When these words came out, Wen Xiaosi, who was originally thinking about her elder brother, also sat up properly.
The eyes of the two brothers fell on Jiang Sheng at the same time, full of inquiry and killing intent.
It was as if they would unsheathe their swords and hack someone in the next moment.
Zheng Ruqian happened to come back carrying a big elbow, and saw the appearance of his two younger brothers. He couldn't help but wonder, "Who stepped on whose tail and made you so aggressive?"
"Yes, yes." Jiang Sheng nodded. "It's understandable that Fourth Brother is anxious, but Fifth Brother, why are you adding to the mess?"
The more he talked, the more confused it became.
Wen Zhiyun looked up in puzzlement, not knowing what was going on.
Wang Xiaozhu, who was holding cakes and pastries, walked over and placed the bowls and plates in front of him. She said softly, "Doctor Wen, this is my wedding feast."
After a moment of shock, Chang Yan imperceptibly breathed a sigh of relief.
Wen Zhiyun’s eyes widened. He didn’t know whether to be surprised or congratulate her.
He had been away for more than half a year. When he returned, he learned that the medical girl had been taken away to get married.
Wang Xiaozhu was already eighteen years old. Settling down was reasonable, so he also felt happy for her.
"This is really great, Xiaozhu," Wen Zhiyun sincerely congratulated her. "You must be happy!"
"Thank you, Doctor Wen," Wang Xiaozhu smiled properly. As she moved, the silver bangles on her wrists jingled. "Don't worry, I won't delay seeing patients at the clinic."
This was to show that she would stay at the Wen Clinic even after getting married.
The medical girl had not been taken away. She had only found her own happiness.
Wen Zhiyun's smile grew even brighter. "It was really timely for me to come back this time. I didn’t miss adding makeup for Sister Xiaozhu."
"Not just makeup, but also helping out a lot more," Jiang Sheng chirped beside him.
The two chatted about the date, progress, needs and requirements of the wedding feast, the phoenix coronets and rosy clouds, and so on.
But no one asked who the bridegroom was.
Chang Yan really couldn't stand it anymore. He glanced around and asked, "May I ask Sister Xiaozhu, which family are you getting married into?"
Could it be one of the commoners who came to the Wen Clinic for treatment?
Or was it one of the prominent families who often asked the medical girl for massages?
Wen Zhiyun finally realized belatedly. His big watery eyes stared over in puzzlement. "Who is taking away our clinic’s best Sister Xiaozhu?"
Wang Xiaozhu giggled shyly and glanced at the corner of the yard.
Was that man there?
Wen Zhiyun looked up in surprise and found that the two men sitting in the corner in coarse cloth clothes were none other than the Gao brothers who were in charge of transporting chestnuts for Zheng Ruqian.
They had been loyal old men under Zheng Ruqian for many years. There was absolutely no problem with their loyalty.
However, Gao Da Wan already had a wife and children. Gao Yan was taciturn and stuttered. No matter how you looked at it, they did not match the tall and slender Wang Xiaozhu.
In that day and age where women married into higher households and men married from lower ones, Wang Xiaozhu was a medical girl of good birth and purity. With the support of people like Jiang Sheng and Chang Yan, she could have married even the county magistrate.
If nothing else, she could have chosen a scholar and aimed to be a scholar's wife in the future.
It would have been better than choosing a laborer, moreover one that was not particularly outstanding.
"It's Gao Yan," Wang Xiaozhu said calmly. "He has been very good to me over the years. I have never seen such a gentle and thoughtful person, and he is nice only to me."
"In this world, birth and excellence cannot determine everything. A kind heart is invaluable no matter how much money you have. Being with him makes me feel at ease, and that's enough."
"Money doesn't have to be abundant, just enough to get by. Our days don't have to be eventful, just peaceful and ordinary."
As she introduced him, Gao Yan stood up awkwardly as if wanting to say something but unable to speak.
In the end, he could only bow embarrassedly and stutter, "I... I will treat Xiaozhu well for life."
When he stood up straight again, his eyes on her shone brightly, and his ordinary looks radiated captivating charm.
No one knew the future. At that moment, he loved Wang Xiaozhu very much, and Wang Xiaozhu was willing to accept his joy.
That was enough.
Chang Yan put away his scrutiny and showed the soon-to-be newlyweds a kind smile.
Wen Zhiyun also nodded with a smile. There wasn’t the slightest contempt or disdain for Gao Yan’s status as a laborer.
Gao Yan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Only Wang Xiaosong pouted in dissatisfaction at the side, resentment and poignancy occasionally flashing in his eyes when he looked at his sister, but it quickly changed into sentimentality and elation.
Wang Xiaozhu pretended not to see him and encouragedly held Gao Yan's hand to lead him to the table.
After Zhang Xianglian brought over the last bowl of soup, the lively dinner started.
Not constrained by status or gender, everyone sat down casually, toasting to each other.
Wang Xiaosong, as the eldest maternal uncle, inevitably cried and laughed, cursing his future brother-in-law along the way.
Zheng Ruqian enjoyed the liveliness and deliberately asked, "Xiaosong, your sister is already married, how come you still haven't found a wife?"
"I want to find one, but can I?" Wang Xiaosong cried sorrowfully. "Auntie, find me a wife, I'm already twenty this year."
"I'll find one for you, I'll find you one." Zhang Xianglian said helplessly. "Don't be in a hurry, boys."
"I'm not, I want a wife. I don't have a mother anymore. Auntie, you're like our mother. It's the mother who picks wives for her sons, nothing more common." Wang Xiaosong shamelessly latched on. "Auntie, I want a wife, I want a wife!"
Zhang Xianglian sighed and patted him on the back to comfort him.
This guy didn’t want a wife at all. He obviously missed his mother.
She didn’t point it out but just kept patting, trying her best to comfort these motherless children.
"Mother, oh mother, my sister is getting married. Even in your grave you can rest with closed eyes now." Wang Xiaosong did not drink but was extremely tipsy. He hugged the table crying and laughing. "Mother, close your eyes, don't worry."
Wang Xiaozhu had always been reluctant to humor this elder brother, but at that moment, she could no longer stand it. Covering her eyes, she rushed away hastily.
Time really flew. The siblings who had wailed bitterly over their mother's death back then, not knowing what to do when oppressed by the clan and could only hold the steamed cake treasures, were now starting families.
Distressed over his crying wife, Gao Yan put down his bowl and chopsticks to hurriedly chase after her. The two of them comforted each other in the corner for a long time before Wang Xiaozhu's mood finally calmed down.
Chang Yan did not deliberately go over. He just drank too much of the tea that Sister poured and had to go to the latrine to relieve himself.
He was already being very careful but still overheard Gao Yan’s stuttering voice as he turned his body.
“Xiaozhu... Don't be, be sad. Brother Xiaosong cares, cares about you too.”
“Doctor Wen cares, cares a lot about you too... You used, used to admire such an outstanding doctor but still willing, willing to be with me, with a stutterer like me...”
“Xiaozhu, I, Gao Yan, swear to the heavens that I will never, never fail you. Forever.”
