The line slowly grew shorter, and finally it was Jiang Wangchuan and Lin Suhe’s turn.
Jiang Wangchuan handed the slip of paper with both of their names and birth details to the government clerk in charge of issuing marriage certificates. The clerk carefully copied the information onto a sheet of red paper, stamped it with the official government seal, collected ten copper coins, and then handed the marriage certificate to Jiang Wangchuan.
“I wish you both a long life together and a happy marriage.”
The clerk even offered them his blessings as they left.
Jiang Wangchuan happily held the red certificate, looking at it over and over. Remembering that Lin Suhe could read, he handed it to her.
The marriage certificate was filled with traditional words of blessing. With this single document, Lin Suhe’s and Jiang Wangchuan’s lives were now officially tied together.
For a moment, Lin Suhe was overwhelmed with emotion.
After reading it for a while, she handed it back to Jiang Wangchuan.
“Brother Jiang, I’m hungry. Let’s eat something in town today.”
Holding her stomach, she pouted playfully at him.
It was already lunchtime, and the smell of freshly cooked food drifted from every home in town. Lin Suhe’s stomach had already begun to growl.
They still had a long walk back to Wenhe Village, and after working hard all morning, Jiang Wangchuan was hungry too.
“All right. We’ll eat here.”
The food at the restaurants was expensive. Although Lin Suhe wanted something delicious, she knew they needed to save money, so she chose a small noodle stall by the roadside.
Her eyes sparkled as she said,
“Brother Jiang, I haven’t eaten noodles in a long time. Let’s try the noodles there.”
The stall had only a few choices.
Two copper coins for scallion noodles.
Five copper coins for vegetable and egg noodles.
Eight copper coins for braised pork noodles.
Adding an extra egg cost another two coins.
Lin Suhe stood there hesitating for quite a while before finally choosing the cheapest bowl of scallion noodles.
Watching her look like a little kitten craving food, Jiang Wangchuan called to the stall owner.
“Boss, two bowls of noodles. One bowl of scallion noodles, and one bowl of braised pork noodles with an extra egg.”
After speaking, he placed twelve copper coins into the cash box at the front of the stall.
“Coming right up! Please have a seat while you wait,” the owner replied cheerfully.
Jiang Wangchuan led Lin Suhe to a table.
She widened her eyes and whispered,
“Brother Jiang! Ten coins for one bowl of noodles? Isn’t that too expensive?”
Jiang Wangchuan wiped the tabletop in front of her with his sleeve, then carefully cleaned the chopsticks from the bamboo holder before replying casually,
“If you want to eat it, then eat it. You’re still growing, so you need good food. Money can always be earned as long as we work hard.”
As he said those words, he couldn’t help regretting the way he had lived before.
Back when he was alone, he should have worked even harder and saved more money. Then his little wife could be living a more comfortable life now.
But at that time…
He had never imagined he would one day have such a lovable wife.
Soon, steaming bowls of fragrant noodles were placed on the table.
Naturally, the braised pork noodles with the extra egg were placed in front of Lin Suhe.
The pork had been simmered until it was tender and soft. Its rich color looked incredibly tempting.
Compared to that, Jiang Wangchuan’s bowl of scallion noodles looked much plainer, with only chopped green onions and a few drops of oil floating in the clear broth.
“Hurry and eat while it’s hot.”
Jiang Wangchuan picked up his chopsticks and immediately began eating large mouthfuls of noodles.
Although Lin Suhe felt sorry for him, she knew that if she suggested swapping bowls, he would never agree.
So she quietly lowered her head and started eating too.
The noodles were truly delicious.
The handmade noodles had absorbed all the flavorful broth. They were smooth, soft, and wonderfully satisfying.
Lin Suhe enjoyed every bite.
“Brother Jiang, I’m full. You can eat the rest.”
She put down her chopsticks and rubbed her round little stomach.
Those words sounded familiar.
She had said the exact same thing to Jiang Wangchuan just a few days ago.
Looking at the large amount of noodles, braised pork, and half an egg still left in her bowl, Jiang Wangchuan frowned.
“You’re full already? There’s still so much left.”
Lin Suhe nodded.
“I’m really full. The owner gives generous portions.”
Hearing her praise, the noodle stall owner smiled brightly.
“Of course! I’ve been running this noodle stall for over ten years. I’ve never cheated my customers.”
Lin Suhe returned his smile and pushed her bowl toward Jiang Wangchuan.
“Go ahead and eat before the noodles get soggy.”
Jiang Wangchuan pressed his lips together before pushing the bowl back.
“Eat the egg first. Then I’ll eat.”
Seeing how determined he looked, Lin Suhe had no choice but to finish the remaining half of the egg and drink a few more mouthfuls of soup.
Only then did Jiang Wangchuan take the bowl and finish the rest of her noodles.
“You two newlyweds really are loving.”
The noodle stall owner smiled as he kneaded dough while speaking to them.
Jiang Wangchuan quickly finished the remaining noodles. After putting down the bowl, he gave the owner a cheerful grin.
“A man should cherish his wife.”
…
After eating their fill, the two returned to Wenhe Village.
Along the way, they ran into several villagers who joked with them and asked about their trip.
Every time someone asked, Jiang Wangchuan happily pulled the marriage certificate from his clothes and proudly showed it off, making sure everyone knew that he and Lin Suhe were now legally husband and wife.
Zhao Qiuju and Lin Qingshan learned about it that very day.
The couple became so angry that they pounded their chests in frustration.
They had assumed that since Jiang Wangchuan’s father and stepmother were still alive, such an important matter as marriage would at least require their approval.
They never expected him to settle everything himself without any delay.
Zhao Qiuju grabbed Lin Qingshan by the ear and scolded him, saying he wasn’t a real man because he hadn’t taken the chance to drag Lin Suhe back by force.
For quite a while afterward, their household was filled with shouting and chaos.
With the marriage certificate finally taken care of, one major problem had been solved.
Unfortunately, clearing the vegetable field would have to be delayed by another day.
Before it got dark, Jiang Wangchuan went back to plowing and finished another section of land.
As he pushed the plow through the soil with all his strength, he complained,
“If Zhao Qiuju and Lin Qingshan hadn’t come looking for trouble today, I would have finished plowing this whole field.”
Lin Suhe sat on a rock, swinging her feet.
“It’s all right. At least we solved the marriage certificate issue.”
“That’s true. From now on, we’re officially husband and wife. But we’ll have to wait until your mourning period is over before we hold the wedding ceremony. Otherwise, the villagers will gossip.”
In ancient times, the wedding ceremony was much like a modern wedding.
It was a formal celebration that required many preparations and invited relatives and friends to a wedding banquet.
It also cost a lot of money.
Lin Suhe hated spending unnecessary money.
“We already have the marriage certificate. It doesn’t really matter whether we hold the ceremony or not.”
Jiang Wangchuan immediately shook his head.
“How could that be? Holding the wedding ceremony is my way of giving you the respect you deserve. I want everyone to know that you are officially married into the Jiang family as my wife. We’ll work hard and save money this year. Later, I’ll make sure you have a proper, grand wedding.”
Lin Suhe knew exactly why he insisted.
He didn’t want people to think she had simply attached herself to him as a cheap, unwanted wife.
This man, despite not having much money, was always thinking about her feelings.
Not wanting to disappoint him, she smiled and nodded.
“All right.”
She watched the rich black soil turn over beneath Jiang Wangchuan’s plow.
The rosy clouds of the setting sun painted her fair porcelain-like face with a soft, beautiful blush.