Chapter 116

“Congratulations!”

“It’s a good thing Senior Xie woke up, otherwise we’d probably be receiving Qingshui’s remarriage invitation eventually…”

They had seen firsthand how much Ye Qingshui had suffered during this time. Every day, besides attending classes, she immersed herself in the lab, and her once rounded face had quickly thinned. Her husband was in a long coma, and their two infants were pitiable.

Ye Qingshui told them: “Just bring yourselves, no need to prepare anything special.” Knowing their temperaments, she emphasized this point.

After Ye Qingshui left, the group discussed the wedding gift money. Pan Lijuan asked for advice: “How much gift money is appropriate in your hometowns?”

Ren Yingying said: “Five or eight yuan is common, ten yuan is the absolute ceiling.”

Yu Shi, who was from Pengcheng, said: “Back home, the gifts are very small, usually just one yuan.”

The other two girls burst out laughing. After careful consideration, they combined their resources and painfully put together a thirty-yuan gift. Ten yuan was enough for a student’s food expenses for a month; in this day and age, that red envelope was considered very “thick.”

However, when Pan Lijuan and the others arrived at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, they began wondering if they should have stuffed more money inside. Because this hotel… was high-end beyond their expectations.

In an era where people who could afford cars were few and far between, the cars passing the hotel entrance flowed like water. Stepping inside, they saw rockeries, flowing water, pavilions, and terraces—a vast garden with a classic, antique atmosphere.

The hotel was grand, dignified, and luxuriously extravagant. Having been a royal garden during the Qing Dynasty, it felt like a whole new world to people accustomed to a simple and austere life. They truly felt a bit out of place. If not for the bellboy leading the way, the three of them probably wouldn’t have found the hall.

Zhou Tingting had already arrived at the hotel with the bride and groom, acting as the bridesmaid. Seeing the three girls, she greeted them warmly. The wedding was traditional Chinese style. Before the three of them could even sit down, firecrackers began to roar outside. Eight cannons fired simultaneously, making it as lively as Lunar New Year.

On the day of the banquet, Ye Qingshui woke up before dawn.

Before applying makeup, Mother Ye brought over a bowl of tangyuan (sweet glutinous rice balls) and said with a smile, “Eat a little, Shui-ya, so you don’t go hungry later.”

To attend this wedding, Grandma Ye, Uncle Ye, Aunt Ye, and their little niece had all traveled from the countryside to the capital.

Mother Ye performed the “threading” (jiaomian) on her daughter, using a fine thread to remove the peach fuzz from her face—a process called “opening the face.” Grandma Ye held a comb to do her granddaughter’s hair. Holding the soft, shiny locks, she said with a beaming smile:

“One comb to the end, wealth and honor without worry;

Two combs to the end, no sickness and no sorrow;

Three combs to the end, many children and long life.”

The wedding they had back in the countryside years ago had been too rushed; looking back, it was just a blur. At that time, conditions were poor and meager. Shui-ya didn’t even have a decent outfit. That wedding truly didn’t feel like a marriage.

But now, the sight was filled with large “Double Happiness” characters, and every detail had been meticulously planned. Even the hired wedding mistress was highly experienced. Every moment was calculated for auspiciousness; this time, it truly felt like a joyful celebration.

Grandma Ye combed her granddaughter’s hair from top to bottom. As she combed, memories of that tiny newborn granddaughter surfaced—her first cry had given the grieving grandmother hope after losing her beloved son. She remembered the young girl wiping tears as she dropped out of school, only to sneak in some reading after chores. In the blink of an eye, she had grown up and made it to university.

Grandma Ye even recalled a day when her granddaughter woke up and nonchalantly mentioned wanting a divorce. Now, in another blink, she already had two children who could crawl and call out to people.

Thinking of all this, Grandma Ye’s eyes grew moist:

“Again comb to the end, harmony and mutual respect;

Two combs to the end, wings spread together in flight;

Three combs to the end, an eternal knot of the heart.”

Once the combing was done, two wedding mistresses began the hairstyling. Their nimble fingers moved through the dark hair so fast it was a blur. Even with two experts working together, it took half an hour. Finally, they placed the heavy Phoenix Crown on her head. The crown was engraved with soaring phoenixes and adorned with jewel flowers, kingfisher clouds, and leaves. A phoenix held a large Eastern Pearl in its beak, with countless small pearl strings cascading down in a shimmering display.

The moment it was placed on her head, Ye Qingshui’s neck felt sore.

Fortunately, the groom’s motorcade arrived soon. Xie Tingyu, following local custom, arrived on a horse. He wore a fiery red groom’s robe, a ceremonial cap, and a jade pendant with tassels at his waist. He looked handsome, spirited, and as refined as jade.

He walked toward her and carried her on his back over the brazier, then placed her in a bridal sedan chair to take her to the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.

Firecrackers went off in unison, and eight ceremonial cannons fired into the sky. Though it was daytime, one could still see the shimmering trails.

When the bride was led out by the groom, her dazzlingly beautiful wedding dress was so stunning people couldn’t look away. The edges of the fiery red dress were decorated with gold powder, and the train stretched for over ten meters—red like fire and gold like light, resembling a phoenix rising from the flames.

The couple began the traditional bows:

“First bow to Heaven and Earth.”

“Second bow to the Elders.”

“Third bow to each other.”

Finally, it reached the last step. Xie Tingyu took the wine offered; their arms intertwined as they tilted their heads back to drink the nuptial wine.

The soft sunlight fell on Xie Tingyu. With a smile in his eyes, he held his wife’s hand and looked at the faint blush on her cheeks. Even though he had a high tolerance for alcohol, the sight of her beauty made him feel slightly intoxicated.

Holding her hand, he said with a smile: “To hold your hand and grow old with you. We… have a deal for this lifetime.”

The journey here had been so difficult. Both of them had been separated by decades of life and death. When she cried at night, he couldn’t comfort her; when she fell helplessly, he couldn’t embrace her; in the end, he had watched her grow old alone, unable to accompany her. But this time, he could hold her tight. For the rest of their lives, regardless of wind, frost, rain, or snow, they would have each other. They agreed to grow old together.

Grandmother Xie acted as the witness and read the marriage contract slowly:

“Two families united, a covenant made in this hall, an eternal bond of good fortune, a match of equal standing.”

“Observe this day the peach blossoms brilliant, fit for a home and family; augur in future years the spreading vines, may your progeny flourish and prosper. With this pledge of white-headed age written upon this grand paper, may this alliance of red leaves be recorded in the record of mandarin ducks.”

Watching from below, Zhou Tingting’s eyes grew warm. “So beautiful.” The more tragic the car accident had been, the more intense the current happiness felt. Pan Lijuan, Yu Shi, and Ren Yingying were all moved.

Ren Yingying, having a keen eye, recognized the uniqueness of the wedding attire. She gave her friends a thumbs-up: “Our Qingshui married into a very wealthy family.” “Seriously rich!”

After the ceremony, the dishes served by the waiters were another highlight. The main courses alone were dazzling. The palace-style cuisine at Diaoyutai was top-tier and authentic. There was meticulously prepared “Buddha Jumps Over the Wall,” where every drop of broth carried the fragrance of wine and the essence of mountain and sea delicacies. There was Abalone in Oyster Sauce, known as “Gold on the Table,” and Prosperity Lobster, fried to a golden crisp with firm, bouncy meat. There was Shark Fin Family Feast, with fins as smooth as vermicelli.

There were also Cordyceps Lion’s Head meatballs, Agate Fish Balls, and Oil-Soaked Crispy Fish. The desserts—crystal shrimp dumplings, radish silk cakes, pea flour cake, honey twists, and cream fried cakes—were so varied it was overwhelming.

Pan Lijuan slurped the shark fin and ate the braised prawns, finishing with a sip of the soup. She felt life was complete. “This food is so delicious,” she marveled. It was so good it could make one cry. If she weren’t so full, she would have kept eating.

Yu Shi said, “Look at you. Once our refrigerator project is done and we earn our own money, we’ll come here for a meal ourselves.”

Ren Yingying coughed loudly and reminded them with a smile: “This hotel is usually used to receive foreign heads of state and VIPs. It might be a bit difficult just to ‘decide’ to eat here.”

…

Before the banquet even ended, Ye Qingshui was sent back to the new house. This was their new home. A pair of wedding candles as thick as a baby’s arm flickered, and several lanterns were lit, casting a warm, golden glow.

Xie Tingyu returned with the group of well-wishers who came to “tease the bridal chamber.” Considering the groom was still recovering from a serious illness, the teasing didn’t last long.

Xie Tingyu breathed a sigh of relief. Once everyone had left, he solemnly lifted the bride’s red veil. In the flickering candlelight, her cheeks were flushed with a soft red.

Indeed, a Chinese wedding was more moving; the complex rituals gave a greater sense of belonging. The reserved beauty hidden beneath the red veil touched Xie Tingyu’s heart, making it flutter.

He slowly took the large red silk ball from his wife’s hands, removed the heavy Phoenix Crown for her, and carefully helped her out of the wedding robes. He said softly, “Wait for me, I’ll be back soon.” He gave her a lingering look.

Ye Qingshui couldn’t help but chuckle softly. “You’re acting like… we just got married for the very first time today.” He acted as nervous as a green youth, even though they had already been intimate and had two children.

While waiting, Ye Qingshui ate a bowl of the soup. Around 9:00 PM, Xie Tingyu finally saw off the guests and returned to the room.

The two babies were being cared for by Mother Ye and Grandmother Xie today. Only the young couple remained in the room; there was no scent of milk or the sound of infants crying in the night. The atmosphere gave Ye Qingshui the illusion of being a “new bride” all over again.

Xie Tingyu’s smile was bright. The red robe made him look even more elegant as he gazed at her with focused eyes. Ye Qingshui felt a bit restless under his gaze. He kissed her as the fragmented moonlight carpeted the floor before the bed.

“Are you happy today?”

“Let’s sleep.”

He held her, removing the heavy layers of clothing one by one. The spring light was warm, and the wedding candles wept wax until dawn.

In midsummer, the sky was fully bright before 6:00 AM. Ye Qingshui was sore all over. Recalling the sweetness and intoxication of the previous night, she couldn’t help but smile.

Xie Tingyu saw his wife wake up and leaned down to kiss her while she was still under the covers. He brought out steaming soy milk and noodle soup, using well water to cool the porcelain bowl. The smile on the man’s face was like the nine o’clock sun—not scorching, but warm and gentle. “Rinse your mouth quickly and come eat.”

“After eating, I’ll show you around our new home.”

After rinsing, Ye Qingshui ate the breakfast he had made by hand. Over the past two years, his cooking had improved; the noodle soup was clear and refreshing, and the poached egg was tender with a runny yolk.

Xie Tingyu covered his wife’s eyes with his hands and led her to the first room.

“This is our study. You like reading on sunny days, so the windows here are very large. You like the sound of wind rustling through leaves, so I planted a magnolia in the courtyard.”

In midsummer, the magnolias were blooming one by one, giving off a strong fragrance. Ye Qingshui had smelled it last night. She nodded.

Xie Tingyu took her to the next room. “This is where our children will stay. There’s a swing outside and their small stools inside. In the future, you can swing in the courtyard and watch them sit on their stools. There are many toys in the room—I picked them out one by one. They can play together when they grow up.”

Ye Qingshui smiled and nodded.

Xie Tingyu led her further. “This is where Mother will stay. There’s a vegetable patch and a flower bed in front. She can plant vegetables or flowers whenever she wants.”

Ye Qingshui imagined the two small plots and curled her lips. Truly, Mother loved tending to the land and farming in her spare time. He had been very thoughtful.

“This part is for Grandma and Grandpa. Grandpa likes chess and Grandma likes birds. I made a stone chessboard under the tree so we can play against Grandpa in our free time.”

Xie Tingyu kissed his wife and took her through the kitchen, bathroom, and washroom.

Finally, he said: “You like picking camellias in the spring, sitting in the shade in the summer, picking fruit in the autumn, and making persimmon wine in the winter. I built a grape trellis and planted jujube, persimmon, and magnolia trees. In the flower bed, there are also tea seedlings Uncle specifically brought from Ye Village.”

“I hope that when we are old, we can cool off under the grape trellis together, watching the children pick jujubes and eat persimmons…”

He slowly lowered his hands, and Ye Qingshui saw the full view of their new home.

There were rockeries and a pool with small fish in the courtyard. The trees were of varying heights, arranged beautifully. The gray brick floor was simple and warm. The entire courtyard house was spacious, clean, and organized.

She ran to their study. There was the large desk she liked, big enough to hold many books at once. There was the swing under the tree; in summer, speckled sunlight would fall on her as she swung. The children’s stools were made of wood, polished smooth and shiny, short and cute. Looking back, the shelves in the room were filled with toys: rattles, small kites, clay whistles, clay rabbits…

Her eyes crinkled with joy as she told Xie Tingyu over and over: “It’s wonderful.” “I love it here.” “I love this too.” “Mother will definitely love it here!” “Grandma and Grandpa will love it too…”

Xie Tingyu watched his wife happily fluttering through the courtyard and couldn’t help but smile. “As long as you like it.”

Ye Qingshui’s heart was filled with emotion. He had remembered everything she had ever said. No wonder he had been so busy lately; he had been personally decorating their new home. Every plant, every ornament, every stone was exactly how she liked it.

Watching her as happy as a bird, chirping about her surprises, he saw her eventually sit on the swing. She smilingly picked up a leaf and began to blow a tune.

“Sweet as honey, your smile is sweet as honey.

Like flowers blooming in the spring breeze, blooming in the spring breeze.

Where, oh where have I seen you?

Your smile is so familiar, I can’t recall for a moment.”

A warm breeze blew, shaking loose the petals of the magnolias. The air was filled with a faint fragrance as petals fell on Ye Qingshui. The gentle sunlight fell on her; her smile was sweeter than the song. It was so beautiful it felt like a scene from a dream.

Xie Tingyu stood dazed for a moment, a smile slowly spreading across his face.

Sansukini: Last 3 chapters. We’ll finish everything this week, which means that you’ll get 2 chapters on Monday. Thanks so much for enjoying this novel with me. It’s still one of my favorite cnovels. I’ll be posting the link and the introduction of the new novel tomorrow. I chose a very light, comedic, transmigration next.

Edit:

Please check out my new novel “ Ruyi’s Comfortable Life ” about a zombie apocalypse super who transmigrated to the ancient era. It’s a mix of comedy, family and romance.v

Support Sansukini on Ko-fi

Thanks for visiting. If you like this story, then I’m shamelessly asking you to visit NovelUpdates and give a 5⭐ review. (人❛ᴗ❛)♪тнайк　чоц♪(❛ᴗ❛*人)

You can also check out my other translations Here