Chapter 27 Sister-in-law Xu Rong

By the time they left the photo studio, it was nearly noon. The young couple went to a state-run restaurant to have lunch. To celebrate finally getting their marriage certificate, Shi Qingqian ordered five meat dishes, one vegetable dish, and an egg-drop soup.

Xu Huaian was surprised. “Qingqian, this is way too much. We can’t finish all this.”

Shi Qingqian smiled. “Didn’t Auntie say we should also go check on your sister at school? If we eat first, we should arrive right when her class ends. You’re her brother, so you can’t just eat by yourself and ignore her.”

Xu Huaian suddenly understood. No wonder she had him bring a lunchbox before leaving home—this was the reason.

Soon, the dishes arrived one by one. Xu Huaian filled the lunchbox first, and only then did they begin eating. After finishing, they carried the filled lunchboxes toward the People’s Commune Middle School.

At the school gate, they explained their purpose to the guard and waited patiently for Xu Rong to finish class. When the bell rang, students poured out of the classrooms. Xu Huaian and Shi Qingqian searched the crowd for Xu Rong.

“What grade is your sister in?” Xu Huaian asked awkwardly, smiling.

“I… don’t know,” he admitted.

Shi Qingqian gave him a helpless look. “You’re doing a really great job as a brother.”

It wasn’t entirely Xu Huaian’s fault; he seldom came home, and in the past two years whenever he did, Xu Rong was always in school. Calculating that, the siblings hadn’t seen each other for several years.

“You at least remember her name, right?”

“Of course I do,” Xu Huaian said. Shi Qingqian then took his hand, guiding him upstairs. Soon, the school’s PA system crackled to life:

“Xu Rong, Xu Rong, your third brother has come to deliver lunch. Please go to the third-floor classroom office immediately. Please go to the third-floor classroom office immediately.”

A group of girls entering the cafeteria overheard the announcement. One nudged her friend. “Rongrong, I think they just called your name on the PA.”

Xu Rong shook her head firmly. “Impossible. My third brother is in the military and rarely comes back. There’s no way he’s delivering lunch to me.”

“Still, maybe you should go check, just in case. Didn’t you say it’s been years since you last saw him?”

“Yeah, go see. If it’s not him, we’ll carry your lunchbox for you.”

After a moment of hesitation, Xu Rong was persuaded. Soon, she hurried up to the third floor, her long braids swaying as she spotted Xu Huaian. Her eyes lit up.

“Third Brother!” she called, running toward him excitedly.

Xu Huaian smiled affectionately, patting her head. “Why are you running so fast?”

“I haven’t seen you in so long, Third Brother. When I heard the announcement, I thought I misheard,” Xu Rong said, hopping with joy. Then her gaze turned to Shi Qingqian, curiosity in her eyes. “Third Brother, who is this beautiful lady?”

Xu Huaian looked at Shi Qingqian warmly. “Rongrong, this is your sister-in-law. We got our marriage certificate today and came specifically to see you.”

“Hello, Sister-in-law,” Xu Rong said obediently, her eyes sparkling. She then leaned close to Xu Huaian and whispered, “Third Brother, finally someone wants you.”

Xu Huaian lightly tapped her head. “You little rascal, what are you saying?”

Xu Rong stuck her tongue out playfully.

Shi Qingqian watched the interaction between the siblings and smiled gently. Xu Huaian handed her the lunchbox.

“This is the lunch your sister-in-law prepared for you. Go ahead and eat; we’ll head back first.”

Xu Rong took the lunchbox, deeply touched. “Thank you, Third Brother, thank you, Sister-in-law.”

“The day after tomorrow, Sister-in-law and I will hold a banquet at home. Do you want to come back? If you do, I’ll have big brother pick you up.”

Xu Rong’s eyes lit up, excitement radiating from her. “I want to come! Third Brother, I’ll definitely come.” She hugged the lunchbox tightly, as if it were a precious treasure.

Xu Huaian smiled and nodded. “Alright, take care at school. We’ll have fun together the day after tomorrow.”

Shi Qingqian looked at Xu Rong gently. “Rongrong, Sister-in-law will prepare some delicious food for you then.”

Xu Rong beamed. “Yes, Sister-in-law is really the best.” With that, she ran off happily. Back in the cafeteria, her friends saw her holding the lunchbox and realized it was indeed her third brother who had come.

Hand in hand, Xu Huaian and Shi Qingqian returned home. As they stepped into the yard, they saw Xu’s parents sitting in the main room, seemingly discussing something.

“Father, Mother, we’re back,” Xu Huaian called loudly.

Shi Qingqian followed obediently, calling, “Father, Mother.”

Xu’s parents smiled with relief upon seeing them. Xu Huaian took out the marriage certificate and handed it to his parents. “Father, Mother, we got our marriage certificate today.”

Xu’s father examined it carefully, eyes full of joy. Xu’s mother couldn’t stop smiling. “Wonderful, wonderful! That’s great.”

While they were celebrating, Xu Huaian mentioned the banquet for the day after tomorrow. Xu’s father immediately nodded. “This is a joyous occasion; it must be done properly, though the timing is tight.”

The reason they scheduled the banquet for the day after tomorrow was because Xu Huaian’s military leave would end the day after that. He had to leave for the army early, so the wedding had to be held before his departure.

“Qingqian, come inside with your mother,” Zhang Lanxiang said, taking Shi Qingqian into the room. From under a pillow, she pulled out something wrapped in a handkerchief. “Here’s 500 yuan, it’s our wedding gift to you.”

Shi Qingqian felt warmth in her heart as she looked at the handkerchief bundle. She tried to refuse. “Mother, I can’t accept this. You and Father should keep it for yourselves.”

Zhang Lanxiang insisted, pressing the bundle into Shi Qingqian’s hands. “Child, this is our heart. You must accept it.”

“Mother knows this amount isn’t much to you, but it’s from me and your father. Officially, we’ll say the dowry is 100 yuan, so it won’t attract too much attention,” she explained.

Seeing Zhang Lanxiang’s sincerity, Shi Qingqian no longer refused. She knew she would care for her future in-laws and ensure they lived comfortably in their old age.

Zhang Lanxiang smiled with satisfaction as Shi Qingqian accepted the money, then held her hand and said some more heartfelt words.

Meanwhile, Xu Huaian and Xu’s father went out to prepare for the banquet. First, they needed plenty of meat, rice, and vegetables; everything else was easier to handle, but the meat was the priority. They considered buying a pig from Second Uncle Xu Wu, but the village pigs were all required for official quotas at the end of the year. Even if Xu Wu wanted to help, he couldn’t.

Xu Huaian had to find another solution—hunting in the mountains. That night, he ventured into the mountains. Under the cover of darkness, the forest was particularly quiet. Xu Huaian carried his hunting gear and moved cautiously. Moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the ground. His footsteps were light, careful not to disturb any wildlife.

Relying on his keen instincts honed from years in the military, Xu Huaian carefully observed his surroundings.