While Lin Aiyun was sizing up the Ma family, their gazes were equally fixed on her with curiosity.
She stood gracefully in the center of the main hall, dressed in a crisp white shirt and black trousers, her hair neatly pinned up at the back. With long legs and a well-proportioned figure, she wasn’t much shorter than the average northern girl.
Her delicate oval face bore willow-leaf brows, almond-shaped eyes shimmering with warmth, and a gentle smile playing on her lips. She followed Xiao Cheng’s lead, politely greeting each elder in turn, her soft tone instantly putting everyone at ease.
As soon as that was done, she moved on to getting acquainted with the younger generation. There wasn’t much time for deep conversation—just enough to put faces to names, so they wouldn’t be strangers if they ran into each other later.
After going through the whole round, Lin Aiyun’s throat was parched. Before she could even take a sip of tea, she was called over by the old matriarch seated at the head of the hall. Though advanced in years, Grandma Ma was anything but old-fashioned in her attire and speech, and she treated people with warmth and kindness.
“This is something every girl in the Ma family receives. Keep it well. May you and Xiao Cheng have a harmonious and happy life together—that’s what matters most. If this boy ever bullies you, we’ll have your back.” Grandma Ma pushed over a sandalwood box that even a glance could tell was no cheap trinket.
“Grandma, you make it sound like I’m the type to bully my wife,” Xiao Cheng clicked his tongue in protest.
His remark drew laughter from everyone, and the atmosphere warmed up considerably.
Since it was something given to all the women and presented openly, there was no need to refuse. Lin Aiyun accepted it graciously, thanked her sweetly, and added a few compliments about Grandma Ma’s spirited demeanor.
Hearing this, the warmth in Grandma Ma’s eyes deepened. She urged Lin Aiyun to open the box. Without hesitation, Lin Aiyun unclasped it in a few quick moves, revealing its contents—no wonder they said the Ma family was wealthy and generous; their gifts were nothing short of lavish.
Lying on a bed of red silk was a jade bracelet, smooth and lustrous to the touch, intricately carved with beautiful, elaborate patterns. Based on Lin Aiyun’s many years of experience in her previous life, this was no ordinary piece—it was a valuable antique, the kind of treasure money couldn’t easily buy.
“Thank you, Grandma.” Lin Aiyun’s eyes sparkled, a slight smile curving her lips.
Seeing that Lin Aiyun, though from the countryside, carried herself without any petty airs and clearly knew quality when she saw it, the last traces of Grandma Ma’s reservations melted away. The young ones’ fates were their own to shape; even Xiao Cheng’s mother couldn’t be controlled by them, let alone him.
As elders, it was better to meddle less—and they’d live longer for it.
“Sit down and have some tea. This is a West Lake specialty your uncle had sent from Shanghai—give it a try.” At Grandma Ma’s words, everyone, as if trained, raised their teacups in unison.
Lin Aiyun followed suit as she and Xiao Cheng sat down. She took a sip—it was hot—so she blew on it gently before taking a proper gulp to soothe her throat. Just as she set the cup down, Xiao Cheng took her hand.
“What are you doing?” She lowered her voice and tried to pull her hand back, only to see that Xiao Cheng had somehow taken the bracelet out of the box and was slipping it onto her wrist.
Xiao Cheng raised an eyebrow, looking puzzled. “Putting it on for you.”
“Why wear it now? What if it gets damaged?” If it were any other bracelet, she wouldn’t be so cautious, but this one was a gift from Grandma, and every female family member had one. If she were the only one to break it, how would she explain herself? She couldn’t bear to let down the old lady’s kind intentions.
“Bracelets are meant to be worn, not enshrined. Not wearing it would actually hurt Grandma’s feelings more.” Xiao Cheng seemed to read her mind effortlessly.
With that, he applied a little pressure, and the bracelet slid smoothly onto her wrist as if it had grown legs.
“See? It looks beautiful. Besides, all the aunts are wearing theirs too. If it breaks, just ask the old lady for another one—it’s not like she can’t afford a second.”
Following his words, Lin Aiyun instinctively raised her hand. The clear, verdant jade made her wrist look even more slender and fair—she couldn’t take her eyes off it. After a long moment, she finally glanced toward the aunts. She hadn’t noticed before, but now she saw—sure enough, they all wore similar jade bracelets.
“Alright then.” She’d just have to take good care of it. How unlucky could she be to break it?
But even after putting it on, Lin Aiyun kept glancing at her wrist every now and then, only relaxing after confirming it was still intact—though her face was visibly pleased, clearly delighted with the gift.
Xiao Cheng, who had observed it all, curved his lips upward. It seemed he’d need to buy more of these kinds of pretty accessories for home in the future. But then…
Recalling some news he’d heard earlier, his gaze darkened. After a moment, he excused himself with a word to Lin Aiyun, stood up, and walked over to Grandpa Ma, leaning in to murmur a few words.
Everyone only saw Grandpa Ma’s expression shift abruptly, then he, Xiao Cheng, and Grandma Ma headed toward the study.
Wang Lan, holding Ma Zhaoxu in her arms, looked puzzled. She leaned over and whispered, “What’s going on?”
“I’m not sure either.” Lin Aiyun, sitting beside her, shook her head honestly, then added, “It’s probably business.”
“We women don’t understand those things anyway. I was just curious.” Seeing that Lin Aiyun didn’t seem concerned, Wang Lan assumed it wasn’t anything major, and smiled in explanation.
Lin Aiyun nodded. She took out a handkerchief and wiped the pastry crumbs from the corner of Ma Zhaoxu’s mouth, teasing gently, “Xuxu’s turned into a little tabby cat.”
Ma Zhaoxu was naturally lively and bold, not at all shy around strangers. So first, he shyly hid in Wang Lan’s arms, but after a moment of hesitation—seeing that Lin Aiyun meant no harm—he reached out his little hands: “Pretty sister-in-law, hold me.”
Hearing that rare address, Wang Lan’s mouth fell open in surprise. No one knew her own son better than she did.
Because his father was often away for work, returning only once every year or two—and had only stayed home longer in recent years—she had fewer chances to conceive and had children later than other daughters-in-law. One could even say she had a child late in life.
Before his younger sister was born, Ma Zhaoxu was the youngest of the younger generation in the family, spoiled rotten and showered with all the affection. He grew up unruly and willful—a true little terror. His mouth took after his father: sweet as honey when in a good mood, but sharp as a knife when not.
But she had never heard him address anyone like that before. It seemed he really liked this wife of his cousin.
Of course, it could also be due to Xiao Cheng’s intimidating presence. The little terror feared no one as much as he feared his cousin. He’d throw tantrums at anyone else, but in front of Xiao Cheng, he was as obedient as can be—going east if told east, west if told west.
“Haha, go on, let your pretty sister-in-law hold you!” Wang Lan burst out laughing, stood up, and gently nudged Ma Zhaoxu toward Lin Aiyun.
Blushing at the teasing, Lin Aiyun took Ma Zhaoxu and, with considerable effort, managed to settle him onto her lap. Noticing he was thirsty after eating too many snacks, she carefully gave him some water.
This scene struck a different chord with the others watching.
“I can tell you love kids too. You and Xiao Cheng are young and strong—why not have a few more? Having a child or two early will liven up the household, and they can even keep my little girl company. Otherwise, as you get older, your energy won’t keep up as well.”
Wang Lan’s eyes crinkled with laughter. Knowing that Xiao Cheng and Lin Aiyun had already held a wedding banquet and consummated their marriage back in the other province, she spoke without reservation.
Meanwhile, Wang Youfang, who had been quietly drinking water, nearly choked. She coughed several times before recovering, her face flushing bright red.
“Are you alright?” Lin Aiyun asked with concern. Wang Youfang shook her head. After all, she was still an unmarried young lady, and hearing such talk so suddenly made her a bit embarrassed.
But Wang Lan didn’t see it that way. She was well aware of her niece’s feelings and had turned a blind eye before—Xiao Cheng wasn’t married yet, so anything was possible. But now things were different. His wife was sitting right here. If Wang Youfang tried anything, Wang Lan wouldn’t hesitate to enforce family discipline.
So she shot Wang Youfang a stern warning glare, her voice cooling: “Be careful.”
Wang Youfang shuddered, pouting in grievance. She knew exactly what her aunt was thinking, but heaven could bear witness—since meeting Lin Aiyun, her newfound soulmate, she no longer harbored any romantic thoughts about Xiao Cheng.
Besides, she’d never been that into him anyway.
It was just that Xiao Cheng was incredibly handsome—few men in the capital’s social circles could compare. So she’d entertained a few girlish fantasies.
And it wasn’t just her—plenty of other young ladies had their eyes on him too.
Liking someone didn’t mean you had to have them. And besides, men were nothing compared to girlfriends. Men were everywhere—with her looks, talent, and family background, finding an outstanding husband wouldn’t be hard.
But finding a kindred spirit, a true friend you clicked with—that was far more difficult.
Wang Youfang was not some silly woman whose head was full of nothing but romance!
“Understood.” Facing her aunt, Wang Youfang didn’t dare voice her lengthy internal monologue. She nodded obediently, signaling her stance.
Satisfied, Wang Lan turned her attention back to Lin Aiyun. The latter, caught off guard by this talk of “having children,” didn’t quite know what to say and could only offer a soft smile: “We do plan to.”
“Good! Then you can have your aunt help with the delivery. She works at the military hospital now and studied abroad—learned all that Western medicine where they cut open bellies and sew them back up. She’s amazing, right? Xiaolin?” Wang Lan waved at Ma Xiaolin, who was sitting across from her, speaking excitedly.
Ma Xiaolin walked over helplessly, explaining, “Don’t listen to your aunt’s nonsense. I’m a surgeon, not an obstetrician. I don’t deliver babies.”
“It’s all pretty much the same.”
Wang Lan chuckled, unembarrassed. She hadn’t liked studying as a child—only learned enough characters to get by before chasing away her tutor, making her a semi-illiterate. But she was fiery, straightforward, and had a knack for business, managing the Ma household with skill over the years—a formidable woman in her own right.
“Auntie.” Lin Aiyun greeted her. Ma Xiaolin sat down in the seat Xiao Cheng had vacated. Having served on the front lines, she carried a certain commanding aura—up close, Lin Aiyun could feel an unspoken pressure. But fortunately, Ma Xiaolin was warm with family, smiling and easygoing, with a rare sense of humor. When she recounted old stories, she made them so vivid and engaging that listeners felt transported.
Before long, the women had bonded, laughter filling the air.
At lunchtime, Xiao Cheng and the others returned, their expressions somewhat grim and preoccupied. But after a moment, they set aside their gravity and joined the meal with everyone else.
The atmosphere remained pleasant.
Lin Aiyun noticed Xiao Cheng zoning out several times, so she reached under the table and quietly took his hand. Startled, he paused, then held hers back firmly, interlacing their fingers as if to tell her he was fine.
But her intuition told her something was wrong. An inexplicable thought surfaced—the massive nationwide upheaval that would occur months later—and her heart began to race. Deciding to gently probe him about it when they got home that night, she forced herself to push aside the anxious thoughts for now.
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