Chapter 75: Pan Yue Moves In!
The more Pan Yue’s mother looked at Sheng Wanyan, the more she liked her. It was a true pity that both of her sons were already married; otherwise, she would have done everything in her power to secure Wanyan as her daughter-in-law.
“You praise her too much, in-law,” Grandma Sheng replied, her face beaming with pride for her granddaughter, though she maintained the required cultural humility. “No matter how she turned out, she’s just a girl we raised ourselves.”
“Oh, my dear aunt, you are far too modest,” Mother Pan countered warmly. “I’ve lived in the Capital for decades, and I can honestly say I have never seen a young woman there who is more beautiful or charming than your Wanyan. Tell me, does she have a suitor yet? A girl this lovely deserves to be married into a truly excellent family.”
Mother Pan was thinking practically. A spectacular girl like Wanyan shouldn’t end up bound to an unreasonable, overbearing household that would mistreat her. Besides, if her future sister-in-law had a miserable marriage, it would inevitably bring heartache and stress to Pan Yue as the eldest daughter-in-law of the clan.
“She actually already has a partner,” Grandma Sheng shared, smiling. “He’s a soldier as well.”
Grandma Sheng was well aware of Mother Pan’s subtle maternal worries. Since Sheng Wanze and Gu Tingxiao served in the exact same regiment, and Pan Yue’s father was Wanze’s direct superior officer, there was a very good chance the Pan family might know the young man.
“Oh? What a marvelous coincidence!”
The interest of the Pan men was instantly piqued. Hearing that Wanyan’s suitor was a fellow military man, Pan Yue’s father paused his conversation with Grandpa Sheng and looked over with a curious expression.
“What is the young comrade’s name?” Father Pan inquired. “Old Pan here might very well know him. Let us help you look into his background and family standing, just to ensure our Wanyan is fully secure.”
Grandma Sheng considered the offer for a moment. It certainly made practical sense; after all, their family only knew a few surface details about Gu Tingxiao’s background, but they lacked a precise understanding of his family’s exact standing and reputation in the upper circles.
Yet, after weighing it thoroughly, she decided to politely decline. It felt entirely unprincipled for their family to launch a covert investigation into the children’s relationship behind their backs.
“The two children chose each other freely, so there’s no need to go digging around just yet,” Grandma Sheng replied gently. “But when the time comes to discuss a formal engagement, I will absolutely trouble you to help me look into things. Don’t you dare refuse me then.”
Hearing Grandma Sheng’s careful hesitation, Mother Pan immediately realized she had been a bit too forward. After all, this was the Sheng family’s private business, and more importantly, it concerned their daughter’s future. It wasn’t her place to overstep.
“Of course, of course! Say no more,” Mother Pan laughed, smoothly easing the tension. “The moment you need a hand, I will absolutely deploy all our connections to help.”
As Mother Pan smoothed over the moment, Mother Sheng emerged from the kitchen, warmly calling everyone to the dinner table.
Sheng Wanyan washed her hands and hurried to help carry out the heavy platters of food. When the seating arrangements were finalized, she found herself tucked right next to the newlyweds, Sheng Wanze and Pan Yue. Sitting beside the radiant, whispering couple, Wanyan felt exactly like a lightbulb—an exceptionally bright, third-wheel lightbulb.
“Thank you so much for this incredible hospitality, in-law,” Mother Pan said, gesturing to the rich spread.
“Please, think nothing of it,” Mother Sheng replied warmly. “Your family endured a grueling, exhausting journey just to get here. Cooking a proper meal is the least I can do.”
The atmosphere between the two clans was beautifully harmonious. The men raised their glasses for a formal toast, while the women and children clinked their bottles of chilled soda.
“From this day forward, we are officially one family,” Father Pan declared, his voice full of emotion. “We must look out for one another. The two children are heading down to secure their official marriage certificate tomorrow morning, so we leave our Xiaoyue in your protective care.”
Mother Pan’s eyes grew slightly misty. Watching her youngest daughter prepare to officially step into a new household brought a sudden wave of maternal sentiment to her chest.
“You are far too polite, in-law,” Mother Sheng reassured her instantly, reaching across the table to pat her hand. “The moment Xiaoyue marries into our household, she becomes our own flesh and blood. There is absolutely no ‘trouble’ when it comes to looking after our own.”
Mother Sheng’s sincere words instantly dissolved Mother Pan’s lingering anxieties. The Sheng family’s transparent, deeply respectful attitude filled her heart with an immense sense of peace.
“My mother-in-law is entirely correct,” Pan Yue’s mother smiled, raising her glass again. “We are one family now, and there will never be any division or different opinions between us.”
Mother Pan was thoroughly satisfied with the match, even if a small, maternal part of her would always ache over her daughter marrying so far away from the Capital.
The celebratory dinner was an absolute success, leaving both families content. Tomorrow morning, Sheng Wanze and Pan Yue would formally register their union, transforming the upcoming day into their official wedding day. To ensure they were fully prepared for the morning’s logistics, the Pan family bid their farewells shortly after the meal concluded and returned to the state guesthouse.
The moment the guests departed, the Sheng family rallied together to deep-clean the apartment, scrubbing every surface until the entire home was flawlessly spotless for the wedding dawn.
The following morning, not a single member of the Sheng household reported for work. In this era, a wedding day didn’t involve grand cathedrals or expensive banquets; instead, the newlyweds would formally pledge their lives to one another directly facing a portrait of the Chairman.
Sheng Wanze rose before dawn, dressing in his immaculate, sharply pressed military uniform. Tucking his household registration book securely into his breast pocket, he met Pan Yue—who was also dressed in a matching, pristine military uniform—and together they marched down to the Civil Affairs Bureau.
The registration process was smooth and swift. The moment the red stamps touched their official marriage certificate, Sheng Wanze guided his blushing bride straight to a local photo studio. Pan Yue sat rigid against the wooden stool, her fingers interlaced nervously.
Sheng Wanze shot her a warm, private look, prompting her to shyly lower her gaze. The master photographer adjusted his heavy lens, calling out to them from behind the black cloth.
“Alright, newlyweds! Look right here at the lens!”
Click! Click!
The camera captured their synchronized smiles, the flash sealing their union on film. The portraits would be ready for collection in exactly one week. Sheng Wanze proudly counted out the fee, pocketed the receipt, and escorted his new wife back to the tube-shaped building.
By the time their boots touched the threshold, the Pan family had already transported Pan Yue’s bridal dowry over to the apartment. It was a massive, beautifully crafted wooden trunk, securely locked so that no one could discern the treasures hidden inside—a premium, secret collection of provisions and assets meticulously prepared for her by her clan.
“You’re back?”
Mother Sheng practically snatched the fresh marriage certificate from her son’s hands. Staring down at the two names beautifully inked side by side, her face split into the happiest, most radiant smile of her life.
“Well? Why aren’t you calling me Mom yet?” she teased gently, looking up at her new daughter-in-law.
Pan Yue’s cheeks instantly flushed a deep, brilliant crimson. She bowed her head shyly, her voice small and filled with immense reverence as she murmured, “Mom.”
“Oh, wonderful! My precious daughter-in-law, come inside quickly!” Mother Sheng cheered, her heart overflowing.
Pan Yue stepped into the living room, turning to offer respectful greetings to the rest of the household. “Grandma, Dad, sister.”
“Amaranthine blessings! I finally have a granddaughter-in-law!” Grandma Sheng cried happily, taking Pan Yue’s hands and turning her side to side, her face etched with total, unblemished satisfaction.
“Quickly now, lead them through the vows,” Mother Pan reminded them gently from the side. “The auspicious wedding hour is nearly past.”
Prompted by her warning, Sheng Wanze and Pan Yue immediately marched to the center of the room, standing straight and tall before the portrait of the Chairman. They raised their right hands in unison, their voices echoing clearly through the small apartment.
“We solemnly swear to cherish and respect one another, to labor tirelessly side-by-side, and to contribute our absolute best to the progress of our motherland…”
Standing standard in the corner, Sheng Wanyan witnessed the stark, historic simplicity of a 1970s wedding. It was entirely unadorned, stripped of superficial luxury, yet packed with an intense, unyielding sincerity.
The moment their vows concluded, the wedding ceremony was officially complete. The two families immediately sat down for a raucous, joyful wedding feast. All too soon, the afternoon slipped away, and the Pan family had to gather their coats to catch their transit back to the guesthouse.
Per the rigid marriage customs of the era, the newly minted bride was legally barred from leaving the bridal chamber for the remainder of the wedding day. Seeing her daughter-in-law confined to the room, Mother Sheng carefully plated a fresh, hot selection of dishes and gestured to her daughter. “Wanyan, carry this tray inside to your sister-in-law.”
“On it, Mom.”
Meanwhile, to mark the grand occasion, the Sheng family threw their front door wide open, inviting the neighbors from the tube-shaped building to step inside and share in their household joy. Mother Sheng distributed handfuls of premium wedding candies to every family on the floor.
Upstairs on the landing, Mother Chen watched the celebrations with a venomous glare. The moment the sweet wedding candies were pressed into her hand, she waited until the Sheng family turned away and violently hurled them onto the dirty concrete.
In her mind, her clan and the Sheng family were locked in an irreconcilable blood feud. Her precious son had been forcibly exiled to a brutal rural labor camp entirely because of the Sheng family’s scheming; seeing them celebrate a wedding was an absolute curse to her eyes.
The Sheng family, completely consumed by their own joy, remained entirely oblivious to her petty malice. They had distributed the sweets to every household equally; whether a bitter neighbor chose to savor the gift or throw it in the dirt was entirely on their own head.
A moment later, Mother Chen’s young grandson spotted the colorful wrappers glittering on the concrete floor. He immediately scrambled forward, scooping the discarded candies into his pockets with a delighted grin. If my bitter grandmother refuses to eat them, I certainly will! he thought happily.
Back inside the apartment, Sheng Wanyan offered a light, polite knock against the bedroom door, balancing the heavy tray. Hearing the sound, Pan Yue’s soft voice drifted through the wood. “Come in.”
The moment Wanyan stepped into the room, a visible wave of relief washed across Pan Yue’s tense features. She had been sitting alone on the edge of the red-quilted bed, terrified that she might inadvertently violate some local custom.
“Sister,” Pan Yue smiled warmly.
“Sister-in-law, Mom asked me to bring this tray up to you,” Wanyan replied, setting the food on the bedside table. “You must eat some hot food to properly fill your stomach after such a long morning.”
“Thank you so much, Wanyan.”
Pan Yue felt a profound wave of gratitude wrap around her heart. The Sheng family was treating her with such exceptional kindness, even anticipating her hunger while she was hidden away in the room. Her eyes fell upon the plate; the cuts of pork were the absolute choicest, fattest portions available—clearly hand-selected for her by her new mother-in-law.
Reaching into her travel bag, Pan Yue extracted a pristine, factory-sealed jar of premium vanishing cream and pressed it into Wanyan’s hands.
“Sister, I brought this down from the Capital especially for you,” she shared eagerly.
“Oh, sister-in-law, you really mustn’t! Please keep it for yourself, I already have plenty of skincare sets at my desk,” Wanyan countered, trying to gently push the luxury jar back.
Pan Yue refused to back down, deftly sliding the jar directly into Wanyan’s uniform pocket. She was well aware that Wanyan drew a premium state salary and wasn’t hurting for resources, but this gift represented her explicit, genuine token of sisterly devotion. She was intensely eager to forge a flawless, loving bond with her new sister-in-law.
After all, the traditional dynamic between a bride and her husband’s younger sister was notoriously volatile in this era—a political minefield that had left Pan Yue privately terrified for months. A younger sister held an immense amount of psychological leverage within a traditional household; a single toxic, casual complaint whispered into a mother’s ear could easily transform a new bride’s daily existence into a living hell. She was determined to ensure they stood on a foundation of absolute trust.
