Chapter 147: Joining the Army
Hearing Mother Sheng’s words, Mother Gu was thoroughly shocked, anxiously patting her chest to calm her racing heart.
“What a sin! To raise a son like that…”
“And… what happened to the poor old lady?”
“Her other children had already washed their hands of her. With no one willing to take her in and nowhere else to turn, she just jumped right into the river.”
“Alas… a perfectly good life, gone just like that,” Mother Gu sighed. “What a tragic pity.”
Mother Gu’s heart pounded at the gruesome reality of the story. Growing up in privileged circles, she had never encountered anything so desperate. Sure, there were shady dealings and underhanded schemes among elite families, but to be driven to commit suicide by jumping into a river? That was unheard of to her.
People at the center of power might lead difficult, complex lives, but they also had countless ways to save themselves. Yet, the brutal truth remained: the people most likely to push you over the edge were your own flesh and blood.
This stark realization solidified Mother Gu’s resolve. She would no longer blindly use her influence to support her fourth son, Gu Tinghao, in his career. At most, she would follow Gu Tingxiao’s example—only stepping in if someone tried to steal Tinghao’s rightful credit. Since Tinghao looked down on his third brother’s genuine achievements, he would just have to prove his own worth and convince the family with his real abilities!
Mother Sheng, meanwhile, hid a triumphant smile, rolling her eyes inwardly. Her plan had worked flawlessly. The fourth son of the Gu family and his wife had shown zero regard for her daughter’s reputation. Did they really think she would just sit back and watch her daughter be bullied?
If she didn’t teach the fourth branch a lesson and make them pay a price, she would have lived all her years in vain. Her precious daughter had just married into the Gu family; if her younger brother-in-law and sister-in-law already dared to disrespect her, what would outsiders think? Especially with such drama unfolding immediately after the wedding!
Wouldn’t outsiders assume that Sheng Wanyan lacked manners, offending her in-laws so badly that they demanded to split up the family?
Hmph, Mother Sheng thought coldly. They tried to use my daughter as a stepping stone, so don’t blame me for stripping away their dignity!
Just thinking about it made Mother Sheng’s blood boil. Did they really think her daughter was an easy target just because she was a refined city girl?
Bah! They must be dreaming!
The next day, the Sheng family prepared to return to Chengdu. Sheng Wanyan and Gu Tingxiao accompanied them to the train station to see them off.
Sheng Wanze and Pan Yue still had half a month of vacation left, so they traveled back to Chengdu with the elders to spend quality time with the family before having to report back to their own military unit.
Back at the Gu household, preparations were in full swing for Wanyan and Tingxiao’s departure to the military base. Since they would be setting up a new home on the base, there was plenty to organize.
Mother Gu didn’t worry about Gu Tingxiao in the slightest; after all, he had practically grown up in a military compound. To him, the military region and the barracks were as familiar as his own backyard.
All her maternal worry was focused entirely on Sheng Wanyan. It would be an unfamiliar environment for her, and she would be left completely alone whenever Tingxiao went out on missions.
Then there was the issue of Wanyan’s employment, which also weighed heavily on Mother Gu’s mind. Her third daughter-in-law had given up her job in the city to follow her husband. The least Tingxiao could do was arrange a new position for her at the base. Otherwise, wouldn’t the poor girl be bored out of her mind when he was away on assignments?
What Mother Gu didn’t realize was that Sheng Wanyan had absolutely no desire to find a traditional job. She fully intended to stay at home for the next few years.
It was currently June of 1974. Knowing that the national college entrance examinations would resume in exactly three years, Wanyan wanted to dedicate her free time to studying and preparing for the exams. Moreover, having studied medicine in her previous life, she was determined to pursue that dream once again.
She was in no shortage of money or supplies, and she refused to waste her precious time grinding away at a job she had no interest in. Besides, she already had her translation work; translating documents at home would ensure she never felt bored. With a steady income and a passion of her own to pursue, there was no reason to force herself into a conventional job.
Oblivious to her daughter-in-law’s plans, Mother Gu secretly pulled Gu Tingxiao aside to voice her concerns.
“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll keep an eye out for suitable jobs for my wife once we get back to the base,” Tingxiao reassured her.
Tingxiao was equally unaware of Wanyan’s private goals, but he agreed with his mother’s logic. It was true that when he was deployed, his wife would be left all alone in the house. Having a job would give her a social circle and people to talk to, rather than being isolated. Still, it ultimately depended on what she wanted. If she wanted to work, he would find a way to buy a good job position for her.
Later that evening, after Wanyan had finished showering, Gu Tingxiao returned to their room and asked for her opinion on the matter.
Wanyan wasn’t too surprised by the suggestion. After all, in the eyes of people in this era, holding a formal job was highly respectable. Who wouldn’t want a secure position to help support the family?
Well, Sheng Wanyan didn’t.
“Wife, if you’d like to work, I can find a way to buy a position for you once we settle in at the base,” he offered gently.
Sheng Wanyan shook her head without hesitation. “I don’t want to.”
Tingxiao was mildly surprised by her outright refusal. He knew his wife was an independent thinker with her own mind. However, he didn’t miss a beat.
“Alright. If you don’t want to, then you won’t.” He had no intention of forcing her; everything would go according to her wishes.
Wanyan’s lips curved into a warm smile at his immediate support. Seeing his understanding, she decided to tell him about her translation work. Since she would be receiving translation materials and royalty payments in the mail every month at the base, it wasn’t something she could keep hidden from him anyway.
Furthermore, her standard of living was quite high. She didn’t want to end up in a situation where she had plenty of money but couldn’t openly spend it without arousing suspicion. By bringing this income out into the open, it provided a perfect cover for their lifestyle. It meant she and Tingxiao could eat well and live comfortably, and even if the other military wives grew jealous, no one could find fault with it.
“I might not have a formal job, but I’ve actually been helping some newspapers in the capital with translations, and I earn a steady income from it every month,” she explained.
“Translations?” Tingxiao raised an eyebrow in surprise. It seemed his little wife still had quite a few pleasant secrets hidden from him.
“Yes, translating foreign materials,” she nodded. “So, once we move to the base, I don’t plan on taking up a regular job. I can just focus on my translations whenever I have free time at home. Plus, it will give me a more flexible schedule to take care of you and the house.”
Tingxiao nodded thoughtfully. Since his wife didn’t want a regular job, that settled the matter. It wasn’t as if he couldn’t afford to support her on his own. Even if she didn’t earn a single cent, he would simply take on more missions to ensure she never suffered any hardship or felt shortchanged by marrying him.
“If you’ve already made up your mind, then I fully support you,” he said firmly.
Wanyan smiled and nodded in return. She had her long-term plans clearly mapped out. For a man of this era, the fact that Tingxiao could respect her decisions so completely was incredibly rare. Having his unconditional support was more than enough for her.
The day of their departure arrived. All the members of the Gu family returned home for a farewell lunch to see them off.
Even though Mother Gu had no desire to see her fourth daughter-in-law, Wang Chunmei, she swallowed her displeasure for the sake of her son, allowing the family to gather peacefully.
Mother Gu had prepared a mountain of things for the couple. Wanyan’s dowry alone filled a large trunk, and the extra daily necessities were packed into a massive cloth sack. Fortunately, Tingxiao didn’t have many personal belongings, easily fitting all of his own items into a single military backpack, leaving his hands free to carry his wife’s luggage.
Mother Gu had instructed Aunt Lin to prepare plenty of rations for their long train journey. They packed ten boiled eggs, two tin lunch boxes packed tight with meat and vegetables, and a generous stack of steamed buns. With the scorching summer heat, they couldn’t risk packing too much lest the food spoil. If they ran short, they could always buy more food on the train. After all, the Gu family was never stingy when it came to spending money.
Father and Mother Gu accompanied them all the way to the station platform, with Mother Gu dispensing endless instructions.
“Yan’er, make sure to take good care of yourself once you get there,” Mother Gu urged as she held Wanyan’s hand tightly, her eyes full of reluctance. “If my third son ever dares to bully you, you write to me immediately! I’ll come over and teach him a lesson myself.”
“Don’t worry, Mom, I can take care of myself,” Wanyan replied soothingly. “You, Dad, Grandpa, and Grandma need to take good care of yourselves at home too.”
Mother Gu smiled warmly, patting her hand. “Okay, okay. You’ve always been such a thoughtful child.”
