Chapter 537 | Chapter 538 | Chapter 539
Chapter 537: Yi Yi Growing Wilder by the Day
The old grandmas chimed in one after another, imparting their life experiences and family values to her.
“Exactly. My husband and I think the exact same way.”
Mother Sheng chimed in with profound agreement, then let out another sigh before continuing, “But things rarely go as planned in this world. We’ve been looking for so long, yet we still haven’t found a place to settle down.”
Hearing this, the old grandmas immediately began to recall if anyone around them was selling a courtyard house, wanting to lend a helping hand.
“Isn’t the old Zhang family in the alleyway trying to sell their courtyard?”
“Their whole family is moving to Hong Kong. Just yesterday, I heard my old man mention this matter.”
One of the old grandmas said. The moment Mother Sheng heard this, she knew there was a solid lead.
“Which old Zhang family?”
“The one a few streets behind our current location.”
Once she put it that way, everyone else remembered it too. Since they were all neighbors, they exceptionally enthusiastically escorted Father and Mother Sheng straight to the door.
By the time the property title deed was successfully registered under Sheng Wanyan’s name, Father Sheng was still feeling a little lightheaded.
“Just like that, it’s settled?”
Mother Sheng rolled her eyes with an air of superiority, throwing him a winner’s look.
“When I take action, there isn’t a single thing that can’t be accomplished.”
Mother Sheng tilted her chin up and walked proudly ahead. Father Sheng hurriedly followed behind her, his eyes brimming with absolute adoration. After all these years, his wife was still so outstanding.
This property was a one-entry courtyard house. The family living inside was clearly well-off, and the courtyard was exceptionally well-preserved. When the time came, Sheng Wanyan wouldn’t even need to renovate it; she could simply stock up the shop inventory and open for business.
However, Sheng Wanyan’s plan was to open the branch next year. Since everything here had only just begun, there was no need to rush into things.
Father Sheng thoroughly understood upon hearing this; steady and solid progress was the most suitable path. One couldn’t allow a temporary moment of triumph to breed impatience or reckless ambition.
Father Sheng began learning everything about running the general store, including managing inventory and keeping accounts, all of which Mother Sheng taught him.
Sheng Wanyan thought that since Father Sheng was around, she would have him help her look for shop spaces. At present, she only owned courtyard houses and didn’t possess a single commercial storefront.
Finding a storefront was far more convenient than finding a courtyard house. Since private enterprise was permitted now, many shop spaces could be leased.
However, Sheng Wanyan didn’t want to lease; she only wanted to buy. True to form, after Father Sheng learned a trick or two from Mother Sheng, he actually managed to track down several storefronts that were up for sale.
Following Sheng Wanyan’s philosophy that the more of these properties she had, the better, Father Sheng used the cash she had given him and bought them all for her.
Father Sheng understood perfectly in his heart: with the current national development, any property in the Capital would only become increasingly valuable in the future. His own household didn’t possess the financial capability to buy so many courtyards and storefronts, but since his daughter did, he naturally backed her completely.
Furthermore, his daughter was currently carrying twins on top of a toddler, so it was indeed better to prepare a substantial foundation for the sake of his future granddaughters and grandsons.
Father Sheng ran to the city every now and then, frequently bringing back interesting toys for Yi Yi.
Armed with these toys, Yi Yi continued to act like a little tyrant in the military compound. Not only did she recruit little sisters, but she had also recruited several little brothers to her side.
Watching her daughter grow wilder by the day, Sheng Wanyan fell into deep thought.
Grandma Gu was also terrified that Yi Yi would truly turn into a complete tomboy, so she promptly sent her to an old friend’s house to learn an instrument.
The lessons were right inside the compound, so there was no need for drop-offs or pick-ups. This child, alongside Maodou, had completely mapped out every single corner of the compound, even discovering several dog holes in the walls.
The moment she found one, she would report it to Grandfather Gu. Upon learning about them, Grandfather Gu had someone seal them all up, lest the children in the compound crawl out and run into any accidents.
Yi Yi finally quieted down, no longer disappearing completely every day. She transformed back into a proper little lady.
Grandma Gu brought her to visit an old friend in the compound, who turned out to be Grandfather Xu’s wife: Grandma Xu.
Grandma Xu was a renowned national musician who mastered several types of instruments, including quite a few western ones. The guzheng, pipa, harp, piano, violin, and cello were all effortless to her.
Grandma Gu requested her assistance in teaching her great-granddaughter, and Grandma Xu agreed to her old friend’s request without a second thought. She had previously run into this little girl on the road and couldn’t resist giving her chubby cheeks a pinch. Now that the child had been delivered straight to her door, she naturally wouldn’t refuse.
“Great-grandma Xu~”
“Yi Yi, come take a look at which instrument you like best.”
Grandma Xu led her into her music room. Catching sight of the large and small instruments, Yi Yi’s face was filled with pure curiosity.
Grandma Xu stepped forward with a smile to briefly demonstrate the timbre of each instrument. Yi Yi had always possessed a natural inclination toward artistic fields. In the end, she refused to step out of Grandma Xu’s music room. As for how her learning progressed, Sheng Wanyan didn’t pry too deeply. Grandma Gu had simply sent her there to prevent her from disappearing all day, allowing her to be nurtured by the arts.
However, Sheng Wanyan hadn’t expected this little girl to be highly proactive. The moment she finished her breakfast, she would take Maodou’s leash and head straight over to Grandfather Xu’s house.
Gradually, she became a frequent guest, even becoming fast friends with Grandfather Xu.
Grandfather Xu’s great-grandson, Xu Jiaming, was completely driven mad with rage. Why did this little fat roll keep coming to his house, and why was she so close with his own great-grandfather?
“Little fat roll, why are you at my house?”
The young Xu Jiaming looked at the baby fat on her face, his hands itching to pinch it. However, they had gotten into a fight last time and he had been bitten by this little fat roll, so he still harbored a lingering dread.
“Hmm… I’m here to learn an instrument from Great-grandma Xu.”
Yi Yi harbored a decent impression of Xu Jiaming. At the very least, Big Brother Jiaming wasn’t like the other boys in the compound who refused to admit defeat after losing. They would throw tantrums and make scenes, feeling that losing to a girl was humiliating, and thus resort to underhanded arguments.
“What’s that in your hand?”
The young Xu Jiaming stared at the cake in her hands, which actually had fruit on top.
Yi Yi was holding a cake Sheng Wanyan had made for her; she had explicitly brought it along for Grandfather and Grandma Xu to eat.
“Cake~”
“Mama made it for me.”
“I’m giving it to Great-grandpa Xu and Great-grandma Xu to eat~”
Grandfather and Grandma Xu were overjoyed. After taking a single bite, they fell thoroughly in love with it. Grandma Xu, in particular, loved eating sweet things, and the cake perfectly suited her palate.
Young Xu Jiaming also tried a piece, his eyes lighting up the moment the cake entered his mouth. What on earth is this! How can it be this delicious!
Instantly, the way Xu Jiaming looked at Yi Yi transformed from disdain into absolute fondness.
“Your mama made this for you?”
“Yup~”
“Your mama is so wonderful.”
Young Xu Jiaming was envious to the core. Why didn’t his own mother know how to make cakes? She only knew how to beat him up alongside his father.
“Of course she is~”
Yi Yi was filled with immense pride; her mother was the absolute best mother in the world.
“From now on, I’ll protect you!”
“How about you bring me delicious food in exchange?”
Young Xu Jiaming tried to entice Yi Yi, but Yi Yi rejected him without even a second thought. “No.”
“Why?! If I protect you, none of the kids in the compound will dare bully you!”
Xu Jiaming was instantly dumbfounded. How on earth… had she rejected him?
Chapter 538: Not Enough Nutrition???
When other children wanted his protection, he wasn’t even willing to give it.
“I have a big brother~”
Yi Yi’s single sentence brought Xu Jiaming right back to reality, and the young Xu Jiaming instantly deflated.
Her brother was Gu Jinfang, the king of the kids in the military compound. Even Xu Jiaming had to call him Big Brother Gu when they met…
No matter how Xu Jiaming tried to entice her, Yi Yi remained completely unmoved. In the end, Xu Jiaming was driven to tears by Yi Yi’s stubbornness…
Grandfather Xu: “……” Truly humiliating.
Back then, he must have been blind to think his own great-grandson was better than the old Gu family’s great-granddaughter.
Time slowly ticked away as Yi Yi transformed back into a proper little lady.
Soon, August arrived, and half of the summer vacation had already passed, yet there was still no news of Gu Tingxiao from his mission.
Sheng Wanyan wasn’t worried anyway; as long as Grandfather Gu sat leisurely at home, it meant nothing had gone wrong on Gu Tingxiao’s end.
The date for Sheng Wanyan’s next prenatal checkup arrived quickly. At five months along, her belly was comparable to Eldest Sister-in-law Gu’s eight-month pregnancy.
Sometimes, when Eldest Sister-in-law Gu looked at it, she found it quite frightening. If Third Sister-in-law’s belly was already this large now, wouldn’t it be even more terrifying when she reached seven or eight months?
Mother Sheng also came along for the checkup. Since Father Sheng had moved to the Capital, she had plenty of free time and could visit Sheng Wanyan frequently.
“Doctor, how is it?”
“The nutrition is barely sufficient. You still need to place a heavy emphasis on your nutritional intake.”
Sheng Wanyan frequently cooked private meals for herself, supplementing her diet according to modern maternal recipes. She hadn’t expected her nutrition to only be barely enough.
Were the two children in her belly really this ravenous?
“Continue to eat more fruits and supplement your folic acid.”
“The children are perfectly fine, right?” Mother Gu asked anxiously. She had been preparing meals for Sheng Wanyan according to a double portion size, yet she hadn’t expected it to still fall short.
“They’re fine, just make sure to nourish her properly. It’s perfectly natural for twins to compete for nutrition, so it’s not a major issue.”
Hearing this, Mother Gu and Mother Sheng let out a sigh of relief. As long as everything was fine, it was all good; otherwise, they wouldn’t know how to account for it to Gu Tingxiao.
“That’s good, that’s good.”
After completing the checkup, the mother-in-law, mother, and daughter returned home. It seemed she would have to consume more fruits and vegetables cultivated with spiritual spring water from now on.
Upon learning that Sheng Wanyan’s nutrition was still insufficient, Grandfather Gu and Grandma Gu uncharacteristically utilized their official status to pay a visit to their former subordinates working at the Grain Bureau.
It was purely to purchase a greater variety of fruits to stock at home, so the two pregnant women could nourish their bodies. Grandfather Gu and Grandma Gu quickly secured these conveniences.
The two elders had always disliked using the privileges of their status, wanting neither to trouble the state nor inconvenience others. To think that for the sake of the younger generation, they had uncharacteristically broken their own rules.
Sheng Wanyan stroked her belly, telling the two children about how wonderful their great-grandfather and great-grandmother were.
The meals at home improved noticeably, with daily fruits becoming a baseline staple. Father Sheng also frequently brought meat and other good things from the general store so she could eat more.
Sometimes, Sheng Wanyan’s legs would cramp up while sleeping in the middle of the night. Fortunately, Mother Gu had experience and would come check on her during the night.
Every single time Mother Gu saw her enduring the midnight cramps in silence, her heart ached deeply. In her mind, she couldn’t help but curse Gu Tingxiao for being a scoundrel, leaving his wife to suffer through a twin pregnancy all by herself.
Eldest Sister-in-law Gu had her husband by her side to accompany her, but Third Sister-in-law not only had to care for herself, but she also had to look after a child under three years old.
After discovering it once, Mother Gu came to check on her every single night, massaging her legs whenever she saw them cramping.
At times, it was impossible for Sheng Wanyan not to complain about Gu Tingxiao in her heart. How could she not wish for her husband to be by her side? There wasn’t a single pregnant woman under the heavens who didn’t long for her husband’s companionship and care. It was simply that her rationality overrode her emotions, and she was unwilling to make things difficult for Gu Tingxiao.
Sheng Wanyan’s belly grew larger by the day. Seeing such a massive stomach, Yi Yi blinked her eyes in sheer disbelief.
“Mama~ The little brothers are so big!”
Yi Yi extended her little hand and gently stroked her mother’s stomach. Why were the little brothers so perfectly round? Just like a ball. Could it be that her brothers would be balls in the future?
Yi Yi envisioned the scene of taking two balls out to play in the future, and she instantly got goosebumps.
“The little brothers are still inside Mama’s belly. Once they come out, they won’t look like that anymore.”
“Really?” Yi Yi still couldn’t entirely believe it, but she certainly didn’t want two balls following behind her calling her ‘Big Sister.’
“Of course. When Yi Yi was still in Mama’s belly, you were perfectly round too.”
Yi Yi’s mouth fell open in an ‘O’ shape upon hearing this, staring at her in complete disbelief. How could she possibly have been a ball… just like the smelly little brothers!
Amused, Sheng Wanyan explained the process of a woman’s pregnancy to her while applying face cream for her.
The mother and daughter chatted a lot, and in the end, Yi Yi drifted off to sleep right on the bed, lying spread-eagled.
Mother Gu came in to check before sleeping. Seeing that Sheng Wanyan was about to lift Yi Yi into the crib, she hurriedly rushed over to help.
“Let me do it, don’t move.”
Mother Gu was startled. The doctor had explicitly stated that her third daughter-in-law couldn’t perform heavy labor, and Yi Yi weighed quite a few catties; she was very heavy.
Sheng Wanyan covered Yi Yi with a thin blanket to prevent her from catching a cold from the ceiling fan. Once Yi Yi was settled, Mother Gu helped her sit back down on the bed.
“Come, careful.”
“Mom, I’m fine.”
Sheng Wanyan always felt that her family treated her like a porcelain doll; the moment she tried to do any labor that required strength, she would be stopped.
“You must be careful given your situation. If you need anything, just call out, don’t do it yourself.” Mother Gu was worried sick. Her third daughter-in-law disliked troubling others; if she didn’t drop by to check frequently, she was afraid she would try to shoulder everything on her own.
Sheng Wanyan shook her head with a smile. She knew her own body perfectly well, and she didn’t feel much discomfort. Aside from her belly being a bit larger, everything else was identical to a five-month pregnancy, so she wasn’t overly restricted in her movements.
Although the two children fought in her belly at times, Sheng Wanyan actually loved interacting with them. However, she had to accept the care and concern of her elders.
“Huh? What’s this face cream? I’ve never seen it before.”
Mother Gu looked at the face cream on the vanity table. This was something Sheng Wanyan had made herself specifically for Yi Yi. Not only did she make face cream, but she also made hand cream, mosquito repellent, insect bite ointment, sunscreen, body lotion, and lip balm.
“I made this for Yi Yi myself.”
“They’re all made from natural plants with no additives.”
Mother Gu’s interest was thoroughly piqued. Yi Yi had always been raised by Sheng Wanyan and Gu Tingxiao, and they always presented the child neatly dressed and perfectly groomed before the elders. This was the first time Mother Gu had seen that a child’s skincare products could be this extensive; her third daughter-in-law truly prepared everything with immense detail.
“You made it yourself?”
“Yes, I formulated it according to the medical books.”
Mother Gu didn’t know about Sheng Wanyan’s pharmaceutical crafting; in the family, only the two elders and Father Gu were aware of this matter.
Chapter 539: Yet Another Reward!!!
Mother Gu had been slightly worried that these homemade products might not be safe for children, but upon hearing they were formulated directly from medical books, her heart settled completely.
“Yi Yi has been using them for two years now, and they’re highly effective. Her skin never cracks during the winter.”
Hearing this, Mother Gu hurriedly picked up a jar to inspect it. The children in the family always ended up with skin like fish scales once winter hit, suffering from terrible dryness and cracking. This was especially true for Gu Jinfang; every time he came back from playing outside, his face would be frozen a bright, raw red, looking as though it might crack open at any second.
In the summer, the kids would be covered in bug bites. Gu Jingjing, in particular, always ended up with numerous itchy welts on her legs whenever she wore a skirt.
Sheng Wanyan had never offered these products to the other children in the family before, as she understood the social dynamics perfectly well. To put it plainly, other parents might not trust these unconventional remedies. If she gave them to the children and something went wrong, who would be held responsible? Gu Jinfang was the absolute lifeline of Eldest Brother and Sister-in-law Gu, while Gu Jingjing was the absolute lifeline of Gu Tinghao. If any mishap occurred, she would be the one to blame.
“Are these suitable for Jinfang and Jingjing to use too?” Mother Gu asked. She never showed favoritism among her grandchildren and always wanted them to share in any good thing.
“They can both use them, but we should test them first to see if Jinfang or Jingjing are allergic to any of the plants.”
Mother Gu nodded in agreement. It was indeed best to find out if the children had any plant allergies first; otherwise, it would be disastrous if they used them and suffered an adverse reaction.
“If they aren’t allergic, I’ll prepare a batch for the two kids in a few days.”
“Let’s wait until after you give birth. Don’t do any heavy labor right now.” Although Mother Gu doted on Gu Jinfang and Gu Jingjing, she wouldn’t let a pregnant Sheng Wanyan tire herself out over this. She knew exactly where the priorities lay.
“It’s not exhausting at all. It’s just mashing up the plants; the rest isn’t troublesome. It just so happens that I need to prepare some more for Yi Yi anyway, because once the two in my belly come out, I won’t have any time to spare.” Yi Yi’s bottles were almost empty, and since there was plenty of manual labor available at home, she wouldn’t have to exert herself.
“That works out perfectly then. I’ll have your dad and Eldest Brother mash them up for you when the time comes. You just need to direct them.” Mother Gu felt completely at ease. As for which plants were needed, Sheng Wanyan wrote down a list and handed it to Father Gu. Since Father Gu was stationed at the military region, which was right next to a mountain, it would be easy to harvest them.
However… after learning about this, Grandfather Gu stroked his white beard and sought her out.
Grandmother Gu was incredibly sharp from her decades of experience, and having been a diplomat in the past, she knew exactly how to negotiate for the nation’s best interests—and how to secure the best benefits for her own family.
“Wanyan.”
Grandfather Gu looked at her with a beaming smile as he sat down on the stone bench across from her. A beaming smile appearing on a face as stern as Zhang Fei’s was a rather terrifying sight.
Sheng Wanyan’s eyelid twitched slightly. She set down her work and looked up at him.
Nearby, Father Gu and Eldest Brother Gu were crouching on the ground mashing the plants. The children had already handled and played with these plants for a while, showing no signs of any allergic reactions. The Gu family’s educational methods had always been hardcore; instead of taking the kids to a clinic to run allergy panels, they simply skipped straight to direct physical testing…
“Grandfather, Grandmother.”
“Aiy!” Grandfather Gu smiled warmly. Seeing that there were only a few of them in the backyard, he lowered his voice and asked, “Wanyan, this mosquito repellent, the ointments, and those creams for the face and lips… do you think they can be mass-produced?”
Sheng Wanyan instantly understood Grandfather Gu’s intent. These products were made from very basic, accessible plants and cost next to nothing to produce. If they were mass-produced, it would provide an extra layer of protection for the children of the motherland, preventing them from becoming living blood bags for mosquitoes in the summer and turning into raw red monkeys in the winter.
Although Father Gu knew which plants were used, he had no idea how they were processed or what ratios were required to successfully turn them into these products.
“This kind of mosquito repellent water and ointment doesn’t exist abroad yet.” Grandmother Gu’s eyes were practically shining. She could already visualize exactly how much foreign exchange these products could generate for the country down the line.
The Gu family was entirely dedicated to the motherland; whenever they encountered a good thing, their first thought was never to line their own pockets, but rather how to maximize the benefits for the nation.
Sheng Wanyan had to admit that she was pragmatic and didn’t possess the grand ambition or profound patriotism of the Gu elders. “Grandfather, Grandmother, we can hand it over to the state. I will write down the exact processes and ratios and pass them to you.”
Hearing this, Grandfather and Grandmother Gu instantly let out a massive sigh of relief. They understood Sheng Wanyan’s true capabilities clearly, and it was precisely because of this respect that they had come to discuss it with her reasonably. If it were any other junior in the family, they wouldn’t have needed to say much before the formula was handed over. But Sheng Wanyan was different; if they truly pushed her too hard and she refused to craft these medicinal formulations ever again, what would they do?
“Good, good, good! Truly worthy of being a member of our Gu family!” Grandfather Gu praised repeatedly, his heart bursting with pride. Sheng Wanyan was someone who understood the bigger picture. “Rest assured, Grandfather and Grandmother won’t let you suffer a loss.”
Sheng Wanyan smiled and nodded. Although Grandfather and Grandmother Gu were deeply patriotic, they were fiercely protective of their own family members.
Father Gu and Eldest Brother Gu perked up their ears to listen from the side. They had harbored this idea long ago but had felt too embarrassed to bring it up to Sheng Wanyan themselves.
“Grandfather, Grandmother, these aren’t exceptionally valuable secrets anyway. If they can help the children of our nation suffer a bit less, I’ll be more than happy.” Ever since giving birth to Yi Yi, Sheng Wanyan’s heart softened easily whenever children were involved. If these items could save the country’s youth from unnecessary discomfort, she would genuinely be glad.
“The children of the motherland are the motherland’s future.” Grandfather Gu was entirely devoted to the nation; in his eyes, nothing carried more weight than the state. Sheng Wanyan could even guess that if forced to choose between the state and the Gu family, Grandfather and Grandmother Gu would choose the nation without a single moment of hesitation!
The next day, Sheng Wanyan handed the formulas over to Grandfather Gu. The moment he received them, he headed straight out the door. No one knew exactly where he went, but when he returned, his eyes were brimming with laughter, and he handed a savings passbook directly to Sheng Wanyan.
“Open it and take a look. Grandfather fought for this on your behalf.”
Sheng Wanyan took the passbook and opened it with pleasant surprise. The moment she saw the figure inside, the corners of her mouth curved upward.
Grandfather Gu wasn’t foolish; if there were benefits to be secured, why wouldn’t he fight for his own junior? Securing a reward for Sheng Wanyan was the same as securing a foundation for his great-granddaughter Yi Yi and the two children currently in Sheng Wanyan’s belly. The better off Third Sister-in-law’s household was, the better his three future great-grandchildren would fare.
Sheng Wanyan had been entirely willing to hand the formulas over, as she had her own long-term calculations. Adding another layer of honor to the Gu family meant adding another shield of protection over her own children. Compared to the generational blood spilled by the Gu family, her minor contributions were still pale by comparison. Utilizing a massive mountain for backing was a highly strategic move.
“Don’t tell the others, just go put it away safely.” Grandfather Gu took a sip of his tea. Since the rest of the family wasn’t around, no one else knew about this transaction, making it a private benefit Grandfather Gu had explicitly secured for the third branch.
“Alright.”
Sheng Wanyan took the passbook upstairs. She truly hadn’t expected Grandfather Gu to be this powerful. For a few items with such negligible production costs, the state had actually rewarded her with a staggering 200,000 yuan.
