“She’s not saying anything anymore, but Mengyuan turned her anger on her daughter.
‘Huang Ya, you’re becoming more and more ill-mannered. Go home right now and stand facing the wall for two hours. I’ll deal with you properly when I get back.’
Having been scolded again, Huang Ya’s tears instantly burst forth. Looking aggrieved, she turned and ran away.
Seeing that all her children were speaking without thinking and becoming more and more like Old Madam Huang—stupid, petty, and narrow-minded—Qiu Mengyuan felt a headache coming on. Even her attitude toward Huang Dachao worsened.
‘Go find Huang Zheng and Huang Bin and bring them back. They need a proper lesson in discipline and values. Next semester, transfer them to schools in the county town. If they keep staying at home, sooner or later they’ll turn into useless loafers and hooligans.’
‘They’re not going to the county to study! What’s the use of reading so many books? They’d be better off earning money by gathering shellfish along the shore,’ Old Madam Huang objected immediately.
The moment Qiu Mengyuan heard that, her temper flared.
‘Gathering shellfish to make money, is that it? Then your son might as well quit his government job too. Let him go gather shellfish with you. Your Huang family can spend generation after generation staying here, collecting shellfish and playing in the mud.’
“Pfft!”
The surrounding neighbors burst into laughter.
Bigmouth Yu cracked sunflower seeds and teased with amusement,
‘Mengyuan, I think you misunderstand your mother-in-law. She wants the grandchildren to gather shellfish because it fills her private purse. Whether they study hard or make something of themselves means nothing to her. As long as her money pouch stays stuffed full, she’s satisfied.’
Having her motives exposed, Old Madam Huang sprayed saliva as she cursed,
‘Bigmouth Yu, will you die if you stop talking for once?’
‘Enough. Let’s go home.’
Old Man Huang, holding his tobacco pipe, glared at his foolish wife and spat out a curse.
‘You embarrassing old idiot.’
The Huang family left first.
Qiu Mengyuan let out a long breath, suppressing the frustration in her chest. Turning to her niece, she apologized:
‘Yinong, sorry you had to witness that joke. Some things happened in the family back then, and I had no choice but to marry into the Huang family. I never told your grandparents or your father and uncle about those matters. What you said earlier was right. The children’s education needs to be taken seriously. If you ever see Zheng and the others acting foolish or talking nonsense, feel free to lecture them.’
‘It’s better if you and Uncle handle their education.’
Qiu Yinong had no intention of getting involved.
‘They already have an inexplicable prejudice against me. There’s a barrier between us, so I’d rather not interfere.’
She had only met her cousins a few times, but she already felt she could see through them. In her view, all three cousins had inherited the Huang family’s powerful bad genes. No amount of education would truly refine them, and they were unlikely to achieve much in the future.
Qiu Mengyuan looked embarrassed, though she did not press the issue.
‘You’ve only just arrived. They don’t know you well yet. Once you spend more time together, things won’t feel so distant.’
After chatting a little longer, the neighbors gradually headed home.
The Cheng family began cleaning up and putting everything away. Mother Cheng stopped the new bride from helping.
‘Yuanche, Yinong, you both drank quite a bit today. Go back to your room and rest. We’ll call you when dinner is ready.’
Qiu Yinong had only drunk a few cups and was completely clear-headed, neither drunk nor sleepy. She had no intention of taking a nap, but she still returned to the room with Cheng Yuanche.
Cheng Yuanyuan had just removed the dishes from the bridal room. When she saw the couple enter, she reminded them:
‘Yinong, there are quite a few lazy troublemakers and drifters in this village. Keep your luggage and jewelry secure. Make sure to lock the wardrobe and the door whenever you go out.’
Then she turned to her younger brother.
‘Yuanche, those silver ornaments are far too exquisite and valuable. Some people with bad intentions have definitely set their sights on them. Reinforce the doors and windows as soon as possible. Try not to leave the house unattended. If they get stolen, the loss will be enormous.’
Cheng Yuanyuan’s husband, Wang Jianzhong, was helping move tables and chairs. Hearing this, he came over and added:
‘When the banquet started, a few of those scoundrels were sitting together at one table, whispering among themselves for ages. They were probably already plotting something.’
Qiu Yinong looked awkward and a little regretful.
‘If I’d known, I wouldn’t have worn them.’
‘Yinong, this isn’t your fault.’
Cheng Yuanche comforted her.
‘Your grandmother prepared this wedding outfit for you. Of course you should wear it on your wedding day.’
Then he looked around the room.
The wardrobe was crude and simple. Even adding a couple of locks wouldn’t make it secure.
‘I’ll find a blacksmith and have an iron chest made. We can lock everything inside.’
Qiu Yinong blinked.
‘…Isn’t there any other way?’
‘Keeping someone home at all times isn’t realistic. There will always be errands and things that need handling. A wardrobe like this can’t hide jewelry this valuable.’
For the moment, Cheng Yuanche couldn’t think of a better solution.
Just as Qiu Yinong was about to agree, something suddenly occurred to her.
‘After you recover from your injuries, will you return to the army?’
‘I will. It’s only a broken bone. There aren’t any lasting injuries. After three or four months of rest, I’ll be able to return to my unit.’
Although Cheng Yuanche’s formal education was limited, he was quick-witted. He immediately guessed what she was thinking and hurriedly explained:
‘The military family compound already assigned me housing. Since I wasn’t married before, I only qualified for a single room. Now that I’m married, you can come live with me as a military spouse. I can also apply for a larger unit—a small apartment with a bedroom, living room, study, kitchen, and bathroom.’
Qiu Yinong smiled the moment she heard that and immediately made her decision.
‘Then let Commander Tan take my wedding clothes and silver ornaments back to the military base. We can ask him to store them at his house and keep them safe for us.’
‘That works.’
Cheng Yuanche thought it was an excellent solution.
Cheng Yuanyuan agreed.
‘Taking them to the military base is the best option. Military discipline is strict, so theft should be rare. Keeping them here is too risky. Mom and Dad are busy outside all day and can’t watch the house constantly.’
‘Alright. Then it’s settled.’
Throughout the entire day, Cheng Yuanche had felt as though he were living in a dream. Part of him still feared that she might not truly want this marriage. Now that she was willing to accompany him to the military base, secret joy bloomed in his heart.
After his sister and brother-in-law left, Qiu Yinong began removing her jewelry, placing each piece carefully on the table.
‘Grandma’s craftsmanship is truly incredible.’
Holding her headdress in both hands, Cheng Yuanche examined it closely.
‘The patterns are unbelievably beautiful. Every ornament is perfectly balanced and exquisitely crafted. They’re luxurious masterpieces.’
‘Making these requires tremendous patience. Grandma could sit working on them for half a day at a time. I never had that kind of patience. After an hour, I’d already sneak away.’
On the surface, Qiu Yinong appeared gentle and refined, but deep down she had a wild streak.
Rather than staying home learning embroidery and traditional crafts from her grandmother, she preferred following her grandfather and father into the mountains to gather medicinal herbs. As a result, she had only learned the basics of silverworking.
Cheng Yuanche chuckled softly, the laughter rumbling from his throat.
‘Studying medicine requires patience too. Since you mastered that, it’s not that you lack patience. You’re just not particularly suited to these kinds of crafts.’
‘That’s true. I have some talent for medicine and making remedies. When it comes to that, I can really focus.’
After changing out of the silver ornaments and wedding attire, Qiu Yinong put on a lighter set of Miao clothing.
The two of them sat together in the bedroom, drinking tea and chatting, gradually learning more about each other’s lives and experiences.