Chapter 10 Husband~Carry me back to the room

The two of them came out of the department store, carrying big and small shopping bags. Lu Hang had already driven the car around to the front to wait for them. Seeing them approach, he hurriedly trotted over like a flunky to help carry the bags and open the car door.

“Sis-in-law, not bad, not bad! Looks like you’re not shy at all about spending our Regiment Commander Gu’s money, huh? Hehe, that’s how it should be.” Lu Hang gave a thumbs-up as he glanced at the mountain of bags.

“Here, eat this and shut up.” Gu Rongqing stuffed a piece of walnut pastry into his mouth, tossed the bags into the trunk, then took Xiangxiang’s hand and got into the backseat with her. He had been driving the past few days and didn’t want to drive anymore—and besides, he just wanted to sit next to his wife.

Lu Hang shrugged. Well, with this walnut pastry as a bribe, playing chauffeur didn’t seem so bad after all.

After spending the whole day in town, it was already evening by the time they got home. Mother Gu had long prepared dinner and was waiting for them to return. As soon as the car pulled in, the two boys from the second household, Dabo and Erbao, came rushing out, eager to dig through the car for goodies.

Ruan Xiangxiang stepped out of the car and looked at the two kids. For some reason, their excited hands suddenly froze. Their instincts told them that if they kept grabbing at things, this beautiful Third Aunt would definitely not be pleased.

Dabo sheepishly retracted his hand, while Erbao hid his behind his back and smiled sweetly. “Third Auntie, is there something yummy in the car? Can Xiaobao have a little taste?”

His round black eyes blinked innocently. Honestly, all the Gu family kids were pretty good-looking—if you ignored their awful mother, that is. Just judging by appearances, these two were still quite cute.

Xiangxiang didn’t hold any grudges against the children. Besides, these two still seemed salvageable for now.

“Of course you can. But wash your hands first, and no fighting over anything,” Xiangxiang said with a nod.

“Okay, Third Auntie! I’ll take little brother to wash up right away!”

“Third Auntie is the best! Erbao listens the best!”

The two little brats darted off to wash their hands.

This scene was witnessed by Zhang Meizhi, who had just returned—and steam practically poured out of her nose. She’d gone back to her maiden home, worked all day, and right around dinnertime, her sister-in-law had started making snide remarks. She couldn’t take it anymore, and besides, she figured Third Brother was back at the Gu household and there’d probably be good food, so she shamelessly returned. Who knew, as soon as she got back, she’d see her two sons acting like lackeys in front of that little vixen?

She stormed past Ruan Xiangxiang, who gave her a mocking smile before turning back to retrieve the rest of the things from the car.

Gu Rongqing came over to take the bags from her hands and said softly, “These are too heavy. I’ll carry them.”

Then he turned to Zhang Meizhi and said coldly, “Second Sister-in-law, Xiangxiang is my wife now. I hope you’ll show her some respect. She doesn’t owe you anything.”

Zhang Meizhi was stunned. She didn’t expect Third Brother, who rarely spoke up, to be so direct and give her no face at all. She was furious, but seeing his icy expression and the intimidating aura radiating from him, she didn’t dare argue. She huffed and turned around to complain to her husband.

But Gu Rongzhi was happily sharing the snacks Xiangxiang had given the kids and didn’t pay her any attention at all.

It was their wedding registration day, and Xiangxiang didn’t want her mood spoiled by someone like Zhang Meizhi. After a couple days of rest, Monday would come, and she’d be heading to town to fulfill her very first commission in this new life.

That evening, aside from Zhang Meizhi, everyone in the Gu household was in high spirits. Mother Gu had cooked up a whole spread and even bought some alcohol to celebrate.

“Xiangxiang, I’m so happy you’re staying to be my daughter-in-law. I won’t say that I’ll treat you like my own daughter—those kinds of words are inappropriate. But I promise I’ll be a proper mother-in-law. If I have money, I’ll give it; if I have strength, I’ll lend it. And if I have neither, I’ll keep quiet and never interfere in your married life! I’ll drink this glass, and you don’t have to drink if you’re too young.” Mother Gu raised her cup heartily.

Xiangxiang liked that kind of talk. Many mothers-in-law love to say, “I’ll treat you like my own daughter,” when a new daughter-in-law enters the family—but rarely mean it. Mother Gu’s approach was much more sensible. After all, if she didn’t give birth to her, how could she truly treat her the same? As long as she fulfilled the role of a good mother-in-law and didn’t meddle, that was already enough.

“Auntie, I’ve already registered our marriage with him—this glass of wine is now the formal ‘title change’ toast. You know my family situation. My birth mother died early, and my stepmother… well, let’s not even bring her up. These past two days with you are the first time I’ve ever truly felt what gentle motherly love is. From now on, I’ll call you Mom. I’ll drink this toast!” Xiangxiang raised her cup with poise. She’d had plenty of experience at the dinner table in her past life and knew just what to say.

Sure enough, the moment the words left her mouth, Mother Gu was so moved she burst into tears.

“Daughter, my poor girl…”

After saying that, she downed another cup. She truly couldn’t understand—how could the Ruan family treat such a beautiful daughter so poorly?

“Mom, let’s not talk about those unpleasant things. Come on, let’s drink—everything else can stay in the wine,” Xiangxiang said with a wave of her hand. She wasn’t going to forget what her stepmother and Ruan Chenghong had done. Once things settled down here, she’d go back and seek justice on the original Xiangxiang’s behalf.

To everyone’s surprise, even the usually quiet Eldest Sister-in-law turned out to be a good drinker. She raised her glass and said cheerfully, “Xiangxiang, now that you’ve married Third Brother, things will get better. Don’t worry about your family back home. If they won’t contact you, so be it. What matters is that we live well here together.”

“Big Sis-in-law, you’re absolutely right. Come on, let’s drink, just the two of us!” Ruan Xiangxiang nodded in agreement. From the way Eldest Sister-in-law spoke, she gathered that this woman, too, had grown up unloved by her parents. As for that annoying Zhang Meizhi, word was her maiden family didn’t treat her well either.

Ruan Xiangxiang gave a bitter smile—turns out the three of them were all the same kind of women, unwanted by their families. The Gu family was practically a shelter for abandoned daughters. Unfortunately, Zhang Meizhi was a bit off in the head, and Ruan Xiangxiang had no intention of becoming friends with her.

After several rounds of drinks, both Mother Gu and Eldest Sister-in-law were drunk and had to be helped back to their rooms to rest. As for Zhang Meizhi, no one at the table paid her any attention. She ate quickly and greedily, then dragged her two kids and Gu Rongzhi back to their room to throw a fit.

“Hey! Lu Hang… don’t leave any booze, what are you doing, raising fish?” After a few more drinks, Ruan Xiangxiang started slurring her words and rambling incoherently.

Lu Hang couldn’t hold his liquor. After just three cups, he raised the white flag. “Sis… Sis-in-law, lemme tell you… Qing-ge is a good man…” He didn’t even finish his sentence before collapsing face-first onto the table with a loud thud, fast asleep.

Big Brother Gu chuckled, then helped him to a guest room to rest.

Gu Rongqing hadn’t drunk much tonight. During the dinner, he’d blocked a few rounds of alcohol for Ruan Xiangxiang, but she was stubborn and didn’t like being protected that way. He could only try to persuade her gently from the side. Thankfully, it was finally over now.

“Mm… why did everyone leave… tch, none of them can hold their liquor like me,” Ruan Xiangxiang muttered with a pout, her cheeks flushed and her eyes dreamy with intoxication.

“Alright, alright, we’re done drinking too, okay?” Gu Rongqing gently stroked her cheek, his voice as soft and warm as water.

Ruan Xiangxiang swayed a little, her gaze blurry as she looked up at him and giggled, “Hubby~ carry me to the bedroom.”

“Alright.”