Ouyang Meihua, her sister-in-law, and the three of them worked together to prepare a sumptuous dinner.
Li Wanzhen was naturally invited to stay. After the meal, Li Weiyan escorted her home. "I'm rejoining the team tomorrow. Once you marry me, you'll be living in Kushan. You need to be prepared."
"If there's anything at home you can't bear to leave, you can pack it up. We'll take it back to Kushan together on our return visit."
Li Wanzhen nodded. "I know. My mother said I should try not to visit home too often, but she'll come see me. She doesn't want people to mock me, saying I'm the only one officially living in Kushan."
"I can't wait to escape this circle. I hate all this comparison."
Li Weiyan held her hand. "Where there are people, there's the martial world. Although you'll encounter gossips in Kushan, the pressure will be much less."
"However, the gossips wouldn't dare to speak ill of you. My mother would beat them away, and my aunt and paternal aunt are both very protective."
Li Wanzhen smiled and nodded.
…
The next morning, the young men who had returned for the wedding ceremony rejoined their teams. In a few days, they would return to Kushan for a second celebration.
County Magistrate Li also took the train back to Ling County.
Around 9 AM, the newlyweds came for breakfast. Li Wanting blushed and apologized to her mother-in-law for being late.
Tian Jing laughed. "You don't have work or need to catch a train. Why wake up so early? Sleeping until you naturally wake up is the most comfortable."
Li Weihao brushed away the stray hairs on Li Wanting's forehead. "How is it? Didn't I say Mom wouldn't mind?"
Li Wanting's face turned even redder. She pulled Li Weihao's hand away. Li Weihao turned his wrist and clasped her hand, holding it tight.
Li Wanting shyly said, "Let's wash our hands and eat."
"Together."
With that, he led her towards the bathroom.
Ouyang Meihua chuckled. "I didn't realize Hao Hao was that type?"
"The outwardly reserved, inwardly passionate type."
Li Min chimed in, "Since he was little, I could tell this kid liked to put on an act."
Tian Jing rose to prepare lunch in the kitchen. "Talking about my son right in front of me, are you two looking for trouble?"
Li Min, unafraid, continued, "Then behind your back in the future... mmm."
Li Min's mouth was suddenly wrapped by two vines, preventing her from speaking.
"Hahaha." Ouyang Meihua burst into laughter. "Serves you right."
Only when Li Weihao and Li Wanting walked over did the vines on Li Min's mouth, which she couldn't pull off no matter how hard she tried, finally release.
After lunch, Li Wanting wanted to wash the dishes, but her mother-in-law stopped her. "Go back to your room and rest. There are people to do these little chores."
Li Weihao led his unwilling wife to the room next to the next room.
As soon as they entered the bridal chamber, Li Wanting hid in the bathroom.
Li Weihao waited outside the bathroom door. After a while, he urged, "I need to use the bathroom."
"Just a moment."
When Li Wanting emerged with her head lowered, Li Weihao embraced her tightly. "I was too hasty. Don't be afraid, we'll take it slow."
Li Wanting's tense body relaxed. "I'm sorry, I was just too nervous. Give me a little more time."
"Alright."
Li Weihao lowered his head and kissed her lips. He didn't know why his wife had this hesitation, but he would patiently accommodate her.
After the kiss, Li Weihao led her towards the bed. "Time for a nap."
Gently patting her stiff body in his arms, Li Weihao comforted her, "Relax, have a good sleep."
Li Wanting took a deep breath, then looked up and kissed his thin lips. "I don't know why I'm like this, but let's try again."
Li Weihao kissed her until she was breathless before releasing her. "No rush, let's sleep. We have plenty of time. When you get used to my presence next to you, we'll try again."
"After the banquet in Kushan, we'll buy household items and get our little home organized in the specialty team's area, decorated to your liking."
Mentioning their future home, Li Wanting had a lot to talk about.
Li Weihao also offered suggestions. Before they knew it, Li Wanting fell asleep in his arms.
A smile curved his lips. This was a good beginning.
Why did she wake up late this morning? Because after they couldn't consummate their marriage, this silly girl felt guilty and couldn't sleep until he let her sleep alone, and she finally dozed off.
…
On the 23rd, for the return visit, Tian Jing prepared standard gifts of tobacco, alcohol, tea, and candy, along with plenty of fruit.
The young couple returned in the afternoon in good spirits, so Tian Jing confidently urged everyone to pack their luggage and head back to Kushan.
Ji Qing and Ji Xiang didn't want to go back to Kushan; they wanted to find Xiao Xiao Hei.
Li Min tapped their little heads. "You're going back to drink your uncle's wedding wine. Your uncle and aunt will take you to find Xiao Xiao Hei."
Ji Qing stubbornly argued, "It's not Aunt, it's Aunt Li."
Ji Xiang held his brother's hand. "Aunt Li is going to have a baby with Uncle, so she'll be Aunt."
Whether Ji Qing understood or not, he nodded. "Alright, Aunt."
Li Min was relieved that Zeng Jingchu had sent Ji Xiang over. Otherwise, with Ji Qing, this little dummy, he'd be even more foolish than his father.
…
This time, with Shen Jianrong and Yu Ziyu's seven-seater car also in Kyoto, the Li family didn't have to detour to the Northern Province Military Region. They arrived back in Kushan before dark.
Li's mother, along with Da Mai and Lin Hua'er, had prepared dinner. Seeing Li Wanting, Li's mother smiled and welcomed the new daughter-in-law into the family.
"Grandma."
Li Wanting's greeting earned her a big red envelope.
"Sister Da Mai, cousin-in-law."
Li Wanting also greeted Da Mai and Lin Hua'er.
When they offered red envelopes, Li Wanting refused, saying they were peers.
Li Weihao accepted them for her. "If they give it, accept it. I'm telling you, you'll need to prepare many red envelopes for changing addresses, not only for your younger siblings but also for a few younger relatives."
Li Wanting nodded. "My younger siblings will surely tease me, so preparing red envelopes to make them happy is fine. But Sister Da Mai and cousin-in-law..."
"You silly girl."
Li Weihao shook his head helplessly and smiled. "If you give money to others, you're happy?"
Li Wanting said sheepishly, "Accepting red envelopes from peers feels a bit awkward."
This was a stubborn girl who only knew how to give.
Li's mother urged, "Quickly wash your hands, dinner is ready."
The family sat down, and Li's mother, as the matriarch, welcomed the new daughter-in-law again.
Tian Jing, as the mistress of the smaller household, also told her elder daughter-in-law to relax.
Li Min looked at her younger brother.
Her younger brother winked: he was the master outside the family, and his wife was the master inside the family.
Li Min: Believe you, I'm a fool.
After the family dinner, Tian Jing took the keys and led her eldest son and daughter-in-law to the villa to settle in.
All the renovation materials used were imported eco-friendly materials. Coupled with daily opening of doors and windows for ventilation, there was no longer any lingering smell from the renovation.
Li Weihao led his wife to tour the villa behind his mother, and thanked his mother.
Tian Jing waved her hand. "Why be so polite with Mom?"
As she spoke, she handed their marriage certificate to her eldest son and a bank card to her elder daughter-in-law.
"To be honest, the reason I held back the dowry for your sisters was not only because your uncle's family lacked financial resources, but also because your two aunts had some selfish thoughts."
"They wanted to benefit while also demanding fairness. Where did they demand fairness? From your grandfather."
"Many elders like to pool their children's belongings and then distribute them fairly. This idea is inherently unfair to the capable children. Where is the fairness in that?"
"Such elders are the root cause of family disintegration and are not to be pitied."
"Consider our family's situation and compare your grandmother's approach with your grandfather's."
"This card contains two million yuan to compensate for the gap between you and Ziyu. However, it cannot be openly declared. Otherwise, not only will Wanzhen's relationship with your aunt be strained, but my relationship with your aunt will also be strained, and the Li family will practically be falling apart."
Li Wanting quickly waved her hands in refusal. "No, no. I'm fine with being similar to my sister. We won't compare ourselves to Ziyu."
Li Weihao accepted it. "If you refuse, you'll be letting Wanzhen down, but I'll feel like Mom is playing favorites, and I, the eldest son, am not as doted upon as my second brother."
Li Wanting paused, then said, "Then you keep it, but don't give it to me. I'll feel guilty if I have it."
"Silly girl."
Li Weihao couldn't help but lightly tap her forehead. "If I buy anything, does it matter if I give it to you?"
Uh…
Li Wanting pondered for a long time before saying, "If you buy a large item, it's ours. If you buy small things, you can handle them as you please."
Tian Jing was quite satisfied with Li Wanting's words. Regardless of how the young couple handled the money, she returned to the quadrangle.
Li Weihao wanted to escort her, but Tian Jing shook her head and smiled. "Do you think your father won't come to pick me up?"