Chapter 94: Grandpa Sheng’s Family’s Plans
Aunt Sheng considered making a scene, but when she thought about Sheng Wanyan’s prestigious city job and how much the brother’s family doted on their granddaughter, she forced herself to suppress the urge.
“Come now, eat, eat. Don’t be a stranger,” Uncle Sheng said warmly. “Wanyan hasn’t been to her Great-Uncle’s house in a long time; just treat it as your own home.”
Uncle Sheng was remarkably kind to her. It was clear that the entire rural branch of the Sheng family didn’t dare pull rank as elders when dealing with Wanyan or Sheng Wanze. They knew that if they offended the only two children of the city branch, the relationship would wither, and their bridge to a better life would vanish.
“Thank you, Great-Uncle,” Wanyan replied with an obedient nod. She knew how to play her part in this social theater; if he wanted to play the doting elder, she wouldn’t deny him the favor. The adults would handle the real friction; she just needed to observe from the sidelines.
“Let’s begin,” Uncle Sheng announced.
The moment he took the first bite, the rest of the family’s chopsticks flew across the table like arrows, everyone scrambling for the choice cuts of meat. Wanyan noticed that the two daughters-in-law and the four granddaughters-in-law didn’t even lift their chopsticks toward the meat. Uncle Sheng shot them a warning look, and they immediately pulled back.
At this table, only the men had the right to the meat. They focused entirely on stuffing their own mouths and those of their sons; whether their wives or daughters had a single scrap to eat was of no concern to them.
Unfazed, Wanyan calmly reached out, picked up a prime piece of fish, and began to eat. The women of the household stared at her, their expressions a mix of shock and burning jealousy. Wanyan didn’t care. Was she supposed to sit through a holiday dinner and go home hungry just to satisfy their backward customs?
When Aunt Sheng saw Wanyan taking the meat, she cursed her inwardly for wasting precious food on a girl, but her outward expression remained a stiff, practiced smile.
Father Sheng, knowing his daughter’s tastes, picked up a piece of braised pork. He carefully selected a lean cut, knowing she disliked heavy fat, and placed it in her bowl.
Grandpa Sheng and Uncle Sheng soon fell into a rhythm of drinking, their faces flushing a deep red as the liquor flowed.
“Little brother,” Uncle Sheng began, leaning in after a long sip. “Weren’t you saying Wanyan was supposed to go down to the countryside as a youth? How did she end up staying behind?”
Aunt Sheng leaned in to listen, and Grandpa Sheng, feeling the warmth of the wine, decided to share the story.
“Wanyan was simply lucky,” Grandpa Sheng said. “The cotton mill happened to be holding a recruitment drive right when she needed it. She went for the interview and passed on her own merit.”
He had no intention of revealing that they had purchased the job with cold cash. He knew his sister-in-law was a petty, calculating woman; he had suffered enough of her temperament when they were young. Back then, his wife and Aunt Sheng had quarreled constantly. He wasn’t about to give her any ammunition to use against his household now.
Aunt Sheng rubbed her hands together and shot a look at her husband. Uncle Sheng gave a subtle nod, giving her the green light to speak.
“Your life is so comfortable now,” she started. “You don’t have many children to worry about, so you can just enjoy your retirement. But as they say, children are a debt. Your eldest brother here has so many mouths to feed. The world is so difficult these days—is there any way you could find a city job for my eldest grandson?”
The moment the request left her lips, the room went silent. The eldest granddaughter-in-law’s eyes lit up with excitement. If her husband moved to the city for work, wouldn’t she officially become a city dweller too?
“Sister-in-law,” Grandpa Sheng asked slowly, “what is your eldest grandson’s educational background?”
Aunt Sheng raised her chin proudly. “My eldest grandson graduated from junior high school! In this village, having a junior high diploma is a rare luxury—most don’t even finish elementary school.”
“Sister-in-law, urban recruitment has strict conditions now. Most positions require a high school diploma. Besides, I am retired and live a quiet life; I don’t have many connections left to pull.”
Aunt Sheng grew anxious. If they could find a job for a granddaughter, how could they refuse their own nephew?
“Doesn’t your son work at the steel mill? And your daughter-in-law and Wanyan are both in the city,” she pressed. “Surely they can make some arrangements… Besides, isn’t your grandson a battalion commander? Why not just take my youngest grandson into the army and find him a high-ranking position there?”
The mention of Sheng Wanze was the breaking point. Grandpa Sheng’s face clouded over instantly.
“Sister-in-law, my grandson’s position was earned at the risk of his life. I must ask you never to say such things again.”
Grandma Sheng couldn’t bite her tongue any longer. She knew every promotion Wanze received was paid for in blood, sweat, and tears during dangerous missions. Now, this woman had the audacity to ask him to gamble his hard-won future to pull up a cousin who hadn’t lifted a finger. It was a deluded fantasy.
“We are family!” Aunt Sheng argued, her voice rising. “What’s wrong with helping your own nephew? Besides, Wanze is a soldier—it’s a dangerous trade. He might have an accident one day. If that happens, Sheng Wanyan is just a girl; she won’t be able to provide for you in your old age!”
“If you help us now, and something does happen to Wanze later, your other nephews and grandsons will be there to look after you!”
The room turned ice-cold. Mother and Father Sheng slammed their chopsticks down in unison, their faces dark with fury. Grandma Sheng was trembling with rage. Had this woman just openly cursed her grandson to suffer a tragedy?
“Aunt Sheng!” Grandma Sheng barked, dropping the polite ‘Sister-in-law’ address. “I have given you face today because of our history, but my Wanze is out there serving his country, and you sit here spewing such chilling, cursed words.”
“I see now. This wasn’t an invitation to dinner; it was a ‘Hongmen Feast’ meant to trap us!”
Grandma Sheng threw her chopsticks onto the table and stood up, her gaze freezing. Aunt Sheng, seeing her sister-in-law’s iron-hard reaction, felt her own temper flare. She believed she was merely stating the obvious—her brother-in-law only had one grandson, and a soldier’s life was precarious. When Wanyan eventually married out, who would be left to protect the Sheng name if not the rural branch? She truly felt she was offering them a beneficial deal.
“Brother,” Grandpa Sheng said to his older sibling, his voice low and dangerous. “If this meal is a Hongmen Banquet, then we have no business eating it.”
Uncle Sheng was mortified. He hadn’t expected his wife to blurt out her dark thoughts so bluntly. He had warned her repeatedly the night before to keep her cool because they were the ones asking for a favor! But the woman had let her pride as an ‘elder’ get the better of her.
“Shut your mouth!” Uncle Sheng roared, slamming his hand against the table.
Only then did Aunt Sheng realize the gravity of her slip. Grandpa Sheng looked at his older brother, his expression pained.
“Little brother,” Uncle Sheng pleaded, “your sister-in-law has always been a loose cannon with her tongue. Please, don’t take it to heart. Today is the first day of the New Year—the day for family. Don’t let this ruin things.”
“Brother,” Grandpa Sheng replied, his voice heavy. “We are both old men. I understand you want a future for your grandsons. But my Wanze’s military record was written in blood and tears. I hope your household never speaks of ‘accidents’ regarding him ever again.”
Uncle Sheng nodded frantically, reaching out to pull his brother back into his seat. “Of course, of course. Now, apologize!” He snapped at his wife.
Aunt Sheng swallowed her resentment and offered a hollow apology. “Little brother, I was just anxious for the children. Please, don’t be angry with me.”
Grandpa Sheng slowly sat back down, but the harmony of the evening was shattered. For the rest of the meal, everyone ate in silence, their minds filled with their own calculations and quiet grievances.
