Chapter 163: Childhood sweethearts?

Yu Xiangnian couldn’t figure out why Li Cuihua wanted to see her, so she glanced at Cheng Jingmo in confusion.

Cheng Jingmo signaled her with his eyes to respond.

Yu Xiangnian called towards the door, “I’m here.”

Li Cuihua said from outside, “The guests are about to arrive, I’ve come to help you with your hair.”

Yu Xiangnian also didn’t understand why Li Cuihua wanted to help her with her hair. From Cheng Jingmo’s expression, he didn’t know either.

However, Cheng Jingmo’s eyes indicated that she could let Li Cuihua help with her hair.

He opened the door and stepped out, “Thank you, sister-in-law.”

Li Cuihua walked in, saw the festive flowered cotton jacket on the bed, and said happily, “Your skin is so fair. Wearing this will definitely make you look better than any bride around here!”

Yu Xiangnian asked skeptically, “Do all the girls here have to wear this for their weddings?”

Li Cuihua said, “Only those with good family conditions can afford to wear this. Those who are less well-off wouldn’t buy such an outfit.”

Yu Xiangnian asked again, “Do the girls here also have to do their hair the same way for their weddings?”

Otherwise, why would Li Cuihua be helping her with her hair?

“More or less the same style!” Li Cuihua laughed. “Our custom here is that the bride’s mother helps with her hair on the wedding day. Since your family isn’t here, I’m helping you.”

“Oh…” Yu Xiangnian sat on the edge of the bed, “Then I’ll trouble you.”

“We’re family, there’s no need to talk about trouble!”

Li Cuihua braided two plaits at the back of Yu Xiangnian’s head, then twisted them together into a bun.

“All done. Quickly change into your clothes. I’ll go out first.”

“Thank you.”

After Li Cuihua left, Yu Xiangnian looked at her bun in the mirror. It looked a bit old-fashioned.

This mirror was something Cheng Jingmo bought from the supply and marketing cooperative that morning.

She changed into the flowered cotton jacket and put on a pair of black cloth shoes.

After putting on some makeup while looking in the mirror, she walked out.

Cheng Jingmo was wearing a black Zhongshan suit, with a small white shirt collar peeking out at the neck, and black leather shoes on his feet.

Among the people present, he was the tallest and most handsome. Paired with this outfit, he was undoubtedly the best-looking guy in the village!

Of course, as soon as Yu Xiangnian walked out, Cheng Jingmo saw her.

Her hair was neatly styled in a bun at the back, her small oval face, and delicate features were perfectly highlighted, making her face look so perfect.

Her slim and tall figure made the cotton jacket look not bulky at all but rather added a touch of charming elegance.

Like a fairy descending to earth, she carried a hint of worldly charm.

The two looked at each other, their eyes full of joy and satisfaction.

Yu Xiangnian slowly walked closer to Cheng Jingmo, pouting her red lips, “Are you sure I look good?”

Cheng Jingmo knew Yu Xiangnian well. She would rather die than look ugly.

He sincerely replied, “You look beautiful. You are the most beautiful today!”

Yu Xiangnian smiled with satisfaction, “I even put on makeup.” She almost never wore makeup usually.

“Yes,” Cheng Jingmo could only tell she had put on lipstick, “You look good with or without makeup.”

Since they met, they had always interacted in this way, and neither of them thought there was anything unusual about it.

But in the eyes of outsiders, this couple was being lovey-dovey in front of so many people.

It was a bit too much!

Naturally, rumors started to spread.

No wonder, the adopted wife stayed home every day doing nothing, and the adopted son was willing to support her.

It’s because of that face and that figure. She was simply a seductress, and the adopted son was completely smitten by her.

No wonder, he refused to marry Shuan Chun back then.

With such a seductress, who would want the rustic Shuan Chun!

Guests started arriving one after another. Yu Xiangnian held a tray with candies they had bought and stood at the door with Cheng Jingmo to greet them.

In fact, Cheng Jingmo couldn’t recognize many of the guests who came.

Fortunately, Cheng Shuanzhu was also standing at the door to help greet and introduce the guests.

“Brother Jianwa, you finally decided to come back!” said a woman in her twenties, holding a child’s hand, in a slightly complaining and resentful tone.

“Shuan Chun, you’re here,” Cheng Jingmo replied in his usual calm tone.

Then he introduced her to Yu Xiangnian, “This is the second eldest in the family, Cheng Shuanchun.”

Actually, Yu Xiangnian could tell even without Cheng Jingmo’s introduction.

The family members shared similar features, all inheriting Cheng Huazi’s round face and Mu Huanzhen’s bulbous nose.

Cheng Jingmo was the only one who wasn’t their biological child. Otherwise, with such similar looks, no matter how outstanding, Yu Xiangnian wouldn’t have been interested!

“Hello, Cheng Shuanchun,” Yu Xiangnian said with a smile.

Yu Xiangnian was six or seven centimeters taller than Cheng Shuanchun, who glanced at her with an unfriendly look.

Yu Xiangnian could sense Cheng Shuanchun’s hostility.

She found it baffling!

Yu Xiangnian avoided Cheng Shuanchun’s unfriendly gaze and took two candies from the tray, giving them to the two children.

“Shuan Chun, didn’t Tiedong come?” Cheng Shuanzhu asked from the side.

“Big Brother,” Cheng Shuanchun finally shifted her gaze to Cheng Shuanzhu, “There’s still work to be done in the fields. He’ll come later.”

“Take the children inside,” Cheng Shuanzhu said.

Several more guests arrived and were ushered inside.

At this moment, a very thin woman walked up, holding the hand of a boy about three years old.

The woman was around twenty years old, dressed in clean, light gray clothes, with her hair tied in a braid at the back of her head. She had an oval face and her skin was fairer than that of the other women here.

However, she had an injury on her left cheekbone, which was bruised, and even the corner of her eye had some discoloration.

“Brother Jianwa, you’re back,” her voice was soft and gentle, unlike the other women here.

Cheng Jingmo stared at the woman for a moment before recognizing her, “Dong Ju?”

The woman smiled faintly, “You still recognize me.” Then she looked at Yu Xiangnian, “Sister-in-law is very beautiful.”

A woman’s intuition told Yu Xiangnian that Cheng Jingmo and this woman had an unusual relationship!

When Cheng Jingmo looked at Dong Ju, his eyes showed emotion, and Dong Ju looked at Cheng Jingmo with a mix of sadness and joy.

Could it be a childhood sweetheart, first love?

Cheng Jingmo invited her, “Come in and sit for a while. We’re about to eat.”

Dong Ju nodded with a smile.

Yu Xiangnian bent down and let Dong Ju’s child take a candy by himself.

Dong Ju instructed her child, “Take only one.”

Because of this, Yu Xiangnian had a good impression of Dong Ju.

Other women would say to take fewer candies, but their eyes would be watching the children, hoping they would grab more.

But Dong Ju was sincere, telling her child to take only one candy.

After Dong Ju took her child inside, Cheng Shuanzhu casually remarked, “Dong Ju has had a hard life. Her father died a few years ago, and she married a man who is lazy and violent, even beating her and the children when he gets drunk.”

Yu Xiangnian saw Cheng Jingmo’s eyelids lower.

Yu Xiangnian could already imagine a scenario where childhood sweethearts were separated for years, and upon learning that the other was not living well, felt guilt, pain, and pity.