The phone in the Qi family’s living room rang urgently.

“Xiao Rui, answer the phone,” Mother Qi’s voice called from the inner room.

“Mom, I’m organizing the contact list,” came younger brother Qi’s voice from another room.

The phone kept ringing insistently, so Mother Qi had to hurry over, not even bothering to remove her reading glasses.

“How busy can you be…” she said.

“It’s all because of second sister! Suddenly saying she’s getting married, and in such a rush! Nothing’s prepared, we’re all dying of busyness…” younger brother Qi shouted from his room. “Don’t even know what kind of person he is, haven’t even met the parents. How can she just say she’s getting married? This is really too ridiculous…”

Ignoring her son’s muttering, Mother Qi answered the phone.

“Mom, Xiao Yue is getting married? Xiao Yue is really getting married? How is Xiao Yue getting married?” came the eldest daughter’s shouting voice through the phone.

Ever since Qi Yue had called back, Mother Qi’s ears had been constantly filled with this tone of voice.

“Yes, she’s getting married. Why can’t she get married?” Mother Qi repeated words she’d already said many times, her mouth dry and tongue parched, somewhat listless now. “…Don’t know, never met him… Right, never met him, don’t know where he’s from, how old he is, what he does… Our family will handle the entire wedding… Not joking… As long as she’s willing… Look what you’re saying, does your sister have such poor judgment?… Wu Jianfeng was an accident… Everyone has moments of poor judgment… This time she won’t misjudge… What shotgun wedding… You come back and we’ll talk… The house is already dying of busyness… Come back yourself first, one person at a time… What time is your flight? Good, have Xiao Rui pick you up…”

As she was saying this, younger brother Qi’s voice came from the room.

“Mom, I don’t have time to pick her up. Let big sister take a taxi back herself. It’s not like she doesn’t know the way,” he shouted.

Mother Qi hung up the phone.

“Look how busy you are…” she said, standing by the phone somewhat dazed. “What was I supposed to do?”

After being dazed for a moment, she suddenly slapped her forehead in realization.

“Right, right, the bedding patterns…” she said, hurrying toward the room. Before she’d taken a few steps, the doorbell rang again, and Mother Qi hurried to answer it.

It turned out to be the furniture delivery people.

“Not here, it’s at Renhe Community near Beijing Hospital…” Mother Qi called out hurriedly. “Xiao Rui, take them there…”

“Oh mom, I don’t have time…”

While things were bustling, Father Qi came home.

“I’ll notify people, you take them to set up your sister’s new room,” he said.

Only then did younger brother Qi take his clothes and go out.

“Really, using sister’s room as the wedding chamber. Mom, he’s not a con man after money and sex, is he?” he muttered.

“Oh, just go quickly, can’t you think of something good!” Mother Qi pushed him with gentle reproach.

Father Qi entered, changed clothes, sat on the sofa, and began looking through the contact list while wearing his glasses.

Mother Qi also sat across from him with her glasses on, looking through bedding catalogs.

Sunlight streamed through the windows into the room, and the current tranquility soothed the earlier busy and anxious atmosphere.

“Should we still notify those relatives back home?” Father Qi asked.

“The timing is too tight. They couldn’t make it anyway. Besides, we’re marrying off our daughter, not bringing in a daughter-in-law. Better not mention it,” Mother Qi said.

“Then, won’t the occasion be too small?” Father Qi hesitated.

Mother Qi pushed up her glasses.

“Are there really no in-laws on his side?” she asked.

“Xiao Yue said there aren’t any, just him alone. A simple wedding ceremony will do,” Father Qi said. “But marriage is a major life event. How can it be handled simply…”

“Exactly,” Mother Qi shook her head. “Don’t listen to them. Young people have these strange ideas. Marriage is a major life event. Not handling it properly is disrespectful – disrespectful to parents and to heaven and earth.”

Father Qi nodded.

“Then let’s do it this way. I’ll notify all my colleagues, classmates, and people I know from the hospital. Add Xiao Yue’s colleagues, classmates, and friends, and it’ll be several dozen tables. I’ll go check Beijing Grand Hotel again…”

“Are there still available dates?” Mother Qi asked worriedly.

“I pulled some strings to ask. Xiao Yue didn’t give a specific time, just said immediately. I had someone calculate, and November 17th is a decent date,” Father Qi said.

“November 17th? That’s only three days away! That’s too fast! These quilts definitely can’t be made in time!” Mother Qi said, immediately looking anxious again.

“Those are minor matters. There are no in-laws anyway, so who would look at such things? Just handle the wedding well,” Father Qi said.

That was the only way, Mother Qi sighed and simply tossed the catalog aside.

Having decided to only arrange the wedding day ceremony, Mother Qi felt much more relaxed.

Actually, thinking about it, there wasn’t much to be busy with. These past few days’ anxiety was ultimately because the news of her daughter’s marriage had come too suddenly.

“Don’t know what kind of person he is…” she couldn’t help saying.

Father Qi kept his head down, marking the contact list.

“I… might have met him,” he suddenly said.

Mother Qi exclaimed and sat up abruptly.

“You’ve met him? When did you meet him? Where? What does he look like? How old is he?” she asked rapid-fire.

Father Qi smiled and removed his glasses.

No matter how much they asked on the phone, Qi Yue wouldn’t say who her marriage partner was, only saying they’d meet when she returned. But after hearing this, the first person who came to his mind was that man.

That man who had entered his office that day, politely sat down, and produced his ID card.

“My name is Chang Yuncheng. I’d like to ask you about Dr. Qi Yue’s information,” he had said.

That day he hadn’t asked much, just said he’d heard Qi Yue had been sick for a long time and he’d been unable to contact her, so he was very worried.

He didn’t know why, but in this age when people were wary of strangers, when this man asked about Qi Yue, Father Qi hadn’t hesitated to give him Qi Yue’s phone number and workplace.

But strangely, he hadn’t felt uneasy at all. It had seemed like the most natural thing in the world.

Why had that man made him feel so at ease?

Perhaps it was because when he said the two words “Qi Yue,” his clenched hands, trembling body, and the joy that filled his eyes – that joy like someone who’d survived a disaster.

Someone who could show such treasure-like care for a name probably wouldn’t harbor ill will toward the owner of that name.

“Oh, speak up quickly,” Mother Qi saw her old man spacing out and urgently pushed him. “Such a big thing, and you didn’t even tell me!”

Then she started complaining about how the father and daughter didn’t take her seriously, and so on.

Father Qi laughed heartily.

“It might not be, it might not be. I’m just guessing wildly…” he hurried to soothe his wife. Just then, the doorbell rang.

“Dad, Mom, I’m back.”

Qi Yue’s voice came from outside.

Father Qi smiled.

“There, the person has come to the door herself. Go take a good look,” he laughed.

Mother Qi had already stood up from the sofa and hurried to open the door, but after two steps, she couldn’t help slowing down.

“People say son-in-laws feel nervous meeting their mother-in-law,” she turned back to say quietly to Father Qi, patting her chest. “How is it that I, the mother-in-law, am so nervous about meeting my son-in-law…”

Father Qi smiled and waved at her. When he saw his wife reach out to open the door, he also secretly took a deep breath and looked toward the entrance.

“Mom.”

Qi Yue’s smiling face appeared first, then she pulled the person beside her forward. “This is Chang Yuncheng.”

Father Qi, sitting on the sofa, quietly exhaled.

That’s right, it was indeed this man.

Chang Yuncheng.

Chang Yuncheng…

This was really funny. It was like tomorrow he’d be called brother-in-law, but only today did they learn his name. No one would believe such a thing if you told them.

Here on the sofa sat Qi Rui, looking at the man across from him.

Mother and Qi Yue were busy in the kitchen. Father had just taken a phone call and stepped away, so now there were only the two of them facing each other in the living room.

This man showed no restraint from being in someone’s home for the first time, but instead looked around with relaxed ease.

It was as if he were already a member of this family.

This made Qi Rui quite displeased.

Although this man was indeed quite handsome.

But as the future only male heir of the Qi family, he still had to be responsible for the women in this house.

Women often lost their reason when bewitched by a pretty face. At such times, a rational, wise, and astute male was needed to help them see through the fog and illuminate the right path.

“What kind of person are you?” he asked.

Chang Yuncheng withdrew his gaze and looked at this little kid.

He reached into his pocket, took out something, and handed it over.

Qi Yue, holding a piece of beef, came out of the kitchen and happened to see this scene. She hurried over, snatched the ID card from Qi Rui’s hand, and stuffed it back to Chang Yuncheng.

Qi Rui still had his hand extended, looking dazed.

Just now, what had he received?

An ID card?

What did that mean?

“I’ve told you before, don’t just pull that out,” Qi Yue sat down on the sofa armrest beside Chang Yuncheng, smiling as she held the beef to his mouth and said quietly.

Chang Yuncheng frowned, seemingly displeased with her crude behavior, but still obediently opened his mouth to eat.

“When people ask what kind of person you are, they don’t mean that,” Qi Yue rested her hand on his shoulder, laughing quietly in his ear. “No one doubts you’re not from here. Don’t be so nervous about proving you’re not an outsider…”

“You’re the outsider. I’m not nervous,” Chang Yuncheng snorted.

“Sure you’re not,” Qi Yue giggled.

Qi Rui beside them coughed heavily.

“Hey, hey,” he crossed his legs and raised his chin, pointing at himself. “Pay attention, there’s an underage pure youth here…”

Qi Yue laughed and waved at him.

Mother Qi came out of the kitchen at this moment.

“Time to eat,” she said, looking at Chang Yuncheng with a beaming smile. “Come, Yuncheng, sit here. Yueyue said you love pig’s head, so I specially made it for you. See if it suits your taste?”

Chang Yuncheng stood up, smiled, and bowed politely.

“Thank you, Mother,” he said.

Qi Rui choked and made a “pfft” sound.

“Hey, hey, you’re really… really…” he stared wide-eyed.

“Really what? Call him brother-in-law,” Qi Yue reached out and patted his head.

Mother Qi didn’t feel uncomfortable at all, but happily smiled and nodded.

Qi Rui snorted and walked toward the dining table.

“Mom, where’s my favorite braised duck head? Why didn’t you make it for me…” he looked at the table full of dishes and muttered dissatisfiedly.

“Where’s the time for that?” Mother Qi said, handing him chopsticks. “Distribute the chopsticks. You’re such a grown person, but you have no sense at home, can’t see what needs doing.”

Qi Rui shook his head.

“Really, only new faces are seen laughing, old faces aren’t seen crying. Beauty fades quickly, love grows thin…” he sighed while distributing chopsticks.

This made all three of them laugh.

Father Qi finished his phone call and came out. Seeing everyone laughing, he smiled too.

“Let’s eat,” Mother Qi said, seeing Father Qi’s expression, she paused slightly. “Old Qi, come help me with the soup.”

Father Qi understood his wife’s hint and followed her in.

“What’s wrong?” Mother Qi asked, lowering her voice while glancing outside. Chang Yuncheng had already sat down, with Qi Yue sitting beside him, using chopsticks to point at dishes saying something. The man looked at her daughter with eyes full of loving, doting smiles.

“He’s quite good,” she said, withdrawing her gaze and looking at Father Qi. “I asked – his parents have passed away, he was a soldier, handsome, and a good person. Though he doesn’t talk much, you can tell he’s reliable. Don’t put on a stern face and scare the children.”

Father Qi laughed.

“Just because he’s good-looking makes him good? Just by standing there, smiling at you, calling you ‘Mother,’ you immediately put him on a pedestal,” he laughed.

“Yes, I’m a woman with long hair and short sight, I just look at faces,” Mother Qi laughed, then pulled Father Qi’s arm to look outside. “Look, this child is one hundred percent good to Yueyue, not fake at all. Are you displeased that he has no parents, or that he has no job? No education?”

Father Qi laughed.

“I’ve been putting up with you for most of my life, and now you’re wronging me,” he said.

Mother Qi paused, then laughed, feeling relieved.

“Then what’s really wrong?” she asked quietly.

“Beijing Grand Hotel has no available dates,” Father Qi frowned. “They just called – it’s really impossible. They said at most they could find a date in March next year.”

“If there are no dates, then forget it,” Qi Yue’s voice came from outside, startling the old couple.

“How are you eavesdropping?” Mother Qi scolded.

“I was afraid you’d say bad things about Yuncheng,” Qi Yue said, leaning against the door frame with a smile.

Mother Qi glared at her.

“Really, when a daughter grows up, she can’t be kept at home!” she scolded.

“Dad, honestly, we just want to get our marriage certificate and then have a meal with friends you know so we can meet each other. That’s enough,” Qi Yue said with a smile. “Don’t make a big scene. For us, those things are really unimportant.”

“But for us, it’s very important,” Father Qi shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. Get the certificate when you should. Consider this wedding something you’re doing for us, to accommodate us. Yueyue, we’ve raised you all these years and really want to send you off in style. Call us vain if you want, but we parents just want to show off a little.”

Chang Yuncheng here stopped his chopsticks and looked at Qi Rui, who was eating heartily.

“Getting a certificate and a wedding are different?” he asked.

Qi Rui didn’t even look up.

“Getting a certificate is legal, a wedding announces it to the world. Of course they’re different,” he said.

Announcing to the world in style that she was his wife, he was her husband.

Chang Yuncheng nodded.

“You really haven’t been to college? How do you not even know this?” Qi Rui finally reacted and looked up. “In the countryside, even without a certificate, as long as you’ve had a wedding and treated neighbors and friends to a feast, that’s iron proof of marriage. Even without a certificate, it’s legally protected…”

Chang Yuncheng nodded.

“I understand,” he said.

Qi Rui looked at him, then at the three people still talking in the kitchen, and pulled out a card from his pocket.

“What’s this?” Chang Yuncheng asked.

“This is my private savings,” Qi Rui said quietly. “My sister has been pretty unlucky these past few years. First she was dumped, then had an accident, barely saved her life, and because of her strange behavior, people secretly said she had mental problems. Cough, hey, I’m not saying my sister is bad – she doesn’t have mental problems…”

Chang Yuncheng smiled and nodded.

“I know,” he said.

Qi Rui pursed his lips.

“You… buy her a decent wedding ring,” he said, pushing the bank card over.

Chang Yuncheng looked at him without speaking.

“Consider it a loan from me. You have to pay me back later,” Qi Rui said somewhat embarrassedly, snorting.

Chang Yuncheng smiled and took the bank card.

“Thank you,” he said.

Qi Rui rubbed his nose and mumbled something unintelligible, then lowered his head to eat frantically.

A phone suddenly rang, interrupting the conversations on both sides.