Chapter 258: Eleventh Anniversary

"It's you who changed their fate." Jiang Ran said seriously, looking at her, "RuanRuan, these eleven years you have not only changed me and the children, but also many, many people. You made Handcraft visible, made Handcraft Persons respected, gave traditional culture new vitality."

Su Ruan's tears welled up: "Why are you saying this again……"

"Because it's sincere." Jiang Ran kissed away her tears, "I'm proud of you, forever."

June in Lijiang Ancient City, the sun bright but not scorching.

Su Ruan and Jiang Ran stood again at the ancient city's entrance, watching the familiar stone‑paved streets and little bridges with flowing water.

"Not a bit changed," Su Ruan whispered.

"Changed." Jiang Ran took her hand, "We have changed."

Indeed, eleven years ago they first came, still newlyweds, full of hope for the future yet a little uneasy.

Now, they are partners who have walked through wind and rain together, parents of children, and business partners.

They stayed at the same inn, and the proprietress actually still recognized them.

"Mr. Jiang, Ms. Su! Welcome back!" the proprietress said delightedly, "Eleven years, you haven't aged a bit!"

"The proprietress hasn't changed either." Su Ruan said, hugging her.

The room was still the same as back then; opening the window revealed the ancient city's rooftops and the distant Snow Mountain.

Only the room now had some modern facilities; the unchanged part was its rustic charm.

After putting down their luggage, the two first went to visit Grandma Yang.

Grandma Yang no longer lives in Baisha Village; her daughter bought her a small courtyard near Lijiang Ancient City for easier care.

The courtyard is small, but filled with flowers, and the sunlight is great.

When they knocked open the door, Grandma Yang was sitting in the courtyard embroidering flowers.

Seeing them, she was momentarily stunned, then joyfully stood: "Designer Su! President Jiang! Why have you come?"

"We came to see you." Su Ruan moved forward to hug her, "Grandma Yang, are you feeling well?"

"Fine, very fine!" Grandma Yang pulled them by the hands into the house, "I even went mountain climbing a few days ago. Sit down, I'll brew some tea."

The tea was local PuEr Tea, rich and sweet.

Grandma Yang took out a photo album and showed them the photos taken over the years.

"This is me and my great‑granddaughter, little girl six years old, already started learning embroidery." Grandma Yang pointed to a photo, pride in her eyes, "She says she wants to stitch beautiful flowers like Great‑grandmother."

"These are students from the Handcraft Inheritance Class, graduated last year, now have opened their own studios."

"This is a photo from the exhibition in BJ, my embroidered pieces were displayed at the National Arts and Crafts Museum…"

Turning page after page, it was a decade of a Handcraft Person, and also a decade of Handcraft Inheritance.

"Grandma Yang, you are truly remarkable," Jiang Ran said sincerely.

"It was you who gave me the chance." Grandma Yang held Su Ruan's hand, "Without you, I might still be in the village, and my Handcraft would be unknown. Designer Su, thank you."

"I should be the one thanking you." Su Ruan whispered, "Your persistence and Inheritance have given us much inspiration and strength."

After chatting all afternoon, when saying goodbye, Grandma Yang insisted on giving them a Shawl she had embroidered herself.

"This is my recent embroidery, using a new stitch." She draped it over Su Ruan, "You look good in it."

The Shawl was deep blue, embroidered with a starry‑sky pattern, the stitches fine, shimmering faintly in the sunlight.

"So beautiful." Su Ruan stroked it, "Thank you, Grandma Yang."

"No need to thank, as long as you like it."

Leaving Grandma Yang's house, the two slowly walked toward the ancient city.

The sunset set, and the ancient city's red lanterns gradually lit up.

"Sister Xiulan can only be seen tomorrow; she went to Kunming for a meeting today," Jiang Ran said, "What do you want for dinner tonight?"

"Cured pork rib hot pot then." Su Ruan laughed, "Relive the taste of those days."

It's still that restaurant, still that flavor.

The two sat at a window seat, watching the flowing lights and tourists outside.

"Do you remember back then, here, you told me you wanted to start a Handicraft Workshop?" Jiang Ran asked.

"I remember." Su Ruan nodded, "Back then it was just an idea; I never thought it would actually become real, and so big."

"Because you wanted to do it, and persisted." Jiang Ran held her hand, "RuanRuan, these eleven years, I've watched you turn the dream into reality step by step. From one person, to a team, to a Foundation, to a complete Social Enterprise Ecology… you achieved what many wouldn't dare imagine."

"It's not just me, it's us together." Su Ruan said earnestly, "Without your support, I might have given up long ago. You gave me confidence when I doubted, and strength when I was tired."

"Isn't marriage about mutual support?" Jiang Ran smiled, "You support my menswear design, I support your Handcraft Inheritance. We're each other's wings."

After dinner, the two went to release River Lanterns. Same place, same elderly lantern sellers.

They bought two lanterns, and Su Ruan wrote on one: "Family safety and health, Handcraft forever passed on."

Jiang Ran wrote: "Grow old together with RuanRuan, advance together with Handcraft."

They placed the lanterns into the water, watching them drift away with the waves, merging into a sea of lights.

"What wish did you make?" Jiang Ran asked.

"I can't say; saying it would make it ineffective," Su Ruan laughed, "How about you?"

"I can't say either."

The two exchanged a smile, hand in hand, strolling slowly along the riverbank.

The night was gentle, time seemed to return to eleven years ago, yet completely different.

Back at the inn, the proprietress brought a pot of Osmanthus Wine: "Home‑made, for you, to celebrate your wedding anniversary."

"Thank you, proprietress."

Sitting in the courtyard, sipping the mildly sweet Osmanthus Wine, watching the stars above.

Lijiang's night sky is far clearer than the city's, the Milky Way faintly visible.

"Jiang Ran." Su Ruan whispered.

"Hm?"

"These eleven years, have you ever regretted?" Su Ruan turned her head to look at him, "Regretting marrying me, living this... unstable life with me? You could have had an easier life."

Jiang Ran set down his cup and looked at her seriously: "RuanRuan, listen. These eleven years are the ones I regret the least in my whole life."

"Yes, it's tiring, the pressure is huge, sometimes I'm so busy I can't even eat a meal. But with you, with Jinjin and An'an, with everything we have now, all the fatigue is worth it."

He grasped her hand: "And if it weren't for you, I might never have known what I could do."

"You are the one who showed me that life isn't just about making money; it can also be about creating, about Inheritance, about leaving something meaningful behind."

Su Ruan's tears fell. Jiang Ran pulled her into his arms: "So, don't speak of regret. I will never regret marrying you, ever."

The two sat in the courtyard for a long time, only returning to their room when night had deepened.

After freshening up and lying on the bed, Jiang Ran embraced Su Ruan from behind, his hand naturally resting on her waist.

"My wife."

"Hm?"

"These eleven years, thank you."

"I should thank you."

"Then no one needs to thank anyone," Jiang Ran chuckled lightly, "Let's agree: the next eleven years, the eleven years after that, always like this, doing meaningful things together, growing old together."

"Alright." Su Ruan turned around, looking at him in the darkness, "Always like this."