Chapter 108 Don't worry, sisters-in-law, I'll be fine...
The wedding was held at the most famous hotel in Jincheng. Although it was a simple affair, there were many relatives and friends from both the Lu and Chen families, and in the end, there were nearly a hundred tables.
As the eldest son and daughter-in-law of the Lu family, Lu Lin and Shen Rong were even more tired than the newlyweds that day. Shen Rong mechanically nodded and smiled, greeting people with the elders. The number of people she met, both acquaintances and strangers, was more than the number of people she had met in the past few years.
In the hall, the newlyweds completed the final ceremony of their wedding, witnessed by the officiant.
Shen Rong seized an opportunity to escape and enjoy some peace and quiet.
Lu Xuan looked beautiful today, and you couldn't tell at all that she had just been crying. Chen Enhe carefully protected her, with a smile on his face, showing no sign of any resentment.
Shen Rong sighed. This young master Chen was also a master actor.
Just an hour ago, Chen Enzhi witnessed Lu Xuan arguing with a strange man and even crying for him. She remembered that Chen Enzhi's face was quite dark at the time.
Now… Shen Rong looked at her carefully, and it seemed to carry a hint of happiness. Her gaze towards Lu Xuan was so tender it could melt hearts.
Just as Lu Chang had said, Chen Enzhi had some deep thoughts.
She bent down and rubbed her sore calves. She had been standing in high heels for a long time today and felt a little uncomfortable. She leaned against the wall to move her feet a bit, as she still had to see the guests off after the wedding banquet.
Unexpectedly, she lost her footing and her foot slipped. If she fell, she would definitely twist her ankle. She thought to herself, "Oh no, oh no."
Suddenly, a strong arm appeared around her waist and lifted her up steadily.
"Why are you hiding here? The banquet is about to start." Lu Lin didn't see her at his seat. He searched for a long time and just as he saw her, she was about to fall.
He frowned at her shoes, his tone somewhat unpleasant: "I told you not to wear these shoes."
Shen Rong pushed him away: "What do you know? These shoes don't match the clothes."
Yes, he didn't know what "pairing" meant; he only knew that someone's foot hurt and someone almost twisted their ankle.
Shen Rong glared at him, but when she met his pained gaze, her momentum weakened a bit: "Alright, I'll change my shoes later. By the way, make sure to send Wu Xinbai away properly."
Lu Lin hummed in agreement, his expression somewhat unpleasant.
Anyone would be upset in this situation. Who knew that Wu Xinbai was still in Jincheng? No one knew where he found out about Lu Xuan's marriage, but he sneaked into Lu Xuan's room and made a scene, demanding to rescue her.
In the midst of the struggle, they were unfortunately cornered by Chen Enzhi and Lu Lin.
No one knows what Wu Xinbai said, but Lu Xuan cried so hard.
Shen Rong spent most of the day trying to comfort her, and only when she heard that the elders of the Chen and Lu families had arrived did she finally stop crying.
Lu Xuan didn't want them to make things difficult for Wu Xinbai, so Lu Lin had no choice but to have someone properly escort him away. At that time, it's unknown what Chen Enzhi thought.
"Do you think Chen Enzhi would mistreat Lu Xuan?"
That scene could easily lead to misunderstandings. Besides, Lu Xuan and Wu Xinbai already had a past relationship, and they even eloped.
Shen Rong had read many news stories about men who discovered their wives had fallen in love with someone else before marriage, and who, after marriage, became petty, bared their fangs, and subjected their wives to all sorts of abuse.
Lu Lin turned and glanced at her, then hesitated, saying, "Try to read fewer novels."
Chen Enzhi knew exactly how this marriage had come about. Even if Lu Xuan and Wu Xinbai really had something going on, he would have to endure it. He dared to mistreat Lu Xuan!
Shen Rong immediately threw herself into his arms, looking at him with starry eyes: "How are you so amazing? The way you glared at me just now was so beautiful."
"You're up to your old tricks again." Lu Lin glanced around and smiled as he told her to get up, "Don't be embarrassed if someone sees you like this."
As expected, upon hearing this, Shen Rong immediately stood up straight, adopting the dignified demeanor of a young mistress.
"Let's go, the feast is about to begin." Lu Lin led her to the head table.
Lu Xuan changed into a red cheongsam, and Chen Enzhi also changed into a long gown. Everyone looked at the newlyweds and thought that this Western-style wedding was actually quite nice. After the ceremony, the newlyweds could confidently come out to meet their relatives and friends.
A waiter brought over drinks, and Lu's mother, somewhat nervous, told Lu Xuan, "You shouldn't drink."
The Chen family thought they were worried that the bride would get drunk and make a fool of herself, so they nodded in agreement. Chen's mother said to her son, "You can drink, but don't let your wife drink."
Chen Enzhi smiled and picked up the glass: "She drinks water. With her alcohol tolerance, who would dare to let her drink?"
Lu Xuan blushed and lowered her head in embarrassment. Chen's mother gently punched her son: "You're married now and still so mischievous. If everyone loves to drink like you, our family should just open a liquor store."
Overall, Lu's mother was somewhat satisfied with her son-in-law, and said to Chen's mother, "Men need to socialize, and being able to drink isn't a bad thing."
Chen Enzhi immediately chimed in, "Mom is right."
Chen's mother pretended to be jealous: "Which mother is right? Having someone is amazing, having a mother-in-law to back you up."
Everyone laughed. Chen Enzhi and Lu Xuan raised their glasses to toast their parents, thanking them for raising them, and then toasted their relatives on both sides.
By all accounts, Chen Jingzhi is now the youngest at this table.
He complained, "Brother, you have to compensate me! I was supposed to be older than Chunshan, but you've made me look shorter!"
Lu Chang reached out and hooked his arm around his neck: "Call me Third Brother."
“That was my elder brother’s order, we each do our own thing.” Chen Jingzhi betrayed his elder brother first.
Cao Jingyi stood up and raised her glass: "I wish my cousin and his wife a long and happy life together, and that they will have a son soon."
Lu Xuan was several years younger than her, and now she was someone's sister-in-law. She was too embarrassed to look up and raised her wine glass to drink it down.
Chen Enzhi smiled and reached out to stop her cup: "We're all family, the gesture is enough, drinking too much water will make you feel uncomfortable."
Lu Xuan nodded obediently. Chen Enzhi put down the cup but did not let go of her hand. Lu Xuan felt her whole arm go numb, but with so many people around, she dared not shake him off and could only mechanically let him lead her.
Mr. Chen stood up and invited Mr. Lu, "Let's go, Brother Lu, let's take the younger generation to meet the people."
Mr. Lu smiled and got up, and Lu Lin followed to take care of him, in case they encountered someone who wanted to drink, he would refuse to drink.
Lu's mother told her son and husband to drink less, because it would take more than half an hour to complete the round, and that was only after meeting some of the people.
We had almost finished eating when the newlyweds returned.
Unexpectedly, they were stopped again when they passed a table, and the two of them were encouraged to drink another glass.
Chen Enzhi gestured for Lu Xuan to slip away first, but Lu Xuan wasn't one to be loyal, and she actually abandoned him and ran off.
Xiao Ming couldn't sit still; it was as if the stool under his bottom would bite him. Shen Rong had no choice but to let him get down and play with other children.
He was playing with other children not far away when he turned around and saw his aunt walking towards him from the other side. He was overjoyed and thought his aunt looked so pretty today. He wanted his aunt to hug him!
He immediately dropped his toys and rushed towards Lu Xuan. Although he wasn't as fat as a ball, thanks to Zhang Ma's tireless feeding, he was quite a strongman among toddlers.
He shouted "Auntie!" and charged over like a cannon, his momentum suggesting he could knock Lu Xuan over.
Lu Xuan was wearing shoes with a bit of a heel today, and considering she was in a special period, bumping into someone like that would cause a major incident!
Shen Rong tried to stop her son when he excitedly called out "Auntie," but unfortunately, she was a bit too far away. She was terrified when she saw him about to bump into Lu Xuan.
Fortunately, Xiaoming was rescued halfway through the journey.
It's Mrs. Wu!
Lu Xuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, her hands unconsciously clutching her abdomen.
"This child is really strong; your auntie can't take that bump from you," Mrs. Wu said, pretending not to see it and laughing as she teased the child.
Xiao Ming didn't recognize her and didn't want to be hugged, so he struggled and reached out to Lu Xuan.
Lu Xuan smiled and was about to bend down to hug him when Chen Enzhi, who had rushed over, snatched him away first.
"How about Uncle holds me?" he asked Xiaoming with a smile.
Chen Enzhi had been visiting the Shen family frequently these days and was quite familiar with Xiaoming. He glanced at his aunt and then at his uncle, and decided not to insist. Okay then.
Shen Rong rushed over at this moment, first pinching her son's nose: "You're being naughty again, don't you know how heavy you are and you still need to be carried?"
Xiao Ming pouted, looking aggrieved, and actually insisted on getting down.
Shen Rong turned to look at Mrs. Wu: "Thanks to Mrs. Wu, otherwise his aunt would have been bumped into. If his aunt had been embarrassed at the wedding, his father would have dealt with him when he got back."
Mrs. Wu smiled lovingly and patted Xiaoming's head: "What does a child know? He just likes to be close to the bride, which is a good thing."
Chen's mother and Lu's mother also came over. Lu's mother went to comfort her grandson who was sulking after being scolded by his mother. When Chen's mother heard what Mrs. Wu said, she grinned.
"That's right, let his aunt give him a younger brother or sister next year."
Mrs. Wu glanced at Chen Enzhi, who was carefully protecting her wife, and became even more certain. She spoke with a deeper meaning: "My cousin will surely have her wish fulfilled. I believe it won't be long before she can hold her grandson."
Shen Rong glanced at Mrs. Wu, feeling as if she knew something.
The wedding banquet ended very late, and the newlyweds had long since gone home. Xiaoming was feeling sleepy, and Jiang Yufen was worried about her daughter at home, so Shen Rong went home with her first. When she woke up in the middle of the night, she found Lu Lin lying next to her. She had no idea when he had returned.
I was so tired that my eyelids drooped again, and when I woke up it was already the next day.
The next day, Lu Xuan and Chen Enzhi were to return to their parents' home.
Early in the morning, Lu's mother instructed the maid to buy groceries and prepare a table full of her daughter's favorite dishes.
Although they had only been apart for one night, it felt like an eternity. Lu's mother carefully examined her daughter. The women went to the living room to talk, while the men went to the study to chat.
Lu's mother asked her daughter with concern if she was doing well at the Chen family home and if she was adapting well.
Lu Xuan didn't know if she genuinely thought it was good or if she was afraid they would worry, so she said everything was great.
“Live a good life with your son-in-law from now on, and don’t throw tantrums like a child. You should learn more from your two sisters-in-law.”
The eldest daughter-in-law, in particular, hoped that her daughter could learn some of her methods so that she could also control her son-in-law.
Lu's mother naturally didn't know that her daughter would get divorced after giving birth; this marriage was just a temporary arrangement.
Lu Lin didn't tell them, and Lu Xuan dared not say anything either.
She had no choice but to agree, even though she felt it was a difficult task.
After talking for a while, Shen Rong and Jiang Yufen very tactfully gave the room to the mother and daughter so they could have a private talk. One of them went to check on the child, while the other went to patrol the kitchen.
Aunt Zhang was busy frying crispy pork, and Shen Rong, who was craving it, pinched one and ate it.
"How does your wife think it tastes?" Guichun asked her.
Aunt Zhang waited anxiously in front of the oil pan for her answer.
Shen Rong gave a thumbs up: "It's so delicious! Zhang Ma's cooking is getting better and better."
Aunt Zhang proudly puffed out her chest. As long as there's enough filling, how could it not taste good?
"Madam, go play somewhere else. The kitchen is greasy. Come back when it's ready."
Shen Rong nodded and asked Gui Chun to pack a small bowl for her to take away.
Xiao Ming was kicking a ball in the small garden, full of energy. Lu Chang had somehow appeared and was teasing the boy.
Seeing his sister-in-law holding a plate of crispy pork, he quickly got up, pinched off two pieces, and ate them.
"Freshly fried food tastes the best."
Shen Rong took one and gave it to her son to eat, then turned to Lu Chang and asked, "Why did you come out?"
Lu Chang snorted coldly: "I can't connect with them."
He had been ostracized, Shen Rong thought to herself, mocking him.
After a while, Lu Chang remembered something, moved closer, and whispered, "Sister-in-law, Chen Enzhi is going to Guangfu in a few days. Is my younger sister going with him? Or should we let her stay here? I'm not comfortable with her being so far away."
Chen Enzhi chuckled and said, "That's your brother-in-law. What are you worried about? Besides, it's better to stay away."
Lu Chang understood what she meant: if they went to an unfamiliar place, Lu Xuan's pregnancy could be kept secret.
Shen Rong continued, "Don't worry, your older brother has made all the arrangements. I'm not afraid to go. We have acquaintances in Guangzhou too."
Fu Cunwen and Deng Yulan had been in the prefectural city for several years. With their support, Chen Enzhi dared not neglect his younger sister.
Lu Chang muttered, "Big brother probably planned this all along." No wonder he sent Chen Enzhi to Guangfu.
"He is truly cunning and treacherous. Sister-in-law, you must be careful. My brother is a very wicked person."
Shen Rong glanced behind him, coughed lightly, and reminded him, "Your older brother is a good person, he's especially good to me, you can't say that." Then she winked at him.
Unfortunately, Lu Chang was so focused on letting his sister-in-law know his brother's true colors that he completely failed to notice his sister-in-law's unusual behavior.
The discussion is getting increasingly heated.
"That's all an act. Don't let his seemingly good temper fool you; he's actually incredibly petty and scheming behind the scenes. Offending him is a disaster, you'll regret it..."
He leaned closer, but Shen Rong took a step back. Lu Chang, still somewhat dissatisfied, grabbed his sister-in-law's arm and continued to complain: "When I was little, all I did was break one of his pens. I was only seven years old, and how old was he! On the surface, he was very magnanimous, saying it wasn't a big deal. Fine, but behind my back, Dad made me copy books two hundred times as punishment and deducted my allowance, saying it was for my own good. I think he's just vindictive..."
"Dad!" Xiaoming threw down the ball and ran back.
Lu Chang froze, his jaw clenching: "Sister-in-law, why didn't you tell me..."
Didn't I give you a wink?
He thought his sister-in-law's eyes were bothering her! Then wouldn't his brother have heard everything?
He took off running!
Shen Rong laughed and said to Lu Lin, "Look at you, you scared him away."
Lu Lin snorted coldly: "Who told you to talk about him behind his back? He ran away because he was too ashamed to stand up. His mental fortitude is really lacking in this area, unlike you who can keep your composure."
Who is this?! Shen Rong pinched his arm: "I didn't say anything bad about you, why would I run away?"
Lu Lin sneered: "Someone is ruining your husband's reputation, and you're actually listening with great interest."
Shen Rong looked up, unable to resist teasing him: "Are you angry? I don't think it's a bad thing. I think it's an exaggeration. He's praising you for being resourceful and shrewd. Isn't that a good thing?"
Lu Lin smiled and took her hand, saying, "Let's go inside, it's cold outside."
We've passed this hurdle!
Shen Rong turned her head and thought of Lu Chang, who was only wearing a thin cashmere sweater and had disappeared. It was so cold, how pitiful!
"When are my younger sister and the others going to Guangfu?" Shen Rong asked him.
Lu Lin: "About a week later."
Lu You decided to start a textile factory, so Jiang Yufen didn't go back this time; the family of three stayed in Jincheng for the time being.
Three days after the wedding, they saw Mr. and Mrs. Lu off at the train station. Aunt Fei pulled her son aside and earnestly told him to come home whenever he had time, and to tell his family if he met a suitable girl while he was away.
Lu Chang nodded indifferently.
The train was about to depart, and the people who had come to see them off got off the train. Lu's mother and the others waved from the window, telling them to go back.
It was Aunt Fei's first time visiting, and Shen Rong bought her many nice things. On the way, she kept praising her to Madam Lu, smiling from ear to ear.
Lu's mother smiled and nodded: "This child is thoughtful, please accept the gift."
Aunt Fei was a little embarrassed: "It's still too much trouble for the eldest young mistress."
"We're all family, why are you being so formal?"
Aunt Fei touched the newly made cheongsam she was wearing and felt that she was indeed lucky.
After seeing off the elders of the Lu family, the elders of the Chen family also returned home. A few days later, Shen Rong came to the train station again, this time to see Lu Xuan off as she headed south.
"Remember to send a telegram home if anything happens, and tell us if you're feeling unwell. Don't try to bear it all alone. This child isn't just yours, so don't feel bad about bothering him," Shen Rong instructed her.
Lu Xuan's eyes were red and brimming with tears. She hugged Chen Rong and said, "Sister-in-law, I don't want to go."
"Don't talk nonsense, sweetie. Cousin Yulan is over there. I've already told her. If you need anything, just go find her."
Jiang Yufen stepped forward and gently hugged Lu Xuan: "Take care of yourself while you're out. You can't hold a grudge right now."
Lu Xuan sniffed and nodded.
The station staff informed him to board the train, and Lu Lin had also finished speaking with Chen Enzhi.
Chen Enzhi first took the luggage upstairs before leading Lu Xuan into the car.
"Take good care of her. If she throws a tantrum, be patient with her. Don't you dare hit her. If she does something wrong, tell us and we'll talk to her." Shen Rong stared intently at Chen Enzhi, making him promise.
"Don't worry, sisters-in-law, I will take good care of her."
Lu Xuan, tears streaming down her face, leaned out the window and waved to them. Shen Rong chased after her for a few steps, feeling a little empty inside.
Lu Lin walked over: "We'll see each other again soon, don't be sad."
While it sounds nice, Shen Rong was somewhat resentful, feeling that this wasn't a good solution. Wouldn't Lu Xuan feel abandoned if she was left alone outside?
Shen Rong rolled her eyes at him.
"You make it sound so easy. How can we meet so soon when we're so far apart?"
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