"Mother-in-law, these gifts are very valuable and we are very satisfied. Now let's talk about our dowry: two eight-jin cotton quilts, a wool blanket, a duck down quilt, and two pairs of pillows."
Jiang Hua took out a list and read it. Seeing that the Li family members were looking at him quietly, he felt inexplicably guilty.
"There are also two dowry boxes, a set of pots and pans, two hot water bottles and two spittoons, and a hundred dollars."
Yuan Qin was shocked as to how come there was an extra hundred yuan, but after looking at the things on the table, she shut her mouth.
"Uncle and aunt, if there are no other questions, we will go to get the marriage certificate tomorrow morning, and then hold the wedding, and go back the day after tomorrow."
“So fast.”
Mother Li was a little unhappy. Her son only came home once every three to five years, and he had to stay for two more days. She also had to prepare food for him.
"Mom, I'm here on leave, but it can't be too long, otherwise I won't be able to explain to my superiors."
Mother Li nodded. This was the bad thing about being a soldier. The discipline was too strict and she didn’t even have time to love her children.
"By the way, Li Bing, who is Miao Qing?"
Yuan Qin suddenly remembered a name she had heard and asked hurriedly. If this question was not clarified, she would not want her daughter to marry him.
"She was a girl from our village. She was afraid that her parents would sell her to an old bachelor, so they framed me. I brought her to Gansu Province. Now she is married and has a child."
"Is that so? There is nothing between you two?"
"Aunt, I live a very decent life, and my whole family lives a very decent life. If you can't even believe this, then this marriage..."
"Li Bing..."
Li's mother shouted loudly. She had noticed that Li Bing was unhappy a long time ago, but there were some things you shouldn't say now, so she stopped Li Bing from saying the next word in time.
Jiang Hua also glared at Yuan Qin fiercely. He didn't understand why such a smart person was making such a fool of himself today. Could it be that this place was in conflict with her
Yuan Qin was also shocked. She knew that she had stepped on Li Bing's bottom line, so she tried to laugh it off, but Li Bing's stubborn temper came out. He looked at Jiang Meili and suddenly felt that all his love for her over the years had been in vain.
He had explained Miao Qing's matter to Jiang Meili countless times, and finally when Miao Qing got married, Jiang Meili agreed to marry him. But at the last minute, Jiang Meili's mother actually doubted his character.
Jiang Meili's heart was trembling. She didn't look at Li Bing, but stared at Yuan Qin. Her tone was gentle, but the words she said hurt Yuan Qin's heart:
"Mom, thank you for raising me for twenty-two years. Now I'm getting married, and I'll be a member of the Li family from now on. Please let me go and stop caring about me, okay? Your care is suffocating me."
"Meili, you...how can you talk to your mother like this? You are so ignorant and it hurts your mother's heart."
"Li Bing, I like you and I want to marry you. Moreover, I have never doubted you and I believe in you."
Looking at Jiang Meili's determined eyes, Li Bing remembered how Jiang Meili had taken care of him after he was injured. His heart softened and he nodded:
"Come on, I'll show you our new house."
Jiang Meili had never expected that the mud house, which looked ordinary from the outside, was actually decorated so warmly, with a whole set of brand new furniture, bright red bed sheets, and wedding characters pasted on the windows.
"It's so beautiful. I like it so much."
Li Bing also smiled when he saw the decoration in the room. He turned around and looked at Li's mother and Li Huan and nodded. Thank you, Mom, thank you, brother and sister-in-law, and thank you, Lele.
Jiang Hua looked at the simple yet warm new house, and his heart was moved. How could a child raised in such a family have bad character? He was determined to have this son-in-law.
"Li Bing, I brought ten kilograms of candy this time. We're getting married tomorrow, so let's spread the candy."
That night, Li Huan and Li Bing lived in Li's mother's house, while Lele, Li's mother, and Jiang Meili lived in Cheng Qiao's house, waiting for tomorrow when the Li family would welcome the new daughter-in-law.
Early in the morning, Shouhou and Qiu Min came on their bicycles. Qiu Min was holding her five-month-old son in her arms. He was white and plump, and very cute.
"Come, give me a hug."
Cheng Qiao picked up the fat boy, but little Cheng Li refused. He pulled the fat boy's clothes and muttered, "Mom, hold me." Qiu Min smiled and picked up little Cheng Li. Why would a man be jealous? He is so pretentious.
After Li Bing and Jiang Meili came back with their marriage certificate, Shouhou and Li Huan set off firecrackers. The ping-pong sound scared the fat boy into tears, but little Chengli clapped his hands and laughed happily.
Jiang Hua kept throwing the candies in his hand into the crowd. Every time he threw the candies, a group of children cheered. Then, young girls and wives also joined the team to pick up the candies.
The whole wedding was simple yet grand, joyful and lively. Everyone was immersed in a sea of joy, talking and laughing, and from time to time taking out a candy and smashing it in their mouths.
The sun was finally about to set, and Jiang Meili began to feel nervous. After dinner, they would have their wedding night, and Jiang Meili suddenly felt that she was not ready yet.
Mother Li looked at the nervous Jiang Meili and couldn't help laughing. Both daughters-in-law were very good, but Cheng Qiao was obviously more generous than Meili. However, such words could only be kept in her heart and could not be spoken out loud.
"The fish are here, may we have plenty every year."
Li Le brought a plate of fish and put it on the table. Cheng Qiao smelled the fishy smell and suddenly felt nauseous. She quickly covered her mouth and ran out. Li Huan's face changed and he put down his chopsticks and chased after her.
"Ugh..."
Cheng Qiao started to vomit. Li Huan became anxious and ran into the main room. He grabbed Ye Jun's arm and walked out. Ye Jun also became nervous. He ignored Cheng Qiao who was still vomiting and took her pulse.
A minute later, Ye Jun burst into laughter and patted Li Huan on the shoulder: "Congratulations, you are going to be a father again."
Li Huan's eyes lit up, and he picked up the little Cheng Li who followed him crookedly: "Son, you are going to have a younger brother."
"Sister, can't I?"
Cheng Qiao rolled her eyes at Li Huan. She liked girls and wanted to have a girl.
"Sister is better, right, son."
Little Cheng Li was very considerate and nodded while calling her sister loudly.
Xuhui, Li Le and Li's mother all came out, and when they heard that Cheng Qiao was pregnant, they all showed sincere smiles on their faces.
Yuan Qin and Jiang Hua were also infected. If Meili could get pregnant, they would be able to become grandparents. Just as Jiang Meili thought of this, she felt nauseous for some reason and ran outside.
"Ugh..."
Jiang Meili's actions frightened everyone present, and even Li Bing's face began to darken. He didn't remember touching Jiang Meili.