Chapter 69

February 18, 1972, was a sunny day.

After waking up, Xu Di didn’t rush to wash up. Instead, she pulled open the curtains, enjoying the sun’s embrace.

Today, she was going to get her marriage certificate, at the age of nineteen, a year later than in her previous life.

These past few days, Xu Di had actually thought a lot.

Her past life, her present life, her mind was about to explode, and she had a terrible headache.

Later, she locked the door and went into her space.

Since Zhang Chaoyang came back, she hadn’t stayed in her space.

She wondered when the fruit trees would bloom, and when the tomatoes, cucumbers, and beans would bear fruit…

At that moment, Xu Di realized one thing.

This wasn’t her past life, and Zhang Chaoyang wasn’t Li Kai. Her life wouldn’t repeat itself.

Instead of setting rules and regulations for her future, she decided to let go and live in the present.

How her married life would turn out depended on her.

Only when she was strong inside and stood firm could she avoid being influenced by others.

After understanding this, Xu Di no longer felt anxious or worried about the past. She decided to break away from her past life and truly start a new life!

“Chirp chirp…”

A little bird landed on the windowsill and flew away.

Xu Di got dressed and went to wash up.

After breakfast, she put on her new clothes, pants, and combed her hair. After applying some snow cream, Xu Di went out.

She had already told her parents yesterday that she was going to get her marriage certificate today. Her mother gave her the household registration booklet last night.

“Xu Di, over here.”

As soon as she left the compound, she heard Zhang Chaoyang’s voice.

“How long have you been here? Why didn’t you come in?”

“I just arrived. I wanted to wait until after we get the certificate and then come over formally in the evening to visit.”

Zhang Chaoyang also wanted to come in the morning, but Xu Di’s family was all at work, and it would be too rushed.

“Alright, let’s go get the certificate first, and then we’ll go to your place and see how the room is decorated.”

After Xu Di figured things out, her attitude towards Zhang Chaoyang changed.

There was a distance between them, and occasionally they would turn their heads and look at each other, then quickly turn back.

They were quite interesting. When they first met, they weren’t embarrassed. Now that they were about to get married, they suddenly felt shy.

When they arrived at the marriage registration office, they submitted their documents and were asked a series of questions.

Finally, with two thumps, two fresh marriage certificates came out.

Xu Di and Zhang Chaoyang each held a piece of paper similar to a certificate. They went from unmarried to married.

“Take these, and go back and have a look.”

The lady at the office quickly handed them a booklet.

Xu Di hadn’t even seen what it was when Zhang Chaoyang took it and put it in his pocket.

They got the certificate, distributed the candy, and their life’s big event was settled.

“Xu Di, let’s go home and see the room. If you need anything, I’ll go get it.”

“Let’s go have a look. While you’re here, get everything done. It’ll save us from being short of things later. Grandma and I will need to ask someone for help.”

Xu Di had been to Grandma Qian’s house several times, and she had a general impression of the layout.

However, she didn’t know the specifics.

“Alright, I’ll try to get everything done. Once I leave, if there’s anything that can’t wait for me to come back to do, just ask someone for help.

I’ll give you the contact information of a few of my close friends. If there’s an emergency, you can ask them for help.”

Zhang Chaoyang thought about his friends. Before he left, he would have to talk to them.

“Alright, don’t worry, Grandma and I can handle it.”

As they chatted, they arrived at the compound.

Zhang Chaoyang opened the door and led Xu Di inside.

“I’ll go get two keys later. You take one, and keep one as a spare.”

“Alright, no rush, you’re not leaving tomorrow.”

“There are a lot of things. I’ll do them as I think of them, so I don’t forget when I’m busy later.”

Zhang Chaoyang’s notebook was already filled with notes, all the things he planned to do before he left.

“Xiao Di, you’re here! How about it, did you get your marriage certificate?”

Grandma Qian was happy. If she didn’t think calling her “Di Di” was inappropriate, she would have called her that.

“Grandma, we got it. Look, doesn’t it look like a certificate?”

Xu Di took out the paper that proved she was married and showed it to her grandma.

“Good, so good. The pattern looks so good.”

Xu Di wanted to laugh. Now, Grandma could praise even a dog’s tail grass, saying how beautiful the flower was.

“Xiao Di, quickly have a look. Besides the bed, wardrobe, and dressing table, do you need anything else? We’ll go buy it at the department store.

Don’t worry, Grandma has enough tickets. I’ve saved them for years, just waiting for this day.”

“Grandma, you’re so good. We’re so happy.”

Xu Di hugged her grandma, feeling like she was hugging her mother. The feeling was strong.

“Grandma feels happy because of you two.”

Grandma Qian was suddenly hugged, and a warm current flowed through her heart. How many years had it been since she had been so close to someone, since Chaoyang grew up?

“Qian Yi, what are we having for lunch?”

“Little Wu, this is Xu Di, Chaoyang’s newlywed wife.

You’ve met before, but today you’ll officially get to know each other. You’ll be living together from now on.”

“Hello, Xu Comrade.”

Wu Sanhua went back to her hometown for the New Year and just came back today. She didn’t expect this girl to marry Chaoyang!

“Hello, Aunt Wu!”

Xu Di’s attitude was normal. She was the staff member who took care of her grandma. She treated her normally.

“Grandma, let’s go see if the room is missing anything.”

“Go ahead, get everything ready.”

Xu Di and Zhang Chaoyang went into the room, leaving the door open.

“Xu Di, later we’ll go to the department store. Grandma has already made arrangements. We’ll go and choose the styles.

Bed, large wardrobe, dressing table, do you need anything else?”

Zhang Chaoyang’s room was quite large. There were three rooms in the house, two large ones and one small one.

The two large rooms were both Chaoyang’s. The small room, bathroom, and kitchen were in the north. The room was north-south facing, with over a hundred square meters.

“The bed will go here, next to the window. We’ll put a small cabinet there.

The dressing table will go on the other side of the bed. Next to the dressing table, we’ll put the large wardrobe. We don’t need anything else.

The bedroom doesn’t need to be full of stuff.

By the way, later you measure the window size. I need to make curtains.”

Xu Di’s space had just the right kind of fabric. She didn’t want to use the kind with small flowers, it was too thin.

“You’re going to make them yourself?”

“Yeah, I know some sewing. I’ll make them the way I like them.”

Xu had a sewing machine, and Xu Di could make them herself.

“Alright, I’ll give you the fabric tickets later.”

“No need, I have them.”

Xu Di thought, getting married, she couldn’t just not prepare anything.

“By the way, later, I’ll take your measurements and make you a set of clothes.

Are you wearing your military uniform on the wedding day?”

“I’ll wear my military uniform. Are you wearing one?”

Zhang Chaoyang thought, they both wearing military uniforms would be good.

“I don’t have a military uniform. Should I make a green one?”

Xu Di thought wearing a military uniform would be good. Later, it would be a good memory.

Decades later, many people would specifically take wedding photos wearing military uniforms from the 70s and 80s, calling it a retro trend.

“I’ll get you a whole set. What size do you wear?”

Zhang Chaoyang thought about his friend who was in the army’s art troupe. They had a lot of women’s military uniforms.

“Then I’ll make two white shirts, one for each of us, to wear under the military uniform.”

“Okay, I’ll buy you a pair of leather shoes then. I’ll wear my old ones. It’s hot in the south, I can’t wear leather shoes.”

Zhang Chaoyang knew what Xu Di was thinking and explained.

The two of them discussed and made notes in their notebooks.

Grandma Qian, sitting in the living room, listened and felt happy in her heart.