The fourth day of the Lunar New Year was a sunny day.
Feng Mingshu got up early and had just eaten when her mother pulled her to get her makeup done. Her plain face was lightly made up with eyebrows and a layer of lipstick, which reduced her student-like appearance and added a touch of charm.
The twins' eyes lit up and they tried to pounce on her, but Yu Jingqiu chased them away. Then she took a white woolen coat from the closet and replaced Feng Mingshu's worn-out cotton-padded coat.
Afterwards, Yu Jingqiu took out the household registration booklet and placed it in her hand, asking with a smile, "Do you want your mother to come with you?"
Feng Mingshu shook her head: "No need, Mom. I promised to get married today and I won't go back on my word. Once I get the marriage certificate, Mom and Uncle Li can go get it together."
"Okay, go ahead." Yu Jingqiu said with a smile, then turned her face away.
Feng Mingshu reached out and hugged her mother, gently nuzzling her neck: "Mom, don't worry, I'll make a good life for you."
After she finished speaking, she released her mother and turned to walk outside.
She knew that once she stepped out of the house, she would no longer be the little girl who could freely cuddle in her mother's arms.
In the month since my rebirth, I have been enjoying the warmth of my family and living life to the fullest. This is a gift from fate, a result of my mother's indulgence, and also her willfulness.
Now that her time for being willful is up, it's time for her to go out into the world.
Embarking on a new chapter in life.
After taking one last look at the white Western-style building, Feng Mingshu opened the courtyard gate and stepped out.
Today is the first day back to work after the New Year, and there are more people on the streets, but it is rare to see someone dressed as brightly as Feng Mingshu.
Under the curious gazes of passersby, Feng Mingshu walked towards the neighborhood committee.
It was just past eight o'clock when Zhou Jinshan was already waiting outside the neighborhood committee.
He still arrived by bicycle, but unlike his usual casual clothes, he was dressed in a neat military uniform with black military boots that accentuated his long legs.
Passersby couldn't help but glance at it, and those in groups would even whisper among themselves.
Zhou Jinshan seemed to be used to these gazes. He was relaxed and his eyes were fixed in one direction.
When the person he was waiting for appeared in that direction, his eyes lit up, and he took a few long strides to reach Feng Mingshu: "You've come."
His voice was deep and resonant, his gaze fixed on Feng Mingshu's face, which was brighter than ever before, and his joy was rapidly swelling and overflowing.
Feng Mingshu felt uncomfortable under his gaze and subconsciously tucked a stray hair behind her ear. She then noticed that her mother's braids, which she had styled that morning, had neatly gathered up every stray hair, making her hair clean and tidy. She awkwardly withdrew her hand and casually asked, "Why are you here so early?"
"I couldn't fall back asleep after waking up this morning, and I was also afraid of being late, so I rode my bike over," Zhou Jinshan replied with a smile, without telling her that he had barely slept the night before.
Before setting off, in order to look more energetic, he washed his face with cold water three times, which made his comrades laugh.
Let him laugh it off. Today he's getting married, and he can't let his wife regret it at the last minute because he's not in good spirits.
His wife's face was flushed, so she probably didn't regret it. He tentatively took her hand and said, "The neighborhood committee is open. Let's go in."
Feng Mingshu didn't break free. She hummed in agreement and followed him into the neighborhood committee.
"Oh, you two are here so early! I just walked in," Director Zhu teased them as soon as he saw them.
Zhou Jinshan immediately took out a bag of wedding candy and placed it on Director Zhu's desk: "Thank you for your help, Director Zhu. We need to go to the Civil Affairs Bureau to get our marriage certificate as soon as possible."
Upon seeing the wedding candy, Director Zhu's eyes crinkled with laughter: "We haven't even received the marriage certificate yet, but the wedding candy has already been distributed. Well, I can't be lenient. I'll issue you the certificate right now."
Director Zhu was efficient; he called on several clerks to assist him, and the certificate was issued and stamped with the red seal in less than fifteen minutes.
Feng Mingshu thanked him and was about to reach out her hand when Zhou Jinshan took the certificate first, put it into a thick leather bag, and turned to her, saying, "Put all the materials together to avoid losing them."
Seeing how serious and proper he was, Feng Mingshu naturally had no objections.
After leaving the neighborhood committee, Feng Mingshu sat on the back of Zhou Jinshan's bicycle for the first time.
Zhou Jinshan is very tall with long, strong legs. He rides his bicycle with ease and a steady speed, without any bumps.
Feng Mingshu sat firmly, holding onto the back seat. She looked up and saw his broad, straight back. She noticed his strong shoulder blades bulging slightly from the movement of riding the bicycle, and a subtle emotion suddenly welled up in her heart.
It was as if a thread was slowly connecting her and him.
The thread was initially illusory, but as they arrived at the Civil Affairs Bureau, as they each signed their names, and as the red stamp was slapped onto the marriage certificate, the thread instantly solidified.
At that moment, she knew that their relationship was officially set.
She watched as Zhou Jinshan placed the newly issued marriage certificate into the leather bag he had brought, and then wrapped it several times with white binding rope. This meticulous care made Feng Mingshu feel a little guilty, and she asked, "What do I need to do?"
Zhou Jinshan put the leather bag into his bag, looked up at her, and smiled: "I didn't bring enough wedding candy. Let's go to the department store and buy some more. We can give some to the neighbors first, and also meet Mom. Then you can come with me to the military academy, okay?"
The idea of distributing wedding favors was proposed by Feng Mingshu yesterday. Seeing Zhou Jinshan's arrangement, she naturally had no objections and nodded in agreement.
After leaving the Civil Affairs Bureau, she sat on the back of the bicycle as before, but this time, Zhou Jinshan turned to her and said, "Mingshu, we are husband and wife now."
“I know.” Feng Mingshu looked at him with some confusion.
Zhou Jinshan sighed and glanced at her hand gripping the seat: "I'll ride faster on the road, it'll be safer if you hold onto my waist."
Feng Mingshu then realized why Zhou Jinshan had emphasized that they were husband and wife. Her face flushed, and under Zhou Jinshan's expectant gaze, she grabbed his shirt at the waist with both hands.
Zhou Jinshan chuckled softly, but his voice was full of joy: "Sit tight, let's go."
With a powerful push of his long legs, the bicycle sped off, its bell jingling and firecrackers popping along the roadside, as if all were celebrating for the couple.
Upon arriving at the department store, Zhou Jinshan went straight to the candy counter, took out four or five candy coupons, and pointed to the chocolate first: "This weighs one jin."
Seeing this, Feng Mingshu quickly stopped him: "We don't buy this kind of candy for weddings. It tastes a bit bitter, and many people don't like it."
"I bought this for you. Do you like it?" Zhou Jinshan asked, turning his head to the side.
Feng Mingshu suddenly remembered that half a month ago, when Zhou Jinshan came to see her for the second time, he gave her chocolates, but she did not accept them.
Now that Zhou Jinshan had given her chocolates again, Feng Mingshu felt a strange emotion rising in her heart. She pursed her lips and asked, "Did you finish that bag of chocolates from before, or did you give it away?"
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