Xu Ning looked at him and asked again, “Are you reluctant to spend money in the army? Have you saved it all to bring back? You don’t need to be so frugal; we’re not short on money now. I’ve saved all the money you gave me before.”

Lu Xiaotang held her in his arms and said, “I’m not reluctant to use it. The army takes care of food and clothing, and I don’t smoke or drink much. I really don’t have many places to spend money.”

Seeing that he didn’t seem to be lying, Xu Ning mischievously said, “I heard there are many beautiful women in the army’s art troupe. Is that true? Do you often go to watch their performances?”

Lu Xiaotang was momentarily taken aback by her words, but then he looked at her and started to laugh happily.

Xu Ning was embarrassed and angry at his laughter. She huffed, “What are you laughing at? Don’t say you’ve never gone to watch them; I won’t believe that!”

Seeing that she was about to get angry, Lu Xiaotang quickly stopped laughing and said, “Xiao Ning, whether the women in the art troupe are beautiful or not has nothing to do with me.”

“I only know that the person I like is you. In my eyes, no one is more beautiful or makes my heart flutter more than you.

As for those inconsequential people, they will definitely not appear in our lives in the future.”

Xu Ning pressed down her lips that were curling into a smile and muttered, “Smooth talker.”

Lu Xiaotang glanced at the girl in his arms, feeling his heart filled to the brim.

Xu Yang returned from the cattle shed and took a stack of money out of his backpack. He said to Xu Ning, “This six hundred yuan is your dowry from our family. Keep it, and buy whatever you need in the future.”

Xu Ning quickly replied, “Brother, I don’t want it. I have money here. When Xiao An and I went to the countryside, our parents gave me some money that I haven’t used much, and when our parents came, they gave me another sum. I’ve saved it all.”

Xu Yang insisted, shoving the money into her hands. “Take it if I’m giving it to you. This is from your brother. Don’t shortchange yourself in the future; our family has money.” After saying that, his eyes turned red.

Seeing him like that, Xu Ning couldn’t hold back her tears. She walked over, tugged at his sleeve, and said, “I understand, Brother. I’ll keep it then.”

She thought it would be better to keep the money with her for safekeeping. Once they moved to the city, she could either give it to her family or buy them something useful.

The day before the wedding, the two of them went to the city to get their marriage certificate.

Xu Ning curiously examined the piece of paper. With this certificate, she was officially a married woman. It was her first time being married, even in both her lives, and the experience felt quite novel to her.

Lu Xiaotang watched her turn the marriage certificate over in her hands and smiled, saying, “Let’s go. I’ll take you to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy a watch.”

Xu Ning replied, “There’s no need. My watch is still perfectly fine. We can buy a new one when it breaks.”

“You can give this watch to Xiao An, and we’ll get you a new one,” he suggested.

Xu Ning thought to herself that it made sense. Since Xu An was already in high school, it wasn’t convenient for him to be without a watch. Buying him a new one would be too showy, so she decided to let him use her old one.

The wedding day happened to be a Sunday. Xu An’s classmates, Fan Sizhe, Jin Dapeng, and Wang Liang, all came, along with neighbors Jianmin and Da Lin.

This year, Jianmin and Da Lin also went to the city to attend high school. The three friends, along with Wang Liang from the neighboring village, now returned home together every Saturday and went back to school together on Sunday afternoons. Their bond had grown even stronger than before.

The village chief’s wife, Aunt Dashuan, Aunt Si, and Aunt Xiangyun came early to help with the cooking.

Several familiar aunts from the village, a few team leaders, accountants, and families who had previously helped Xu Ning repair her house all came as well. They sat in the courtyard, chatting and enjoying the lively atmosphere.

As for the people from the educated youth commune, except for Gu Wenjing, Lin Qiuhua, and Jiaohua, everyone else had arrived today.

Grandpa Qi and Xu Mo also came, sitting together with Old Chen and Er Dan and San Dan, happily eating candy and chatting away.

Xu Yang and Lu Xiaotang looked at the people in the courtyard and thought that six tables might not be enough, so they sent Xu An to borrow two more tables from the village.

When Zhao Jianshe and his wife, along with Su Hongying and her husband, arrived, they were a bit surprised to see so many people filling the yard.

They had thought that since Xu Ning was coming to the countryside, there wouldn’t be many relatives or friends around—at most, a couple of tables. They never expected the courtyard to be packed with people.

Seeing the couple, Lu Xiaotang and Xu Yang immediately welcomed them with enthusiasm, inviting them inside to sit. The village chief also recognized Zhao Jianshe, so he arranged for them to sit together.

In the kitchen, Aunt Dashuan and the village chief’s wife looked at the large bowl of meat and the prepared pig offal and pig head meat, feeling that the couple was quite generous.

A total of eight tables were filled with adults and children.

Under the village chief’s direction, Lu Xiaotang and Xu Ning, dressed in their brand-new military uniforms, stood in front of the portrait of the leader and took their vows.

Lin Miao sat with a few other educated youths, watching the newlyweds take their vows.

The groom was tall and handsome, his crisp military uniform enhancing his striking demeanor. His stern face softened with affection as he looked at Xu Ning.

Across from him, Xu Ning had a slender figure, her hair braided and adorned with a red scarf that highlighted her fair skin. Although she couldn’t be considered a stunning beauty, there was something about her that made people want to steal glances.