Chapter 30 Together Until Old Age, I Will Never Let Her Down!

Shen Fengxia, to marry well into the city, had demanded a large dowry, but the Shen family couldn’t afford it.

A county leader’s daughter liked Shen Qingfeng, but the leader’s family only had a daughter and wanted a son-in-law.

Shen Qingfeng was reluctant, but Shen Fengxia, knowing the leader would give a generous dowry, cried and begged him.

Shen Qingfeng, cherishing his sister, didn’t want her to be looked down upon after marriage, so he compromised.

Unexpectedly, his compromise became his sister’s weapon against him.

Shen Fengxia wanted to speak again.

Shen Qingsong was also angry, “Shen Fengxia, this is my daughter’s wedding day, I don’t want to make a scene. We’ve returned your money, leave now!”

Shen Fengxia never expected her timid brother to dare to ask her to leave.

She felt as if she had been slapped, her face burning.

She gritted her teeth, pointing at Shen Qingfeng and Shen Qingsong, “Fine, you two useless men!  Asking me to leave! Don’t come begging me!”

Shen Fengxia angrily got on the donkey cart.

Shen Qingsong held Shen Qingfeng’s hand, “Big Brother, I’m sorry!  I wanted you to celebrate Ningning’s wedding, but…”

Shen Qingfeng held Shen Qingsong’s hand tightly, “Third brother, let’s not talk about this. Seeing Ningning marry well, Big Brother is happy, happy…”

Shen Qingfeng’s eyes reddened with emotion.

Shen Chuning quickly supported Shen Qingfeng, “Uncle.”

Shen Qingfeng gave Shen Chuning a red envelope, “Ningning, Uncle doesn’t have much to give you, this is a little something, consider it a wedding gift.”

Shen Chuning accepted it, “Thank you, Uncle.”

Back inside, Shen Chuning found twenty yuan in the red envelope.

Usually, people gave two to five dimes, close relatives gave one to five yuan at most.

Shen Chuning knew her uncle’s in-laws were wealthy, but as a son-in-law, he had a hard life.

Last year, he had lent them one hundred yuan, his savings.

Now he gave her so much…

Shen Chuning told her father.

Shen Qingsong was silent for a while, “Your uncle gave it to you, keep it.  You and your brothers should remember your uncle and treat him like your father, understand?”

“Mm, Dad, I understand.” Shen Chuning nodded heavily.

She remembered that in her dream, Big Brother and Second Brother were buried by her uncle.

His in-laws didn’t want to get involved and wouldn’t let him bury his nephews.  He fell out with his in-laws and family and returned here alone.

As Shen Chuning was thinking, a commotion started outside.  Shen Zhengxu and the young men brought the thirty-six pieces of furniture Shen Qingsong had commissioned from Tan Mujiang.

The wardrobe and chest of drawers weren’t ready, only the bookcase, dressing table, writing desk, and four chairs.

The furniture, adorned with red wedding characters, was neatly arranged in the courtyard, creating a festive atmosphere.

Zhou Yubai arrived on his bicycle, decorated with red ribbons.

Zhou Yubai, wearing a green military uniform with a red flower, entered and saw Shen Chuning in a red dress and pigtails, with a red flower in her hair.

He was captivated by her beauty.

Even he felt his heart race, his ears reddening.

Shen Chuning quickly avoided his gaze.

Shen Qingsong, Shen Zhengxu, and Shen Zhengliang quickly borrowed tables, chairs, and tableware from neighbors.

Zhou Yubai helped.

Although the wedding was simple, there were over ten tables.

Five kilograms of meat were used, half a kilogram per table, making five meat dishes: garlic sprout and fermented black bean pork, pork and vegetable stew with vermicelli, potato braised pork, cucumber stir-fry with pork, and braised pork with preserved mustard greens.

Seeing the oily meat dishes, people’s eyes widened, and their mouths watered.

“The Shen family truly cherishes their daughter. Who would spend so much on their daughter’s wedding?”

“Other families might have three meat dishes at most.  These are substantial.”

Each dish had enough meat for everyone at the table.

Someone said sourly, “It’s because the Zhou family gave a generous dowry. If my daughter’s in-laws gave five hundred yuan, I’d do the same!”

Others teased her, “Hongping, forget it. Even if your daughter’s in-laws gave you a lot of dowry, it wouldn’t be enough for your son.”

“The Shen family said the dowry would be given to their daughter.”

Chen Hongping’s face was embarrassed.  She puffed out her chest, “My son is the head of the family, I’ll favor him!

You all talk nicely, but you don’t pamper your daughters like the Shen family!”

Others ignored her.

Chopsticks were distributed, and everyone scrambled for the meat.

Shen Chuning and Zhou Yubai went from table to table toasting.

After the toasts, Shen Qingsong and his sons pulled Zhou Yubai into the main room.

Shen Qingsong, with tears in his eyes, held Shen Chuning’s hand and placed it in Zhou Yubai’s hand.

“Yubai, I’m entrusting Ningning to you.  She’s our only daughter, and we’ve pampered her.  If she has any shortcomings, be patient…”

Shen Qingsong’s eyes reddened, tears rolling down.

“Dad…” Shen Chuning said softly.

Shen Qingsong gestured for her to be quiet, continuing to say to Zhou Yubai, “If you ever find Ningning unsatisfactory, don’t bully her, send her back to me.”

Shen Qingsong couldn’t stop crying.

Shen Zhengliang clenched his fists, threatening, “Zhou Yubai, I’m warning you, if you dare to bully Ningning, I’ll beat you up, no matter how high your rank is!”

“Dad, Second Brother, what are you doing!” The calm Shen Zhengxu pulled Shen Qingsong and Shen Zhengliang, “Yubai grew up with us, you know his character. He won’t bully Ningning.”

Shen Zhengxu looked at Zhou Yubai, “Yubai, you won’t bully Ningning, right?”

Zhou Yubai stood at attention, saluting, “I swear on my uniform, for the rest of my life, I will support Shen Chuning, together until old age, I will never let her down!”

Shen Qingsong and his sons breathed a sigh of relief.

“Good, good!” Shen Qingsong held Zhou Yubai and Shen Chuning’s hands, nodding repeatedly, “Dad knows you’re a good man, my Ningning won’t make a mistake.”

Hearing this, Shen Chuning’s eyes reddened, tears rolling down.

In her dream, she insisted on marrying Chen Ziyun.

Her father and brothers initially disagreed, but they couldn’t stop her.  Her father had said the same thing then, that he believed she wouldn’t make a mistake.

Her father and brothers blindly pampered and trusted her.

That’s why their family suffered tragedy in her dream.

Shen Zhengxu quickly wiped Shen Chuning’s tears, “Ningning, don’t cry, a bride with swollen eyes isn’t pretty.”