At the warehouse entrance, after the goods were loaded onto the truck.
Zhou Runqing watched the woman bustling around like a little bee, beads of sweat clinging to her rosy cheeks.
A smile involuntarily crept onto his lips, and he said in a steady voice that left no room for doubt, “Let’s go back to the compound.”
Although Lin Yuqiu mumbled an “uh-huh,” she couldn’t help feeling uneasy.
I still vividly remember the scene when I bumped into Zhou Runqing’s mother and sister last time, and I still feel lingering fear.
Before returning to the compound, I first had a guard drive me to the sanatorium guesthouse to pack up all my belongings and then check out of the hotel.
After leaving the guesthouse, we drove in silence into the military compound and stopped in front of a duplex red brick building.
The courtyard was tidy and clean, with bougainvillea in full bloom in the corners. The bright red buds covered the brick wall, like rouge splashed all over it. At the base of the wall, several pots of various carefully arranged flowers were also neatly placed.
All the courtyards I saw along the way were filled with fruits and vegetables, but this little courtyard was particularly well-maintained.
As soon as she entered the courtyard, staring at the open mahogany door, Lin Yuqiu’s heart jumped into her throat.
Perhaps sensing her unease, the man suddenly reached out, took her hand, and led her inside.
Upon entering the living room, one sees the Zhou family members sitting upright on the sofa.
Mr. Zhou was dressed in military uniform with a serious expression. Mrs. Zhou sat beside him, also dressed in military uniform, with a more peaceful expression, not as intimidating as they had been at their first meeting.
There was also Zhou Runqing’s younger sister, Zhou Wanyi, who was sitting with her legs crossed, eating a fresh pear, a seasonal fruit. When she saw them come in, the smile on her lips vanished instantly. She took a bite of the pear, her eyes filled with disdain.
The family of three was waiting for them.
“Have you gotten your marriage certificate?” Mr. Zhou asked first, his voice deep and authoritative, carrying the air of a soldier.
“Mm.” Zhou Runqing nodded, pulled Lin Yuqiu forward, and handed her the marriage certificate and award certificate.
Mr. Zhou took it, glanced at it, and then handed it to Mrs. Zhou.
After reading it, Zhou’s mother didn’t show much expression on her face, but she also lost her previous aloofness.
She looked up at Lin Yuqiu, a slight smile playing on her lips, which accentuated her beautiful face and made her timeless beauty shine through.
Lin Yuqiu quickly glanced at the two elders and couldn’t help but think that Zhou Runqing’s eyebrows and eyes were inherited from his mother.
The atmosphere in the living room was quiet. Lin Yuqiu was originally very uneasy. Her heartbeat had not been steady since she stepped into this unfamiliar house.
Suddenly, the man put his arm around her shoulder, leaned close to her ear, and gently reminded her, “Call them Mom and Dad.”
Looking at his protective and affectionate manner, Lin Yuqiu felt an immense sense of security, but her cheeks flushed red, and she politely greeted him.
“dad.”
Mr. Zhou nodded.
Lin Yuqiu looked to the side again and said softly, “Mom.”
Zhou’s mother smiled slightly as well.
On the sofa, Zhou Wanyi watched this scene unfold and rolled her eyes dismissively.
Zhou Runqing immediately looked up, his gaze sweeping coldly over her.
Zhou Wanyi was intimidated by his warning gaze and reluctantly lowered her head: “Sister-in-law.”
Lin Yuqiu quickly smiled at her.
At this moment, Zhou’s mother stood up, beckoned to her, and said gently, “Yuqiu, come here.”
Encouraged by the man’s gaze, Lin Yuqiu followed behind Zhou’s mother into a clean and tidy room downstairs.
Zhou’s mother walked to the dressing table, opened the bottom drawer, and took out a red velvet box.
Upon opening the box, I found a pair of Shanghai brand watches, which turned out to be custom-made men’s and women’s models.
Zhou’s mother smiled and said, “This is a wedding gift that Runqing’s father specially prepared for you two. You and Runqing each have one. Keep it.”
Lin Yuqiu took the watch, her fingertips trembling slightly. She had thought it was already a blessing that the Zhou family would accept her into the family, but she never expected that her parents would also prepare a wedding gift for her.
Feeling both nervous and touched, she blurted out, “Thank you, Auntie.”
Upon hearing this, Zhou’s mother’s lips curled slightly, revealing a meaningful smile.
She didn’t speak, but just quietly looked at Lin Yuqiu.
Lin Yuqiu then realized what was happening, and her face flushed red again.
Why did she call me “Auntie”?
She and Zhou Runqing had already registered their marriage and had shouted their vows just now, but without Zhou Runqing’s encouragement, and facing Zhou’s mother, whom she still didn’t know well…
She couldn’t bring herself to say it.
Zhou’s mother said calmly, “It’s alright, child, take your time.”
After finishing her words, Zhou’s mother turned around and walked to the corner of the wall, where she opened the heavy camphor wood chest.
She first took out two silk quilts and said softly, “The winters on the island are bitterly cold. Runqing is tough and it’s nothing, but you are a girl and you can’t get cold. I prepared these two silk quilts for you. Take them and use them.”
As he spoke, he first placed it in the **, then took out a camel hair cloak quilt from inside, saying, “This quilt is a special military supply, issued by Runqing’s father’s unit, and was specially reserved for you.”
Finally, she took out a thick pure wool blanket from the box, “And this, to keep you warm during the winter.”
Lin Yuqiu felt very warm inside as she saw how thoughtfully Zhou’s mother had prepared these things, and her nose gradually started to sting.
She even saw her mother’s image in Zhou’s mother.
She knew it was all because of Zhou Runqing.
After taking these, Zhou’s mother took out three complete sets of silk satin quilt covers from another box. Each set came with the same pillowcase. The material felt very smooth and had a soft luster in the sunlight.
Each set of duvet covers comes with two fine cotton sheets, which are also made of fine cotton specially supplied by the Shanghai Textile Factory, much finer than coarse cotton.
It feels soft and gentle on the skin, and the color is also light and elegant.
Besides these, Zhou’s mother turned around and walked to the large wardrobe against the wall. She opened the wardrobe door and took out brand-new cotton quilts one by one, stacking them neatly together.
She explained with a smile, “These were rushed out of the cotton mill and were made by someone. There are bedding and blankets. Don’t mind them. Your wedding is so short, so this is all we could manage.”
She paused, her gaze falling on Lin Yuqiu, her tone carrying a hint of meticulous instruction: “If you need anything later, just ask someone to send me a message, and I’ll arrange it for you and send it to you.”
After saying that, she glanced at the things in the room again, as if afraid of forgetting something, and added, “I’ll have your father, the messenger, mail these things to you later. I reckon they should arrive by the time you get to the island, and you’ll be able to use them then.”
Lin Yuqiu looked at the pile of cotton quilts in front of her, eight or nine quilts in total, her eyes widened slightly with surprise, and she subconsciously asked in a soft voice, “Do we need so many?”
Upon hearing this, Zhou’s mother smiled gently, then reached out and patted the top layer of cotton quilt, her tone full of the thoughtfulness and care of someone with experience.
“Child, don’t think it’s too much.”
“These are for you to use in spring, summer, autumn and winter, and they are all different thicknesses. Besides, when you have children, you can never have too much of this cotton stuffing.”
“Runqing’s room on the island is spacious enough to hold all these things. It won’t hurt to buy more.”
Zhou’s mother suddenly remembered something, turned around and went to the study, and when she came back, she handed her a hardwood pencil case.
Lin Yuqiu opened the pencil case, and inside was a Parker fountain pen.
Zhou’s mother smiled and said, “This is also what Runqing’s father left for you.”
“This pen is the commander’s treasured possession. It was a trophy he seized from an enemy officer during the War of Resistance against Japan. It has been with him for more than 20 years.”
“When you have children in the future, use this pen to teach them to write and read.”
Lin Yuqiu felt that these gifts were too expensive and too heavy with sentiment, leaving her at a loss.
Zhou Runqing was not by her side at the moment, leaving her to face her mother’s tender admonitions alone.
Finally, Zhou’s mother carefully took out a small box wrapped in red silk from the bottom of the wardrobe.
Upon opening the paulownia wood box, a jade bracelet lay quietly on the cushion.
The jade is so translucent that the underlying texture is clearly visible. Its color is an intensely rich, vibrant green, and it has such good translucency that it seems to hold a pool of spring water, shimmering and sparkling in the sunlight.
She held the jade bracelet and carefully placed it in Lin Yuqiu’s palm, whispering, “This was passed down from the Zhou family ancestors. It was registered and reported in the early days of the People’s Republic of China and was specially approved for preservation.”
“It should have been passed down to the eldest daughter-in-law of the Zhou family, but now it’s yours.”
Lin Yuqiu was shocked, her fingertips trembling, and she hurriedly declined, saying, “This is too precious, I can’t accept it.”
Zhou’s mother pressed down on her hand, her tone leaving no room for refusal: “Take it. The eldest daughter-in-law of the Zhou family should be guarding this family heirloom.”
“Keep it safe and pass this family heirloom on to your and Runqing’s child in the future.”
Lin Yuqiu’s eyes welled up with tears, and she said softly, “Thank you, Mom.”
Zhou’s mother responded, her smile deepening, and she gently patted the back of her hand.
Just then, a spoiled voice suddenly came from the doorway.
“Mom, how could you even pass this bracelet on to her?!”