In the end An Ran and Su Yi Cheng did not stay at Sunset town to watch the sunset. One reason was because An Ran had felt that she was humiliated, embarrassed that she was handled like that in front of all those people on the boat. Another reason was because she got a call when the boat had reached the shore. It was a call from Lin Xiao Fen, saying that it was the weekend, so An Ran and Su Yi Cheng should both come home and have a meal. What she actually wanted to say was that she was afraid that An Ran doesn’t cook, and a large man like Su Yi Cheng probably doesn’t cook either, so she was worried that these next two days, that amateur would poison their bodies.
As a result, even though they originally planned to stay at ‘Sunset town’, once they saw that it was evening they hurried to catch the last bus or else they’ll be stranded. The couple hurried to leave that beautiful golden shore, and took the two hour ride home, once again returning to Jiang city.
They didn’t head back to the apartment. It’s been a week since they’ve seen her parents, so naturally An Ran was missing them. It’s just that these past few days have been really busy, and even though she wanted to visit, she just didn’t have the energy to.
Because of old customs, Su Yi Cheng insisted, while An Ran opposed, and they finally agreed on bringing some fruits home to the Gu Household.
When An Ran and Su Yi Cheng had arrived, Lin Xiao Fen, at that time, was in the kitchen getting ready for tonight’s dinner, while Gu Heng Wen, since he didn’t have a class yesterday, was in the study doing calligraphy, freestyling in a grand emotion.
Seeing that they’ve arrived, Lin Xiao Fen and Gu Heng Wen were truly happy. The four of them sit down and chat for a while. In fact, the topics were just insignificant things, only to drag out a conversation. Naturally Lin Xiao Fen called them over today so that they could have a good meal, but she also had another purpose in mind. Even though the couple said that for now, the wedding isn’t going to happen, but to these old parents, it’s still necessary to seize the moment and experience it once.
Su Yi Cheng nods, and only says that he will arrange it around Gu Heng Wen’s academic work, and he will take care of the location and everything else.
Lin Xiao Fen and Gu Heng Wen are traditional, and said that they got an expert to pick out a date, according to the Lunar calendar, Friday March 28 is a good day, good for marriage, good for settling down. Even though they haven’t prepared for a ceremony, but still, having two families meet each other is a prudent issue. So if Su Yi Cheng would ask them, if it was alright, then they could set it on a Friday, but if not, then everyone could pick another day.
When they finally realized the time, Lin Xiao Fen takes the lead and gets up, and says that dinner is almost ready. An Ran volunteers to lend a hand under instructions. Lin Xiao Fen thinks about it, certain that she wouldn’t be more of a hindrance than a help, so they go into the kitchen together. And Su Yi Cheng stays back with Gu Heng Wen in the living room to chat, the father-in-law and son-in-law not having that awkward silence. The two chat about society, current trends, politics. Gu Heng Wen thought that he had taught for too many years to comment about the current political situation, pointing out the pros and cons of each objectives, even so much that in this standpoint, regarding Su Yi Cheng’s work, even that was brought up. This was something that he hadn’t anticipated.
An Ran and Lin Xiao fen, the pair of mother and daughter, were in the kitchen preparing for tonight’s food. Lin Xiao Fen was the head chef, while An Ran was the helper.
Sitting on the stool, An Ran picks out the vegetables, pulling out the yellow strands, the stuff that insects leave behind, and carefully puts each one into the basket.
Lin Xiao Fen stood at the counter handling the yellow fish, and cut across the stomach. Then she pulled out the internal organs, and washes it clean. Finally, she made two cuts across the back of the fish. She added sliced ginger and scallion, and finally added some drops of homemade rice wine. Then she puts the fish into the pan to cook it. The smell of wine was alluring.
“How is he treating you? Good?” Being a mother, the sense of worry can never be appeased. Although she knows that for the most part he is, but she still wants to hear it from her own mouth, so that she will be more convinced.
“Mom, Su Yi cheng is great towards me. Really, don’t worry.” In fact, there isn’t anything bad to say about him. In every respect he has been taking good care of her. Except for that one thing, which seems to be the most excessively demanding.
Lin Xiao Fen nods, and asks, “Then that’s good. I can see that this Ah Cheng isn’t too bad. Oh yeah, have you met his parents yet? How are they, do they treat you well?
“Yes, we’ve met.” An Ran recalled the details of the meeting that day. Su Yi Cheng’s family treated her really well, considering their household, a rich and powerful one, but their attitudes and such towards her, really didn’t have an ounce of arrogance, as if she really was regarded as a part of the family. She couldn’t help but sigh at her fortune.
“From what you told us, the Su family is considered an official household. Yi Cheng is also a golden child…They really don’t care about family status?” She had thought that An Ran had married into an ordinary family. She never would have thought that she had married into a rich one, and that inevitably made her worried. That kind of household probably naturally has standards, what if An Ran doesn’t meet them, then what’s to be done!
“Mom.” An Ran gets up, and walks to her mother’s side. She naturally knows what her mom is worried about, “The Su family are all very nice, regarding family status and all that, as a matter of fact, is something they don’t care about. When we met that day, they mentioned many times that they want meet you and dad. They aren’t in any way that kind of snobbish, arrogant people.”
“Really?” Lin Xiao Fen still wasn’t convinced, because she had experienced it, so she knows these so-called rich and powerful households, their so-called standards. Not only do you have to withstand that kind of manner, that kind of ‘sitting on a throne’ attitude.
“Really. Seriously. Once you meet them you’ll understand. My husband really isn’t the kind of person you’re thinking about.” An Ran lies.
Hearing her say that, Lin Xiao Fen finally nods her head and believes her words.
By the time the mother-daughter pair emerged from the kitchen it was almost 9 o’clock. They ate until they were bursting, and after dinner they continued to eat the fruits that the couple had brought. Their stomachs really were almost bursting. It was late and they still haven’t left. Because their stomachs were too full, the couple decided to take a stroll along the street in the direction of their apartment rather than calling a taxi.
The night scene wouldn’t be considered beautiful. There wasn’t moonlight, and there were very few stars. There were only some hovering clouds. The entire night sky seemed to look even more vast and lonely.
Eight or nine o’clock is when the night life of Jiang city begins. The flickering rainbow of street lights and the pedestrians were not few, but most of them were youngsters. An Ran and Su Yi Cheng were among these people, hand-in-hand.
Her hand being held by his large ones, wasn’t awkward at all. All seemed to fit, as if things should be this way. In fact, if one really thinks about it, they haven’t known each other long. Since the marriage until now, not even half a month has passed. There were some things that progressed too quickly, but it didn’t seem sudden at all.
An Ran let him lead her forward, eyes looking ahead on the road. On the corner of her mouth is a faint smile. About this marriage, she truly thinks that she is fortunate.
---END OF CHAPTER---
Hey guys! Thanks for your wishes.. I did well on my written exams, but my practicals... Yeah, don't even wanna talk about it haha.... I am still a nervous wreck. But anyways, I still have exams, but I managed to squeeze in some time for translating. It's not good quality though, so I'm sorry about that!
And Happy Chinese New Year! My Rooster friends, this is our year. ✊ To my American friends, please, stay strong 💙
