Over the next few days, Lin Zhen went around exploring the local markets.
Song Wei and Mu Na took the three children out to play, buying whatever caught their eye.
She ended up purchasing quite a few things, some for herself and some for the children.
The department stores and supply and marketing cooperatives back home had very few toys, but here, there was a wide variety.
Song Wei bought the twins building blocks, picture storybooks, toy pistols, and model airplanes and cars—all the things children love.
Of course, she didn’t forget Lin Ping’an, picking out things he liked as well.
A few days later, everyone gathered again, this time mainly to discuss Feng Tingxuan and Mu Na’s wedding.
Feng Tingxuan was no longer young, and he couldn’t let Mu Na continue to follow him without a proper status.
However, for the wedding, Mu Na’s parents were far away in the northwest.
Feng Tingxuan said, “Let’s write to your family and ask them to come here. We’ll hold the wedding in this city.”
Mu Na had no objections to this.
Feng Tingxuan not only wrote a letter but also sent some money.
He was worried Mu Na’s family might be reluctant to spend, so he urged them to buy sleeper train tickets directly.
Feng Tingxuan smiled and said, “After returning, the state gave me some compensation. It’s a good thing I sensed something was off back then and hid some things away—otherwise, we wouldn’t even have the money for the wedding now.”
“Mu Na, after we get married, let’s find you a job too.”
Being cooped up at home all the time can be boring; having a job would keep her much more engaged.
“Great!”
Mu Na was thrilled.
In truth, she had felt uneasy and out of place since arriving here. Even living in such a large house, she couldn’t shake her restlessness.
But she never showed it.
If she had a job, she would feel much more confident.
Song Wei and her family stayed on without leaving, planning to depart only after Feng Tingxuan and Mu Na’s wedding.
During this time, an unpleasant incident occurred.
The Song family showed up at their door.
Song Wei’s father had the audacity to try and cozy up to Feng Tingxuan.
When he saw Song Wei, he reproached her, “Song Wei, what’s wrong with you? You came to Rongcheng and didn’t even come home to see us? If your younger sister hadn’t told us you were back, we wouldn’t have known. You’re so unfilial!”
“And you actually got married in the countryside? How shameless can you be? Getting married so casually to some man without your parents’ permission or a matchmaker’s arrangement, and without even notifying us? You…”
Song Wei smiled, grabbed a cup from the table, and hurled it straight at his face.
“Think you’re something, don’t you, you old fool? You just can’t stop running your mouth!”
“Ahhh!!!”
After a sharp scream, Song’s father clutched his bleeding head, furious.
“You… you…”
Lin Zhen pushed the door open and strode in, his aura menacing as he kicked the fat boy standing beside them.
The fat boy was the son of Song’s father and his stepmother, now sixteen years old.
Seeing her son kicked, the stepmother screamed and rushed over.
“Son, are you okay?”
“Who are you…”
Lin Zhen looked down at them coldly. “Get out!”
Then he walked over to Song Wei and put his arm around her.
Song’s father was so angry his eyes turned red. “Fine! So this is the man you found, huh? Song Wei, you divorce him right now!”
Song Tian and the kicked fat boy added fuel to the fire, with the latter arrogantly vowing to make Lin Zhen pay.
Perfect. Song Wei had no intention of letting them off either.
“Go, close the door.”
Today, she was going to shut the door and teach these dogs a lesson.
Mu Na and Lin Ping’an hurried to close the door.
The Song family had a bad feeling, but Song’s father refused to believe Song Wei would dare to hit him.
Then…
“Ahhh! Song Wei, stop it! You bitch, stop…”
“It hurts, stop hitting me, please stop!”
“Song Wei, how dare you hit your own father? You unfilial daughter, I won’t let you get away with this! You… ow!”
As for being called an “unfilial daughter”—Song Wei wasn’t about to be bound by such words.
The small Western-style house had excellent soundproofing, and it was a standalone villa.
Song’s father’s family didn’t know anyone in the area, so even if they ran out and complained about being beaten, no one would pay them any attention.
Song Wei made sure to hit them where it hurt the most but left no obvious marks.
Whether they would spread rumors after returning home was none of Song Wei’s concern—she had no intention of ever going back to that house again.
The Song family was beaten until they were utterly defeated and could only beg for mercy.
They didn’t dare stay any longer. As they were leaving, Song Wei suddenly called out to them.
“Is Song Tian still taking over my job? Looks like you don’t really care about your son that much. Song Tian is destined to marry out someday—won’t she just take that job with her to her in-laws’ family?”
That’s right—she was openly sowing discord.
Song Tian’s face twisted in anger, but she didn’t dare talk back anymore—Song Wei’s hits were painfully effective.
They might not have taken Song Wei’s words seriously at that moment, but later, their foolish, good-for-nothing son or their future daughter-in-law would surely stir up trouble over it.
The Song family slunk away in disgrace, and Song Wei felt the air instantly become fresher.
She dusted off her hands and smiled at the admiring looks from Mu Na and the others.
She had long wanted to teach those idiots a lesson.
She hadn’t even gone looking for trouble, yet they had delivered themselves right to her doorstep.
After Mu Na’s family arrived, Song Wei, Feng Tingxuan, and the others went to the department store to buy the “Four Big Items.”
They picked them out together.
Mu Na’s family was overjoyed, grinning from ear to ear. Who would have thought their daughter would marry into the city? And with the Four Big Items, no less! In their production brigade, the most anyone had was a bicycle or a wristwatch.
Feng Tingxuan not only bought the Four Big Items but also purchased new clothes and shoes for all of Mu Na’s family members.
In the end, their wedding was a grand and splendid affair.
On the day of her uncle’s wedding, Song Jing also returned.
The family was finally reunited.
That day, everyone was filled with joy, though as they drank, their eyes grew red with emotion.
But it was a happy occasion.
Song Jing only had a few days off. After Feng Tingxuan’s wedding, he took his two nephews out to play and bought them many things.
On the last day, the whole family went to a photo studio to take a group photo, with Xiao Laoda joining them as well.
To Feng Tingxuan, Xiao Laoda was also family.
In the last two years in the northwest, it was Xiao Laoda who had accompanied him through the difficult times—he was a loyal and invaluable helper.
In the future, after Feng Tingxuan and Mu Na married, Xiao Laoda would continue to be Feng Tingxuan’s trusted right-hand man.
The day after the group photo was taken, Song Jing left.
Another day later, Song Wei and her family also arrived at the train station.
Reunions are always fleeting—there is no feast in this world that does not come to an end.
When it was time to leave, the twins were especially reluctant to part with their great-uncle.
“Great-uncle, you have to come to Ping’an Brigade to play with us!”
“Great-uncle, please don’t forget about us!”
“Goodbye, Xiao Laoda! You should come with Great-uncle to visit us too! The mountains in our hometown are huge, and there are lots of animals for you to play with.”
As the train pulled away, the twins burst into tears, their eyes red with sorrow.
Mu Na also cried, while Feng Tingxuan, his own eyes red, comforted her by her side.
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