When Ding Anguo arrived at the power plant, the Feng family of three were in their living room making a list, with Ruan Qingru preparing the dowry for Feng Lishu.

Although Ding Anguo and Feng Lishu’s wedding date hadn’t been fixed yet, the Ding Family had promised early on to arrange Ding Anmin’s marriage within the year. Once Ding Anmin was married, they would set a date for the two during the New Year visits. With this tempo, the wedding was generally expected to be in the first half of the year.

Ruan Qingru had only one daughter, so she was naturally quick to prepare. In fact, after Feng Lishu turned eighteen, Ruan Qingru had gradually begun gathering important receipts. She had all the receipts for the four major items ready, and besides the bigger items, quilts, clothes, and trunks couldn’t be missing.

When Ruan Qingru got married, the dowry from her family was already generous. The Ruan Family had been major merchants. During the wartime, they donated most of it for the family’s peace, but with their deep foundations, they secretly kept some gold, silver, jade, and antique paintings. Ruan Qingru had privately received a box of jewelry, with gold, silver, and jade.

Even though the special period hasn’t passed, Ruan Qingru quietly prepared some jewelry for her daughter. However, she reminded, "Lishu, dowries are a woman’s private property and should be in her own hands. But your husband’s family is sensible, and I agree with sharing some things that everyone can use together. However, some of these things should be kept well hidden, even from the in-laws."

"Mom, I can’t wear these out for others to see. Why give them to me? Leaving them at home would be safer, so you wouldn’t worry about me slipping up," Feng Lishu said.

"If you didn’t have any jewelry for your wedding and your grandmother found out, she wouldn’t just scold me. There must be some gold and jade to press the bottom of the trunk so that your life can be prosperous in the future," Ruan Qingru said.

"How do they manage without dowries?" Feng Lishu muttered.

"It’s good that you received it," Ruan Qingru playfully tapped Feng Lishu’s head and said with a smile, "Even though you can’t wear them now, I believe there will be a time when you can."

"Old Feng, take a look, what should we add to it?" Ruan Qingru handed the list to Feng Guolun, who nodded in agreement after glancing at it and praised it profusely.

"Your preparations are flawless, excellent." Feng Guolun gave a thumbs-up with a smile, "This watch has ’man’ written on it, do you intend to buy it for Anguo?"

"Of course," Ruan Qingru beamed with joy, and she took Feng Lishu’s left hand, pulling up the sleeve. "Look at Ding Anguo’s taste; he bought such a beautiful women’s watch. It’s not surprising it came from Jing City. Now that Lishu has such a nice watch, what shall we buy for her?"

"As for Anguo, the watch he wears is quite ordinary. We should buy him a better one so he can have one to switch. But Anguo has only been working for just over half a year, and his salary might not be enough to buy this watch for Lishu. This kid, he’s so genuine," Ruan Qingru said with a gentle smile.

Feng Lishu made an expressive look at Feng Guolun, playfully teasing: this is your wife; the more she looks at your son-in-law, the more she likes him.

"Isn’t it reassuring this way?" Feng Guolun said.

"Of course."

"Knock knock—"

As soon as Ruan Qingru finished speaking, the family heard a knock on the door. Her eyes lit up, "It must be Anguo. I told you it was impossible for him not to visit on New Year’s Day."

Ruan Qingru hurried to open the door, while Feng Guolun smiled and shook his head, "As long as your mom is happy, she won’t think much about the Liao family’s matter, busy with you two."

"Dad, I know," Feng Lishu nodded. That’s why she’d been staying at home these few days to keep her company and divert her attention.

"Anguo, are you cold? Let me make you some tea. Have dinner at home tonight. Your uncle just got a good bottle of wine; join him for a few glasses."

"Sorry for burdening you, Auntie," Ding Anguo said with a smile.

"It’s no trouble at all. It’s not trouble; I’m happy you enjoy my cooking," Ruan Qingru said, laughing gleefully.

"Anguo, did your aunt and them come?" Feng Lishu subtly asked.

"Yes, they did." With those words, Feng Lishu understood and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Your aunt is having dinner at our place the night after tomorrow, Lishu, you should come too; let’s get to know each other," Ding Anguo invited.

"Sure, that sounds good," Feng Lishu replied with a smile.

Seeing this exchange from the side, Feng Guolun and Ruan Qingru were delighted, recognizing their daughter, Lishu, was being valued and already considered family.

In her happiness, Ruan Qingru prepared an exceptionally sumptuous dinner, choosing simple yet flavorful dishes that she knew she could cook well.

Rehydrated kelp braised with ribs, seasoned with just a pinch of salt; river prawns steamed and dipped in soy sauce, retaining their natural taste; pickled radish, a cold dish Ruan Qingru had learned from someone, seasoned with the right ingredients to make it appetizingly tangy and spicy, tested many times and ready to serve.

She added scrambled eggs, sautéed chrysanthemum greens, and cooked a pot of white rice, all set.

When Ding Anguo didn’t return home on time, the Ding Family knew that he was likely staying at the Feng’s for dinner, which wasn’t unusual and didn’t surprise anyone.

Holidays always seem to pass faster, but on the fourth, Yi Roujing, upon arriving at work, received an engraved invitation hand-delivered by Ye Xiangli at the hospital ward.

The invitation stated the date as the sixteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, January 16th, with the wedding banquet under the staff dormitory of the power plant.

"Roujing, I’m getting married. Please come," Ye Xiangli said with some shyness, "Do bring your husband too." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Yi Roujing nodded with a smile. She was actually surprised, having thought that after the Liao family’s incident, Ye Xiangli might break up with Liao Shiqi. She didn’t expect them to actually be getting married; it seems the girl truly loved Liao Shiqi.

During lunch at the cafeteria, Yi Roujing, Ding Anmin, and some nurses from the out-patient department sat and ate together. Han Xiangxi and the others had also received invitations, and their impression of Ye Xiangli had improved significantly. Even Feng Lishu spoke well of Ye Xiangli.

"Didn’t realize before, but she’s a loyal one."

"Lishu, did you get an invitation?" Jin Fengying asked quietly.

"My parents got one, and I’ll be going with them, so Xiangli didn’t give me one," Feng Lishu explained.

"Liao Shiqi is doing well at the power plant, and Ye Xiangli is a nurse. As long as they take good care of their mother-in-law, their days will be good," someone commented.

Yi Roujing discussed with them the expenses for attending the wedding, the tradition of bringing a partner, etc., and got an idea of what to do.

Except for Feng Lishu, everyone else was already married, so each just planned to contribute five dollars since they would be bringing partners.

After work, Yi Roujing and Ding Anmin saw Yi Weiliang and Yi Weijun waiting for them at the entrance of the food factory. Both brothers specifically waited for them.