Chapter 166: Captain Wang’s Children
Sheng Wanyan and Gu Tingxiao worked their way through the apartment building, knocking on door after door. Before long, some families came out to watch the excitement without even waiting for a knock. After all, the soldiers had such booming voices that it was impossible to pretend not to hear them.
With so many people opening their doors to see what was going on, it actually made things convenient for Gu Tingxiao and Sheng Wanyan, as they rarely had to raise a hand to knock.
Everyone was intensely curious about Sheng Wanyan, especially Gu Tingxiao’s subordinates and superiors. They all wanted to get a glimpse of the “vixen” who had been the subject of so many rumors over the past few days.
Or rather, the breathtaking beauty.
Now that they finally saw her face, they finally understood why their commander had kept her hidden away so fiercely.
While handing out wedding candies, Sheng Wanyan happened to run into Mother Pan. The moment Mother Pan spotted her, she enthusiastically pulled her aside to chat.
“Wanyan, I didn’t expect we’d be so destined! To think we’re neighbors now.” Mother Pan clasped her hand warmly. “If you ever run into any trouble here in the family compound, you come straight to me.”
As Mother Pan pulled her aside, several military wives watched with growing curiosity. Regimental Commander Pan’s wife rarely took the initiative to be so warm and affectionate with anyone. Why was she treating Captain Gu’s new bride like family?
“Sister-in-law Pan, do you two know each other?” one of the wives ventured, unable to resist a bit of gossip. She looked Sheng Wanyan up and down, feeling that aside from her striking beauty, there wasn’t anything particularly extraordinary about Captain Gu’s wife. Why was Commander Pan’s wife holding her hand so tightly, completely unwilling to let go?
“She is my son-in-law’s biological sister,” Mother Pan announced proudly.
“What…!?”
“Captain Sheng’s biological sister?”
Hearing her exclamation, the surrounding crowd exchanged stunned glances and immediately pressed closer to get a better look.
“Yes, Wanyan is the younger generation in our family,” Mother Pan added clearly, looking around at the crowd. “So I’ll expect everyone to look out for her in the future.”
The onlookers nodded and smiled, entirely caught off guard. They truly hadn’t expected Sheng Wanyan to have such a background—and a powerful one at that. Mother Pan had made it crystal clear that Wanyan was considered family. Wasn’t that a public statement that the Pan family was shielding her?
Sheng Wanyan’s husband was a deputy regimental commander, her brother was a battalion commander, her sister-in-law was a performer in the military art troupe, and her family resided in a major city. How could some people be born with such a blessed life?
Everyone instantly resolved that Sheng Wanyan was someone they absolutely could not afford to offend. They had initially assumed she was just an unemployed city girl, but it turned out her entire family held prominent positions.
Only Captain Wu’s wife had been foolish enough to charge straight at her and cause trouble in person. Now, not only was her husband under Gu Tingxiao’s command, but her husband’s brother was as well. She had managed to offend them all in one fell swoop.
Standing near the back of the crowd, Captain Wu’s wife turned entirely pale. She truly hadn’t expected Sheng Wanyan to have this kind of backing. To think she was Captain Sheng’s biological sister…
Why hadn’t she just said so from the beginning? Was she doing this on purpose? Had she intentionally dug a hole for her to jump into?
If her husband found out she had insulted Sheng Wanyan, he would probably force her to pack her bags and go back to her parents’ village.
Captain Wu’s wife didn’t dare utter a sound. She tried to comfort herself, reinforcing her defenses inwardly. I didn’t actually say anything too terrible, just a few extra words. Surely a few words won’t ruin my husband’s career and his contributions to the country?
She didn’t even dare look at Captain Wu standing beside her, terrified that he would notice her panic.
Sheng Wanyan exchanged a few pleasantries with the other wives, distributing the wedding candies one by one. When she reached Captain Wu’s family, she paused for a fraction of a second, but handed the sweets over without a change in her expression. There was no need to humiliate Captain Wu in public over a petty dispute between women. When dealing with her husband’s subordinates, she made sure her conduct was flawless so no one could find fault with her.
“Thank you, sister-in-law,” Captain Wu said gratefully, taking the sweets and handing them down to his children. His respectful behavior felt like a silent slap to his wife’s face.
“What are you just standing there for?” Captain Wu barked softly, glaring at his wife. “Say thank you to your sister-in-law.”
The corners of her mouth twitched, her face tight with immense displeasure. “Thanks…”
“You’re very welcome,” Sheng Wanyan replied with a serene smile. She immediately turned away to distribute candy to the next family, completely ignoring the woman from that moment on.
Captain Wu’s wife clenched her fists, drilling a vicious glare into Wanyan’s back. Sheng Wanyan… isn’t it just because she was born into a good family? What makes her so superior? Why do city people always get to look down on everyone else?
Wanyan naturally felt the weight of that hostile gaze. Some people were so deeply consumed by an inferiority complex that they looked down on themselves, and sooner or later, that bitterness would destroy them from within. There was no need for Wanyan to lift a finger.
As Sheng Wanyan continued distributing candy through the building, she also met several of the city-born military wives.
When she reached Deputy Battalion Commander Wang’s wife, Yang Wanshu accepted the wedding candy with a gentle, graceful smile. She reached down to pat the heads of her two young sons. “Say thank you to Auntie.”
“Thank you, Auntie~” the boys chimed in unison.
Seeing how wonderfully well-behaved the children were, Wanyan squatted down, a warm smile spreading across her face as she gently pinched their cheeks. Deputy Battalion Commander Wang had two sons; the eldest was six, and the youngest was four.
However, she noticed that the younger boy was strikingly frail. He lacked the typical height and weight of a healthy child his age.
“How old are they?” Wanyan inquired gently.
“The oldest is six, and my little one is four,” Yang Wanshu replied, looking down at her youngest son with a soft sigh, her eyes clouding with a quiet, lingering worry.
“He doesn’t quite look four, does he?” Wanyan noted gently. The boy looked barely three years old.
“He has a terrible time with food,” Yang Wanshu explained, her voice tinged with helplessness. “He’ll either take just two small bites and refuse the rest, or he’ll throw up if we try to force him to eat. We’ve taken him to see countless doctors, but they all say there’s nothing wrong with his sense of taste or his digestion.”
Wanyan studied the little boy closely. He was a fragile, delicate little thing, but remarkably well-mannered. He stood with his small hands neatly clasped in front of his body, looking up at her with large, watery eyes.
Wanyan’s heart melted completely, and the look in her eyes softened into pure tenderness.
“Pretty auntie~” the little boy piped up, his voice small. “Auntie, you are so beautiful.”
Wanyan couldn’t help but let out a clear laugh. “Well, aren’t you a sweet talker?” She gently ruffled his hair, causing the little boy to blush furiously and drop his head, stealing shy glances at her through his lashes.
“You are incredibly adorable,” she praised.
Hearing her compliment, the boy grew even more bashful, burying his chin in his chest. His older brother stared at him, thoroughly confused. Why is he being so shy? How useless.
Yang Wanshu watched her youngest son’s rare reaction, a glimmer of amusement softening her worried eyes. The surrounding neighbors couldn’t help but chuckle at the little boy’s bashful display.
Gu Tingxiao, however, stood to the side, his eyes narrowing as he stared down at the four-year-old. This kid is barely out of toddlers and he already knows exactly how to charm my wife?
“Wife, we should head back,” Gu Tingxiao stepped forward, cutting in. He threw a pointed, warning look at Deputy Battalion Commander Wang, who merely rubbed his nose in silent amusement.
His youngest son was normally a quiet, painfully introverted child. Whenever guests came over, he would barely utter two words before scurrying away to hide. Even when he went outside, he would just shadow his older brother. While the other compound children played boisterous games, he would squat solitary in the dirt, counting ants. Every single time Wang went out to call him home for dinner, he would find the boy completely engrossed with the insects—either watching a line of them march or using a toy shovel to build tiny mud houses for them.
