Chapter 198: A Large Fortune
Sheng Wanyan checked her watch and saw that it was already three in the afternoon. She had been wandering around inside the cooperative for two full hours. Given the distance, it would be at least seven in the evening by the time they made it back.
The three of them wasted no time and hurried back toward the military base. With the road entirely clear, the young soldier pressed on the gas, driving much faster on the return leg.
After a three-and-a-half-hour drive, they finally pulled into the compound. Seeing that it was already half past six, Wanyan and Gu Tingxiao decided to throw together a quick, simple meal.
Knock, knock, knock.
Sheng Wanyan had just finished cooking when a rap sounded at the door. Gu Tingxiao went to open it and found Sheng Wanze standing on the threshold, holding a large bowl of mixed noodles.
Grandma Sheng knew the couple had gone into the city for the day and would likely return late, so she had specially saved some dinner for them.
“Perfect timing,” Sheng Wanze smiled, handing over the bowl. “Consider this a little extra food for you two.”
Gu Tingxiao felt no embarrassment at all. He happily accepted the offering and sat down to share it with Sheng Wanyan.
Grandma Sheng had used refined flour to pull the noodles, topping them with a rich, highly fragrant homemade beef sauce. It was incredibly delicious, and Wanyan loved every bite. The noodles were perfectly chewy and packed with flavor.
Noticing how much his wife enjoyed the dish, Gu Tingxiao made a mental note to ask Grandma Sheng for the recipe in a few days.
And so, a few days later, Grandma Sheng welcomed a new culinary apprentice, who began reporting to her kitchen right on time every single day. Sheng Wanyan had initially assumed her husband was merely going over to Sheng Wanze’s house to help build their new kitchen setup; she hadn’t expected him to pick up an excellent new life skill in the process.
A short while later, Sheng Wanyan was out in the courtyard feeding the chickens when she heard another knock at the front door. Setting her feed basin down, she walked over to open it.
Standing on the threshold were Political Commissar Xie and Commander Pan. Political Commissar Xie was sporting a brilliant, beaming smile, and Commander Pan was smiling as well, though his expression looked slightly stiff and imposing.
The moment Wanyan spotted the thick document folder clutched in Political Commissar Xie’s hand, she knew exactly why they had come.
“Hello, Political Commissar Xie, Uncle Pan,” Sheng Wanyan greeted them warmly.
Political Commissar Xie’s smile softened into a kind, grandfatherly look. He was roughly the same age as Wanyan’s own father, and with his gentle demeanor, he easily exuded the warmth of a respected elder.
“Comrade Sheng Wanyan, have you had lunch yet?” he asked politely.
Sheng Wanyan nodded. “Yes, thank you, Commissar. Uncle Pan, please come inside and sit down.”
“Alright, excellent.”
As Political Commissar Xie and Commander Pan walked into the living room, Sheng Wanyan bustled into the kitchen to brew two cups of tea. She used a premium tea blend she had brought from the future, which was quite expensive.
Once she served the tea, the two men sat opposite her, exchanging a quiet glance. Ultimately, both Wanyan and Commander Pan turned their eyes toward Political Commissar Xie, waiting for him to break the ice. Commander Pan was comfortable barking orders at Gu Tingxiao, but facing a polite young female comrade like Sheng Wanyan, he found himself completely at a loss for how to start the conversation.
Feeling the weight of their expectant gazes, Political Commissar Xie instantly felt a surge of pride. Look at that, he thought, without me to handle the diplomacy, this place would fall completely silent.
Even so, the commissar remained a bit uncertain about the best way to build rapport with Comrade Sheng Wanyan. If he were dealing with a male comrade, he could easily clap him on the back, call him brother, and shamelessly banter until a connection was formed. But facing a refined young woman, he had to tread carefully.
Fortunately, Gu Tingxiao had heard the voices from across the lane where he was helping out. He wrapped up his task and hurried back across the threshold.
The moment he walked into the house, all three pairs of eyes locked onto him. Political Commissar Xie and Commander Pan practically viewed the captain as a life-saving straw. Since this husband and wife shared a home and a bed every single day, their bond was obviously ironclad. As long as there was no friction between the young couple, the relationship between Wanyan and the military district would remain perfectly secure.
In an instant, Political Commissar Xie leveled a warm, incredibly friendly gaze at Gu Tingxiao. It seemed the captain was finally proving useful for something other than frontline combat.
“Ah, Captain Gu is back,” the commissar noted.
Gu Tingxiao gave a respectful nod and took a seat on a stool right next to Sheng Wanyan.
Political Commissar Xie cleared his throat, commanding the room with his signature administrative poise. “Comrade Sheng Wanyan, Commander Pan and I have come today to formally express our deepest gratitude for your selfless contribution to our nation. In recognition of your immense service, the military command has specifically petitioned the higher-ups to secure a proper reward for you.”
He opened the folder. “Comrade Sheng Wanyan, this passbook contains the eighty thousand yuan allocated to you by the state, alongside an official letter of appointment designating a directorship at the Rongcheng Iron and Steel Plant. We sincerely hope you will continue to dedicate your extraordinary talents to the motherland in the future. Rest assured, neither the state nor the military command will ever treat you unfairly.”
Political Commissar Xie’s speech was masterfully crafted. He was well aware that these exact terms had been requested by Sheng Wanyan herself, yet by reframing them as a grand gesture of state appreciation, he elevated the entire transaction.
Commander Pan nodded in rapid agreement. Political Commissar Xie had given him a strict briefing before they arrived, warning him not to handle civilians with the same rigid intensity he used on his frontline troops.
Sheng Wanyan accepted the documents with a gracious smile. She appreciated that the political commissar had granted her so much face, and she had no intention of going back on her word. “It is only natural. It is my absolute honor to contribute to our country’s safety. I am profoundly grateful for the trust the military and the state have placed in me.”
She swiftly signed the official receipt and the employment contract, officially securing the assets as her own.
Looking up, she added softly, “My father is getting on in years, and the labor inside the main fabrication workshop is incredibly grueling. His children are all serving the country elsewhere, leaving us unable to stay by his side to show proper filial piety. I must trouble Political Commissar Xie to coordinate with the management at the Rongcheng Steel Plant regarding his transition…”
Before she could even finish her sentence, Political Commissar Xie caught her meaning and offered a reassuring nod. “Comrade Sheng Wanyan, please set your mind at ease. This position belongs entirely to you now, meaning you are free to allocate it exactly as you see fit. Consider it fully handled.”
Political Commissar Xie was a master of interpersonal relations. While Commander Pan was blunt and direct, the commissar excelled at navigating human emotions. His words, tone, and open demeanor were so disarming that anyone would willingly fall in line with his arrangements.
“With that taken care of, we shall head back to file our official report,” the commissar smiled, rising from his seat.
He collected the signed documents, intending to return to the Finance Department to finalize the allocation of her funds and contact the authorities in Rongcheng to smoothly process her father’s career transition.
“Understood. Thank you, Commissar, Uncle Pan. Safe travels,” Wanyan replied.
Sheng Wanyan and Gu Tingxiao escorted the two men to the outer gates. They waited until Political Commissar Xie and Commander Pan had completely vanished from sight before closing the door and heading back inside.
Gu Tingxiao gathered the used teacups and carried them to the kitchen sink. Checking the time, he saw it was already half past four, deciding it was best to stay home for the rest of the evening rather than heading back across the lane.
When Sheng Wanyan woke up the following morning, she was greeted by a massive surprise from her husband.
The moment she opened her eyes, her gaze fell upon a brand-new savings passbook resting on the desk. She lunged out of bed to check it—printed clearly inside was a total balance of eighty thousand yuan, issued entirely under her own name!
“Tingxiao! Look! We’re rich!”
Sheng Wanyan hoisted the passbook in the air, her eyes sparkling with pure, unadulterated joy. She looked like a shameless little money-grubber celebrating a windfall.
Watching her vibrant, ecstatic expression, Gu Tingxiao’s eyes softened with profound tenderness. “Mm.” He stepped closer, a teasing smile playing on his lips. “It seems I’ll have to rely on my wealthy wife to support me from now on.”
Sheng Wanyan burst into a bright laugh, her eyes crinkling into small crescents. She had never had the opportunity to play the role of a wealthy benefactor before. “No problem at all! Leave it to me!” She patted her chest confidently, promising, “I’ll make sure to raise you to be big, strong, and healthy.”
“Then I shall place myself in my wife’s capable hands,” Gu Tingxiao chuckled.
Happily humoring her playful mood, he wrapped his strong right arm around her waist, effortlessly hoisting her off the ground to carry her toward the washroom.
Sheng Wanyan let out a sharp, startled squeak, immediately wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. She didn’t dare struggle or move too suddenly, terrified that a reckless jerk might aggravate his fractured left arm.
“Wait! I need to put my passbook away somewhere safe!” she protested, looking back over his shoulder.
“No one is going to steal it from you,” Gu Tingxiao laughed, carrying her out of the room.
Sheng Wanyan watched the passbook on the desk grow further and further away, letting out a dramatic, comical sigh of defeat.
