Chapter 75

Zhang Chaoyang didn’t care about his parents’ anger or the feelings of the other members of the Zhang family.

But his grandfather had called and asked him to go over, so he couldn’t pretend not to know.

The next day, he went to Xu’s house again.

“Chaoyang is here, is your arm healed? Did you take off the splint?”

Xu’s mother was still at work, but Zhang Chaoyang came over. She was working the late shift today.

“It’s healed. As long as I don’t do strenuous activities, it will be fine with some time to recover.

Auntie, my grandfather called and wanted me to take Xu Di to see him. I came to discuss it with Xu Di.”

“It’s good to go see the elders. Xu Di is in the room, go find her.”

They had already gotten their marriage certificate, so Xu’s mother wasn’t afraid of them being alone. They were about to have their wedding anyway.

“Xu Di, can I come in?”

“Come in, I’m ironing clothes.”

Xu Di had already finished making the shirts and was ironing them flat.

“You finished the clothes?”

“Yeah, I finished them. I’ll go hang up the curtains later, and my mom said she’ll bring the other small things on the wedding day.”

Xu Di knew that weddings needed to be ceremonial. The bedding, washbasins, and other things from her family’s dowry needed to be taken to her husband’s family on the wedding day with the people who came to pick her up.

Zhang Chaoyang told her about his grandfather’s request, and Xu Di didn’t mind. They had already been to her grandfather’s house.

“When are we going?”

“Let’s go now. First, we’ll hang up the curtains, then we’ll go.”

Grandpa Zhang usually went to the office for a while in the morning and came back before noon.

They made arrangements, and Xu Di asked Zhang Chaoyang to try on the white shirt. If anything didn’t fit, she could adjust it.

“Change here?”

“I’ll go out, you change yourself.”

Xu Di saw Zhang Chaoyang’s ears turn red, and she felt a little embarrassed too, so she quickly pushed the door open and went out.

Zhang Chaoyang’s face was a little hot. He quickly took off his coat and shirt, revealing an undershirt underneath.

The freshly ironed shirt was still a little warm. Zhang Chaoyang buttoned it up and came out, asking Xu Di to take a look.

“How is it, does it fit? Raise your arm and see if it’s tight.”

“It’s good, it’s comfortable.”

Xu Di walked around Zhang Chaoyang, looking at him. He had a good figure, and the shirt looked good on him.

“Can I change out of it now?”

Zhang Chaoyang felt hotter and hotter, and he felt like he was going to sweat.

“Okay, you can change. We’ll take it back later, you’ll wear it on the wedding day.”

Xu Di held back a laugh. She didn’t expect Comrade Zhang, who was usually so composed, to be so shy.

They took the finished curtains back to the new house, tidied up, and then went to the military compound.

Whether it was intentional or not, only Grandpa was at home, everyone else was gone.

Zhang Chaoyang and Xu Di didn’t mind. It was better this way, they wouldn’t have to make awkward small talk.

They had dinner with Grandpa and then went back.

Soon, the wedding day arrived.

Xu Di was woken up before dawn. Her sister-in-law wanted to help her with makeup, but Xu Di refused.

She had seen wedding makeup from this era, and it was a bit indescribable.

Xu Di did it herself. She braided two braids and crossed them at the back of her head.

She applied a layer of cold cream, patted on some powder, lightly drew her eyebrows with an eyebrow pencil, and dabbed her lips with lipstick paper. Done.

“You know what, Xu Di did her own makeup pretty well, it’s not too heavy.”

Xu’s eldest sister-in-law looked at her younger sister-in-law doing her own makeup, it was much better than the red-faced makeup others did.

Her hair was neat too. It would be perfect if she wore two red flowers.

Unfortunately, Xu Di didn’t like them.

She wore a green military uniform and black leather shoes. She looked quite spirited.

Grandma Xu looked at her granddaughter, dressed up beautifully, and felt both happy and sad.

“Grandma, I’m not getting married far away, I’ll come back to see you on weekends.”

Xu Di hugged her grandmother, knowing she didn’t want to let her go.

“I know, Grandma knows.”

“He’s here, he’s here, Brother-in-law is here…”

Xu Jun and Xu Yong ran in from outside. They saw their brother-in-law and the others coming on bicycles.

“So many bicycles, each one has a big red flower tied to it.”

“Brother-in-law is wearing a military uniform, and many others are wearing military uniforms too.”

“Crackle, crackle…”

As they were talking, firecrackers went off downstairs.

There were footsteps coming from the hallway.

“Xu Di, I’m here to take you home.”

Zhang Chaoyang’s voice came from outside the door. Xu Jun was blocking the door, holding it shut.

“Little brother-in-law, open the door, there’s a red envelope.”

Zhang Chaoyang shouted towards the door. He knew Xu Jun must be blocking the door with the others.

“The door’s open, there’s a red envelope, a big red envelope!”

Hao Yunlei joined in, urging them to open the door.

Xu Jun opened the door a crack, took the red envelope, shared it with Xu Yong and the others, and opened the door completely.

Zhang Chaoyang, in his military uniform, was still a little handsome. It was true what they said, the good ones are all serving the country.

Xu Di looked at Zhang Chaoyang, her heart beating a little faster, a sense of shyness flooded her.

At Xu’s house, Zhang Chaoyang changed his address, and they bid farewell to their parents, ready to go to the groom’s house.

Xu Di sat on the back of Zhang Chaoyang’s bicycle. There were more than ten bicycles in the group, some carrying luggage, others carrying people.

A group of bicycles rode majestically towards the government compound.

Downstairs at Grandma Qian’s house, Aunt Wang was directing things, saying that when the bride came back, they would set off firecrackers.

Upstairs, Zhang Chaoyang’s parents, his brother and his family, and his sister were all there.

Grandpa Zhang was also there, as well as some cousins. If they didn’t come, Grandpa would scold them.

Grandma Qian was wearing new clothes and looked cheerful. It was good that Chaoyang was getting married.

Because they weren’t having a big celebration, Grandma Qian only invited a few close friends, and everyone else was not invited.

Zhang’s father and mother didn’t invite colleagues or friends, and neither did Grandpa Zhang.

Firecrackers went off downstairs, the bride had arrived.

Grandma Qian stood up with a smile, waiting for the couple to come in.

Xu Di and Zhang Chaoyang walked up together, both wearing black cashmere coats.

The weather was still cold, they couldn’t just wear military uniforms.

Only now did the other members of the Zhang family see the bride’s true appearance.

“Mom, she’s just average looking. She’s not a stunning beauty. My second brother is so smitten with her, he’s really never seen anything.”

“Keep your voice down, if your second brother hears you, he won’t spare you.”

Zhang’s mother glared at her daughter. Grandpa and Grandma were there, what was she saying?

“Humph!”

Zhang’s mother ignored her daughter. She had to go greet them, otherwise, she would be the one laughed at. In the eyes of outsiders, it was her own son getting married.

Wedding ceremonies were simple at this time. They sang a red song, recited a few passages from the scriptures, bowed to the portrait of the great leader…

Xu Di wasn’t sure, she just followed Aunt Wang’s instructions.

When all the ceremonies were finished, everyone ate wedding candy and gradually dispersed.

It wasn’t a day off, so everyone except close relatives who had taken leave came back to work.

Xu’s family also went back. They had seen Xu Di’s new house and were reassured.

Only the Zhang family remained in the house.

Grandma Qian sat in the main seat, and Grandpa Zhang sat on the side. He had no say here.

Zhang Chaoyang took Xu Di to meet the Zhang family members who had come. His parents, brother and sister-in-law, brother and sister, cousins, there were quite a few people.

Xu Di greeted them one by one. They wouldn’t have much contact in the future, so it was enough to maintain appearances.

“Okay, you’ve all met each other. That’s it for today. You’ve all been busy for the whole morning, go do whatever you need to do. There’s no banquet.”

Grandma Qian spoke, and no one objected.

Grandpa Zhang was originally going to have a meal together, but after hearing this, he couldn’t say anything either, and took the lead in leaving.

Zhang Chaoyang’s parents wanted to say something, but in the end, they said nothing and left too.

This simple wedding was over, they were officially married!