Chapter 462| Chapter 463| Chapter 464
Chapter 462: Admitted to Peking University!
Mother Gu quickly went into the kitchen, brought out two crisp apples, and handed them to the young courier for his journey home.
When the courier heard that Sheng Wanyan had been admitted to Peking University, his eyes widened in sheer astonishment. Good heavens, an elite Peking University student was standing right in front of him!
“Thank you, ma’am, for the holiday treat,” he beamed, accepting the fruits without hesitation.
This was a major military compound and he routinely managed deliveries along this avenue, so he was well aware of the high-ranking families who occupied the estates.
“Congratulations to the young lady,” the courier added with a respectful bow.
Seeing how warm and generous the household was, he decided to share a suspicious detail from his arrival, eager to do a favor for a future Peking University scholar. “Actually, ma’am, just as I was entering the compound gates, a woman approached my bicycle claiming to be Comrade Sheng Wanyan’s sister-in-law.”
“She insisted on collecting the formal packet on Comrade Sheng Wanyan’s behalf, but I flatly refused to hand it over.”
Mother Gu had been utterly immersed in the joy of the acceptance, but the moment the words left the courier’s mouth, her expression darkened instantly. She quickly cross-referenced a few specific physical features with the young man to confirm her suspicions.
Sure enough, the description matched Wang Chunmei perfectly. Grandpa and Grandma Gu’s faces turned so dangerously black that the air in the foyer instantly froze.
Sensing the impending storm, Mother Wang didn’t dare linger a second longer. She hastily grabbed her eldest daughter-in-law and her trembling grandson, slinking out the front doors in utter disgrace to prevent the Gu patriarchs from unleashing their fury on the Wang family.
Mother Gu retrieved a dozen premium White Rabbit milk candies from the sideboard and slipped them into the courier’s hand with a grateful smile. “Thank you for your sharp eye, young man. You’ve done our family an immense service.”
“It was no trouble at all, ma’am! Just doing my job,” the courier grinned, pocketing the sweets before hopping onto his bicycle. He pedaled out of the courtyard, ringing his bell as he rode off to deliver dispatches to other households.
“What an absolutely despicable woman!”
The very moment the courier cleared the gates, Grandpa Gu’s volcanic temper erupted. The family had never imagined that Wang Chunmei would stoop to such underhanded, malicious tactics.
Intercepting a state university admission letter on behalf of a candidate? What was her ultimate objective? Did she truly harbor the delusion that she could steal the deed and sit in the lecture halls of the capital in place of the third son’s wife?
Gu Tingxiao’s countenance was terrifyingly grim. He had witnessed every single night his wife spent hunched over her desk under the dim lamplight, sacrificing her sleep to master the materials. His voice dropped into a dangerous, lethal register. “The fourth branch’s household can no longer be tolerated under our name.”
Hearing the old patriarch echo the exact sentiment, Mother Gu’s eyes widened in realization. Was the old man finally planning to…
“Place a direct call to the ministry offices,” Grandpa Gu commanded coldly. “Order Gu Tinghao to march back to this estate the second his shift concludes tonight.”
Mother Gu nodded grimly, immediately dialing the government department to track down her fourth son, instructing him to return to the compound the moment he clocked out.
Coincidentally, Gu Tinghao had also received his formal admission letter from Renmin University that very afternoon. He had been cradling the envelope with immense pride, planning to present the achievement to the elders to claim a rare nod of approval.
When he walked through the doors and shared his personal success, the family offered their congratulations, but it was painfully obvious that the smiles on their faces didn’t reach their eyes.
“Follow me to the study. Both of you,” Father Gu instructed, gesturing to his sons.
Eldest Brother Gu and Gu Tingxiao exchanged a brief, knowing look before following the procession. The household fell into a heavy silence. The old patriarch was rarely this severe, especially on a historic day when two major academic triumphs had landed on their doorstep.
When the men finally emerged from the private study an hour later, Gu Tinghao’s face was completely drained of color, his skin a ghostly, bloodless white.
He had truly never imagined that his wife would possess the sheer, criminal audacity to attempt such a stunt. He didn’t even dare contemplate the catastrophic legal and social consequences his branch would have suffered if she had successfully intercepted his third sister-in-law’s official documentation.
“You are completely incompetent when it comes to managing your own household!” Father Gu roared, his face furious as he stared down at his fourth son. “The second the Spring Festival concludes, you will secure a legal divorce from that woman, or you can pack your bags and get the hell out of the Gu lineage permanently!”
Gu Tinghao kept his head bowed, his frame trembling as he accepted the harsh reprimand. “I understand, Father.”
He didn’t offer a single word of complaint or defense. Reaching into his breast pocket, he pulled out his fresh Renmin University document and passed it to his father with shaking hands. “Please… safeguard my admission letter here at the main estate. I don’t want Wang Chunmei to get her hands on it or attempt any sabotage when I return to our apartment tonight.”
Gu Tinghao felt too thoroughly humiliated to look Gu Tingxiao or Sheng Wanyan in the eye. Before retreating from the foyer, he turned toward Sheng Wanyan, delivering a deep, formal bow of apology before fleeing the estate in a frantic rush.
The moment the domestic drama cleared, the children of the household swarmed around Sheng Wanyan, their eyes absolutely shining with pure, unrestrained adoration.
“Third Aunt, you are simply magnificent!” Gu Jinfang cheered, before letting out a heavy, defeated sigh. “I wish I had your brain. I find traditional studying so incredibly difficult.”
Sheng Wanyan caught the sudden drop in his confidence, her internal parental alarms blaring instantly. It was an incredibly dangerous thing when an ambitious young boy began developing a psychological resistance to education. She knew she had to dismantle his mental block immediately; if a child lacks confidence at the starting line, that hesitation rapidly mutters into a permanent fear of learning.
“Your intellect isn’t the problem, Xiaofang; you are simply deploying the wrong methodology,” she noted warmly. “Acquiring knowledge isn’t about blind force; it relies entirely on specific skills and strategic techniques.”
“Huh? Skills? Like tactical maneuvers?”
“Exactly. Go fetch your current textbooks.”
Gu Jinfang sprinted to his room, returning with a stack of heavy volumes. He was currently struggling to maintain his middle-school averages, yet his ultimate dream was to pass the elite military academy entrance examinations.
“Show me which concepts are causing the most friction,” Sheng Wanyan instructed.
Gu Jinfang pointed down the pages, highlighting his weak spots across every single core subject. As it turned out, he was drowning in confusion across the entire curriculum.
Sheng Wanyan: “……”
“Execute this sample problem for me. Let me observe your process.”
Sheng Wanyan watched his pencil move across the paper, methodically analyzing his cognitive habits. Before long, she successfully isolated the exact reason his academic performance remained stubbornly mediocre despite his intense effort. His entire approach to education relied strictly on brute-force, rote memorization without utilizing a single logical shortcut or analytical technique.
This flaw was exceptionally glaring in his mathematics workbook. He had blindly memorized the geometric and algebraic formulas as static text strings, possessing absolutely zero understanding of the underlying mathematical principles they represented.
Sheng Wanyan looked at her nephew with a wave of profound, tender pity. This poor child was incredibly stubborn; he was treating his studies like an infantry charge, completely unable to pivot his mind to see the broader picture.
She took the pencil from his hand and mapped out an entirely different analytical framework to solve the problem, guiding him step-by-step so he could visualize the logic instead of relying on memory.
For the very first time in his ten years of life, Gu Jinfang experienced the exhilarating joy of intellectual clarity. Concepts that had sounded like absolute gibberish when delivered by his classroom instructors suddenly became blindingly simple under his Third Aunt’s elegant breakdown.
At that exact moment, the look of pure, unadulterated worship in his eyes as he stared at her completely eclipsed the admiration he usually reserved for his uncle Gu Tingxiao.
Observing the breakthrough, little Gu Jingjing quickly scurried up the stairs to retrieve her own workbooks. While her marks were already exceptional—consistently placing her within the top five students of her elite tier—she fiercely desired perfection. Aside from her devotion to painting, the young girl lived strictly to study, carrying herself as a quiet, impeccably well-behaved child.
Her discipline was deeply rooted in her past; having been rejected and looked down upon by her biological mother since infancy, she had found sanctuary under her uncle’s roof. Consequently, she constantly demanded flawless behavior from herself, terrified of causing a shred of stress or inconvenience to her grandparents.
Sheng Wanyan methodically reviewed her essays, offering several precise critiques alongside a volley of warm, encouraging praise. Hearing the genuine compliments from her brilliant aunt, Gu Jingjing lowered her head, a beautiful, shy blush coloring her cheeks.
Eldest Sister-in-law watched the kitchen table academy with a heart full of profound relief. Her son’s academic stagnation had long been her absolute greatest maternal headache. No matter how many hours she spent tutoring the boy, he simply couldn’t grasp the core logic, which frequently left both parent and child completely frazzled and frustrated. On multiple occasions, she had privately wondered how a son born to a high-ranking intellectual like herself could possess such a dense mind. She had ultimately chalked it up to the overwhelming dominance of the rugged Gu military genes, resigning herself to defeat.
Now, she realized her son wasn’t stupid at all; his teachers had simply been deploying defective pedagogical methods.
Sheng Wanyan continued to review the formulas with Gu Jinfang, until Gu Tingxiao finally stepped into the kitchen, firmly cutting off the lecture to usher his wife upstairs for some mandatory rest.
“Third Aunt, please promise we can continue this tomorrow morning!” Gu Jinfang begged, clutching his notebook.
“Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, young man,” Mother Gu interjected with a warm laugh, swatting her grandson’s shoulder. “Your aunt needs a holiday. You can resume your academy after the Spring Festival concludes.”
Mother Gu was deeply gratified to see her eldest grandson finally embracing his studies, but she firmly believed that during the sacred New Year celebrations, both adults and children deserved to focus entirely on happiness.
Faced with his grandmother’s executive decree, Gu Jinfang had no choice but to surrender the field. After all, his Third Aunt would be residing permanently in the Capital from now on; there was absolutely no reason to rush the process.
“Tell you what, Xiaofang,” Sheng Wanyan smiled as she stood up. “Over the holiday break, I’ll carve out some time to compile a comprehensive set of personalized study guides and logical frameworks for you to review.”
“Thank you, Third Aunt!” the boy cheered, wisely stopping while he was ahead. He had already clocked the increasingly dark, impatient expression settling over his third uncle’s face.
Sheng Wanyan and Gu Tingxiao scooped up Yiyi and carried her upstairs to their quarters. The toddler’s eyes were already heavy with exhaustion; if she hadn’t been fiercely determined to monitor her older cousin’s study session, she would have fallen asleep on the kitchen floor hours ago.
Sheng Wanyan gave the sleepy girl a gentle sponge bath, carefully avoiding her bandaged palms, before tucking her securely into her crib so she could secure a full night of deep rest.
While Gu Tingxiao stepped into the bathroom to take his shower, Sheng Wanyan picked up the crimson Peking University admission letter, administrative pride warming her fingers, before safely stowing the precious document away in her secure lockbox.
She settled against the headboard, opening a literature book to read under the soft lamplight. Within minutes, the bathroom door swung open, and Gu Tingxiao emerged, towel-drying his dark hair. He slid beneath the heavy winter quilt, immediately wrapping his powerful arms around her waist to pull her possessively against his chest.
Chapter 463: New Year’s Eve Dinner
Throughout the day, Gu Tingxiao had maintained a perfectly composed, dignified image in front of his juniors, taking absolute care not to say or do anything that might damage his commanding aura. But privately, his heart was practically bursting with uncontainable pride. This brilliantly talented scholar is my wife!
“Wife, I am so incredibly proud of you,” he murmured against her ear.
“Since I’ve brought such immense glory to our household, how are you going to reward me?” Sheng Wanyan asked, tilting her chin up. She flashed him an arrogant, delightfully coquettish look.
Gu Tingxiao couldn’t hold back a deep, rumbling laugh, pulling her tighter into his arms. The vibration of his chest was rich and steady, radiating a potent, deeply attractive masculine energy. Sheng Wanyan couldn’t help but marvel at how this man only seemed to grow more impossibly attractive as he matured.
“I’ve already given you my entire life and every cent I own. What else is there left for you to take?” he teased softly. “You are my absolute ancestor.”
Sheng Wanyan actually felt goosebumps rise along her arms at the low, gravelly tone of his voice, especially at that final word. Ancestor? How could she possibly be considered Gu Tingxiao’s little ancestor? It was glaringly obvious that Yiyi was the true miniature ancestor of this household—and not just his, but hers as well.
As if to prove her point, little Yiyi, who was fast asleep in her crib across the room, suddenly let out a loud, squeaky fart. Without missing a beat, the toddler rolled comfortably onto her side and continued to snore in absolute peace, completely oblivious to the fact that her mother was currently harboring a sliver of jealousy toward her.
The next morning, Gu Tingxiao slipped out of the estate at dawn. It was highly unusual for him to be absent on New Year’s Eve, a day typically reserved entirely for family preparations.
Sheng Wanyan and Mother Gu tied on their aprons and set to work preparing the lavish New Year’s Eve feast. Naturally, Gu Tinghao and Wang Chunmei returned to the ancestral estate for the holiday gathering.
Desperate to put on a good performance and curry favor with the elders, Wang Chunmei practically forced a smile onto her face and marched straight into the kitchen to assist with the cooking.
However, as she stood at the sink, she noticed that Mother Gu wasn’t speaking to her. In fact, it felt as though every single member of the Gu family was treating her like an invisible ghost today. In the past, no matter how much friction existed, the elders had always maintained basic etiquette. Whenever she greeted them, they would at least offer a polite nod or exchange a few words regarding Gu Jinmin’s education.
But today, when she had called out her greetings in the foyer, both Father and Mother Gu had completely ignored her. Even the two elderly patriarchs hadn’t bothered to spare her a single glance.
Wang Chunmei scrubbed the vegetables in absolute frustration, genuinely clueless as to how she had managed to offend the Gu lineage this time.
Her mind was already spiraling with anxiety. She felt incredibly bitter that both Sheng Wanyan and her own husband had successfully tested into prestigious universities, while she had failed to even secure a passing grade. Gu Tinghao had grown increasingly cold and distant toward her lately. If he spent the next four years studying on a college campus, surrounded by educated, like-minded female students, could her marriage actually survive?
Furthermore, a major crisis was brewing at her workplace. One of her subordinate clerks in the factory’s finance department had passed the exams and secured university admission. Just yesterday, the factory director had summoned Wang Chunmei into his office for a private meeting. His underlying message had been terrifyingly clear: she needed to pursue further education and upgrade her credentials immediately, otherwise her position as director would be permanently jeopardized. Once the current generation of university students graduated and entered the workforce, there simply wouldn’t be a seat left for an uneducated manager in the finance department!
Wang Chunmei realized with rising panic that from the very moment Sheng Wanyan had returned to the Capital, her own life had begun unraveling, with crises erupting on every front. The last time the third branch visited, it had triggered massive fractures in her marriage; this time, it was threatening to destroy her career.
“Wanyan, how about you take the position of head chef today?” Mother Gu suggested warmly, completely ignoring Wang Chunmei’s presence.
“Alright, Mom,” Sheng Wanyan smiled.
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law moved through the kitchen in perfect harmony, chatting effortlessly and functioning like a well-oiled machine, which only served to make Wang Chunmei feel even more isolated and estranged.
“Mom, let me help Third Sister-in-law with the prep,” Wang Chunmei offered tightly.
Mother Gu didn’t say a word, offering only a stiff nod. Regardless of her immense displeasure with the woman, she wasn’t about to let Wang Chunmei sit comfortably in the living room waiting to be served while everyone else worked.
“Third Sister-in-law,” Wang Chunmei began cautiously as she chopped garlic. “I heard a rumor that you were admitted to a university. Which school did you get into?”
Wang Chunmei still hadn’t heard the official results, but she knew she couldn’t afford to offend Sheng Wanyan right now. She needed to repair the bridge, not just for the sake of family harmony, but to ensure that Sheng Wanyan might throw some opportunities her way in the future if she achieved success.
“Peking University,” Sheng Wanyan answered casually, seeing no reason to hide it. She had already locked the physical admission letter safely inside her spatial dimension, meaning Wang Chunmei would never be able to lay a finger on the document.
The moment Wang Chunmei heard “Peking University,” the forced, polite smile on her face shattered completely, instantly replaced by raw, unmasked jealousy. Sheng Wanyan hadn’t just gotten into a university; she had claimed a seat at the absolute pinnacle of national academia, the historic institution that every citizen dreamed of attending!
“Really?” Wang Chunmei choked out, her voice straining. “Third Sister-in-law is truly incredible.”
She lowered her head, staring blankly at the cutting board, her mind racing with toxic thoughts. Sheng Wanyan offered a brief, polite nod in acknowledgment before turning her attention entirely back to her cooking.
Out in the living room, the children were fully occupied. Sheng Wanyan had brought a massive collection of Yiyi’s toys downstairs to the first floor. Normally, Gu Jinfang and Gu Jingjing weren’t particularly interested in toddler toys, having outgrown them years ago. However, Gu Jingjing still enjoyed sitting with Yiyi, simply because she genuinely loved beautiful dolls.
Yiyi was an incredibly generous toddler who loved sharing her treasures, especially with people she adored. She had even permanently gifted Gu Jingjing her absolute favorite princess doll.
Gu Jingjing had been seriously studying drawing and painting for two or three years now. She had developed an impressive ability to sketch animals and botanical scenes, achieving a striking seventy to eighty percent resemblance to her references. Whenever Sheng Wanyan watched the girl draw, she couldn’t help but marvel at her raw talent. If the Gu family continued to cultivate her skills properly, Gu Jingjing could easily grow into an exceptional, highly sought-after artist in the future.
If Gu Jingjing expressed even a passing admiration for one of the toys, Yiyi would generously thrust it into her older cousin’s hands. The two girls got along beautifully.
At the moment, Yiyi was deeply focused on assembling a complex puzzle—an educational tool Sheng Wanyan had specifically sourced to develop her spatial logic and fine motor skills. The challenge had drawn the interest of both Gu Jingjing and Gu Jinfang, and the three cousins were huddled together on the rug, looking incredibly serious as they analyzed the pieces.
Realizing that none of the older kids wanted to play with him, Gu Jinmin wandered over to the pile of toys and snatched up a beautifully carved wooden boat. It was a custom piece that Father Gu had personally whittled for Yiyi.
Yiyi treasured the boat immensely. Anything she physically carried around to play with on a daily basis was considered a top-tier treasure. However, seeing that Gu Jinmin wanted a turn with it, she didn’t throw a fit or protest; she knew he was her cousin, and sharing was expected.
“Jinmin,” Gu Tinghao called out firmly from the armchair. He was actively searching for opportunities to repair his severely damaged relationship with the third branch, starting with Yiyi. He knew that as long as he treated Yiyi well, his third brother might eventually be willing to acknowledge him again. At the very least, Gu Tingxiao wouldn’t look at him with the same lethal, icy contempt he had displayed upon his return. “You must ask your little sister for permission before you play with her things.”
Under the heavy pressure of his father’s authoritative tone, Gu Jinmin slowly walked over to the toddler. “Can I play with this?”
“Okay~” Yiyi agreed generously.
Hearing her permission, Gu Jinmin broke into a happy grin, plopped down on the rug, and began sailing the wooden boat across the floorboards. The four children played in perfect harmony, enjoying a rare moment of peaceful coexistence as the afternoon drifted toward the evening feast.
Just as the sun began to set, Gu Tingxiao finally returned to the estate. No one had a clue where he had been all day, and Father Gu shot him an irritated, exasperated glare the moment he walked through the door.
“Daddy!” Yiyi cheered.
“Third Uncle,” Gu Jinfang and Gu Jingjing greeted respectfully.
Gu Tingxiao offered the kids a warm nod, walking straight over to Yiyi to check her little hands. Only after verifying that her fingers were perfectly warm to the touch did he turn and stride into the kitchen to find Sheng Wanyan.
“You’re back?” Sheng Wanyan smiled, wiping her hands on a towel.
“Third Brother,” Wang Chunmei greeted stiffly from the sink.
Gu Tingxiao completely ignored her, walking right past Wang Chunmei without so much as a glance to stand beside his wife.
Sheng Wanyan poured him a glass of warm water. She didn’t press him for details regarding his mysterious, day-long absence; she understood that men required their own private operational space.
“Wife, let me handle carrying the dishes to the table,” Gu Tingxiao offered, rolling up his sleeves.
Sheng Wanyan didn’t bother with false politeness; she immediately handed him the heavy serving platters and directed him to set out the bowls and chopsticks.
Just then, Second Sister Gu and her family burst through the front doors, instantly filling the foyer with lively, bustling energy.
Second Sister Gu and her husband had practically sprinted straight from their military posts the second their shifts concluded. The Air Force had been operating on high alert recently, and they hadn’t been granted a single day of annual leave. Fortunately, her parents’ estate was located right here in the Capital; otherwise, her small family would have been forced to endure a deeply isolated, lonely New Year’s holiday on the base.
It was the very first time Second Sister Gu’s two children had ever met Yiyi. Acting as the senior commander of the cousin brigade, Gu Jinfang quickly facilitated the introductions. Within minutes, the new arrivals seamlessly integrated into the group, happily joining the playtime on the rug. Given Yiyi’s massive, captivating arsenal of toys, the older children adored her even more.
Second Sister Gu dropped her coat and hurried into the kitchen to offer her assistance, only to find that the massive feast had already been fully plated.
“There’s no need for you to lift a finger, Tingting,” Mother Gu smiled warmly. “Our Wanyan has already handled everything beautifully.”
Chapter 464: Sister Gu and Wang Chunmei’s Past
Hearing this, Second Sister Gu quickly offered a few words of praise. Although she hadn’t spent much time with Sheng Wanyan personally, she had heard plenty of good things about her from Mother Gu.
In her eyes, Sheng Wanyan was an incredible woman—leaps and bounds better than her fourth brother’s wife.
“Third Brother, Sister-in-law, you’ve both worked hard,” she said warmly.
“You’re too kind, Second Sister. It’s just a few home-cooked dishes,” Sheng Wanyan replied.
Second Sister Gu smiled, helped finish cleaning up the kitchen, and then headed out to the dining area.
Uncle Gu and his family couldn’t make it back for the holidays this year. Since Hai City was the very first area to receive foreign investment, the military district there was far too busy maintaining the city’s security to grant anyone leave.
The New Year’s Eve dinner officially began. Both the adults and children loved celebrating the Spring Festival, especially New Year’s Eve, when the highly anticipated red envelopes were handed out.
The adults didn’t even need to call for them; the children all scrambled into their seats at the table in record time.
This year was the first time little Yi Yi could truly feel the festive atmosphere. She had been too young during the past two years to remember anything at all.
Her eyes widened instantly when she saw the sumptuous feast laid out before them. Wow, the food looks so delicious! It’s more extravagant than anything I’ve ever seen!
“Come on, everyone, let’s eat!”
Mother Gu was in incredibly high spirits. Knowing that Sheng Wanyan had been admitted to university and would soon settle down in the Capital with Yi Yi made her so happy she couldn’t stop smiling.
She had originally thought she’d have to wait until her third son was officially transferred back to the Capital before she could be reunited with his family. She never expected her third daughter-in-law to accomplish the move first! Once Gu Tingxiao finished his remaining three or four months stationed in Bing City, he would be transferred back to the Capital. Then, they would finally be together as a complete family.
“Today is New Year’s Eve—a new year, and a new beginning,” Mother Gu announced warmly to the table. “Our family has had so many happy events this year.”
“Tingxiao was promoted to regiment commander, and both Tinghao and Yan’er were admitted to university!”
“And they are both excellent schools—Peking University and Renmin University. You must study hard, continue to serve our nation, and make great contributions in the future.”
“Never forget how the country has nurtured you; you must be worthy of it. Plus, our eldest daughter is pregnant, and all the children have been so sensible.”
Mother Gu was so overjoyed that she couldn’t stop talking, the bright smile never leaving her face.
Naturally, the family elders all had a few words of their own to share. Especially now that society was opening up and progressing, there was much to discuss and advise. However, only the more casual matters were spoken about at the dinner table. The truly important, private matters were reserved for Grandpa Gu’s study.
“Have you two chosen your majors yet?” Grandpa Gu asked.
Grandpa Gu attached great importance to the intellectuals in the family, so he naturally paid close attention to the academic and professional paths of Gu Tinghao and Sheng Wanyan.
“Grandpa, I chose political science,” Gu Tinghao answered.
Grandpa Gu nodded approvingly. Given that Gu Tinghao was entering politics, this choice wasn’t surprising in the least.
“And what about you, Yan’er?”
Grandpa Gu knew exactly how capable Sheng Wanyan was, especially after discovering her remarkable talent for making medicine. Deep down, he secretly hoped she would choose pharmaceutical manufacturing. It was a field desperately valued by the nation right now, given the severe shortage of scientific research talent. Not only would such a path guarantee her a secure and highly influential future in society, but it would also be incredibly beneficial to Gu Tingxiao and the entire Gu family.
“Grandpa, I chose Russian,” she replied.
Hearing this, Grandpa Gu felt a faint sting of disappointment, though he didn’t voice any objections. After all, his third daughter-in-law had already proven her exceptional proficiency in foreign languages. She hadn’t been able to hide her translation work from the four elders of the Gu family, so this decision wasn’t entirely unexpected.
With the country rapidly opening up to foreign investment, Russian was currently the most sought-after language, and there was a massive shortage of linguistic talent. While it wasn’t the path he had originally envisioned for her, it was still a genuinely excellent choice.
“Are you planning to enter the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the future?” he asked.
“I’ll go wherever I’m able to, and wherever the country needs me,” Sheng Wanyan answered smoothly.
Having dedicated his own life to serving the nation, Grandpa Gu was deeply pleased by her response.
“Well said!” he praised. “No matter which industry you choose, you must serve the country wholeheartedly. Every profession has its own path to greatness; it all depends on your own ability.”
The lingering traces of disapproval in Grandpa Gu’s heart were completely smoothed over by Sheng Wanyan’s earnest words. He took a sip of his wine, looking at her with evident satisfaction. It seemed he didn’t need to worry about his third daughter-in-law at all.
She knew exactly what she wanted and possessed the skills to achieve it; all she needed was a proper platform to shine. A person like her would make waves and rise to the top no matter where she went.
The Gu family was truly fortunate to have a daughter-in-law like her.
Grandpa Gu remained in excellent spirits throughout the meal. Because little Yi Yi couldn’t easily manage her own food right now, she patiently waited for Gu Tingxiao to feed her.
Usually, her nimble little fingers were great at putting together puzzles, and she was more than capable of drinking soup and feeding herself. Her current clumsiness made Wanyan sigh softly at the inconvenience.
“Third Brother, what happened to Yi Yi’s hand?”
It was Gu Tingting’s—Second Sister Gu’s—first time meeting her little niece. She couldn’t understand why the precious little girl already sported a bandaged hand.
Hearing Gu Tingting’s question, Mother Gu shot a sharp, pointed look at Wang Chunmei. The woman immediately lowered her head, not daring to utter a single word.
It was her own fault for letting her maiden family manipulate her. Without even trying to understand the situation, she had foolishly come all the way to the military compound to cause trouble for Sheng Wanyan.
“She got hurt in a fight with the Wang family’s grandson,” Mother Gu explained vaguely.
“Wait, isn’t the Wang grandson already five years old? Why on earth is he fighting with little Yi Yi?” Second Sister Gu frowned deeply. Her little niece was barely two and a half years old. It would be a miracle if she could win a fight against a five-year-old boy.
“Exactly. Anyone with eyes can see how unfair that is,” Mother Gu remarked, her tone carrying a heavy edge.
Wang Chunmei kept her head bowed in fearful silence. After all, her sister-in-law, Gu Tingting, was not someone to be trifled with.
The men in the Gu family might not raise a hand against a woman, but Second Sister Gu absolutely would!
Wang Chunmei still vividly remembered when she first married into the family. She had said something careless that annoyed Gu Tingting, and the older woman had practically beaten her up right then and there.
In a family dominated by men, Second Sister Gu had always been a highly favored figure. And because she had also served in the military, the elders doted on her even more. Even when Second Sister Gu had struck his wife, Gu Tinghao hadn’t dared to stand up to his sister. After all, he had been on the receiving end of her beatings plenty of times himself.
Second Sister Gu sensed there was more to the story. But seeing the elders keep quiet, she correctly deduced that Wang Chunmei was somehow at fault. However, she figured the family had already settled the matter behind closed doors; otherwise, they wouldn’t all be sitting here enjoying dinner so peacefully.
“Third Brother, Sister-in-law, you’ve both worked hard today. Make sure you eat plenty,” Second Sister Gu said, turning her attention back to them.
Gu Tingting had always liked Sheng Wanyan, and her admiration had only deepened after learning that she’d been admitted to such a prestigious university.
Sheng Wanyan smiled and nodded gracefully. Although she hadn’t spent much time with her second sister-in-law, being around someone as straightforward and cheerful as Gu Tingting was incredibly refreshing.
“You eat more too, Second Sister. Try some of my cooking,” Sheng Wanyan offered.
“I will!”
True to her word, Second Sister Gu ate enthusiastically throughout the meal, pausing frequently to praise Sheng Wanyan’s culinary skills.
Watching them bond made Wang Chunmei seethe with quiet jealousy. Both she and Sheng Wanyan were her younger sisters-in-law, yet the difference in how Second Sister Gu treated them was like night and day.
She showered Sheng Wanyan with endless praise, treating her like a beloved blood sister, while she treated Wang Chunmei with nothing but merciless hostility, as if she were an enemy.
