A Beauty in the 80s Goes on a Blind Date with Her Child, Captivating the Military Compound - Chapter 41

In broad daylight, and in a military family compound no less, a thief surely wouldn’t dare break in!

Shen Sisi craned her neck to peer inside the house, catching a faint glimpse of a figure moving around. Her fingers instinctively tightened around Gu Chengfeng’s arm. She wasn’t so much afraid of a thief as she was afraid that Gu Chengfeng might act impulsively.

In contrast to her alarm, Gu Chengfeng remained excessively calm, bracing himself with one foot on the ground. He didn’t seem surprised at all that someone had entered his home.

Several neighbors poked their heads out, their eyes fixed on them like they were watching a show at the circus. Their attitude toward Gu Chengfeng was peculiar; they were somewhat intimidated by him, yet they couldn’t resist prying into his business.

“Commander Gu, your mother has arrived from Kyoto! She’s been making a scene all morning. You’d better go in and talk some sense into her!”

Without a hint of surprise, Gu Chengfeng kicked down the bike stand with a metallic clang. He gently set Niuniu down on the ground before reaching out to support Shen Sisi.

Shen Sisi’s mind had been wandering, but the gentle pressure of his hand on her fingers snapped her back to reality. To have Gu Chengfeng’s mother show up to cause trouble on the very second day of their marriage… what a mess.

Seeing his unhurried demeanor—taking care of them first before pushing the bicycle under the woodshed—it was clear he had anticipated this. No wonder he had been in such a rush to take her to get their marriage certificate yesterday. He must have caught wind of this.

She stepped forward quickly. “Gu Chengfeng, did you know she was coming?”

Gu Chengfeng turned his head slightly. “I knew. But don’t worry, I will protect you. I won’t let either of you suffer a bit of grievance.”

It had been a long time since they last met, and it seemed the once upright and straightforward Senior Gu had learned a few tricks. He clearly knew his mother was coming and, fearing she would block the union, hurried to get the marriage registered first. Now that the rice was cooked—the military marriage was legally binding—no amount of fussing would change the facts.

Gu Chengfeng took Shen Sisi’s hand. “Since she’s here, let her meet you and the child. If she offers her blessing, we can still serve her a cup of tea at our wedding.”

Shen Sisi heard the sharp, shrill shouting coming from inside the house. How could that old lady possibly offer a blessing? What mother in the world would bless her son for marrying a woman who already had a child out of wedlock?

Shen Sisi’s heart felt cold, but Gu Chengfeng’s hand was warm and firm.

“It doesn’t matter if she objects,” he said. “Her objection is invalid. We have the freedom to marry; even as parents, they have no right to interfere. We are husband and wife now. As long as we are of one mind, no one can tear us apart.”

Had she not seen the old lady peering through the doorway, Shen Sisi might have been fully swept away by his words. She gazed back at him affectionately. “When a couple is of one mind, they can break through even metal. I believe your family will eventually accept us…”

Before she could finish, a caustic voice made her scalp tingle.

“What ‘husband and wife’?”

“Gu Chengfeng, you make yourself clear right now!”

Shen Sisi followed the sound to see a middle-aged woman with a sharp, short haircut. Her features bore a resemblance to Gu Chengfeng’s—quite heroic and striking. This was Gu Chengfeng’s mother, Xu Hongying.

Xu Hongying glared at her son, never once deigning to look at Shen Sisi or her daughter.

Gu Chengfeng rubbed his temples. In front of his mother and the neighbors, he pointedly took Shen Sisi’s hand. “What is there to say? Sisi and I are already married. Many people here are witnesses; they saw our marriage certificate yesterday.”

As he spoke, a bright, sunny smile played on his lips. He looked as though he had found a priceless treasure and wanted to announce it to the whole world.

The more he radiated happiness, the higher Xu Hongying’s blood pressure rose. She suddenly looked as if she were deprived of oxygen and nearly stumbled.

“Gu Chengfeng, have you lost your mind? What kind of reputation does this woman have? And with a child of unknown origin… I think you’ve been bewitched!”

Gu Chengfeng’s brow furrowed deeply. “What reputation? The military political review passed, and the Civil Affairs Bureau stamped the papers. We are legitimate and legal in every sense. Are you questioning the laws of the state?”

That was a heavy accusation to level, and Xu Hongying couldn’t afford to shoulder it. She stood there, her lips turning purple with rage, unable to squeeze out a single word in response.

Shen Sisi had heard that Gu Chengfeng’s relationship with his parents was strained, but she hadn’t realized it was this bad. The moment mother and son met, they were like needles against wheat—treating each other like class enemies.

Despite the friction, they shouldn’t be bickering in public for the neighbors to mock. She discreetly squeezed Gu Chengfeng’s palm. “Chengfeng, let’s go inside and talk.”

Gu Chengfeng’s simmering fury was dissolved by that simple touch. He complied with a soft, “Alright, let’s go inside.”

As the two walked side-by-side into the house leading Niuniu, Xu Hongying’s eyes went wide with disbelief. When did her rebellious, untamable son become so docile?

Xu Hongying muttered to herself while secretly sizing up Shen Sisi. She was, indeed, a great beauty. She possessed the grace of a woman from the south, yet the resilience of a female soldier. The two traits blended into a delicate balance—both charming and formidable. No wonder her son had become muddled.

Once inside, Gu Chengfeng closed the door. The atmosphere in the room plummeted to the freezing point.

Xu Hongying sat unceremoniously on the sofa and slapped the table. “Gu Chengfeng, you’ve grown bold, haven’t you? Taking such a huge step without even consulting the family!”

Gu Chengfeng glanced at her, not even bothering to engage. “Are you finished? If so, please leave our home.”

“You ungrateful wolf! I am your biological mother, and you’re kicking me out?” Xu Hongying clutched her chest. “I’m… I’m not leaving today! I’m staying right here. I won’t go back to Kyoto until you get a divorce!”

The old lady realized that throwing a tantrum wasn’t working, so she was switching tactics to a war of attrition.

“Wishful thinking,” Gu Chengfeng said, still holding Shen Sisi’s hand tightly. “We don’t have the spare time to look after you.”

“You… you unfilial son! You dare drive me away… aren’t you afraid people will point fingers at you behind your back?”

At this, Shen Sisi quickly squeezed Gu Chengfeng’s hand back and gave him a subtle shake of her head. Gu Chengfeng had just been promoted; he couldn’t afford a scandal. He shouldn’t be branded as an unfilial son who kicked his mother out onto the street.

The old lady didn’t look like a completely unreasonable person; she was simply here to find fault. If Gu Chengfeng was at his wit’s end, it didn’t mean Shen Sisi couldn’t handle her.

She first calmed Gu Chengfeng’s emotions before turning to soothe the mother. Shen Sisi maintained a pleasant smile. “Auntie, he didn’t mean to kick you out. If you want to stay, then please, stay.”

Gu Chengfeng’s eyes narrowed slightly at her words.

Xu Hongying huffed, finally casting a sidelong glance at Shen Sisi. “At least you’re sensible. Fine, I’ll be staying here starting today.”

She leaned back comfortably against the sofa, resting her shoes—without taking them off—on the coffee table, shaking dust all over it.

“You, whatever your name is, go pour me a glass of water. I’m exhausted after riding the train all night.”

She began to order Shen Sisi around like a servant, flaunting her authority. Gu Chengfeng was about to flare up again, but Shen Sisi pressed his hand down.

“Auntie, I have a name. It’s Shen Sisi. You’d like some water? Certainly…”

She poured a glass of warm water and respectfully placed it on the coffee table.

Xu Hongying, determined to play the domineering mother-in-law, claimed the water was too cold and told her to pour another. Without a hint of resentment, Shen Sisi turned back to fetch her a fresh glass.