Marriage in the 1970s: The Political Commissar's Contract Wife

Fang Chu was both amused and exasperated. He pointed to the old man's seat and then to the empty main seat: "Grandpa... it's not appropriate for you to sit here, is it? This is my seat." He emphasized the word "my."

Grandpa Fang didn't even lift his eyelids. He picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of the tenderest meat from the belly of the steamed fish, and placed it on the plate in front of Zhixia. His tone was matter-of-fact: "I like sitting here. Is it wrong for me to sit next to my granddaughter-in-law? Let your father sit in the head seat. You can just find a place to sit and eat. Why are you being so fussy?"

Fang Zheng sat down in the main seat, watching his father's rare, somewhat childish, "domineering" behavior. His lips twitched, but he remained silent.

Zheng Qin also lowered her head, concealing a helpless yet amused smile on her lips. The old man clearly wanted to be closer to his granddaughter-in-law, who resembled Xiao Zhi, and they could all understand his feelings of having lost and then regained her.

Fang Chu was speechless after being cornered by his grandfather. Looking at the old man sitting calmly between him and his wife, he felt both angry and helpless.

Seeing this, Chao Huaihua understood the situation and quickly tried to smooth things over: "Xiao Chu, it doesn't matter where you sit."

Fang Chu looked at the seat "occupied" by her grandfather, and finally could only sigh in resignation, picking up her bowl and chopsticks and sitting down next to Chao Huaihua.

Zhi Xia looked at her grandfather, who sat beside her with a serious yet kind expression, and her mother on the other side. She felt a strange mix of emotions, including a sense of being flattered and overwhelmed. She whispered, "Thank you, Grandpa," and then lowered her head to eat the fish that her grandfather had placed on her plate.

Grandpa Fang watched her eat, his eyes softening drastically, as if he couldn't get enough of looking at her. He then ladled out half a bowl of soup for her: "Drink some soup. It's very nutritious and good for you and the baby."

Fang Yuzhao watched with loving eyes as Zhixia finished her soup, then his gaze fell on the plate of spicy tofu, glistening with red oil and scallions. His eyes flickered slightly, as if he remembered something, and he turned to Zhixia, who was quietly eating beside him, asking gently, "Xiaxia, can you eat spicy food?"

Zhixia looked up, a small mouthful of rice still in her mouth. She nodded and replied softly, "It's food, Grandpa."

Grandpa Fang's face immediately lit up with a smile, as if he had received some treasure. He carefully picked up a large, trembling piece of tender tofu coated in red oil and placed it on the small plate in front of Zhixia: "Then try this. Your mother-in-law's spicy tofu is superb. It tastes authentic and isn't too dry. Try it and see if you like it."

"Thank you, Grandpa," Zhixia said, picking up the piece of tofu with her chopsticks, blowing on it, and carefully putting it into her mouth. The spicy and savory flavor melted on her tongue; the tofu was tender and smooth, with just the right amount of spiciness—it was indeed delicious. Her eyes lit up slightly, and she couldn't resist picking up another small piece.

Fang Yuzhao watched her movements and expressions. Seeing that she was eating with relish, his smile deepened, and his eyes were filled with relief and an indescribable satisfaction, as if he were seeing a scene that was extremely familiar reappear.

He couldn't help but sigh softly, as if talking to himself, yet also as if addressing the others at the table: "Xiao Zhi... also loves this slightly spicy tofu the most. When her family used to make it, she could eat a whole plate by herself, and we couldn't stop her."

As soon as she finished speaking, Chao Huaihua, who was sitting next to Zhixia, paused with her chopsticks, a look of disapproval on her face, and gently reminded her daughter, "Xiaxia, you should eat less spicy food, it's not good for the baby." She was an experienced woman and knew that pregnant women needed to pay extra attention to their diet.

Zhi Xia was enjoying her meal when she heard her mother's words. She paused, glanced at the plate of spicy tofu with some reluctance, and then obediently said "Oh," preparing to turn her chopsticks to other light dishes.

"Oh, it's alright, it's alright!" Seeing this, Grandpa Fang quickly spoke up, his tone clearly protective and disagreeing. "Eat a little, just to satisfy your craving, it's nothing serious! Sour for a boy, spicy for a girl! Xiaxia loves spicy food so much, I think she's definitely carrying a girl!"

He became more and more excited as he spoke, his wrinkles smoothing out, his eyes sparkling, and his tone filled with undisguised anticipation: "Girls are wonderful! Our family is sorely lacking in girls! From top to bottom, we're all just a bunch of mischievous boys! I love girls the most! So quiet and gentle! If we could really have two little granddaughters, our family would be complete!"

He spoke with great enthusiasm, as if he could already see his two adorable great-granddaughters running around in front of him.

Sitting in the main seat, Fang Zheng listened to his usually serious and stern father talking about "sour for a boy, spicy for a girl" and "liking girls" in such a confident and somewhat "feudal superstitious" tone, and even in front of his mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, he made no attempt to hide his strong expectation for his granddaughter's gender. He was speechless.

He put down his chopsticks, cleared his throat, and tried to steer the conversation back on track, while also reminding his father to watch his words: "Dad, having a boy or a girl is the same; they're both part of the Fang family bloodline, and it's a joyous occasion. Nowadays, we're all about science, and what you eat doesn't really matter to your gender. If Xiaxia wants some spicy food, just a little is fine; the main thing is to pay attention to a balanced diet."

Grandpa Fang waved his hand dismissively, "Science is science, but old sayings have their reasons! Anyway, I just think it's a girl!" He then smiled at Zhixia, "Xiaxia, don't listen to your mother. If you want to eat, have another piece or two. It'll be fine!"

Zhixia looked at her mother, then at her indulgent grandfather, and then secretly glanced at Fang Zheng, who was helplessly rubbing his forehead, and Zheng Qin, who was suppressing a laugh. In the end, she didn't dare to pick up the spicy tofu again, and just whispered, "I... I'll eat other things too." Then she obediently picked up a piece of stir-fried greens from the side.

Seeing this, Grandpa Fang didn't insist. He simply picked up another piece of steamed fish for her, muttering, "Alright, then eat fish. Eating fish makes you smart. Our little granddaughter will definitely be both beautiful and intelligent!"

The meal was finished in a lively atmosphere, amidst Grandpa Fang's endless daydreams about his "little granddaughter" and Fang Zheng's speechless silence.

Although Chao Huaihua felt that her father-in-law was a bit too... impulsive, seeing his genuine love and care for her daughter made her feel much more at ease. At least, her daughter had an elder in this grand family who truly protected her.

Fang Chu silently kept in mind the two points: "Grandpa likes girls" and "Qingqing loves spicy food." She was thinking that if she really had a daughter in the future, the old man would spoil her rotten.

Fang Chu glanced at the satisfied old man sitting next to his wife and secretly made up her mind: when they got back to their room that night, she would definitely get back double what she had lost during the day. Of course, it would have to be within the limits of Qingqing's permission.