"Starting from today, she’s part of Old Zhao’s House now. Maybe she won’t come home any less often than before, but the meaning’s different. Still, when I think about it, I can’t keep her with me for a whole lifetime. For a girl to have such a good home to marry into, that’s better than anything. As for how I’m feeling right now, there’s really no way to put it into words."

Zhao Yulan also restrained her expression, her face turning serious. "Cha Xiang, I guarantee you, once today is over, all the sourness in your heart will be gone. What’s left will only be joy. It’s just this little while that you’ll feel like this."

"I know..." Fat Auntie looked at her, amused. "I’m not trying to bluff you. After all, I raised this girl with my own hands. To say I feel no heartache or reluctance when she’s getting married, that’s impossible. It’s not like I’m bringing in a live-in son-in-law, right? But mostly I’m happy..." As she spoke, she wrapped her arm around her daughter sitting there, eyes already red. "Meiying, your ma is happy. Your ma is not going back on her word. Don’t cry. From today on you’re a daughter‑in‑law, a grown‑up. You can’t go crying at the drop of a hat anymore."

Luo Xiaoqiong hugged Fat Auntie back, sniffling as she said, "Ma, before, whenever you called me Meiying I’d always get especially mad, but today when you call me that, I feel it’s especially close and dear. From now on you should still call me Meiying."

"Mm." Fat Auntie wiped the tears from the corners of her daughter’s eyes, then tugged at her daughter’s mouth. "No crying. Isn’t this the day you’ve always been looking forward to? You should be all happy and cheerful."

"Ma..." Luo Xiaoqiong looked speechlessly at her own mother. Even if no one here counts as an outsider, did she have to spell everything out so bluntly? How embarrassing was that for her?

"Alright now, who here doesn’t know you’re the one who was impatient to marry Qiliang? Didn’t you say people shouldn’t cover their ears while stealing a bell? What you’re doing right now is exactly that—covering your ears while stealing a bell, you know?"

Luo Xiaoqiong: "..." Is this really her own mother? How could she tear down her stage like this?

Old Madam Zhou and Lin Yanqiu, Liang Xiaohong, and Wang Lei also came in one after another. After a round of greetings, that faint wisp of sadness that had been hovering in the air vanished without a trace.

Even though they were taking Zhao Yulan’s side as the bride’s family, Zhao Yushan was, after all, Zhao Yulan’s elder brother from her maiden home. So early in the morning, Zhou Mikang, together with Lin Wenbin, Lin Baohe, and Jing Zhe, drove Zhao Qihui over to the hotel where Zhao Yushan and his wife were staying.

"Xiaomi, Wenbin, Jing Zhe, you...’re...here."

The arrival of the few of them made both Zhao Yushan and Li Aiyuan unconsciously tense up. Even though one was their niece’s husband, and the other two were their niece’s cousin and sworn brother, having these three big names personally act as their drivers was really more than the couple could stay calm about.

"Uncle, Auntie, we’re all our own people, what are you being so polite for? Where’s big brother?" Zhou Mikang said as he craned his neck to look inside. "Once you’re about ready, we’ll set off to pick up the bride."

According to the customs back home, Zhao Yushan and Li Aiyuan had to wait in the bridal chamber for the bride to arrive, share the wedding cakes, eat the wedding noodles, and then the banquet could begin.

But this wedding was put together in a rush, and most of the relatives and friends hadn’t come, so the procedure was: after sharing the wedding cakes and eating the wedding noodles, both families would head together to the small mess hall at the base to start the banquet.

"I’m ready." Zhao Qiliang hurried out of the room, still busy pinning on his groom’s corsage.

Dressed in a brand‑new military uniform and gleaming leather shoes, Zhao Qiliang, already a stand‑out among men, looked even more tall and impressive. As they looked at their son, both Li Aiyuan and Zhao Yushan wore faces full of pride.

Although their son’s current career development couldn’t quite compare to their daughter‑in‑law’s, in terms of looks and ability, their son was in no way inferior. Given some time, he would definitely be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with his wife, maybe even surpass her. In their parental hearts, they still secretly hoped their son’s status would end up higher than their daughter‑in‑law’s.

Once everything was straightened out, Zhou Mikang, Lin Wenbin, and Jing Zhe each drove off with Zhao Qiliang, Luan Dajiang, and Zhang Dongzi to the Zhou family’s place to escort the bride.

Zhang Dongzi hadn’t expected to be brought along as a groomsman and follow car, taking part in the wedding. He was so excited and thrilled he practically felt like he was floating, and he secretly made up his mind that from now on he’d definitely keep in step with Luan Dajiang. If Luan Dajiang told him to go left, he absolutely wouldn’t go right!

These past few days, Jing Zhe had accompanied Old Master Jing back to their hometown and had just returned yesterday, happening to catch this joyous occasion. While he was happy, he also felt a faint tinge of sadness.

He and Zhou Hanliang were about the same age, and they’d been dating for roughly the same length of time, but he realized that if he were to get married right now, he still couldn’t quite accept it.

Zeng Meili never said anything out loud, but in her heart she must have some complaints about him too. The two of them weren’t young anymore, and the wedding date had been pushed back again and again. Honestly, every excuse he’d made wouldn’t stand up to scrutiny, but she had just agreed each time without much objection.

His feelings for Chuxia had long since turned into those of an older brother and younger sister, and he had no particular thoughts about any other girl. But why was it that there always seemed to be something missing between him and Zeng Meili?

It wasn’t something he could easily talk about with others, so he could only bottle it up inside.

His older sister had even said to him once that the way she saw it, he and Zeng Meili were like lukewarm water—no waves, but also nothing obviously wrong, just too lifeless.

She said that at his age, love should come with the passion and joy that belong to this stage of life. Why did he always wear that look of worldly detachment, as if he’d seen through all the ups and downs of life?

At the time, when his sister said that, he’d laughed at her for being pretentious and literary—talking about "worldly detachment" and all that. But today, on the day of someone else’s wedding, he suddenly realized that his sister’s analysis of him had actually been spot on! (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to go to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.)