Chapter 268: Mother Gu Arrives
With Father Sheng back in Chengdu and Mother Gu used to a more comfortable, pampered lifestyle, gardening was simply out of the question for her. Fortunately, there was no shortage of food at home, so there was no need to trouble the elders with heavy field work.
Sheng Wanyan carefully bought all the daily essentials her mother-in-law would need, including a new toothbrush, a mouthwash cup, and a water glass. On the desk in Mother Gu’s room, she arranged two tins of vanishing cream and placed a sleek, minimalist mirror she had retrieved from her spatial domain. She also transferred several clothing hangers from her own wardrobe into the spare closet to ensure everything was ready.
Fearing she might have overlooked something, Sheng Wanyan realized the apartment lacked extra washbasins. She asked Political Commissar Xie to help source a wooden bathtub, a foot basin, and two utility buckets. The political commissar worked incredibly fast, delivering everything she requested in just three days.
Grandpa and Grandma Sheng dropped by to see how the preparations were coming along. After all, moving in with a mother-in-law came with its own set of domestic delicate balances. Seeing that Sheng Wanyan had been meticulously thorough, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“I was worried you wouldn’t be fully prepared,” Grandma Sheng admitted.
“Grandma, do you really have so little faith in me?” Sheng Wanyan teased, looping her arm through the old woman’s and leaning in close.
“Alright, alright. Your grandmother is just worried you’ve gotten too used to your own routine.” Her granddaughter lived like a little fairy these days, eating fine grains and fresh fruit every single day. “When a daughter-in-law shares a roof with her mother-in-law, friction is almost inevitable. I can’t help but fret over you.”
Hearing her grandmother’s anxiety, Sheng Wanyan quickly offered comfort. “Grandma, I stayed with my parents-in-law back in the Capital during the New Year, and we got along beautifully.”
“How can that compare? Visiting a large household for a holiday is entirely different from living day-to-day as a pair.” Grandma Sheng remained slightly apprehensive. While she knew the Gu family was fundamentally decent and kind, mother-in-law dynamics were complicated no matter who you were. Even the Jade Emperor himself couldn’t smooth over those wrinkles.
“Still, your mother-in-law is a highly sensible woman,” Grandma Sheng added. “If any issues arise, just talk to each other openly and find a compromise.”
Sheng Wanyan nodded obediently, deeply touched by her grandmother’s care. She genuinely shared a wonderful bond with Mother Gu and had thoroughly enjoyed her company in the Capital. Nevertheless, daily life was bound to bring minor misunderstandings; she resolved to address any future concerns face-to-face.
The day of Mother Gu’s arrival finally came. Her train pulled into the station at two in the afternoon, which meant she would arrive at the compound right around six o’clock—perfect timing for dinner.
Grandma Sheng came over early to help prepare the feast. Mother Gu had traveled an immense distance and was bound to be exhausted; she deserved an exceptional welcome meal.
Sheng Wanyan was incredibly generous with her choice cuts of meat and cooking oil. While Grandma Sheng had long grown accustomed to her granddaughter’s luxurious habits, seeing the sheer amount of oil poured into the wok to fry the pork still pricked her thrifty heart. Using that much oil just for a single dish of meat is pure extravagance, she thought. Yet, despite her internal wincing, she knew better than to interfere in the domestic choices of the young couple.
Sheng Wanyan repeatedly tried to coax her grandmother into staying for dinner, but Grandma Sheng insisted on heading back across the lane to watch over little Huzi. Now that she had a precious great-grandson, she couldn’t bear to be away from him for long.
Respecting her decision, Sheng Wanyan packed a generous container of the freshly fried crispy pork for her to take home. Grandma Sheng accepted it happily. Between family members, sharing the best of what you had was second nature—it was the thought that counted.
Sheng Wanyan set the dishes on the dining table and placed a freshly mixed glass of sugar water ready for her mother-in-law. Moments later, the rumble of an engine echoed outside the courtyard. Sheng Wanyan hurried to throw open the front door.
As Mother Gu climbed out of the military vehicle and spotted her daughter-in-law waiting on the porch, she immediately rushed forward to grasp her hands tightly.
“Mom.”
“Wanyan, my goodness, look at you! How are you holding up? How are you feeling?” Mother Gu’s voice overflowed with anxiety. Throughout her entire cross-country journey, her mind had been plagued by vivid, stressful images of Sheng Wanyan being terrorized by bullies.
“Mom, I promise I’m perfectly fine,” Sheng Wanyan soothed, squeezing her hands. “Come inside and rest first. We can talk comfortably out of the cold.”
Mother Gu nodded, realizing she was hovering, and quickly turned to gather her belongings from the vehicle. She had brought an astonishing number of bags, large and small; Sheng Wanyan couldn’t fathom how a single person had managed to haul such cargo across the railway system. Every parcel represented Mother Gu’s deep affection, endured through days of grueling travel.
“Yes, yes, let’s step inside,” Mother Gu agreed.
Sheng Wanyan reached down to help carry a bag, but Mother Gu instantly blocked her. “You are heavily pregnant, do not lift a finger. The guard will handle it.”
Yielding to her commands, Sheng Wanyan stepped back as Father Pan’s personal guard systematically moved the luggage into the hallway. Once everything was inside, Sheng Wanyan pulled five high-quality candies from her coat pocket and pressed them into the young soldier’s palm.
“Take these home for your children, comrade. Let them have a sweet treat.”
The guard hesitated, his face flushing. “Sister-in-law, this is far too generous.”
“Take them,” Sheng Wanyan insisted, her tone firm and unyielding. The guard had spent a grueling day navigating traffic to fetch her mother-in-law, and as Father Pan’s trusted subordinate, she refused to treat his labor with cold indifference.
The guard snapped into a crisp salute, his eyes bright. “Understood! Thank you, Sister-in-law!” With that, he climbed back into the vehicle to return it to the motor pool, and Sheng Wanyan closed the front door against the chill.
Mother Gu’s massive haul of luggage was entirely packed with premium supplies for her and the upcoming baby.
“Mom, have some water first,” Sheng Wanyan said, guiding her to the table. “Dinner is already served. We can worry about unpacking the bags later.”
Mother Gu took the glass and drank it down in greedy gulps, clearly parched from the dry railway air. “Your mom can manage her own things, sweetheart. Don’t strain yourself over me.”
Mother Gu looked around the modest home Gu Tingxiao and Sheng Wanyan had built. It was arranged with exquisite taste, possessing a uniquely cozy, elegant charm. The modern shoe rack and the plush sofa layout were designs she had never encountered in the capital. She didn’t recognize the aesthetic as a refined “natural wood style”; she simply thought it looked exceptionally beautiful.
Previously, she had harbored endless maternal anxieties regarding the young couple’s lifestyle in the remote northern base, despite their constant letters insisting everything was flawless. Now that she was witnessing the reality with her own eyes, she could finally put those fears to rest.
“Mom, your bedroom is right through here,” Sheng Wanyan directed, leading the way.
Mother Gu carried her primary suitcase into the spare room. Seeing the space thoroughly scrubbed, matching the pristine, brand-new bedding linens, a wave of profound comfort washed over her.
“Mom, your designated bathtub and foot basin are ready, and the kitchen lines the backyard. There is plenty of hot water currently boiling on the stove, so feel free to freshen up first.”
“Wonderful, wonderful. You’ve curated this little home beautifully,” Mother Gu beamed. “Let me wash my hands, and then we’ll sit down to eat.”
She couldn’t be more satisfied with her reception; her daughter-in-law had anticipated her every need. It almost felt as though she, the mother-in-law, had arrived purely to be pampered.
Sheng Wanyan quietly stepped out of the room, allowing Mother Gu total privacy to settle in. Now that her mother-in-law had moved into the apartment, that bedroom was her sacred personal domain; even as the mistress of the house, Sheng Wanyan intended to respect her boundaries fully.
A few minutes later, Mother Gu emerged, refreshed and ready for dinner. Noting the premium fine grains lining the table, she felt a swell of warmth, knowing how much importance Sheng Wanyan placed on her arrival.
“Mom, try some of this bone broth first,” Sheng Wanyan said, ladling a warm bowlful and passing it over.
Mother Gu accepted it quickly. “Wanyan, please sit and eat. I can serve myself.”
She reached across the table, her eyes filled with earnest devotion. “Now that I’m here, you must leave every single domestic chore to me. Your health is the absolute top priority right now. Engaging in heavy manual labor during the final trimesters is far too dangerous; a single slip could easily trigger a premature labor.”
