Song Yan looked at Wen Ruan with a hint of helplessness and affection before lowering his head to eat his noodles.
......
Time flies, and the couple's wedding is in three days. Both sets of parents decided to let the two young people get their marriage certificate today. Song Yan delivered the betrothal gifts early in the morning, and the promised "three turns and one sound" and "thirty-six legs" were all there.
The Wen family prepared a very generous dowry for Wen Ruan, including four cotton quilts—two for winter and two for autumn—as well as a summer towel blanket, all very fashionable. Wen's father had also specially hired experienced craftsmen to make wardrobes, dressing tables, bookshelves, and other items, which were brought home yesterday; everything was ready.
Wen Ruan's maternal grandparents and uncle's family also sent generous dowries.
As for Wen Ruan's grandfather's family, they didn't send anything, leaving Wen's father feeling utterly disappointed.
After Song Yan and Wen Ruan set their wedding date, Wen's father sent a message to his parents back home. With the wedding just around the corner, there was still no word from their hometown.
When Wen's father married Wen's mother, it was a time when Wen's mother's family was at the height of its prosperity. The old couple had always favored their younger son since childhood. In addition, the gossip from their hometown, saying that Wen's eldest son was not going to get a wife but to marry into the family, made the old couple even more indifferent to Wen's father.
Later, Wen's mother's health deteriorated, and after finally conceiving Wen Ruan, she never conceived again. The old lady of the Wen family then came up with a plan: her youngest son had two sons and a daughter, and she suggested that Wen's father adopt one of them to carry on the family line.
But everyone knew perfectly well what Old Mrs. Wen was up to. Not to mention Wen's mother, even Wen's father strongly refused, and even turned against the Wen family. He beat his younger brother in front of the whole family, telling him that if he couldn't afford to raise his own child, he shouldn't have one. He said he could help him talk to the village chief and see if there were any assistance policies in the village.
When Wen's father beat his younger brother, it really stirred up a hornet's nest. Wen's father then sent five yuan a month back to his hometown for his parents' retirement. The two families barely spoke to each other except for the Chinese New Year.
Originally, Mr. Wen felt that no matter what, Ruan Ruan was, after all, the daughter of the Wen family and his parents' own granddaughter. He should inform them about the marriage and hold onto a sliver of hope. However, the Wen family's behavior now completely disheartened him. Seeing his dejected state, Mrs. Wen kept comforting him, saying, "Today is a great day for the two children. Don't think about unhappy things. The two children will be getting their marriage certificate soon. Your father-in-law has booked a table at the state-run restaurant, saying that our family will have a meal together. You should go and get ready."
Wen Ruan, now dressed, walked toward Song Yan. She wore a pale yellow dress with a matching belt around her waist, which accentuated her slender waist. Her jet-black hair was braided into loose plaits.
Song Yan was somewhat stunned. He didn't know why, but many of the women around him wore braids, while his wife's seemed to be different from everyone else's.
"Let's go, you idiot," Wen Ruan said, walking past Song Yan. Recalling the scene from a few days ago when she had stared at him and been teased by him, she felt as if she had won a round.
The couple quickly arrived at the marriage registration office. These days, it's very easy to register a marriage. They took out the materials they had prepared at the neighborhood office, and after the staff checked them, they quickly received their marriage certificate.
Wen Ruan looked at the marriage certificate from this era with curiosity. It looked like an award certificate, and there wasn't even a photo required. Wen Ruan was a little disappointed. She had dressed up specially, afraid that the photo on her marriage certificate wouldn't look good, but... Wen Ruan was a little helpless.
Song Yan, who was handing out wedding candies to the staff, turned around and saw Wen Ruan looking at the two marriage certificates over and over again. He said, "Give me the marriage certificates, I'll keep them. There's a state-run photo studio up ahead. Let's take a couple of photos while it's still early."
Wen Ruan's eyes lit up with surprise, as if satisfaction was written all over her body. She casually handed the marriage certificate to Song Yan and then walked out of the registration office. Unaware that Song Yan was behind her, he specifically asked a staff member for a newspaper, carefully wrapped the documents in it, and then tucked it into his pocket.
When the photographer saw Wen Ruan and Song Yan, such an attractive young couple, come to take pictures, he immediately knew that they were a newlywed couple and definitely there to have their wedding photos taken.
But the photographer still came up and asked, "Are you two here to take wedding photos?"
"Yes."
The old man directed the two to sit side by side in front of the camera.
Since they became a couple, apart from the time they applied the medicine, they have rarely been this close, and both of them felt a little awkward.
Group photos are not like solo photos where you can just pose. Group photos require the cooperation of both people. But for some reason, the two of them suddenly became stiff. The old man had to take matters into his own hands and give instructions: "The two of you should bring your heads closer together. Girl, put your head closer to the boy's shoulder. Boy, don't sit so stiffly, relax a bit."
"Okay, that's about enough. Let the two of you have some more fun."
"Three, two, one." The photographer quickly pressed the shutter.
The moment the old man pressed the shutter, Song Yan suddenly wrapped his right arm around Wen Ruan's waist. After saying it was okay, he casually let go, as if everything that had just happened was just Wen Ruan's illusion.
Wen Ruan's cheeks flushed slightly. She didn't dare to look at Song Yan and could only listen to the old man smilingly asking about their requirements for the photos.
After taking the photos, the two chose the size and frame, paid the money, received a receipt, and waited a week to pick up the photos.
The two decided it was about time, and after discussing it, they headed towards the state-run restaurant that Song's father had booked.
When the two arrived, they found that both families were already there. Both sets of parents inquired about the couple and were relieved to learn that everything had gone smoothly.
Both sets of parents were overjoyed, especially Song's mother, who held Wen Ruan's hand tightly and said, "My dear in-law, you know, I always wanted to have a daughter, but I ended up having two naughty boys. When Ruan Ruan was born, I wished I could steal her to my house. I was so envious."
"Haha, luckily her father and I had the foresight to reserve the girl in advance. It seems that Ruan Ruan is destined to be a member of our family!" Song's mother was overjoyed and satisfied, smiling from ear to ear.
“That’s right. Every time you and your father-in-law come to visit Ruan Ruan, her father gets so anxious. He keeps a close eye on you, as if he’s afraid you’ll steal the child.” Mother Wen said to Father Wen with a teasing look.
The two families exchanged pleasantries, adding gestures as they talked, and reminisced about embarrassing childhood stories, making Wen Ruan too shy to look up and only able to bury her head in her food.
However, Song Yan seemed unaware of what shyness was, remaining nonchalant as he kept his head down, serving food to Wen Ruan.
The two families smiled knowingly at each other.
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