Chapter 525 | Chapter 526 | Chapter 527
Chapter 525: A Dorm-mate Wants to Stay Over???
“I still have to pick up your senior mother. She went to buy things at that ‘Yi Yi’s General Store’ or whatever it’s called.”
“Is it really that fun to browse? Your senior mother goes there to spend money every single day.”
“My salary is only that much, yet your senior mother spends more than half of it right over there.”
Sheng Wanyan: “……” She didn’t dare say a word, feeling rather guilty.
“Is that so……?”
“Let me walk you over.”
“Yes, yes, yes, you live right near there.”
Professor Zhao remembered now. This disciple of his lived not far from that general store, so it happened to be on the way.
Sheng Wanyan stepped forward to support him as he stood up. Professor Zhao was advanced in years and bore old injuries, so his limbs weren’t very nimble at times.
In his youth, when he went to Country M for a diplomatic negotiation to bring back an important scientific researcher, his leg had been struck by a bullet.
By the time he returned to the motherland, the optimal window for treatment had already passed, and now that he was old, the complications had surfaced.
At times, it would throb with a dull ache when he walked, and it was even worse on rainy days. When the pain flared up, he would wake up in the middle of the night and find it impossible to fall back asleep.
Sheng Wanyan supported him as they walked out of the school. Quite a few classmates looked on with nothing but envy. Why hadn’t they been handpicked by Professor Zhao?
They didn’t dare dream of becoming a close-door disciple; even just being a regular student under his name would be amazing!
When Sheng Wanyan supported Professor Zhao into the general store, her heart was thumping with pure anxiety.
“Wanyan.”
“Mom……”
Hearing her call out, Professor Zhao looked at Mother Sheng, then looked back at Sheng Wanyan, the fury in his eyes nearly bursting out.
“Mom, this is my professor.”
“Professor, this is my mom……”
Mother Sheng was thoroughly startled upon hearing this. This was a professor from Peking University! My goodness!
“Oh my~ Hello, hello, old gentleman.”
“Wanyan relies heavily on your guidance normally, thank you so much.”
Professor Zhao was too embarrassed to lose his temper in front of Mother Sheng, so he could only nod in response with a smile.
“You flatter her, she is very intelligent.”
“Not at all, it’s all thanks to the guidance of professors like you.”
Mother Sheng was proud to the core, yet she remained highly respectful and modest in front of the professor. After all, a professor was someone who imparted knowledge!
“Old Zhao.”
Senior Mother Zhao finished picking out her items and walked over to the checkout area. Sheng Wanyan wanted to disappear right on the spot, hanging her head low and not daring to look at them.
Excuse me, is it too late to offer a refund now?
“Wanyan!”
Senior Mother Zhao was a bit surprised to see her here, but on second thought, she found it normal since endlessly many people came here to shop.
“Senior Mother……”
“Wanyan, you came to buy things too?”
“Let me tell you, the meat here is exceptionally plump and juicy, you should definitely buy more.”
Sheng Wanyan could only offer a strained smile, quickly running over to grab two more slabs of pork for Senior Mother Zhao.
“Senior Mother, take these back to eat. On the house, on the house.”
“Yes, yes, yes! On the house.”
Mother Sheng hurriedly chimed in from the side. She had to maintain a good relationship with the professor! She had absolutely no idea what was actually going on.
“How could we do that?”
The moment the words left Senior Mother Zhao’s mouth, something clicked in her mind. She looked between Mother Sheng and Sheng Wanyan.
“You two…… are?”
“Senior Mother, this is my mom.”
Senior Mother Zhao’s mouth fell open in surprise. She turned her head to look at her husband, whose face was written with utter displeasure.
With this, everything became perfectly clear to her, and she instantly burst out laughing with a pfft.
So it turned out this old man of hers was grumbling because he thought she was spending too much money.
He didn’t dare blame his wife of several decades, so he could only take it out on his disciple.
“It’s not easy for you all to run a small business, how can we take it on the house.”
Senior Mother Zhao wasn’t someone who liked taking unfair advantages. Even if they were on the same side, there was no reason to take things for free.
After saying this, Senior Mother Zhao threw a sharp glare at Professor Zhao, warning him not to act all passive-aggressive and stir up trouble here; a disciple shouldn’t be bullied like this either.
Professor Zhao covered his mouth and let out a cough, his expression instantly transforming into a deeply benevolent one as he looked at Sheng Wanyan.
Sheng Wanyan: “……” Please don’t look at me like that, it’s even more terrifying……
“Then a flat 20% discount. From now on, whenever you come, you’ll always get a discount.”
Sheng Wanyan hurriedly stepped in to soothe both sides, mainly trying to appease Professor Zhao’s petty grievances.
Senior Mother Zhao let out a helpless smile and nodded. She would just make sure to buy a bit more down the line so Sheng Wanyan wouldn’t suffer a loss.
“Yes, yes, yes, from now on, it’ll be a flat 20% discount!”
Mother Sheng chimed in from the side. As the mother, she had to ensure these relationships were maintained perfectly for her daughter.
“We won’t accept any money this time, consider it a token of filial piety from a disciple to her master and senior mother.”
“This meat is an extra dish for the professor tonight, please don’t refuse, Senior Mother.”
Sheng Wanyan looked at Senior Mother Zhao with pleading eyes. Senior Mother Zhao understood perfectly; this girl was terrified that her master would dump endless assignments on her later on.
“Alright, then I’ll accept it.”
Senior Mother Zhao shook her head with a smile. Both the master and the disciple possessed quite lively and boisterous temperaments; there would certainly be an entertaining show to watch in the future~
“Humph~”
Professor Zhao took the meat and headed home. Before leaving, he threw her a warning glare that clearly broadcasted: You just wait.
Sheng Wanyan’s heart sank by half. She could already visualize her summer vacation homework flying relentlessly toward her.
Sheng Wanyan’s guess was completely correct. The moment Professor Zhao returned home, he set about preparing assignments for her—the kind with heavily increased volume and difficulty.
Time quickly marched to the end of June, bringing with it the very first final examinations. Sheng Wanyan was now three months pregnant.
Her belly was currently showing a subtle bulge, but since she wore loose-fitting clothing, no one noticed it.
The final exams would span three days. Mother Gu continuously came up with various methods to nourish her body every day, making her entire complexion look noticeably more radiant and rosy.
“Mama, do your best~”
The Beijing Dance Academy was also conducting its final exams, but Yi Yi didn’t need to attend. Thus, she stood with Mother Gu at the gates of Peking University to cheer her on.
“Thank you, Yi Yi.”
Sheng Wanyan pinched Yi Yi’s little cheek, taking a deep, satisfying sniff of the milky fragrance on her body before stepping into the school grounds with complete contentment.
The three days of examinations concluded in no time. The moment the exams ended, the students in the school felt as though they had been completely liberated.
Everyone set about packing their belongings to head home. Lugging large bags and small bundles, they carried even more things than when they first arrived. After all, everything was precious in this era, and no one dared leave their items behind in the dormitory.
The train tickets from the Capital to various locations were entirely sold out in a flash, and the train station was instantly transformed into a massive sea of people.
Everyone in the dorm was heading home, and Sheng Wanyan also returned to pack up her bedding.
Li Jiahua was in the dorm, appearing as though she had no intention of heading back. Sheng Wanyan didn’t pry further either.
“Wanyan, are you staying at home for the summer vacation?”
Seeing her pack up her bedding, Li Jiahua asked a casual question. Sheng Wanyan gave a nod in response.
Learning that she was staying in the Capital, Li Jiahua’s eyes lit up. Spending two months all by herself in the dormitory left her completely at a loss as to what to do.
Moreover, the school cafeteria would be closed for the holidays, meaning she would have to resolve her three daily meals at state-run restaurants, which would be incredibly expensive!
She had been wondering if she could find a place to stay so she could cook for herself and save a significant amount of money.
“Then can I go stay at your house for two months?”
“It happens that I can keep you company. Hasn’t your husband returned to his military unit?”
Hearing her request, Sheng Wanyan rejected it without a single second of hesitation. She wasn’t particularly close with Li Jiahua, and she had no desire to introduce an extra person into her household.
“We don’t have any spare rooms left at our house, it’s impossible to accommodate anyone.”
Li Jiahua grew instantly anxious upon hearing her reply. She well knew that the properties in that particular residential block were all small courtyards, and every single household possessed at least two or three rooms.
Chapter 526: What is Favoring Boys Over Girls?
“Does your house only have one room?”
Li Jiahua had weighed her options over and over, and going to Sheng Wanyan’s house was the absolute best choice. Sheng Wanyan was living there alone with her child, making it the most suitable place for her to lodge.
Take someone like Gu Shumin, for instance; she was a the Capital native as well, but her house was packed with a huge family, so lodging there was out of the question.
Therefore, Sheng Wanyan’s home was the most ideal. Since they were dorm-mates, she hadn’t ever considered that Sheng Wanyan might refuse.
She had been a hundred percent confident, but to her surprise, she was rejected the second she brought it up.
“My mother-in-law is here. There are no empty rooms at home.”
Hearing that her mother-in-law was here, Li Jiahua curled her lip. Isn’t this just a convenient excuse to reject me?
“Doesn’t your mother-in-law live in the city? Why would she come out of nowhere to…”
“Is it not perfectly normal for my mother-in-law to come over?”
“This is her son’s house. Is there a problem with her coming to stay here?”
Sheng Wanyan was too lazy to waste any more words on her. She wasn’t her mother; whether she had a place to go or not had absolutely nothing to do with her.
“I… I was just asking.”
Li Jiahua didn’t dare offend her. After all, Sheng Wanyan was the darling of the professors and the close-door disciple of Professor Zhao. Who would be foolish enough to offend her?!
If she were to speak ill of her in front of the professors, her own future prospects would be completely ruined!
“Don’t speak so carelessly in the future. My mother-in-law and I have an excellent relationship, and I’d hate for others to misunderstand.”
“I’m heading back first.”
Sheng Wanyan picked up her things and left. Hearing her parting words, Li Jiahua’s chest heaved up and down with pure frustration.
Only a fool would believe that their mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship was excellent. Sheng Wanyan was probably just terrified that if someone came to stay at her house, they would discover how poorly her mother-in-law actually treated her, right?
The more Li Jiahua thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Otherwise, why would Sheng Wanyan be in such a desperate hurry to reject her?
The darling of the professors—turns out her life with her in-laws is nothing special either…
Sheng Wanyan had no idea what Li Jiahua was thinking. As long as the girl didn’t harm her interests or play underhanded tricks in front of her, she wouldn’t have much contact with her anyway.
When Mother Gu saw her walk out, she hurriedly took the things from her hands.
“How did the exams go?”
“Very well.”
Mother Gu was overjoyed upon hearing this. If her third daughter-in-law said it went very well, then it must have been outstanding.
“Let’s go. Mom is going to stew some pig’s trotters for you tonight.”
“Thank you, Mom.”
Sheng Wanyan had developed a major craving for stewed pig’s trotters lately. Once Mother Gu found out, she didn’t mind the trouble at all and made them for her frequently.
“Thank you, Grandma~”
Yi Yi offered her sweet thanks. Mother Gu’s heart melted completely upon hearing this, and she gave her little cheek a playful pinch.
“Oh my~ My darling is just too well-behaved.”
“Yi Yi must eat more tonight.”
The mother-in-law, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter returned home chatting and laughing. That night, the three of them happily gnawed on the pig’s trotters, enjoying them immensely.
Now that the summer vacation had arrived, Mother Gu discussed with Sheng Wanyan whether they should move back to live in the military compound, as the compound was much more convenient after all.
Moreover, the shops here had already stabilized, there was a nanny at the compound, and the children could all play together.
However, Sheng Wanyan refused. She actually preferred her own quiet life, and besides, returning to the compound would make it far less convenient to secretly pull items from her space.
If she wanted to go out, Grandfather Gu and Grandma Gu would worry constantly, meaning she would end up cooped up inside the compound all day.
“Mom, I still need to keep an eye on the clothing store and the workshop. Why don’t we head back after your leave ends?”
Mother Gu still had half a month of leave left, so they could move back together then. This half month would also give her enough time to get everything settled on her end.
“Alright, we’ll head back then.”
As long as she was willing to return, Mother Gu didn’t care about the extra half month. After all, her third daughter-in-law’s shops did need careful supervision.
“But you need to go for a prenatal checkup.”
“I’ll go call your dad and have him drive over tomorrow.”
Sheng Wanyan nodded. The baby was already three months old now, so it was indeed time to check how things were progressing.
Mother Gu briskly went to make the phone call. Over the past half month, she had been terrified that something might go wrong with her third daughter-in-law’s health, and she wouldn’t feel at ease without a proper examination.
Yi Yi gently patted Sheng Wanyan’s stomach, pressing her ear close to listen for any movement from the little brother or sister.
“Yi Yi, the little brother or sister is still very small, they won’t move yet.”
“Ah?!”
Regardless of what her mother said, Yi Yi kept listening. She refused to believe the little brother or sister wouldn’t move! If they didn’t move today, she would just keep listening tomorrow.
Amused, Sheng Wanyan stroked her head. She was currently very worried that Yi Yi would feel less loved once a little brother or sister arrived.
Yi Yi possessed a highly sensitive nature to begin with, so she would need to pay close attention to her emotions down the line. Once Gu Tingxiao returned, she would have to have a serious talk with him about this.
“Does Yi Yi want a little brother or a little sister?”
“A little brother!”
Yi Yi’s choice surprised Sheng Wanyan slightly. Did she know that if this child turned out to be a boy, she might lose out on many advantages when he grew up?
Leaving aside herself and Gu Tingxiao, just speaking from the Gu family’s perspective alone, she would likely have to yield to a younger brother.
Sheng Wanyan believed in an equal education, but Gu Jinfang was currently the only boy in this generation of the Gu family. With the Gu family serving in the military, they naturally placed a heavier emphasis on boys.
“Hmm? Is a little sister not good?”
“A little sister is good too~”
If it were a little sister, she would take her out to play, play Barbie dolls with her, and dress her up in pretty skirts.
It was just that… she had heard the adults at the general store say that her family needed a boy.
“Yi Yi, what’s wrong?”
Sheng Wanyan noticed that her emotions seemed a bit off. Ever since she became pregnant, Yi Yi hadn’t been nearly as rambunctious as before.
In the past, she wished she could explore every single nook and cranny of the house, touching this and inspecting that.
Yet during this recent period, she would eat and sleep very quietly after returning home from her classes, no longer appearing as lively as before.
Sheng Wanyan gathered her into her embrace and asked softly, “Is Yi Yi unhappy? Can you tell Mama?”
Yi Yi pouted her little lips and buried her face in her mother’s chest, her tone laced with fear and grievance.
“Mama… what is ‘favoring boys over girls’?”
Sheng Wanyan’s body stiffened at her words, her pupils contracting sharply.
She knew this kind of gossip would eventually reach Yi Yi’s ears sooner or later, but she hadn’t expected it to happen during such a sensitive period.
“Heavy things are carried by boys, and light things are carried by girls.”
“Ah?”
Yi Yi looked up at her with completely bewildered eyes. Why was what Mama said entirely different from what those neighborhood aunts said?
Those aunts had explicitly told her that if she had a younger brother in the future, her daddy and mama would stop loving her and only love the brother.
“In our family, that is exactly what it means.”
“Does Yi Yi remember now?”
Sheng Wanyan kissed her little face, her eyes filled with nothing but tenderness and ache. Her greatest fear was disharmony between her children.
Once a child harbored a sense of disparity in their heart, the relationship between siblings would only grow more distant as they grew up.
“I remebered~”
Yi Yi gave a firm nod, locking her mother’s words securely into her heart.
Having finished her phone call, Mother Gu stood outside the door without stepping in, having heard Yi Yi’s question plain as day.
She let out a quiet sigh in her heart. Fortunately, her third daughter-in-law was someone who deeply cherished girls. If it were anyone else, Yi Yi would likely be neglected in the future.
In this day and age, mothers who truly treasured their daughters were few and far between.
The Wang Chunmei from before wasn’t a unique exception, but rather the reality of most women in this era.
Chapter 527: Twins!!?
The next day, Father Gu came to pick them up for the hospital trip. The moment Yi Yi saw Father Gu, she suddenly became unwilling to leave, hugging him tightly and refusing to let go.
“Grandpa~”
“Yi Yi can say it clearly now?”
Father Gu was a little surprised. Before this, Yi Yi used to call him “Yeye,” but now she could say it flawlessly.
“She only says it clearly for you.”
Mother Gu’s tone was dripping with envy. Hearing this, Father Gu’s smile stretched so wide his mouth practically split to his ears.
“My granddaughter is close with me.”
“Look at you showing off.”
Mother Gu rolled her eyes. Not seeing him for a short while, how had his skin grown even thicker?
Father Gu didn’t argue back, listening with a chuckle. Having his wife away from home for the past half month, his days had felt completely tasteless.
Father Gu first drove the car to a state-run restaurant. After eating their fill for lunch, they headed to the hospital.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Sheng Wanyan underwent a series of examinations. When it came time for the ultrasound, she felt a bit nervous.
Although she had been frequently drinking the spiritual spring water from her space during this period, a mother would always harbor some worries.
“Relax, don’t be nervous.”
Sheng Wanyan nodded. Yi Yi stared intently at the ultrasound screen, but she could only see tiny dots.
“Huh?”
The gynecologist let out a soft exclamation of surprise. Thinking her eyes were playing tricks on her, she checked one more time.
“What’s wrong?”
Mother Gu’s heart instantly skipped a beat at the doctor’s reaction. It couldn’t be that something was wrong with the child, could it?
The gynecologist knitted her brows closely, checking meticulously once more. Only after confirming it beyond a doubt did her expression soften.
“The expectant mother has two gestational sacs. Congratulations.”
Mother Gu didn’t react immediately upon hearing this, but as she slowly processed the meaning, her eyes widened as she stared at the doctor. Two gestational sacs, didn’t that mean???
“Doctor… are you saying there are two children?”
Mother Gu looked at the doctor in pure excitement. Hearing this, Sheng Wanyan’s heart also stirred. Two children…
“Yes, twins.”
The moment the doctor’s words fell, Mother Gu let out an excited cry. Waiting outside the door, Father Gu heard the sound and instantly perked up his ears.
“Really!? Oh my goodness!”
Mother Gu was so ecstatic she didn’t know where to put her hands. She hurriedly stepped forward to grasp Sheng Wanyan’s hand.
“Wanyan, twins!”
“You truly are a lucky star sent by Heaven to our Gu family.”
Mother Gu was incredibly emotional. She truly felt her third daughter-in-law was the family’s lucky star.
Back then, she had been terrified that Old Third would never find a wife, and then Sheng Wanyan appeared.
She had longed for a granddaughter and was reluctant to part with her, and then her third daughter-in-law passed the examination and got into university.
She missed her son, and then Old Third’s transfer back to the Capital became eligible for arrangement.
Even just going out shopping with her had exposed Wang Chunmei’s infidelity, forcing Old Fourth into a divorce unless he wanted to live with a green hat on his head.
Now, she was just wishing the family could have a few more children, and look at that—she was pregnant, and with two at once.
With twins, at least one of them had to be a boy, right?
It wasn’t that she favored boys over girls; it was just that there were indeed many things that were far more suitable for a male heir to handle.
For instance, if Yi Yi, as the elder sister, were to marry down the line and her parents were no longer around, having a younger brother backing her up would ensure her in-laws wouldn’t dare abuse her.
Or for example, when Old Third passed away in the future, there would at least be a son to carry the funeral urn.
Gu Tingxiao, thousands of miles away: “……”
Sheng Wanyan was also happy upon hearing the news. Turning around, she extended her hand to Yi Yi, and Yi Yi hurriedly ran over to grasp it.
“Mama~ Does it hurt?”
Yi Yi looked at her with eyes full of anxiety. Sheng Wanyan’s heart melted completely, and she reached out to stroke her head.
“Mama isn’t hurting, Yi Yi don’t worry.”
“This is just a tool for the checkup, it won’t hurt Mama.”
Hearing this, Yi Yi burst into a smile. Watching her mother undergo so many examination procedures at the hospital had scared her half to death. Children seemed to possess an innate dread of hospitals for some unknown reason.
“Mama~ The little brothers are being naughty~”
Yi Yi pointed at the two small black dots on the ultrasound screen. She had seen her mother knit her brows just now. The little brothers were being bad~
“Then once the little brothers come out and grow up, Yi Yi can educate them properly.”
Hearing this, Yi Yi balled her little hand into a fist, thoroughly agreeing with her mother’s words.
“Educate!”
Yi Yi’s little face looked exceptionally solemn as she began to think about how best to educate her brothers.
Over the next few years, the little girl would come up with countless methods to educate her brothers, accumulating a massive inventory of ideas. It wasn’t until she began putting them into practice that she arrived at a single conclusion: no method was more practical than “using her fists.”
The absolute suppression of birth order… truly made no distinction between gender.
Mother Gu couldn’t close her mouth from laughing upon hearing Yi Yi refer to them as little brothers. They always said children possessed a spiritual intuition; who knew? Maybe it really would be two boys.
“Our Yi Yi is so sweet and considerate.”
“You’re definitely going to be a very responsible big sister in the future.”
Sheng Wanyan smiled but said nothing to Mother Gu’s remark, instead gently caressing Yi Yi’s head. She didn’t want Yi Yi to be too responsible and sensible; the overly sensible child was often the one who missed out on the candy.
Because it was a twin pregnancy, the doctor spent a long time seriously briefing them on precautions. After all, carrying twins was no easy feat.
“The expectant mother needs to supplement plenty of folic acid.”
“Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, and her nutrition must absolutely keep up.”
“She must undergo regular monthly checkups and absolutely cannot overwork herself or perform heavy chores.”
“The family members must remember: do not let her consume brown sugar.”
If a mother carrying twins drank brown sugar water and suffered a major hemorrhage down the line, even the immortals might not be able to save her life.
“We’ve noted it down, thank you, doctor.”
Although Mother Gu had plenty of experience in this area, she had absolutely no experience with twins! She took care to note down every single detail, even asking the doctor quite a few questions.
Mother Gu supported Sheng Wanyan as they walked out. Sheng Wanyan found it highly amusing and looked at her.
“Mom, I’m not that fragile.”
“That won’t do. It’s better to be extra cautious.”
Mother Gu didn’t care what she said; at any rate, she had to keep a constant eye on her.
Sheng Wanyan couldn’t out-argue her, so she could only let her offer support. If she didn’t, her mother-in-law’s nerves would be so tightly wound she might lose her wits.
Sheng Wanyan held Yi Yi’s hand. Yi Yi skipped and hopped along, appearing in an exceptionally grand mood.
The moment Father Gu saw them emerge, he quickly stepped forward to inquire. After all, listening to Mother Gu’s laughter from outside moments ago had left him absolutely itching with curiosity.
“Is Old Third’s wife alright?”
“She’s perfectly fine, perfectly fine! In fact, there is spectacular news!”
Mother Gu hurriedly pulled out the ultrasound photo to show him, which displayed two tiny black dots.
“Twins!”
Hearing this, Father Gu snatched the photograph away in a flash. Staring at the two tiny black dots on it, his eyes widened significantly.
“Truly!?”
“Would I lie to you about this?”
Mother Gu tilted her chin up. She would never talk nonsense about a matter like this.
“Your grandsons are both right here.”
Mother Gu pointed at the two small black dots on the ultrasound. Looking at his grandsons who were still just two tiny black dots, Father Gu instantly burst into loud, hearty laughter.
The passing patients and family members all threw bewildered looks at him. Is this man out of his mind?
“Keep it down, this is a hospital,” Mother Gu chided testily. How was this man even more excited than she was?
“Yi Yi says it’s two little brothers, though I don’t know if it’s true.”
Thinking of Yi Yi’s words, Mother Gu kept mulling it over in her mind. They always said children possessed a spiritual aura; she felt there really was a possibility that Yi Yi’s words would come true.
