On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Fang Meili and Fang Meihao were both at their parents' home, sitting by the stove warming themselves by the fire.

Fang Meixiang's mother craned her neck to look, but Fang Dongqiang was not in the kitchen.

Unable to hold back any longer, I finally asked, "Is Dongqiang dating someone? A girl keeps calling him. When I asked him, he said she's a classmate. What ordinary classmate calls you every other day like that?"

“It’s normal to date. He’s a junior now and will graduate next year.” Fang Meili sighed. “I thought he would end up with Fang Yu. Fang Yu has a boyfriend now too.”

“I told you, we grew up together, and now one of us is studying and the other is working, so the chances of us being together are slim,” Fang Meihao added.

"But when I asked Dongqiang, he said he wasn't dating anyone, and he's keeping it so secret. I'm really looking forward to seeing what kind of girlfriend Dongqiang will bring home in the future!"

During the wedding preparations, one trivial matter after another arose: booking the banquet, selecting dishes, and Lei Feng's father would take Yu Jihong with him on his old-fashioned motorcycle.

Yu Jihong picked out the wedding candy from Fang Meili's shop.

Buying furniture, appliances, and bedding for Fang Yu required running around to various stores in the county town.

Yu Jihong hasn't been able to take care of her shop's business lately, so what could be more important than her daughter's wedding? She's doing the things a mother should do, and also the things a mother-in-law should do.

On this auspicious day, Fang Yu sat in front of her dressing table in the bedroom, wearing a bright red satin wedding dress. The pearls adorning the neckline shimmered softly in the warm light. Fang Huahua and Fang Yu's kindergarten colleagues served as her bridesmaids, staying by her side the whole time.

Yu Jihong only invited a few close relatives from her maternal family to the banquet, and Fang Yu's colleagues were also in the room.

Double happiness characters were pasted on the doors and windows, and colorful ribbons hung on the walls. The living room was filled with relatives and friends, and the coffee table was laden with melon seeds, peanuts, fruit, and wedding candies. This was the day with the most people in the room since Fang Yu and Yu Jihong moved in.

The sound of a car horn came from downstairs; Lei Feng's wedding car had arrived, and everyone rushed to the door to see the groom.

Lei Feng was wearing a dark gray suit and a burgundy tie chosen by Fang Yu. He was clutching a red envelope that he had prepared in advance. He entered the room with a slightly nervous smile, but he was not expected to be greeted only by Yu Jihong's gentle gaze and the scrutiny of his relatives and friends.

“Lei Feng, Fang Yu has always been kind-hearted and has never suffered any injustice.” Yu Jihong’s voice was softer than usual. She reached out to straighten Lei Feng’s slightly crooked suit collar. Before she could finish speaking, her eyes reddened. “We won’t make things difficult for you with the wedding. It would be best if everything went smoothly. But I have one request: please don’t make things difficult for Fang Yu in the future.”

Lei Feng gripped the red envelope tighter and nodded hurriedly, "Auntie, Mom, don't worry, I will definitely treat Fang Yu well."

Lei Feng immediately changed his tune, which made everyone in the room burst into laughter.

The wedding procession proceeded exceptionally smoothly, with no one interfering.

The headlights of the wedding car, decorated with flowers on its hood, flashed, and several other cars with "囍" (double happiness) characters on their windows followed suit and set off.

Yu Jihong stood at the window and looked down until the wedding car turned the corner and disappeared from sight, then she pressed the back of her hand to her eyes.

Upon arriving at Lei Feng's home, the red lanterns at the entrance illuminated the red carpet on the ground. Lei Feng's father, dressed in a dark blue Zhongshan suit, smiled warmly as he handed over the red envelope.

Lei Feng's aunt and uncle were busy in the kitchen serving everyone tea and snacks.

Lei Feng picked up Fang Yu and, surrounded by the best man and bridesmaids, went to their new house.

The room no longer resembled the one they had when they were dating. The curtains had been changed, the walls were covered with wallpaper, and the bed, wardrobe, and dressing table were all new. The windows, the dressing mirror, and the wardrobe were all decorated with the character "囍" (double happiness). Two pairs of new slippers were placed under the bed.

A tall stack of quilts was piled on the bed. On top of the quilts were two festive baby dolls, one male and one female.

A wedding photo of Fang Yu and Lei Feng hangs on the wall, and the room has some new furniture with a faint woody scent.

The banquet at the hotel came to a lively end, and the guests gradually dispersed.

After saying goodbye to Fang Yu, Fang Huahua, carrying a bag of wedding candy, stood downstairs at the rented house and looked up. The light in their room was on, and Teng Xiling had already returned from get off work.

She took out her keys and opened the door. "You're back? Was the wedding feast delicious?" Teng Xiling was playing the few games she had on her phone.

Fang Huahua nodded, placed the candy bag on the table, and sat down on the edge of the bed.

After glancing around the cold, white walls of the rental apartment and the few simple pieces of furniture inside, the room seemed even more desolate compared to the lively atmosphere of Fang Yu's room.

"What are you spacing out about?" Teng Xiling asked while playing games against the headboard.

"I'm a little tired after a busy day." Fang Huahua turned to go to the bathroom to wash up. The sound of running water drowned out her sigh.

Looking up at her neck in the bathroom mirror, then at her wrist, Fang Yu's gold necklace and bracelet involuntarily came to mind.

She touched her lower abdomen, where a tiny life had once lived. She had lived with Teng Xiling before she was engaged or married, and had even had a miscarriage. She hadn't had what she should have had, but things that shouldn't have happened had already occurred.

Fang Huahua regretted her hasty decision. Thinking about what Lei Feng had done for Fang Yu, and how Lei Feng could tell from Fang Yu's expression that Teng Xiling didn't seem to love her as much as she thought.

Teng Xiling said she was still young and hadn't told her family about their relationship yet.

Fang Huahua was a little lost. What should she do? They were already living together, and she had even had a miscarriage. Was this the only way she could continue like this?

She felt like she was stuck in a lump of wet mud, wanting to pull her feet out, but afraid that if she did, she wouldn't even have a place to stand.

Fang Yu sat on the edge of the bed covered with a bright red peony-patterned sheet, her fingertips holding a newly opened toothbrush. The bristles were still fluffy from when it left the factory. It was a "couple's set" that Yu Jihong had specially chosen. The other one was in Lei Feng's hand.

In the bathroom, towels hung on a rod, both bright red with small double happiness symbols embroidered on them. Even the slippers were brand new, with mandarin duck patterns printed on the soles.

Lei Feng came out of the restroom, sighed at Fang Yu, and gently turned her fingers, saying, "Why am I so unlucky? From the day the date was set, I've been counting down the days, looking forward to today, and now..."

Before he could finish speaking, he looked at Fang Yu's slightly flushed cheeks and softened his tone, "Wife, it's not that I blame you, it's just that I'm a little unwilling."

Fang Yu pulled his hand over, palm to palm, and could feel the thin calluses on his fingertips from working.

“We’ll be together every day from now on, so why worry about these few days?” Fang Yu’s eyes still showed the weariness from preparing for the wedding. “You must be tired after a busy day. Let’s go to sleep early.”

The two tidied the blankets on the bed and got into bed. Lei Feng kissed Fang Yu, his hand still inside her clothes, and said in a pitiful tone, "How pitiful I am, on my wedding night!"

Fang Yu was amused by him and gently patted his back, "I'll make it up to you in a few days, I'll owe you for a few days first."

"You owe me interest."

"Okay! Here you go."

Lei Feng hugged Fang Yu tightly, his voice full of satisfaction, "You are my wife now."