Chapter 105 : Getting the Certificate

“Very nice, Qingqing will surely be a wonderful mother,” Xiao Jinhua said from her spot by the charcoal brazier, looking warm and relaxed. She gazed at Liang Qingqing with a smile, causing the latter to blush deeply and remain speechless for a moment.

Fortunately, Fan Yanxing, who had been paying close attention to their conversation, quickly interjected to change the subject. “Grandma, didn’t you have something to give to Qingqing?”

“Oh, right!” Xiao Jinhua suddenly stood up from her seat, smacking her forehead. “I was so happy to see Qingqing that I almost forgot about it.”

She hurried back to the room, retrieved a wooden box from the luggage, and then pulled Liang Qingqing’s hand to the table, lifting her chin and smiling as she gestured for her to open it. “This is a gift from Grandpa and me. See if you like it.”

“Well…” Liang Qingqing hesitated for a couple of seconds, instinctively glancing at Fan Yanxing. To her surprise, he shamelessly winked at her. “Just accept it, they’re quite well-off.”

“You little rascal.” Xiao Jinhua playfully slapped Fan Yanxing, her eyes still smiling, clearly not angry.

Seeing this, Liang Qingqing felt relieved and carefully opened the wooden box. As she thanked them, she found a pair of translucent jade bangles inside, wrapped in bright red silk. The bangles sparkled beautifully, and just one look told her that they were quite valuable.

“Jade is beneficial, but given the current situation, you can wear it more at home.”

Xiao Jinhua’s implication was clear to Liang Qingqing, who nodded obediently, then carefully closed the lid. As soon as she withdrew her hand, Fan Yajun spoke up, “Since Grandpa and Grandma have given a gift, we, as your older sister and brother-in-law, should also give something.”

As she finished speaking, Lin Feng, standing beside her, handed over a wooden box.

Liang Qingqing swallowed and thanked them before opening the box, revealing a set of gold jewelry: earrings, necklace, ring, and bracelet. The gold gleamed so brightly that it almost dazzled her eyes.

“This set was specially made for you, I chose the design myself. If you don’t like it, you can exchange it.”

“I like it.” Liang Qingqing nodded firmly. Fan Yajun had great taste, and the jewelry was beautiful. Besides, it would be too much trouble to exchange it, so it was better to keep it.

Liang Qingqing was surprised to discover her own fondness for such luxurious items. Feeling a bit embarrassed, she rubbed the back of her neck and said with a shy smile, “Thank you, sister, brother-in-law.”

“No need to thank us, we’re family. You’ll be in charge of my brother from now on,” Fan Yajun glanced at Fan Yanxing and smiled faintly, somewhat schadenfreude smile.

Fan Yanxing met Fan Yajun’s gaze and forced a smile. Her comment was unnecessary, everyone knew he was already firmly under her control.

“Since everyone has given something, I’ll give mine as well.” Without knowing if it was pre-arranged, Qu Qingying also brought out a wooden box, though hers was smaller than the others.

Liang Qingqing’s heart raced even faster for some unknown reason. Taking a deep breath, she carefully unlatched the dark clasp on the box. As the lid was slowly opened, a key appeared, which everyone seemed unperturbed by. Liang Qingqing, however, looked up in confusion at her future mother-in-law.

“You can stay here when you return to the capital,” Qu Qingying said, her lips curving into a gentle smile as she explained patiently, “When Yajun got married, I also gave them a courtyard house. It was originally reserved for both couples, so you can rest assured and accept it.”

Hearing this, Liang Qingqing’s eyes widened in shock. Did she just say what she thought she heard?

Qu Qingying gave them a house? A house in the capital? A courtyard house?

Oh my goodness, just thinking about the astronomical prices of courtyard houses in the future made her mouth water. Don’t blame her for being so overwhelmed; anyone would be stunned by such immense wealth.

She absolutely loved this extravagant family!

“In addition to that, you can use the money inside as you wish,” Qu Qingying added when she noticed they were focused on the key and had overlooked the passbook at the bottom of the box.

Not only was there a house, but also money! This marriage was more than worth it. If not for her self-control, Liang Qingqing felt like her face would split from smiling. She patted her chest to calm herself and then spent some time with Fan Yanxing discussing wedding details before finally saying her goodbyes.

That night, they would all stay at the guesthouse and set off for Fuxing Country the next day. The fourth day would be their wedding.

As soon as they stepped outside, Liang Qingqing couldn’t help but grasp Fan Yanxing’s arm tightly. Looking at the three wooden boxes he was holding, her smile widened uncontrollably. “This is so great.”

Fan Yanxing’s voice rose in amusement, “You’re really this happy?”

“Of course. It’s their heartfelt gesture and acknowledgment of me. How could I not be happy?” Liang Qingqing huffed, seemingly displeased with his question.

Hearing her words, Fan Yanxing was momentarily stunned, then his lips curved into a smile as he murmured, “I see.”

“What?” Liang Qingqing didn’t catch what he said, and Fan Yanxing shook his head, simply saying, “Let’s go. You didn’t sleep well last night, and we need to catch a train tomorrow to get the marriage certificate. Get some rest.”

“Alright.” She couldn’t help but yawn.

Their rooms were very close, just a few steps away. After helping to move the boxes into her room, Fan Yanxing left. That night passed without dreams, and the next morning everyone had breakfast at a nearby state-run restaurant before setting off for Fuxing County.

The winter sun on their faces felt like a soft feather brushing against them, bringing a subtle warmth. Sunlight filtered through the bare trees, casting mottled shadows on the ground, and the sound of shoes crunching on fallen leaves could be heard.

After they emerged from the civil affairs bureau, Liang Qingqing watched with some exasperation as Fan Yanxing carefully hid the certificate in the lining of his coat, not even letting her touch it.

“Tsk.”

Hearing her, Fan Yanxing seemed to realize his actions were a bit excessive. His ears turned slightly red, but his tone was still assertive, “It’s cold. My hands get cold holding it.”

“You keep it. No one’s going to steal it from you.” Liang Qingqing ruthlessly punctured his little show, then watched with satisfaction as the red on his ears deepened, spreading to his neck before she looked away, her smile widening.

Serves you right!

“Did you get it?” When they returned, Xiao Jinhua eagerly moved forward. Seeing Liang Qingqing nod, she extended her hand, “Let me see.”

Just as she said, the person eager to “snatch” the certificate arrived.

Liang Qingqing bit her lip to hold back her laughter as she watched Fan Yanxing’s face darken. He had no choice but to take out the certificate from his coat, his frustrated expression quite unprecedented.

“Finally, it’s settled. Let’s quickly go tell the in-laws this good news.”

Meanwhile, at the Liang family home, Ma Xiuzhi was directing Liang Junqiang to sweep the yard, leaving no corner untouched. Dust and dirt were swept clean, and even the large tree in front of the house had been trimmed.

“According to the time, they should be arriving soon. Xiaomei, come and see, does this outfit of mine look alright?” Ma Xiuzhi asked, holding Wang Xiaomei’s hand, feigning calmness.

Wang Xiaomei carefully examined Ma Xiuzhi. Today, Ma Xiuzhi was wearing the thick cotton coat that Liang Qingqing had bought her, black long pants, and her hair was neatly arranged in a bun. She looked spirited and quite eye-catching.

Moreover, someone who could produce a beautiful daughter like Liang Qingqing couldn’t be too unattractive themselves. She could even be considered a graceful, if somewhat mature, lady!

“You look beautiful, Mother. Rest assured.”

Hearing this, Ma Xiuzhi’s heart was half reassured. She gave Wang Xiaomei a playful glare, “You always flatter me. It’s not that exaggerated.”

Despite her words, the smile on her face was hard to hide.

The two of them checked the house inside and out one more time, and finding everything in order, they sat in the living room to wait. They had barely finished a cup of water when they heard a bustling noise outside, accompanied by a series of firecrackers.

In Fuxing Country, the custom was for the groom’s family to set off firecrackers on their first official visit, symbolizing a prosperous and happy future for both families. This commotion attracted quite a few spectators.

“I saw it just now, they arrived in two small sedans, parked right at the village entrance!”

“You can tell they’re important people. That kind of demeanor is not something an ordinary person can imitate.”

“What’s Fan Yanxing’s background? Liang Qingqing’s luck is incredible she works in the provincial capital, and now she’s marrying a man working in the county, and his family is so impressive. She really has flown high and become a phoenix.”

“Exactly. Setting everything else aside, what I envy the most is their house. I went to see it yesterday, and it’s all made with top-notch materials. It must have cost a fortune.”

A group of people chattered and crowded at the door, all stretching their necks to see inside. But, since the door to the yard was closed smartly, they couldn’t see the excitement and gradually began to disperse.

“Thank you for your hard work on the way here. Please sit down and have some tea.” Ma Xiuzhi warmly welcomed everyone into the living room and deftly poured tea for everyone. Despite her calm exterior, her heart was already racing with anticipation.

The words outside had more or less reached her ears. She never expected the Fan family to be so impressive. After all, people who could travel in small sedans from another province couldn’t be ordinary!

Fortunately, they didn’t put on airs at all. They managed to find common topics with her, a rural woman who knew little, and kept the atmosphere lively, especially Fan Yanxing’s grandmother, who spoke non-stop.

“In the past, when my husband and I lived in the military district, we enjoyed growing some vegetables. But now that we’re older, we don’t have the energy or strength to do it anymore. It’s a bit of a pity.”

“We have a small plot where we grow some vegetables. Would you like to go and take a look? You can even pick some chili peppers and cabbage,” Wang Xiaomei offered, then realized the offer was inappropriate. After all, who would expect someone of their status to visit a muddy field?

Before Ma Xiuzhi could feel embarrassed, Xiao Jinhua suddenly stood up, eyes sparkling, “That sounds great. Shall we go now?”

“……” Did she hear that right?

“I want to go too, I want to go too.” The twins were even more enthusiastic.

So, those who wanted to visit the vegetable plot followed Ma Xiuzhi and Wang Xiaomei, while the others stayed in the living room to chat.

People of different statuses and backgrounds were connected by this marriage, and from now on, the ties and connections between them would only grow stronger and never break.