Chapter 51: Getting the Marriage Certificate

Xiao Qingru and Xu Muzhou each submitted a marriage request to their respective workplaces, and it was approved in just two weeks. However, they would need to wait a bit longer for housing.

Xu Muzhou had already asked his superiors, and at most, they’d need to wait one more month before the housing was allocated.

A month might not seem long, but it’s not short either.

During this time, they could prepare everything needed for the wedding, so when the house was allocated, they could move in right away.

Xu Muzhou’s family offered to provide the furniture and promptly sent him 1,000 yuan via the post office. They also told him to make sure his wife had everything other wives had, urging him not to cut costs and to buy whatever was necessary.

They needed to buy many items for the wedding, even basic kitchen supplies like pots and pans were an issue.

However, newlyweds could use their marriage certificate to get discounted clothing and household goods from designated stores, which solved a big problem for them.

Though they hadn’t moved into their new place, Xiao Qingru and Xu Muzhou went ahead and got their marriage certificate.

As soon as they stepped into the Civil Affairs Bureau, Xu Muzhou couldn’t keep the smile off his face. When he finally held the marriage certificate, his grin grew even wider, and he even laughed out loud.

It was wonderful they were officially married!

Married!

A warm surge of joy filled his heart. If he could, Xu Muzhou wanted to lift his wife in his arms and spin her around.

Xiao Qingru reached out her hand. “I’ll keep the important documents safe.”

Xu Muzhou immediately rolled up the marriage certificate as if it were an award and handed it to her solemnly. “Take good care of it, wife. Don’t lose it.”

The way Xu Muzhou said “wife” was as natural as breathing, yet it carried a special, indescribable charm utterly captivating.

Xiao Qingru shot him a look, slipping the certificate into her bag. “I’m not the type to lose things, you know.”

Xu Muzhou smirked, giving her a light pat on the head. From today, she was officially his wife.

And he, her legitimate husband.

Officially recognized!

Dodging his hand, Xiao Qingru huffed, “Stop being so touchy out here, someone might think you’re a troublemaker.”

Xu Muzhou obediently dropped his hand, not daring to make another move.

“Wife.”

“Hm?”

“Wife.”

Blushing, Xiao Qingru muttered, “Are you ever going to stop?”

“What, can’t I even say it once? If you get this shy, how will we manage in the future?”

She glanced nervously around. “We’re still outside, can’t you be a little more dignified?”

“No one’s listening.”

Xiao Qingru gave him a long look. “If there’s a runner up in shamelessness, nobody would dare take first from you.”

Xu Muzhou chuckled, fist to his lips. “Only those with thick skin don’t go hungry.”

Feeling his intense gaze, Xiao Qingru shivered slightly, sensing that she was like a lamb to the slaughter.

Quickly looking away, she said, “We should head home.”

“Let’s go. Mom and Dad are waiting for us.”

“You’ve adjusted fast, haven’t you? It’s barely been any time, and you’re already calling them that.”

Xu Muzhou’s ears turned pink. He couldn’t exactly admit that ever since he filed the marriage request, he’d been rehearsing this in his mind, could he?

What if he scared her?

“Ahem, they say you adapt quickly in the capital. We’re known for it.”

Xiao Qingru smiled. She’d never been to the capital, and all she knew about it was from the newspaper and radio. It would be wonderful to see it in person one day.

“This year, we’ll go to the capital together. Then you’ll see if I’m lying.”

Was he reading her mind?

“There are so many places from my schoolbooks I want to visit.”

“Mm-hmm, I’ll show you every one.”

“The roast duck you brought last time was delicious.”

“When we get to the capital, I’ll take you for fresh out of the oven roast duck. Even tastier!”

“The chocolate you gave me melted!”

“I’ll get you more…” Xu Muzhou scratched his head, looking sheepish. “I hadn’t tasted it before, didn’t know it would melt! I won’t carry it in my pocket next time.”

Thinking of how he’d fished out the chocolate like it was a treasure, Xiao Qingru couldn’t help laughing.

So, Xu Muzhou wasn’t all knowing and all powerful after all.

She hooked her pinky finger around his. “Let’s go home.”

“Mm, home!”

He gripped her hand briefly before letting go.

Standing beside Xiao Qingru, he walked out with her. From now on, he would have a home here in the northwest.

A home with a wife and possibly, one day, children. Just the thought of it filled Xu Muzhou with an intense warmth.

As long as Xiao Qingru was there, that was home.

They hadn’t held the wedding yet, but to celebrate their marriage registration, Xiao’s mother prepared a nice meal.

There were dumplings, seaweed and pork rib soup, Xiao Qingru’s favorite spicy fish, and two side dishes.

Xu Muzhou wasn’t picky he enjoyed all flavors, and having a meal cooked by his mother in law made it all the more delicious.

They shared a happy meal together.

“This afternoon, go buy what you need, and take my car,” Xiao’s father said.

“Alright, Dad.”

Xiao’s mother added, “Get the furniture, too. Spend a bit extra and have it delivered to our place so it can air out. Once the house is ready, you won’t need to make a second trip to the city.”

“Got it, Mom.”

“Oh, and your dad ordered a sofa for you two, so don’t buy another one.”

“Thank you, Mom and Dad.”

Xiao Huai shrugged, chuckling. “Mom’s been hoping to adopt you since you first had dinner with us. Who knew it’d actually happen?”

Xiao’s mother beamed. At that time, Xiao Qingru and Jiang Chuan hadn’t settled their issues, so she’d only been joking she hadn’t expected this outcome.

But if she’d known that Xu Muzhou had feelings for Qingru, and with Jiang Chuan being so indecisive, she might have actually encouraged it!

Fate works in funny ways. She never married her childhood friend, but instead married her son’s friend!

“From the start, I felt Xu Muzhou was a good kid. I’ve always treated him as one of our own.”

Xu Muzhou laughed, “I even said back then that you could think of me as a son, and now that’s finally true.”

Xiao’s father playfully slapped the table. “You rascal, this was all part of your plan, wasn’t it?”

The way Xu Muzhou had swooped in right after Qingru broke up with Jiang Chuan was all too perfect.

Xu Muzhou, caught in his own words, admitted it. “Qingru is exceptional I’ve liked her for a long time.”

“Ah, no wonder you’d always find excuses to come around to see Huai Shu,” Xiao’s father said.

Xu Muzhou didn’t deny it, smiling quietly. Back then, he couldn’t be near Qingru, so just hearing about her from others brought him happiness.

In a way, he had Jiang Chuan to thank, if he’d acted decisively, Qingru would never have become his wife.

Though society now encouraged free love, arranged marriages were still common. Xu Muzhou had once thought he’d stay a bachelor or, under family pressure, go on blind dates and settle down in a routine life.

But fate had a surprise for him, he got to marry the woman he loved.

And for the rest of his life, he’d hold tightly to Xiao Qingru’s hand, never letting her go.