Chapter 116: Mother Sheng Shows Off Her Daughter Again
“Tell Xiaoze to keep an eye out for an opening, but don’t let him force anything,” Grandma Sheng cautioned. “If he can’t buy a position, we’ll just take the money from selling the current job and add it to Wanyan’s dowry. I’ll figure out another way later.”
“Understood!” Mother Sheng replied. She truly admired her mother-in-law’s foresight. Thinking back, Wanyan’s current job had been secured through Grandma’s connections and savvy. To her, the matriarch was a shrewd, wise woman who could anticipate any problem and prepare for it well in advance.
Inside her room, Sheng Wanyan listened to the conversation while staring out at the sky, silent. Eventually, a look of relief softened her features. Her family was truly wonderful; regardless of the generation, they were always planning for her benefit.
She had constantly reminded herself to be cautious in this era, but she realized she had made a fundamental mistake: being too cautious with her own family. Aside from a bit of meat and the occasional food item, she hadn’t dared to bring much else out of her spatial warehouse for them.
Her original goal was to protect herself and her family so they could lead a good life together. At the very least, they shouldn’t have to worry about their next meal. Even if the neighbors were nosy, everyone already knew the Sheng family was doing well. It was perfectly natural for them to eat meat a few times a month—if anyone asked, they could simply say Sheng Wanze had traded for extra meat coupons.
Grandpa Sheng’s recent illness had been a harsh lesson. In this age, an empty stomach led directly to failing health. It was better to let her family eat well and go to bed full rather than living in fear. Wanyan decided then and there to bring more food home in the future; if questioned, she would simply claim she had her own “channels.”
She was getting married and leaving in a few months. She had to ensure her family was healthy and strong before she could join the army with a clear conscience.
The next morning, Wanyan stepped out of the building to find Gu Tingxiao waiting downstairs. He was holding a warm breakfast for her. As she approached, he hurried over, looking like a large, dejected dog.
“Wanyan… I know I was wrong,” he whispered. “Please don’t ignore me.”
He apologized with such an aggrieved expression that Wanyan briefly wondered if she had been too hard on him. She sighed, looking at him. “So, what exactly did you do wrong?”
Gu Tingxiao felt a strange sense of déjà vu. Wasn’t this exactly how his father looked whenever his mother caught him in a mistake?
“I shouldn’t have tried to be clever,” he admitted quickly. “I shouldn’t have gone behind your back to make my parents pressure you into marriage.”
Wanyan continued to stare at him, so he hurriedly added the most critical point: “I shouldn’t have made a major decision without consulting you first.”
“Gu Tingxiao, how long do you think a marriage can last if there’s no mutual consultation?” Wanyan asked.
Gu Tingxiao’s heart skipped a beat. Hearing her use his full name and question the longevity of their future together terrified him. He realized she was truly angry—not just annoyed, but lacking confidence in their future.
He couldn’t let this fester. If he didn’t resolve this now, she would never fully trust him again. “Wanyan, I promise. From now on, I will consult you on everything. No more executive decisions on my own.”
He raised his hand, his expression dead serious. “I swear on this military uniform that I will never lie to you or do anything like this again. If I do, I’ll take this uniform off and—”
Wanyan reached out and pushed his hand down. “Fine. Just make sure it doesn’t happen again. I wouldn’t have forgiven you so easily if this weren’t the first time.”
Relieved, Gu Tingxiao assured her it would never happen again. He took the breakfast from inside his coat and handed it to her. “These are meat buns and eggs. They’re still hot.”
Wanyan ate an egg and handed a bun back to him. “I already had a bite at home. You eat the buns.”
Gu Tingxiao finished the food in a few bites, walked her to work, and then spent the day counting down the hours until their dinner at the state-owned restaurant.
By the time Wanyan arrived at the restaurant that evening, the rest of the family was already seated. She had been delayed because she had to report to Director Li regarding the Propaganda Department’s current affairs.
“Wanyan, you’re here! Did you have to work overtime today?” Father Gu asked. He spoke with a rare, forced gentleness—a direct result of Mother Gu’s strict instructions.
“Yes, I was held up for a bit,” Wanyan answered.
Mother Gu looked at her with concern. “Why are they making you work so late?”
Mother Sheng beamed, unable to help herself. “Lately, the director of the Propaganda Department was transferred to Logistics for a few months. The leadership spotted our Wanyan’s talent and asked her to step in and manage the department while he’s gone.”
Mother Gu was deeply impressed. A girl this young already being trusted with leadership? She glanced at her son, feeling more and more that he was a bit of a nuisance. Wanyan clearly had a brilliant career ahead of her; if she weren’t getting married and moving away in a few months, she would likely be a permanent leader within a year or two.
My son really is a dream-ruiner, she thought, shooting Tingxiao a look of mild annoyance. She felt a pang of guilt that such a talented young woman was resigning just to marry into their family.
“Come, come, Wanyan. Eat more meat,” Mother Gu said, frantically piling food into the girl’s bowl. “You must be exhausted.”
Wanyan looked at her bowl, which was practically overflowing, and shot a silent plea for help toward Gu Tingxiao.
“If you can’t finish it, give it to me,” he whispered.
Wanyan nodded and began to eat, her heart light. “Thank you, Auntie.”
“Eat up, dear,” Mother Gu replied, charmed by the girl’s polite manner. Wanyan ate as much as she could, and as promised, Gu Tingxiao took care of the rest.
“You brat, why are you just sitting there?” Mother Gu scolded her son, still feeling irritated on Wanyan’s behalf.
“Auntie, I really can’t eat another bite,” Wanyan laughed.
“If you can’t eat it, Tingxiao will finish it,” Mother Gu declared.
Gu Tingxiao said nothing and finished the remaining food in a few gulps. I really am her son, he thought dryly.
As the meal wound down, Mother Sheng brought up the matter she had discussed with Grandma. “In-law, since Wanyan is joining the army later, we’re planning to sell her job at the end of May. I heard from Gu Tong that her daughter-in-law is currently looking for work. Do you think you could ask her if she’s interested?”
Mother Gu’s eyes lit up. She remembered her sister-in-law worrying about that very thing during dinner at the Ning house. “Of course! That would be perfect. My sister-in-law has been losing sleep over it. This solves everything for everyone!”
