Chapter 299: Children Stretching Their Muscles
Gu Tingxiao heard the commotion and stepped out of the cottage, arriving just in time to see the three massive parcels being brought through the front gate.
The young soldier caught sight of Captain Gu, stiffened instantly, and bolted down the path before anyone could stop him. Sheng Wanyan had been right on the verge of inviting him inside for a refreshing cup of water, but she was left staring at his fast-retreating back.
Why on earth was he running so fast?
“Why did you bring back so many things?” Gu Tingxiao asked, stepping forward to lift the heavy boxes.
“Our families sent a massive haul,” she smiled.
Sheng Wanyan opened the first package, which contained a fresh stack of textbooks and reference materials from the Capital editorial office, alongside her substantial translation earnings from the previous two months.
Gu Tingxiao carried the publishing materials and her cash inside to store them securely in the bedroom, then returned to the porch to open the remaining two crates.
The items from the Capital had been meticulously packed and sent by Grandpa Gu, Grandma Gu, and Father Gu. The moment the news reached the capital that Sheng Wanyan had delivered a healthy baby girl, the family elders had immediately gone on a wild shopping spree, purchasing a mountain of premium clothing and supplies specifically tailored for a daughter.
Back when they were preparing the initial nursery registry, everyone had stuck to safe, gender-neutral colors. But now that they knew a granddaughter had arrived, the elders had flooded the box with vibrant pink and deep red garments, supplemented by beautifully quilted baby blankets. Grandma Gu had also packed an impressive collection of high-end health tonics and traditional supplements, explicitly intended to nourish Sheng Wanyan’s body during her recovery.
The final crate, dispatched from Rongcheng, was packed with equal devotion by Father and Mother Sheng. It was bursting with premium health supplements, handmade baby clothes, and a collection of colorful toys.
The exact moment Father Sheng officially found out he had a granddaughter, he was so thoroughly ecstatic that he immediately grabbed the beautiful doll he had previously forced his own parents to buy, packing it securely into the center of the crate. Since he didn’t have a biological granddaughter back across the lane, the exact same doting affection would be poured unstintingly onto his granddaughter-in-law.
Sheng Wanyan couldn’t help but laugh the moment her fingers brushed the doll. Looking closely, she realized the toy actually bore a striking resemblance to little Yi Yi.
Her daughter possessed beautifully delicate facial features and wide, watery eyes. Now that she had reached the one-month milestone, her skin had smoothed out into a flawless, fair texture, making her look exactly like a living doll at first glance.
Mother Sheng, harboring a deep maternal sympathy for the grueling physical toll her daughter had just endured, had filled the remaining space with every practical necessity Sheng Wanyan might require, even tucking in a massive ration of cured meat specifically for her personal meals.
Father and Mother Sheng had originally intended to secure a formal leave of absence from their respective units to make the long journey north, but the autumn season was when the state factories entered their peak production cycles. With Father Sheng pinned down by his administrative duties, it simply wasn’t safe or practical for Mother Sheng to undertake the rough northern journey entirely on her own.
They would have no choice but to delay their visit until the Lunar New Year. Reading through the lines of their letter, a profound wave of tenderness washed over Sheng Wanyan’s heart.
It was only after stepping into the role of a mother herself that she fully comprehended just how exceptionally successful, balanced, and fair Mr. and Mrs. Sheng truly were as parents. In this rigid, traditional era, their progressive educational philosophy was a rare triumph, and their children could trace their love in every single choice they made.
Even though Sheng Wanyan was fully aware that the household naturally prioritized Sheng Wanze as the male heir to carry the name, the elders had never once treated their daughter with a fraction of neglect or harshness. They had granted her every ounce of support she deserved, fiercely refusing to ever let their daughter’s future be sacrificed to pave a path for her brother’s advancement.
In this desperate day and age, society was rampant with horrific cases of families systematically trading their daughters’ marriages for financial gain or professional influence, utilizing the bride-prices to fund their sons’ weddings. Never mind the limitations of this current era—even in the highly developed modern world of her previous life, finding parents who practiced absolute gender equity was a rare blessing.
“Your mother and father are incredibly thoughtful,” Gu Tingxiao noted quietly. Looking over the contents of the Rongcheng crate, he could feel the immense, protective care the Shengs held for his wife.
“Yes, they really are,” Sheng Wanyan sighed softly, a sudden wave of homesickness tightening her throat. She genuinely missed her parents.
“Tomorrow morning, I’ll organize a generous portion of cured meat and fine grains from our pantry and ship it straight to Rongcheng,” Gu Tingxiao resolved, gently squeezing her hand. “We need to ensure your parents are fully provisioned to stay warm and well-fed through the brutal winter months.”
Sheng Wanyan nodded gratefully, quickly reminding him to assemble a parallel care package for the three Gu elders back in the capital. Given that their small branch wouldn’t be traveling down to the Capital to celebrate the impending New Year, they wouldn’t be able to accompany the family elders through the holidays.
“We should mail a substantial cut of meat back to Grandpa, Grandma, and Dad as well,” she instructed. “Grandpa and Dad both deeply cherish a good drink, and we currently have an abundance of premium, homemade peach blossom wine maturing down in our cellar. Let’s pack ten bottles into their crate.”
Sheng Wanyan refused to ever display favoritism between the households. She was determined to care for Gu Tingxiao’s parents with the exact same material devotion she poured onto her own. She was simultaneously a daughter and a daughter-in-law.
Human nature was inherently biased, and no relationship on earth could ever truly replicate the primal bond shared with one’s biological parents; however, when it came to tangible provisions, material comforts, and respect, she would maintain a flawless balance. She would never allow the Gu elders to harbor even a sliver of doubt or assume their daughter-in-law’s loyalty resided exclusively with her maiden home.
“Understood,” Gu Tingxiao replied, a deep warmth spreading through his chest at her careful arrangements. His wife always managed these family dynamics flawlessly.
Every single time they compiled their regular allowance shipments for the capital, the food rations and cash she verified were always calibrated to be generous, never falling short by a single copper, proving that she constantly kept the comfort of his parents at the forefront of her mind. Whether purchasing high-end fabrics, premium groceries, or specialized supplements, one pristine portion was designated for Rongcheng, and an identical portion was routed to the Capital. She quietly ensured the elderly relatives were constantly nourished, and he noted her silent devotion with immense gratitude.
He was well aware that by marrying him, his wife had willingly assumed the shared burdens of his lineage, choosing to extend her filial piety to his family. Yet, in his heart, he maintained a strict, modern boundary: it was the Sheng family who had poured their blood and sweat into raising his magnificent wife. He never expected his daughter-in-law to magically love his parents as her own biological flesh and blood; as long as the household coexisted in beautiful, respectful harmony, it was more than enough.
Honoring and caring for the Gu elders was his fundamental duty as a son, not a mandatory sacrifice to be extracted from his wife. A daughter-in-law married him, not the entire Gu dynasty. Her sole responsibility was to cultivate and find happiness within their immediate nuclear family; managing the external family dynamics was a man’s burden. In his universe, his wife was only required to play a supportive, graceful role, nothing more.
Gu Tingxiao systematically stored the new provisions before heading down into the cellar to retrieve five kilograms of prime bacon. Noting the abundant supply of malted milk tins in their larder, he portioned out two large cans for each household.
Sheng Wanyan reviewed the growing pile, deciding the shipment still felt a bit light. The luxurious garments the elders had purchased for little Yi Yi were clearly crafted from top-tier textiles and must have cost a small fortune. Wanting to match their generosity, she stepped back into the bedroom, retrieved twenty large, crisp apples from her private store, and divided them evenly between the two crates.
Sheng Wanyan absolutely adored fresh fruit, and since Gu Tingxiao and Mother Gu continuously combed the local supply and marketing cooperative to purchase them for her, their household stash had quietly grown into a massive reserve.
“Let’s pack some fresh eggs into the crates as well,” she added.
Their courtyard was currently swimming in eggs; their two plump hens were functioning like clockwork, reliably laying a fresh egg every single day. Since the family didn’t consume them at every meal, their storage baskets were practically overflowing.
“Pack twenty eggs into each shipment.”
Gu Tingxiao nodded, immediately executing her guidelines. Whatever his wife decreed was absolute law; she held the final, unchallengeable authority over how their domestic resources were allocated.
The couple had just finished sealing the heavy wooden crates for the elders when a sharp, reedy wail erupted from across the hall.
Sheng Wanyan quickly washed her hands with soap and hurried into the bedroom. Little Yi Yi had awakened from her nap, her rhythmic cries signaling that it was officially time for her afternoon feeding. While Gu Tingxiao stepped into the kitchen to get lunch started, Sheng Wanyan settled onto the edge of the mattress, cradling the infant against her chest to nurse.
The moment her rations were secured, Yi Yi’s frantic wails ceased, and she began drinking greedily in large, content gulps.
Once the feeding concluded, Sheng Wanyan lifted the infant, bracing her securely against her shoulder for several minutes to allow her digestion to settle and prevent any spitting up. Even with a full stomach, little Yi Yi showed absolutely zero desire to drift back to sleep, her miniature fists flailing playfully through the air as she stretched her muscles.
Sheng Wanyan laid her flat against the center of the bed, retrieved a tiny, traditional brass gong and drum from the toy pile, and began shaking it gently. The crisp, rhythmic chiming instantly reached the infant’s ears, and her wide eyes began darting curiously from left to right, frantically trying to locate the source of the delightful sound.
Amused by her intense focus, Sheng Wanyan desisted from teasing her, setting the toy down to let the baby play freely while she maintained a strict watch to ensure her tiny fingers didn’t stray into her mouth. Sheng Wanyan was exceptionally particular about safeguarding her daughter’s head shape, consistently adjusting her position to ensure her skull developed into a beautiful, perfect round form.
After letting her play for several minutes, Sheng Wanyan gently shifted her onto her stomach against a firm pillow to help ease her digestion and vent any trapped gas.
Pfft~
Sheng Wanyan’s expression instantly froze. She stared up at the ceiling in mute disbelief as her tiny, delicate daughter let out a rapid succession of incredibly loud, surprisingly pungent farts. Good heavens, she thought, wrinkled her nose, these baby farts are absolutely lethal.
Entirely unbothered by her own biological warfare, little Yi Yi kicked her chubby feet and waved her hands through the air, thoroughly enjoying her newfound mobility.
When Mother Gu returned from the communal garden plots to prepare lunch, she spotted Gu Tingxiao efficiently commanding the stove and decided her assistance wasn’t required in the kitchen.
Instead, she eagerly marched straight into the bedroom to dote on her precious granddaughter. The moment she crossed the threshold, she found little Yi Yi actively blinking her wide eyes as she looked left and right, her tiny movements incredibly endearing.
“Yi Yi, look who’s here! Grandma is home,” Mother Gu cooed, her face radiating joy.
Sheng Wanyan addressed her daughter softly, leaning over to smooth out the tiny creases in her rumpled cotton tunic. “Look at you, all tangled up.”
Hearing her grandmother’s familiar, soothing voice, Yi Yi’s head tilted sharply, her gaze tracking the sound.
“Ah~!” the infant babbled, thrusting her chubby arms into the air as she reached out.
Mother Gu stepped right up to the edge of the frame, gently capturing those tiny hands in her palms and rocking them in a soft rhythm. The baby enjoyed the game for a few moments before her natural instincts took over, and she began guiding her wet fingers directly toward her open mouth.
Sheng Wanyan’s sharp eyes caught the movement, and she immediately intercepted her wrist. “No, no, sweetheart, you can’t eat your fingers. They’re covered in bacteria.”
Mother Gu suddenly slapped her own thigh, a look of flustered realization washing over her face. She had been so thoroughly consumed by the eagerness to hold her granddaughter that she had completely forgotten to sanitize herself after returning from the fields. “Merciful heavens, I haven’t even washed my hands yet! Step back, little one, you absolutely cannot touch Grandma’s fingers until I’m clean!”
298 is missed
Also thanks for quick translation!!