“Didn’t you say you’d never tried it before? Have a taste first,” Jiang Fuseng said with a smile, her eyes narrowing.
Xiao Changhong was deeply moved. “Thank you, Sister-in-law!”
Jiang Fuseng turned to face Xiao Changhe and held out her hand again. This time she said nothing, but her smile remained just as warm.
Seeing this, Xiao Changhe picked up a milk sweet, unwrapped it, and placed it in her palm.
“Thank you!” Jiang Fuseng hadn’t expected him to have unwrapped it for her.
Xiao Changhong, standing nearby, teased, “Big Brother’s changed since he got a wife. The sweet he gave me earlier wasn’t unwrapped, but for you, he unwrapped it himself.”
Jiang Fusheng blushed and said, “Your big brother probably just didn’t think to unwrap it the first time; it isn’t necessarily because of me.”
“It’s because of you,” Xiao Changhe’s reply directly confirmed the reason behind his gesture.
Pfft.
Xiao Changhong couldn’t help but chuckle, teasing Xiao Changhe: “Oh my, my big brother’s thick skull has finally started working! He knows how to be nice to his wife without anyone telling him!”
Xiao Changhe pursed his lips and said nothing, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
“Brother Changhe, give some to Changqing too,” Jiang Fusheng spoke up. “Changqing, have a taste; this sweet is very sweet and fragrant.”
Xiao Changqing, who had been quiet up until then, looked curiously at the sweet in his elder brother’s hand. “Brother, give me one too.”
Xiao Changhe nodded and gave Xiao Changqing a piece, then took two more from the box before placing the remaining ten back inside the tin.
“Here.” He pressed the tin into Jiang Fuseng’s arms. “No matter how much you like them… you must eat them sparingly… or you’ll get a toothache.”
Jiang Fusheng looked surprised. “How did you know I liked them?”
“You were staring at them.”
This remark stunned Jiang Fusheng once more.
So he’d taken the initiative to open the box of sweets just now because he’d seen her staring at them the whole time?
He’d been observing her movements so attentively… this… he’s the ideal partner!
Jiang Fusheng looked at what he’d taken out next. “Are those for Aunt Xiao and Uncle Xiao?”
“Mm.”
“What about yours?”
“I don’t eat them.” Xiao Changhe shook his head.
“Why not?”
Xiao Changhong, who knew her elder brother well, explained, “Sister-in-law, Brother’s worried that if he eats one, you’ll want one but won’t get any!”
“It’s not as if one less matters.” Jiang Fusheng said, then took out a milk sweet, unwrapped it, and held it out with her slender, fair hand. “Open your mouth.”
Xiao Changhe hesitated for a moment, then leaned in to take it.
In that moment, Jiang Fusheng felt her fingers enveloped in a warm, small space. The colour she’d struggled to regain in her cheeks flushed once more, and, startled, she quickly withdrew her hand. “Is it sweet?”
“Mm.” Not as sweet as you.
Xiao Changhe didn’t voice the rest of the sentence, afraid of startling her.
“Come on, sister-in-law. I’ve also bought you a dress—a red one, very festive and lovely. You can wear it when you and big brother go to register your marriage!”
As she spoke, Xiao Changhong pulled Jiang Fusheng to her feet, then bent down to pick up the bag.
The two of them entered Xiao Changhe’s room.
In this red-brick house, Xiao’s parents shared one room, whilst Xiao Changhe and his two siblings each had their own. However, Xiao Changhe’s room was larger, due to his size.
“Big Brother, congratulations. You’ve finally got a wife.” Xiao Changqing’s gaze shifted away from the closed door.
Xiao Changhe gave a soft ‘mm’ and smiled. “When you’re older… you’ll be able to get married too.”
“I’ve got a long way to go yet!” Xiao Changqing shrugged.
Xiao Changhe chuckled softly and said no more.
Meanwhile.
Inside the room, Jiang Fuseng hadn’t intended to change her dress, but Xiao Changhong insisted on seeing how it looked on her, so she had no choice but to put it on.
“Gorgeous!” When Xiao Changhong took in the sight, she was utterly captivated by her elder sister-in-law’s beauty. “Wait here for me, big sis. I’ll be right back.”
With that, Xiao Changhong rose and left the room.
Jiang Fuseng looked down at the floral dress that fell to her calves.
The fabric felt lovely to the touch, and the style was very much in keeping with the era; it couldn’t have been cheap.
Aunt Xiao was kind to her, and even her younger sister-in-law was kind to her. With no conflicts between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law or between sisters-in-law, she should be able to live well in the Xiao household…
“Don’t look, don’t look!” Xiao Changhong’s voice rang out from outside the door.
“Hasn’t my sister-in-law finished changing yet?” asked Xiao Changqing.
“I’ve finished, but you’re not allowed to look just yet,” Xiao Changhong said imperiously.
Xiao Changhe: “Not even me?”
“You’re definitely not allowed!” Xiao Changhong pushed her brother away as she stepped inside. “Big Sister-in-Law, I’m back.”
“Where’ve you been?” Jiang Fusheng turned around, flashing a smile over her shoulder.
Xiao Changhong’s mouth fell open slightly; inside, she couldn’t help but gasp in awe several times.
Hehehe, what a stunning woman his elder brother’s wife was!
“I’ve gone to fetch you a mirror! Big Brother never looks in the mirror, so the only ones in the house are in my room and Mum’s.” Xiao Changhong walked over and held the mirror up to Jiang Fusheng. “Look, Sister-in-law, isn’t it lovely?”
Jiang Fusheng looked at herself in the mirror.
A red-toned plaid dress with a small white rounded collar, paired with a red leather belt at the waist that accentuated her figure, whilst the red colour made her skin look even fairer.
Unfortunately, she was too thin; her figure lacked any curves.
“Sister-in-law, you should wear this when you and Big Brother go to register your marriage.”
Jiang Fusheng nodded. “I love it. Changhong, thank you for taking the time and trouble to pick this out.”
“You’re welcome. I did it of my own accord.”
With such a beautiful sister-in-law, even if she had to spend three days and three nights choosing, she would be happy to find the perfect outfit for her.
“I’ll buy you something when the time comes.”
“I don’t need it.” Xiao Changhong shook her head and sighed. “With my figure, I look awful in dresses. The villagers would laugh at me.”
“Wearing pretty clothes is about pleasing yourself, not others, so you needn’t worry.” Jiang Fusheng walked over, placed both hands on Xiao Changhong’s shoulders, and, lifting her chin and gritting her teeth, said, “Hmph! With me here, who dares to laugh at you? I’ll be the first to tear her mouth apart!”
Xiao Changhong pursed her lips, her cheeks flushing crimson. She bent down and threw her arms around Jiang Fuseng, resting her head on the other woman’s shoulder. “Big Sister, it’s so good to have you here!”
Jiang Fuseng was quite pleased to have earned the Xiao family’s approval.
As this was the dress she’d worn when they’d registered their marriage, she’d taken it off again.
This left a certain burly man waiting anxiously in the living room feeling rather pitiful; his curiosity had been piqued, yet he couldn’t see a thing.
Just then, Xiao’s father and mother emerged from their room.
“I’ll go and cook,” said Xiao’s mother.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Fuseng realised this was her area of expertise. She hurried over and took Xiang’s mother’s arm. “Auntie, I’ll come with you. I can cook.”
If you asked her what she loved doing most, she would answer: cooking.
It was only in the kitchen that she felt at peace, that she was at her best.
Others might dislike the smell of cooking fumes and the peculiar mix of ingredients in the kitchen, but she found it utterly delightful, believing it to be even more pleasant than the scent of incense!
As she headed for the kitchen, Xiao’s father sat down and asked Xiao Changhe if he really intended to marry her.
Had it been a day earlier, Xiao Changhe would have hesitated, but now he nodded decisively. “I will.”
“Even if she cannot bear children and cannot carry on the family line, you still want to?” Xiao’s father had also returned from the city and had naturally heard about the Qian family’s situation; after all, the Qians were the city’s first family to amass a fortune of ten thousand yuan.
Xiao Changhe: “I do.”