After finishing a sumptuous lunch, Qiao Shu also followed Yang Baocheng to leave the Qiao Family and marry into the Feng Family.
Facing Qiao Shu’s departure, the Qiao Family felt reluctant, but they were even happier that she could marry into such a capable Feng Family.
After all, with the generous bride price and greeting gifts from the Feng Family, who wouldn’t be moved?
Especially since, besides those things, the Feng Family had additionally given a thousand yuan.
This stunned the daughters-in-law from the other two branches of the Qiao Family, and they all began to regret in their hearts—why hadn’t they fought for it back then, so their own daughters could marry over.
Among them, Xu Cui from the eldest branch of the Qiao Family regretted it the most, after all, it was her daughter Qiao Hui who had originally been settled to marry into the Feng Family!
However, no matter what the others thought, it was still Qiao Shu who ended up marrying into the Feng Family.
“Daughter, on the road, you must stick close to Comrade Yang and listen to him. You absolutely cannot talk to strangers…”
Worried for her own daughter, He Meijun tightly gripped her daughter’s hand while instructing Qiao Shu.
As her father, Qiao Chang was also reluctant to see his daughter leave home for a distant marriage, but he was a man after all and wouldn’t wipe tears while holding his daughter and refusing to let go. He simply watched her with red-rimmed eyes and entrusted her safety on this journey to Yang Baocheng.
“Comrade Yang, I’ll trouble you to take care of my daughter on this trip. She’s young and hasn’t traveled far alone much, so she lacks experience. I’ll have to rely on you along the way…”
Upon hearing Qiao Chang’s words, Yang Baocheng immediately nodded, his expression very serious as he said.
“Uncle, rest assured, I will definitely protect Comrade Qiao Shu well.”
Amid a reluctant farewell, Qiao Shu finally boarded the tractor and left Qiao Village.
Originally, He Meijun and Qiao Chang wanted to go with Qiao Shu to the county town and see her onto the bus.
But Qiao Shu refused. After all, there wouldn’t be a tractor to bring them back on the return trip, and they would have to walk back to the county town. Qiao Shu felt sorry for them and didn’t want them to tire themselves out.
Moreover, sending her off at the bus station would likely make her parents cry again, so Qiao Shu simply had them stay home and not see her off.
In the end, only Qiao Shu herself boarded the tractor to the county town to catch the long-distance bus to the train station.
As they watched their daughter’s figure grow more and more blurred until it completely disappeared, He Meijun could no longer hold back her tears and burst into sobs.
Qiao Chang patted He Meijun’s shoulder with red-rimmed eyes, comforting her in a slightly choked voice, “Alright, our daughter is going to enjoy good fortune. Don’t cry; we should be happy.”
“Yeah, our Shushu is going to the city to enjoy a good life. Don’t cry. From now on, she’ll have plenty of good days ahead!”
Old Lady Qiao watched her youngest daughter-in-law keep crying and crying. Though she too was reluctant to see her youngest granddaughter marry away, she didn’t like He Meijun crying as if someone in the family had died.
“Sister-in-law, what’s there to cry about? Your daughter married into such a good, wealthy family—you should be laughing…”
Jealous that He Meijun’s daughter had married into such a fine, affluent family, Xu Laidi said dismissively from the side, a bit envious in her heart.
He Meijun, already in a foul mood, had her fiery temper ignited the moment she heard Xu Laidi’s words.
“Xu Laidi, laugh your mother’s stinky dog fart! You think everyone’s like you, heartless, selling your daughter for money to subsidize your maternal family! You conscienceless wretch—not bearing a son is your retribution!”
“You! What did you say! Who can’t bear a son!”
Xu Laidi, whose sore spot had been stepped on, had her eyes redden instantly. Normally the most timid and unwilling to argue with family, she suddenly jumped up, looking ready to fight He Meijun to the death.
Seeing her two daughters-in-law on the verge of fighting, Old Lady Qiao hurriedly had Qiao Chang pull the upset He Meijun back into the room.
Once back in the room, Qiao Chang let out a soft sigh and said gently, “Meijun, I know you’re upset, but the child is grown and has to marry someday. Our daughter said that once we install a phone at home, she’ll call us every day to chat. It’ll be just like having her at home…”
Under Qiao Chang’s gentle comforting, He Meijun’s mood gradually calmed.
“I know all that, but I still can’t bear to part with our daughter… She married so far away. What if she gets bullied or wronged later, and we don’t know, and can’t stand up for her… Just thinking about it makes my heart ache unbearably…”
Wasn’t He Meijun’s worry exactly what Qiao Chang worried about too?
“Then how about… after Xiao Qi graduates, see if he can find work where Shushu is? That way, at least Shushu will have family nearby to look after her.”
At Qiao Chang’s words, He Meijun immediately perked up.
“Her dad, that’s a good idea! Our son dotes on his little sister the most. With Xiao Qi watching over Shushu then, I can rest easy…”
The more He Meijun thought about it, the better the idea seemed, and the sorrow over her daughter’s distant marriage instantly faded quite a bit.
Her mind was now fully occupied with plans for her eldest son to go work in her youngest daughter’s location after graduation.
That evening, when the couple returned to their room to prepare for bed, they discovered—
“Huh?! This money…”
He Meijun stared wide-eyed at the thick stack of bills under her pillow, her eyes full of disbelief.
“Sigh! Shushu, this child! We told her to keep the thousand yuan from the Feng Family herself, but how—how did she give it back to us…”
Qiao Chang looked at the thick stack of money and immediately understood that his daughter had deliberately left it behind.
His daughter was just too sensible…
“Sigh, this silly girl. Fine, we’ll hold onto the money for her first. When her brother goes over later, he can bring it to her…”
He Meijun shook her head helplessly and put away the stack of bills.
Meanwhile, Qiao Shu was already lying on the train.
Yes, lying on the train, not sitting.
Originally, Yang Baocheng had bought her a seat ticket, but when he saw that even a tractor ride had left bruises all blue and purple on Qiao Shu.
Facing such a delicate young girl, Yang Baocheng thought that taking the train to the Capital would require two or three days. With Qiao Shu’s frail body sitting that long, could she really endure it?
Moreover, the girl was so beautiful, and the hard seat carriage was crowded and chaotic—what if something dangerous happened…
After much consideration, Yang Baocheng finally made a phone call in the county town and went to great lengths to exchange the seat ticket for a more comfortable and safe sleeper berth.
That was how Qiao Shu could lie comfortably on the train. If Qiao Hui found out, she would probably be green with jealousy again.
After all, in her previous life, she hadn’t had such good treatment as Qiao Shu; she had sat on the train for days, sore-backed and exhausted, utterly bedraggled.
“Comrade Qiao Shu, I’ll take you to the dining car for dinner.”
Yang Baocheng looked at Qiao Shu lying obediently on the soft sleeper berth, and his usually loud voice unconsciously softened.
Originally, Yang Baocheng had planned to book only a soft sleeper for Qiao Shu. After all, soft sleeper tickets were quite expensive, and with his sturdy body, there was no difference between soft sleeper and hard seat for him.
But when he suddenly glanced at Qiao Shu’s stunningly beautiful face and the ‘innocence’ revealed in her clear watery eyes, and recalled Qiao Chang’s entrustment, he gritted his teeth and booked a soft sleeper ticket for himself too.
He had originally felt heartbroken over the favor and the high price of the soft sleeper ticket.
But after seeing the passengers in the soft sleeper carriage stare at Qiao Shu in stunned admiration upon seeing her face.
Even some clueless people wanted to strike up a conversation with the young girl—Yang Baocheng felt that he had bought the right soft sleeper ticket!
“Alright, Comrade Yang.”
After getting down from her berth and putting on her shoes, Qiao Shu followed behind Yang Baocheng.
With such a tall and imposing man like Yang Baocheng by her side, Qiao Shu truly felt a full sense of security.
Even with all the scorching gazes sticking tightly to her, Qiao Shu felt nothing.
Soon, Qiao Shu followed Yang Baocheng to the dedicated dining car. The dining car’s decor was quite simple, with several dining tables inside, each covered in a white tablecloth and set with condiment bottles and a vase of fresh flowers.
The moment Qiao Shu appeared in the dining car, all the customers already eating there turned their gazes toward her in unison.
Yang Baocheng silently used his tall frame to block most of the gazes for her.
After ordering stewed beef, shrimp fried eggs, stir-fried vegetables, and a fish soup, Yang Baocheng watched the server leave while staring at Qiao Shu with reluctance, and he couldn’t help but sigh inwardly that Feng Xiao’s wife was just too beautiful.
So beautiful that he wondered for a moment if it was a good thing.
He subtly scanned the group of well-dressed, suit-clad male passengers nearby who looked rich or noble. They gazed at Qiao Shu with admiration, looking eager to make a move, and he sighed softly in his heart.
Having such a beautiful wife, there must be plenty of people coveting her.
And Feng Xiao, as a promising soldier with a bright future, was destined not to have much time at home to stay by his wife’s side…
At this thought, Yang Baocheng couldn’t help but worry a bit for Feng Xiao.
After all, his wife was just too beautiful! Beautiful like a fairy descended from heaven! It really gave one no sense of security!
Just as Yang Baocheng was sighing inwardly like this, sure enough, a young man in a properly tailored suit and gold-rimmed glasses, dressed elegantly and handsomely, walked over and struck up a conversation with Qiao Shu.
“Miss, hello. I’m Huang Zhaowen, a photographer for a fashion magazine. Could we be friends and take a photo together?”
The moment Yang Baocheng heard the man’s words, alarm bells rang in his head, and he frowned. He was just about to say something to send the man away when the next moment, Qiao Shu’s words stunned him into a daze.
“Sorry, Mr. Huang, I’m already married, so no.”