Chapter 77: Mother Sheng Shares the Money
“I need to go buy groceries with Xiaoyue now. We can catch up when I get back,” Grandma Sheng said, deftly steering Pan Yue away from the gathering crowd and walking toward the supply and marketing cooperative.
The local matrons had been eager to keep teasing the bride, but Grandma Sheng’s protective stance left them with no choice but to let the two go.
Pan Yue let out a long, quiet sigh of relief. These neighborhood ladies were far more formidable than she had anticipated; she had never encountered such aggressive questioning back in the military compound.
“Xiaoyue, once a woman gets married, people will always joke around and pry into your business,” Grandma Sheng noted gently as they walked. “That’s why you have to learn to stand your ground. If you hold yourself with authority, no one will dare to bully you.”
Pan Yue nodded obediently. As a brand-new wife, she had a lot to learn, but she was entirely willing to take the old matriarch’s wisdom to heart. “I’ll remember that, Grandma.”
Grandma Sheng patted her hand reassuringly. “In this world, if a woman can’t stand on her own two feet, others will see it as an invitation to walk all over her. Soon, you’ll be heading out to the military district where you’ll be running your own household. You must remain vigilant. It doesn’t matter if you have to show a bit of a sharp edge to the outside world, so long as you protect your own family’s interests.”
Pan Yue nodded in complete agreement. Having grown up in a military family compound herself, she had witnessed plenty of shameless behavior over the years. She knew of countless instances where smooth-talking neighbors would casually drop by to borrow money or siphon resources, and the wives of the officers frequently engaged in quiet, intense rivalries.
Furthermore, since her own father was a respected military instructor, people would undoubtedly watch Sheng Wanze even more closely, waiting for him to make a mistake. She knew she had to fiercely guard their rear area and keep their household flawless so she would never become a stumbling block for her husband’s career. Her father had already hinted that Wanze was on track for a promotion within the next two years, which meant their family needed to keep an exceptionally low profile during this critical window.
Pan Yue committed Grandma Sheng’s advice about showing a sharp edge firmly to memory. The elders of the Sheng family clearly had Wanze’s best interests at heart; as their only son, they would never lead them astray. Grandma Sheng possessed infinitely more life experience than a newlywed like herself, and Pan Yue was eager to learn.
As they picked out their groceries, Grandma Sheng continued to dispense valuable advice, sharing practical principles on how to navigate the world. Pan Yue absorbed it all. Whenever the complex social theories grew too dense to memorize, she focused on the core, actionable strategies—such as remembering to grab an opponent’s hair first if a disagreement ever devolved into a physical fight, or learning to be even more ruthlessly stubborn when dealing with difficult people.
Sheng Wanze had absolutely no inkling that his wife was absorbing such an intense survival curriculum during a simple trip to the market. Months later, when he witnessed his gentle bride fiercely taking down an antagonist using his own mother’s signature confrontation style, he would be left entirely speechless.
By the time Sheng Wanyan and her parents returned home from their shifts, Pan Yue had already prepared dinner. Thanks to Grandma Sheng’s guidance over the past two days, she was no longer navigating the kitchen by guesswork and knew exactly where every utensil and ingredient was kept.
Pan Yue had fried up a savory batch of bacon, serving it alongside soft white-flour buns, a rich meat sauce, and a side of crisp cold dishes. It was an exceptionally sumptuous layout. Even though the Pan family held a highly distinguished status in the capital, they rarely indulged in meat as frequently as the Sheng family did nowadays.
Pan Yue had already taken note of the massive strings of bacon hanging out on the balcony, which she estimated to weigh at least twenty kilograms, alongside neat rows of sausages. Grandma Sheng had proudly explained that Wanyan had prepared the entire batch, ensuring the preserved meats could last through the longest freeze.
Though she had been curious about how the family managed to continuously acquire such a vast supply of meat, she had dropped the inquiry after receiving a simple, reassuring answer from the elders. Ultimately, she was glad the household was so well-provisioned; it meant she could return to the military district with a perfectly peaceful mind.
Reviewing her own stash of state coupons, Pan Yue noted she still possessed five kilograms of meat vouchers. She resolved to purchase a fresh batch of pork before their departure, curing the meat herself so her in-laws would be well-fed throughout the bitter winter. The Sheng family had spent an immense amount of money and resources to welcome her into their home, and she intended to return that genuine care with equal devotion.
The moment the family finished their meal, Sheng Wanze automatically cleared the table and took charge of washing the dishes. He was remarkably self-aware.
Sheng Wanze was scheduled to return to his regiment in exactly one week. Given his rank as a battalion commander, he was officially eligible to apply for family housing within the military district. In this era, modern apartment blocks were far more coveted than traditional small courtyards; laborers viewed living in a multi-story building as the absolute pinnacle of modern progress.
Pan Yue was equally eager to live in an apartment, and Wanze’s credentials cleared them for a spacious unit featuring two bedrooms and a central living area. However, the formal housing requisitions submitted prior to his marriage took time to clear the bureaucratic channels, and even after approval, the unit would require significant sorting and painting. Consequently, the newlyweds would have to endure a brief separation upon arrival, temporarily residing in their respective single dormitories. Still, within two weeks of their return, the family apartment would undoubtedly be locked down.
A week’s time was a fleeting window, and the newlyweds spent their remaining days pooling their resources to purchase household necessities. Mother Sheng consistently refused to let Pan Yue spend a single copper coin of her own savings, ordering the girl to hoard her cash and coupons for when they officially moved into their new apartment. Yet, Pan Yue stubbornly insisted on contributing what she could, a gesture that left Mother Sheng simultaneously scolding her for being wasteful and feeling deeply moved by her devotion. It was the young bride’s genuine way of honoring her new family, and Mother Sheng understood the sentiment perfectly.
Later that evening, Mother Sheng retreated to her bedroom and emerged balancing a heavy iron cash box. She gestured for the family to gather around the living room table.
“Now that Xiaoze is formally married, the management of your little family rests entirely on your own shoulders,” Mother Sheng began, opening the lid. “Inside this box is the accumulated savings from Xiaoze’s salary over the years, combined with the funds your father and I have set aside.”
She pulled out a neat stack of bills. “Xiaoze enlisted when he was eighteen, and now that he’s a battalion commander, his state stipend has been quite substantial these past two years. After deducting his baseline household contributions, his personal account holds exactly 2,200 yuan. As your formal resettlement fund, the two of you will be taking 1,100 yuan of that amount with you tonight.”
Mother Sheng then counted out a separate, thicker bundle. “Over the decades, your father and I have managed to save roughly 3,000 yuan. You don’t need to worry about providing for your grandparents; they retain their own private stipends to purchase their daily treats and snacks. Your father and I have officially agreed that our core savings will be split flawlessly in half between brother and sister. Xiaoze, you will take 1,500 yuan from our pile, while the remaining 1,100 yuan of your military savings will stay in the family treasury for future investments.”
She patted the box contentedly. “I won’t bother splitting the loose change on the table; we’ll keep that for the family’s daily grocery runs. In total, Xiaoze, you are walking away with 2,600 yuan cash tonight to anchor your new household. Moving forward, you must carry the full weight and responsibility of a family man.”
“There is no need to mail a portion of your monthly check back home anymore; the two of you may allocate your funds as you see fit. Just ensure you dispatch a standard fifteen yuan each month to cover our retirement stipend.”
Mother Sheng methodically distributed the family assets, handing over the premium betrothal tokens she had promised Pan Yue alongside the thick wad of cash. “And here are the high-grade state procurement vouchers for a new bicycle, a sewing machine, and a wristwatch. It will be infinitely easier for you to redeem these receipts once you land back at the military district rather than hauling the heavy machinery across the province.”
Her expression softened as she looked at her two children. “The remaining assets secured in this box comprise your younger sister’s future dowry, so you needn’t worry about it. Even if you did, the distribution would remain exactly the same. Your father and I were only blessed with two children in this life… You two are bound by blood, and nothing can ever sever that connection. Long after your father and I have returned to the earth, you will be each other’s only remaining family. You must absolutely help, protect, and cherish one another through whatever comes.”
“Mom… why on earth are you bringing up bleak topics like death first thing in the evening?” Sheng Wanze muttered, his throat tightening with a sudden wave of emotion. He felt a profound pang of regret; his deployment kept him far away from home, preventing him from practicing daily filial devotion. He wanted nothing more than to ensure his parents enjoyed a long, beautiful, and blissful retirement.
“Alright, wipe that tragic look off your face,” Mother Sheng chided, though her own eyes softened. “I’m merely stating the facts of life. Do I honestly owe you a debt that I can’t even share a few realistic words?”
Sheng Wanyan slid into the seat beside her mother, winding her arms affectionately around the older woman’s shoulders. Her own eyes shone with a hint of moisture, though she maintained her playful tone to break the heavy atmosphere. “Of course you don’t, Mom. You and Dad are going to live for a remarkably long time, enjoying every ounce of happiness this world has to offer. Comrade Huafu, harboring such gloomy thoughts is entirely unacceptable under our roof!”
Hearing her daughter’s clever, theatrical reprimand, Mother Sheng knocked Wanyan’s head with an amused, affectionate swat. “It’s entirely useless trying to sweet-talk me now, girl. Until the day you formally march down the aisle yourself, this remaining treasury won’t be touching your pockets.”
Sheng Wanyan glanced down at the remaining 1,500 yuan glinting inside the iron box. She offered a playful grin, entirely willing to admit to herself that… yes, she was indeed quite tempted.
