Liu Yulan was satisfied looking at these things. Well, nothing is perfect, and this son-in-law is already very good. She couldn’t keep hesitating because of some unforeseeable matters, missing out on this person, as her eldest daughter might not find someone more suitable.
Besides, seeing the young couple exchanging glances secretly, she couldn’t be the one to break them apart.
Finally, a smile appeared on Liu Yulan’s face, "Alright then, tomorrow I’ll take Pandi to the town cooperative to get materials for making clothes and shoes. Have you set a date for the banquet?"
"Yes, yes." Gangzi felt like crying with relief, seeing his mother-in-law finally smile at him, "It’s set for August 8th."
"That’s just a few days away." Liu Yulan was a bit anxious, hoping the new clothes would be ready in time, "How about we go to town this afternoon to get the things?"
"I’ll go along with you, auntie." With his mother-in-law being so enthusiastic, he couldn’t help but feel happy, "Auntie, here are some fabric coupons and sugar coupons for you to use."
Yang Zhigang took out several tickets and handed them to Liu Yulan. Weddings really drained fabric and sugar coupons. She wanted to accept them but still asked, "Do you have enough for your own family?"
"Yes, plenty."
With the affirmative answer, she happily accepted them without any hesitation.
The family’s ten days of gloominess vanished with Yang Zhigang’s arrival. He had to attend to some finishing touches at work, and after saying goodbye, he hurriedly left without even having a meal.
This time, as Wang Pandi watched his departing figure with reluctance, Liu Yulan comforted her, "Pandi, a man must prioritize his career, and he is a soldier. You should support him well in the future and not hold him back."
Alas... A woman wholeheartedly devoted to her man... truly admirable, lamentable, lovely, yet... pitiful...
After lunch, Liu Yulan, eager with anticipation, took her two daughters to town under the scorching sun. She regretted not buying fabrics sooner to get started on making clothes slowly. Her own daughter needed a new set of clothes, Gangzi needed a new set of clothes, and the elders needed three pairs of new shoes. Seven days felt a bit rushed. Liu Yulan silently planned to help her daughter make shoe soles at night so she could focus on making clothes...
Once in town, Wang Miaomiao made an excuse to go to the bookstore but actually went to the post office to mail the first volume of Magic Holy Star’s Dark Rule. Of course, she included a letter and a stamp inside.
The letter stated that if the other party didn’t like this comic book, they should send it back to her, and she had provided the stamp. After all, it wasn’t easy to draw an album, and she hadn’t kept a draft copy.
Nowadays, the more influential publishers were in Sea City and Beijing. She chose Sea City because it was closer to her home. If it didn’t succeed there, she would try Beijing next. If neither worked, she planned to find another way to make money.
The book was sent out, but the waiting period was the most agonizing.
Wang Pandi was busy making clothes, even sewing shoe soles by lamplight at night. Wang Miaomiao rested for a day, feeling bored lying and sitting, unwilling to go out in the heat or move around. Finally, she started working on the third book to distract herself from the unbearable tedium...
Seven days swiftly passed, and early in the morning, Liu Yulan roused the family to get ready. Whether the clothes were brand new or not, they wore the best and cleanest they had at home.
At nine o’clock, Yang Zhigang arrived on a bicycle to pick them up, wearing the new suit that Zhou Fengjuan brought over yesterday, made by Wang Pandi.
Everyone couldn’t help but exclaim how handsome and smart he looked in his outfit. A white shirt with a red handkerchief peeking from the left chest pocket, adding a hint of color to the white garment. The black pants were neat and well-fitted, paired with a shiny pair of leather shoes.
The same white shirt and black pants, tailored perfectly, with a small touch of ruffles added to the shirt’s style. When Wang Pandi came out holding a bouquet of wildflowers, everyone couldn’t help but gasp in amazement at how beautiful she looked.
Yang Zhigang’s eyes were glued to her, unable to look away.
The most eye-catching feature was her hairstyle, with two red ribbons braided from both sides and tied into a bow in the middle, the ribbons hanging down to her shoulders.
The little girls and young wives in the village watching the excitement couldn’t take their eyes off her, filled with envy and desire...
After this event, Wang Pandi’s skills were recognized by everyone and widely spread, leading to more and more orders coming in.
Yang Zhigang rode the bicycle with Wang Pandi, slowly leading the way in front, followed by a long procession trailing behind.
Yangliu Village wasn’t far from Shanghuang Village, just two villages apart. The Yang Family welcomed them from afar.
Children on the road were jumping around, chanting, "The bride is here, so beautiful..."
Liu Yulan started distributing candy again, delighting the children and making them laugh even more joyously.
The Wang Family went directly to Yang Zhigang’s new house, two red-brick single-story houses, with a backyard enclosed by an area of three-tenths of an acre.
Wang Miaomiao went in to take a look. The place was quite spacious, with a hall right at the entrance, a room to the left, a bathroom past the hall on the left, a staircase on the right that could be used when the house was extended upward in the future. Further back, another room on the left, and a kitchen on the right.
Two tables for the Wang Family and one for the Wang Family were set at Yang Zhigang’s home, while the rest of the Yang Family went to Yang Zhiyong and Yang Zhiwei’s houses next door to eat.
Liu Yulan and Wang Baoxing, Yang Dahai and Fang Ci, as well as Grandpa Yang, each sat at the main tables.
Yang Zhigang led Wang Pandi to toast with Yang Dahai and Fang Ci. Shyly, she called them mom and dad, receiving two big red envelopes.
Yang Zhigang also toasted Wang Baoxing and Liu Yulan, calling them by their new titles and receiving two red envelopes.
Once he received the red envelopes, he immediately handed them to Wang Pandi, "Wife, you’ll be in charge of the household from now on. You keep this."
The group immediately started teasing, "Gangzi, you’re already calling her ’wife’ just at the engagement? Aren’t you rushing it a bit..."
"You’re not even married yet, and you’re already being henpecked..."
"You’re calling her ’wife’ already; won’t you give her a kiss, give her a kiss..."
The excited crowd joined in, making the scene lively and bustling, no less than a wedding.
Yang Zhigang was beaming brightly, trying to keep a serious expression, "Stop teasing. Your sister-in-law is shy."
But the joy in his eyes and at the corners of his lips couldn’t be concealed.
Wang Miaomiao sat quietly, observing the lively scene before her, sincerely happy for them, smiling and blessing them.
Is this what it means for true lovers to unite? How wonderful.
The engagement banquet was held grandly and bustlingly, considered the most extravagant in miles around. It made many girls envious and some young men envious at the feast.
Some vain young ladies now wanted to hold such an event after getting engaged, but how many families had the strong backing of the Yang Family...