Qin Ru Hai’s illness was not lung cancer, and there were treatments available; this news significantly improved the atmosphere at home. Moreover, with Qin Fen’s return, the household finally seemed to buzz with the atmosphere of the New Year.
Qin Fen worked away from home all year round, only returning once a year.
Thus, he had missed many major events in the Qin Family’s life.
It wasn’t until this return that he learned the once exceptional big brother, who was always considered a standout of the Qin Family, wasn’t actually related by blood.
But since they had grown up together, in Qin Fen’s heart, there wasn’t much of a barrier between him and Qin Jian.
He still regarded Qin Jian as his big brother—the one with a cold face but a warm heart.
The next day was the day An Hao was to visit her family after her wedding.
In the past, the An Family had a hard life and couldn’t hold their heads high in the village, and there weren’t many who were willing to associate with them.
Now, the An Family’s business was thriving, and they had made quite a lot of money. Many old friends of An Shuchao who had been on good terms with him rushed to come over.
The An Family’s current prosperity rested entirely on the smart mind of An Hao. Therefore, An Shuchao was quite happy about his daughter’s homecoming, deciding to arrange a grand feast to please his daughter and son-in-law and also to bring honor to the An Family.
The An Family had few relatives.
An Shuchao had five or six siblings; two of them had died young, and the remaining sisters had married far away and couldn’t easily return. They’d sent gifts when they heard An Hao was getting married, but they couldn’t make it themselves.
An Shuchao also had a younger brother, An Hao and An Ping’s second uncle, who was a scoundrel and had lived off his elder brother for quite a long time.
After getting married, influenced by his wife’s slander, he broke off relations with An Shuchao.
Later, his wife ran away with another man, and An Hao’s second uncle disappeared without a trace.
There was no one left in An Hao’s maternal grandmother’s family. Her mother was an only child, a rarity in that era, because her grandmother had suffered an accident when young, falling into the cold water during winter. Fortunately, she neither froze to death nor drowned, but she became infertile.
So, there was nobody from An Hao’s maternal grandmother’s side, and the ones who came to congratulate were all fellow villagers.
The An Family’s yard was small. During celebrations in the village, it was customary to set up large pots for cooking meat and making big batches of dishes to entertain the neighbours.
Therefore, An Shuchao had built the cooking platform outside the main gate.
The cooks took charge of the food outside the gate, while guests for the homecoming feast gathered in the courtyard of the house.
Considering the Qin Family’s relationship through Qin Jian, An Shuchao sent An Ping to deliver an invitation, telling them to join in the festivities at noon.
Qin Ru Hai, being ill, did not attend; Li Junping and Qin Feng, because of the wedding troubles with Song Fei’s family that had become common knowledge in the village, were too embarrassed to go.
Thus, only Qin Fen from the Qin Family came, bearing gifts.
Upon arriving at the An Family’s courtyard, with its hustle and bustle of people, he saw the large pots outside where dishes were being stir-fried, with tray after tray of fresh vegetables being continuously carried to the tables.
Qin Fen thought to himself that his brother had found a wife from a rather wealthy family.
As he was contemplating this, he heard Qin Jian’s voice calling out, "Why did you come so late? Your sister-in-law has been waiting to see you all this time."
Standing next to Qin Jian was An Hao, dressed in a bright red jacket. Her hair was neatly combed, and her pretty little face looked beautiful, like a delicate flower blooming in the spring breeze, stirring the heart of anyone who saw her.
"Sister-in-law, you look so pretty. We’re from the same village; how come I’ve never seen you before?"
Seeing that Qin Fen was about her age, not particularly outstanding in appearance but quite spirited, An Hao replied, "You often work away from home and rarely come back. How could we have met?"