Chapter 285: Chapter 281: Marriage Registration & Xiao Chenyue Returns Home

I didn’t get a big slap in the face, but I did get smacked by my own mom’s shoe sole.

Xiao Chenye saw this and was positively jubilant as he pulled Wen Ran away.

Leaving a big shoe mark on his back.

"What are you trying to achieve?"

Wen Ran chuckled and brushed the shoe print off his clothes, "It’s early in the morning. Can’t we just walk happily?"

Xiao Chenye was all smiles, "I feel pretty happy right now. Well! It’s not like I don’t get beaten for ten or eight generations.

I get beaten every day; I’m used to it."

Wen Ran: "..."

His thick skin is practically as tough as a city wall.

"Alright, anyway, it wasn’t me who got hit, so I’m not bothered at all."

"Come on, aren’t you worried about me?"

"A little bit?"

Xiao Chenye: "~"

Hmph~

He doesn’t mind arguing with a woman who doesn’t speak her heart.

He knows!

Ranran loves him to death.

Getting the marriage certificate was incredibly fast, unbelievably so.

Wen Ran looked at the award in her hand and then belatedly remembered.

Marriage certificates at this time aren’t quite like those in later years.

Later marriage certificates come in a leather red booklet with the couple’s photos on a red background.

Here, there’s nothing.

"By the way, with a marriage certificate, you can go to the supply and marketing cooperative and buy a pair of pillowcases and an enamel washbasin without needing a ticket."

"Thanks," Xiao Chenye confidently stepped forward, "It’s a good day, let everyone have some sweets and brighten their day."

With the orange candy in hand, everyone felt a bit overwhelmed; though they worked at such places often, candies were still quite a luxury for most families.

Being able to buy a couple to bring home and sweeten the kids’ mouths was nice enough.

Yet here they were, handing them out to strangers who barely knew each other...

At once, words of good fortune flowed freely like they cost nothing.

It almost drove Wen Ran mad with discomfort.

Yet Xiao Chenye remained calm and composed.

Oh my!

Wen Ran felt she was about to lose it.

Unable to stand the atmosphere, she grabbed Xiao Chenye and fled.

Once out of the registry office, Wen Ran pinched Xiao Chenye’s waist and spoke gritted teeth, "You’re quite impressive, aren’t you!"

Xiao Chenye jokingly grabbed Wen Ran’s hand, "Hey, calm down, what are you trying to do in broad daylight?"

He winked at Wen Ran with a flirtatious look. "After we’ve done the ceremony tomorrow, we can slowly..."

Not so slow.

Because it won’t pass the review.

Wen Ran stepped on Xiao Chenye’s foot and fled.

Of course, before going home, the two went to the supply and marketing cooperative; not to mention, those ticket-free pillowcases and enamel washbasin were truly rare finds.

Though the assets they had were not lacking these things.

But as the saying goes, save when it’s time to save, spend when it’s time to spend.

It’s akin to riding a bicycle to the bar.

On the way home, Xiao Chenye was cheerily foolish, but as soon as he reached the door, he got hit hard.

It was Xiao Chenxing who had returned with the whole family.

"Sis!"

Xiao Chenye was incredibly happy.

He pulled Wen Ran, dropped the bicycle, and dashed to Xiao Chenyue, wanting to say something sentimental.

Sis, you’ve gotten thinner.

But, those simple four words.

He couldn’t bring himself to say them.

He just stared blankly at the regal Xiao Chenyue, incredulous, "No way, Xiao Chenyue, what did you eat over there in the Northwest?"

From afar, he didn’t notice, but up close, she had indeed gained a bit of weight.

Xiao Chenyue: "..." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

The excitement she had instantly cooled down.

Honestly speaking, she hadn’t thought much about this little brother.

Always saying hurtful things; it’d be better to do away with them.

"Alright, alright," Xiao Chenye generously said, "You seldom come home, so I won’t say anything to hurt you."

After all, gaining weight shows that Gula has truly treated her well.

"Right now, I want to kill you."

Xiao Chenyue calmly expressed her inner feelings.

"Hehehe," Xiao Chenye proudly stood with his hands on his hips and took out the neatly folded certificate from his pocket, gleefully showing it to Xiao Chenyue.

"I’m getting married today!"

He posed like a prideful peacock, flaunting its feathers.

"See, this is what the marriage certificate looks like. I’m not saying, look at this enamel basin, the quality is really top-notch."

After showing off the marriage certificate, Xiao Chenye then started to brag about the pillowcases, "And look at this pattern, so bright..."

The Xiao Family was uninterested in engaging with Xiao Chenye, it was only Gula who clumsily echoed his words.

"How is it?"

"I’m fine," Xiao Chenyue was all smiles, "Actually, I should thank you back then."

Wen Ran had a relieved smile on her face, "Thank me for what?"

"Actually, when I had to leave back then, I was quite scared."

"Hmm?"

Xiao Chenyue hugged Minmin, speaking with nostalgia, "As a woman, with a child, heading alone to an unfamiliar place, just the thought was intimidating."

But, looking at Wen Ran, who quickly adapted after going to the countryside, even managing to support herself and live freely.

It gave her the courage to follow Xiao Chengguang to that place.

"It’s alright, the paths are paved by walking on them."

Even when you can’t see the light or the way ahead, once you start moving, the path is beneath your feet, and hope is not far away.

Minmin fiddled with the toy in her hand, looked at Wen Ran, and suddenly called out, "Mama!"

Wen Ran: "?"

She raised her eyebrows, "If you don’t want this girl, give her to me."

Xiao Chenyue wasn’t afraid of Wen Ran’s teasing, "This mom isn’t the real mom; she’s your aunt!"

"Alright, so you’re teasing me too, huh."

Minmin can walk now but still speaks hesitantly, uttering one word at a time.

She was very curious about this courtyard, unable to stay put, struggling in Xiao Chenyue’s arms, wanting to get down.

Mrs. Xiao approached, "Let me have the child; you two can chat properly."

"Alright."

Xiao Chenyue didn’t know why but at this time, seeing Wen Ran made her feel like she had endless things to say.

After not seeing each other for a long time, it didn’t feel unfamiliar.

Their conversation started with leisure.

They talked about Wen Ran’s earlier experience with the cow she managed to save from bandits, life was quite good now; in the spring, it got pregnant.

Perhaps in a couple of months, a calf would be born.

"How are things between you and Gula?"

"Quite good," Xiao Chenyue rested her chin on her hand, "actually, we came back not just for your wedding."

Wen Ran seemed to realize something, "You mean..."

"Yes," Xiao Chenyue tenderly, "Gula doesn’t have parents, but I do; marrying also provides a sense of duty to them.

And also, gives Gula a sense of commitment."

Moreover, she didn’t want her daughter to grow up just starting to understand things and become a child without a father...