Chapter 546 | Chapter 547 | Chapter 548
Chapter 546: Heartbreak for Uncle Hu and Aunt Hu
Even if Gu Tingxiao had been at home, he probably wouldn’t have been able to withstand his daughter’s sugar-coated bullets.
Sheng Wanyan took Yi Yi to wash up and go to sleep. Father Sheng had already gone to bed long ago; as people get older, they sleep early and less, waking up the next morning before daybreak.
Sheng Wanyan also took the opportunity to mail a copy of their home telephone number to Xu Guihua, telling her she could just call directly if anything came up.
Furthermore, it was time to roll out new styles for the Capital clothing store. With winter fast approaching, no one would dislike clothes that were both beautiful and warm.
Sheng Wanyan handed the design sketches to Mother Sheng, and the small workshop quickly began producing the new styles: long dresses, fleece-lined trousers, and the newly released jeans!
Jeans had already begun flowing into the domestic market, so Sheng Wanyan naturally wouldn’t miss out on such a great selling point. Especially after entering the 1980s, this would become a major trend, remaining a staple that everyone owned even in future generations.
With the busyness of the new semester and the changing of the seasons, half a month flashed past in the blink of an eye.
Professor Zhao actually lightened her academic workload to keep her from overexerting herself. Sheng Wanyan officially halted her translation work. Though her academic burden was lighter, she still had to complete her class assignments on time.
Between the shops and household affairs, she already had her hands full. She wasn’t short on money now, so there was no need to keep translating; it was better to focus all her energy on her studies and business.
After finishing the last few books, Sheng Wanyan terminated her translation work with the newspaper office. They had written to her several times to persuade her to stay, but she politely declined. The newspaper office had no choice. Moreover, she was pregnant and had the backing of the Gu family, so they didn’t dare knock on her door to press the matter.
Sheng Wanyan finally gained some leisure time, using her evenings exclusively to accompany her child. Yi Yi became visibly more cheerful and open.
However, Sheng Wanyan was a little worried about Gu Tingxiao. She didn’t know how his mission was going; having been gone for so long, he was definitely not within the country.
On Friday evening, Father and Mother Gu explicitly picked her up to return to the military compound for two days, and to undergo her prenatal checkup while they were at it. The results showed no issues at all, and her nutrition had completely caught up, allowing Mother Gu to breathe a massive sigh of relief.
Sheng Wanyan’s life gradually returned to a peaceful routine, and Yi Yi had been dancing for half a year now, truly sticking with it. Furthermore, she never caused anyone a moment of worry in this regard; waking up every morning to go to class, she was more enthusiastic than anyone. Even Sheng Wanyan would sleep in and occasionally come close to being late, but Yi Yi never did.
Aunt Hu visited again to bring up the matter of formally taking Yi Yi as her disciple. Sheng Wanyan had previously agreed with Aunt Hu that if Yi Yi could persevere, it would naturally be fine. However, a formal apprenticeship was a highly solemn event, so the ceremony would have to wait until Gu Tingxiao returned.
Neither side had any objections. Aunt Hu held Yi Yi’s little hand, the corners of her mouth constantly curved upward. At long last… there was a junior in her household.
When she and Old Hu passed away in the future, at least there would be someone to handle their burials. Everything she and Old Hu owned would be inherited by Yi Yi after their deaths.
She and Uncle Hu had long regarded Gu Tingxiao as their own junior and Yi Yi as their granddaughter. Every time Yi Yi came to their house, she and Old Hu truly felt like it was a home.
Back then, their daughter-in-law had reported the elderly couple, and their only son had made his choice, choosing his own little family.
Now, having learned that the elders had been restored to their original positions under the state’s care, the couple brought their children to the house during the summer vacation. They knelt on the ground and wept, begging for their parents’ forgiveness, and even used their grandchildren to soften the elderly couple’s hearts.
Initially, for the sake of their grandchildren, they could have treated them well; after all, children were innocent no matter what. But as it turned out, Old Hu went out to make inquiries, and the guard at the Peking University gates recounted everything the couple had said at the entrance to Uncle Hu word for word.
The couple had come purely for money!!!
“It’s all your fault! If you hadn’t filed that report back then, would things between me and my parents be strained like this now?” The man couldn’t help but blame the woman beside him, and the two began arguing right next to the guard post.
“How is it my fault? When I did that back then, didn’t you tacitly approve of it?”
“You clearly knew I was going to report them back then, yet didn’t you pretend to be oblivious?”
The woman’s words instantly silenced Aunt Hu’s son. He deeply regretted it now—regretting that he had tacitly allowed his wife to report his parents back then.
“The combined monthly salary of the two elders now is over 200 yuan.”
“No matter how wrong we were, the children are innocent.”
“These are their biological grandson and granddaughter!”
“Are you really going to just sit back and watch the elders’ money vanish into thin air once they pass away?”
Hearing this, Aunt Hu’s son also felt it made sense. No matter what, they couldn’t possibly reject their own grandchildren, right?
“Right, I am my parents’ only child. They can’t possibly ignore me.”
“Exactly. When the time comes, their pensions and salaries will all belong to our children.”
“The two old fogies didn’t die back then, so they definitely harbor resentment toward us in their hearts.”
“We just need to bring the children, kneel down, and repent. Coupled with the children’s crying, they will definitely soften up.”
The words of Aunt Hu’s daughter-in-law gave her son a bit more confidence, but at the thought of his parents’ devastated eyes back then, he still felt a bit fearful in his heart.
“Will it really work?”
“It will definitely work. The two old fogies only have you as their child; they’re just waiting for you to bury them when the time comes.”
“You kids remember to cry loudly in a moment, so your grandparents will soften their hearts.”
“Do Grandma and Grandpa have a lot of money?” the children asked, looking at Aunt Hu’s daughter-in-law. She nodded hurriedly.
“Yes. As long as you make the elders happy, you won’t have to worry about anything in the future.”
Hearing this, the children immediately nodded. Teenagers already knew right from wrong and harbored their own calculating minds.
The couple brought the children to kneel outside Uncle Hu and Aunt Hu’s door, the whole family weeping there. To avoid becoming a laughingstock among the neighbors, Uncle Hu and Aunt Hu ushered them into the house.
The grandchildren were already over ten years old and had very sweet mouths; Uncle Hu and Aunt Hu naturally wouldn’t pin the blame on the children. But when Uncle Hu went out specifically to investigate, he discovered it was nothing but a calculated plot. He returned and threw the entire family out on the spot.
When Aunt Hu learned that even her grandchildren only treated them well for money, she collapsed into a fit of bitter crying. She had doted on her only child from infancy to adulthood, only to raise an ungrateful white-eyed wolf.
She had initially thought that since she was meeting her grandchildren for the first time, she wouldn’t let the past affect them, wanting to enjoy some generational bliss. Yet the grandchildren had been taught poorly, their minds filled with nothing but schemes and calculation.
She and Old Hu had spent their entire lives teaching and nurturing others, yet they never expected their own child’s education to be such a failure!
Clearly, before his marriage, their son had been exceptionally filial and sensible, driven in his career, and would buy the elderly couple new clothes the moment he received his salary. That vibrant, confident look of his had brought joy to every elder who saw him.
Chapter 547: Eldest Sister-in-law Gives Birth
Originally, their family of three had been full of harmony and happiness, and she and Old Hu had thought they wouldn’t have any regrets when they died. But the moment their son got married, everything ended up changing into what it was now… lazy! Selfish! Wanting something for nothing!
It truly broke one’s heart!
As of now… he wasn’t even as practical and sincere as Little Gu, who was a complete stranger.
Aunt Hu’s rims couldn’t help but turn red at these thoughts, and she gently stroked Yi Yi’s head.
Sheng Wanyan looked at her reddened eyes, knowing in her heart what she and Uncle Hu had gone through. She really wasn’t someone who was good at comforting others. Especially when someone else cried, she could only offer the most official types of comfort.
“Aunt Hu, life will get better and better.”
“Aiy… you’re right.” Aunt Hu wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, took a deep breath, finalized the time for the apprenticeship ceremony with Sheng Wanyan, and then hurriedly left.
“Mama~ What’s wrong with Grandma Hu?” Yi Yi raised her head to look at her. Had Grandma Hu just cried? Why did she cry?
“It’s nothing, Grandma Hu just got some sand in her eyes.” Sheng Wanyan gently rubbed Yi Yi’s little head, watching Aunt Hu’s somewhat sorrowful retreating figure.
“Yi Yi must listen to Grandma Hu properly during class. You can’t be naughty and make things hard for Grandma Hu, alright?”
“Give Grandma Hu more hugs on regular days and share her happiness with her, okay?” Sheng Wanyan instructed softly. Yi Yi didn’t know what was going on, but she was exceptionally obedient to her mother’s words.
“Okay~” Sheng Wanyan pinched her little face with comfort and took her to wash her hands for dinner.
During the seven-day National Day holiday, Father Gu came the evening before National Day to pick up the mother and daughter to return to the military compound. The purpose was to take them to attend tomorrow’s celebration for the 29th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China!
To the Gu family, this matter was more important than the heavens themselves, something that absolutely must be completed even at the cost of one’s life.
Sheng Wanyan dressed Yi Yi in a relatively conventional outfit today; when going to this kind of place, one had to keep a low profile. Furthermore, they could also see the person everyone wished to meet today.
Father Gu and Eldest Brother Gu had left the house early in the morning. Grandfather Gu and Grandma Gu had a car to pick them up and drop them off, heading ahead to discuss matters with everyone. Even Eldest Sister-in-law Gu, who was about to give birth, had to attend today’s occasion.
Eldest Sister-in-law Gu’s due date was within these next two days, but there was no helping it; today was a monumental event. She could only finish participating first before going to the hospital to prepare for delivery.
Sheng Wanyan wore a dark blue, loose-fitting long dress, holding Yi Yi’s hand as she set out with Mother Gu and the others to the viewing area reserved for family members.
People entered the venue one after another. As family members, they were positioned in the viewing area on the first floor. Thanks to the Gu family’s status, they didn’t have to stand outside in the sun. Standing inside, they could see the situation outside perfectly well. Plenty of people also came over to greet Mother Gu.
Upstairs was where the elders went. Not a single child who came here dared to make a loud racket, all following their parents obediently.
Before the celebration commenced, the old gentlemen descended from upstairs one after another. The old gentleman right at the very front drew the gaze of everyone present. Everyone stood tall and straight, barely daring to breathe heavily as they greeted the elders.
The most captivating old gentleman appeared kindly, solemn, and fiercely majestic. The aura of pressure radiating from him made even Sheng Wanyan feel a bit breathless, let alone the other family members and children.
“Hello, Elder Deng.”
“Good, good, good.” Elder Deng extended his hand and pressed down slightly, scanning the room with eyes full of satisfaction and grandeur.
However, his eyes landed right on Sheng Wanyan at first glance. After all, the few medicines Sheng Wanyan provided had generated quite a bit of foreign exchange for the country. For such a young and promising youth who was also a member of the Gu family, he naturally kept her in mind.
Sheng Wanyan was beautiful, her temperament gentle yet carrying a trace of nobility, making it very easy to attract the gaze of others.
“Is this that third grandson’s wife of your family?” Elder Deng inquired in a low voice to Grandfather Gu.
Grandfather Gu nodded. “Yes.”
“Comrade Sheng Wanyan is pregnant?” Elder Deng asked.
Grandfather Gu nodded hurriedly, explaining Sheng Wanyan’s situation to him. “Yes, she is carrying twins.”
Elder Deng felt a bit surprised in his heart upon hearing this, though his face maintained its solemn expression. “She’s a good child.”
After speaking, Elder Deng led the crowd upstairs. Hearing his praise, the corners of Grandfather Gu and Grandma Gu’s mouths curved slightly upward, and the other old gentlemen felt incredibly envious in their hearts.
For Sheng Wanyan to leave a good impression in this person’s mind meant that the Gu family taking another step up in the future wouldn’t be an issue at all. Why didn’t their own juniors possess such an excellent opportunity?
Soon, the area below was packed with people, especially many university students who had come to watch the flag-raising ceremony. It was a sea of people, a massive crowd of heads.
The time for the flag-raising arrived, and the national anthem resonated. Everyone sang along, their eyes fixed on that gradually rising splash of red.
That was the faith in the hearts of the people!!!
Sheng Wanyan held Yi Yi’s hand as she faced the national flag, singing along with her eyes completely filled by that brilliant flag! That single splash of red! It was the direction for all the Chinese people!
Many people couldn’t help but let their eyes turn red. Yi Yi looked at her mother’s somewhat reddened eyes, and looked at the scene of her surrounding family members and elders with red eyes. She turned her head to look at the slowly rising national flag—the direction everyone beside her was looking.
This scene printed itself deeply into her mind once and for all. When she grew up, she finally understood why her elders couldn’t help but let their eyes turn red. When she grew up, she would bring honor to her country!
……
……
After the flag-raising concluded, the surrounding citizens were still reluctant to leave. There was no military parade ritual yet, but it couldn’t lessen the excitement in everyone’s hearts.
Sheng Wanyan followed Mother Gu back home. Right after participating in the flag-raising, Eldest Sister-in-law Gu went straight to the hospital to prepare for delivery. Fortunately, they made it in time, and Eldest Sister-in-law Gu went into labor in the middle of that very night.
The whole family went to the hospital. Sheng Wanyan was arranged by Mother Gu to stay at home with Yi Yi, to prevent her from running around while pregnant.
Sheng Wanyan went back to her room, pulled out five slices of hundred-year-old ginseng from her space, and hurriedly handed them to Mother Gu to take along. Eldest Sister-in-law Gu was advanced in age, so the risk of giving birth was high; it was better to prepare more safeguards.
Mother Gu didn’t decline either, taking the ginseng slices in her hand as she got into the car and headed toward the hospital.
After everyone left in a hurry, Gu Jinfang woke up in his room, opened the door, and looked at her.
“Third Aunt… my mom…” Gu Jinfang was an eleven-year-old child after all, and he instantly felt a bit frightened and anxious.
Sheng Wanyan quickly comforted him, “It’s fine, don’t worry. Your mother is in excellent health, and there are professional doctors at the hospital.”
Gu Jinfang nodded upon hearing this. Sheng Wanyan poured a cup of warm water for him, telling him to drink it and quickly go back to rest.
At five o’clock in the morning, Eldest Sister-in-law Gu gave birth to a baby boy, and both mother and son were safe.
When Mother Gu returned to pack the baby’s things, she smiled so wide her mouth couldn’t close. Grandfather Gu and Grandma Gu were so happy they didn’t sleep the entire night. Grandfather Gu, in particular, thumped his cane right out the door to his old buddy’s house the moment he got back from the hospital!
“Mom, how is it?” Sheng Wanyan asked. Gu Jinfang stood to the side, his eyes filled with worry.
“It’s fine, everything is excellent. Your sister-in-law gave birth to a son, and he’s perfectly healthy.”
After speaking, Mother Gu quickly stepped forward to grasp Sheng Wanyan’s hand; she had truly been scared to death last night.
Chapter 548: A Thief Entered the House!!!
“It’s all thanks to the ginseng slices you gave last night. Your sister-in-law nearly ran out of strength halfway through, and thank goodness she had a ginseng slice to keep under her tongue. I thank you on behalf of your eldest brother and sister-in-law.”
Sheng Wanyan quickly supported Mother Gu, preventing her from directly bowing to express her gratitude. That would truly shorten her own lifespan.
“Mom, we’re all one family. It’s only right.”
Mother Gu nodded with reddened eyes upon hearing this. No matter what, the eldest branch had to remember the assistance from Old Third’s household. They had to compensate Old Third’s household properly in the future and absolutely couldn’t act like the fourth branch, chilling the hearts of Old Third’s family.
“Our Jinfang is going to have a little brother. Are you happy?”
Gu Jinfang finally revealed a smile upon hearing that his mother was perfectly fine and that the child born was the exact little brother he had been yearning for. That smile didn’t leave his face the entire day, and Sheng Wanyan couldn’t help but rub his head with amusement. This child usually appeared rather lighthearted and carefree, but once anything happened at home, his mind was more meticulous than anyone’s.
“It’s all fine now. After breakfast, Third Aunt will take you to the hospital to visit.”
“Thank you, Third Aunt.” Gu Jinfang scratched his head.
After finishing breakfast, Sheng Wanyan took Gu Jinfang and Yi Yi along with Mother Gu to the hospital. Eldest Brother Gu was keeping watch at the hospital. Once Eldest Sister-in-law Gu finished giving birth, Father Gu headed straight back to the military region.
“Mom, Third Sister-in-law.” Eldest Brother Gu brought over stools for them to sit down and talk. The moment Mother Gu arrived, she asked about Eldest Sister-in-law Gu and the baby’s condition. “How is Xiaozhen?”
“Mom, I’m fine.” Eldest Sister-in-law Gu was pale and rather weak; giving birth had practically drained all her energy and spirit.
“That’s good. You must nurse your body properly; you truly scared me half to death last night.”
Hearing this, Eldest Sister-in-law Gu nodded with a smile, looking at Sheng Wanyan as she reached out to hold her hand. “Thank you so much, Sister-in-law. Otherwise, I’m afraid I would have gone to see King Yama.”
“Don’t speak like an outsider, Eldest Sister-in-law. That you and the baby are both safe is the absolute best thing.”
Eldest Sister-in-law Gu smiled and nodded. She was quite weak and needed to rest after nursing the baby, so Sheng Wanyan presented the welcome gift she had prepared for her little nephew. Now that times were more open, Sheng Wanyan wasn’t stingy either, packing a large red envelope along with a solid silver longevity lock.
“Third Sister-in-law, this is far too valuable.” Eldest Sister-in-law Gu quickly extended her hand to stop her. Even Eldest Brother Gu couldn’t help but smack his lips at the sight; this longevity lock was very heavy and clearly worth a pretty penny. This smelly brat… his luck was better than his own childhood.
“It’s not valuable. Having another little nephew makes me happy.” No matter how Eldest Sister-in-law Gu tried to decline, the longevity lock was already placed right beside the baby.
As for the name, Grandfather Gu had flipped through the dictionary for over half a year and had long decided on it. A boy would be named Gu Jinyu. The eldest brother was Gu Jinfang, and the younger brother was Gu Jinyu. Fang and Yu, defense and protection… one look and it was clear they were brothers.
And true to form, the names Grandfather Gu came up with were highly dignified and never prone to common overlapping. Sheng Wanyan smiled upon hearing it; she herself was completely terrible at naming, and thank goodness Yi Yi’s name had been chosen by Grandfather Gu. Otherwise, she truly would have given Yi Yi the official name of Gu Yi Yi.
“Have you and Xiaozhen decided on a nickname yet?” Mother Gu looked at Eldest Brother Gu. In this era, giving a child a crude nickname made them easy to raise, so Gu Jinyu was no exception to inheriting a crude nickname.
Gu Jinfang’s nickname was Huwa [Tiger Boy]… and the newborn Gu Jinyu followed his brother’s trend.
“We’ll call him Chouwa [Ugly Boy], Tingye picked it.”
Mother Gu, Sheng Wanyan, and Yi Yi: “……” As expected, the Gu family’s cultural level isn’t high.
Fortunately, the moment Gu Jinfang gained conscious awareness, he began forcing the family to stop calling him by his nickname; otherwise, the household would be entirely full of Tiger Boy and Ugly Boy being shouted every day. To keep Gu Jinfang’s mind from losing balance, the name Chouwa was finalized just like that, and no one could change it.
Sheng Wanyan and Mother Gu shared a smile. If Mother Gu hadn’t seen Yi Yi and Gu Jinfang sitting right here, she certainly would have beaten this eldest son to death on the spot.
The matter of the name settled down, and over the seven-day National Day holiday, the household gained an extra touch of joy with the arrival of the new life. A few days later, Eldest Sister-in-law Gu was discharged from the hospital to return home for her recovery month.
A baby looked different by the day. After not seeing him for a few days, the little face of the baby, Chouwa… Gu Jinyu, was no longer as raw red, appearing noticeably chubbier. Gu Jinyu did nothing but eat and sleep, and the gaze of the children in the house shifted entirely to him. Yi Yi was no exception; the moment Eldest Sister-in-law Gu finished nursing, the three children would head into the room to peer at the little brother.
Grandfather and Grandma Gu visibly stopped going out for strolls, simply waiting in the living room for Eldest Sister-in-law Gu to finish nursing so they could take turns cradling their little great-grandson.
The seven-day National Day holiday flashed past in an instant, and Sheng Wanyan brought Yi Yi back to the Peking University courtyard. Upon their departure, Mother Gu stuffed a large amount of meat and fine grains into the car, offering numerous anxious instructions before finally feeling at ease to let the mother and daughter return.
Sheng Wanyan brought Yi Yi back home. With classes resuming the day after tomorrow, Sheng Wanyan and Yi Yi enjoyed a day of leisure.
The next day, while Sheng Wanyan sat resting at home, Yi Yi clamored to go dance. Fearing she would disturb Sheng Wanyan’s rest, Father Sheng took her out the door. Looking at the suddenly empty house, Sheng Wanyan felt rather unaccustomed. She didn’t know when exactly Gu Tingxiao would return… It had been nearly half a year now without a single word of news.
In the evening, Sheng Wanyan coaxed Yi Yi to sleep and then went to bed herself. For the first time since her pregnancy, her sleep felt uneasy tonight.
Sheng Wanyan snapped her eyes open, sitting up immediately upon hearing a sound outside. She heard someone entering her courtyard and even stepping into her living room. She suddenly recalled what Mother Sheng had told her before the summer vacation—the son of a family nearby had just gotten out of the detention center and was a habitual thief.
The neighbors all knew her family ran businesses, so if anyone were to commit a theft, they would certainly target her house. Sheng Wanyan felt a surge of fear, quickly lifting Yi Yi onto the bedding inside the wardrobe. Yi Yi was fast asleep and allowed her to move her freely.
Sheng Wanyan shut the wardrobe door, gripped her stun baton, and walked over to the bedroom door. Pressing herself against the door to listen to the sounds outside, she knew it wasn’t Father Sheng, and it was even more impossible to be Gu Tingxiao. Gu Tingxiao’s footsteps were exceptionally firm and powerful, holding a rhythmic cadence like marching in step. The footsteps outside were light and full of constant pauses. At this moment, Sheng Wanyan knew a crisis had arrived.
“Woof, woof, woof~”
Maodou, who was in Father Sheng’s room, immediately barked furiously against his door. Father Sheng was startled awake. “Maodou, why are you barking?”
Father Sheng quickly threw on his clothes, and realizing what was happening as he stared at the bedroom door, he immediately grabbed the carrying pole beside the entrance, threw open the door, and charged out.
“You little thief! How dare you come to my house to steal!”
“Wanyan, lock your door and don’t come out!” Father Sheng yelled out hurriedly, then swung the carrying pole forward, striking heavily against the intruder’s back.
The thief was thin and short, and had initially been slyly rifling through the pockets of the coats hanging near the entrance. He possessed a shifty, rat-like appearance and wore a garment covered in patches, his eyes brimming with greed.
The moment he was discovered, he scrambled up to flee. Father Sheng charged forward to seize him, and in a moment of desperation, the thief directly pulled a small knife from his pocket and slashed it toward Father Sheng.
“Dad!”
