It was still early in the morning, yet the outside was already lively. Zhang Weihong had been dragged out of bed by his mother and ordered to go to his Fourth Aunt’s house to borrow a pot.
With a belly full of resentment, Zhang Weihong stomped to Su Caiqing’s door and shouted at the top of his lungs, “Fourth Aunt! My mom said to borrow your pot!”
The door immediately opened and a petite figure darted out, snapping angrily, “No! Tell your mom to return the two bowls she borrowed first!”
When Zhang Weihong saw it was his cousin Zhang Yunbing, his confidence faltered at once. This girl was truly not someone easy to mess with.
But Zhang Weihong was already fuming inside. When he imagined going back empty handed, having his ears twisted and being scolded endlessly, his tone grew even worse. “Zhang Yunbing, I’m borrowing it from your mom, not you! Get lost!”
Zhang Yunbing refused to give way, and the two of them instantly began arguing at the doorway, drawing curious neighbors who poked their heads out to watch.
Inside, Su Caiqing was applying snow cream to her face. Hearing the commotion, she said to Zhang Yunqing beside her, “Go call them both in. Quarreling at the door this early in the morning is disgraceful.”
Zhang Yunqing immediately went out to relay the message.
Hearing that, Zhang Weihong shot Zhang Yunbing a smug look and swaggered into the small house.
As soon as he stepped inside, he caught a fragrant scent in the air. It took him a moment to realize it was the scent of snow cream, and he instinctively inhaled twice more.
Then he looked toward the window opposite him. Su Caiqing was sitting there, applying cream to her face.
He was instantly stunned.
This Fourth Aunt, who had once lain half dead in bed, now looked radiant and glowing.
Zhang Yunbing saw the foolish expression on his face and immediately scoffed.
When Su Caiqing noticed Zhang Weihong standing there silently, she turned her head and asked, “What is it?”
Zhang Weihong froze for a moment before answering, “My mom… asked me to borrow… a pot from you…”
His voice lacked confidence, completely different from the aggressive tone he had used outside.
Zhang Yunbing looked down on him even more.
Su Caiqing casually replied with an “Oh,” then turned back to look at herself in the mirror. “Go tell your mom that if you borrow something, you return it. That way borrowing again will be easy. This time, I’m not lending it.”
Zhang Yunbing and Zhang Yunqing secretly breathed a sigh of relief and both turned to look at Zhang Weihong.
Zhang Weihong was clearly stunned. He had not expected his usually easygoing Fourth Aunt to refuse so directly.
Just as he was about to speak again, a series of crisp bicycle bells rang outside. Before long, a man walked in wearing a white shirt, a camera hanging around his neck, and his hair slicked back into a shiny pompadour.
“Morning, girls! And young man! Are you ready?”
The children all looked delighted when they saw him and greeted him enthusiastically.
Su Caiqing said, “What’s the hurry? We’ll be ready soon.”
“I’m not the one in a hurry. The bride is! She started calling my house early this morning to rush me. My mom practically kicked me out the door!”
As he spoke, he leaned over the large bed to look at the baby still sleeping there, acting completely at ease.
Su Caiqing glanced at him and said, “You must have started grooming yourself in the middle of the night. It’s someone else’s wedding today. Don’t steal the groom’s spotlight.”
Liang Qiheng burst out laughing. “Wherever I go, I’m always the most eye-catching one. That’s not my fault.”
Su Caiqing knew very well how vain he was and replied irritably, “Yes, yes, you’re the most handsome guy on this street.”
“More than just this street. Within three or five streets around here, there’s no one more handsome than me.”
He really knew how to push his luck.
Zhang Yunbing and her siblings were already laughing uncontrollably, and even the usually serious Zhang Yunyang showed a smile.
Su Caiqing did not want to keep bantering with him, nor did she want two outsiders crowding around her bed. She stood up and said, “Let’s go. First we’ll take these little treasures to Director Zhao’s house.”
The children immediately cheered.
Liang Qiheng quickly called out, “Anyone who wants a ride, get moving!”
Zhang Yunbing dashed out first, followed by the short legged triplets. Zhang Yunqing hurried after them to keep an eye on the three younger ones, while Zhang Yunyang remained where he was.
Standing to the side, Zhang Weihong watched the group chatting and laughing together while he seemed completely out of place. A wave of bitterness rose inside him.
Su Caiqing picked up the baby from the bed and said to him, “You should go back. I’m locking the door.”
Zhang Weihong quickly lowered his head and ran out.
Once outside, he saw that two of the three younger children had already climbed onto the front bar of the bicycle, while the remaining one sat on the back seat. Zhang Yunbing and Zhang Yunqing stood on either side holding them steady.
Zhang Weihong suddenly remembered something and asked, “You’re going to a wedding feast? Whose?”
Zhang Yunbing snorted and ignored him. Zhang Yunqing answered slowly, “We’re going to the factory director’s house. Aunt Chaoying is getting married.”
Zhang Weihong reacted as if someone had slapped him across the face. He practically jumped into the air.
“The factory director’s house? You’re lying!”
At that moment Liang Qiheng was pushing the bicycle around the corner. Zhang Yunqing did not bother responding and hurried off to help her sister. Zhang Yunbing tossed one sentence over her shoulder.
“As if we’d bother lying to you.”
Watching them leave, Zhang Weihong suddenly noticed that all the children were wearing brand new clothes. Zhang Yunbing and her sisters even had gauzy flowers pinned in their hair.
This family had truly undergone a tremendous change.
Thinking of that, Zhang Weihong did not dare linger any longer. He ran straight home. He had to tell his mother about this. If he did not report it first, she would twist his ear again.
When he got home, he panted while telling his mother, “Fourth Aunt… Fourth Aunt’s family went to the factory director’s house for a wedding feast!”
His mother was busy at the stove. She had already been unhappy seeing him return empty handed. Hearing his words, she immediately scolded him.
“What nonsense are you dreaming about? Why are you making up such lies early in the morning?”
“It’s true! I saw it with my own eyes. A man pushed a bicycle and took them away!” Zhang Weihong said, practically swearing to it.
Gao Juxiang thought for a moment and then snapped, “Watch the fire! If the food burns, I’ll make you pay!”
After saying that, she hurried out to ask around among the nearby neighbors. Only then did she confirm that today was indeed the wedding day of the factory director’s daughter, Wang Chaoying.
As soon as she heard this, she rushed back in a flurry and went straight to the neighboring room to find her mother in law.
The old woman had only just gotten up and was waiting for her daughter in law to finish cooking.
Gao Juxiang barged in without caring about anything. She did not even mind that her father in law had not finished putting on his pants. Grabbing her mother in law, she exclaimed, “Mom! That jinx from the Fourth Brother’s family went to the factory director’s house for the wedding feast! The director’s daughter is getting married today!”
Her mother in law immediately cursed, “Have you been sneaking liquor again? Why are you talking nonsense so early in the morning?”
A joyous occasion at the factory director’s house was not something just anyone could attend, so of course her first reaction was disbelief.
“It’s true! Your eldest grandson saw it with his own eyes!”
At the mention of her eldest grandson, the old woman stopped scolding. After thinking for a moment, she snorted.
“Hah! With that jinx of a woman? Why would the factory director invite her? She must have gone there on her own to curry favor and build connections.”
Gao Juxiang felt that made sense and immediately relaxed. “Exactly! I thought it was strange too. Her? How could that be? Besides, who goes to a wedding feast so early in the morning?”
Her mother in law rolled her eyes at her. “Why are you so pleased? Huh? Other people at least know to go build connections. What have you been doing all morning instead of minding your business? Is the food ready yet?”
Gao Juxiang nearly choked with anger but did not dare argue. She softened her voice and said, “It’s cooking, it’ll be done soon. Mom, do you think Aiguo’s job will still work out? What if that jinx steals the opportunity?”
Her mother in law rolled her eyes again. “Do you think the factory director’s family is so easy to cling to? If that job really ends up going to her, I’ll stand in the street and curse her so everyone knows she climbed into the factory director’s bed right after her husband died. Bah!”
It was as if the dead man had not been her own son.
Hearing this, Gao Juxiang became even happier. “Exactly! That job will definitely go to Aiguo!”
While chaos briefly erupted on the Zhang family’s side, Su Caiqing had already delivered the children to Director Zhao’s house, asking her to take them to the wedding banquet later. She then rode on Liang Qiheng’s bicycle to the factory director’s residence.
As soon as she arrived at the door, the factory director’s wife, who was also the bride’s mother, came forward to greet her and took Su Caiqing’s hand.
“Oh my, you’re finally here! Chaoying tried her makeup several times but was never satisfied. She keeps saying yours looks the best, so she’s been waiting for you!”
“Don’t worry, leave it to me. I guarantee you’ll be satisfied.”
“Good, good!”
Su Caiqing entered the house arm in arm with the director’s wife, while Liang Qiheng followed behind.
The moment Wang Chaoying saw Su Caiqing, she jumped up and took her mother’s place beside her.
“Oh my dear sister, you’re finally here! I told you to come straight over once you woke up!”
Su Caiqing replied, “I still had to tidy myself up a bit. It wouldn’t look right to come here disheveled.”
“I have everything here. You can fix yourself up however you like, but take care of me first.”
“Relax, there’s plenty of time. Why rush?”
The director’s wife came in carrying several bowls of chicken soup noodles with poached eggs. “I told her there was no need to hurry, but she’s just impatient. Eat a bowl of noodles first, then work.”
After some casual conversation and finishing the chicken noodle soup with eggs, Su Caiqing set down her bowl and got to work.
Wang Chaoying and the Wang family had clearly made extensive preparations for the wedding. The makeup items had all been brought back from overseas by acquaintances, and Su Caiqing found them quite easy to use.
Liang Qiheng was not idle either. He kept searching for angles to take photographs. This had been Su Caiqing’s request, to record every important moment of the wedding.
Once the makeup was finished and Wang Chaoying changed into the pink puffed gauze trailing dress that Su Caiqing had made, she looked like a completely different person.
“My goodness… is that really me?” Wang Chaoying could hardly believe it.
Her mother immediately said, “Of course it’s you, silly girl.”
The factory director nodded from the side as well. “It really does look beautiful. You’ve never looked prettier.”
Wang Chaoying was delighted and felt even more convinced that Su Caiqing was right. On one’s wedding day, one should look absolutely stunning.
While Liang Qiheng was taking photographs of Wang Chaoying, Su Caiqing began doing makeup for the factory director and his wife. The director’s wife asked curiously,
“I understand doing mine, but he’s a grown man. Does he need makeup too?”