CHAPTER 384: CHAPTER 377: DECLARATION OF LOVE

Yang Shu is now a very successful entrepreneur. Ever since the spring breeze of reform and opening-up spread across the nation, He Xuewen and Yang Wenbin have been running full throttle. He Xuewen naturally started a distillery, and he chose Yuequan Village for the distillery’s location, operating in partnership with the Yuequan Village Committee - which really meant just having the name of a collaboration. He Xuewen ensured he would purchase the village’s grain.

Now He Family Wine has regained its famous name, known by everyone in the nation. He Xuewen’s distillery is working overtime day and night, simply too busy to keep up.

And Yang Wenbin has built a trading company, specializing in exporting popular goods. He Family Wine, for instance, is one of his company’s leading products, which are in great demand.

Yang Shu did not follow in his uncle’s footsteps. He bought land in Beijing and started a clothing factory, and with fashionable templates from Hong Kong, his factory is making a fortune every single day.

Sisi, when idle and bored, also designs some clothes, not only supplying the factory run by Mu Xiulan but also Yang Shu’s factory. With a vision and experience spanning several decades from her past life, the clothes Sisi designs are immensely popular.

For this reason, Yang Shu gave Sisi twenty percent shares of the factory. One reason was that Sisi’s designs were very attractive, and another was to thank Sisi for saving his life back then.

Sisi originally wanted to refuse, but it was hard to decline such earnest insistence. Yang Shu even acted as if he would close the factory if she didn’t accept. Hence, Sisi had to take it. But afterwards, she put even more heart into designing clothes, thinking that she was, after all, working for herself.

Yang Shu will also rush over for the wedding today, but because he is too busy, he can only come over in the afternoon. As noon approached, friends started arriving one after another. Since it’s the weekend and no one has to work, everyone has plenty of free time.

Tian Shouhua, with Xiaomi, who was sporting a big belly - she was already five months pregnant. Every time they went out, Tian Shouhua was excessively nervous as if facing a great enemy.

"Sister Xiaomi, look at your Brother Shouhua. He’s even more nervous than you, the pregnant one," Sisi teased.

Xiaomi looked at her husband sweetly, happiness nearly spilling out from her eyes, which made Sisi’s teeth ache with envy.

Tian Shouhua gave her a glare, "You sure talk a lot. Go quickly and get some food. Your Sister Xiaomi can’t go hungry."

Sisi stuck out her tongue and made a face at Tian Shouhua. Once there’s a wife, sisters are forgotten - how much better is her Brother Xin Hua! It’s just a pity Brother Xin Hua isn’t in Beijing, and Sisi can’t help but feel a sense of loss.

Tian Xinhua was dispatched to Mijia Town, Huangyuan County, in S Province at the start of the spring to be the town mayor. He left just after the new year.

Sisi originally wanted to follow Tian Xinhua to S Province - the wife follows where the husband leads. But Tian Xinhua did not agree, stating that place was just a stepping stone and he wouldn’t stay long. It would prevent Sisi from the hassle of moving back and forth.

Actually, the main reason was that life in Mijia Town was too harsh, and he couldn’t bear to let Sisi suffer there.

The Old Man and Granny Zhao both disagreed with Sisi going, knowing the conditions in Huangyuan County. The Old Man had fought there, life was miserable, with a diet of sorghum cakes every day. Sorghum is so coarse that even livestock dislike eating it, let alone humans. Could Ah Nan endure such hardship?

Everyone opposed, so Sisi didn’t insist. After all, Tian Xinhua would move somewhere else in a couple of years. She could accompany her husband once they got married. For now, she might as well enjoy her happy single life!

Shangguan’s brother, Shangguan Qing, also came. Shangguan Qing is still studying in the military academy, but he’s graduating this year. He usually didn’t hang out with them much, so why did he come today?

Sisi turned her head to look at Shangguan, who also shook his head in confusion. The two stared blankly at each other for a while, then both turned to look at Shangguan Qing together.

But they didn’t receive any attention; someone just went straight into the kitchen and then, not long after, came out again and headed straight towards the door. Just as Shangguan and Sisi were watching in confusion, a flushed Zhong Anmei suddenly ran out and trotted towards the door too.

Could there be an affair?

"Feifei, when did your second brother start having an affair with my An Mei?" Sisi poked the still dumbfounded Shangguan.

Shangguan shook his head blankly.

Seeing Shangguan was of no help, Sisi hurriedly stood up to head to the kitchen to investigate and dragged along the still confused Shangguan.

"Zhang Jie, Qiqi, what did Feifei’s second brother come in and say just now?" Sisi asked gossipingly.

Zhang Jie said with a giggly smile, "Feifei, your second brother is so imposing! He just stood next to An Mei and said ’I’ll be waiting outside for you’ and then he left, and then An Mei ran out too."

Just like that?

Sisi knit her brows, "How did Shangguan’s second brother and An Mei get together? They’ve never met before, right?"

"Who knows? Maybe they’ve been sneaking around behind our backs. Come on, come and help out, don’t just sit there doing nothing," Zhang Jie called Sisi and Shangguan over to start working.

Sisi couldn’t be bothered to pry any longer; anyhow, An Mei would definitely have to report to her later. Besides, Shangguan Qing also isn’t a bad guy, he’s quite a match for An Mei. But just looking at their appearances, it really seems like a ’Beauty and the Beast’ combo!

Not long after, Zhong Anmei returned alone, bringing back a gift from Shangguan Qing, who had something urgent to attend to and had already left.

Sisi looked at Zhong Anmei meaningfully, her lips brightly red, cheeks like peach blossoms, eyes brimming with the light of spring. Tsk tsk, seems like Shangguan Qing is quite decisive and swift in his actions, much more so than Yang Shu.

When Zhong Anmei saw that Sisi and the others weren’t coming over to question her, she heaved a sigh of relief.

Sisi snickered to herself: I’ll interrogate you later, today’s about celebrating the wedding.

Zhuge Yun and Liu Qiqi sat together, radiating happiness, while receiving the blessings of their friends. Hu Weiwen and Hu Weichao, as the bride’s brothers, kept pouring drinks for Zhuge Yun, and the others followed suit, insisting on making Zhuge Yun share his love story with the bride, making Liu Qiqi so embarrassed she couldn’t even lift her head.

Zhuge Yun bravely stood up, looked at Liu Qiqi affectionately, and said: "Actually, everyone has witnessed the journey of Qiqi’s and my relationship. I have been a coward in this love story, avoiding this relationship earlier because of my lack of confidence and self-esteem, which caused Qiqi to be saddened for quite a long time. Here, I would like to say sorry to Qiqi."

With teary eyes, Liu Qiqi shook her head, Zhuge Yun smiled at her and continued: "Here, I also want to thank everyone, it’s your support that gave me the confidence to pursue love. I am also grateful to Qiqi for still waiting for me. I, Zhuge Yun, hereby make a vow to all my friends, I shall grow old with my wife Liu Qiqi, never to part until death. If I break this vow, let Zhuge Yun be struck by heaven’s wrath and lead a lonely life."

Liu Qiqi was already moved to tears, the image of a new bride long forgotten, Sisi was deeply touched too. For Zhuge Yun to say such words in front of so many people, it took immense courage.

Considering the conservative attitude of the 1980s, typically, at a wedding, most people would limit themselves to saying things about leading a good life together, and no one would dare to make such a bold declaration in public.

Surely Qiqi will be happy in the future!