By the time everyone in the family had left, it was almost nine o'clock.
Li Chu glanced at Xu Yang, who had just finished helping him pack, and said, "Yangyang, if you don't want children for the time being, tell your mother clearly, so that your parents don't worry."
"Uncle, you noticed."
"How could I possibly see that? I only know a little about what you're thinking."
Xu Yang thought for a moment and nodded, saying, "Uncle, I'll explain it to my mom when I get back. It's not that we don't want children, we just want to wait two more years."
"I understand, but we still need to communicate well and not let them worry. I think your parents are quite open-minded."
"Thank you, Uncle."
"Don't mention it, after all, I watched you grow up. By the way, how's your in-laws?"
"They're alright. Xiaoqin's two brothers, although they weren't very good at school, are excellent at farm work. We went back to visit them a few days ago, and their vegetables and chickens are doing quite well. Her older brother also just found a girlfriend."
“Live your life well, and go back to help your parents more often. The second child is not at home, so we are counting on you.”
"Understood, Uncle."
"Alright, come inside. I'll just empty the ashes."
...
October 2nd
At five o'clock in the morning, just as dawn was breaking, the courtyard was already bustling with people.
Everything that needed to be prepared was ready, and everything that needed to be tidied up was done. There were too many people in front, especially Li Wenhui's classmates and friends, who were all strangers to the dogs. Li Chu was worried about scaring them, so he led the dogs and his brother-in-law to sit in the pavilion in the back garden and drink tea.
"How are you feeling? Not so good, are you?" Wang Ziwen asked with a smile, taking a sip of tea and looking at her brother-in-law, who had a gloomy face.
"Don't even mention brother-in-law. Just thinking about how my daughter, whom I raised with such care, is going to marry someone else makes my heart ache terribly."
"You'll get used to it in a few days. Everyone goes through this when raising a daughter."
"Sigh..." Li Chu shook his head helplessly.
That's what he said, and he tried to comfort himself, but when the day of his daughter's wedding actually arrived, he still felt a tightness in his chest.
Even so, Wenhui still married him. They worked in the same company and saw each other every day.
He couldn't imagine how parents of women who married far away, hundreds or thousands of kilometers away, could accept it. It was a little better if there were many children in the family, but what about families with only one child?
"Aren't you going to go and take a look ahead?"
"I'm not going. I'll go when I hear the firecrackers. They're restless up ahead." Li Chu gestured with his chin to the dogs squatting outside the pavilion.
"Hey, Brother Chu and Brother Ziwen, you two know how to find some peace and quiet."
Xu Damao walked over from the connecting corridor, speaking as he went.
"Da Mao, you've had a hard day. Come and have some tea."
Li Chu took out a clean teacup and poured a fresh cup of water for the teacup.
"What's so hard about it? My niece's wedding is a big deal."
"Is your head chef comfortable using those tools?"
"They have all the equipment over there, some of it is even better than what I have in my shop, what's not to like? Hey, I just came over and saw that big sedan chair has arrived."
"Yes, we're from our hospital. We need to bring the people over here later, otherwise it's too far and inconvenient to go."
"How did you come up with the idea of putting it there?"
"The old man made the reservation, saying it would be quieter over there. I don't think it will be quiet today. Da Mao, how many tables of food are being prepared over there?"
"Fifty tables, plus ten reserved."
"I'll give you a few red envelopes later, please pass them on to the head chef and the kitchen helpers for me."
"Brother Chu, your son-in-law was already approved when I went there the day before yesterday."
"He is him and I am me, we are not the same."
"Okay, I'll thank you on their behalf."
As time went on, more and more people arrived. When Zhao Zhijun appeared in the connecting corridor, Li Chu knew that he could no longer sit there.
After thinking it over, he tied all the dogs up in the back garden and followed Zhao Zhijun to the front.
...
Looking at Wen Hui, who was kneeling in front of him and kowtowing three times, Li Chu suppressed his tears and pulled her up. He then pulled up Shen Yi, who had knelt down beside him, and put his arm around his shoulder and walked to the side.
"Mom, where did Dad take Xiaoyi?"
"It's nothing, he just wanted to tell Xiao Yi something."
Li Chu looked back and, seeing that no one was around, whispered, "Xiao Yi, when I married Huihui's mother, her grandfather said something to me, and I'm giving it to you now."
"Dad, please tell me."
“My daughter has been with us since birth, and her mother and I have never laid a finger on her. If she does anything wrong in the future, come and tell me, and I will educate her. It is the father’s fault if the child is not taught. If it is her fault, I will apologize to you, but you have no right to lay a hand on her or scold her.”
Shen Yi was stunned by his father-in-law's words for a moment, then said with a wry smile, "Dad, you should say that to Huihui. She has been practicing boxing with you for more than ten years. I would be grateful if she didn't hit me in the future. How could I dare to touch her?"
Li Chu was taken aback by his son-in-law's words. He reached out and pinched his arm, smacked his lips, and said, "You need to work out, kid. This little body of yours can't take a beating."
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Shen Yi's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets; he didn't know how to respond.
"Alright, I take back what I just said. If Huihui bullies you in the future, you can come to me to complain."
"Dad, what are you saying?"
Neither the father-in-law nor the son-in-law noticed that Li Wenhui and Ding Qiunan had walked up behind them at some point, and they happened to hear the last sentence Li Chu said.
Wenhui stamped her feet and said in protest.
"Alright," Ding Qiunan patted her daughter's hand, which was linked with her arm.
"It's about time. Let them set off. We can talk about everything later."
"Alright," Li Chu patted Shen Yi on the shoulder, "Go and take your bride back to the bridal chamber."
"Okay, Dad, Mom, we'll head over now."
"Mom and Dad, we're leaving now."
"Let's go, let's go, your friends are getting impatient." Li Chu waved his hand.
Amidst the sound of firecrackers, a group of young people set off on bicycles, shouting and yelling.
After watching the children walk away, Li Chu said to Zhao Zhijun, "Tell them to get on the bus."
"Yes, Director."
...
Around 7 p.m., the courtyard was quiet except for Li Chu, who was sitting on a stone bench, occasionally tossing a steamed bun to the dogs.
They seemed to know what today meant for their young mistress; they ate listlessly, unlike before when they would swallow a bun in a few bites and then turn around to ask for another.
The sound of footsteps came from the front yard. Ding Qiunan walked over and saw her husband sitting there. She shook her head helplessly.
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