Chapter 53: Heart Like Ashes

When they returned to the family quarters, it was just around the time everyone was getting off work. Seeing that Xiao Qingru and Xu Muzhou were unloading quite a few items from the car, the neighbors realized the wedding festivities were getting close.

Jiang Chuan, who was visiting his parents to bring them some pickles made by Du Wanqiu, happened to see Xiao Qingru. Xu Muzhou must have said something funny to her because she was laughing brightly, her eyes curving in delight. Despite the respectful distance they maintained, their mannerisms radiated closeness and affection.

She was still as beautiful as ever, someone who attracted attention no matter where she went. Jiang Chuan couldn’t help but watch her, captivated by her radiant smile. It had been so long since he had seen her this happy. In a painful moment of realization, he remembered how she’d gradually stopped smiling when they were together, eventually not smiling at all.

If only he hadn’t been so focused on helping Du Wanqiu back then, if he had spent a bit more time caring about Qingru, might he have noticed her desire to end things? Could he have changed her mind?

Looking back, it seemed so simple. Qingru had only asked him to let her handle Du Wanqiu’s affairs and keep his distance. Such a small request why had it been so hard for him to fulfill?

A wave of regret washed over him as he watched them. His heart felt as if it was soaked in salt water, and he could barely stand the pain. This outcome, he thought bitterly, was nothing but his own doing.

Xu Muzhou noticed Jiang Chuan watching and turned toward him, conveying a clear warning in his gaze and blocking his view of Qingru. Jiang Chuan realized with a pang that he didn’t even have the right to look at her anymore.

“Qingru, take the food inside. I’ll handle the rest of the boxes,” Xu Muzhou said, raising his voice so everyone could hear him call her “my wife,” which included Jiang Chuan.

“Wife…” Jiang Chuan’s face fell. They were already officially married, weren’t they? He staggered home, lost in a haze of regret. There was no turning back now.

He could hear the voices of neighbors nearby.

“Comrade Xu, you better take good care of Qingru. We watched her grow up. She has such a pure heart you better not mistreat her.”

“She’d have to mistreat me first! I wouldn’t dare!” Xu Muzhou joked.

“Nonsense, Qingru is the kindest person. Just make sure you two live a good life together.”

“We will,” Xu Muzhou assured them with a warm smile.

After exchanging greetings with the neighbors, they brought their things inside. Qingru, seeing her friend Song Yuan had been running around all day, offered her some local treats her family had sent from the capital.

Unabashed, Song Yuan accepted, promising she’d be back for the wedding, and then headed home with her snacks.

The steamed buns they brought home were still warm, so after washing their hands, Qingru’s father and Xiao Huaishu could start eating right away.

Marriage was a big deal, so Qingru’s father asked carefully about all they’d purchased.

“Six feet of cloth isn’t enough,” he said. “Didn’t I just get my ration of fabric coupons? Take mine as well.”

Qingru quickly refused. “We have stipends, so you don’t need to worry. Keep those tickets for yourself and use them to buy something new for Mom for the New Year.”

“We’ll only help out this one time,” he told her. “After this, your mom and I will completely step back. Your life together is up to you.”

When her father suggested using his share, Qingru’s mother didn’t hesitate to fetch it. “Just accept it,” she whispered to Qingru, “or else he’ll fret about it.”

Qingru felt a twinge of emotion. “Dad, I’ve never once been mistreated at home.”

Xu Muzhou chimed in immediately, “And from now on, I’ll hand my entire stipend to Qingru.”

Qingru’s father gave him an approving look. Handing finances to one’s wife, after all, was the mark of a responsible husband.

“As for you, Qingru,” her father added, “don’t forget to send a little money and a holiday package to Xu’s family back in the capital. It’s only right.”

“Understood.”

Qingru’s father didn’t mean anything more than responsibility. As the only son, Xu Muzhou’s duty included supporting his parents back in the capital.

The serious conversation finished, Xiao Huaishu took a look outside as the sun began to set.

“It’s getting late. You should head back,” he told Xu Muzhou.

Xu Muzhou froze, thinking, We have a marriage certificate! Why does he want me to leave?

He reached for Qingru’s hand under the table, trying to signal to her. He didn’t want to be apart.

Qingru, suppressing a smile, patted his hand in understanding. She couldn’t really help him out, though. After all, before today, he’d been staying in the dorms. Asking him to stay all of a sudden would be hard to justify.

“If you can’t be respectful, don’t speak,” his mother chided, adding with a chuckle, “They’ve already registered their marriage. This is his home. Where else would he go?”

Xiao Huaishu gave in. “But everyone says you’re not truly married until the banquet…”

Her mother rebuked him. “Some places don’t even hold weddings. If they live together, they’re married.”

Xiao Huaishu stayed quiet, realizing there was nothing left to say.

Xu Muzhou, thrilled at the prospect of staying, proposed cheerfully, “Then I’ll bring my things here tomorrow and stay until we get our own place.”

His mother agreed, but her husband interjected, “Better if you stay in the dorm for now. It just doesn’t feel right before the wedding.”

Hearing her father’s decision, Xu Muzhou couldn’t help feeling disheartened.

Qingru did her best to comfort him. Just wait a bit longer, she silently assured him. We’ll have plenty of time together soon.

Seeing the disappointed look on Xu Muzhou’s face, Qingru wanted to laugh. Who would have thought? A married man, and we’re still living apart?

The phone suddenly rang.

“Lao Xiao, it’s for you,” someone called out.

Qingru’s father took the call, leaving the family at the table.

Xu Muzhou leaned in close to Qingru and whispered, “If only the phone had rung sooner…”

His boyish longing brought a laugh from her.

“Xu, put today’s purchases away upstairs in the storage room,” his mother said.

“Right,” he replied, heading up to store their wedding goods.

Before he left, she turned to her younger son. “You finish your food and tidy up. I need to head next door and check on the banquet preparations.”

With everyone caught up in the wedding planning, Xiao Huaishu suddenly felt quite neglected.