Final Chapter

Later, on the carriage going to Jinming Lake to reunite with his family, mottled light and shadows changed in and out of the bamboo window. Cui Zhijun sat opposite Tai Shi Zheng, looking at her worried eyes, and couldn't help but reach out and pinch Zheng's face.

He asked, "Are you still thinking about that?"

Zheng stared with her watery autumn eyes, aggrieved. "Erlang, tell me, will Chun'er be able to adapt to Weizhou after going with Lao Wu? Can that brat Lao Wu take good care of Chun'er? I'm so worried."

Cui Zhijun looked at Zheng's cute appearance and couldn't help himself. Regardless of the bumpy carriage, he stood up and sat next to Zheng and took the soft girl into his arms.

He said, "Xiao Zheng, why are you so worried?"

"Although Weizhou may not be as prosperous as Bianjing, that was Chun'er's choice. As long as it's a place she's willing to go to, even if it's the corner of the sea or the end of the world, she's happy to go there. Besides, don't we still have our elder brother and sister-in-law here?"

"Leaving Bianjing is a relief for Chun'er. This is their life, and they have to walk some paths on their own. Let's stop worrying about it. The real concerns from now on are here..."

Cui Zhijun gently tapped Zheng's belly as he spoke, but Zheng smiled and snuggled into Cui Zhijun's arms, "That's not necessarily true! Our little treasure will be left to Daddy to worry about. As a mother, I can only wait to enjoy the happiness."

"Cui Erlang, do you agree?"

Cui Zhijun smiled knowingly and naturally agreed unconditionally. He was her support and the one who would always respect and love her.

He is her lover.

"I promise."

Cui Zhijun kissed Zheng's face.

Zheng's heart instantly blossomed, and she leaned against Cui Zhijun's shoulder, her face full of happiness. But when her eyes fell on the minced meat pancakes she had just bought at Xishuimen Fish Street, she suddenly said, "My dear husband, Xiaobao said he wanted a meat pancake. Can I have one while it's hot?"

Cui Zhijun looked away. "Do you want to eat now? But if you eat one now, you'll be full later. When you get to mother's house and there's delicious food, you won't be able to eat it. You should think carefully."

Cui Zhijun's words made some sense, but Zheng, the greedy girl, tugged at his sleeve and begged, "Oh, I don't want to eat too much. I'll just have a few bites to taste it, and you can finish the rest for me, right? My dear husband, let's have one, just one."

"Okay, okay, I got it, I got it."

Cui Zhijun couldn't withstand her attack at all and had to surrender with the cake.

So, before even getting off the carriage to enjoy the scenery, Cui Zhijun was already half full from the meat pie left by Zheng...

-

Willow trees illuminate the high platform beside Jinming Pond, and tourists flock in.

Cuo Cuo poked his head out from under Taishi Zheng's feet, and his gaze was quickly drawn to the fluttering hem of the charming girl's skirt. He fluttered like a butterfly, slowly moving forward within the constraints of Zheng.

At this time, the gongs and drums were beating loudly all around, and there were various kinds of performances, including fish and dragons. It was really lively.

Zheng covered her ears as she walked through the crowd, shouting to Cui Zhijun beside her, "Erlang, did Grandma and the others tell her where to meet?"

Cui Zhijun looked around calmly with the lunch box in hand, shaking his head in confusion.

With so many tourists around, where would they find their family? They might have to wait until sunset to find them. The young couple was in a dilemma...

As luck would have it, Cui Zhijian saw that the Jinming Lake was full of children's acrobatics, so he left the group with Xiaoyu on his back and took the little girl for a walk. The little girl, riding on Cui Zhijian's neck, could see far away. Her little eyes turned around and around, and unexpectedly, they turned to her family. The little girl shouted: "Uncle, uncle! Third aunt! Third aunt——"

Who would have thought that Cui Zhijian, this big guy, was even more obsessed with the acrobatics than the little girl, cheering repeatedly and ignoring the little girl. Xiaoyu was so anxious that she pulled his ears and twisted them anxiously, "Uncle, uncle! Third aunt! Third aunt is there——"

Don't underestimate the little girl because she is very strong.

A clear pain came from his ear, and Cui Zhijian hissed: "Xiaoyu, stop pulling uncle's ears!!"

But when he turned his head to follow Xiaoyu's direction of turning his ear, he finally understood the little girl's good intentions. Cui Zhijian quickly pushed out of the crowd and waved, "Hey, second brother, second brother's wife - this, this."

When Cui Zhijun heard this, he looked up and found that the family had finally met each other.

No need to wait until the sun goes down.

"Yubao, are you and uncle here specifically to pick up me and uncle three?"

As soon as Zheng saw Xiaoyu, she immediately smiled.

Cuo Cuo also joined in the fun, but Xiaoyu buried her little face in Cui Zhijian's turban and smiled silently.

Seeing Xiaoyu didn't answer, Cui Zhijian added naively, "No, we just came to join in the fun and didn't expect to run into each other. Let's go together. Mother and the others have set up their tent on the east bank. Everyone is here, except you."

Zheng and Cui Zhijun looked at each other and followed happily without saying anything.

Xiaoyu suddenly grabbed Cui Zhijian's temples and said, "Third Aunt, can I hold the puppy?"

The little girl stared at Cuo Cuo intently.

Cui Zhijian became the adult who spoiled the fun. "Xiaoyu, there are so many people here. What if you get lost with the puppy? If you get lost, your uncle and aunt will be worried. No way, no way."

After these words were spoken, the little girl looked visibly disappointed.

Zheng couldn't bear to see the little girl sad. After thinking it over, she came up with a compromise. Zheng said to Xiaoyu, "How about this? Yubao will hold the puppy, and Third Aunt will hold you, and the three of us will go together to find Grandma."

The little girl regained her spirits after hearing this and responded enthusiastically: "Okay!"

Cui Zhijian thought to himself, why didn’t he think of this?

He quickly put the little girl down on the ground.

In this way, the big hands held the small hands, and the small hands held the puppy, and the uncle and nephew walked happily to the east coast.

Looking back, Cui Zhijian finally acted like a big brother. He ignored Cui Zhijun's push and grabbed Cui Zhijun's basket with a forceful hand, almost knocking it over. Cui Zhijun adjusted his turban that was knocked crooked by Cui Zhijian and looked at him in surprise.

Cui Zhijian, however, picked up the basket and said, "Tsk tsk, a scholar is a scholar." He turned around and strode out of the crowd.

-

On the east bank, tents of various families are scattered around the Jinming Lake.

Now is a good time to enjoy it.

Zheng looked out over the shore, the tents like stars, the boats coming and going in the pond. It should be a happy life. But she felt dizzy pulling Xiaoyu along. After searching along the tents for a long time, she finally found Song Mingyue's figure by a few willow trees.

As they walked hand in hand across the green meadow, Zheng called out enthusiastically, "Sixth Brother!"

Song Mingyue held up her round belly and waved her hand, "Second sister-in-law, here it is——"

Yu Yuelan was indeed wealthy and powerful, and it seemed she had profited greatly from the Yu family over the years. But a magnificent and spacious tent was erected in the middle of the east bank, eclipsing all the other tents around it.

"Have you arrived a long time ago?" Zheng stepped forward and touched Song Mingyue's belly lightly. Song Mingyue shook her head. "No, my mother-in-law insisted on setting up a big tent. It was just finished a while ago. You came at the perfect time. It's time to have dinner after a rest."

After hearing Song Mingyue's words, Zheng poked her head towards the tent and said, "They are all over there, what are you doing here?"

Song Mingyue responded, "Of course I'm waiting for Cui Lao San. I just heard someone hawking sausages and was a little greedy, so I asked Lao San to go find him. I don't know where he found it—"

Enema! Zheng's eyes lit up when she heard the word.

It is just as Cui Zhiyun said, there is nothing in this world that Tai Shi Zheng doesn't like to eat.

What you say will come true.

The two sisters-in-law were chatting casually when Cui Zhichou came over with a freshly made sausage. Cui Zhichou first greeted Taishi Zheng, then came to Song Mingyue and quickly picked up a piece of sausage with a bamboo stick and put it to his wife's mouth. His movements were simple and domineering.

"Come on, Liu'er, hurry up while it's hot."

He was completely unaware of the covetous gaze of Tai Shi Zheng beside him.

However, Song Mingyue wanted to eat, but her appetite wasn't what she wanted. The fishy smell of the mutton in the sausage made her stomach churn. As usual, she vomited and hurried to the pool, clutching her stomach. Cui Zhichou also retched twice.

Now, how could Song Mingyue still eat this sausage? Wouldn't it fall naturally to the zither player?

Tai Shi Zheng and Song Mingyue are very different.

Song Mingyue was pregnant, and she couldn't eat or sleep well all day. But Zheng ate everything with relish and slept through the night. Seeing this, Cui Zhichou offered the enema and said, "Ugh... Second sister-in-law... this enema is... ugh."

"Give it to me, give it to me. Third brother, go and spit out yours." Zheng quickly took it happily.

But even so, Zheng got the enema, and Cui Zhichou still had to praise her, "Thank you, second sister-in-law... Ugh."

It makes people laugh and cry.

Looking at the two people arm in arm by the pool, Zheng put the enema she had been longing for into her mouth and smiled with satisfaction.

Then she lowered her eyes and was about to share something with the little girl, but she realized that the little girl had disappeared. Zheng suddenly raised her eyes and saw that the little girl had seen her aunt-in-law being affectionate with her and immediately ran over happily, eager to show off to Cang Yi, leaving Zheng behind.

"Auntie! Look at the dog——"

The little girl was ignorant and had no bad intentions.

But Cui Zhijian, who was following behind him, was frightened to death. He threw the basket in his hand to Cui Zhijun and rushed forward in a hurry, "Oh my God, oh my God. Little ancestor, come back quickly - your aunt is afraid of dogs."

The little girl's running movements made Cuo Cuo extremely excited. She found it difficult to stop when she heard the sound.

Fortunately, Cui Zhijian ran faster than a dog.

In a flash, Cui Zhijian overtook Xiaoyu and Cuocuo, then swept forward and lifted Cangyi horizontally, shielding her from the ground. However, each of Cui Zhijian's movements was so unexpected that Zheng's enema fell onto the oil paper.

What are you doing, brother? Racing with the dog?

-

At that time, the elders in the tent sat on both sides.

Yu Yuelan fanned herself with a silk fan, sipped tea, and leaned back in a chair, looking contented and happy. Tao Fengqin, on the other hand, remained stiff and awkward, kneeling upright, not daring to slack off for a moment. Even when Yu Yuelan asked her to relax, she only dared to bend down.

He has been like this all his life, and Yu Yuelan is too lazy to preach to him anymore.

Yu Yuelan put down her teacup and chatted with him for a while. "Hey, Lao Tao, why didn't we think about enjoying ourselves in the past? We've been tossing and turning. It's really a waste of so much good time."

As they spoke, the people in the tent, unaware of the reason, saw Cui Zhijian suddenly rush forward and lift his wife high into the air. Yu Yuelan laughed and clapped her hands at the sight, jokingly saying, "Look at that! Look at that! Youth is so good. It's so courageous!"

Tao Fengqin looked outside at the sound. Yu Yuelan didn't care about anything, but she was visibly panicked. "Dalang, Dalang's wife, in public, in front of Shuren. How can you behave like this? Let your wife down--"

Cang Yi knocked on Cui Zhijian's chest and scolded him, "Cui Dalang, you're such a stubborn fool. Why are you holding me? You'd better use the time to walk the dog!"

Yes, it’s just a matter of walking the dog. Why didn’t he think of it?

Cui Zhijian reacted and laughed awkwardly.

Zheng came over with the enema, took the Cuocuo from Xiaoyu's hand, and tied it to the willow tree outside the tent. "Sister-in-law, don't blame Brother. He is like this because he is thinking about you with all his heart and eyes. In a moment of anxiety, he forgot to think more. It's understandable~"

Zheng turned her head and looked at Cui Zhijun. Seeing this, Cui Zhijian slowly put down Cang Yi.

Several people were standing opposite each other outside the tent, and for some reason they all started laughing.

Seeing the children standing outside, reluctant to leave, Yu Yuelan waved and called out, "Zhijun, my son, stop giggling. It's too hot outside. Hurry and bring your wife in. And you two, eldest son, go find the third son and the others. It's noon now. Do you really want us elders to wait for you?"

Cang Yi served Yu Yuelan the longest and had the fastest response.

She quickly let out a cry of "ah" and quickly picked up her husband Bangchui and the little girl Xiaoyu. The three of them went to the pond to look for someone. Zheng was led into the tent by Cui Zhijun. When she came to the elders, she smiled and asked, "Grandma, Aunt Tao..."

Yu Yuelan was in high spirits when she was happy, and even her words became more pleasant. "Wife Zhijun, you must be tired from going to the battle and seeing off the enemy. Come and sit down. Wait a little longer. Once everyone arrives, we can start eating. Qile - go and bring up the prepared Poria cocos cake, so that the Second Young Master's wife can fill her stomach."

Yu Yuelan's sudden warmth really made Taishi Zheng uncomfortable. She quickly shook her head and said, "No hurry, mother-in-law, I'm not in a hurry."

Yu Yuelan narrowed her eyes and smiled, saying nothing more.

She was completely satisfied with Taishi Zheng now. If she could give her a big, fat grandson in the future, she would be even more satisfied...

-

Not long after, the eldest brother's family brought the third brother and his wife into the tent, and Yu Yuelan kindly invited them to sit down.

Then, gathered under the warm tent, the family chatted and laughed, enjoying a wonderful time together. Each family brought out their own dishes to share, wanting to spread the warmth. Zheng was immersed in the atmosphere, enveloped by the aroma of fireworks, and her ears were filled with the harmonious conversation of her family. She was gradually moved, and her eyes were red.

Mother, saint.

Did you see it?

I'm fine now, don't worry about me.

Unable to stop the tears, they fell like rain. The first person to notice the change in Tai Shi Zheng was still Cui Zhijun. He turned around in surprise and hurriedly went over to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes with the hand that had broken the chicken leg for her.

Cui Zhijun asked with distress: "What's wrong, Xiaozheng? Why are you crying? Are you feeling unwell?"

But Zheng herself didn't know why she found it so difficult to control herself. She could only use the chicken leg as an excuse to hide her chaotic emotions. "I'm not... I'm not feeling unwell. It's just... it's just that Dad, the chicken leg in sauce is so delicious. Erlang, you should try it too..."

So... delicious that it makes you cry?

Is it so delicious?

Cui Zhijun tasted the braised chicken made by his father-in-law out of curiosity, and suddenly frowned.

Bah, bah, bah, isn't this still as salty as ever...

Cui Zhijun looked at his wife at a loss, but Cui Zhichou intervened, "Second brother, I understand this. I have the most experience. It's normal for Second Sister-in-law to be like this. My sixth daughter was like this after she became pregnant. Her moods often fluctuate. Sometimes she'd be talking and laughing with me one second, and then crying and making a fuss the next. I'll teach you. At this time, just do what I do. It will be fine in a while!"

As Cui Zhichou said this, he immediately moved closer to Song Mingyue and rubbed against her shamelessly.

But in private on ordinary days, Song Mingyue might find this trick of Cui Zhichou very useful, but today there are so many people present, even the elders are here, doesn't she have any face?

Song Mingyue couldn't help but curse inwardly: The three old Cuis are heartless idiots.

As Yu Yuelan burst into laughter, Song Mingyue was so angry that she pushed Cui Zhichou away and said with a blushing face: "Crying one moment and laughing the next? Cui Laosan, am I crazy? Stay away from me, you are so annoying."

"?"

Cui Zhichou was suddenly pushed away and looked at Song Mingyue in confusion. He couldn't figure out why.

But it made Zheng laugh.

Cui Zhijun lowered his eyes and stared at the people around him. He thought that Cui Zhichou's demonstration was not completely useless. At least it made his wife smile. Cui Zhijun boldly stroked Zheng's arm and asked in a low voice in her ear: "Xiao Zheng, are you really okay?"

Zheng also silently tapped his palm and replied with a smile: "Don't worry, I'm really fine. I'm just too happy."

Cui Zhijun relaxed a little. He suddenly turned his head and asked her deliberately, "Do you want me to tear off another piece of pickled chicken for you?" But Zheng refused. "No, no! I don't know who has offended Dad again. This pickled chicken tastes... so salty that it's a bit bitter..."

She also knew—

Cui Zhijun shook his head and laughed, then poured Taishi Zheng a cup of jujube tea. Zheng took the tea sheepishly, and the couple looked at each other, both sneering.

-

After dinner, more and more tourists began to relax and enjoy the scenery by Jinming Lake. The people of Yuanliang were relaxed and content, more like the gods in the Ninth Heaven. Visitors stood or lay on the lush green grass, whispering and laughing, all basking in the sunlight.

This month, Song Mingyue feels sleepy after lunch.

Tao Fengqin was also concerned about her daughter-in-law's health, so she paid for it out of her own pocket and rented a portable soft couch in the south and placed it under the tent for her daughter-in-law to rest.

Song Mingyue rested on the soft couch, and Cui Zhichou was busy with nothing else. He stayed by his wife's side, fanning her tirelessly, repeatedly driving away the noisy mosquitoes and flies around her.

The most precious person in the family had rested, and Cang Yi was afraid that the two noisy people in his family would disturb the third son's wife's sleep.

He turned around and whispered to Yu Yuelan to go out, then without saying a word, dragged the father and the two out of the tent. The family of three stood outside, looking up at the beautiful kites flying and circling. Cui Zhijian suddenly said, "Xiaoyu, do you want to fly a kite?"

Xiaoyu held Cangyi's hand and looked at him fascinatedly. Naturally, she said with joy, "I do!"

Cui Zhijian turned around and walked back. Cang Yi averted his gaze and said, "Hey, you just came out, why are you going back again?"

Cui Zhijian went back into the tent without saying a word.

When he came out again, he had something extra in his hand. It was a gift he had carefully prepared for Xiaoyu. Cui Zhijian was waiting for Xiaoyu to ask for a plaything, and then he would unexpectedly take out the gift to improve his image in Xiaoyu's heart. But Cui Zhijian followed the plan, tiptoed to Xiaoyu, and suddenly exclaimed: "Yubao, do you like it? I specially prepared this for you--"

"Catfish Kite."

But as soon as the words fell, the mother and daughter lowered their eyes. A kite with two ugly, staring fish eyes, even a little scary, appeared in front of them. Xiaoyu's smile disappeared instantly, and Cangyi held his forehead in his hand and said nothing, not wanting to look.

It's so ugly, which little girl likes to fly a catfish kite...

Choi Shik-gyeon, you idiot.

Xiaoyu lowered her head in embarrassment, turned around and pulled Cangyi, then regretted saying, "Auntie, kites are not fun. Xiaoyu still wants to go over there and play in the mud."

Cang Yi shook his head, looked at Cui Zhijian with disgust, and turned away with the little girl.

Cui Zhi simply didn't understand what the problem was at this point.

He watched the mother and daughter leave, gesturing to himself with the catfish kite in his hand. Why didn't he want to fly the kite again? Could it be... that the catfish kite wasn't big enough? Or that the two catfish tentacles were too short?

Cui Zhijian was confused and had to put away the catfish he thought was perfect and follow.

"Hey, if you don't want to fly a kite, then you won't fly a kite. Why don't you wait for me—"

-

At that time, the two people walked out of the tent and stood hand in hand by the Jinming Lake.

A gentle breeze caressed my cheeks, its moisture tingling my heart. The midsummer heat was mild, but the willows' shade shielded it. Cui Zhijun circled behind Taishi Zheng, gently pressing his face against the crown of her hair, a new life beating in his belly. Their destinies were thus bound together.

Thinking back to the strangeness and suspicion when they first met, Cui Zhijun couldn't help but smile.

At that time, he never thought that he would fall in love with the bright and enthusiastic girl in front of him, nor did he ever think that he would live the life he has now.

He can no longer live without her, he loves her more than she does.

Zheng watched the fish playing in the pond, felt the gentle breaths on her head, closed her eyes in peace, and handed her back to Cui Zhijun. "Worthy of trust"—these few words may seem brief, but they actually carry a lot. Cui Zhijun is worthy.

Everything is in line with the original sentence.

The gentle man in the painting also stayed by her side as she wished.

Holding tightly to the warmth that Zheng brought him, Cui Zhijun came from the depths of his memory and said sincerely in her ear: "Xiao Zheng, thank you."

Zheng opened her eyes blankly, "Thank you for what?"

Cui Zhijun answered seriously: "Thank you for coming, thank you for giving me a home."

After saying this, he gently took Taishi Zheng's shoulder and looked at her tenderly. Cui Zhijun tried hard to imprint the person before him deeply into his eyes. Beautiful days lingered around them. He would protect her, he would protect this family.

Zheng suddenly smiled and repeated his words, "Erlang, this is what I wanted to say to you too. Thank you, thank you for coming, thank you for giving me a home."

Birds singing, wind blowing, tourists bustling around, children laughing.

Here, a picture of peace and tranquility is formed, with two small people standing here, silently feeling the warmth and tranquility bestowed upon them by the world. They will surely walk through wind, snow, rain, and sunshine, through spring, autumn, winter, and summer, with a heart full of gratitude for each other.

If they could walk hand in hand through this not-so-short life, it would be Cui Zhijun's most sincere response to Taishi Zheng...

"Xiao Zheng, I wish to be with you every morning and every year."

"Erlang, I feel the same way."