He Shumin picked up the conversation, saying enthusiastically, "Yes! Your father and I were thinking of setting the date after the New Year. It's cold now, and preparations are rushed. How about we set it for... the eighth day of the first lunar month? It's an auspicious date! We'll hold it in the military region's auditorium, with seven or eight tables, and invite Tangtang's maternal grandmother and uncle, our closest relatives and friends from both sides in Beijing and here, as well as Qin Ye's closest comrades and colleagues. It'll be a lively and festive occasion!"
Su Tang didn't really care about these formalities, but she knew that they were the elders' good intentions and showed their respect for her; the arrangements were also very thoughtful.
She was about to nod when Qin Ye spoke first.
"Dad, Mom, Grandma," he looked at the three elders, his tone more serious than ever before, "I only have one request for the wedding: if she likes a lively atmosphere, then we'll have a lively one. If she prefers a simpler one, then we'll only invite our closest family and friends. Everything will be up to Tangtang."
These words startled Qin Zhenbang and He Shumin for a moment, then they smiled with satisfaction.
This kid has really grown up; he knows how to cherish his wife now.
A warm feeling welled up in Su Tang's heart. She grasped Qin Ye's hand in return and smiled at her elders, saying, "Dad, Mom, I'll listen to you. Let the wedding be lively; it will make Grandma and Uncle happy too."
She knew very well that this wedding was not just about the two of them, but also about how much the Qin family valued her as their daughter-in-law.
“Great! Great!” He Shumin clapped her hands happily. “Then it’s settled! The date will be the eighth day of the first lunar month! Your father and I will take care of the invitations, venue, and banquet. You two just need to be happy as the bride and groom.”
The atmosphere at the family meeting was warm and harmonious.
Just then, Grandma Qin, who had been listening with a smile and hadn't said much, suddenly waved to Su Tang.
"Good child, come here, come to Grandma."
Su Tang obediently walked over and sat down next to her.
Grandma Qin took her hand and gently patted the back of her hand. Her cloudy old eyes were full of love and a trace of guilt.
"Tangtang," the old lady's voice was gentle yet solemn, "Grandma has to tell you something from the bottom of her heart. When you first came, this old woman of mine, with her conservative thinking, said some things that were hard to hear. You...you don't have to take it to heart."
"Grandma, don't say that, it's all in the past," Su Tang said, taking over the conversation.
"No, we need to make this clear." Grandma Qin shook her head, her eyes growing even more sincere. "It's just that Grandma's eyesight is failing, but Grandma sees everything and remembers it all. You are a wonderful child with great abilities and a broad mind. It's our Qin Ye who is fortunate to have married you, and our Qin family is blessed! Grandma likes you and loves you from the bottom of her heart!"
These heartfelt words moved everyone present.
He Shumin's eyes were red. Was this still her mother-in-law, who was strong-willed all her life and never easily bowed her head?
Su Tang felt a pang of sadness in her heart. She could sense that every word the old lady spoke came from the bottom of her heart.
After saying that, Grandma Qin turned around shakily and took out a palm-sized box wrapped in dark red brocade from an inconspicuous cloth bag on the sofa behind her.
The box was quite old, with some wear on the edges, but it was very well preserved.
She placed the box in Su Tang's hands and said solemnly:
“Child, this is Grandma’s wedding gift to you. It’s a family heirloom of the Qin family. My mother-in-law gave it to me when I married your grandfather. Later, I gave it to your mother. Now, Grandma is giving it to you.”
Amidst everyone's curious gazes, Su Tang gently opened the box.
Inside the box lay a pair of heavy, antique-looking gold bracelets, carved with auspicious dragon and phoenix patterns.
The gold was so pure and rich, shining with a warm and restrained luster under the light, clearly made of genuine gold and quite old.
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