Chapter 74

After returning from Grandma’s house, Xu Di started working on the curtains and shirts.

Xu Di tried on the women’s military uniform Zhang Chaoyang brought, and it fit perfectly, no need for alterations.

The old military uniform was too big for Xiao Jun. Xu Di thought about it and decided to take it apart and remake it to fit Xiao Jun’s size.

With the remaining fabric, Xu Di made a set for Ping’an, turning one set into two.

When Xu’s eldest sister-in-law and the others returned home from work, they were stunned to see the two sets of military uniforms.

“Xu Di, did you make these?”

“What do you think, are they okay?”

“They’re good, very good. It’s just, it’s a shame to take apart a military uniform.”

Xu’s eldest sister-in-law looked at the excited Xu Jun and the delighted little Ping’an, and couldn’t say the words, “What a waste, don’t take it apart, it would fit your brother perfectly.”

The clothes were specifically for Xu Jun from Comrade Zhang Chaoyang, so she felt awkward saying that.

Xu Di didn’t know that a military uniform was a luxury item for many people at this time.

Xu Jun and Ping’an put on their new clothes, looking delighted, and everyone else was happy for them.

At the Zhang family, Zhang Chaoyang received a call from his grandfather, asking him to bring his partner to the compound the next day.

“Grandma, do my parents know about my wedding date?”

“Yeah, I told them. They might come over soon.”

Zhang Chaoyang looked at his grandmother, and they both knew that the atmosphere wouldn’t be good soon.

Just after dinner, there was a knock on the door.

Aunt Wu had just opened the door when Zhang Chaoyang’s mother rushed in.

“Zhang Chaoyang, you really think we’re dead? You only tell us the wedding date after it’s set.”

Zhang’s father and Zhang Chaoyang’s brother, Zhang Chaoheng, followed behind, quickly closing the door, afraid that the neighbors would hear and it would cause trouble.

“If it wasn’t for the sake of face, I wouldn’t even have told you. I’m getting married, whether you come or not doesn’t affect anything.”

Zhang Chaoyang didn’t let his mother’s words affect him, and his words were like pouring oil on fire.

“You only told us for the sake of face, do you really think you’re the Monkey King, born from a crack in a stone, without a father or mother?”

“Mom, keep your voice down, Second Brother didn’t say anything like that.” Zhang Chaoheng pulled his mother, “Really, what’s with the shouting? It’s not like your voice will make Second Brother listen to you.”

“Zhou Hong, what are you doing yelling in my house?”

Grandma Qian sat on the sofa, calmly looking at her son and daughter-in-law.

“Mom, you can’t say that. After all, Chaoyang is my own son.

How can a son get married and his parents only be told the wedding date? We don’t even know what the daughter-in-law’s family does. Is that right?”

“What’s wrong with that? You’ve already done your duty of giving birth but not raising him, what else do you have to complain about?”

Grandma Qian’s words left Zhang’s mother speechless, unable to retort.

“We, we…”

Zhang’s father looked at his old mother, he was afraid of her from the bottom of his heart.

As far back as he could remember, he and his mother had been constantly on the run.

His mother had a hard time, and he knew that in those days, it was very difficult for an orphan and widow to survive.

His mother was strict with him, demanding a lot from him, and he knew she was doing it for his own good, but psychologically, he still hoped for a gentle mother.

Therefore, when he was twelve years old, he learned that his father was still alive and had a gentle wife, so he wanted to be close to them.

Especially after his mother left for several years, he lived with his father and them.

Aunt Fang was like the mother he imagined, gentle, generous, and spoke softly.

He unconsciously wanted to be close to her, so much so that his mother felt he had betrayed her, and their mother-son relationship grew even more distant. Later, he met Zhou Hong, fell in love with her, but his mother didn’t get along with Zhou Hong, and he was caught in the middle, feeling conflicted.

Later, his mother gradually distanced herself from all of them, and they didn’t interact much.

It wasn’t until Zhou Hong had four children in a row and couldn’t handle it that she sent Chaoyang to his mother’s to help raise him.

All these years, Chaoyang had grown up and was getting married. He was grateful to his mother for helping raise his son, but such a big event as marriage, they should have told them beforehand.

“Zhang Peng, say something!”

Zhang’s mother’s shouting interrupted Zhang’s father’s thoughts.

“Mom, we’re just concerned about Chaoyang. How are you planning to handle the wedding, do we need to do anything?”

“The government is promoting thrift now, so Chaoyang will go pick up the bride, and everyone will just have a good time.”

Grandma Qian also wanted to give Chaoyang a decent wedding, but reality didn’t allow it.

“Mom, that’s too shabby. The people in the compound will come, and they’ll laugh at us.”

Zhou Hong was also afraid of her mother-in-law, and her previous arrogance was gone.

“We’re not planning to invite the people from the compound. Shabby? Zhou Hong, have you had enough of the good life, do you want to experience life on a farm?

Don’t you know what the government’s intentions are?”

“I, I know, it’s just that, marriage is different from other things.”

“Put away your little schemes, hasn’t Zhao Lang made you reflect?”

Grandma Qian had complicated feelings for her other grandchildren. She had once tried to be close to them.

But seeing the distance in their eyes, she felt it was pointless. You can’t force a melon to be sweet.

She had seen how close her grandchildren were to their grandparents, and that was something you couldn’t fake.

She knew her own personality, she wasn’t very approachable, and people didn’t find her easy to get along with.

This was also why she liked Xu Di. The child’s closeness to her was natural and genuine.

“Okay, things are already decided, don’t say anything more.

Give Chaoyang the money, let him buy whatever he needs.”

Zhang’s father spoke, and Zhang’s mother, wanting to say something, could only hold it back.

“Chaoyang, here’s five hundred yuan. All of you siblings get the same, five hundred each when you get married.”

Zhang’s mother said what she didn’t believe, because Zhao Lang’s wedding cost a lot.

“No need, I’ve already prepared everything.”

Zhang Chaoyang didn’t want it. He hadn’t spent much of his parents’ money growing up, and he wasn’t used to it.

“Take it. It’s yours, it’s what we should prepare as parents.”

Zhang’s father knew that they owed Chaoyang, but he didn’t know how to make up for it.

“Chaoyang, take it.”

Grandma Qian didn’t like her son and daughter-in-law, and she didn’t want Chaoyang to be too distant from his parents and siblings.

“Second Brother, I’ll go with you to pick up the bride. Will we ride bicycles or take the jeep?”

Zhang Chaoheng actually wanted to be closer to his second brother, but he didn’t know how.

They didn’t live together when they were younger, so they didn’t see each other often. Later, they returned to Beijing, and his second brother grew up, and became cold, and he didn’t know how to get along with him.

“Ride bicycles. The jeep can’t fit many people.”

Zhang Chaoyang’s arm had almost healed. As long as he didn’t do strenuous activities and was careful, he would be fine. He had even taken off the splint.

“Okay, I’ll ride my bicycle over. What clothes should we wear? Should we all wear military uniforms?”

“No, Xu Di and I will wear military uniforms. Xu Di, she’s my partner.”

Zhang Chaoyang didn’t have a deep connection with his siblings, and they were distant with each other.

Unlike Xu Di’s family, they were natural and easygoing with each other.

Zhang’s mother came in with a fierce attitude, but left dejectedly. She was truly afraid of her mother-in-law.

She didn’t know why, but she had been afraid of her since their first meeting.

After seeing them off, Zhang Chaoyang and his grandmother continued discussing the wedding day, their mood unaffected.