Chapter 183: A Good Marriage Can Make a Woman Radiant, Bathe Her in a River of Love

The next morning, the wind was light and the clouds were thin.

Since it was the weekend, Jiang Ye didn't work and, for a rare treat, slept in a lazy lie with his wife.

These days, banquets are only held at lunch or dinner.

Zhou Yan announced that it would be at noon, at Guoyingfanguan, six tables.

He didn't specify the bride's details, and Jiang Ye didn't ask further.

It didn't concern him; as long as Zhou Yan liked it, that was fine, after all she was the woman he intended to spend his life with.

Shen Man missed the bustle and the banquet, so she went to bed early last night and now feels especially energetic.

"Brother Jiang Ye, I want to send some clothes that no longer fit to Aunt Ge; would you accompany me to the post office?"

Shen Man has many clothes; when she first arrived on the island, a man carried the box. He never counted Shen Man's wardrobe, but he never doubted the items she took out.

"Sure, then when I have time I'll accompany you to buy some new clothes."

Jiang Ye didn't think much, replying to his wife while putting on a short‑sleeved shirt, a casual outfit his wife had bought for him.

He buttoned up, tucked the excess fabric into his waist, and the metal belt traced a perfect waistline; standing there, the light seemed especially fond of him.

"Hmm, I need a loose dress, otherwise it'll feel tight."

Shen Man nodded; after her belly showed, most of the clothes she had bought no longer fit.

Her due date is between late January and early February next year, with a recovery period of several months; she doesn't know if her figure will return, but she is sure it won't be as slender as before.

Pregnancy and childbirth cause damage to a woman's body, not just a little.

She can drink Spiritual Liquid, but healing doesn't mean a complete return to her original state.

Some of the clothes really won't fit later, so why not take the chance to send them all to Aunt Ge for distribution.

These days, fabric is expensive; ordinary families can't afford new clothes every year.

Usually the eldest wears, then passes to the second, then the third.

With scarce supplies, there's no talk of rejecting second‑hand clothes.

Being able to give someone clothes shows good affection.

The recipient will be deeply grateful, unlike in times of abundance when even if you give clothes without removing the tags, people will complain about the flaws.

Jiang Ye, dressed neatly, first came over to hug, kiss, and cuddle his wife for a while, then returned to his composed demeanor.

In public he's a gentleman; behind closed doors he just wants to cling to his wife.

Shen Man has long been used to this intimacy; the two are together because they like each other and have never quarreled or turned red with anger.

To outsiders, they are a perfectly matched model couple.

Privately, their relationship is like that of lovers in the honeymoon phase, not yet shifted to the mundane routine of rice, oil, salt, sauce, and tea.

After a simple breakfast, Shen Man sent greetings to her brother and sister‑in‑law, avoiding the risk that, should Grandpa and the others drop by while they were away, they would miss them.

"Go on, go on, have fun."

Pei Yan Ting blinked, her teasing gaze unable to hide.

When she thought of the little gossip a colleague mentioned, she couldn't bear to look straight at her brother‑in‑law.

She didn't expect such a meticulous man to fall for her soft‑and‑cute younger sister.

If the colleague hadn't said it outright, she wouldn't have dared to imagine it; her brother‑in‑law being double‑standard is truly a stark contrast!

"Eh? Sister‑in‑law, the bracelet on your wrist is oddly beautiful."

Shen Man's gaze was drawn to the pearl bracelet on her sister‑in‑law's wrist; that pink bead was quite rare.

"I think it's quite pretty too; you know how your brother's constitution is—he crushed a stone a few days ago, and a pink raw gem emerged from it."

Pei Yan Ting shrugged, extending her wrist toward her sister, her tone indulgent and her smile showing affection.

Anyone who saw it could sense her satisfaction.

It's not just about the bracelet, but also about the person who gave it to her.

A good marriage can make a woman radiant, bathing in a river of love.

A bad marriage, however, erodes a woman's youth and beauty, as if soaked in a sea of bitterness.

Pei Yan Ting is now very satisfied with the man she chose and the marriage she entered.

"I didn't expect brother, this scatterbrain, to be so attentive at times."

Shen Man covered her mouth with a light laugh, genuinely happy for the mutual love between brother and sister‑in‑law.

A child born in love is destined to be wrapped in love and will surely receive the favor of the goddess of fortune.

She and her brother have both met partners who are emotionally stable, not self‑consuming, who will draw them forward and tolerate them.

How wonderful.

She is a bit curious about what kind of personality Brother Zhou's bride will have when she sees her at noon.

……

Educated Youth Office—

Ji Xianxian's plan to marry a middle‑aged man she has only met twice shocked everyone!

People thought she was just acting on a whim, looking for a partner everywhere.

Who would have thought they'd hold a banquet and register today, truly giving up a city‑return slot to marry a local ordinary person?

"Xianxian, you really need to think this through; once you register with someone, you can only stay for the rest of your life and can't return to the city!"

"Yes, Xianxian, your conditions are so good, you're beautiful; if you return to the city later, you could make a high‑status marriage, no need to marry down to a blacksmith."

"Xianxian, don't do something foolish. Look at Qingqing; since she married Lin Zhendong, how has her life turned out?"

During these months at the Educated Youth Office, Ji Xianxian got along quite well with the female educated youths.

Now that she's marrying, she chose a blacksmith, and the close female educated youths all urged her against it.

But Ji Xianxian remained unmoved, sitting before the mirror, combing her hair little by little.

After a long while, her eyes filled with hot tears, she opened her mouth and said:

"Thank you, everyone, but I have no choice; a letter came from home saying they want to engage me to a fool, whose father is the head of the meat processing plant, and he can arrange a position for my younger brother."

Ji Xianxian gave a self‑mocking smile and continued:

"If I don't marry Zhou Yan, am I supposed to resign myself to marrying a fool?"

"I must marry quickly; only then can I escape my family's arrangements."

"Although Zhou Yan is over ten years older than me, he is tall and strong, has strength and skill, and can support me."

Saying this, she stretched out both hands, revealing hands covered in wounds and old calluses, and gave a bitter laugh:

"I can't wait to return to the city; the daily labor intensity is huge, and the wounds on my hands have not healed a single day since I started working in the fields."

She no longer wants to live like this; Zhou Yan is the best man she can currently attain!

She also wants to be a military wife, following the army, so she can eat rice and meat every day.

But the officers she fancies look down on her, avoiding her like snakes and scorpions!

Many officers are already married, so she basically has no chance to pick someone.

Even if she were chosen, she would still hit walls everywhere.

She is exhausted; she just wants to quickly escape the situation of not having enough to eat while having to work every day.

Marrying Zhou Yan would at least mean she wouldn't have to plant rubber trees in the fields every day, wouldn't have to dig pits constantly, and her hands wouldn't be covered in old calluses.

With a man taking care of food, clothing, housing, and transportation, she could be far more comfortable.

She often dreams of that well‑protected female comrade—oh, I mean, a military wife.

If only she were the one being cared for with utmost attention……