Liu Fen lay awake until very late. At her age, a poor night’s sleep would show on her face the next day. Though she normally didn’t care much about appearances, when she looked in the mirror that morning and found her complexion lacking, she inexplicably applied some face cream and dabbed some rouge on her cheeks.

Tang Hongen complimented her looks early in the morning.

“When we get to the county seat, I’ll buy you a new set of clothes.”

Liu Fen responded with a soft “mm-hmm.”

Even someone as naive as Comrade Liu Fen knew better than to cleverly argue with Tang Hongen by telling him that she sold clothes and that they shouldn’t let others profit from them.

Tang Hongen also didn’t suggest skipping wedding clothes just because Liu Fen sold clothing.

Did it matter if others made money?

This was a man expressing his feelings for the woman who would soon become his wife.

He wanted to buy her new clothes, and no one could say otherwise!

“I wanted to make you a bowl of noodles this morning, but I searched the whole kitchen and couldn’t find any rice, noodles, or seasonings. You cleaned everything out when you left.”

Liu Fen blushed. “We only come back once a year, and rice and noodles would spoil if left here. We gave everything to the neighbors before leaving.”

“No worries, we’ll eat in the county seat after visiting the graves.”

They had already bought incense, candles, and spirit money the night before from villagers who made their living selling such items.

This was Tang Hongen’s second time visiting Liu Fen’s parents’ graves.

During his New Year’s visit, he had been confident he would become the Liu family’s son-in-law and had paid his respects to his future parents-in-law in advance.

His in-laws must have approved of him as their son-in-law, and now that he was about to make it official, he felt even more assured as he swept their graves.

After lighting the incense and burning the spirit money, Tang Hongen decided to speak from his heart to his parents-in-law beneath the Nine Springs:

“In a lifetime of hundred years, Ah Fen has lived nearly half of hers, enduring countless hardships. But I believe her fate is to suffer first and find sweetness later. Once she becomes my wife, I will certainly cherish her well and not let anyone bully her. We will support each other as companions and walk the second half of life’s journey steadily and happily!”

This wasn’t just speaking from his heart to Liu Fen’s parents – it was also a declaration of love to Liu Fen herself.

Liu Fen set aside her shyness. If the departed still had awareness, she couldn’t let Tang Hongen be the only one to speak – she needed to respond too.

“Father, Mother, I miss you. Don’t worry about me anymore. Both Big Brother and I are living better lives now…”

Stealing a glance at Tang Hongen, Liu Fen lowered her head:

“…and he is a good man.”

“Ah Fen, ‘he’ has a name. You still can’t address me properly?”

Pressured by Tang Hongen, Liu Fen steeled herself and re-introduced him to her parents:

“His name is Tang Hongen, he’s a government official. Comrade Tang Hongen is divorced, and I’m divorced too. We’re going to get our marriage certificate today. We’ll work hard together toward the same goal and make sure our future life is good!”

What else needed to be said? This was enough.

Tang Hongen took Liu Fen’s hand. “Let’s go to Anqing. By the time we reach the county seat, the Civil Affairs Bureau should be open!”

The couple held hands as they got into the car, and Tang Hongen drove Liu Fen to Anqing.

He came prepared. First, he took Liu Fen to the department store and bought her a red wool coat. While they couldn’t find anything more fashionable, Liu Fen’s neat appearance allowed her to carry the outfit well.

He also bought Liu Fen a pair of plain gold rings.

“Take it. My salary isn’t low, but that’s only compared to ordinary citizens. I can’t give you too many material comforts, but I’ll do my best to give you the best I can. I won’t be able to wear this ring at work usually, but I’ll always carry it with me.”

The two simple gold rings couldn’t compare to the jewelry Liu Fen had gradually acquired over the past two years.

But their meaning was different.

Tang Hongen put the ring on Liu Fen’s finger right there. Since he was on leave anyway and no one knew he was the mayor, he went ahead and put the other ring on his finger too.

He played with Liu Fen’s hand for a while. His hands weren’t particularly large, but Liu Fen had a small frame and small palms, so his hands could completely cover hers.

Though her hands showed signs of past farm work with healed cracks, and while her skin had become white and delicate, the enlarged knuckles couldn’t be changed.

“My hands aren’t pretty…”

Liu Fen tried to pull her hand back, but Tang Hongen held it firmly.

“Labor is most glorious. These are typical working people’s hands – what’s not pretty about them?”

Though that’s what he said, in the future, he would take on the glorious labor himself.

Naturally, Liu Fen also spent money to buy Tang Hongen a new set of clothes.

After buying clothes and rings, they went to a photo studio for a couple’s photo. They urged the photographer to develop it quickly, with Tang Hongen making an earnest plea: “Comrade, you see, I’m getting married at this age, and we’re in a hurry to get our marriage certificate today. We need the photo – please help us out?”

By noon, they had their photos.

The procedure was no different from other married couples. They submitted their documents to the Civil Affairs Bureau and received two stamped marriage certificates in return.

Marriage certificates were still handwritten at that time.

If there was any difference, it was that they were older than other newlywed couples.

But they seemed more intimate.

Some young comrades decided to marry after meeting just a few times, likely not knowing each other as well as Tang Hongen and Liu Fen did!

The person handling their marriage registration was incredibly efficient and polite, offering many words of congratulations.

His colleagues thought he had gone crazy.

After handing over the marriage certificates and sending the newlyweds off, his colleague teased him.

He glared back: “What do you know!”

Damn, he had been terrified earlier.

When the man had shown him his work ID, it revealed he worked at the Pengcheng City Government – as the mayor!

He had just issued a marriage certificate to a mayor?

The bride was a local from Anqing, from Qijing Village under Anqing County.

What a contrast between these two people who could still get married!

The newly married Mayor Tang held his new wife’s hand as they walked down the street.

A marriage certificate was just a piece of paper, but having it made all the difference.

Liu Fen would have resisted holding hands on the main street before.

Now she was still shy but didn’t pull away.

Because she and Tang Hongen were now legally husband and wife!

How should a legal husband and wife behave?

On the street, when a male comrade rode a bicycle with a female comrade, the woman could openly hold onto the man’s waist!

It wasn’t hooliganism or impropriety – couldn’t a married couple show their affection?

As Tang Hongen held Liu Fen’s hand, he asked about her plans: “I’ve taken several days off. Is there anywhere you’d like to go? We can travel for a few days.”

Anywhere she’d like to go?

Would they go to Beijing or Pengcheng?

Thinking of Pengcheng, Liu Fen suddenly stopped in her tracks. “Oh no, I haven’t told Big Brother about our marriage yet.”

Tang Hongen laughed. “Is that all you’re worried about? Don’t worry, everyone who needs to know won’t be left out. Ah Fen, we’re legally husband and wife now. Instead of worrying about that, why don’t you think about where we’ll stay tonight?”

Where to stay?

Was where to stay important?

They would share a room, and sleep in one bed!

Whatever Tang Hongen wanted to do, she couldn’t refuse… Liu Fen’s cheeks flushed red. Why should she refuse? It was just sharing a bed. She had even had a child before – this was nothing to fear!