. Sheng Wanyan didn’t actually need to buy anything for the elders, as she and Mother Gu had already taken care of those gifts a few days prior. Even so, she picked up ten tins of milk powder, malted milk, and various other nutritional supplements for the grandparents, hoping to ease the financial burden on Eldest Sister-in-law’s household.
Since Eldest Sister-in-law Gu was expecting, their next stop was naturally the section for children’s clothes and toys. When it came to her son, Gu Jinmin, Wang Chunmei was incredibly lavish. Seizing the rare shopping trip, she bought him four or five new outfits and pairs of shoes. In her excitement, she completely forgot she also had a daughter, Gu Jingjing, who was growing rapidly and desperately needed new clothes.
Sheng Wanyan was no saint. She was only an aunt; if the girl’s own mother didn’t care, it wasn’t her place to step in. Besides, Jingjing had a biological father to look after her.
Instead, Sheng Wanyan focused on picking out a few adorable hairbands and hairpins for Yi Yi. Watching her spend so freely on a daughter, Wang Chunmei couldn’t help but roll her eyes. She truly couldn’t comprehend how someone as clever as Sheng Wanyan could be so short-sighted. No matter how lavishly you raised a girl, she would eventually marry out and belong to someone else’s family. What was the point of wasting money on her? If she had that much spare time and cash, she should focus on giving Gu Tingxiao a son to secure her old age.
“Third Sister-in-law, you really spoil Yi Yi,” Wang Chunmei remarked, her tone laced with judgment.
Sheng Wanyan offered a polite, cool smile. She knew exactly what Wang Chunmei was thinking. The woman clearly looked down on girls and was looking for an opportunity to lecture her.
“Yi Yi grew inside my own belly,” Sheng Wanyan replied smoothly. “Of course I’m going to treat her well.”
Wang Chunmei had been on the verge of asking why Sheng Wanyan didn’t buy something for Jingjing too—reasoning that if her sister-in-law loved girls so much, she certainly wouldn’t miss a little extra cash. But the phrase ‘inside my own belly’ choked the words right back down her throat.
“Haha… Third Sister-in-law is such a dedicated mother,” Wang Chunmei stammered awkwardly.
“I wouldn’t say that, but then again, what mother doesn’t love her own children?” Sheng Wanyan turned the question back on her with a gentle smile. “By the way, Fourth Sister-in-law, aren’t you here to pick out a hairpin for Jingjing? I’m already done choosing, so go ahead and take your time.”
Stepping aside, Sheng Wanyan left the counter open. Wang Chunmei stood frozen, thoroughly embarrassed. If she didn’t buy anything now, wouldn’t she be admitting she wasn’t a good mother? With a heavy heart, she half-heartedly selected the cheapest hairband available, her face clouding over with irritation as she paid for it.
With the children’s items sorted, they moved on to the clothing department to look at dresses. Sheng Wanyan never bothered looking at price tags when she shopped, but this was Wang Chunmei’s first time witnessing her extravagance firsthand, and she was utterly stunned by the display of wealth.
When she saw Sheng Wanyan casually purchase two of the latest, most fashionable dresses for herself—and then buy another for Mother Gu, as well as outfits for her own biological mother and sister-in-law—Wang Chunmei’s jealousy flared. She thought her third brother was entirely too soft, letting his wife squander money like water without any fear of bankrupting the family. Wang Chunmei had spent all her allowance on the elders and didn’t have a single cent left to buy herself something new.
Next, Sheng Wanyan approached the watch counter. Possessing the foresight of future values, she didn’t hesitate to purchase two high-end timepieces. She also picked out watches for Gu Tingxiao, Father and Mother Gu, and her own parents.
“Mom, look at this one. It would suit you perfectly,” Sheng Wanyan said, selecting a classic, elegant watch and gently guiding Mother Gu to try it on. Mother Gu carried herself with a refined grace that perfectly complemented the classic design, making her look exceptionally distinguished the moment it was clasped around her wrist.
“Oh, no, I couldn’t possibly take it,” Mother Gu protested, trying to take it off. “The watch you bought me last time is still working perfectly fine.” Although she was deeply touched and knew her third daughter-in-law was quite wealthy, she couldn’t bear to see her spend so extravagantly.
“Mom, it looks beautiful on you. Besides, I only buy you a gift like this once a year,” Sheng Wanyan insisted with a warm smile.
Mother Gu blinked, a sense of familiarity washing over her. Wait, didn’t her third daughter-in-law use the exact same excuse two years ago? Just this once, never again.
Before Mother Gu could protest any further, Sheng Wanyan had already handed over the cash and settled the bill, leaving the older woman with no room to refuse.
“You really are a handful…” Mother Gu sighed, though her heart swelled with affection. She couldn’t help but feel that her third son had struck gold with this marriage. Her son had never been thoughtful enough to consider these things, let alone buy her gifts; it was a miracle if he didn’t give her a headache.
Wang Chunmei watched the exchange, burning with envy and silently mocking Sheng Wanyan’s foolishness. Imagine wasting good money to curry favor with a mother-in-law instead of buying more dresses for yourself!
Moments later, Sheng Wanyan picked up a beautiful red scarf for Eldest Sister-in-law Gu. Seeing this, Wang Chunmei’s eyes lit up with anticipation as she eagerly waited to see what Sheng Wanyan would buy for her.
Chapter 467: Quarrel with Gu Jinmin
But after Sheng Wanyan finished paying for the supplements, there was no sign of anything else. Wang Chunmei’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Third Sister-in-law, you are being entirely too partial. This isn’t fair at all,” she grumbled sourly. “It’s as if I’m not even your sister-in-law.”
Sheng Wanyan looked at her, nearly laughing out of pure exasperation. “Ah, what are you saying, Fourth Sister-in-law? When we were back in Bing City, Eldest Sister-in-law bought so many clothes and toys for Yi Yi. Yi Yi specifically told me to use her own pocket money to buy this scarf for her eldest aunt. She even insisted that I choose the most popular style.”
The moment Sheng Wanyan said this, Wang Chunmei’s face darkened instantly, while the expressions of Eldest Sister-in-law and Mother Gu shifted completely. Hearing that the gift was actually Yi Yi’s idea, both women were deeply moved.
Eldest Sister-in-law Gu’s eyes grew red as she clutched the scarf, her heart swelling with emotion. She truly hadn’t expected a two-and-a-half-year-old child to remember her kindness so clearly. Her third brother’s wife was truly incredible at raising children; she had taught them to be deeply grateful.
“The sweet little thing actually remembered her aunt’s kindness,” Mother Gu remarked, her voice dropping to a heavy, pointed tone. “And what exactly did you, her fourth aunt, send to Yi Yi?”
Wang Chunmei felt a sharp sting of humiliation, as if she had just been slapped right across the face. Even if she hadn’t sent anything herself, Gu Tinghao had sent plenty of things, and she knew it. Why shouldn’t his contributions count as her own? She couldn’t help but criticize Sheng Wanyan’s parenting in her mind—the child clearly didn’t remember the kindness of her fourth uncle at all.
Sheng Wanyan completely ignored her. She had already returned the vanity cream Wang Chunmei had once given her, so she owed the woman absolutely nothing.
Mother Gu rolled her eyes internally. She knew Wang Chunmei was no match for her third daughter-in-law when it came to words. Sheng Wanyan simply chose not to bicker because she didn’t want to cause a scene during the holidays, but that didn’t mean she was a pushover.
Wang Chunmei mistakenly thought that just because she had married into the family earlier, she could look down on Sheng Wanyan. But Gu Tingxiao was still the older brother, and even Gu Tinghao had to treat him with utmost respect.
Mother Gu walked back home holding the hands of Sheng Wanyan and Eldest Sister-in-law, leaving Wang Chunmei to trudge behind them with a gloomy face.
The moment they arrived home, it was time to prepare dinner. Mother Gu didn’t intend to let Wang Chunmei off the hook this time; she would much rather give her third daughter-in-law a break than let Wang Chunmei laze around.
“Fourth Sister-in-law, you’re cooking dinner tonight,” Mother Gu commanded brusquely. Turning to Sheng Wanyan, her tone softened instantly. “Yan’er, you just handle cutting the meat. Don’t touch the cold water—the third boy explicitly reminded me about that.”
Sheng Wanyan nodded, her cheeks flushing slightly. Her menstrual cycle was due the day after tomorrow, and she couldn’t believe her husband had actually gone and told Mother Gu about it. It was incredibly embarrassing for her as a daughter-in-law, yet she couldn’t help but feel a warm rush of affection beneath her mild annoyance. Why does that man have to share everything? she thought.
When Gu Tingxiao finally brought Yi Yi back home, he was greeted by a sharp glare from his wife, leaving him entirely bewildered as to what he had done wrong.
Yi Yi had collected quite a few more red envelopes during their walk. The moment she crossed the threshold, she cheered and darted up to her room. Sheng Wanyan followed her upstairs and watched as the little girl proudly laid out her haul one by one.
“Did you remember to thank your elders?” Sheng Wanyan asked gently.
“I thanked them!” the little girl chirped sweetly.
Sheng Wanyan kissed her little face in praise. “Good girl.”
When they came downstairs for dinner, the rest of the children in the house were excitedly receiving the new clothes their mothers had bought them. Since Yi Yi had just received an entire new wardrobe a few days ago, Sheng Wanyan hadn’t bought her any more outfits today. Instead, she presented her with the dozen new hairbands and hairpins.
Yi Yi spun around in pure delight at the sight of the accessories. She immediately turned around and insisted that Sheng Wanyan put all of them in her hair at once.
“How many can your tiny head even hold?” Sheng Wanyan laughed, thoroughly amused by her daughter’s wild ideas.
“Give some to Mommy!” Yi Yi offered generously, handing over a few hairpins and urging Sheng Wanyan to wear them too.
Meanwhile, Gu Jingjing looked at the single hairband she had received, a complicated emotion flickering in her eyes as she glanced at Wang Chunmei. But when she saw the four or five brand-new outfits and shoes piled up for her younger brother, Gu Jinmin, the fleeting joy in her heart vanished completely. She had briefly allowed herself to think that her mother had finally given her a thoughtful gift, but it turned out to be nothing more than an afterthought.
Yet no matter how strained their relationship became, they were still mother and daughter. Even though Gu Jingjing was profoundly disappointed in Wang Chunmei, she couldn’t simply sever the bond. Growing up with an unloving mother meant she would likely carry this emotional burden into the future, eventually having to navigate the duty of caring for her in her old age. Even knowing Wang Chunmei’s flaws, she couldn’t change the fact that she was her own flesh and blood, tied to her for the rest of her life.
“You only bought things for Jinmin?” Gu Tinghao demanded when he saw the packages. He had initially thought his wife was being considerate by shopping for the children, but seeing the sheer imbalance between what she bought for their son versus their daughter made his blood boil.
Even if she had just taken one of Jinmin’s outfits and given it to Jingjing, it wouldn’t have been this insulting. He had given her enough money to buy gifts for everyone, but she had completely funneled his daughter’s share into his son’s pile. It wasn’t that he minded buying things for his son, but such blatant favoritism was entirely unacceptable. It crushed a child’s self-esteem. Every other child in the compound had received beautiful new clothes today except for Jingjing. How was she supposed to feel?
“Didn’t I buy her a hairband?” Wang Chunmei snapped back defensively. “That cost me fifty cents!”
Gu Tinghao’s face turned utterly dark, though he forced himself to swallow his temper in front of the family elders. “Pack up your things. We’re going home.”
Wang Chunmei had only been permitted to stay the previous night because the family wanted Gu Tinghao to enjoy the New Year’s Eve festivities; there was no way she was staying another night. Grabbing her son’s new clothes and shoes, she followed Gu Tinghao out the door.
Seeing that Gu Jinmin was leaving, Yi Yi walked over to retrieve the toy boat she had lent him earlier. But Gu Jinmin gripped it tightly, refusing to let go.
“This is mine!” he yelled.
“No, it isn’t!” Yi Yi replied firmly. “I only lent it to you. It’s mine!”
Her attitude was unyielding, but Gu Jinmin dug his heels in. Seeing her son throwing a tantrum and noting the vast array of toys Yi Yi possessed, Wang Chunmei couldn’t resist chiming in.
“Yi Yi, you have so many toys anyway. What’s wrong with letting your brother have one? Don’t be so stingy; learn to be generous. Otherwise, no one will want to play with you in the future.”
Hearing Wang Chunmei’s harsh words, Yi Yi’s eyes welled with tears. The threat of no one wanting to play with her struck a chord of panic in her sensitive little heart.
Sheng Wanyan’s expression completely froze. She strode over with a cold face and placed a comforting hand on Yi Yi’s head. The little girl looked up at her mother, her eyes red and brimming with profound grievance.
“Mommy…” Yi Yi whispered, terrified that she had done something wrong by not being generous enough.
“It is your brother’s fault for not returning what he borrowed,” Sheng Wanyan said, her voice carrying clearly across the room as she looked directly at Wang Chunmei and her son. “In the future, children won’t want to play with someone who breaks their promises. Isn’t that right, Yi Yi?”
