Chapter 53: Marriage First, Love Later, and a Side of Scum-Bashing 31
At this moment, a voice with a local accent came from downstairs: “Who’s back? Is it Qingqing?”
Ning Qingqing leaned her head out to look downstairs and saw their neighbor, Mrs. Wu.
She waved and greeted, “Mrs. Wu, it’s me!”
“Qingqing is back! You’ve gotten prettier again!” As the woman spoke, her gaze fell on Gu Youchen beside Ning Qingqing. “Did Qingqing bring a partner?”
Ning Qingqing and Gu Youchen came downstairs and introduced him to Mrs. Wu, who had entered the small courtyard. “This is my husband, Gu Youchen.”
Then, she said to Gu Youchen, “This is Mrs. Wu. She has always lived next door to my grandma and took good care of me in the past.”
Gu Youchen said politely to her, “Hello, Mrs. Wu. Thank you for taking care of my Qingqing in the past.”
“Oh my, so polite!” Mrs. Wu laughed, looking Gu Youchen over seriously. She couldn’t help but secretly give a thumbs up to Ning Qingqing. “Qingqing’s husband is really handsome!”
Ning Qingqing laughed. “I judge people by their looks.”
Hearing this, Gu Youchen couldn’t help but curve his lips.
His Qingqing praised his looks. Happy!
“Did you just arrive?” Mrs. Wu asked warmly. “You don’t have any food at home, right? Come to my place; I’m making wontons today!”
Ning Qingqing pointed to the man beside her. “It’s rare for him to come here, and time is tight, so I planned to take him to try all kinds of local snacks.”
“Oh, oh, oh, right, right!” Mrs. Wu nodded, then added, “The sun is about to set. You haven’t aired out your quilts yet, have you? They’ve been sitting for months, and it’s been rainy lately. You have to air them out before sleeping.”
The weather here was humid, especially when no one was home; things easily developed a musty smell.
Ning Qingqing realized this upon hearing it and quickly said, “Okay, we’ll take them out to sun right now.”
Mrs. Wu nodded. “I’ll go get a rag. Your clothesline must be rusty.”
Saying that, she bustled off to the next house, brought back a rag, and helped Ning Qingqing wipe the clotheslines in the courtyard clean.
Ning Qingqing and Gu Youchen went upstairs to carry the thin quilts out of the rooms.
Grandma was afraid of the cold, so she used a quilt even in summer.
There was only one thin quilt, and it really did smell a bit.
Seeing Gu Youchen carrying things, Mrs. Wu couldn’t help laughing. “Does the young man do chores at home?”
Gu Youchen nodded. “I do some.”
Ning Qingqing added from the side, “He cooks delicious food.”
Hearing this, Gu Youchen smiled at her.
Mrs. Wu watched them, thinking that this young couple was very loving. The old lady in heaven could rest easy.
She helped pull one end of the quilt and spread it out on the clothesline with Gu Youchen. “Two more hours of sun should be about enough.”
After that, she insisted on dragging Ning Qingqing and Gu Youchen to her house to drink some mung bean soup to cool off.
Coming out of Mrs. Wu’s house, Gu Youchen said, “Qingqing, you have good relationships with the neighbors. Do you know almost everyone in town?”
Ning Qingqing nodded. “I wouldn’t say I know everyone, but most faces are familiar. Many people here have been here for generations. It’s only in recent years that many children have tested into high schools outside, leading to some population flow.”
Thinking of the single thin quilt at home, she suggested, “Youchen, let’s go buy a summer cooling quilt?”
Gu Youchen understood Ning Qingqing’s meaning and nodded. “Okay.”
They closed the door and walked into the town in the summer afternoon.
Today was the weekend, and children were playing outside. Seeing two somewhat unfamiliar faces, they couldn’t help but be curious.
Since Ning Qingqing had gone away for school and her grandmother had passed away several years ago, the children almost didn’t recognize her anymore.
Even some adults were stunned at first upon seeing Ning Qingqing, then recognized her. “Qingqing?”
Over a few years, Ning Qingqing had gone from a green young girl to her current age of 25. Although her features hadn’t changed much, her temperament had shifted.
Especially since her clothes were distinctly different from what she used to wear here, people couldn’t identify her immediately.
The neighbors in town showed signs of aging after having and raising children.
Everyone exchanged pleasantries or nodded in greeting. Ning Qingqing led Gu Youchen into this lively, smoke-and-fire atmosphere of daily life.
“Up ahead is the place that sells quilts and bedsheets,” Ning Qingqing said. “The sheets have been in the wardrobe for a long time and smell a bit too. Let’s buy a new set.”
The two arrived at the stall. The owner looked at Ning Qingqing and recognized her after a few seconds. “Are you Grandma Wang’s Qingqing?”
Ning Qingqing nodded. “Uncle Zhang, you haven’t changed a bit!”
Uncle Zhang laughed. “I’m old. Look, I even have a grandson!”
As they spoke, a little toddler stumbled over, hugged Ning Qingqing’s leg, raised his head, and looked at her curiously with large, dark eyes.
Uncle Zhang told him not to get drool on Ning Qingqing, but she laughed. “It’s okay, the baby is very cute!”
Saying that, she let Gu Youchen choose the quilt and sheets himself while she crouched down to play with the child.
“What’s the baby’s name?”
The child was less than two years old. Hearing this, he looked at Ning Qingqing in confusion; clearly, he didn’t know his name either.
Ning Qingqing smiled, her eyes curving. “Then how old is the baby?”
The little guy raised a chubby hand and struggled to show the number 1.
“Not even two yet?” Ning Qingqing smiled. “Where is Grandpa? Point for me.”
Saying that, she picked him up.
The little guy pointed at Uncle Zhang from Ning Qingqing’s arms.
“So smart!” Ning Qingqing praised. Holding the heavy little guy in one arm, she couldn’t resist gently pinching his small cheek with the other hand.
Mm, feels so good.
Gu Youchen was choosing bedsheets, but his gaze couldn’t help drifting to Ning Qingqing interacting with the child.
The smile in her eyes was bright and real, making him involuntarily imagine scenes of her with their future child.
It would definitely be heartwarming.
Warmth and happiness flowed through his chest. He picked up a red bedsheet and then a floral quilt.
When Ning Qingqing finished playing with the little guy and looked over, she was a bit stunned.
What kind of aesthetic is this? Gu Youchen had chosen an exceptionally flashy quilt and a bright red bedsheet.
“Youchen, you think that looks good?” Ning Qingqing couldn’t help asking.
Gu Youchen nodded. “Mm, festive.”
Saying that, he had already paid.
As the two left, the toddler was reluctant to see Ning Qingqing go. He watched eagerly, unable to speak much, only babbling.
Ning Qingqing also kept looking back, waving goodbye several times before leaving.
“Qingqing likes children?” Gu Youchen asked.
Ning Qingqing nodded. “Mm, they are very cute. Especially their cheeks, they feel amazing to touch!”
Gu Youchen held her hand. “Qingqing feels good to touch too.”
Ning Qingqing turned her head. The man, who clearly had cold, ethereal looks, was looking at her with eyes full of smiles.
He said, “Being liked by children, and being liked by me.”
Ning Qingqing: “…”
She felt like she had been flirted with.
However, the next second, seeing the things in Gu Youchen’s hands, the filter on the man beside her shattered instantly—
He was wearing a simple white shirt and black trousers, with black leather shoes, looking like a business elite who had just stepped out of a conference room—handsome and noble.
However, he was carrying things in both hands: a bright red bedsheet on one side and a flashy floral quilt on the other.
Both were packed in ordinary transparent plastic bags. No matter how you looked at it, it was extremely grounded.
Ning Qingqing couldn’t help but chuckle. Feeling that wasn’t enough, she laughed again, and by the end, she was clutching her stomach, laughing out loud.
Gu Youchen carried the two down-to-earth bags with an expression that said ‘I’m grounded and I’m proud,’ speaking naturally: “Qingqing, today is the first time I’m returning to your maiden home with you. We need to be festive.”
Oh, counting it like that, it really is a ‘Huimen’ (traditional visit to the bride’s parents after the wedding).
Their first trip to Ning Qingqing’s hometown after their flash marriage.
If Grandma were here, seeing such a grandson-in-law, would she be very happy?
Thinking of this, a wave of sadness surged in Ning Qingqing’s heart.
The most important homecoming for Chinese people, yet there was no one left at home.
Gu Youchen seemed to sense Ning Qingqing’s sadness. He moved the sheet to the hand holding the quilt, freeing the other hand to hold Ning Qingqing’s, interlocking their fingers tightly.
“Qingqing, Grandma can see it,” he said to her. “We’ll go see her tomorrow morning.”
Ning Qingqing nodded. “Okay.”
The two went home first, put down the quilt, fetched water, and wiped down all the tables and chairs in the house.
After finishing the work, they were a bit hungry. Ning Qingqing took Gu Youchen out to eat.
“The owner of the restaurant opposite the Xu Family Inn cooks really well. Shall we go try it?” Ning Qingqing suggested.
Hearing ‘Xu Family Inn,’ the image in Gu Youchen’s mind was pulled back to ten years ago.
He nodded. “Okay.”
Walking from Ning Qingqing’s grandmother’s house, they naturally had to cross that bridge.
Getting closer, Gu Youchen stopped on the bridge.
Ning Qingqing turned to look at him.
For some unknown reason, the scene at this moment suddenly overlapped with her distant memory across time and space. Details she had almost forgotten suddenly became clear.
Ning Qingqing stated with certainty, “We met here before. You asked me for directions. It seems it started right here.”
Gu Youchen looked at her, his eyes deepening. “Mm.”
He said, “I asked you then: Excuse me, how do I get to the Xu Family Inn?”
Ning Qingqing was surprised. “You remember too?”
Then a flash of playfulness crossed her eyes, and she said to him coolly, “I’m going there too. Follow me.”
Gu Youchen nodded. “Okay.”
Ning Qingqing walked ahead. He followed, maintaining a distance of two meters behind her—neither too far nor too close.
Memories clamored, and many emotions danced wildly in his heart, yet he seemed to remain that young boy, his face wearing only a clear, quiet expression, silently following the girl ahead.
From the arch bridge to the inn was only a seven or eight-minute walk. Ning Qingqing walked at a moderate pace.
Several times, she wanted to turn back and look at Gu Youchen’s expression.
Because that was an angle the ‘her’ from ten years ago had never considered.
The past event, to her, was just helping a passerby on the way.
She thought acting out the beginning was enough; there was no need to relive every step, to relive a mood she couldn’t recall at all.
However, for some reason, Gu Youchen behind her didn’t speak, nor did he speed up to walk side-by-side with her.
Ning Qingqing seemed to sense something faintly from this detail—
Is Gu Youchen fixated on our first meeting?
He insists on repeating it exactly as it was ten years ago, using the same footsteps and rhythm to relive his story.
Could it be… An incredible guess surged in Ning Qingqing’s heart.
Could it be that he really remembers her very clearly?
Lost in their thoughts, they finally neared the Xu Family Inn.
Ning Qingqing tried hard to recall the past, adding some deduction of what she would have done then, so she stopped and pointed ahead. “The inn is right there. We’re almost there.”
Gu Youchen seemed to have guessed she would stop, so he stopped a step before her, waiting for her words.
Seeing her point ahead, he nodded and smiled at her. “Mm, thank you.”
His tone was polite, carrying the clean aura of a youth.
Ning Qingqing felt a bit dazed.
She didn’t know how far she should play along with Gu Youchen. Should she walk into the inn?
As she thought this, her feet moved first.
She walked straight toward the inn, thinking she hadn’t seen the landlady in a long time, so she might as well visit her before eating.
It was a pity her gift for her was still at home; she would have to bring it over tomorrow.
While she was thinking, her gaze was drawn to a girl at the entrance of the inn. As Ning Qingqing recognized her, the girl saw her too.
The teenage girl sprinted directly to Ning Qingqing. “Sister Qingqing!”
Her eyes were filled with surprise.
“How come Nan-Nan is back?” Ning Qingqing was also surprised. After all, Nan-Nan went to the provincial gymnastics team for training, which was grueling, and she rarely came home.
“Our competition this summer happens to be in Nancheng, so the coach made a special exception for me to come back.” Nan-Nan was very happy, hugging Ning Qingqing and refusing to let go, seemingly still the child who used to wait for Ning Qingqing to teach her to speak and read.
Ning Qingqing looked her over. “You’ve grown taller, but thinner too!”
Nan-Nan flexed the muscles on her arms and legs. “Sister Qingqing, I’m strong now! You don’t know, us gymnasts all look petite, but we’re actually little steel cannons!”
Ning Qingqing was amused by the description and couldn’t help pinching her small cheek. “Have you finished losing all your baby teeth?”
Speaking of this, Nan-Nan was distressed. “I’m almost 14, and I still have two molars that haven’t fallen out. They all laugh at me for still being a baby…”
As they spoke, the landlady of the Xu Family Inn heard the commotion and walked out quickly.
She was mute, so seeing Ning Qingqing, she could only smile—a very rustic, honest smile.
Ning Qingqing went over and hugged her. “Auntie.”
She was her grandmother’s goddaughter, so Ning Qingqing had long since changed her address to ‘Auntie.’
The woman nodded and pulled Ning Qingqing to take her inside for a meal.
Ning Qingqing quickly said, “Auntie, I didn’t come alone this time. I brought—”
Before she could finish, Nan-Nan beside her looked at Gu Youchen and let out a surprised “Ah.”
Ning Qingqing was about to introduce him when Nan-Nan spoke up: “Big Brother?”
Gu Youchen smiled and nodded at her. He hadn’t expected Nan-Nan to remember him either.
When Nan-Nan was three or four years old, he had stayed at the inn for a few days. Later, he made special trips to Qingtang Town several times and always stayed at the Xu Family Inn.
Just as Gu Youchen was about to greet her, Nan-Nan couldn’t help but say to Ning Qingqing, “Sister Qingqing, Big Brother found you?”
Ning Qingqing was stunned and looked at Gu Youchen in confusion.
Seeing this, Nan-Nan seemed to realize this was a secret. She pulled Ning Qingqing aside and whispered, “Sister Qingqing, Big Brother stayed at our inn before!”
Ning Qingqing nodded. “Mm, I heard him mention it.”
Nan-Nan added, “When Big Brother lived at our inn, he often secretly looked at you!”
Hearing this, Ning Qingqing was skeptical.
Then she reacted, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. “Nan-Nan, you were only three and a half then.”
How could a tiny child remember such details?
Nan-Nan was unconvinced. “I just remember! Every time you came to teach me to read or sing to me, Big Brother liked to sit at the door of his room, watching you and smiling.”
“He usually never smiled. He only smiled when you came out. He smiled nicely, that’s why I remember so clearly!”
Saying that, Nan-Nan pointed in a direction. “We used to play right there, and Big Brother was just opposite. I saw it all!”
The little girl puffed out her small chest, looking very confident.
Ning Qingqing couldn’t help looking in the direction the girl pointed.
Nan-Nan continued recalling, “Also, after you went to school out of town, Big Brother came by himself a few times! Every time he came, he stayed for two days and left, and he even asked me where you were.”
Ning Qingqing was surprised. “Are you sure it was him?”
Nan-Nan nodded. “Of course! I wouldn’t mistake him!”
Ning Qingqing began to believe it a little. Did Gu Youchen really have feelings for me back then?
Because of a crush from ten years ago, a man who didn’t need to marry so early chose to flash-marry her?
She turned to look at Gu Youchen, deciding to ask him.
Author’s Note: Hmm, didn’t get to the photo secret today, but definitely tomorrow! And someone will take the opportunity to formally confess again~~ Zhou Linghang: I heard my Brother Chen carried two floral bedsheets? Where are the photos? Where is the photographer!!!!!
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