Runye is here!

Sun Shaoan approached Old Man Yu Hou, holding a cup of white wine.

“Dad, Mom, we toast to you!”

“You’ve worked hard all these years; your eldest son is now married!”

Sun Yuhou and Shaoan’s mother also stood up at this moment.

“Today is your big day; we shouldn’t talk about such things!”

“That’s right, after you’re married, you must live a good life!”

Old Man Yu Hou raised his glass, about to drink first.

Xiulian, standing by, subtly nudged Shaoan with her elbow, reminding him to drink first as a sign of respect.

“Dad, Mom, don’t worry, I will definitely live a good life with Shaoan!” Xiulian said, simultaneously clinking glasses with Shaoan and drinking first.

“Shaoan, you must properly toast your father-in-law. Without him, our family wouldn’t have been able to marry such a wonderful woman as Xiulian!” Shaoan’s mother also took a sip from her glass and looked towards He Yaozong.

“Dad, you’ve raised Xiulian by yourself all these years, and it hasn’t been easy. I will definitely treat Xiulian well, make our life prosperous, and never let her suffer any grievances!”

Shaoan took another cup of wine that Jin Bo refilled for him and spoke to He Yaozong with deep emotion.

“Dad, you’ve worked hard, I…,” Xiulian wanted to say more, but she choked up and couldn’t speak.

Her daughter was marrying far away to another province, and the opportunities to meet in the future would likely be few. Thinking of this, Xiulian’s initial wedding joy significantly diminished.

“Silly child, as long as you are happy, I am happy. Don’t cry, live a good life, and just come back to visit when you have time!”

Although He Yaozong was also reluctant, his daughter was grown and should have married long ago. However, Xiulian simply didn’t fancy the crooked and ugly men around her, which led to his earlier statement that if she found someone she liked, he wouldn’t ask for a bride price.

Now that Xiulian was married, even though her son-in-law Sun Shaoan’s family was a bit poor, he was tall, handsome, and capable in the village—a good young man. So, Xiulian wasn’t being wronged. With his help, their life would surely get better and better.

After Sun Shaoan and Xiulian finished toasting, they walked to the next table.

Xiulian took advantage of a break to grab a flatbread and handed it to Sun Shaoan, telling him to eat something to line his stomach, otherwise his stomach wouldn’t be able to handle it!

Sun Shaoan took a bite, then put the rest of the flatbread into Xiulian’s mouth, telling her to eat too.

The two were indeed very harmonious and happy.

They walked to the next table, where all the family relatives were seated. Besides relatives, there was also a familiar figure: “Tian Er.”

Tian Er wore his characteristic smile, muttering, “Times are changing, times are changing!”

He ate his food, occasionally repeating his catchphrase!

Whether it was a wedding or a funeral, he was always present at such gatherings.

No matter whose family was hosting a feast in the village, he would show up uninvited.

This was the legendary “Village Guardian”! (Dear readers, do you have similar figures where you live?)

Everyone was quite happy about it, as according to local custom, it was considered a good omen.

… … … …

Before long, Sun Shaoan led He Xiulian to Zhao Dongchuan’s table.

Sun Shaoan first raised a toast to everyone, then said to Zhao Dongchuan, “Xiao Zhao, our family has received a lot of help from you. I remember this kindness, I…”

Zhao Dongchuan saw that Shaoan was about to say more and interrupted him, saying, “Shaoan, let’s not be so formal. Speaking of it, if your father hadn’t carried me home when I was unconscious, I might have frozen to death by the roadside!”

“From now on, don’t talk about repaying me anymore!”

“One thing is one thing, but I’ll remember it!” Sun Shaoan stubbornly insisted.

Xiulian, standing by, nodded continuously, supporting her husband.

“Then you two must live a good life and make your days prosperous!” Zhao Dongchuan said with a teasing smile.

As they were talking, at another table, Tian Wanyou, the “people’s artist” of Shuangshui Village, had too much to drink and, feeling a bit tipsy, spontaneously began to sing a Xintianyou folk song!

“Hey, ah… let the wine song ring out!”

“I sing, oh, I sing the wine song…”

“One, one, ah, hey… …”

Everyone cheered in unison, praising him!

Taking advantage of the wedding Shaoan hosted, everyone freely released the long-suppressed restlessness and passion within them!

Meanwhile, not far from Shaoan’s home, a woman dressed in a floral dress stared blankly at the lively scene, lost in thought.

“Shaoan, you really got married… …”

“But your bride isn’t me… …”

The woman murmured to herself, as if speaking to Shaoan.

This woman was none other than Shaoan’s “white moonlight,” Tian Runye.

She learned from her younger brother Runsheng that today was Shaoan’s wedding day, so she secretly rushed back from Yuanxi County without telling her father.

She wasn’t particularly sad; ever since she heard that Shaoan had brought back a big-eyed girl from Shanxi, she had anticipated this moment.

At this point, her reason for coming was no longer just for Shaoan’s wedding, but also for a farewell—she was there to bid farewell to her own youth.

Runye held two Hangzhou-made brocade quilt covers, intending to give them to her Shaoan as a wedding gift.

Originally, she had planned to have someone bring them to Shuangshui Village for her father, Tian Futang, to deliver on her behalf. But after much hesitation and thinking things through, she decided to come herself.

Now, as she arrived in Shuangshui Village, standing on this hillside and looking at the beaming He Xiulian and the happy Sun Shaoan in the distance, her heart suddenly grew calm, without the emotional turmoil she had anticipated.

She held the two brocade quilt covers and walked step by step towards Shaoan’s house.

Upon reaching the entrance, she slowly walked towards Sun Shaoan amidst the surprised and curious gazes of the crowd.

Tian Futang was drinking and chatting with Liu Genmin, about to swallow a peanut, when he suddenly felt the atmosphere become eerily quiet. He turned to look at the courtyard gate.

The scene before him almost made his jaw drop: his daughter, Tian Runye, was walking step by step towards Sun Shaoan, holding the quilt covers.

“Buzz…!” He felt his head was about to explode.

“This girl, could she not give up and intend to cause a scene at the wedding?” His face flushed instantly, and he nearly choked on that peanut.

“Runye… you…” He slowly stood up, speechless for a moment.

Zhao Dongchuan was also a little surprised. The current scene was not what he had expected; he had thought Runye would still hide in Yuanxi County, just like in the original story.

However, looking at Runye, he didn't assume, like Tian Futang, that she was there to “make trouble.” He knew very well that Runye wasn't that kind of person; if she wanted to cause trouble, she would have done so much earlier!

Sun Yuhou looked at Tian Runye, who had almost become his daughter-in-law, with a helpless expression. He knew everything about Runye and Shaoan’s situation; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so eager to find a wife for Shaoan.