Although the Shen family's courtyard was not small, it couldn't handle the large number of guests. There were more than a dozen people from the Zhao family, and even more from the Shen family's hometown, which was nearby. It was said that these were just relatives from the hometown, and most of the other guests were local friends and relatives from Beijing who would come on the wedding day, so it still felt quite crowded.

A group of relatives speaking various accents, along with about a dozen children, turned the entire courtyard upside down. Due to the language barrier, communication was a bit difficult, so the guests remained in their own groups. However, the children were not so limited by the language and quickly became friends, creating a harmonious atmosphere in the courtyard.

After lunch, Shen Xuyue suggested that Zhao Mingyue accompany her relatives to explore Beijing, as he himself had many things to attend to and couldn't leave. With so many people, the car couldn't accommodate everyone, so they naturally had to take the bus. Yang Maolin, driving a minibus, leaned out of the driver's seat and called out, "Want to go out? Get on, I'll take you."

Zhao Mingyue laughed and said, "Brother-in-law, where did you get this bus?"

Yang Maolin said, "I borrowed it from someone. Xu Yue said that you guys will definitely want to go out and have some fun these days, and it's inconvenient without a car, so he asked me to rent one for you. I'll be your driver. Just tell me where you want to go."

Zhao Mingyue smiled and said, "Then thank you so much, brother-in-law. Dad, Mom, get in the car, brother-in-law Xuyue will drive us to have some fun."

So the group got on the bus. They were going to tour Beijing. That afternoon, they went to the Forbidden City and then to the National Palace Museum. Zhao Mingyue took photos of her family with her camera. Everyone took turns standing under the flagpole in the square to take pictures of the magnificent and tall Forbidden City gate tower. They would be able to brag about this photo for the rest of their lives.

Zhao Mingyue asked her older brother, "Why didn't you bring your sister-in-law along?"

Zhao Mingliang said, "Originally, we sent her and your second sister-in-law to come together, but when we found out that it was all women, we were worried that there were too few men, so we sent me instead."

So that's what happened: "Then when you have time, brother, come and visit with sister-in-law again."

Zhao Mingliang said, "When you have your baby for a month and we're having a banquet, I'll have your sister-in-law come over."

Zhao Mingyue smiled and said, "Okay." They probably wouldn't hold a full-moon celebration; thrift and frugality are encouraged now, and extravagance is opposed. Shen Xuyue is now a government official, and he can't fail to set an example. This time, they kept everything simple, but still managed to have eight tables of relatives and friends.

The next day, Zhao Mingyue stopped going to Shen Xuyue's house, and the two of them stopped seeing each other. The whole family worked together to decorate Zhao Mingyue's new house, putting up red double happiness symbols, waiting for her to become a bride.

The wedding was set for October 1st, the same day as the founding of the People's Republic of China—easy to remember and not easy to forget. Early that morning, the mother and daughter got up. The night before, they had talked for half the night; Hu Nianchun had given his daughter many instructions. After today, Zhao Mingyue would belong to another family, and the mother naturally had many feelings.

Relatives also came from the guesthouse, as did Yu Youqing, and several of Zhao Mingyue's college roommates. After a quick breakfast, they helped Zhao Mingyue get ready. Zhao Mingyue changed into the cheongsam she had made herself, a beautiful red satin dress with light gold butterfly patterns. It was lovely without being gaudy, though a little thin. Fortunately, the daytime temperature wasn't too low. Thanks to reform and opening up, long stockings were now available, so she didn't have to go bare-legged.

Auntie was combing Zhao Mingyue's hair. Auntie had two sons and a daughter, all married with children and grandchildren, and their family was considered upper-middle class in the countryside—a truly blessed family. As Auntie combed her hair, Gao Dongfang and Li Chunmei shouted from the side, "One comb to the end, and wealth and prosperity will be yours for the taking..."

Zhao Mingyue couldn't help but chuckle. Gao Dongfang said, "These were all ideas from the third brother. I wonder which book she found them in. We'll read them to her when she gets married."

Her aunt styled her hair into a bun and then adorned it with a red hair flower. This hairstyle was quite meaningful; in ancient times, women would tie their hair up after marriage, signifying that they had become women. This hairstyle also perfectly complemented Zhao Mingyue's cheongsam.

After getting ready, Zhao Mingyue applied a little makeup and looked radiant. Everyone was amazed by her appearance. Even her father was stunned for a moment when he saw his daughter like this, and then nodded and said, "Good, good, good!" He said "good" three times.

Zhao Mingyue watched as her father's eyes began to well up with tears, wondering if she would be able to hold back her own tears. Outside, firecrackers were already going off; the wedding procession had arrived. In those days, Beijing hadn't banned fireworks and firecrackers, so it was still permissible to set them off for celebrations. The crackling and popping created a lively atmosphere.

Everyone laughed and closed the door, then waited for the groom to come and fetch the bride. Since there was only one room, many people stayed inside. Amidst the congratulations from her sisters-in-law, Hu Nianchun's initial reluctance to part ways lessened considerably; it seemed the traditional weeping ceremony would be omitted.

Surrounded by a group of friends, Shen Xuyue came upstairs. In the hallway, a group of children stopped him, asking for candy. Shen Xuyue handed out a lot of wedding candy before they let him through. Many neighbors were also watching the excitement. Shen Xuyue handed out wedding candy to everyone he met. Finally, he reached the dormitory door with the red double happiness symbol on it and started knocking: "Dad, Mom, open the door!" This was the first time Shen Xuyue had addressed Zhao Mingyue's parents as his parents.

Inside, Zhao Mingyue's sisters teased him, making him recite poems. Shen Xuyue was a cultured man, but he couldn't compete with Gao Dongfang, who came prepared. Gao Dongfang recited a variety of poems, from classical to modern, and they were all love poems. He racked his brains and stammered as he answered. Finally, Gao Dongfang was satisfied and opened the door to let him in.

Shen Xuyue, dressed in a high-collared Zhongshan suit, his hair meticulously combed with hair wax, beamed with joy, greeting everyone with a smile and handing out wedding candies. After serving tea to his parents-in-law, he pushed his way through the crowd and finally saw Zhao Mingyue sitting on the bed. His bride looked stunning today, like a blooming red rose. Shen Xuyue held his breath: "Mingyue, I've come to take you home." He reached out to take her hand, but Zhao Mingyue remained seated.

Everyone burst into laughter. Li Chunmei said, "Brother-in-law, our youngest sister isn't wearing shoes. Hurry up and put shoes on her."

Shen Xuyue looked at Zhao Mingyue's feet and, sure enough, she wasn't wearing shoes. He realized that this might be a custom from somewhere: "Where are your shoes?"

"You'll have to go find it yourself; it's right here in this room." Everyone burst into laughter.

All the shoes in the room had been taken away, except for the pair Zhao Mingyue needed, which were hidden inside. Shen Xuyue searched everywhere for them—under the bed, under the table, under the cabinet—almost kneeling down to look, which amused everyone. Finally, he found Zhao Mingyue's round-toed, mid-heeled leather shoes on top of the cabinet. He knelt down, holding the shoes in one hand and her ankle in the other, and carefully put them on for Zhao Mingyue. Zhao Mingyue looked at Shen Xuyue, her heart pounding with excitement. From now on, this man who put shoes on her would lead her through the rest of her life.

Shen Xuyue stood up and reached out to take Zhao Mingyue's hand. Zhao Mingliang came over and said, "Brother-in-law, in our custom, the older brother escorts the younger sister to the bridal sedan chair. I'll carry her on my back, and you lead the way." Zhao Mingliang squatted down in front of Zhao Mingyue, and Zhao Mingyue climbed onto her older brother's broad back. She remembered when she was very young, her older brother would carry her on his back to find her parents. Now, she felt as if she had returned to that time, which filled her with many emotions. This was probably the last time in her life that her older brother would carry her.

Everyone cheered and surrounded the newlyweds as they left. Zhao Mingyue glanced back at her parents in the crowd; their faces wore smiles of reluctance and happiness. A lump formed in her throat, and she almost burst into tears. Zhao Shunsheng and his wife clearly felt that their daughter was leaving them to become someone else's family, and they couldn't help but wipe their eyes. Their second sister-in-law and third brother stayed with them, and after saying something, they immediately stopped crying and started smiling again.

Zhao Mingyue was placed in the back seat of a military jeep, driven by Yang Maolin. Two minibuses were parked in front of the dormitory building, carrying Zhao Mingyue's relatives and friends. Everyone got into the vehicles and followed the wedding car to the Shen family home.

Shen Xuyue held Zhao Mingyue's hand and whispered in her ear, "Wife, you look so beautiful today!" Shen Xuyue was overflowing with pride; Zhao Mingyue was finally his wife.

Zhao Mingyue replied to him, "You look handsome today too."

Shen Xuyue beamed: "Right? We are truly a perfect match, a handsome man and a beautiful woman."

When the car arrived at the Shen family home, Shen Xuyue opened the car door for Zhao Mingyue, helped her out, and took her hand as they walked into the courtyard. Guests came over to ask for wedding candy and exchange auspicious greetings, making the house lively and bustling. After all the guests had arrived, Zhao Mingyue, accompanied by Shen Xuyue, lit cigarettes and poured tea for the elders. She finally addressed Shen's father and mother as "Dad" and "Mom," and even received two red envelopes for this gesture.

After a short rest, everyone went to a restaurant for lunch. There was no one to officiate at the wedding banquet; only representatives of both sets of parents gave speeches. There was no custom of toasting at each table. These days, everything is kept simple, making the process quite convenient. Zhao Mingyue thought this was fine; it wasn't too much of a hassle.

However, some of Shen Xuyue's classmates and friends, being young and impatient, and also envious and jealous of his beautiful wife, came up to toast him and force him to drink. Shen Xuyue accepted all the toasts, and seeing how readily he drank, they became even more enthusiastic and continued to offer him drinks. Zhao Mingyue quickly grabbed the glass to pour Shen Xuyue a drink, but when he tasted it, he found it bland and realized his wife had diluted it with water. He couldn't help but feel happy, thinking how good his wife was, how considerate she was.

After lunch, the wedding was pretty much over, and the local relatives and friends all went home. Only Shen Xuyue and a few of his friends made plans to come and make a ruckus in the bridal chamber that evening.

Everyone returned to the Shen family home, where they drank tea, ate melon seeds, chatted, and looked at the various gifts they had received. After dinner, the family members escorted Shen Xuyue and Zhao Mingyue back to their new house.

Yang Maolin escorted the newlyweds back to Shen Xuyue's workplace, and the relatives went along to see it. The workplace dormitory was quite nice, but the rooms were a bit cramped. The rooms were crammed full of beds, desks, tall and short cabinets, and wardrobes, leaving barely enough room for a person to turn around. Luckily, they didn't have to cook and would eat in the cafeteria; otherwise, such a small room would have been impossible to fit them in.

There were several quilts on the bed, all brought by Zhao Mingyue's parents from their hometown. Each quilt was sewn by someone in their hometown, and it was necessary to find a woman with good fortune to help with the making, so that she could be blessed with good luck and have a good omen.

People carried Zhao Mingyue's niece and nephew to the bed and let the two children roll around on it. Shen Xuyue watched all this with a smile. His friends also came and made a ruckus, wanting to play pranks on the newlyweds.

The conditions were rather basic; things like wiping the bottom of the pot were skipped, but the performances of eating apples and candy were still required. After a while, everyone dispersed. Yang Maolin was still responsible for taking the guests home.

After a day of commotion, things finally quieted down. The two looked at each other and couldn't help but chuckle. Shen Xuyue walked over and hugged Zhao Mingyue: "Wife, you look so beautiful in your cheongsam."

Zhao Mingyue chuckled softly without saying a word. Shen Xuyue leaned in to kiss her, but Zhao Mingyue dodged slightly, saying, "Wait, let's take a shower first." Both of them were covered in sweat and went to the public bathhouse to shower. After Shen Xuyue finished showering, he returned to the room and saw Zhao Mingyue in her pajamas tidying up her things by the wardrobe. She turned to look at Shen Xuyue and smiled somewhat shyly.

Shen Xuyue walked over, hugged Zhao Mingyue, buried his face in her neck and sniffed hard: "So fragrant."

Zhao Mingyue said, "The soap I use is the same as the one you use."

Shen Xuyue's fluffy head swayed like a big dog: "It's not the soap that smells good, it's that you naturally smell good."

Zhao Mingyue smiled and said, "No, not at all. Okay, let go of me and put that quilt on the top shelf of the cabinet for me."

Shen Xuyue released his grip, picked up a blanket, and folded it: "Where do I put it?"

"Up there."

Shen Xuyue then noticed that there were so many blankets in the closet: "Why are there so many blankets?"

Zhao Mingyue said, "This is only half; the other half is at your house. My mom made eight beds for us, and your mom also prepared two for us."

Shen Xuyue stared in disbelief: "What do you need so many blankets for? Where would you need so many?"

Zhao Mingyue smiled and said, "We'll always find a use for it. It'll be better when the house gets bigger."

Shen Xuyue said, "No matter how big the house is, you can't use this much."

"These quilts are usable. Some are thin, some are thick, and some are mattresses. They can only be used on three or four beds at a time." Zhao Mingyue said as she sorted through the gifts she received. These days, wedding gifts are mostly fabrics. Zhao Mingyue received quite a lot this time, and she will give one back to each of her relatives.

Some sent practical items like thermos flasks, washbasins, and kettles; the eldest brother sent a blanket, the second sister-in-law sent a four-piece bedding set, and only Zhao Minglang sent a radio cassette player—the third brother really doted on him. However, Shen Xuyue's siblings were more generous. The eldest sister sent a Seagull brand camera, and although the eldest brother hadn't come back, he sent money and asked their parents to buy a black and white television set, all costing no less than three hundred yuan.

Zhao Mingyue, holding the camera, said, "You've gone to so much trouble for your elder brother and sister. This is such an expensive item. Your family still hasn't paid off their debts, has it?"

Shen Xuyue took the camera and said with a smile, "It's okay, my brother-in-law is earning more now, he'll be able to pay it back soon."

Zhao Mingyue said, "I'll find an opportunity to give my eldest sister something in the future. We missed their wedding and the birth of their child, so we can't let them, as the eldest, always suffer losses."

“Yes, we’ll help them out when they buy a house,” Shen Xuyue said.

Zhao Mingyue nodded and turned to continue tidying up. Shen Xuyue watched her spinning like a top and said, "Honey, aren't you tired?"

When Zhao Mingyue heard him call her "wife," she immediately stopped, and her ears slowly turned red. Shen Xuyue walked over, put his arm around her waist, took the things from her hands, and put them back: "You've been busy all day, go to sleep."

Zhao Mingyue didn't know what to do with her hands. To be honest, she was more nervous than expectant. She felt that she hadn't been completely honest with Shen Xuyue. Shen Xuyue said, "It's getting cooler. You're dressed so lightly. Come to bed."

Zhao Mingyue sat on the edge of the bed, somewhat at a loss. She looked nervously at Shen Xuyue, who noticed that something was wrong with her expression: "What's wrong? Are you scared?"

Zhao Mingyue didn't speak. She took off her shoes, pulled back the covers, and crawled into bed. Shen Xuyue followed her, lying down beside her and placing his hand on her waist. Zhao Mingyue's body stiffened slightly, and Shen Xuyue hesitated for a moment, creating a slightly awkward atmosphere. Zhao Mingyue kept trying to reassure herself, telling herself it was okay, not to dwell on her past life. She was perfectly fine now and hadn't wronged Shen Xuyue.

She turned around and buried her head in Shen Xuyue's arms: "I'm just a little nervous."

Shen Xuyue smiled with relief and whispered in her ear, "Don't be afraid, actually I'm a little bit afraid too."

Shen Xuyue kissed Zhao Mingyue on the forehead, then down her high nose bridge, stopping at her lips, gently sucking and tracing them with his tongue. Through this intimate act, their feelings gradually stirred, and Zhao Mingyue's mind was quickly filled with tender sweetness and fluttering emotions; she forgot her unpleasant experiences.

Although Shen Xuyue had not experienced these things, he was already an adult and very intelligent. He was a student with a strong ability to learn on his own and quickly grasped the essentials. He led Zhao Mingyue into the whirlpool of emotions, allowing her to float and sink, savoring the ultimate taste of life, as well as the unforgettable sense of satisfaction and joy of the fusion of body and mind.

The night was cool and still, but it couldn't penetrate the passionate newlyweds' room, nor extinguish the flames in their hearts. A cricket chirped softly in a corner, then fell silent. The room finally quieted down; the grand feast had come to an end, and a new chapter in Shen Xuyue and Zhao Mingyue's lives had begun.

The sweetness between newlyweds was palpable even without seeing it. The next day, Zhao Mingyue didn't rest; she still had three days off, finally able to spend time with her parents and relatives on a trip. Shen Xuyue rented a minibus again, driving everyone to climb the Great Wall, ascend Fragrant Hills, and visit the Summer Palace, exploring all of Beijing's famous historical sites and taking several rolls of film, satisfying everyone's admiration and respect for Beijing.

After Zhao Mingyue's vacation ended, her parents said they had to go home. They had been away for seven or eight days and it was time to go back. Zhao Mingyue was a little reluctant to see her parents leave: "Mom, why don't you stay here and play for a couple more days? Xuyue has a vacation, he can rest for another ten days or so."

Hu Nianchun said, "No, daughter, we should go back. Your aunt and uncle all have things to do at home. Beijing is nice, but it's not our home. We've seen it, that's enough."

"But it's not easy for you to come all this way, and I don't want you to leave so soon." Zhao Mingyue was truly reluctant to part with you.

Hu Nianchun patted her daughter's hand: "Listen to your mother, daughter. When your father and I come here again, your aunt and uncle all think it's too dry here and they're having some trouble adjusting to the climate. Besides, we'll have to spend money on food, lodging, and entertainment every day. There are more than ten of us, that's a huge expense."

Zhao Mingyue knew that her mother always thought of her best interests. Zhao Shunsheng said from the side, "Mingyue, your third brother should go back to work too. We can't delay any longer. We've been here for several days and visited all the good places, so you shouldn't stay any longer. It's agreed that your mother and I will come again after you have your baby."

Zhao Mingyue nodded: "Then it's settled, Dad and Mom will both be coming."

Yes, it will.

So, on the day Zhao Mingyue went to work, Shen Xuyue bought sleeper tickets for everyone and saw them off on their journey home. Zhao Mingyue took the afternoon off and rushed to the train station to see her parents off. They pressed their faces against the glass, looking at their daughter and son-in-law on the platform. Zhao Mingyue hadn't cried on her wedding day, but at this moment, tears streamed down her face like a spring.

His elderly parents' eyes also welled up with tears. Shen Xuyue waved goodbye, putting his arm around his wife's shoulder. The train sounded its whistle and slowly pulled away, taking Zhao Mingyue's family with it, leaving her with her beloved.

After Zhao Mingyue went to work, Shen Xuyue had nothing to do, so he simply canceled his leave and went back to work, saving his vacation time to accompany Zhao Mingyue back to her hometown next summer. Life finally gradually got back on track. Since the wedding house hadn't been approved yet, the two of them were still living in single dormitories. Afraid that Zhao Mingyue would get tired, Shen Xuyue took the initiative to come and stay overnight at Zhao Mingyue's place, while he rushed to and from work every day.

Life was sweet and uneventful, seemingly unchanged. Having been together for many years, they had long since become accustomed to keeping each other in their hearts, becoming irreplaceable to one another. Now, they simply lived together, growing even closer. If there was any difference, it was probably that the other person held an increasingly important place in their hearts, and whenever something happened, the first person they thought of was the other.

This wedding nearly depleted Shen Xuyue's savings. Holding the account book, Shen Xuyue smiled at Zhao Mingyue and said, "The cost of getting married is too high. Luckily, you only get married once in your life."

Zhao Mingyue deliberately said, "That's not necessarily true. Some people don't mind the high cost and find changing wives more exciting and novel."

Shen Xuyue shook his head violently: "Who is better than my wife? I'm not willing to waste that money. I'd rather stay with my wife."

Zhao Mingyue smiled, pursing her lips: "By the way, my second sister is getting married, but it's in Qinhuangdao. Should we go?"

"When?" Shen Xuyue asked.

Zhao Mingyue said, "It seems to be in November. It's not a holiday, just a weekend. They both have extended marriage leave, which allows them to take half a month off."

"Should we ask for leave to go?" Gao Dongfang is Zhao Mingyue's classmate, and Lao Qin is Shen Xuyue's classmate. Logically, they should both go.

Zhao Mingyue said, "It seems that my second sister knew it wasn't convenient for us either, so she didn't send us any invitations."

“Then I’ll go instead. You don’t need to go. I can take a day off, plus the weekend, and that should be enough time. If they were both assigned to Beijing, there wouldn’t be so much trouble. It’s just that things don’t go as planned,” Shen Xuyue said.

Zhao Mingyue shook her head helplessly: "That's right. If you go, I'll ask my second sister where their house is and what time it is."

"good."