At exactly nine o’clock, He Congnan arrived at the Station Front Guesthouse with his comrades to pick up his young bride.
The wedding pickup was simple, without any of the customary games or elaborate door-blocking rituals. The moment He Congnan stepped inside, his gaze immediately fell upon Lu Jinhuan, who was sitting on the bed.
Smiling, he walked over to her and said softly, “Huan’er, I’m here to take you home.”
He personally helped her put on her wedding shoes, his eyes overflowing with love and immeasurable tenderness.
The way they looked at each other made it obvious how deeply they were in love. Seeing this, the soldiers accompanying He Congnan couldn’t help but tease them.
“Old He, no wonder you were in such a hurry to get married. So this is our little sister-in-law? She’s so young and beautiful!”
“Exactly! Old He, you’re a beast! How could you bring yourself to marry such a young little sister-in-law?”
He Congnan laughed and jokingly cursed at them to get lost before taking Lu Jinhuan’s hand and leading her to Lu Zhao and Li Haili.
Respectfully, the couple offered tea.
“Dad, Aunt Li, please have some tea.”
Li Haili felt extremely uncomfortable.
She had been married into the Lu family for fifteen years. By all rights, Lu Jinhuan should have started calling her “Mom” long ago. Yet no matter how much she coaxed or persuaded her, the stubborn girl refused.
Otherwise, wouldn’t Captain He have had to call her “Mom” today as well?
Now that he’d addressed her as “Aunt Li,” she couldn’t even put on the airs of a mother-in-law.
He Congnan had no intention of indulging her. Without giving her any chance to speak, he waited until both elders finished their tea, accepted the customary red envelopes, then bent down and swept the little girl beside him into his arms before striding confidently toward the door.
His little Huan’er had no brothers to carry her out when she married.
Then he would carry her himself.
He wanted to see who would dare look down on her.
He Congnan had obtained permission from his former superior, Wang Tiejun, to borrow three military jeeps. Each vehicle was decorated with a large red wedding flower, creating an impressively grand procession.
The train station was already crowded with travelers. When people saw the convoy, they gathered along both sides of the street to watch.
Everyone hoped to share in the joy of a wedding, offering endless congratulations.
Hearing all the blessings, He Congnan was delighted. He took a large bag from the trunk and handed it to one of his comrades.
“Help hand out the wedding candies.”
Lu Jinhuan had thought the bride-picking ceremony felt rather quiet, but she hadn’t expected so many strangers to help create such a festive atmosphere. She couldn’t help feeling deeply touched.
“Brother Congnan, you’re so thoughtful. You even prepared wedding candies. That’s wonderful!”
Lu Jinhuan spoke in a soft, authentic Wu dialect. Especially when she called him “Brother Congnan,” even the driver of the lead jeep felt half his body go numb from how sweet it sounded.
He Congnan’s heart melted.
He affectionately rubbed her cheek.
“Happy now?”
“Mhm, very happy.”
The jeep drove all the way back to the military compound.
The couple walked side by side into the He family home, where the entire He family and many guests were already waiting in the living room.
The moment Lu Jinhuan appeared, dozens of pairs of eyes turned toward her at once.
She froze on the spot in fright.
(Little Huan’er, don’t be afraid! Chin up, shoulders back! You’re today’s star. You’re the prettiest one here. Go!)
Qiuqiu kept encouraging her inside her mind.
Its host was wonderful in every way except that she was far too timid.
Taking a deep breath, Lu Jinhuan steadied herself and followed He Congnan into the center of the living room.
He Weiguo and Huang Qiuci had both put on new clothes for the occasion and sat smiling warmly in the seats of honor.
Below them sat He Qianlin and Jiang Yun, both dressed neatly, with He Xiangbei and Lu Jinyun standing behind them, along with their daughter He Siyue and son-in-law Gu Xiaosong.
Knowing how shy his little wife was, He Congnan whispered into her ear,
“Huan’er, don’t be scared. Just pretend they’re all cabbages.”
Lu Jinhuan almost burst out laughing.
You’re really a devoted grandson… calling your own grandparents cabbages?
Still, thanks to both He Congnan and Qiuqiu’s encouragement, she relaxed considerably.
She gracefully stepped forward, serving tea to each elder, changing the way she addressed them according to custom, then distributed the red envelopes she had prepared to He Congnan’s younger siblings.
He Siyue was a typical tall northern woman.
Standing over 1.7 meters tall, she towered above the 1.62-meter Lu Jinhuan, making the latter look almost like a child.
He Siyue was spoiled and arrogant.
Very few people ever impressed her, and she carried herself with an air of superiority.
Someone from a humble family like Lu Jinhuan wasn’t even worthy of carrying her shoes in her eyes.
Yet now she had to respectfully call her “Big Sister-in-law” and even accept a red envelope from her.
The humiliation left her with a dark expression throughout the entire ceremony.
Her husband, Gu Xiaosong, on the other hand, was extremely warm and cheerful, calling Lu Jinhuan “Big Sister-in-law” as naturally as if he’d been doing it forever.
He Congnan had never been particularly close to his younger brother or sister.
Whether they truly respected his wife or not didn’t matter to him.
As long as they maintained appearances, that was enough.
After the formal change of address ceremony, the newlyweds stood before a portrait of the nation’s great leader to recite their marriage vows, witnessed by He Congnan’s superior, Wang Tiejun.
“We willingly become husband and wife. After marriage, we will help and support one another, improve together, and contribute to our country together.”
With all their elders, leaders, relatives, and friends serving as witnesses, the vow ceremony concluded.
All that remained was the wedding banquet.
Since the Lu family came from another city, Lu Jinhuan’s side consisted only of her father and Aunt Li.
He Qianlin specially asked his old friend and his son’s superior Wang Tiejun to keep them company.
The banquet ended with everyone enjoying themselves immensely.
After the meal, Li Haili called Lu Jinyun aside.
The mother and daughter whispered together for quite some time.
When Lu Jinyun returned, she stared at Lu Jinhuan with a vicious glare.
Lu Jinhuan wasn’t intimidated in the slightest.
She lifted her chin and glared right back, her eyes full of defiance and challenge.
Lu Jinyun sneered and silently mouthed,
“Just you wait!”
Rolling her eyes, Lu Jinhuan mouthed back,
“Fine. I’ll wait.”
After the guests had left, Lu Zhao and Li Haili announced they would be departing.
They had only taken seven days off.
The trip to Beijing had taken a day and a night, they had stayed five days, and the return journey would take another day and night.
If they didn’t leave today, they wouldn’t make it back in time.
He Congnan asked one of his comrades to drive them to the train station.
Before leaving, Lu Zhao looked at his younger daughter one last time, his heart filled with worry and reluctance.
Lu Jinhuan smiled at her father and gave him a reassuring look.
According to custom, the He family gathered that afternoon for a reunion meal.
Throughout the meal, He Congnan constantly placed food into his little wife’s bowl, taking meticulous care of her.
Lu Jinyun couldn’t stand seeing her younger sister treated so well.
Carrying her baby, she walked over to Lu Jinhuan.
“Big Sister-in-law, you’ve been in Beijing for five or six days and still haven’t seen your… niece yet, have you?
Come hold her for a while so I can enjoy my meal in peace.”
Without even lifting his head, He Congnan replied,
“My younger brother’s wife really isn’t very bright, is she?
‘Niece’? How exactly are you related?
Does the child you gave birth to have the surname Lu?”
Lu Jinhuan almost applauded on the spot.
Being defended like this felt absolutely wonderful.
Looking embarrassed, Lu Jinyun forced an awkward laugh.
“Haha… I misspoke. I meant your niece by marriage. Don’t you want to hold her?”
“I don’t”
Lu Jinhuan blinked her large innocent eyes.
“I’m part of the He family now. We’ll be living under the same roof, so there’ll be plenty of chances to see her in the future.
Right now I’m eating, and I don’t want to hold her at all.”