Everything proceeded according to plan. The grain from Dalingxia Village and Zhang Ergou's village was delivered. Zhang Ergou's wife's cold had also greatly improved. Although it had not rained or snowed, with the grain and the high-yield potato seeds, everything was developing in a positive direction. At least Chen Lan had brought them hope, hadn't she?
As the saying goes, humans can achieve anything if they put their minds to it. As long as they were willing to work and use the grain wisely to plan their lives, and put in great effort to dig the well deeper to preserve the old well, the whole village would not have to flee from famine due to hunger.
With the matter resolved, Chen Lan put it behind her and wholeheartedly focused on the engagement of Xiang Xi.
After the last batch of supplies from the camp was brought back, Xu Mingxuan became busy. He was occupied from dawn till dusk every day. The engagement of Xiang Xi had to be handled by Chen Lan alone. Xiang Xi, that simpleton, was still helping his future mother-in-law dig a well. With such a significant event, Chen Lan had no one to discuss it with.
The day for proposing marriage was fast approaching, and Chen Lan was anxious, worried that something might go wrong. After breakfast, she shouldered a large basket filled with the betrothal gifts she had prepared, intending to go to Honghualing Village to consult with Aunt Chang for her advice.
Perhaps due to her pregnancy, Chen Lan had been feeling very tired lately, something she had never experienced before. Previously, no matter how arduous farm work was, she would usually recover after a night's sleep. It was different now. Although her strength hadn't diminished, she felt as if she hadn't rested well, her body felt heavy, and she wasn't agile at all.
Her belly seemed to be growing larger by the day, and Chen Lan worried that she might be carrying twins again. She also worried that the child's nutrition might not be adequate under such harsh conditions.
It seemed she needed to finalize Xiang Xi's marriage quickly and return to the valley to rest during her pregnancy.
When Chen Lan arrived at Aunt Chang's house, Aunt Chang helped her by taking the basket Chen Lan was carrying and placing it in the corner of the kang. She looked at Chen Lan, who was climbing onto the kang, for a few moments before taking Chen Lan's hand and quietly asking, "Daughter, are you pregnant?"
Chen Lan nodded and replied, "Yes, I'm about two months along."
Aunt Chang thought for a moment and then said with a serious expression, "Daughter, I have something to say, and I hope you won't be offended."
Chen Lan didn't understand what was happening and replied, "Auntie, whatever it is, please just say it. I won't be offended."
Aunt Chang then said, "Daughter, a pregnant woman should not attend weddings or funerals, for fear of disturbing the fetal spirit."
Chen Lan nodded. She understood this saying, as both weddings and funerals could affect a pregnant woman's emotions and lead to accidents. Indeed, she couldn't attend Xiang Xi's wedding.
So, she said, "Auntie, I can't go in my condition. My husband has been so busy lately that he's nowhere to be seen. I'll have to trouble you and Uncle to take on this task."
Aunt Chang smiled and waved her hand. "Daughter, we're family. This is a small matter. As long as you trust Uncle and me, we old folks will ensure this wedding goes smoothly. Let that boy Xiang Xi marry his bride with peace of mind!"
Chen Lan quickly retrieved the basket from the corner and took out the betrothal gifts she had prepared: pork, vermicelli, scallions, and white sugar, one by one, placing them on the kang table for Aunt Chang to inspect. She asked, "Auntie, what do you think? Are these things sufficient?"
After speaking, she took out something from the bottom of the basket wrapped in a cloth bag. Upon opening it, it was a very exquisite lacquered jewelry box. Chen Lan opened the jewelry box for Aunt Chang to see.
Aunt Chang looked at the two-tiered jewelry box, which contained two sets of gold headdresses, two pairs of large gold bracelets, two pairs of large gold earrings, a gold necklace, and gold bangles.
Chen Lan also took out two large red envelopes from her padded cotton jacket pocket and handed them to Aunt Chang for her to see.
Then she said, "Auntie, our home is quite far away. Please trouble you to tell Third Sister's Aunt that our groom's parents and relatives are not here, so we will not be hosting a feast here. We will hold another ceremony and banquet after we return. But please tell Third Sister's Aunt that we will deliver all the ingredients and alcoholic beverages for the bride's side's feast to the bride's home three days in advance. What do you think?"
Aunt Chang saw that Chen Lan had considered everything so thoroughly and prepared so completely, and she repeatedly said, "Yes, yes, how could it not be? With such generous gifts, it's more than enough! It's enough to marry several wives!"
With the strong support of Aunt Chang and her husband, Xiang Xi's wedding proceeded in an orderly fashion. The supplies for the bride's family's banquet were personally delivered by Chen Lan to Xiang Xi at the foot of the mountain. Watching Xiang Xi drive away in the Dongfeng truck laden with supplies, Chen Lan sat on a rock to rest for a while before getting up to walk back.
Soon, it was the day of the wedding procession. Since Xiang Xi didn't have a house here, he and his new bride stayed at the state-run hotel in Pogranichny Town. All the wedding ceremonies followed Soviet customs. Er Zhuang, who attended the wedding as a groomsman, reported that the wedding scene was very lively and fun. Chen Lan, unable to experience the excitement firsthand, couldn't help but feel a sense of regret. Su Dan Novel Network.
As expected, Third Sister's Aunt insisted that Yulia stay to celebrate the Russian Orthodox Christmas and the Russian New Year before going to her in-laws' with Xiang Xi. Thus, the newly married Xiang Xi stayed at Third Sister's Aunt's home to accompany his wife.
Xu Mingxuan was as busy as ever. One evening, after dinner, the couple lay on the kang and chatted. Xu Mingxuan cleared his throat lightly and said happily, "Lan'er, I'll request leave to accompany you back to the valley this time."
Chen Lan was naturally overjoyed upon hearing this, but she still asked in surprise, "Brother Mingxuan, did you really get leave? Weren't you always so busy? Can you really take me home?"
Xu Mingxuan gently touched Chen Lan's belly and explained, "It's true, Lan'er. I've been granted half a month's leave. Besides, I haven't been home to visit relatives for five or six years. Most importantly, I'm worried about you, Lan'er. Look at your belly, it's growing every day. You're not even three months along yet, are you? It's already so big. I'm worried about you going back with little Watermelon. That unreliable fellow, how can he take care of anyone? I want to personally send you home so I can be at ease. Furthermore, I miss our daughter and son, and my mother and mother-in-law, Uncle De, and Mama Cui. It's time we went back to see them."
Chen Lan felt her heart completely at ease. In fact, she had been silently worried that her belly was growing unusually large, fearing it was twins again, but she hadn't voiced it, afraid of adding to Xu Mingxuan's burden. Now, with Xu Mingxuan personally escorting her back, all her worries were gone.