Upon learning that Meng Tao had returned to the village, Aunt Yang and Zhou Cuiling, mother and daughter, also came to sit for a while after dinner. Meng Tao quietly told Zhou Cuiling: I didn't see Zhang Guoqing in the provincial capital this time. Brother Zhehan said that he was undergoing closed training. When exactly he will come out, we can't ask about it, no one knows.

Zhou Cuiling breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this and said that it was no wonder, as she hadn't heard from Zhang Guoqing for a long time, and he didn't reply to her letters or call her, so she was worried.

It was late at night and everyone had to go to work the next day, so they went home to rest. Zhou Cuiling didn't want to go back and wanted to sleep with Meng Tao, as she still had many private things to say.

Aunt Yang knew that Meng Tao and Shen Yu were going to the commune to get their marriage certificate the next morning, so she took her daughter away, fearing that the two girls would be so busy talking that they would not sleep in the middle of the night, and Meng Tao would not be able to get up the next morning, which would delay important matters.

These days outside, Shen Yu and Meng Tao basically eat and live together and are very close. Except for not taking the final step, they are almost like a real couple. This is something he has longed for and has become a habit. Tonight they have to sleep separately again, and Shen Yu is very reluctant.

But he was helpless: this was in the village, in the Meng family. Although Meng Jinniu was usually honest and easy to talk to, he started to control people this time. On the surface, he said and did nothing, but he watched her very closely in secret. As soon as Shen Yu followed Meng Tao into the boudoir, he came over with a cane, either asking Meng Tao about something or asking Shen Yu to go out for help. It was hard for his honest brain to come up with so many excuses. Anyway, he would not let Shen Yu stay in the boudoir for too long. Shen Yu could only think about living in the same room with Meng Tao.

Shen Yu said to Meng Tao: "Brother Jinniu is starting to become like Meng Zhehan. In your words, he is not cute at all."

Meng Tao smiled and comforted him: "We are going to register for marriage tomorrow. According to the old rules, we can't see each other today. Now it's a new society and a new atmosphere. It's much better. Just obey it."

Thinking about tomorrow, Shen Yu was very excited. Meng Tao helped him make the bed in the wing room next to Jinniu and he went to sleep.

The next day, Shen Yu really got up before dawn, washed his face and brushed his teeth quickly, went out, and went to the brigade headquarters to get the marriage certificate issued by Captain Bao for Meng Tao. When he returned home, Jinniu was also up and Meng Tao was making breakfast in the kitchen. Jinniu wanted to see what the marriage certificate looked like, so Shen Yu showed it to him and reminded him not to damage it.

Meng Tao made noodles, put tender green onions and coriander in the soup, boiled a few eggs, steamed a dish of ham slices, and served it with some pickled cucumbers and kimchi. The three of them had a simple but delicious breakfast.

After dinner, Shen Yu washed the dishes actively and told Meng Tao to dress up. According to what Aunt Yang and Captain Bao had told her last night, she should wear new clothes and dress up beautifully when registering for marriage. It would be best if she wore a red top and tied a red scarf around her neck to look festive...

There were a lot of clothes and supplies for the two of them in Meng Tao's space. Shen Yu just wore a white shirt, long pants and black leather shoes. He looked handsome and stylish in his simple outfit. Meng Tao picked and chose, and finally wore a bright red long-sleeved shirt as Aunt Yang asked. It was a very bright red color. Shen Yu bought it for her from the Friendship Store. The style was fashionable and generous. Not to mention it was unique in the countryside, it was also rare and fashionable even in the provincial capital.

Walking out of the room, seeing Shen Yu's astonished eyes, Jin Niu was completely stunned. Meng Tao said:

"Doesn't it fit? Then I'll change into another one."

After all, I am just a country girl in the countryside, and it is not good to dress too exaggeratedly.

Shen Yu stopped her: "Don't change it, today is our good day, this is how it should be."

Jinniu said hurriedly: "This one, this one is the best, it looks so good on my sister!"

The educated youths from the new courtyard had prepared breakfast and came over with their bowls. They ate while watching the fun and praised the scene. Especially when Shen Yu walked past them holding hands with Meng Tao, everyone envied them. The three female educated youths were full of crazy looks. Sun Yutang was about to cry. Teacher Jiang couldn't swallow his food. Qian Liang said, "No, I have to find a woman to marry as well!"

Shen Yu waved at them and said, "Wait for me at home. I'll treat you to wedding candy when I get back. I'll prepare delicious food and good wine for you tonight!"

Amid cheers, the two got into a jeep, drove out of the village along the village road, got on the highway, and headed for the commune.

As they wished, they became the first couple to register for marriage today. The clerk completed the formalities for them and sent their sincere blessings. Shen Yu and Meng Tao took out wedding candies and cigarettes to distribute. Director Shen prepared a lot of candies and cigarettes, so the clerk happily carried the bags and distributed them all the way to the whole row of offices. Everyone ran out to see the bride and groom, and congratulated and blessed them.

Zhou Cuiling's father, Uncle Zhou, also came. When he saw the two of them, he laughed happily. Shen Yu lit a cigarette for Uncle Zhou and invited him to come back to the village in the evening for the wedding banquet. Naturally, Uncle Zhou agreed.

The two men left the commune office yard, first went to the supply and marketing cooperative, and then went to the grocery store, pretending to be making a big purchase, but actually did not buy many things. They had some food prepared in the space they had in the provincial capital.

Having completed a major event in his life, Shen Yu's face never stopped smiling. After "shopping" on the street, he simply drove the car to a deserted mountain area, hugged his new wife and couldn't get enough of kissing her. He then took out their marriage certificate and looked at it carefully. Meng Tao leaned beside him and looked at it together, and also found it novel: marriage certificates in this era are made to look like awards, and getting a marriage certificate is like getting an award.

"Let's stick it on the wall when we get back?" Meng Tao said.

"No, if you stick it on the wall it will weather and get dusty and break." Shen Yu kissed her on the forehead and carefully rolled up the marriage certificate: "This is our priceless treasure, it must be tied with red silk and placed in the cabinet for safekeeping."

"We registered today. Do you want to tell the elders?"

"The elders have been concerned about this matter. Let's go to the post office now. Let's go to the capital and H Province and tell them."

"good."

The couple drove back to the commune and made a few phone calls at the post office. All the elders and relatives were happy and relieved for them. Grandma Xu smiled and said that the wedding arrangements had been in preparation, and once the auspicious time was calculated and the date was set, she would notify them to go to Beijing for the wedding banquet.

When they returned to Linshui Village at noon, the marriage certificate was taken out and looked at several times. Captain Bao, Aunt Yang, and Jin Niu all wanted to see it. Several educated youth gathered around to join in the fun and watch. Shen Yu couldn't help but twitched his eyes when he saw that everyone wanted to touch it. He took it back and gave it to Meng Tao, asking her to "lock" it up quickly and not let them see it again. He felt bad if it got dirty or damaged.

To celebrate the marriage registration, some delicious food was prepared in the evening, and several brigade cadres, village elders, and neighbors were invited. Zhou Cuiling and her parents all came, and together with the educated youth, three full tables were occupied.

Shen Yu kept his word and took out the famous wine he bought in Province Y. Qian Liang used to be the son of a capitalist family. Xu Guoliang and Sun Yutang also came from ordinary families and were connoisseurs of good things. When they saw the wine bottles, their eyes lit up and they cheered and took a bottle each.

Good wine and good food, and it was a happy occasion. The usually serious and cold groom was unusually friendly and easy to talk to. He kept urging everyone to drink, and a lot of people at the banquet got drunk that night.

(End of this chapter)