Chapter 561 | Chapter 562 | Chapter 563
Chapter 561: Mother and Son Conflict
Looking at the two children who were carbon copies of each other… Gu Tingxiao fell into deep thought.
He truly hadn’t wanted the two children to look exactly the same. If they played tricks on him like a magic act down the line, he might not necessarily be able to tell them apart.
“The one wrapped in the blue swaddle is the older brother, and the one in the white swaddle is the younger brother,” the nurse enlightened him, preventing this new father from failing to recognize his own sons.
“Two sons?”
“Yes, you are truly blessed. Your wife gave you two sons.”
Gu Tingxiao: “……” What kind of blessing is this?
Gu Tingxiao stood there, unable to snap out of it. In his vision, it was supposed to be a son and a daughter, adding another sweet, caring little daughter to the family. Instead, a pair of sons had arrived to eat their father out of house and home. The moment he thought of the hard times Eldest Brother Gu’s household went through because of Gu Jinfang…
And Eldest Brother Gu’s boys had come out one by one. He had two at once—that meant the hard times would be twice as hard!
The nurse assumed he was just paralyzed by pure joy, standing there unable to wrap his mind around it. She figured as much; after all, who wouldn’t be ecstatic to see twins? Especially when it was two sons right off the bat—in any other household, they would immediately set up a grand feast in the village and keep it running for three days and three nights.
Sheng Wanyan and the babies were wheeled out of the delivery room together. Back in the ward, a crowd of people swarmed around the mother and sons.
Sheng Wanyan scanned her surroundings, and seeing the teary-eyed little figure standing right at the very back, she extended a hand toward Yi Yi. Yi Yi hurriedly ran over and clutched her hand.
“Mama~ Does it hurt?”
“Mama doesn’t hurt, Yi Yi don’t worry.”
Only then did Yi Yi’s heart rest easy. She knew her mother never lied to her; as long as her mother said it, she believed it.
“Little brothers are naughty, they made Mama hurt!” Yi Yi angrily began denouncing the evidence of her two little brothers’ crimes, and Sheng Wanyan gave her little cheek a gentle pinch.
“It’s fine. Giving birth is just like this.”
Sheng Wanyan had never believed in withholding this somewhat harsh reality from Yi Yi just because she was small. Whatever should be told to her, she would say, especially regarding a woman’s physiology.
“Was it the same when Mama gave birth to Yi Yi?”
“Yes, it’s exactly the same.”
Hearing that it was the same when her mother gave birth to her, Yi Yi felt even more protective ache in her heart. Her mother had worked so hard. Working hard to give birth to Yi Yi, and working hard to give birth to her little brothers. She didn’t want her mother to suffer hardships; she only wanted her mother to play happily with her just like regular days, and dress up beautifully together.
Sheng Wanyan was rather tired, so Mother Gu led Yi Yi back. She needed to head home to brew pig’s trotter soup for her third daughter-in-law. The two babies consumed a lot of milk, so she had to nourish her third daughter-in-law properly; ensuring the mother and sons could all eat their fill was the priority.
Since Sheng Wanyan had given birth to twins, Mother Sheng strictly ordered her to observe a double-month post-partum recovery period. It took far too heavy a toll on the body, so it had to be replenished thoroughly to prevent any lingering health complications.
Around dinner time, Eldest Sister-in-law Gu arrived. When she and Huzi dropped by, Sheng Wanyan was resting, and the two of them found the twins incredibly novel and precious. Eldest Sister-in-law Gu stepped out to grab a bite to eat, and Sheng Wanyan finally woke up by the time she returned.
“Eldest Sister-in-law.”
Eldest Sister-in-law Gu hurriedly inquired about her health, only resting easy once she saw that her constitution hadn’t sustained any fundamental damage.
“These two babies are just too precious. Although you can’t quite distinguish their features yet, they look identical in every single way.”
“I’ve never seen twins in my life before.”
“This truly broadens my horizons.”
Eldest Sister-in-law Gu’s eyes were filled with smiles. After chatting with her for a good while, she pulled out two red strings, each featuring a jade safety buckle pendant. Although the safety buckles weren’t large, the material was top-tier, appearing exceptionally clear and bright.
“I hope my two little nephews grow up safe and healthy.”
Eldest Sister-in-law Gu gently placed them near the two children, offering plenty of blessings before turning around to instruct, “Third Brother, I brought some fruits and brown sugar for Third Sister-in-law. Make sure to feed some to her regularly.”
“Third Brother, Third Sister-in-law is the ultimate hero of our household. You must look after her well.”
Eldest Sister-in-law Gu truly felt that for Gu Tingxiao to marry Sheng Wanyan was a blessing accumulated over several lifetimes; such an excellent wife was a rare find.
Gu Tingxiao listened intently to the lecture, respecting Eldest Sister-in-law Gu immensely as he nodded. “Rest assured, Eldest Sister-in-law.”
Seeing Sheng Wanyan’s somewhat exhausted state, Eldest Sister-in-law Gu didn’t overstay her welcome. She offered a brief farewell and headed back, knowing exactly when to advance and retreat.
Sheng Wanyan remained hospitalized for a week, and Mother Gu’s anxiety proved entirely justified—her breast milk truly wasn’t enough to sustain the two children. The two babies possessed substantial appetites; after nursing in the morning, there wouldn’t be much milk left by noon.
Mother Gu was fretting to no end, so Gu Tingxiao straight up went out and purchased two cans of milk powder. Mother Gu was the first to voice her objection.
“How can they drink milk powder?” In the eyes of the older generation, breast milk was paramount, and they had never seen a child raised on milk powder.
“I consulted the doctor, they can drink it.”
“Just alternate it with breast milk.”
“From now on, we’ll breastfeed in the morning and midnight, and feed milk powder during the day.”
Mother Gu instantly grew irritated at his words. Why was this wretched son of hers so rigid? He didn’t consider the children’s well-being in the slightest.
“This…”
“It’s settled.” Gu Tingxiao wore a stern face, and seeing this, Mother Gu stopped arguing. She couldn’t manipulate this third son of hers, so she could only shut her mouth.
Although Mother Gu had vocally disagreed, once she saw the two children drinking it well down the line, she tacitly accepted the arrangement, shifting her focus entirely onto Sheng Wanyan.
Seeing that Sheng Wanyan had woken up and had overheard their conversation moments ago, Mother Gu quickly stepped forward to explain herself.
“Wanyan, Mom didn’t mean it that way.”
Sheng Wanyan smiled and nodded. She understood her mother-in-law’s nature; she was simply worried about the children, but she wouldn’t force her.
“Mom, I know.”
“I also ache for the children.”
Hearing this, Mother Gu felt as though she had found an ally, hurriedly pulling her into a conversation.
“Wanyan, Mom is just terrified that the two children’s health might suffer.”
“Mom absolutely isn’t trying to make things difficult for you. You bore three grandchildren for our Gu family, making you our absolute hero.”
“It’s just that the children are only a few days old; their stomachs might not necessarily be able to handle milk powder.”
“I’m just worried.”
Before she could even finish her sentence moments ago, she had been barked at by Gu Tingxiao, leaving her feeling rather aggrieved. Armed with her daughter-in-law’s understanding, she instantly began venting to Sheng Wanyan about Gu Tingxiao’s aggressive attitude toward her just now.
“Mom, it’s fine.”
“If anything comes up, we can just discuss it properly. Tingxiao’s face is just built like that; he looks fierce to everyone.”
“Next time he pulls a stern face with you, tell me, and I’ll lecture him.”
Mother Gu instantly smiled at her words. As long as her daughter-in-law stood on her side, her heart felt thoroughly vindicated.
“Tingxiao…”
Hearing Sheng Wanyan’s voice, Gu Tingxiao walked over to her side to listen to his wife’s instructions.
“Mom is worried about the children’s health and their delicate stomachs. It isn’t what you think…”
“Tingxiao, apologize to Mom.”
Sheng Wanyan stared at Gu Tingxiao. This man was reticent; his internal intent wasn’t bad, but the words that left his mouth came out entirely wrong.
“Mom, I’m sorry.”
Gu Tingxiao was exceptionally obedient, standing perfectly straight as he apologized to Mother Gu, his tone devoid of any emotion.
Mother Gu grew even more irritated… With this kind of attitude, he might as well not have apologized at all.
Sheng Wanyan shot a glance at Gu Tingxiao, and only then did Gu Tingxiao soften his tone slightly as he apologized to Mother Gu once more.
Chapter 562: The One-Month Feast!
Only then was Mother Gu satisfied. She held Sheng Wanyan’s hand, looking at her with absolute fondness. Having a daughter-in-law who was sensible and knew how to see things from others’ perspectives was better than anything else.
“Oh right, your grandfather has also decided on the names for the two boys.”
“The older brother is Gu Jinchen, and the younger brother is Gu Jinli.”
“What do you two think?”
Sheng Wanyan repeated the two names in her mind a few times. It had to be said that they sounded quite nice, far better than anything she—a total naming flop—could come up with.
“They sound lovely.”
“Have you decided on their nicknames yet?”
The nicknames for the two sons were left to Gu Tingxiao to choose; after all, the father needed to have some sense of participation.
“Er’er and Sansan.”
One, Two, and Three were all lined up now, making it glaringly obvious that they were a trio of siblings. Both Sheng Wanyan and Mother Gu rolled their eyes. Another naming flop…
“Give them proper names!” Mother Gu grew irritated at these perfunctory nicknames. She had absolutely no desire to chase after three children in the future yelling, “One, Two, Three!”
Left with no choice, Gu Tingxiao muttered his other two backup options: “Dagou and Xiaogou [Big Dog and Little Dog].”
“I think you’re a Sigou [Dead Dog]!” Mother Gu barked, grabbing an apple from the table and hurling it at him. Gu Tingxiao caught it deftly, peeled it, and handed it to Sheng Wanyan to eat.
“Think properly for once!” Mother Gu felt a bit dizzy. She was genuinely exasperated by Gu Tingxiao—infuriated to the point of lightheadedness.
Gu Tingxiao thought of two more. For the sake of Mother Gu’s health, he stopped suggesting these names that practically screamed a lack of culture.
“Let’s just call them Lailai and Maomao.”
Mother Gu looked at him; he was basically just acting like a rascal and pulling hairs. But the older generation universally believed in the superstition that crude nicknames made children easier to raise, and these two names wouldn’t be found everywhere, so Mother Gu agreed.
With both the official names and nicknames for the two children finalized, Sheng Wanyan stayed in the hospital for a week before returning home, heading straight back to the military compound to observe her post-partum recovery month. After all, the Lunar New Year was fast approaching, and since she was observing a double-month recovery period, she absolutely could not catch a draft.
Mother Gu didn’t want the family to be separated, so returning to the compound was perfect; they could look after both her daughter-in-law and the grandchildren at home. Fortunately, it was winter, so a double-month recovery period was manageable for Sheng Wanyan; otherwise, she would have broken down going two months without washing her hair.
At night, Gu Tingxiao had to look after four children—one of whom was Sheng Wanyan…
The two babies would cry and fuss in the middle of the night, and Sheng Wanyan also had to get up to nurse them. In truth, aside from the actual nursing, Gu Tingxiao single-handedly took charge of every single chore. He had straight up taken a leave of absence; nothing was more important than his wife’s health and well-being.
Yi Yi was precisely at the rowdy age where she needed to build her sense of security, so Sheng Wanyan and Gu Tingxiao focused their primary attention on her.
That very night before bed, the couple had a serious conversation. Sheng Wanyan’s attitude and objective were crystal clear.
“Tingxiao, Yi Yi has a sensitive personality, and this is the age where her character is beginning to form.”
“We must keep our focus on Yi Yi. Once the two younger brothers turn three and Yi Yi has a sufficient sense of security, we can divide our attention equally.”
Gu Tingxiao didn’t entirely agree with Sheng Wanyan’s philosophy. In a military family like the Gu household, boys were meant to be raised rough. Boys shouldn’t bicker and compete with girls, let alone their own elder sister.
“Once the two brothers turn three, I’ll send them to the military to train.”
“They can develop their character in the military and won’t compete with Yi Yi.”
Hearing this, Sheng Wanyan stared at him with a cold face, and Gu Tingxiao quickly shut his mouth.
“I don’t know how the Gu family educates boys, but as parents, we cannot be partial.”
“Boys and girls are the same. No matter how the elders at home treat them, that is the elders’ love and guidance for the children.”
“But as parents, we must treat them equally. These are all children I risked my life to give birth to.”
“Times are changing, and the children’s world will be different. We cannot raise them according to the old-fashioned methods.”
As times progressed and the nation developed, the world the children would witness in the future would become broader and broader, involving money, interests, and so forth. The household was also advancing, and she and Gu Tingxiao were climbing higher; the more they possessed, the more they needed to place heavy emphasis on the children’s education.
“Wanyan, you’re right.”
The moment Gu Tingxiao heard the words “risked my life,” he instantly and completely agreed, taking her words deeply to heart. Only then did Sheng Wanyan refrain from settling scores with him.
The couple discussed it for a very long time, only stopping when Sheng Wanyan couldn’t fight off her drowsiness anymore. Gu Tingxiao tucked her in safely and went over to change the diapers of his two sons—they even pooped in their sleep, truly unlike anyone else.
Gu Tingxiao looked at the two cribs, thinking back to Sheng Wanyan’s words just now, and let out a soft chuckle.
“You two certainly have excellent luck.” Gu Tingxiao looked at his two sons with a touch of envy in his tone. How could their luck not be good? They had a mother like Sheng Wanyan. If it were up to him, he would certainly have educated them exactly like the other boys in the Gu family—throwing them into the military at age three, raising them roughly, as long as they stayed alive.
The boys of the Gu family were destined to be groomed for the motherland and for warfare. This was the mission of the Gu family line, and something every member of the Gu family had to do.
After Pan Yue completed her recovery month, she and Sheng Wanze came over to the house to visit her, having also prepared welcome gifts for her two little nephews.
Seeing Pan Yue’s grand generosity, Sheng Wanyan immediately stepped in to stop her. After all, Pan Yue’s household had two children to raise, and there were endless places that required money.
“Sister-in-law, this is far too valuable.”
Pan Yue had presented two pairs of silver bell anklets to the two children. Ever since their birth, the two little ones had received quite a substantial amount of gifts. There were also gifts sent by Gu family subordinates upon hearing that the household had welcomed more newborns, though Grandfather Gu had returned many of them. Yet it was inevitable that some close friends and relatives would send them under the names of uncles, aunts, and elders, making it impossible to reject.
Furthermore, Professor Zhao, Mistress Zhao, Uncle Hu, and Aunt Hu had all paid visits, bringing over gifts and nutritional supplements until the room was almost overflowing. Before they had even grown up, Sheng Wanyan’s two children already possessed a tidy little fortune.
With the lively bustle of having so many children at home, the elders stopped going out for social calls entirely, spending every moment waiting for the three whimpering infants in the house to wake up. This included Eldest Sister-in-law Gu’s youngest son, Gu Jinyu, who was only a few months older than the twins. Among the three children, as long as one started crying, the other two would follow suit. Like a chain reaction, they would all open their mouths in unison, sounding like a curse to the ears of Gu Tingxiao and Eldest Brother Gu.
Gu Tinghao brought Gu Jingjing back for the Lunar New Year. Seeing the three infants, his heart filled with joy but also a trace of bitterness. He thought of Gu Jinmin… no, it was Zhang Jinmin. Originally, he too had been blessed with both a son and a daughter…
Gu Tinghao pulled his gaze back, handing the toys he had brought along to Gu Tingxiao. His relationship with Gu Tingxiao had also thawed, so Gu Tingxiao naturally accepted them.
Soon, the two children reached their full month. The Gu family threw a grand celebration, straight up setting up a running feast in the military compound. Every single family in the compound came to participate, all wanting to catch a touch of the twins’ auspicious fortune.
Gu Tong’s health had also recovered by now. Every month, she would send money to Sheng Wanyan on time, never missing a single month. For this one-month feast, she explicitly brought her entire family back to attend. Sheng Wanyan had provided timely help in their darkest hour, and their whole family kept this kindness deeply etched in their hearts.
Chapter 563: The Foreign Trade Exchange Conference
Every family that attended the one-month feast prepared a gift, enclosing ten or twenty yuan as symbols of good fortune. As the great-grandsons of the Gu family, nothing short of excellence would suffice.
Sheng Wanyan remained in her room. In truth, her body had already fully recovered, but the elders in the family refused to let her step outside, insisting that she complete the entire double-month post-partum recovery period. When Mother Gu couldn’t talk her out of it, she enlisted Mother Sheng to speak to her, leaving Sheng Wanyan with no choice but to comply.
The banquet featured a total of ten dishes, all of them grand, substantial courses accompanied by fine liquor.
As the two children grew, they lost their raw, reddish hue. Instead, they became fair and chubby, looking very much like white flour buns. Their facial features had also begun to define themselves, making it easier to tell whom they resembled more.
The two babies had grown by combining the finest traits of both parents. Their eyes and brows bore a striking resemblance to Gu Tingxiao, while their noses resembled Sheng Wanyan’s. However, infants looked different from one period to the next. It was still impossible to say for sure whom they would eventually take after; as long as their features were good, they would certainly grow up to be handsome.
Astute people within their social circle could easily see how much importance the Gu family placed on these two children, as well as on Sheng Wanyan herself. Many of the young women in their circle envied Sheng Wanyan, who had secured a highly respected position in the Gu family on the account of bearing twins.
Because of this, the Gu family had thrown a grand one-month feast, instantly elevating her status. Previously, some people had assumed that because Sheng Wanyan didn’t have a son yet, her life in the Gu family would surely be difficult. After all, face was of paramount importance in this circle; perhaps the Gu family was only showing affection toward a granddaughter on the outside for the sake of appearances.
Moreover, because Sheng Wanyan was not a local from the Capital, many women of her generation in the circle looked down on her. But now, by giving birth to twins, Sheng Wanyan had delivered a swift, resounding slap to everyone’s faces. They knew that this city girl’s status in the circle was about to soar far above their own.
How could they not be envious? Marrying into the Gu family and bearing twins gave her an entirely different kind of value.
Sheng Wanyan was oblivious to all of this. Even if she had known, she would have maintained a harmonious facade; as long as no one brought it directly to her face, she was too lazy to care. Women… being prone to jealousy was simply a part of human nature.
This one-month celebration kept the entire military compound lively for quite some time, becoming the fresh topic of gossip for everyone and inspiring new thoughts in the minds of some of the old gentlemen.
Soon, New Year’s Eve arrived, and they were about to welcome the year 1979.
The house was bustling with energy, entirely filled with the children’s laughter and… crying. Gu Jinli was the most prone to crying, shedding tears once or twice every single day—especially when Gu Tingxiao was around. Gu Jinchen, having grown a bit, didn’t cry much anymore, usually just watching his younger brother cry from the side.
On New Year’s Eve, Sheng Wanyan finally completed her post-partum recovery period. Feeling as though she had been liberated, she would slip out with Eldest Sister-in-law Gu to go shopping whenever she had a free moment. Mother Gu found the sight amusing, but on second thought, it made sense; staying cooped up in a room for two months would bore anyone to death.
Sheng Wanyan brought items home every day—things for the children and things for the elders, purchasing them with great generosity.
For the Lunar New Year, the children all wore new clothes. Yi Yi and Gu Jingjing wore garments from Sheng Wanyan’s clothing store; one looked like a proper young lady and the other looked adorable, making them highly pleasing to the eye.
“Ah~”
“Ah~”
Lailai and Maomao cooed back and forth, staring at the ceiling as they chatted with each other. As for whether they actually understood each other’s baby talk, Sheng Wanyan, as their mother, had no idea; at any rate, she couldn’t understand a word.
The household was filled with festive cheer. Tonight, Gu Tingxiao had to stay up to welcome the New Year, so the task of looking after the children was handed over to Sheng Wanyan.
This year’s Lunar New Year was the happiest one for Mother Gu. There was no troublesome daughter-in-law, no mountain of messy drama, and no frustrating grandsons to deal with. Gu Tong’s family also remained in the Capital for the New Year, staying in the courtyard house under Mother Gu’s name. Every day, the house was packed with lively activity. Furthermore, Gu Tong’s grandson and granddaughter had grown close with Yi Yi and the others, and the pack of children went out together every single day. Even Sheng Wanyan could only see Yi Yi during meals and bedtime; Yi Yi was practically busier than she was.
On Lunar New Year’s Day, the family began putting up fresh spring couplets. Outside, the children sang traditional rhythmic verses, and the entire compound overflowed with a festive, auspicious atmosphere.
Yi Yi carried a small satchel as she followed her older brothers and sisters out to deliver New Year greetings. When she returned, she reaped a bountiful harvest, to the point where even the pockets of her clothes were stuffed to the brim with candies. Fearing she would develop cavities, Sheng Wanyan coaxed her a bit, and Yi Yi willingly handed the candies over to her.
The Gu family experienced one happy event after another this year. Gu Second Uncle’s family suddenly returned to the Capital for the New Year, delivering a delightful surprise that left Grandfather and Grandma Gu grinning from ear to ear. The sons, daughters, grandsons, granddaughters, great-grandsons, great-granddaughters, and maternal grandsons had all returned, assembling completely for the very first time. The two elderly individuals spent every day chuckling with joy, unable to suppress the smiles on their faces whenever they saw anyone.
This was the first time Yi Yi had met everyone in the family; just the task of recognizing people left her quite dazed. It took a period of familiarization before she finally figured out who all the elders were.
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, it was time to visit the wife’s maternal home. Sheng Wanyan and Gu Tingxiao took Yi Yi back to the Sheng family, bringing along return gifts prepared by Mother Gu: five catties of meat, two wild pheasants, two wild rabbits, and a crate of apples. They enjoyed a joyful meal at the Sheng house before taking their leave.
A month later, at the Capital Foreign Trade Exchange Conference:
Sheng Wanyan had become a sophomore student, and the university had also welcomed a new batch of freshmen. Because of her academic standing, she had become an object of admiration for her juniors.
Once the semester commenced, the twins were left in the care of Father Sheng, while Mother Sheng looked after her grandson. Sheng Wanyan hired two employees for the general store, primarily to handle warehouse management, haul goods, and guide customers, easing the burden on Grandfather and Grandma Sheng.
Alongside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, leaders from national government units, and directors from the Ministry of Finance, Sheng Wanyan, Wei Lili, Lin Meili, Gu Shumin, and Liu Xing arrived at the Capital Foreign Trade Exchange Conference. The primary objective of this exchange conference was to draw in foreign corporate investments for the country, and their core assignment was translation.
Since the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was present, Sheng Wanyan ran into quite a few familiar faces—namely, her senior brothers… With so many senior brothers and sisters in the same field, she ran into acquaintances everywhere. However, everyone kept their professional identities separate; work was work.
Sheng Wanyan and her group accompanied the Russian translation leaders from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs into the conference venue. Of course, other foreign language majors from the university had also selected students to attend. It was precisely because there were so many foreign merchants that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ran short on hands, prompting them to select talent from universities.
Sheng Wanyan’s group was assigned to take charge of the foreign merchants arriving from Country E. Each person was responsible for one merchant, tasking them with translation and drawing in investments. Once a merchant expressed a primary intent to invest, the subsequent negotiations would be handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and government leaders.
Sheng Wanyan looked over the dossier of the foreign businessman she was responsible for. Very good—he was a wealthy magnate from Country E. Looking through his file, he was a tycoon in Country E’s technology sector with excellent investment vision, every single one of his projects having turned into a massive hit. That he had turned his gaze toward Huaxia this time showed he was a man of vision.
There were many Chinese citizens setting up stalls here, featuring talents from all walks of life—there were artisans, culinary experts, and garments merchants, among others. As long as they caught the eye of these investors and had their crafts purchased, they wouldn’t have to worry about money for the rest of their lives.
