“Alright, we’ll do it your way,” Gu Beiting said with a smile.
“I’ll take 100 yuan, and the feast will be arranged by the canteen. I’ll give you more if needed,” Gu Beiting added, noting that the exact cost of the banquet had to be confirmed with the canteen.
“Okay.” Mu Youyou put the rest of the money into her bag, knowing they would need it to buy things for the wedding.
Once ready, the two got in the car and reached the city in less than half an hour.
They went straight to the department store.
“Let’s buy clothes first,” Gu Beiting said to Mu Youyou. He had wanted to hold her hand, but she refused. In this era, even married couples holding hands in public could attract disapproving looks.
“Mm,” Mu Youyou nodded.
Since Gu Beiting was in uniform, the focus this time was on buying Mu Youyou’s outfit.
Pointing to a red dress, Gu Beiting said, “Wear this for the wedding the day after tomorrow.”
“Sure,” Mu Youyou nodded. A new dress for the wedding was already good enough, let alone a red one.
“We’ll take this one,” Gu Beiting told the salesperson.
Seeing his uniform with multiple pockets, the salesperson immediately assumed he held a high position and smiled politely.
“Alright, this dress is 28 yuan, it’s imported from Gangcheng.”
Hearing 28 yuan, Mu Youyou hesitated. She tugged at Gu Beiting. Even though money wasn’t an issue, 28 yuan for a dress wasn’t cheap.
“Be good, we’re getting this one,” Gu Beiting smiled at her, ignoring her protests. He selected a few more dresses and shoes, knowing the Mu family was well-off.
Mu Youyou’s current clothes were all beautiful, likely bought from the Beijing department store. It wouldn’t do for her to marry him and then be forced to skimp on clothes she liked.
With Gu Beiting’s decent allowances and bonuses, he could certainly afford his wife.
Seeing the clothes and shoes in the basket, Mu Youyou felt she had married the right man. A man who would pinch pennies even for his wife would be of little use.
Hearing that the bride should buy the groom a set of clothes, Mu Youyou insisted that Gu Beiting also buy a suit and a pair of shoes.
After finishing with the clothes, they went to the fourth floor, where large items were sold.
Mu Youyou picked a Butterfly brand sewing machine, paying 240 yuan with a receipt. Since it wouldn’t fit in the military vehicle, they paid 3 extra yuan to hire an ox cart to deliver it to the military family compound.
They also bought candies, sunflower seeds, peanuts, and other snacks for the wedding reception.
“Should we also get some red silk?” Mu Youyou asked, looking at Gu Beiting. On period dramas, she had seen homes decorated with red silk and the bride and groom wearing red flowers.
“Yes,” Gu Beiting said, smiling and patting her hair.
Blushing, Mu Youyou pushed his hand away. “Outside, people would make fun of us.”
“What’s wrong with me touching my own wife?” Gu Beiting teased, careful not to overdo it.
Mu Youyou glared at him. This man truly was different after marriage.
They already had large red basins and hot water bottles at home for the wedding. Mu Youyou hadn’t planned to buy more, but Gu Beiting insisted, saying that since others had purchased them, they should have them too.
He also asked someone to buy plenty of cigarettes and wine.
By the time they returned to the family compound, it was already 4 PM. Many military families saw the ox cart delivering the sewing machine.
“That’s another sewing machine and bought with a military vehicle—such a waste. And Captain Gu lets her do whatever she wants,” Wang Guihua muttered.
“Wang Guihua, I think you’re just jealous,” Liu Shuzhen overheard.
“What’s it got to do with you?” Wang Guihua retorted.
“You’re talking about Youyou, which is talking about me too,” Liu Shuzhen replied, hands on her hips.
“Ah, Liu Zhong’s family, just keep quiet a bit,” another military wife said. Wang Guihua always lost arguments with Liu Shuzhen but still liked to cause trouble.
“Humph,” Wang Guihua huffed and left.
Liu Shuzhen nodded at the other wife and also left.
The next day, Gu Beiting invited Li Yumei, Liu Shuzhen, and Madam Li to help, because he and Mu Youyou couldn’t meet on the day before the wedding.
Early in the morning, Gu Beiting moved his belongings to the room next door and went to the military canteen. That night he would sleep in his old dormitory.
The new room was set in Gu Beiting’s room, the largest in the compound. Madam Li handled the bedding. She had children and was known in the family compound for her filial household.
“You’ve made the bedding look so beautiful, Youyou,” she commented. The dowry bedding had been carefully crafted by sewing experts. Though the original bride wasn’t satisfied with the marriage, the dowry was prepared seriously.
Mu Youyou had not planned to use it, but since it was new and unused, she decided not to fuss over it. She also didn’t want Gu Beiting to notice if she replaced anything from the space.
“Madam Li, this was made by someone I found in Beijing,” Mu Youyou said with a smile.
“No wonder. The ones from Beijing really are something else. The fabric looks wonderful,” Madam Li said.
In the main room, Liu Shuzhen and Li Yumei were cutting red silk. Since they had bought so much, they planned to decorate the room nicely to give it a bridal appearance.
“There’s plenty of red silk. Later tonight, we’ll also decorate the hall,” Li Yumei said, smiling. The wedding would be held in the military hall.
“I agree. Let’s make this wedding lively for the young couple,” Liu Shuzhen said with a smile.
When she married Zhang Hui, she had wanted a lively wedding, but at that time his rank didn’t allow him to stay with her, so they could only have a simple ceremony at home.
“Tomorrow we’ll come early. Since Youyou’s family won’t be here, we’ll act as her family,” Li Yumei said.
“Okay!” Liu Shuzhen nodded.
The women cut numerous red paper “double happiness” characters to paste around the house and also prepared extras for the hall.
That night, Mu Youyou tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. This was her first wedding in both her lives.
“Sis, are you nervous?” Cai Cai’s voice echoed.
“Yes.” Since she couldn’t sleep anyway, Mu Youyou decided to enter the space.
“Sis, I’ll show you something. I heard humans always look at these before their wedding,” Cai Cai said, using her consciousness to purchase some books from the mall.