In her husband’s embrace, Xiao Su Su finally relaxed completely. Even with hundreds of eyes fixed on her, she would no longer be scared to tears. Her mother-in-law said – “smiling” could hide everything, and fear could be kept in her heart. So she tried to keep a smile on her face. With Tang Hua beside her, she was afraid of nothing.
“I always wanted to be a good wife.” So she forced herself to come.
“Being a good wife doesn’t mean forcing yourself,” he was touched by what she did, but it wasn’t absolutely necessary, especially understanding her naturally shy nature.
“Let me try. Do I look good dressed up like this?” She most wanted her husband’s appreciative gaze. Ever since her mother-in-law encouraged her to attend the banquet ten days ago, her only reason for agreeing was: she hoped to be worthy of being his wife. After he had done so much for her, she must temporarily set aside her shyness and try to be the Tang family’s daughter-in-law. Not many times, perhaps once a year, to stop harmful rumors from hurting Tang Hua. Whether he would be hurt was another matter, but she hated people gossiping about Tang Hua behind his back. Her mother-in-law said many people were laughing at Tang Hua behind his back, so she didn’t want Tang Hua to endure these things. Therefore, no matter how afraid she was, she had to stand out.
“You’ve always been beautiful. Tonight, even more so.” He frowned: “But I don’t want other men to see.” In a spinning dance move, he coldly glanced at his laughing mother and Shi Zhong Cheng, and saw Du Fei Fan standing not far away, watching the spectacle with great interest. Then all the eyes in the venue were fixated on his wife. Damn! He didn’t mind at all that his wife couldn’t adapt to social settings – in fact, he was incredibly happy!
“Let’s go.” Disregarding that the dance was not yet over, he held his wife tightly to his side and walked toward the side door, no longer able to tolerate people ogling his wife.
“Where are we going? The music doesn’t seem to have ended yet—” Could they leave the dance floor midway? Mother-in-law hadn’t mentioned this.
“I’m dizzy,” he said, immediately receiving his wife’s coordinated steps.
She anxiously said: “Are you sick? Let’s quickly go see a doctor!”
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the most beautiful woman, who had appeared for less than ten minutes, was escorted out of the venue and vanished, as if by magic. The entire venue’s movement stopped, the music halted, everyone staring blankly at the now-empty side door, unable to comprehend what had happened.
“Alas! That child, leaving me, an old lady, to hold the scene again,” Tang’s mother-in-law’s sighing voice echoed throughout the venue.
Everyone remained stunned, unable to react.
“Grandma, since Dad and Mom have gone upstairs for a date, I think we should start the dance,” Little Tang Xue Qian politely bowed to Tang’s mother-in-law: “Miss, would you like to dance?” His voice also resonated throughout the venue.
“Of course, my little treasure,” Tang’s mother-in-law happily entered the dance floor with her precious grandson, signaling the band to play a tune.
Everything returned to its original state as if nothing had happened, but that fleeting scene was quite something. It turns out the young mistress of the Tang family is so beautiful! No wonder she hadn’t appeared in social circles – it was because she was too beautiful, and her husband was reluctant to let her out, not because of divorce. Who was that gossipy woman spreading rumors?
The aunties and neighbors gathered again to discuss the “previous” rumors’ fallacies, condemning those who spread rumors as truly unforgivable. The couple is so affectionate, and those who spread wild talk should be afraid of having their tongues pulled out in hell…
On the other side, the women eyeing the handsome young man (Du Feifan and other young girls) were eagerly waiting to claim the right to dance with him after the first song.
Those spreading rumors continued to spread, while those stunned were still in a daze, mourning their missed opportunity, and those wanting to snatch him were busy doing just that.
The Tang family’s annual banquet once again concluded successfully and lively.
To those who missed out, please make an early reservation next year, guaranteed to satisfy.
[End of Story]
Childhood Puzzle – Ear Piercing
When I was very young, living in a three-sided courtyard in the countryside with many uncles, aunts, and cousins, naturally, my cousins became my inseparable childhood playmates.
Before any concept of beauty was formed, I was already admiring my older cousins wearing gold earrings, hanging beautifully from their earlobes. At that time, every girl would have her ears pierced and own at least one pair of small gold round earrings.
Adults said: Ear piercing is a symbol of being a girl.
Adults also said: Getting ears pierced brings good luck. When you get married, won’t you have a place to wear those gold accessories?
I never understood the reasoning. Anyway, I was just incredibly envious of their small ear holes, able to secretly wear mother’s earrings; when playing house, the earrings would jingle, naturally playing the role of a rich young lady. Moreover, everyone seemed to submit to their privileged advantage, truly radiant with wealth and nobility.
In the remote village where I lived, every half month, a disabled, hunched elderly woman would drive a modified hand-cranked tricycle, passing through our area, selling female products like flower water and powder, including various beautiful earrings. Of course, the old woman would also help people pierce their ears.
One time, for some reason, my typically stingy grandmother actually took us three sisters to get our ears pierced.
Among our cousins, only we three hadn’t had our ears pierced. The other village girls in front enthusiastically stepped forward to have the old woman use a long needle to pierce their ears, then crying and covering their ears as they stepped back. The situation was quite tragic, and in our young hearts, we already knew – beauty comes at a price.
Then, when it was almost our turn, we secretly wanted to run away. Grandmother began negotiating, believing that piercing six ear holes at once should be cheaper, and the earrings should be discounted.
The old woman coolly insisted on no discount, and grandmother was equally stubborn. For a moment, it was quite lively, with neighbors intimidated by grandmother’s fierce demeanor, only daring to watch from the sidelines…
Eventually, no deal was made. The old woman left with her tricycle, and grandmother went to work in the fields in a bad mood, leaving us three sisters still the “only three” without pierced ears in the courtyard, possibly even in the entire village. At the time, we felt embarrassed but also secretly relieved we hadn’t suffered physical pain. Because in the following week, I saw many playmates crying with swollen, suppurating ears, some with ear lobes rotting away. I heard this was the inevitable pain of ear piercing – painful but would eventually heal.
A group of young girls began comparing the severity of their pain, with the one who had a piece of ear lobe rot off declared the winner. Everyone conceded, and that person looked quite proud, making others jealous.
Unlike grandmother’s support for ear piercing, mother was completely against it. She had heard that women who pierce their ears would be reborn as women in their next life, which was too pitiful, so she absolutely forbade her daughters from piercing their ears.
