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◎Day 1 of the control group◎
Zhou Qingyu's heart skipped a beat. He looked down into her bright eyes and gently brushed his fingertips across her cheek: "Have you thought it through?"
"I've thought it through." Jiang Wanzhou nodded, clenching her fists tighter. "Once we're married, we'll be a legitimate family. Anyone who tries to cause trouble will have to think twice."
"I don't want to wait any longer, I just want to live a peaceful life with you."
Zhou Qingyu felt a warmth in her heart, reached into her tool bag and took out a small cloth bag. She opened it and found a smooth peach wood hairpin inside.
He painstakingly worked on it little by little during his spare time these past few days.
"I was planning to find a suitable opportunity for you." He picked up the wooden hairpin and gently placed it in Jiang Wanzhou's hair, his fingertips brushing against her earlobe.
"I'll go talk to Brother Renzhou and his wife right away and set a date for the earliest possible date."
Jiang Wanzhou touched the wooden hairpin in her hair, the warmth spreading through her fingertips, but her eyes were a little hot: "Isn't it too rushed? We haven't even had time to make a new dress."
"No rush." Zhou Qingyu smiled and pinched her cheek. "The new clothes will be ready in three days if we find the old tailor again. I asked the comrades at the dock to send the candy and melon seeds, and they will arrive tomorrow."
Just then, Shen Xinglian brought out a bowl of freshly cooked mung bean soup. Seeing the two of them snuggling together, she smiled and teased, "What are you whispering about?"
Jiang Wanzhou quickly stepped out of Zhou Qingyu's embrace, clutching the hem of her clothes somewhat embarrassedly: "Xingxing, Qingyu and I plan to get married as soon as possible."
Shen Xinglian's eyes lit up, and she put down her soup bowl and walked over: "Great! We should have decided on this a long time ago!"
"I want to have a baby as soon as possible after I decide to, so that it will be just in time."
"...I haven't thought about having children yet." Jiang Wanzhou frowned.
Jiang Renzhou had just returned from the team headquarters when he heard this. He came over and patted Zhou Qingyu on the shoulder: "Once the date is set, I'll talk to the head chef in the canteen and ask him to make a few more dishes so that my comrades can come and have some fun."
"Wanzhou just arrived and doesn't have many friends."
"I remember the day after tomorrow is an auspicious day."
"Wouldn't it be too rushed to meet the day after tomorrow?" Jiang Wanzhou hesitated.
"No rush!" Jiang Renzhou waved his hand. "Marriage is all about finding peace and happiness. The sooner you settle down, the less you'll have to worry about it. Don't worry, I'll take care of anything you need. I'll make sure you have a grand and glorious wedding."
Mingyuan ran over and hugged Jiang Wanzhou's leg: "Auntie is getting married? Can I be a flower girl? I'll scatter flower petals for Auntie!"
Jiang Wanzhou smiled and squatted down, patting his head: "Of course you can, Mingyuan is the most well-behaved flower boy."
Shen Xinglian and Jiang Wanzhou discussed the style of their new clothes, while Jiang Renzhou and Zhou Qingyu talked about the preparations for the day after tomorrow. Mingyuan occasionally chimed in, saying that he wanted to draw a red double happiness symbol for his aunt.
Zhou Qingyu and Jiang Renzhou were talking about something.
Jiang Wanzhou looked at the seriousness in his eyes, took a sip of mung bean soup, and felt the sweetness spread from the tip of her tongue to her heart.
—
The next morning, Zhou Qingyu went to the logistics department to collect the cloth coupons and bought red cloth.
Sister-in-law Li sat on the veranda, holding a piece of cloth, sewing clothes with her silver needle flying across the fabric.
Jiang Wanzhou helped her organize the lines, occasionally exchanging a few words with her. Jiang Renzhou went to the dock to retrieve the candy and melon seeds he had brought, and also bought two strings of red firecrackers, saying they would be set off on their wedding day for good luck.
Upon hearing the news, Jun Yanghong wandered around the courtyard and saw someone sewing a red dress. Her expression darkened.
Jun Yanghong stood at the gate of her own courtyard, her gaze dark and gloomy as she looked down at the neighboring corridor.
Sister-in-law Li was sewing away, and the bright red cloth was gradually taking shape in her hands, stinging Jun Yang's red eyes.
Jiang Wanzhou sat quietly to the side, arranging the threads. Her profile appeared soft and focused in the sunlight, with a faint smile on her lips—the joy and anticipation of becoming a wife.
The harmonious scene ignited a fire within her.
On what grounds?
Why is it that Jiang Wanzhou, a country girl, can have such a smooth life?
A person like Zhou Qingyu deserves someone like her who knows the future and can help him rise to the top!
She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug deep into her palms.
"Oh, so you're busy making your wedding dress?" Jun Yanghong finally couldn't help but force a fake smile and swayed over.
The voice was deliberately raised, with a sour tone.
"That's really fast. Anyone who didn't know better would think they were in a real hurry."
Upon hearing this, Sister-in-law Li raised her head, her smile fading slightly, but her hands continued moving, and she replied indifferently.
“Hongmeizi is here. When it comes to weddings, things should happen naturally. Once the date is set, the things should naturally be made in time.”
"I think Wanzhou and Technician Zhou are a perfect match, a match made in heaven. It would be reassuring for everyone if they settled down soon."
Jiang Wanzhou didn't even lift her eyelids, continuing to slowly and methodically arrange the red thread in her hands, as if she hadn't heard Jun Yanghong's words.
This attitude of ignoring her made Jun Yanghong feel even worse than a direct rebuttal.
Jun Yanghong's smile vanished. She stared at Jiang Wanzhou, her tone filled with malicious speculation: "Jiang Wanzhou, have you thought this through? Technician Zhou's family is from Beijing, and they have strict rules. If you marry into their family so hastily, you'll have to rush to get a decent wedding dress. Don't let them look down on you later."
Jiang Wanzhou then raised her eyes, her gaze calm and unwavering, and looked at Jun Yanghong.
"Thank you for your trouble. Qingyu said that he values me as a person, not those empty formalities. Being down-to-earth, hardworking, reasonable, and able to distinguish right from wrong is the most important thing."
She paused, then added meaningfully, "They're much more respectable than those who are always thinking about climbing the social ladder or having crooked ideas."
These words struck Jun Yanghong squarely where it hurt.
Her face flushed instantly, her lips trembled, and she wanted to say something, but then she saw Shen Xinglian come out of the house carrying a basin of freshly washed clothes, her eyes sweeping over her coldly.
"Jun's sister, are you free?" Shen Xinglian put the basin on the ground and wiped her hands on her apron. "If you're not busy, why don't you go back and help your sister-in-law take care of the child? I heard that Niu Niu has been coughing a bit these past few days, so you'll have to keep a close eye on her."
Jun Yanghong felt uneasy under Shen Xinglian's oppressive gaze. Seeing that Sister-in-law Li had also stopped her acupuncture and was looking at her expressionlessly, she knew that staying any longer would only humiliate her.
She stomped her foot angrily and squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth.
"It's none of your business!"
She turned around and slunk back to her own yard, slamming the gate shut with a deafening roar.
"Pah! What a load of rubbish!" Sister-in-law Li spat under her breath in the direction of the Jun family, then turned to comfort Jiang Wanzhou, "Wanzhou, don't pay her any attention! She's just a sour grapes! You and Technician Zhou are doing well, that's more important than anything!"
Jiang Wanzhou smiled but didn't say anything.
In the evening, Zhou Qingyu returned from the technical team, bringing back not only wedding candies and melon seeds from the dock, but also a small bundle.
He went straight to the Jiang family home and opened the package in front of Jiang Renzhou and Shen Xinglian. Inside were a pair of enamel mugs with the red double happiness symbol printed on them, which he had asked someone to bring from the city, and a small box of exquisitely packaged face cream.
Zhou Qing's ears turned slightly red. "I didn't know what you liked, so I just bought it based on what I saw."
Jiang Wanzhou looked at the pair of bright red cups and felt a sweet warmth in her heart.
She picked up the box of face cream, feeling the cool porcelain texture on her fingertips, and gently hummed in agreement, a tender smile spreading across her eyes: "I like it."
Shen Xinglian joked, "Oh my, our Qingyu is quite considerate! This was bought by us, her family."
"It's not like I can't buy one more." Jiang Wanzhou pretended to be angry.
Jiang Renzhou also showed a rare hearty smile and patted Zhou Qingyu on the shoulder: "Let's have a big celebration the day after tomorrow!"
Mingyuan excitedly circled the table, pointing at the red cup and shouting, "Auntie, this red bowl is pretty! Buy me one too!"
Shen Xinglian had already neatly cleared away the dishes and chopsticks. Looking at the box of face cream, her eyes were filled with genuine joy, and she joked, "This boy is thoughtful! But the rouge and powder in the dowry should have been prepared by our family, but he beat us to it."
A blush rose on Jiang Wanzhou's face as she carefully closed the box of face cream and whispered, "Xingxing, you can see me getting married."
"Yes," Shen Xinglian smiled and tapped her forehead, "Our Wanzhou deserves the best!"
She turned around and took out the red wedding dress from the inner room.
Although it wasn't made of fine silk or satin, but rather sturdy red cotton, it was well-tailored, with a delicate golden thread embroidering around the collar and cuffs to depict intertwined floral patterns. Under the light, it looked both festive and unique.
"Come on, try it on! Let me see if it fits!" Shen Xinglian unfolded her wedding dress, her eyes filled with a mixture of smiles and emotions.
Jiang Wanzhou looked at the red wedding dress, and her heart began to beat faster involuntarily.
She obediently took off her coat with Shen Xinglian's help.
The clothes fit her perfectly, accentuating her slender figure. Her usually plain face was made even more radiant and beautiful by the red dress.
"Beautiful! So beautiful!" Shen Xinglian circled around her, her eyes sparkling, and couldn't help but exclaim, "Wanzhou will definitely be the most beautiful bride on the island tomorrow if she wears this!"
Mingyuan clapped his hands and jumped up and down, saying, "My aunt is so beautiful! She looks like someone from a painting!"
Jiang Wanzhou lowered her head somewhat shyly, her fingers gently tracing the embroidery on her lapel.
She looked up at Zhou Qingyu, who had been standing quietly beside her, gazing intently at her, and asked with a hint of shyness, "...Does it look good?"
From the moment Zhou Qingyu put on her wedding dress, his gaze seemed to be fixed on her.
She usually wears plain colors, which makes her appear calm and resilient. But now, enveloped in this vibrant red, she is like a dusty pearl that has been wiped clean, instantly radiating dazzling brilliance.
His Adam's apple bobbed slightly. Hearing her question, he snapped back to reality, his ears turning even redder, but his voice remained deep and certain: "Beautiful."
He paused, then added, in a tone that was both a promise and a sigh: "It's very beautiful."
Those three simple words brought Jiang Wanzhou more peace of mind than any flowery praise. She smiled, her eyes and brows radiating the shyness and joy of a new bride.
Shen Xinglian added, "It will only look better after the makeup is done."
Jiang Renzhou felt a mix of sadness and warmth in his heart as he looked at his younger sister.
He cleared his throat and adopted the air of the head of the household: "Alright, as long as the clothes fit, that's fine. Everyone get some rest; we'll be busy these next few days. Qingyu, you should also go back and prepare yourself well so you can come pick up the bride looking refreshed the day after tomorrow!"
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