Jiang Yan looked at the abacus, a gratified smile appeared on his face, and he said, "Si Yan is thoughtful." He knew very well that this was not just an abacus, but also his son's deep blessing and love for them.
Then, Nian Li stepped forward and presented the gift she and Shen Yue had carefully prepared. It was a painting. Unfolding the scroll, Su Jinli's heroic figure, riding a horse and leaving the arrogant young man behind, came to life on the page. The figures in the painting were lifelike, the details revealing the artist's skill, as if recreating that wonderful past before everyone's eyes.
"Mom, you were so majestic back then!" Nianli said with admiration in her eyes.
Su Jinli looked at the painting and couldn't help laughing, as if she was back in her youthful days full of vigor and vitality: "So many years have passed, and you're still talking about that." However, her eyes revealed a hint of pride that was hard to conceal.
It was Pan'er's turn. She carefully held a rag doll she had made herself in her hands and walked briskly to Su Jinli and Jiang Yan. She raised her innocent and lovely little face and asked expectantly, "Grandma, Grandpa, this is the doll I made for you. Do you think it looks like it?"
Su Jinli took the dolls and examined them carefully. One doll was wearing a phoenix coronet and a bridal robe, while the other wore a top scholar's robe. Although the workmanship was a little childish and crooked, every detail was filled with childlike interest and thoughtfulness.
"It's exactly like them! It's so similar!" Jiang Yan praised with a smile, "Pan'er is really clever and skillful."
After hearing this, Pan'er raised her little face proudly, her eyes gleaming with pride. She looked as if she was declaring her love for her elders to the whole world.
Afterwards, friends and family presented their carefully prepared gifts, each carrying a message of good wishes for Jiang Yan and Su Jinli. The entire main hall was filled with laughter and joy, and the atmosphere of happiness seemed to become tangible, filling every corner.
After three rounds of drinks, the atmosphere grew increasingly lively. Someone enthusiastically suggested that Jiang Yan and Su Jinli tell their stories from the past. Everyone responded, their eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation.
Jiang Yan turned his head slightly and looked at Su Jinli, his eyes full of love. He smiled and said, "Then let me tell you how we met. That year, I had just won the top spot in the imperial examination and was in a good mood. I saw someone selling sugar paintings on the street, so I went over. Just then, I saw a little girl..."
"Bah!" Su Jinli interrupted him with a smile, feigning anger. "It was you who stole my sugar painting! I remember your shameless look clearly."
"Yes, yes, yes," Jiang Yan smiled dotingly and followed her words, "I stole it. Seeing her face flushed with anger and her eyes wide open, she was so adorable that I was immediately attracted to her..."
"Go away!" Su Jinli's cheeks flushed slightly, and she hit him lightly, her action as shy as a girl.
Seeing this, everyone burst into laughter and shouted, "Together! Together!" The laughter and cheering intertwined together, pushing the atmosphere of the celebration to a climax.
Pan'er opened her big watery eyes and asked curiously, "Grandma, Grandpa, when did you fall in love with each other?" Her eyes were full of longing and curiosity about love, as if she was exploring a mysterious and beautiful treasure.
Su Jinli raised her head slightly, lost in memories. After thinking for a while, she said, "It was probably when he stuffed the crooked phoenix sugar painting into my hand. When I looked at the crooked phoenix, I felt very warm in my heart. At that moment, I think my heart was moved." Her voice was soft, as if she was telling a secret that had been treasured for many years.
Jiang Yan looked at Su Jinli affectionately and said slowly, "It was when she overturned the teacup in public and fearlessly exposed the Wang family's scandal. I felt that this woman was extraordinary. She was brave and intelligent. From that moment on, I could no longer take my eyes off her."
"Wow~" Pan'er's eyes lit up when she heard this, and she said with admiration, "Grandma is amazing! Grandpa and grandma's love story is so romantic!"
Su Jinli looked at Pan'er's admiring eyes, then turned to look at Jiang Yan beside her, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart. She suddenly felt that the luckiest thing in her life was being reborn back to the day of her coming-of-age banquet, meeting him, meeting such a wonderful family, and starting this journey of life full of love and warmth.
"Okay, okay," Su Jinli said with a smile, "Let's not talk about this anymore, let's drink!" She raised her glass and gestured to everyone.
Then, everyone raised their glasses once again, offering their sincerest blessings to the golden wedding couple. The clinking of glasses made a crisp sound, as if accompanying their love song.
The banquet continued late into the night, filled with laughter and joy. Moonlight streamed down the tranquil villa. The guests gradually dispersed, and the bustling main hall returned to a degree of tranquility. Su Jinli and Jiang Yan, arm in arm, returned to their cozy bedroom.
"It's finally over." Su Jinli breathed a sigh of relief, feeling tired but satisfied.
Jiang Yan walked behind her, gently massaged her shoulders, and asked with concern: "Are you tired? You've been busy all day today, thank you for your hard work." His movements were gentle and soothing, as if he wanted to dispel all the fatigue from her.
"Yeah," Su Jinli closed her eyes slightly, leaned against him, and felt his warmth. "But I'm really happy today. Seeing so many relatives and friends blessing us, I feel very happy."
The two sat quietly for a while, listening to the chirping of insects outside the window. The chirping of insects seemed like a lullaby played by nature, adding a bit of tranquility and peace to this beautiful night.
"Jinli," Jiang Yan suddenly whispered, his voice filled with a hint of affection and expectation, "In the next life, can we still be together? I still want to walk through every spring, summer, autumn and winter with you, and experience the ups and downs of life together."
Su Jinli slowly turned around and looked at him, tears glistening in her eyes. She nodded slightly and said softly, "Okay. In my next life, I'll still be the little girl who snatched your sugar painting, continue to quarrel with you, and stay with you for the rest of my life."
"Okay," Jiang Yan smiled, tears glistening in his eyes, "In my next life, I will give you that crooked phoenix sugar painting." He gently held her hand, as if he was holding the most precious treasure in the world.
The two smiled at each other, as if time had flown back to their youth. At this moment, the traces of time seemed to disappear. In their eyes, there was only each other, and only the love that had matured with the passage of time.
"The years are quiet and peaceful, and I will grow old with you." They spent their entire lives writing these simple eight words. Now, though their love has come to a perfect end, their story, like the gurgling spring in the mountains, will never cease. For love never fades with the passage of time. Instead, like a fine wine treasured for years, it becomes more fragrant and precious with the sculpting of time.
Su Jinli leaned against Jiang Yan's chest, listening to his steady heartbeat, feeling incredibly at ease. In this life, she had truly transformed all the grievances she had endured into sweet honey. And this sweetness, like the radiant starlight, would be passed down through the family's long river, warming everyone's heart and becoming a beautiful memory and spiritual treasure passed down from generation to generation in the Jiang family.
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