Chapter 111: Gu Family Visits — Part 1
As the neighbors crowded around, many couldn’t help but wonder: Why didn’t I try harder to fight for that girl? A golden opportunity had slipped through their fingers, and the bitterness was hard to swallow.
“What rank are your parents? Why are there guards here?” one auntie pressed, her eyes wide with curiosity.
“Yes! Tell us!” another chimed in.
Gu Tingxiao remained silent. It wasn’t appropriate to discuss his parents’ positions or work matters with outsiders.
“Third son, come and help with these,” Gu’s mother called out. Gu Tingxiao immediately hurried over to assist his father, finally escaping the prying questions of the neighborhood gossips.
The Gu family had spared no expense on the gifts, many of which had been specially brought from the Capital. The onlookers turned green with envy as bag after bag was pulled from the car. Given that the future son-in-law was from the capital, the quality of the goods was undoubtedly top-tier.
Why isn’t this my future son-in-law? more than one person thought.
The Chen family watched from the back of the crowd, fuming. They felt it was an injustice that Sheng Wanyan was entering such a prestigious marriage while their own son was suffering in the countryside because of the Sheng family’s schemes. In Mother Chen’s mind, those gifts should be hers—a form of compensation for her son’s hardships. Her jealous glare was so intense she looked ready to rush forward and snatch the bags right out of their hands.
Upstairs, Father and Mother Sheng heard the commotion and hurried out to the corridor. Spotting their future in-laws, they immediately rushed down to greet them.
“How do I look?” Mother Sheng asked nervously, smoothing her clothes as she descended the stairs. She had worn the elegant woolen coat Pan Yue bought her, a fresh blouse, and the new leather shoes Sheng Wanze had gifted her.
“You look great. Truly wonderful,” Father Sheng reassured her. Mother Sheng finally felt a spark of confidence; she only hoped she wouldn’t embarrass her daughter.
Wanyan, following her mother’s strict orders, had changed into a light blue long skirt paired with a black woolen coat and small leather shoes. Even Grandpa and Grandma Sheng had put on their newest, finest clothes and were now sitting in the living room, craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the arrivals.
Wanyan felt her own pulse quickening. This was the first time in two lifetimes she was meeting her future in-laws. She could hear the chaos outside and her mother’s voice ringing out from below.
“Hello, future in-laws! You’ve traveled such a long way. Please, come inside and rest.”
Gu Tong stepped forward to make the formal introductions. “Brother, Sister-in-law, these are Wanyan’s parents.”
Mother Gu immediately took Mother Sheng’s hand, offering a gentle, warm smile. “Hello, I am Gu Tingxiao’s mother, and this is his father. I must apologize for our abrupt arrival; I’m afraid we’ve caught you off guard.”
In truth, Mother Gu felt a bit guilty. They had rushed to Rongcheng so suddenly because their third son wouldn’t stop pestering them. Gu Tingxiao had been calling his father’s office incessantly; when his father stopped answering, he started calling the house. The phone had rung every single day until she had a headache.
Her son had refused blind dates for years, leaving her worried sick. Now that he had finally found a girl, he was pursuing her with a relentless, almost shameless desperation. I suspect my son is actually pestering this poor girl, she thought wryly.
“No, no, we are honored to have you,” Mother Sheng replied, leading the way. “Please, come in and sit.”
As the women walked toward the house, Father Gu looked at Father Sheng. Is this my future in-law?
Father Sheng caught his eye and nodded with a smile. Father Gu’s eyes lit up. This man isn’t afraid of my face!
A hideous scar ran from Father Gu’s left eyebrow down to his cheek—a souvenir from the war. Though it hadn’t damaged his eye, he was usually self-conscious about it, fearing it would scare people. It had terrified his own children when they were young, and even now, his grandchildren were often wary of him. He was used to people recoiling, but Father Sheng remained perfectly composed.
Hehe, the third son’s in-laws are interesting. Look how calm he is, Father Gu thought.
In reality, Father Sheng’s scalp was crawling with nerves. As an ordinary worker, standing next to a man with such a powerful aura made him feel like a chick standing next to a giant. Father Gu was easily 1.9 meters tall, looming over everyone with a rugged, intimidating presence. His military cap and uniform were clearly of a higher grade than those worn by Wanze or Tingxiao.
Father Sheng kept repeating a mantra in his head: Don’t embarrass your daughter. Don’t embarrass your daughter. If not for that singular focus, his legs might have given way.
“In-law!” Father Gu boomed.
“Ah—yes?” Father Sheng startled. Why was this man’s voice so loud?
“What are you daydreaming about? I called you several times and you ignored me.”
Father Sheng lowered his head, embarrassed. “I was just thinking… if we don’t hurry, the food will get cold.”
“The food is getting cold? Let’s go then!”
With that, Father Gu took the stairs two at a time. Father Sheng scrambled to keep up, glancing at Gu Tingxiao’s long legs and then at his own. Being tall really is a big deal, he grumbled inwardly.
Inside the apartment, Wanyan heard the heavy, rhythmic footsteps approaching the door. She knew the Gu family had arrived.
