pjbooks Chapter 335 - 333: My Mother-in-law Gifted Me the Family Heirloom—I’m to Be the Gu Family’s First Daughter-in-law!
Chapter 335 - 333: My Mother-in-law Gifted Me the Family Heirloom—I’m to Be the Gu Family’s First Daughter-in-law!
The first snowfall of the winter break turned the entire city of Beijing into a blank white canvas.
At the entrance of Beijing University, a green military jeep parked conspicuously under the old locust tree. The bright red characters on the license plate indicated its distinguished origin.
Gu Yanshen was not waiting in the car.
He was dressed in a neatly pressed military uniform without a hat, revealing his crisp short hair. He was bending over, loading a bulky white sack into the jeep’s trunk, the sack emblazoned with the phrase "Special Supply Flour" in red letters.
Several things were already piled beside the car.
A sack of "Northeast Rice" of the same specification, an entire strip of tightly wrapped cured meat weighing over a dozen pounds, several bottles of wheat milk essence rare in the market, and a thick stack of various tickets and vouchers.
This was nearly a year’s worth of supplies for an average working family.
Parents picking up their children and students leaving campus couldn’t help but have their attention drawn to the scene. When they realized these supplies were rewards from the school for Lin Wan Yi, their eyes revealed shock and envy, almost tangible.
"My goodness, that’s the family of Classmate Lin, who scored 120 points, right?"
"This reward is so generous, it’s worth half our family’s annual salary!"
"Well, he brought glory to the nation, it’s only right!"
Gu Yanshen ignored the chatter around him, focusing solely on arranging the items neatly, his movements steady and strong.
Two little ones in identical red down jackets, looking like children from a New Year painting, were crunching the snow around the wheels. They were Gu An and Gu Ning, wearing jackets made by Lin Wan Yi with the cloth tickets and cotton she earned from the school reward, warm and spirited.
When Lin Wan Yi came out after completing the final procedures, this was the sight she beheld.
Her man was moving her glory for her, her children laughing and playing in the snow. At that moment, it felt more fulfilling than any certificate or praise could.
"Mom!" Gu An, with sharp eyes, was the first to rush over.
Gu Yanshen straightened up, brushed the dust from his hands, turned his head, and his gaze fell on her. His eyes were deep, like a night sky full of stars, filled with pride and love in that quiet moment.
He said nothing, simply stepped forward and naturally took her bag, his other hand taking hers, enveloping her slightly cold fingers in his palm.
The jeep started, smoothly merging into the traffic, isolating all the envy and chatter outside the car windows.
Back at the family’s home in the military district compound, dusk had settled.
The two little ones had fallen asleep in the car, and Gu Yanshen carried them effortlessly into the bedroom.
Lin Wan Yi boiled hot water, made a cup of tea for her husband. When she returned from the kitchen, she found Gu Yanshen not resting, but standing under the light in the living room, looking at the papers spread out on the table.
One was a German document, another was the formula for "Old Dreams at Sea" from Shanghai.
"What are you looking at?" She walked over, asking softly.
Gu Yanshen didn’t answer immediately, instead he stretched out his long arms, enveloping her from behind and resting his chin lightly on her shoulder. He carried the chill from outside, but his embrace was as warm as fire.
"Looking at my great scientist’s national secrets." His deep voice laced with a hint of amusement, tingling her earlobe.
Lin Wan Yi leaned against his sturdy chest, pointed at the yellowing blueprint.
"This isn’t a national secret, it’s an old man’s dream."
With a gentle voice, she simply recounted her grandfather’s story and the ill-timed perfume formula, without stating her intentions, only narrating a past tale.
The study was quiet, the only sound was the occasional footsteps of patrols from outside the window.
Gu Yanshen listened, then was silent for a moment.
He tightened his embrace, holding her closer, then said in a resolute and unquestionable tone by her ear:
"Make a list of any materials needed."
"I’ll have people from the south find a way to get them for you."
"No matter if it’s your dream or your grandfather’s, I’ll help you achieve it."
Lin Wan Yi’s heart felt gently cradled by a warm hand. She turned her head and placed a soft kiss on his resolute jaw.
...
Weekend, Gu family’s old residence.
The whole family gathered, creating a lively atmosphere.
At the dining table, Gu Zhen Guo looked radiant, his voice several times louder than usual. He’d just finished a call with an old comrade, and after hanging up, he announced to everyone in the room:
"Old Li was bragging over the phone, saying his granddaughter got into Beijing’s top high school. I told him, what’s that? My daughter-in-law, Lin Wan Yi, broke Zhou Ke Ming’s record from thirty years ago! It’s officially announced nationwide by the Ministry of Education!"
He slapped his thigh, his voice echoing throughout the living room.
"Now everyone in the military district compound knows our Old Gu Family has an Incarnation of the Wenchang Star! It’s more honorable than earning a military medal!"
The guards and the household auntie also laughed, Gu Yanshen wearing a faint smile, serving Lin Wan Yi a bite of her favorite fish.
At the dining table, only his mother, Qin Lan, said little.
She quietly watched Lin Wan Yi, observed her calmly caring for the two children during the meal, witnessed the unspoken understanding between her and Gu Yanshen, her gaze filled with complex emotions.
After the meal, the children went to play in the yard, the men talked matters in the study.
Qin Lan suddenly gestured to Lin Wan Yi.
"Wan Yi, come with me for a moment."
Lin Wan Yi followed her into the master bedroom. Qin Lan’s room was elegantly and simply decorated, the air faintly scented with sandalwood.
She walked to a locked redwood cabinet, used a small key to open the door, and took out a palm-sized deep purple velvet jewelry box.
Qin Lan sat at the dressing table, indicating for Lin Wan Yi to sit as well.
She opened the box and pushed it towards Lin Wan Yi.
Inside the box lay a jade bracelet.
The bracelet was a brilliant green, a top-quality old pit glass variety, under the light, lustrous and translucent, appearing like a pool of solidified spring water, green enough to drip.
Lin Wan Yi’s breath paused for a moment.
"When I was younger, I always worried about Yanshen’s cold demeanor, fearing he wouldn’t find someone warm-hearted." Qin Lan’s voice was soft, with a touch of sentiment, "Later when he brought you home, I admit, I had my concerns. Your background, your past... I was afraid you couldn’t handle being the Gu family’s eldest daughter-in-law."
She didn’t shy away from her past thoughts, speaking candidly.
"But now, I know I was wrong."
Qin Lan’s gaze rested on Lin Wan Yi’s face, her eyes were devoid of scrutiny and distance, replaced with complete approval, pride, and a motherly affection akin to that for a daughter.
"You are more outstanding, more resilient than I imagined, than anyone imagined."
She picked up the bracelet and pulled Lin Wan Yi’s left hand towards her.
The cool jade touched her warm skin, Lin Wan Yi instinctively tried to pull her hand back, but Qin Lan gently held it steady.
The bracelet was unrefusably, slowly slipped onto her wrist. The size was neither too big nor too small, fitting perfectly.
The green hue was complemented by her fair wrist, stunningly beautiful.
The bracelet was heavy, like a sweet shackle, carrying the weight of history, securely clasping her wrist.
Qin Lan held her hand, raising her eyes with utmost seriousness.
"This is a Gu family heirloom, passed from my mother-in-law’s hand to mine. Now, I give it to you."
"Wan Yi, wear it. From now on, the family affairs and traditions of the Gu family rely on you to uphold."