Chapter 214: Gu Tingxiao’s Solemnity
Upon arriving at the hospital, Sheng Wanyan walked to the director of gynecology’s office with the familiarity of a regular patient, and the doctor performed her routine ultrasound.
Wanyan was now a little over two months pregnant. The director noted that her primary focus going forward should be maintaining excellent nutrition and strictly avoiding heavy physical labor.
“Is this your husband?” the director asked, glancing up at Gu Tingxiao.
Sheng Wanyan nodded with a smile.
“Excellent. You stay right here,” the doctor instructed her, before turning a serious look on the captain. “As for the spouse, come with me over to the desk. You can wait outside for the final report after we discuss her care.”
Sheng Wanyan nodded, and Gu Tingxiao quickly helped her to her feet, guiding her to a wooden stool just outside the office door.
The director watched Gu Tingxiao’s attentive behavior with an approving nod. Pregnancy was a deeply grueling and painful journey for a woman, so it was paramount for a man to be exceptionally considerate. In this day and age, men who genuinely knew how to anticipate and care for their wives’ needs were few and far too far between.
Once Sheng Wanyan was comfortably seated outside, the director began outlining the strict parameters Gu Tingxiao needed to watch out for.
“Doctor, please speak a bit slower,” Gu Tingxiao requested.
He pulled a small notebook and a fountain pen from his pocket, preparing to document every syllable the physician uttered.
“Your wife’s baseline health is exceptional,” the director began. He knew from experience that a supportive partner played an indispensable role in a pregnant woman’s physical well-being. “However, she is only at the two-month mark, which means you must remain highly vigilant during this critical period.”
“You need to ensure she receives a steady, balanced intake of nutrients. Encourage her to drink her malted milk, and maintain a strict equilibrium of fresh fruits, vegetables, and high-quality meats.”
“And remember—she is absolutely forbidden from consuming brown sugar during her pregnancy.”
Gu Tingxiao’s pen paused. “No brown sugar?”
“None,” the director affirmed solemnly. “Brown sugar is a potent blood-circulating tonic. If a pregnant woman drinks brown sugar water, it can trigger sudden uterine contractions, drastically increasing the risk of a miscarriage.”
In their society, almost everyone universally believed that brown sugar was a supreme health supplement, which was true under normal circumstances—but it was practically poison for an expectant mother. Because so many families remained entirely ignorant of this medical fact, they frequently fed it to pregnant women out of pure goodwill, often resulting in tragic, accidental miscarriages.
Gu Tingxiao meticulously underlined the warning in his notes. He had honestly assumed brown sugar would be excellent for her body; he was profoundly grateful the physician had corrected him.
“She should consume fresh eggs regularly, but ensure she stays far away from any raw or cold foods,” the director concluded.
Gu Tingxiao carefully transcribed the last of the instructions, before solemnly tucking the notebook back into the deep pocket of his military greatcoat.
Once the final report printed, the director reviewed the charts one last time, confirming that everything looked absolutely flawless before clearing the couple to return home.
On the long walk back to the residential quarters, Gu Tingxiao refused to let go of the ultrasound picture. Even though the baby was still nothing more than a tiny, indistinguishable dark speck on the paper, he stared at it continuously, completely unable to get his fill of the sight. This minuscule black dot was smaller than the tip of his finger, yet it was a living, breathing soul—his own flesh and blood.
“Haven’t you stared at that enough yet?”
Even after they crossed their own threshold and sat down, Gu Tingxiao continued to turn the image from left to right under the light. Sheng Wanyan could only shake her head in fond amusement. A full month had passed since they first discovered the pregnancy, yet this man managed to maintain his initial, overwhelming sense of awe and wonder every single day.
Since there was no stopping him, she simply left him to process his excitement at his own pace.
Gu Tingxiao hadn’t written to his family in the Capital to share the news yet, as Wanyan preferred to wait until she safely cleared the first trimester before making a formal announcement. However, her own parents were already fully aware. Grandma Sheng had drafted a detailed letter and dispatched it to Chengdu a while back.
What the young couple didn’t know, however, was that Mr. and Mrs. Sheng had already finalized their leaves of absence, packed their heavy suitcases, and were scheduled to board a northbound train toward the military base the very next morning.
Father Sheng had sent out an express telegram that afternoon, meaning Sheng Wanze would likely receive the arrival notice tomorrow. The moment Mother Sheng learned that her daughter was expecting alongside her daughter-in-law, she flatly refused to wait another month. She immediately petitioned the steel plant management for an extra month of vacation, spending her final nights packing sets of handmade winter clothing and fresh cotton diapers for her future grandchildren.
She carefully layered the bags with delivery essentials and various postpartum supplements required for a proper confinement period. Knowing her daughter was also carrying, she doubled her preparations, packing premium nutritional items for the grandparents and a fresh change of clothes for herself.
By the time she finished, the living room was packed with a mountain of large and small satchels. She had even vacuum-sealed and packed whatever cured meat remained in their pantry; if she had her way, Mother Sheng would have packed up their entire house to bring to the base.
Father Sheng didn’t attempt to temper her nesting frenzy. In fact, terrified that they might leave some crucial item behind, he stood by the door, fastidiously checking off each bundle against his own master list.
“Honey, did you make sure to pack the wooden toy pistol I carved for my grandson?” he called out.
Ever since learning of the upcoming arrivals, Father Sheng had dedicated his evening hours after work to crafting intricate wooden toys, losing himself in his carpentry in the living room.
“Yes, yes, I secured the little pistol and the wind-up wooden frog you made,” Mother Sheng called back. “Oh, and I also coordinated with our in-laws to secure a premium doll from the Capital. If it turns out to be a granddaughter, she’ll have a beautiful doll to play with.”
Father Sheng bustled into the bedroom to retrieve the package. Over the past few months, he and Gu Tingxiao’s father had maintained a steady correspondence, building an exceptionally warm, respectful rapport. General Gu had discovered that his third son’s father-in-law was entirely to his liking—a straightforward, honorable man who deeply valued integrity and loyalty.
To nurture the family bond, Mr. and Mrs. Sheng regularly shipped rare local specialties and wild game up to the capital estate. Following his promotion to deputy workshop director, Father Sheng’s local network had expanded significantly, granting him frequent access to choice forest game. Knowing his in-laws were seasoned military men who possessed a deep appreciation for rich, wild prey, he always ensured a generous portion was sent to both households, maintaining an incredibly smooth relationship through the steady exchange of gifts.
Every single gesture they made was driven entirely by love for their children.
Sheng Wanze had married into a high-ranking family, and though the Shengs’ social standing couldn’t compare to Commander Pan’s elite lineage, they refused to ever be viewed as opportunists who took advantage of their in-laws. Similarly, Wanyan was a young woman navigating a prominent marriage; as her maiden family, they were determined to provide her with a rock-solid foundation of respect. They were marrying up, but they would never give anyone a reason to look down on their children.
Father Sheng was an exceptionally level-headed, principled man. Since stepping into his executive role as deputy director, he had managed his workshop with absolute fairness and transparency, treating every subordinate with equal justice.
He held a zero-tolerance policy regarding bribery. The moment he took office, Father Chen had attempted to exploit their old history, manufacturing a desperate apology and showing up at the office laden with expensive, luxury gifts. Father Sheng had flatly rejected the offerings, returning every single item in front of the entire shift.
Not only did he refuse the bribes, but he delivered a public address that left Father Chen thoroughly humiliated and cemented the deep respect of the entire workforce.
“I may have received a promotion, but I have no intention of putting on airs or acting above the line,” Father Sheng had announced clearly to the floor. “Every man and woman in this factory labors to feed their family, and no one should have to clock off worrying about the security of their livelihood because they didn’t buy favor.”
“I, Sheng Jingxin, started at the bottom of this very floor. I do not accept personal tributes from anyone. Every matter under my command will be handled strictly through official, impartial channels.”
He had always been a conscientious, dedicated institutional man. Though advancement had eluded him for decades, he had never wavered in his diligent, meticulous output at the steel plant. His purpose had always been twofold: contributing to national industrial development and providing a stable life for his household. Those decades of hard labor had kept his mind incredibly sharp, ensuring he remained entirely immune to the arrogance that often corrupted men after a sudden promotion.
At his advanced age, he was simply focused on crossing the finish line to retirement, looking forward to lounging at home with his grandchildren and enjoying family bliss. He had zero desire to engage in corrupt politics or walk a dangerous tightrope before his exit, potentially jeopardizing the bright military futures of his two children.
Everyone across their old community was well aware that Father Sheng’s promotion had been catalyzed by Wanyan’s scientific breakthrough, and the couple made no attempt to conceal the truth.
A few envious neighbors occasionally whispered malicious rumors, claiming the Shengs were shamelessly riding the coattails of a married daughter. But Mother Sheng systematically dismantled every single detractor with razor-sharp efficiency. Throughout her entire life, she had never felt as profoundly vindicated or proud as she did now.
What on earth was wrong with taking pride in their daughter’s achievements?
Their daughter was an extraordinary, national talent whose brilliance had naturally elevated her parents’ standing. They were absolutely ecstatic! If any of those bitter gossips possessed a shred of capability, they were more than welcome to have their own daughters secure an executive directorship for them!
Mother Sheng had never lost a verbal confrontation in her life, and she certainly wasn’t about to start now. Either way, Father Sheng was always right behind her, happily handling the logistics while she defended the family honor.
