WRS – Chapter 73

In May, Zhu Ying came with her daughter and two grandchildren to discuss Ji Ling and Bai Jingzhi’s marriage.

Originally, Ji Ling and Bai Jingzhi had planned to come home once during summer vacation and then handle the wedding at the end of the year. But recently, Ji Ling couldn’t take leave, and Bai Jingzhi was also busy. Since Ji Ling’s family already knew about their relationship, Zhu Ying thought it would be best if the parents handled this matter personally, so she decided to bring things over herself.

Ji An was worried about her mother making the trip alone, so after thinking about it, she simply brought both children along.

Ji An had married early. Her eldest son was already eleven and had taken special leave to come along. Her daughter was seven and would be starting school in the second half of the year.

The mother and daughter arrived carrying large bags full of things—specialties from their hometown: homemade cured meat and sausages, and assorted supplements, candies, and biscuits bought from the department store.

Jin Xiuzhu was already quite familiar with Zhu Ying, so she warmly welcomed them inside.

When Zhu Ying saw Jin Xiuzhu, she enthusiastically grabbed her hand and praised her, “You haven’t changed at all. You looked young before, and you still look just the same now. I don’t know what good things you’ve been eating—if you walked outside with the kids, people might mistake you for their older sister!”

Jin Xiuzhu burst into laughter. “You’re exaggerating. It’s mainly because I don’t have much to worry about.”

Zhu Ying nodded with a smile. “That’s true. You’re just like Minmin—both blessed with good fortune.”

She meant it sincerely. Regiment Commander Jiang was capable, the children were well-behaved, and Jin Xiuzhu earned money on her own—of course her life was blessed. Unlike her daughter… although Ji An was doing well too, it still didn’t compare to Jin Xiuzhu.

Jin Xiuzhu smiled and greeted the person beside Zhu Ying. “And this must be An’an? She really looks so much like Ji Ling. Come inside, it’s hot outside.”

Ji An had a lively personality. She smiled brightly and greeted Jin Xiuzhu, calling her “Elder sister.”

Then she urged her two children to greet her as well.

The two children were a bit shy and hid behind their mother. The son was slightly braver and whispered, “Auntie.”

Ji An felt a little embarrassed and glanced at Jin Xiuzhu. “They’re both timid.”

Jin Xiuzhu said with a warm smile, “All kids are like that. Mine weren’t willing to greet people either. They’ll be fine once they get used to it.”

Hearing this put Ji An completely at ease. No wonder her mother always said her aunt’s neighbor was such a good person and spoke so nicely. It was true. When she took the kids to spend New Year at her husband’s unit once, one of the military wives criticized her children for not greeting people properly, saying they looked impolite. She’d been furious.

Jin Xiuzhu invited them into the house, poured tea, and brought out some fruit.

Fruit was cheap here, especially lychees. Before, she had only bought them by the piece, but now people bought them in bunches—fresh, plentiful, and inexpensive.

Jin Xiuzhu brought out lychees, bayberries, and mangoes. Afraid the children didn’t know how to eat mangoes, she peeled one and handed it to them, teaching them to eat the soft yellow flesh and not the flat, hard seed inside.

The children looked to their mother first. When Ji An nodded, they accepted it and whispered a soft “Thank you.”

“So polite,” Jin Xiuzhu praised.

Zhu Ying smiled proudly. She didn’t stand on ceremony and happily peeled a lychee as she commented, “It really is better here. Fruits are cheap and delicious. We don’t even have lychees back home. Last summer I bought a few to try—one cost fifty cents!”

Jin Xiuzhu sighed. “It is good here, but I don’t know anyone. There’s no one to drop by and chat with. Every day I just stay at home painting or reading. It gets boring after a while.”

Zhu Ying nodded in agreement. “That’s true. I spent New Year at the unit with An’an and my son-in-law once. Oh my, twenty days felt like twenty years. No one to talk to. Too boring. Don’t ask me to go again—I’m not going.”

Ji An chuckled.

Jin Xiuzhu asked, “Why don’t you go live with your husband as a military spouse?”

Ji An explained, “His rank isn’t high enough yet. After his next promotion, I should be able to. If everything goes smoothly, I’ll follow him then. Children really can’t grow up without their father around.”

“How so?” Jin Xiuzhu asked with concern.

“In the countryside, kids without a father get bullied easily. Mine are too timid. I think it’ll be better to go with him. They say a lot of military units have schools, which is convenient.”

“That’s true. Many teachers there are very good. My kids had trouble at first here—they kept saying the teachers weren’t as good as before.”

Hearing that, Ji An fell silent, her expression thoughtful as she became more serious about the matter.

By evening, Zhu Ying helped Jin Xiuzhu prepare dinner. When the three children returned home and saw Zhu Ying, they were pleasantly surprised. He Yan and Fu Yanyan still remembered her and joyfully circled around her.

Liuliu tilted her head curiously—she didn’t recognize her at all.

Zhu Ying laughed and patted her head. “You’ve grown so fast. I used to hold you in my arms.”

Jin Xiuzhu chuckled, “Well, look how many years have passed.”

Liuliu didn’t like people touching her head. She ran off immediately and went outside to play with the two new children. They were older than her, but Liuliu had thick skin. She declared that since this was her home, she was temporarily their commanding officer, so she could lead them in play.

Ji An’s son stayed quiet, but her daughter obediently called her “Commander.”

Liuliu was delighted and swung her arm dramatically. “Then follow me!”

Before leaving, she suddenly remembered something and ran to the kitchen to ask Jin Xiuzhu for money—she wanted to buy treats for the two “little soldiers.”

Jin Xiuzhu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Don’t you have your own pocket money?”

Liuliu grinned mischievously. “I’m hosting them on your behalf. So of course you should pay.”

Jin Xiuzhu pinched her cheeks. “Always so clever.”

Then she took five yuan from her pocket and handed it to her.

Liuliu cheered and dashed outside, shouting, “Charge—!”

Zhu Ying laughed. “She’s such a lively one.”

“Don’t envy me. When she gets noisy, she really gives me a headache.”

Jin Xiuzhu asked Fu Yanyan to keep an eye on her sister. Otherwise, Liuliu would forget to come home once she got excited. Fu Yanyan, who was sitting outside eating lychees, wiped her hands and ran after her.

Ji An praised, “It’s good for kids to be lively. Mine are too quiet. They won’t speak up even when they’re bullied.”

Jin Xiuzhu smiled. “Temperament is something you’re born with. There’s no good or bad. I sometimes wish mine were quieter—they’re too noisy.”

Ji An laughed.

Seeing the good atmosphere, Zhu Ying couldn’t help bringing up Ji Ling and Bai Jingzhi’s relationship. She started by complaining, “That child has always made his own decisions and doesn’t like telling us anything. If his uncle hadn’t mentioned it, we’d still be in the dark. He really worries me. But he has one good point—he takes responsibility and likes taking care of things. If Jingzhi marries into our family, she won’t have a thing to worry about. He’ll think of everything for her.”

Jin Xiuzhu nodded. “That’s a good trait.”

“Of course! Ji Ling is very capable. He went to military school and will keep rising in rank. His salary is high, too. I’ve saved all his pay over the years. When they get married, I’ll give it all to Jingzhi, let her spend it however she likes.”

Jin Xiuzhu smiled. “That’s very thoughtful of you. Jingzhi’s salary isn’t low either—once they’re married, life will be comfortable.”

Zhu Ying beamed. “Exactly. Then they can have two children. While I can still move around, I’ll go help her.”

Ji An saw her mother drifting too far and hurriedly added, “My brother is really lucky to be able to marry Sister Jingzhi. I heard she’s a university graduate and works at a newspaper in S City. Very impressive.”

Jin Xiuzhu’s smile deepened. “Jingzhi is excellent. Her teachers loved her when she was studying. They always asked her to help with translations—only her, never the other students.”

Zhu Ying didn’t catch any deeper meaning—she was simply delighted. “I always wanted to match Jingzhi with Ji Ling, but I was afraid it would put you in a difficult spot, so I didn’t dare mention it. Who knew they’d end up together anyway?”

Just thinking about Bai Jingzhi becoming her daughter-in-law made Zhu Ying feel proud and satisfied.

Ji An felt her head hurt. She knew her mother meant no harm—she was just excited. But anything she said tended to sound… different.

Like now. It sounded like she had been scheming about Bai Jingzhi all along.

She quickly tried to smooth things over. “My mom really likes Sister Jingzhi. After going home, she kept talking about her, wondering which lucky family would get to marry her someday. Never expected the luck would fall on our family.”

Jin Xiuzhu naturally understood Zhu Ying’s temperament, but now that she stood from the point of view of Bai Jingzhi’s maiden family, her mindset was completely different.

She accepted Ji An’s explanation and said, “Mingchuan will be back tonight too. When he comes, we can all sit down and discuss it properly. Marriage is a big matter, after all, and the two of them are both very busy. As elders, it’s only right that we worry a bit more.”

Zhu Ying nodded repeatedly. “That’s true.”

Seeing her mother being led around by the nose, Ji An could only hold back her words.

Anyway, before they came, her uncle and aunt had already called and told them that Bai Jingzhi’s older brother and sister-in-law were honest, good people—sincerity was what mattered most.

Jiang Mingchuan came back a little after eight that night. He usually arrived around this time, but normally everyone would have finished eating and left a portion in the pot for him. He didn’t expect that when he came home today, he’d find several extra people sitting around a big table full of dishes, chatting happily.

His eyes swept to Zhu Ying seated at the head of the table, and he instantly understood the situation.

Yesterday, Commissar Zhu had already called to say she would likely come these two days, but he didn’t expect her to arrive so soon.

After he sat down, Zhu Ying didn’t bother with any pleasantries and got straight to the point, asking how the wedding would be arranged and what day they planned to set.

Ji An nearly covered her forehead. No wonder her brother didn’t want their mother to come—who brought things up this directly?

She quickly added, “Our hometown doesn’t have very strict customs. We mainly wanted to ask if your side has any particular traditions we should observe.”

Jiang Mingchuan didn’t think much of it. After thinking for a moment, he said, “The two families live far apart, so it’s better to hold the main ceremony at your hometown. We’ll handle the sending-off ceremony from our side. As for the date, if nothing unexpected happens, we can choose either the end of the year, or early next year. We’ll both be on leave during that period, so it’s easier to spare the time.”

Ji An nodded. “Alright. As for the bride price, that still needs to be discussed.”

Afraid that Jiang Mingchuan would think they lacked sincerity, Zhu Ying quickly said, “Our family plans to give a watch, a sewing machine, and a bicycle. Do you think that’s okay?”

Jin Xiuzhu interjected, “Change the sewing machine to an electric fan. Jingzhi won’t use a sewing machine—it’ll just go to waste. And she already has a bicycle. Getting another would be wasteful.”

Zhu Ying didn’t know how to respond and looked toward her daughter.

Ji An said, “Then change the bicycle to a radio.”

Jin Xiuzhu nodded in satisfaction. “That works. As for the bride price, we don’t need a lot, but five hundred yuan is necessary. Our family will also match five hundred. And my mother-in-law even left Jingzhi a house in City S. After the marriage, everything will belong to the young couple.”

Zhu Ying immediately deflated. She had thought their family was being very generous, but Bai Jingzhi’s family was even more impressive—dowry and a house… she suddenly felt she lacked confidence.

Seeing her expression, Jin Xiuzhu smiled. “We just want the two of them to live a good life. Everything else is easy to arrange. I already discussed with Mingchuan that we won’t hold the sending-off ceremony here. We’ll do it directly in the capital. Our hometown is the capital, and our relatives and elders are all there. It’ll be livelier that way.”

The more Zhu Ying listened, the more unconfident she felt.

Fortunately, Ji An stayed calm. Her brother had already warned her beforehand that her sister-in-law’s family conditions were quite good and that they should prepare more gifts.

After hearing Jin Xiuzhu finish, Ji An replied earnestly, “We’ll follow your arrangements.”

Jin Xiuzhu nodded in satisfaction.

That night, lying in bed, Jiang Mingchuan couldn’t help asking, “We’re doing the sending-off in the capital?”

Before, they had planned to do it in City S. Tonight, when Jin Xiuzhu suddenly changed her mind, she had already said it aloud, so he didn’t contradict her.

Without hesitation, Jin Xiuzhu said, “It’s better to do it there. The old Master Zhang and the others aren’t familiar with Jingzhi. Holding it in the capital lets them connect a bit, and it’ll be livelier. If we hold it here or in City S… who would we even invite? We might not be able to fill a table.”

Jiang Mingchuan thought it over and agreed.

Jin Xiuzhu glanced at him. There was something she didn’t say: she felt that both Jiang Mingchuan and Ji Ling would go far in the future—those relationships that could help them must not be allowed to fade.

**

The next morning, the house was back to just Jin Xiuzhu. She brought Zhu Ying and Ji An out to play. In the morning they visited the nearby beach. The mother-and-daughter pair and the two children had never been to a seaside, so everything was new to them. The two kids picked up loads of seashells.

At noon, on the way home, Jin Xiuzhu took them to a seafood stall and bought crabs, shrimp, fish, and some fruits.

Zhu Ying and Ji An stayed for another night. Early the next morning, they left with the children. Jin Xiuzhu and Jiang Mingchuan drove them to the train station, and Jin Xiuzhu bought plenty of fruit for them to eat on the way.

Their hometown was far up north—it wasn’t easy to make such a trip.

But Zhu Ying didn’t feel tired at all. Everything had been discussed clearly, and once they returned, all that was left was preparing items for the post-New Year wedding.

Although it would cost a lot, she was still very happy. She felt that marrying a daughter-in-law like Bai Jingzhi was worth every penny.

Sitting on the train, Zhu Ying comforted Ji An, “Your sister-in-law has a good job. The fact that she likes your brother means he’s fortunate. If we spend more money, so be it. Don’t hold anything in your heart. Your brother has had a hard time all these years.”

Ji An replied helplessly, “What would I be bothered about? I’m happy for him.”

Zhu Ying laughed. “That’s good. When your sister-in-law gets pregnant, both your kids will already be in school. Then I can go help take care of her. I’ve always liked Jingzhi—gentle, soft-spoken, and kind-hearted.”

Ji An looked at her mother, amused. They weren’t even married yet and she was already thinking that far ahead.

But remembering what Jin Xiuzhu said earlier, she advised, “You’re not young anymore. It’s not clear whether you’ll be taking care of sister-in-law or she’ll be taking care of you. Maybe forget it. Sister-in-law might accompany brother in the army, and he’ll take care of her. Besides, even if I’m fine with it, the two kids can’t be left alone.”

Her mother might not have heard it, but she did—what Jin Xiuzhu meant was that they would probably hire someone to take care of the couple in the future and didn’t want her mother to go. She understood that her mother was just a bit careless in personality, but others didn’t. She didn’t want her mother and sister-in-law to have conflicts and cause trouble for her brother.

Hearing this, Zhu Ying instantly hesitated. Her son and daughter-in-law were important, but so were her two grandchildren.

After thinking, she said, “We’ll see when the time comes.”

“Mm.”

Ji An decided to persuade her again later.

**

At the end of June, Bai Jingzhi came back for a visit. Ji Ling couldn’t take leave due to military duties, so she returned alone to discuss the end-of-year wedding with her brother and sister-in-law.

She also brought all the money she had saved over the past two years, afraid that they would spend too much on her.

Of course, Jin Xiuzhu wouldn’t accept it. Instead, she showed Bai Jingzhi all the wedding items she had prepared.

During this period, she had time, so she made quilt covers and pillowcases at home. In her previous life in the Great Jing Dynasty, women had to embroider their own wedding clothes.

But Jin Xiuzhu never had that opportunity. She had been a maid elevated to concubine, without even the qualification to enter the main gate.

So now that Bai Jingzhi was getting married, she wanted to make a few high-quality quilt covers and pillowcases to satisfy her past regrets.

In addition to those, she also prepared two sets of new clothes for her to wear during the wedding.

Bai Jingzhi’s eyes grew red. She snuggled close to Jin Xiuzhu, “Sister-in-law treats me so well.”

“If not you, then who else would I treat well?”

Bai Jingzhi smiled through teary eyes.

“I even had quilts made and will have them delivered to your little house. I heard you need to buy spittoons and washbasins for the wedding. You can buy those in City S. As for other odds and ends, you can add them slowly over time.”

“Oh, and you should apply for leave early, so we can go back to the capital together. We’ll first clean the house, then I’ll introduce you to your in-laws’ old friends and elders…”

Bai Jingzhi kept nodding. Finally, she couldn’t help sighing, “Marriage is so troublesome.”

Jin Xiuzhu laughed. “This is troublesome?”

If she saw the complicated wedding rituals of the Great Jing Dynasty, she definitely wouldn’t say that.

Then Bai Jingzhi remembered something. “Oh, I visited Yan Xing at our alma mater not long ago. He’s changed so much that I almost didn’t recognize him.”

Jin Xiuzhu said, “Of course. People grow up. Who still looks like their childhood self?”

Bai Jingzhi nodded. “True. I had lunch with Yan Xing in the cafeteria, and a little girl beside us kept staring at me.”

Her face broke into a smile. “She was so possessive—when I left, she even chased me down to ask what my relationship with him was. When she heard I was his sister, she immediately lit up. Her face changed so fast.”

Jin Xiuzhu laughed too. “Youth is wonderful.”

Bai Jingzhi blurted out, “Sister-in-law is also very young. When you walk with my brother, you look like father and daughter.”

Jin Xiuzhu burst out laughing.

That night, she deliberately held up a mirror to compare herself and Jiang Mingchuan.

Jiang Mingchuan looked puzzled. “What’s wrong?”

Trying to suppress a smile, Jin Xiuzhu said, “Someone said we look like father and daughter when we walk together. I want to see if that’s true.”

Jiang Mingchuan: “…”

He held it in for a long moment before asking irritably, “Which bastard said that?”

Jin Xiuzhu covered her mouth, laughing. “Guess.”

**

In early July, the three children started their summer vacation.

Jin Xiuzhu took them along with Bai Jingzhi to City S to have fun, and to bring all the prepared items to her home there.

Originally she hadn’t planned to take He Yan, afraid it would disrupt his studies.

But He Yan insisted, saying that if he stayed behind alone, it would feel like they had completely excluded his father.

Bai Jingzhi was the happiest—she kept saying they should stay in City S for several days.

Jin Xiuzhu also planned to do so. She even thought they could swing by their old unit to visit Fang Min and the others since it was nearby.

After traveling more than a day by train, they arrived in City S and stayed at Bai Jingzhi’s little foreign-style house. That night, Bai Jingzhi still slept with Jin Xiuzhu.

The two lay in bed chatting for a long time. Bai Jingzhi originally wanted to ask how she should interact with Ji Ling’s family in the future. She was afraid she might not get along with them and end up being disliked.

Jin Xiuzhu knew she had been suppressed since childhood and always tried to please others, desperately wanting to be liked. Even though she had improved a lot in her behavior, it was still hard to change her mindset.

So she said, “Just be yourself—they’ll like you. And if they don’t, then that’s their problem. Don’t overthink it. Remember, if not for Ji Ling, you’d be strangers passing on the street. You wouldn’t even spare them a second glance. Treat them the same way you’d treat a stranger—calm, neither humble nor arrogant.”

Hearing this, Bai Jingzhi instantly relaxed. Thinking carefully, it really was true. Without Ji Ling, she never would’ve met his family—there was no need to bend over backwards for them.

But Jin Xiuzhu added one more thing, “After marriage, think more about yourself. Don’t always worry about your husband this and that. Compared to taking care of a man, you need to take care of yourself.”

Bai Jingzhi looked at her.

Jin Xiuzhu said calmly, “Men don’t have it as hard as we do. We give birth, take care of the household, and work. If you have money and time, be good to yourself.”

Bai Jingzhi nodded slowly.

She didn’t fully understand yet, but since her sister-in-law said it, she knew it must be right.