Chapter 203: The Pillar of the Stage, Liang Qian
“Wanyan, is there anything you don’t know how to do?”
Gu Tingxiao honestly believed his wife was omnipotent, and that included the intricate skill of home-brewing.
Sheng Wanyan offered him a brilliant smile, spinning a plausible explanation on the spot. “I used to spend a lot of time around a traditional brewery back home. If you watch the masters do it long enough, you bound to pick up a few tricks.”
The cover story was rooted in truth. The original owner of her body had frequently assisted Grandma Sheng with making rice wine during her childhood, absorbing the fundamentals of the craft through years of observation.
“Even so, it’s only because you’re incredibly smart,” he praised.
“Flatterer.”
Wanyan didn’t bother arguing the point. In her husband’s eyes, absolutely everything she did was flawless. She sliced a generous portion of cured bacon to fry up for their evening meal, and after a satisfying dinner, the couple retired to bed early.
The following afternoon, the military compound suddenly erupted into a flurry of excitement. Before Wanyan could figure out what was happening, Aunt Xie bustled through her front gate and dragged her outside.
“Auntie, what’s going on?” Wanyan asked, stumbling a step.
“The cultural troupe is putting on a special performance in the main auditorium tonight!” Aunt Xie beamed. “Hurry up, we have to go secure a good spot!”
Hearing this, Wanyan finally understood why the soldiers had been shouting their drills with such ferocious intensity during training that morning. The entire base acted as if it had been injected with adrenaline; the men were practically vibrating with anticipation for the evening’s entertainment.
“Auntie, the show isn’t until tonight, right?” Wanyan asked. “I should probably wait for Tingxiao to come home for dinner so we can walk over together.”
Aunt Xie waved her hands dismissively. “Oh, don’t bother waiting for Captain Gu. The base command ordered his unit to handle the stage setups and venue preparations, which is why he couldn’t break away to walk you over himself. Just pack his dinner in a container and bring it along.”
Wanyan nodded. Since her husband was on duty, she would simply pack a nice meal for him to eat backstage. “Alright, Auntie, you go on ahead. I’ll meet you there as soon as I finish cooking.”
“Then I’ll head down right now to save a couple of prime seats for us,” Aunt Xie urged, turning back with a parting reminder. “Oh, and remember to pack some sunflower seeds or snacks in your bag! It gives you something to crunch on while you watch the show.”
“Understood, thanks.”
Wanyan quickly prepared dinner, packing a generous portion into a multi-tiered lunch container for Gu Tingxiao. After freshening up, she changed into a graceful, light blue skirt and made her way toward the main auditorium.
By the time she arrived, the hall was already packed to the rafters, filled with row upon row of long wooden benches. Wanyan scanned the bustling crowd but couldn’t spot Gu Tingxiao anywhere; he was likely still occupied with logistical duties behind the curtains.
Fortunately, Aunt Xie had managed to conquer a prime spot near the front. Spotting Wanyan entering, she waved her arms frantically to draw her over.
“Wanyan! Over here!”
Wanyan navigated the crowded aisle. Aunt Xie had secured a spot in the absolute center of the second row—an exceptional vantage point, considering the first row was strictly reserved for the senior commanders of the military district.
“Thank you for saving the seats, Auntie,” Wanyan said as she slipped into the row.
“Don’t mention it! Sit down, sit down.” Aunt Xie patted the bench, her eyes straying to the food container. “Captain Gu and his men are still hauling heavy tables around backstage. They should be wrapping up shortly.”
“Okay.”
Wanyan looked around the auditorium, her attention drawn to a disciplined file of female comrades in crisp military uniforms marching through the main entrance. Each woman possessed sharp, distinctive features, but the comrade leading the group was undeniably the standout. She carried herself with an exceptional, elegant poise, her chin held high and her face radiating immense confidence.
“The one walking at the front is Liang Qian, the undisputed star of the cultural troupe,” Aunt Xie whispered, leaning close. “Look at all those single soldiers in the back—their eyes are practically popping out of their heads.”
Seated directly behind them, Captain Fang’s wife, Xu Guihua, and Captain Wang’s wife were huddled together, murmuring in agreement. “She really is stunning. It’s no wonder she’s the crown jewel of the troupe; anyone would be captivated by a girl like that.”
Sitting a few spaces down, Captain Wu’s wife, Zhang Zhaodi, watched Liang Qian with a subtle roll of her eyes. A calculating gleam flickered across her face, and she shot a deliberate, sideways glance at Sheng Wanyan.
“Especially Liang Qian,” Zhang Zhaodi chimed in, her voice carrying just enough weight to be overheard. “She’s so breathtakingly beautiful that every man in this room has his eyes glued to her.”
Objectively speaking, Liang Qian was indeed an attractive woman with flawlessly fair skin. In an era where the general populace struggled against scarcity and harsh elements, her smooth, pampered complexion made it glaringly obvious that she came from a highly privileged family. Furthermore, one didn’t become the centerpiece of a prestigious art troupe without exceptional physical gifts. Even Wanyan, with her modern sensibilities, acknowledged the girl’s beauty.
However, as Liang Qian scanned the crowd, Wanyan caught a sudden, unmistakable flash of hostility directed right at her. What on earth was that about?
Before she could process the look, Zhang Zhaodi spoke up again, her tone dripping with mock nostalgia. “Actually, speaking of Comrade Liang Qian, wasn’t Captain Gu supposed to go on an official blind date with her a while back?”
The intrusive comment caused the surrounding military wives to freeze, their expressions instantly hardening as a tense silence fell over the row. Everyone’s eyes locked onto Sheng Wanyan.
Wanyan paused for a fraction of a second, but her expression remained perfectly smooth and unbothered as she turned her gaze back toward the stage.
Aunt Xie’s blood boiled at Zhang Zhaodi’s blatant attempt to stir up marital strife. What kind of malicious nonsense is this woman trying to pull? She shot a worried glance at Wanyan, terrified that the girl might take the bait and confront Gu Tingxiao later.
“Watch your mouth, Zhang Zhaodi!” Aunt Xie snapped. “That matter was resolved ages ago. Why are you dragging up dead rumors?”
“How am I spreading rumors?” Zhang Zhaodi scoffed, digging her heels in. “They were formally scheduled for a blind date; the entire military district knew about it. Comrade Liang Qian is the daughter of Chief of Staff Liang himself! She personally informed her father that she had feelings for Commander Gu!”
An uncomfortable murmur rippled through the surrounding benches. While some women looked displeased by the malicious gossip, a few leaned in closer, eager to see exactly how Sheng Wanyan would handle the public humiliation. It was a well-known fact on the base, but bringing it up directly to a man’s new wife was incredibly low.
“Captain Gu came within a hair’s breadth of becoming the Chief of Staff’s son-in-law,” Zhang Zhaodi sneered softly. “With that kind of backing, his military career would have been utterly limitless. It certainly wouldn’t be stuck where it is now…”
She left the sentence hanging, but her implication was blindingly clear: Sheng Wanyan’s presence had effectively derailed Gu Tingxiao’s grand future.
“Zhang Zhaodi, let’s get the facts straight,” Aunt Xie countered, her voice dropping into a dangerous, commanding register. “Captain Gu never agreed to that blind date. How has the story mutated so spectacularly inside your head?”
“Let me ask you this—is there a single soul on this base who doesn’t know that Commander Gu flatly refused to attend? As a military spouse, do you truly think it is appropriate to publicly defame active-duty officers and slander the virtue of a young woman like Comrade Liang Qian?”
The more Aunt Xie spoke, the more furious she became. How can this woman be so utterly reckless with her mouth? Gu Tingxiao was happily married, and Sheng Wanyan was an exceptional, brilliant woman. Frankly, based on looks alone, Liang Qian couldn’t even hold a candle to Wanyan, let alone match her refined, gracious demeanor.
Furthermore, Gu Tingxiao had delivered a firm, respectful rejection to Chief of Staff Liang’s face the moment the match was proposed. It was only due to some loose-lipped orderly that the whisper had leaked out into the compound gossip mills in the first place.
“I… I was just stating what happened…” Zhang Zhaodi stammered, her confidence fracturing beneath Aunt Xie’s fierce glare. Political Commissar Xie outranked the Chief of Staff, meaning Aunt Xie held significant social weight on the base. Zhang Zhaodi slumped back into her seat, her face darkening with embarrassment.
“Stating what happened? Everything that comes out of your mouth sounds entirely warped,” Aunt Xie scolded. “Comrade Liang Qian is an unmarried young woman. If you continue to drag her reputation through the mud with these malicious fabrications, Chief of Staff Liang will be the first one to come demand accountability from your husband.”
At the mention of the Chief of Staff’s wrath, the last of Zhang Zhaodi’s color drained from her face. She had been so single-mindedly focused on taking a swipe at Sheng Wanyan that she had entirely forgotten the political fallout of insulting a senior officer’s daughter. If Chief of Staff Liang discovered she was painting his daughter as a desperate, rejected woman, her own husband’s military career would be finished.
“I… I didn’t mean it like that… I just…” she mumbled, utterly unable to formulate a coherent defense.
Listening to the exchange, Sheng Wanyan finally pieced the situation together. It was a classic tale: Comrade Liang Qian had harbored a fierce, unrequited crush on Gu Tingxiao.
