Su Jixiang sighed internally and said, “Soon you’ll be my wife. Are you sure you want to keep acting like this?”
“I, I’ll change.”
Liang Yumei said in a small voice.
Hearing this,
Su Jixiang pursed his lips and said, “I’m not blaming you. I just want you to know that besides your parents and family, I’ll be the closest person to you. You can talk to me about anything, and if I can help, I will.”
“Mm.”
Liang Yumei nodded without saying much.
Su Jixiang was at a loss on how to deal with her, so he simply took her to explore other places.
After their outing,
it was mostly Su Jixiang doing the talking.
Liang Yumei spoke very little.
However, she accepted all the things Su Jixiang bought for her.
Su Jixiang then took Liang Yumei to eat a bowl of meat-filled wontons. After eating, they headed to the Qingyuan Teahouse.
Yu Shi noticed Liang Yumei returning with several items in hand and was extremely pleased.
“My son-in-law is really good. Yumei, you must live well with him in the future, take good care of the household so he doesn’t have to worry, understand?”
“Mm.”
Liang Yumei obediently agreed.
Wang Xiuzhen and the others slightly furrowed their brows but said nothing.
Liang Nian was eager to know what Su Jixiang had bought for his daughter, so he found an excuse, saying they should head back and meet up another time.
After parting ways with Wang Xiuzhen and her family,
Liang Nian hadn’t even asked his question when Yu Shi snatched the boxes from Liang Yumei’s hands and started examining them on the ground.
“What did he buy?”
Liang Nian came over.
Yu Shi had already opened one box: “Snacks from Zhang’s, three boxes in total. This box of snacks costs thirty coins, he’s quite generous.”
“What else?”
Liang Nian, growing impatient, opened another box himself.
Liang Yumei bit her lip and said, “Brother Jixiang bought me snacks, silk flowers, a few feet of fabric, and also a box of rouge and powder.”
“Is that all?”
Yu Shi stood up displeased, poking her head.
“What did I tell you before? Try to get him to buy you more expensive things. But look at what you’ve managed. You’re really useless! If it were your younger sister, she’d have him buying everything. It’s a shame she’s still too young, or else this marriage would be hers!”
Tears streamed down Liang Yumei’s face, but she dared not resist.
“I can’t believe I gave birth to such a fool. What a waste of that pretty face! Why are you wearing this silk flower? Give it to your younger sister. After you marry Su Jixiang, won’t he buy you more?”
Yu Shi scolded as she tore the silk flower from Liang Yumei’s head.
Liang Nian didn’t think his wife was wrong at all.
He looked at the items in front of him and said, “Give the rouge and powder to Sijia. We’ll keep the snacks for ourselves, and I can wear the fabric; have it made into clothes and pants for me.”
Yu Shi smiled brightly and said, “Husband, I was thinking the same. Let’s decide it this way.”
After speaking,
Yu Shi noticed Liang Yumei was still crying and slapped her.
“Why are you crying? You’re so bad luck! Let me tell you, don’t you dare tell Su Jixiang that you didn’t get these things. If you dare tell him, don’t blame us for not marrying you off to him. And if you dare tell him after you’re married, we’ll disown you. Then when you’re bullied with no family to turn to, see who will stand up for you!”
What happened on their side, Su Jixiang and his family naturally didn’t know.
After sending his parents off in the ox cart,
Su Jixiang walked back to the shop.
Jiang Yan noticed his return and stepped forward to inquire, “Cousin Jixiang, how did it go? Did you pick a wedding date?”
“It’s settled, on the sixth day of the tenth lunar month.”
Su Jixiang said with a smile.
Noting down the date,
Jiang Yan met his gaze and said, “That’s a good day, and there’s enough time to prepare. Congratulations, you’re getting married.”
Jiang Ling came over and said, “Cousin Jixiang, I want wedding candy.”
“You little girl, the wedding isn’t even here yet, and you want wedding candy!”
Jiang Yan tapped her head.
Su Jixiang didn’t see any issue with it, agreed, went out to buy two pounds, and distributed some to everyone in the shop, including those eating there.
With the candy in hand,
everyone congratulated him.
…
The wedding day arrived in the blink of an eye.
On the wedding day,
Su Jixiang was woken up early by Wang Xiuzhen and the others, and after being dressed up, he set off with the wedding procession his brother led in an ox cart to Fangshan Village to fetch the bride.
To avoid any complaints,
Liang Nian and his wife spent three taels of silver to buy a pile of items, which looked numerous but none were particularly valuable.
As for the money for the dowry box, they only gave Liang Yumei a hundred coins.
Liang Yumei’s eldest brother carried her onto the ox cart.
Just as she got on,
Liang Yumei’s second brother came over and handed her a bundle, which contained her everyday clothes. “In the future, live well with Jixiang. Come back home to visit when you have time.”
Liang Yumei nodded and hugged her bundle tightly.
Even as the ox cart left the village, Liang Yumei didn’t speak.
Su Jixiang wasn’t sure what she was thinking, assuming she was just not used to being with him: “Don’t be nervous, and don’t be scared. My family is quite nice.”
Liang Yumei nodded again.
Su Jixiang couldn’t help but feel both amused and helpless: “We haven’t seen each other for days, don’t you have anything to say to me? No questions to ask?”
After a moment of silence.
Finally, Liang Yumei spoke: “After marrying you, will I work with you in the shop, or stay at home?”
Su Jixiang replied: “I won’t force you. If you like, you can work with me in the shop. If you don’t want to run around, you can work at home. We have a workshop at home too.”
“Oh.”
Liang Yumei didn’t make a choice yet.
Firstly, she knew little about the shop and the workshop, and secondly, she was afraid his family wouldn’t agree.
Su Ping’an, driving the ox cart, naturally heard their conversation. He couldn’t fathom what his second brother saw in Liang Yumei.
Not only was she timid,
but she also didn’t talk much.
Only her face was somewhat presentable.
In the village.
Jiang Ling kept peeking out of the doorway from time to time.
Jiang Yan, noticing her behavior, approached and said: “You silly girl, don’t you know there will be sounds when the wedding procession returns? No need to look!”
“Oh, right.”
Jiang Ling slapped her forehead.
Jiang Yan teased her with a laugh: “With a brain like yours, you’re not very smart to begin with. Be careful not to make yourself even sillier by hitting it!”
Jiang Ling pouted: “Sis, are you really my sister? How can you say that about me!”
Chapter 67: I’m Sorry, I Was Presumptuous
Wang Xiuzhen, standing nearby, chuckled and said: “If she wasn’t your real sister, would she say that to you?”
“That’s true.”
Jiang Yan agreed with her statement.
Jiang Ling tugged at Sun Shi’s sleeve, whining: “Grandma, look at my big sister and second aunt, they’re ganging up on me.”
Sun Shi said straightforwardly: “What do you want me to do? Your sister and second aunt are telling the truth, aren’t they?”
The second son of the Su family and others burst into laughter.
Jiang Wan, holding Jiang Ran, also laughed unkindly.
“You all don’t love me anymore.”
Jiang Ling turned away to get some wedding candy.
Just as she put it in her mouth, celebratory sounds came from outside.
“It must be Cousin Jixiang bringing his bride back!”
Jiang Ling shouted as she ran out, followed by Jiang Yan and others who went outside to see.
Some villagers also came out to watch.
As they got closer and closer,
