Shen Zhihuan couldn't quite put her finger on what was wrong, but she felt that Luo Mao was a bit strange.
But since today was the auspicious day of her engagement, she didn't dwell on it too much.
Seeing that it was getting late, Zhao Haiyin and Grandma Xie quickly sped up their work.
After Shen Zhihuan had finished preparing everything, Xie Lanshen, who had received the news, also walked in from the courtyard gate with a bouquet of flowers.
He was wearing an exceptionally formal military uniform today, the crisp fabric perfectly outlining his broad shoulders and narrow waist.
Beneath his military cap, his handsome features appeared even more profound and ascetic, further enhancing his powerful aura.
Gong Teng, Chi Lie, Shan Wenbo, and several other comrades who were close to Xie Lanshen walked in, carrying the betrothal gifts and laughing and joking.
The sound of firecrackers exploding was incessant, and the children who came to the house to ask for candy covered their ears while screaming excitedly.
"The groom is here! The groom is here!"
The scene, along with the double happiness characters and red silk flowers everywhere, created an exceptionally lively atmosphere.
Amidst the cheers and jeers of the crowd, Xie Lan took a step forward and knelt down on one knee at Shen Zhihuan's feet.
"Zhihuan, will you... marry me?"
Those ink-black eyes shone with a dazzling light.
His deep, magnetic voice made people's hearts flutter.
Shen Zhihuan thought she was quite calm, but under Xie Lanshen's gaze, her ears couldn't help but turn red.
"I do."
She heard her own voice as if it were coming from a very far place, making it sound extremely unreal.
Xie Lanshen's lips curled into a smile instantly. Before Shen Zhihuan could come to her senses, he stuffed the large bouquet of flowers into her arms and picked her up in his arms.
"Hmm!"
Shen Zhihuan couldn't help but let out a short gasp. As she pressed herself against Xie Lanshen's chest, she instantly pursed her lips, her ears turning even redder.
Normally, when two families get married, the bride is brought from the bride's home to the groom's home.
But Shen Zhihuan's situation was different; the Xie family was not only her husband's family but also her own family.
Yesterday, the elders discussed it and decided to have her and Xie Lanshen take a walk around the neighborhood to fulfill this custom and let everyone see the new bride.
At first, Shen Zhihuan thought this method was pretty good, but no one told her that Xie Lanshen had to carry her around.
Knowing that the Xie family had a happy occasion today, the neighbors all came out early to join in the fun.
Amidst the teasing glances and cheers of the crowd, Shen Zhihuan couldn't help but hug Xie Lanshen's neck tightly, a sweet feeling spreading through her heart.
"No wonder the Xie family is so wealthy and powerful. It's just a wedding, yet they're spending so lavishly."
Grandma Qian, Grandma Lü, and Grandma Sun were squatting in the corner eating melon seeds. Recalling the large items they had just seen being moved into the Xie family's courtyard, they were almost moved to tears with envy.
"A sewing machine, a bicycle, a watch, and a radio—if I'm not mistaken, I should have all of these 'three turns and one sound' (referring to a set of three items, one watch, and one radio)."
"You all have the surname Shen, so why are people's fates so different?"
The three middle-aged women glanced at the Gu family's yard next door, clicking their tongues and shaking their heads.
Shen Ling's status is different now than before. Even when she's just watching the show, she's being helped out by Wang Yulian.
Hearing the gossipy women mocking her, she sneered.
"It's just a pretense of generosity. Everyone knows that Shen Zhihuan has lost her family. No matter how much dowry is prepared for her, it's all just for her own family."
Wang Yulian agreed with her: "That's right, it's just money going from one pocket to another. Do you really think others can't tell?"
It would be one thing to be insulted by the Xie family, since they were the ones who spoke ill of me behind my back first.
But who are these people from the Gu family? How dare they act so sarcastic and insincere?
Grandma Qian and several other middle-aged women were immediately displeased and rolled up their sleeves to give her a piece of their minds.
"If I were you, I would have been ashamed and hiding at home, not daring to utter a sound. I really don't know where you get the nerve to come out and embarrass yourself."
"That's right. Shen Zhihuan got engaged, but she didn't invite either the Shen family or the Gu family. Even her older sister, Shen Ling, couldn't get involved."
"You two, do you really think nobody knows why we didn't invite you?"
Shen Ling and Wang Yulian were so angry that their faces turned green, but they couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal, feeling extremely frustrated.
Today is a great day for Shen Zhihuan, and not only can they not benefit from it, but they also have to suffer injustice in the end.
There's no such logic in the world.
Wang Yulian, relying on her son's success, usually acted arrogantly in the courtyard.
All the grievances she has suffered recently, every single one of them, were caused by Shen Ling.
Having such a daughter-in-law is truly a misfortune for the family.
Wang Yulian was so angry that her vision blurred. If it were any other time, she would have been furious with Shen Ling for making her lose face.
But the situation is different now; Gu Yuchuan and Tong Xinyue's affair was exposed not long ago.
If they don't want to be charged with hooliganism, their family should lay low for a while and appease Shen Ling.
Wang Yulian could only swallow back the blame that was on the tip of her tongue, and joined Shen Ling in cursing Old Lady Qian and the others.
“What business is it of yours what our family’s affairs are? Who are you to gossip about?”
"All they do all day is sit in the alley and gossip. What a bunch of long-tongued women!"
Unexpectedly, this notoriously discordant mother-in-law and daughter-in-law have now joined forces.
Grandma Qian, Grandma Lü, and Grandma Sun felt bored, so they threw a handful of sunflower seed shells at the two women and quickly grabbed their small stools and ran away.
Shen Ling rolled her eyes in annoyance, but felt a little better because her mother-in-law had spoken up for her earlier.
"Mom, if only we had gotten along well earlier and united against outsiders, we wouldn't have been bullied by those gossipy women until now."
The way she said that made it sound like she was being blamed.
Shen Ling didn't even use her pig brain to think that if she hadn't made a fool of herself all the time, would her mother-in-law have disliked her so much?
Wang Yulian was cursing inwardly, but she still had to force a smile and awkwardly said:
"Don't worry, Ling'er, I will definitely treat you better and better in the future, and take care of you as my own daughter."
She thought the matter was finally over, but she didn't expect Shen Ling to keep going on and on.
As soon as the two got home, Shen Ling took advantage of their kindness and started ordering her around in all sorts of ways.
"Mom, I'm hungry. Go make me a braised pork knuckle. Oh, and I also want a pomelo, the kind with the peel already on!"
She casually lay down on the sofa, touching her belly, acting all delicate and pampered as if she were pregnant with some prince.
"I'm carrying the child of your Gu family. Only by taking good care of me and making me happy can the child grow up healthily."
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