Su Wan no longer paid much attention to how things were progressing between her brother and Zhao Qiuyue.
The novel had never mentioned who her brother’s wife would be, so Su Wan felt it was best to just let things happen naturally.
Recently, Liu Rongrong had been behaving herself and no longer causing trouble.
That was because the novel did not describe the plot for the next few months at all. It jumped directly to the New Year period, so she was probably just waiting for that time to arrive.
Actually, even if Liu Rongrong wanted to do something now, she no longer had the ability to do so.
Su Wan no longer paid much attention to her either. After all, her greatest support had already been smashed apart and thrown into the well.
Who knew when Liu Rongrong would eventually realize something was wrong? When that time came, she might create another huge scene.
But Su Wan was not worried in the slightest.
Even if Liu Rongrong turned the world upside down, she would never again be able to affect anyone else.
When the time came, she could make trouble however she wanted.
During these past few months, Su Wan had lived an extremely relaxed and carefree life, going only between home and school every day.
Every so often, she would receive letters from Han Rui.
After sweetly rereading them over and over again, Su Wan carefully stored them away and then wrote replies expressing how much she missed him.
It had been so long since she last saw him, and she missed him terribly.
From time to time, the Han family would also send Han Rui’s nephew—Eldest Brother Han’s son—to deliver things. Su Wan would prepare gifts in return and ask him to bring them back.
Everything was going very well.
In the blink of an eye, it was the twelfth lunar month.
Su Wan received Han Rui’s final letter.
In it, he wrote that their marriage application had long since been approved and the house had already been prepared. He was certain she would be satisfied with it.
He also wrote that he would probably return near the end of the twelfth lunar month.
Seeing that he would return in less than a month, Su Wan held the letter and happily spun in circles around her room.
On the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, the whole family was cleaning the house and courtyard when Su Niang suddenly said, “Tell me, why hasn’t Han Rui come back yet? He said he’d return before the end of the year, but there are only a few days left before New Year’s. After the holiday, we’ll have to start preparing for your wedding!”
Su Niang looked worried, afraid something might have delayed him.
“Mom, it’s fine. Aren’t there still a few days left? If something had happened, he definitely would have sent me a telegram,” Su Wan comforted her.
“Exactly. What are you worrying about during New Year?” Father Su also chimed in.
Just as the three of them were talking, Su Lei returned after taking out the trash.
Someone was following behind him.
Wasn’t it Han Rui?
Han Rui wore a military uniform and stood tall and straight like a pine tree. His gaze was upright and steady, and he carried the calm, restrained aura unique to soldiers.
But the moment he saw Su Wan, an unconscious smile appeared on his normally serious face, softening his entire expression.
The instant Su Wan saw Han Rui, she ran over in surprise and stopped in front of him.
Looking at him, she said softly, “You’re back.”
The two simply stood there, gazing at each other for a long time.
Su Lei, standing nearby, could not bear to watch anymore. He reached out, took the heavy things from Han Rui’s hands, and interrupted them.
“Come on, come on, hurry inside and sit down. Aren’t you cold standing out here?”
As he spoke, he pulled Han Rui into the house.
Only then did Han Rui finally look away from Su Wan.
Walking over to Father Su and Su Niang, he greeted them respectfully.
“Uncle, Auntie.”
Su Niang happily responded, “Ah, Han Rui is back!”
There was a saying: A mother-in-law always likes her son-in-law more the more she sees him.
That perfectly described Su Niang right now.
Especially since Han Rui was so outstanding, and they had not seen him for such a long time. The more she looked at him, the happier she became.
Father Su, on the other hand, did not look pleased at all.
He merely nodded perfunctorily and said gruffly, “You’re back.”
Even though Father Su was actually very satisfied with the son-in-law he had personally chosen, he refused to show it on his face.
As Han Rui followed everyone inside, he turned back and glanced at Su Wan once.
Su Wan secretly smiled and waved at him before following them in.
Sitting inside, Su Niang kindly asked Han Rui about life in the military, when his leave would end, and various other questions.
“…I’ll need to leave by train on the thirteenth day of the first lunar month,” Han Rui answered one by one before finally saying.
Su Niang looked disappointed.
“So early? You won’t even be able to spend the Lantern Festival at home. The timing is really tight.”
After calculating carefully, she realized that his marriage leave would only last about a month. Once travel time was deducted, leaving by the thirteenth really was the latest possible date.
Although disappointed, she could understand it.
Back when the engagement was arranged, both families had decided the wedding would be held on the tenth day of the first lunar month, while the marriage certificate would be registered on the eighth.
At this rate, Su Wan might not even have time for her return visit after marriage.
Han Rui had obviously thought of this issue too.
He said to Su Niang, “Auntie, if the train on the thirteenth leaves in the afternoon, then we’ll come back that morning. If not, I’ll bring Xiao Wan back a day earlier.”
“How could that be alright? Who returns to her parents’ home the very next day after marriage?” Su Niang refused verbally, though clearly against her true feelings.
“Auntie, it’s only right. This is a special situation, so we should treat it specially. Even my mother said the same thing,” Han Rui replied.
As a soldier, Han Rui was sharp enough to immediately notice that Su Niang’s words did not match her true feelings.
How could he possibly miss such a good opportunity to win favor with his future mother-in-law?
Sure enough, after hearing Han Rui insist, Su Niang stopped refusing.
The way she looked at him became even gentler.
Father Su and Su Lei, who had been listening quietly nearby, also visibly relaxed and nodded in approval.
If Han Rui had truly refused to let Su Wan return home afterward…
Father and son silently thought the same thing at the same time.
Su Wan sat nearby without speaking, watching Han Rui smoothly charm her parents and brother into such good moods.
This man really is sly.
Su Wan glanced at Han Rui, only to discover he was already looking at her.
Their eyes met.
From his gaze, Su Wan could clearly see amusement.
She lightly glared at him and mouthed silently:
“Sly.”
Han Rui understood her lip movements perfectly, and the smile on his face deepened further.
Su Niang failed to notice the silent exchange between them and continued fussing over arrangements.
“Since the wedding is almost here, the two of you must not meet again during this period. You can only see each other again on the eighth day when you go register your marriage, understand?”
At the end, Su Niang deliberately emphasized the point again, afraid the two might secretly meet in private.
This was the local custom.
Unmarried couples were not supposed to meet during the month before their wedding because people believed it would affect the fortune of their married life.
Although Su Niang did not completely believe such superstitions, what if there was some truth to it?
It was better to keep them apart and avoid gossip from others.
Since his future mother-in-law had spoken, Han Rui did not dare argue despite his reluctance.
Obediently, he replied, “Understood, Auntie.”
Su Wan wanted to say something, but before she could even open her mouth, Su Niang shot her a glare.
Immediately, Su Wan did not dare say another word.
Su Niang already knew exactly what her daughter wanted to say.
This girl of hers was far too outgoing!
Only after seeing Su Wan obediently keep quiet did Su Niang finally withdraw her gaze.
Once Su Niang stopped glaring at her, Su Wan secretly stuck out her tongue.
Seeing this scene, Han Rui quietly laughed.
My wife is so adorable.
After chatting for a while longer, Han Rui prepared to leave.
Su Wan immediately looked at Su Niang pitifully and pleaded, “Mom, let me walk Han Rui out!”
Seeing her daughter staring at her so pitifully, and remembering that the two had not seen each other for months, Su Niang finally relented.
“Go, go. Just don’t stay out too long!”
“Okay!” Su Wan answered cheerfully the moment her mother agreed.
Then she happily followed Han Rui out of the house.
Watching her daughter’s impatient eagerness from behind, Su Niang could barely stand to look at it anymore and suddenly had the urge to smack her a few times.