“Mine, mine,” Qi Yue said, hurrying to find her bag.

Mother and Father Qi came to sit at the dining table.

“How is it? Do you find the food agreeable?” Mother Qi asked with a smile.

Chang Yuncheng smiled and nodded.

“Very delicious, thank you, Mother,” he said. “As delicious as what Yueniang makes.”

“Oh my, are you praising me or praising Yue…” Mother Qi laughed, but as she spoke, she felt something strange about what she’d just heard.

Yueniang?

“Yueyue,” Chang Yuncheng said with a smile. “Yueyue cooks so well, it must be because you taught her well, Mother.”

Mother Qi was beaming with joy.

“Oh my, I say, that’s about enough. My teeth are getting sore from all this sweetness,” Qi Rui said, tapping the table.

Father Qi looked at them with a smile, his expression pleased.

“How did you two meet?” he asked.

How did they meet…

Chang Yuncheng smiled slightly.

A crude medical clinic, the mixed smell of medicine and blood, that woman had rushed in like a beam of light.

“My God, don’t you even know how to stop bleeding?” she frowned and shouted.

Proud, arrogant, spirited, radiant…

“When she was treating patients,” he said.

Father Qi and the others had no doubt about this answer, all saying “oh” – such a natural response.

Father Qi was about to say more when Qi Yue came over with the phone.

“It’s for you,” she said, covering the phone receiver. “It’s that elder you mentioned who helped you. Did you give him my number?”

Naturally he hadn’t, but what phone number couldn’t that old gentleman get if he wanted it?

Chang Yuncheng took the phone and stood up, walking to the side.

The Qi family was talking here, and after just a few words, Chang Yuncheng came back.

“About the wedding, let’s set it for November 17th,” he said.

The Qi family members all looked at him, somewhat confused by his words.

“Getting the certificate tomorrow means we’re married. That’s how it is here, different from your place…” Qi Yue pulled him to sit down, speaking vaguely about “us” and “your place.” Fortunately, the family didn’t pay attention to this, just looking at Chang Yuncheng.

“You don’t understand this…” Qi Yue said again.

“I understand,” Chang Yuncheng said, no longer looking at Qi Yue but at the Qi parents. “Let’s set it for November 17th.”

Father Qi smiled.

“Good, good,” he said.

Mother Qi couldn’t help but look at him, while Father Qi pretended not to notice.

After dinner, Mother Qi pulled Father Qi into the kitchen.

“What about the restaurant? It’s so rushed, there’s nowhere suitable available,” she said anxiously.

“I’ll think of another way, think of another way. At worst, we’ll notify fewer people and find a smaller place…” Father Qi said. “Since he’s spoken up, as an elder, I can’t let his words fall flat.”

“And here you are talking about me – he hasn’t even called you ‘Dad’ yet, and you’re already spoiling him like this,” Mother Qi scolded.

Father Qi chuckled.

Outside, Qi Yue was also talking quietly with Chang Yuncheng.

“…Here, weddings require booking hotels, all done in advance. There’s nowhere available to book now, and Mom and Dad want to have a grand celebration…” she said in a low voice.

“I want you to have a grand celebration too,” Chang Yuncheng interrupted, reaching out to stroke her hair.

“Chang Yuncheng, do we still care about that?” Qi Yue looked at him and said.

Chang Yuncheng just looked at her and smiled without speaking.

The phone rang again. This time Chang Yuncheng answered it. After listening and responding briefly, he hung up and walked toward the kitchen.

He politely knocked on the door.

Mother Qi was startled and opened the door.

“Yuncheng, the fruit is washed. Come, sit down and eat,” she said with a smile, bringing over a plate of fruit.

“Father, Mother,” Chang Yuncheng said. “An elder of mine says the wedding venue has been arranged.”

Father Qi, Mother Qi, and Qi Yue and Qi Rui who had followed over were all stunned.

“Because the timing is so tight, the elder won’t be coming to meet you, but asks that you prepare the guest list. Cars will be arranged to pick everyone up,” Chang Yuncheng said.

“Where is it booked?” Father Qi couldn’t help asking.

Chang Yuncheng shook his head.

“He didn’t say,” he said.

What kind of elder was this? The Qi parents looked at each other, somewhat bewildered.

Late at night, Mother Qi entered the bedroom and closed the door, seeing Father Qi organizing the guest list under the table lamp.

“Are we really doing what he said?” Mother Qi asked, sitting beside Father Qi, her expression uneasy. “Not saying what place, not saying what kind of person the elder is…”

“Didn’t he say he didn’t know? How is that not saying?” Father Qi said.

“Not knowing is the same as not saying,” Mother Qi said.

Not knowing what kind of person the elder was, not knowing where the wedding venue was – who would believe such ignorance?

“This child is honest. When he says he doesn’t know, he means he doesn’t know, nothing else,” Father Qi said with a frown.

Mother Qi couldn’t help but laugh.

“You talk as if you gave birth to him yourself, look how well you know him,” she laughed.

“Don’t worry. Since he said so, let’s just listen. I’ll only notify these close friends,” Father Qi said, looking at the list in his hands.

First, there weren’t many people; second, if there were any problems with the wedding, these people would be understanding and it wouldn’t become a laughingstock.

Mother Qi nodded.

Although the Qi parents had narrowed down their notification list, news of Qi Yue’s wedding still spread throughout the hospital.

“…Not many received invitations, they said it’s just a small gathering, not making a big deal of it.”

“…Oh dear, Dr. Qi will lose a lot of gift money this time…”

“…Giving up gift money is probably for face…”

“…Passing up Dr. Peng for someone like that, who knows what kind of person she got as a son-in-law…”

“…Exactly, exactly, Dr. Peng is such a pity…”

“…Who’s the pity? Isn’t it Dr. Qi who’s the pity? Could it be that Dr. Peng was the one who got dumped? Obviously Dr. Peng dumped her…”

Various discussions and gossip filled every corner, with many people trying to find out what kind of person Qi Yue was marrying. But unfortunately, the wedding news was sudden and not many people were notified, so amid all the chatter, nothing could be learned, and all kinds of speculation ran wild.

Regardless of the speculation, the wedding day three days later arrived peacefully.

Huang Ying came straight from the airport, dragging her luggage out of the taxi just as she encountered hospital colleagues arriving.

“Good thing you made it in time, Xiao Huang,” two female doctors hurried over to help her with her luggage.

“Oh, I’m so furious!” Huang Ying shouted angrily. “Such a big thing, what is she doing!”

“Looks like you don’t know about the groom either,” the female doctors laughed, patting her shoulder. “Come on, let’s see what surprise Yueyue has for us.”

Just as they were about to go upstairs, a car stopped and a woman in festive formal wear got out first. Seeing Huang Ying and the others, she waved cheerfully.

“Oh, you’re all here,” she said.

Huang Ying’s face darkened.

“Cui Xiu, were you invited?” she asked.

Cui Xiu smiled and tossed her hair.

“No matter what, we were classmates and colleagues. If she’s petty and doesn’t notify us, we can’t be petty and not come,” she said.

Wu Jianfeng got out of the car reluctantly.

“Give the gift money and leave,” he said with a stern face.

“Why? Will eating a meal kill you?” Cui Xiu shouted.

Guests were already going upstairs, and hearing this, they all looked over.

Huang Ying and the two female doctors looked very displeased.

“Cui Xiu, I’m telling you, if you dare cause trouble today, I’ll tear your mouth apart right here,” Huang Ying said through gritted teeth.

“How am I causing trouble? I came to congratulate and give gifts – am I here to cause trouble? Is it so hard to be a good person nowadays?” Cui Xiu shouted back just as rudely.

The two female doctors pulled at Huang Ying.

“Forget it, stop shouting,” they said quietly, then looked at Cui Xiu. “Cui Xiu, we’re all colleagues. You know what you should do.”

Huang Ying glared at the two hatefully and went upstairs with her luggage.

Cui Xiu snorted and also went up.

Wu Jianfeng hesitated for a moment, then followed.

Since they were marrying off their daughter, the Qi family hadn’t put up red decorations. Only a red silk banner hung at the entrance, and there were already more than ten guests inside, gathered together talking and laughing.

Huang Ying and the others came in but didn’t see Qi Yue.

“She went to get her makeup done,” Mother Qi said.

“I was hoping to accompany her,” Huang Ying said regretfully.

“Her big sister came back and went with her. Xiao Huang, you must be tired too. Sit down and rest,” Mother Qi said with a smile.

“Auntie, I heard Beijing Grand Hotel wasn’t available. Are we going directly to the wedding home?” Cui Xiu suddenly asked.

Huang Ying gritted her teeth and turned around.

Mother Qi didn’t know her and just thought she was a colleague.

“No, we’re going to a restaurant first,” she said.

“Which restaurant?” Cui Xiu pressed.

Mother Qi looked somewhat embarrassed – even now, they still didn’t know which restaurant… no one would believe it if they told them.

Cui Xiu saw Mother Qi’s expression and felt somewhat triumphant.

“Jianfeng and I drove here, so we can go directly there,” Cui Xiu continued.

Jianfeng? Mother Qi was stunned, then saw Wu Jianfeng walking through the door, and her expression froze.

“Auntie,” Wu Jianfeng said, lowering his head.

Mother Qi forced a smile, wanted to say something but felt it wasn’t appropriate, so she simply turned and walked away. But Qi Rui wasn’t having it.

“Hey, who asked you to come? Do you have an invitation?” he strode over shouting.

The suddenly raised voice made everyone else in the room look over. Mother Qi quickly patted her son and gave him a look.

“It’s your sister’s happy day,” she reminded him quietly.

Qi Rui snorted. Though he lowered his voice, his look at Wu Jianfeng remained unfriendly.

“Get out,” he said quietly with a jerk of his head.

“Why? We can’t come? People without invitations can’t come?” Cui Xiu said.

“That’s right, without invitations you can’t come,” Qi Rui said.

Cui Xiu laughed mockingly, ignoring him and waving her hand as she looked around the room.

“It’s just a wedding, and you won’t let people come without invitations,” she said.

Qi Rui was about to say more when his phone rang, and he hurried to answer it.

“Mom, big sister and second sister went directly to the wedding venue, and they said cars are coming to pick us up too,” he said hurriedly after listening.

“Not even riding in the wedding car? No bride pickup either?” Cui Xiu said quietly to someone nearby.

The colleague standing nearby stepped away and pretended not to hear.

“Let’s go, we’ll drive ourselves and save them a car. Car rentals are expensive these days,” Cui Xiu said, not caring as she snorted and headed for the exit.

Just as she reached the door, she heard footsteps, and looking up, people were coming in.

They were actually people in military uniforms – ten of them entered one after another.

Cui Xiu was stunned and involuntarily stepped back.

The first military officer surveyed the room, saw Father Qi, and quickly walked over, standing at attention and saluting.

The room became somewhat quiet.

“Oh my, that’s a major…” a guest recognized the rank and said quietly to someone beside them.

So this son-in-law was a soldier, or his family were soldiers – having a major for the wedding escort wasn’t bad.

The atmosphere in the room became cheerful again.

“Mr. and Mrs. Qi, I am your driver,” the major said. “Please come with me to the car.”

Driver?

Everyone was stunned again.

Not an elder for the wedding escort?

At this moment, the other military personnel also walked up to the guests present, taking out documents.

“…Are you Mr. Xu Wenqing?”

“…Are you Ms. Ling Cui?”

Inquiry voices filled the room. Looking at these serious military personnel with documents scrutinizing and questioning them, everyone present felt nervous.

Some people even looked closely at the documents – they were actually official government documents…

What was… happening?

What was going on?

Some people who received invitations hadn’t come alone but brought family members and children, and they were all checked one by one.

Naturally, someone asked about Cui Xiu and Wu Jianfeng.

“What’s this about?” Cui Xiu asked, coming to her senses. “What’s going on? Are we picking up the bride or going through customs?”

The military officer in front of her had a solemn expression and saluted crisply.

“It’s my duty, please understand,” he said. “Do you have invitations?”

“No,” Cui Xiu said ungraciously. “What’s this about? Who do you think you are, national leaders? Attending your wedding and needing invitations…”

“We’re all colleagues,” another colleague nearby who also didn’t have an invitation said somewhat embarrassedly. She had a good relationship with Qi Yue, so she had come, but now felt awkward.

“Then please state your names,” the officer said, taking out a walkie-talkie.

“Never mind, I won’t go,” the colleague said, embarrassed and nervous.

Wu Jianfeng also tugged at Cui Xiu’s arm.

“Why not go? With such a big production, wouldn’t it be rude to the hosts not to go?” Cui Xiu snorted, shaking off Wu Jianfeng’s hand. “My name is Cui Xiu, and he’s Wu Jianfeng.”

The officer said nothing more and reported the names into his walkie-talkie.

Seeing her do this, the other colleague also gave her name.

Soon there was a reply, and the officer nodded.

“Please come with me,” he said.

The people in the room were divided into two groups – one group had obviously received Father Qi’s invitations, while the other group had no invitations.

Downstairs, identical red flag cars were parked. Near noon, but strangely, though this was usually the busiest time in the residential area, the surroundings seemed very quiet now – not only were there no onlookers, there weren’t even any passersby.

“Dad…” Qi Rui asked quietly, “did you really just give Chang Yuncheng our family’s guest list? This… this… are we going to a wedding? I feel like we’re going to the People’s Congress…”

Father Qi was equally shocked, vaguely guessing something but still not daring to believe it.

The major officer opened the car door and invited them in.

The family of three sat in one car, and the major got in only after they were seated.

Other guests also got into cars in order, with expressions of amazement and uncertainty.

Qi Rui couldn’t stand it anymore sitting in the car.

“Brother soldier,” he said, “where are we going?”

“State Guest House,” the major driver said without turning around.

Qi Rui’s mouth twitched.

State Guest House…

This was the wedding venue Chang Yuncheng said had been arranged?

Oh my goodness…

At the State Guest House, Chang Yuncheng had already changed into his groom’s formal wear and stood before the mirror.

“Not bad, not bad,” Old Cao smiled. He had also changed into new clothes.

“Just average,” Cao Wenjun said dismissively from the side.

“Old sir,” Chang Yuncheng turned around and said, “you really didn’t need to come.”

Old Cao glared.

“What? I arrange the wedding venue for you, and you won’t even let me eat a meal?” he said with mock anger.

Cao Wenjun immediately chimed in mockingly.

“Yeah, yeah, since you dared to make that request, how can you not dare to let him eat a meal?” he said sourly.

This kid, didn’t know if he was truly naive or just bold – a complete stranger daring to ask his grandfather to find him a wedding venue.

In this world, there weren’t many people who dared to make such direct requests of the old man.

Did he know what it meant to have the old man arrange his wedding?

Most irritating was that the old man actually agreed!

Really…

If you’re so bold, why don’t you ask the old man to act as an elder and receive the wedding bows!

Chang Yuncheng straightened his clothes, looked at Old Cao, and bowed with cupped hands.

Seeing his etiquette, Old Cao narrowed his eyes slightly.

“Junior Chang Yuncheng, alone in this world with no relatives or friends, blessed by heaven to meet you, sir. On this important life occasion, I request that you, sir, act as an elder and receive the wedding bows from us husband and wife,” he said slowly, bowing with cupped hands three times.

This was said half in classical, half in vernacular Chinese. Cao Wenjun didn’t understand at first, but when he realized what was being said, his eyes widened as he drew in a sharp breath.

Damn, he really dared!!

Old Cao laughed heartily.

“Good! Then I’ll accept graciously and share in you newlyweds’ joy,” he said readily.

When only Cao Wenjun and Chang Yuncheng remained in the room, Cao Wenjun lit a cigarette and took a heavy drag.

Listening, there were already lively voices outside.

“Do you know what it means for my grandfather to arrange this wedding for you?” he said, exhaling smoke.

Before Chang Yuncheng could answer, he pointed outside with his cigarette-holding hand, also listening.

“Listen, those talking now are from the Military Commission. They’re here, so several Military Commission leaders will definitely come too… Do you know what Military Commission leaders mean?” he looked at Chang Yuncheng again, taking two drags before asking.

Chang Yuncheng just smiled and looked at himself in the mirror.

Such strange clothing…

“Hey, I just don’t understand – are you a mountain savage who’s never seen the world and doesn’t know any better, or are you some immortal from heaven who’s seen everything and remains unperturbed?” Cao Wenjun asked with a frown. “Looking at you, it’s like that opera line – having drunk wine with the emperor, having your boots removed by eunuchs…”

Emperor…

Chang Yuncheng’s hand on his button stopped.

The emperor did indeed like drinking with him…

He sighed lightly.

Though he’d been so furious, it was probably more from loneliness.

“Hey, hey,” Cao Wenjun raised his voice, calling back the distracted Chang Yuncheng. “I’m saying, do you know…”

“I know,” Chang Yuncheng turned around and interrupted him. “The old sir repays my kindness, I respect his righteousness. I’m a junior, respecting him as an elder, asking him to receive the ceremony – that’s all.”

Cao Wenjun was stunned by his words.

Was this real or fake…

“That’s how I think of it. How you think of it is up to you,” Chang Yuncheng said.

Cao Wenjun took several heavy drags of his cigarette.

“You’re really lucky to have made my grandfather owe you a favor,” he said.

Chang Yuncheng raised his finger and wagged it.

“Not my luck – what I deserved,” he said, looking at Cao Wenjun and smiling proudly. “Otherwise, put yourself in that situation and see if you’d have such luck.”

Cao Wenjun was stunned, then laughed.

“I tell you, you really have thick skin! Even if that’s true, you don’t need to say it so directly, do you? Brother, one should be magnanimous!” he said.

Chang Yuncheng smiled without speaking.

More lively sounds came from outside, with faint music.

“Let’s go, bridegroom, your bride is here,” Cao Wenjun pressed his cigarette into the ashtray, patted Chang Yuncheng’s shoulder, and pushed him toward the door.

The door opened, and music and laughter rushed in. The hall was filled with many people, sitting and standing.

These were all people he didn’t know. Chang Yuncheng looked straight ahead and immediately saw the woman in bright red wedding robes among the crowd – clothing that didn’t belong to this era, and though imperfect, still decent phoenix crown and ceremonial robes, forming a comical contrast with his black Western suit.

“I did not come for you, but you came for me.”

Looking at the man walking toward her step by step, tears still fell from Qi Yue’s eyes despite her efforts to hold them back. She extended her hand, and Chang Yuncheng took it.

(End of Main Story)