The meal was a pleasant one for both the host and guests.

When I came out, Master Ma was already waiting at the door in his car.

Mr. and Mrs. Ding originally wanted to take the bus home themselves, but they had no choice but to agree to be driven home.

Just before getting into the car, Mr. Ding called Li Chu aside. Little Ding wanted to come along, but Mr. Ding shooed her away.

Ding's father pulled Li Chu aside and said, "Xiao Chu, now that our two families have eaten this meal, it's as if you and Nan Nan are already family. When a family lives together, there will inevitably be some bumps along the way. We're men, so we should give in to women when necessary. If Nan Nan makes you angry, come back and tell me, and I'll deal with her. Please don't hit her, okay?"

"Dad, what are you saying? Qiu Nan is the wife I chose myself. I cherish her so much, how could I possibly lay a hand on her? I promise you that such a thing will not happen." Li Chu said, patting his chest.

Li Chu's change of address made Ding's father laugh. He patted Li Chu on the shoulder and turned to walk towards the car.

After Ding's parents got into the car, Li Chu took Ding Qiunan's hand and said to them, "Mom and Dad, don't worry, I will definitely take good care of Qiunan from now on."

The elderly couple happily got into their car and left.

As soon as the car drove away, Ding Qiunan's tears streamed down her face. Li Chu tightened his grip on the girl's hand and looked at her, saying, "I'll take care of you from now on."

Ding Qiunan nodded with tears in her eyes, her gaze fixed on the car that had already driven away.

My sister and brother-in-law had to go to work in the afternoon, so they left as well.

After Ding Qiunan calmed down, Li Chu took her hand and pushed her bicycle towards Wangfujing Department Store.

After walking for a while, Ms. Ding had recovered, and the two chatted and laughed as they entered the department store.

Although it wasn't Sunday, there were still quite a few people in the mall. There were many wires hanging in the air, and you could see money and bills flying around on the wires with clips attached.

While looking at the goods in the display case, Ding Qiunan asked, "Li Chu, are we buying more candy? We need to distribute some to the families in the hospital later, and you should also give some to your colleagues at the hospital."

"No need to buy sugar, we have some at home. I bought it in advance. I came here today to buy you something." Li Chu pulled the girl and headed straight for the second floor.

When they reached the watch counter, Li Chu told Ding Qiunan to choose whichever watch she liked. His arrogant attitude made one want to punch him.

Ding Qiunan climbed onto the counter and looked at it for a long time before turning back to Li Chu and saying, "Li Chu, this is too expensive. How about we don't buy it?"

"What are you thinking? How can we not buy anything now that we're here? You have to buy something! I'm telling you, I'll get angry if you don't buy anything today!"

Ding Qiunan rolled her eyes at him, then turned her head back to look at the watches. After a long while, she pointed to a Shanghai brand watch and said, "Then let's buy this one."

Li Chu glanced at it. He didn't know much about watches, but seeing the price tag of 120 yuan, he handed the money and the receipt to the salesperson: "Comrade, we'll buy this watch."

The sales clerk took the money with a stern face, quickly wrote out a receipt, and clipped it along with the money to the wire and sent it to the cashier.

A short while later, the cashier returned the stamped receipt. The sales clerk then brought them the form.

Ding Qiunan held the watch but couldn't bear to wear it, so she put it in her shoulder bag.

Li Chu then pulled her to find the bicycle counter.

Fortunately, the bicycle and sewing machine counters were located in a corner of the mall, so there were far fewer people in this area.

Since they had already decided to buy these items, Ding Qiunan didn't hesitate this time, and the two of them simply bought the sewing machine and the bicycle.

A Standard brand sewing machine costs 160 yuan, and a Phoenix brand 26-inch bicycle costs 180 yuan.

Li Chu ran to the door and found a porter, paying him three cents to take the sewing machine back.

Three people, three cars, it took them a long time to reach the entrance of the courtyard house.

Good heavens, it was like a drop of water falling into a hot oil pan—the courtyard house was in an uproar.

Everyone in the courtyard knew that Li Chu was getting married, but no one expected him to buy so many things.

People were looking at bicycles, sewing machines—it felt like there weren't enough eyes to take it all in.

"Hey Li Chu, how about I borrow your sewing machine for any needlework or thread-related tasks in the future?"

Li Chu didn't see who said it, so he waved his hand and said, "Hey, don't say that to me anymore, just say it to my wife."

"Hey, Xiao Chu, what's going on? From what you're saying, you two have already taken care of everything?" the Third Uncle asked, noticing that Li Chu had changed his form of address.

"Our two families had lunch together today. From today onwards, I, Li Chu, am a married man. Dear neighbors, uncles and aunts, I will bring Qiu Nan to your house later to introduce her to the new place. Let me carry my things in first, and we'll talk later."

Everyone knew that Li Chu would be taking his new wife to distribute wedding candies from house to house, so they all went home to wait. Even if each family only received one piece of candy, everyone could still have a taste.

Yan Jiecheng and Yan Jiefang from the Third Uncle's family helped Li Chu carry the sewing machine inside.

Before leaving, Li Chu gave each of them a handful of peanuts. The two boys were so happy that they ran off happily.

Ding Qiunan locked the car under the eaves, went inside and slumped onto the sofa: "Ugh, I'm exhausted after driving all day."

Li Chu looked at her with a smile: "You rest for a while, I'll pack my things, and then I'll take you to see the place."

He carried the wooden box that Ding Qiunan had brought from home today upstairs and put it away, and then cleaned both kettles.

Then he went into the kitchen and put some sugar and peanuts into his bag.

After coming out, he sat down next to Ding Qiunan and said, "Let's go. Since everyone is eating at home right now, let's go around to each house and then come back to rest."

After saying that, he grabbed Ding Qiunan and walked out.

After running through all three courtyards—front, middle, and back—and visiting over twenty households, Li Chu finally managed to talk himself hoarse before the young couple returned.

As soon as they entered the house, Li Chu locked the door and pulled Ding Qiunan upstairs.

Ding Qiunan struggled to say, "What time is it? Is it evening?"

Li Chu turned his head and looked at her in surprise: "Huh? What do you mean, 'okay' tonight?"

The young lady, her face flushed, said, "It's...it's what you're thinking about."

Li Chu suddenly realized what was going on and rubbed Ding Qiunan's head: "What are you thinking about all day? Do you think I'm in such a hurry? I brought you upstairs to show you something." He then laughed.

Ding Qiunan's awkward toes could have dug a four-bedroom, two-living-room house out of the ground.

He raised his hand and slapped her, saying, "I'll teach you to laugh at me, I'll teach you to laugh at me!"

Li Chu pulled her into his arms and hugged her: "Okay, okay, stop laughing. Let's go upstairs. I have something to give you."

After entering the bedroom, Ding Qiunan sat on the edge of the bed. Li Chu took a small wooden box from the wardrobe, carried it over, and placed it in front of Ding Qiunan.

"This contains all of our family's possessions, and we're entrusting it all to you."