Chapter 07.1

In the year when Tang Yi was 25 years old, she married Jiang Qiaosheng. Both of them were very busy with their work, and the wedding was entirely organized and hosted by the elders of the two families.

The style preferred by the elders was somewhat grand.

The wedding ceremony was long and tedious. Tang Yi, wearing high heels that she rarely wore, walked towards Jiang Qiaosheng on the stage, pretending to be calm. She felt as if she saw her past self, stumbling all the way until she fell into Jiang Qiaosheng’s embrace.

The emcee was Jiang Qiaosheng’s college roommate, claiming to have learned from DeYun Society^[1]Deyunshe (Chinese: 德云社), formally Beijing Deyunshe Culture Communication Company Ltd., is a Chinese cross-talk organization and folk art performance group based in Beijing, established by … Continue reading, creating a joyful atmosphere.

When it came to the exchange of rings, Jiang Qiaosheng was a little nervous and almost dropped the ring. The host joked, “Groom, don’t be nervous, we’re just getting started.”

The surrounding people burst into laughter. Through the veil, Tang Yi saw the man’s reddened ears and quietly reminded him, “Wear it on the ring finger of your right hand.”

The diamond ring sparkled under the lights, like love in this world, glamorous yet futile. It’s a pity that everyone sees the glamour but never thinks about its futility.

After putting on the ring, Jiang Qiaosheng heaved a sigh of relief, lifted Tang Yi’s veil, and leaned down to kiss the corner of her lips, whispering in a voice only the two of them could hear, “That was really close just now.”

Tang Yi chuckled, “You’ve worked hard.”

Jiang Qiaosheng stood up straight, holding her hand, “It’s not hard.”

After the most important ceremony of the wedding was over, Tang Yi went back to the room upstairs to change into the toasting outfit. Bridesmaid Chen Jiahe handed her a red envelope, saying, “Li Bochuan asked me to pass this on. He saw your wedding photos on my social media.”

Tang Yi was slightly surprised.

The envelope was heavy, so she asked Chen Jiahe about Li Bochuan’s recent situation. During the chat, Jiang Qiaosheng knocked on the door and entered.

Tang Yi tucked the red envelope into her purse and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“I noticed you were walking awkwardly just now. Did you blister your feet?” Jiang Qiaosheng walked up to her and knelt down.

Tong Yi had changed clothes earlier, and was still wearing the hotel slippers. He easily picked up her feet, and sure enough, the back was swollen and red.

Having been together for the past half year without many intimate moments, Tang Yi blushed slightly, “I can handle it myself.”

Jiang Qiaosheng looked up at her, “From today onwards, we are going to live together. Do you still have to be so polite to me?”

Tang Yi remained silent.

He skillfully applied the bandage to the abraded area, stood up and straightened her skirt: “I’ll go down first, you rest a little more, it’s okay.”

“Okay.”

He nodded at Chen Jiahe and left the room.

Chen Jiahe sighed: “Your husband is so good to you.”

Tang Yi smiled without saying anything.

Jiang Qiaosheng was indeed very good to her.

When they were in love, Tang Yi’s job was less stable than Jiang Qiaosheng’s, often on business trips, with irregular work and commute times, and sometimes had to go back to the office on weekends for emergencies.

In comparison, Jiang Qiaosheng had much more free time, and basically every date was arranged according to Tang Yi’s schedule.

Sometimes, their dates even took place in the cafeteria at Tang Yi’s workplace. After having a meal with Jiang Qiaosheng, they would stroll around the park in the afternoon, and that would be it.

This kind of lifestyle continued after they got married.

Tang Yi’s job was not as demanding, so on occasional weekends when both were at home, Jiang Qiaosheng would cook for them.

He was very skilled in cooking.

Tang Yi had heard from Jiang Qiaosheng’s mother before that he learned it during his university days.

Tang Yi always chose to deceive herself by not asking about the past, especially since it was already over. She believed that what mattered in life was the future.

Every time Jiang Qiaosheng cooked, she would voluntarily take care of the dishes afterwards.

Tang Yi has a stomach illness, and Jiang Qiaosheng has cooked some medicinal meals a few times, but the taste is really hard to swallow, so she always makes excuses not to drink it.

Jiang Qiaosheng doesn’t say anything, but that day he won’t cook anything else, and he won’t allow Tang Yi to order takeout.

In the stalemate, the non-cooking Tang Yi can only compromise, frowning as she eats those strange and bizarre medicinal meals: “Jiang Qiaosheng, you’re scarier than my mom.”

He doesn’t argue, and when she’s done, he hands her a plate of sliced apples.

Tang Yi felt she had been a bit too harsh just now, and tried to make up for it: “Ah, you’re even better to me than my mom.”

Jiang Qiaosheng chuckled softly, “Noted, I’ll tell your mother next time.”

Tang Yi: “…..”

It’s not clear whether the supplement was too good or not right, but in the beginning of 2015, Tang Yi had gastroenteritis and stayed at home for a few days.

Coincidentally, Jiang Qiaosheng was not in Pingcheng at that time, and Mother Jiang actively came to take care of her.

After marriage, Tang Yi and Jiang Qiaosheng did not live with Mother Jiang, and they had little contact with each other in daily life. They were nominally very close, but the emotional connection was not particularly close.

During the period when Mother Jiang stayed at home, Tang Yi had several conversations with her, and the topic would always lead to the child.

Tang Yi did not have a plan to have a child at the moment. She didn’t know if Jiang Qiaosheng had one, but at least at this time, the child was not in her plan.

The matter of her entering the unit has always been criticized by others. These two years have been her rising period, and Tang Yi could not spend this time on this.

“Mom, I’m very busy with work recently, and I want to wait a little longer for the child,” Tang Yi said, “And Jiang Qiaosheng and I are still young, we’re not in a hurry.”

Mother Jiang smiled, “I also hope that you can have a child soon, so that I can help you take care of it.”

A few days later, Jiang Qiaosheng came back from a business trip.

Tang Yi took the time to talk to him about the child.

He reacted quickly: “Has Mom talked to you about this?”

“No, I’m just asking for your thoughts.”

Jiang Qiaosheng sat down by the bed and thought seriously for a while: “I think this is a natural thing, but the premise is that I will always put your will first, after all, it is you who carries the child for ten months and suffers the hardship.”

From falling in love to getting married, Jiang Qiaosheng has always been good to Tang Yi, and sometimes it can be said that he has spoiled her.

People always say that marriage is not just starry sky, but also a mess.

Jiang Qiaosheng’s kindness to Tang Yi made her always overlook those trivial messes and only see the dazzling starlight.

So later when they got divorced, Tang Yi thought for a long time before finding the answer.

It’s probably that the more you like something, the more you can’t touch it. If you don’t touch it, it will still be high above, forever the most beautiful image in your heart.

But you insist on getting involved, and with the passage of time and the grinding of daily life, it will actually erode its original beauty.

In the second autumn after their marriage, Mother Jiang’s old illness relapsed, and after being discharged from the hospital, she stayed with Jiang Qiaosheng. Tang Yi and her had more and more conflicts.

First it was the child, then it was the job.

Tang Yi was considerate of her being a patient and an elder, and did not want to argue too much. When Jiang Qiaosheng was not at home, she mostly stayed back at her parents’ home.