With this thought in mind, Chu Mu unexpectedly picked her up and carried her in his arms, and amidst the commotion, the convoy drove off in a grand procession towards the venue.
The venue was the very prestigious Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, and the identities of the guests were naturally kept secret. Apart from the convoy, the cars entering the guesthouse compound were all, while not as luxurious as those in a grand hotel, the very name of the place was enough to leave one speechless.
Chu Mu and Shu Yi'an sat side by side in the passenger seat. With just a slight turn of his head, he could see her lowered eyes. When they arrived at the lobby entrance, Chu Mu reached out and gently took Shu Yi'an's slightly cool hand. "Are you ready to marry me, Mrs. Chu?"
Author's Note: Regardless of the amount of emotional investment, Miss Shu is a perfect match for Mr. Chu. I originally thought one chapter would be enough to cover their wedding, but it seems I'll have to write another chapter.
You guys haven't been commenting on my posts much lately, you've all been ignoring me! I'm throwing a tantrum and being unhappy! Humph! I'm ignoring you all!!
Chapter 41 Potatoes
According to the original plan, the bride should have been escorted by her father or a family elder from the red carpet at the entrance to the groom waiting on the stage. However, since Shu Yi'an was alone, this part was canceled, and instead, the two of them walked to the stage together.
No sooner had they gotten out of the car than Sui Qing and Chu's father rushed out of the lobby. Sui Qing, with a hint of joy on her face, pointed at their intertwined arms and said, "Oh dear! How come you didn't tell me and your dad about such a big thing beforehand? It makes us seem neglectful."
Chu Mu and Shu Yi'an exchanged a glance, both with obvious doubt in their eyes. "What have you been hiding from me?"
Mr. Chu cleared his throat, his expression authoritative. “If Old Master Shu is coming, you should have told us so someone could pick him up. How could you let him come by himself?”
"Shu...Old Master Shu?" Shu Yi'an repeated, somewhat bewildered. Her first thought was of her father, but that didn't seem right... Seeing that Shu Yi'an also looked confused, Chu Mu looked up towards the entrance of the hall.
A sprightly old man, dressed in a light-colored, button-down shirt, leaning on a carved nanmu cane, was being supported by a middle-aged man. He smiled gently and kindly in their direction. Shu Yi'an instinctively exclaimed, "Grandpa!!"
Shu Xuehong walked slowly over, supported by the butler Qingshan. Her gaze first glanced indifferently at Chu Mu, then shifted to Chu's father and Sui Qing. She waved her hand slightly, "Please don't blame the child. I didn't say I couldn't come beforehand, but as I get older, I can't help but worry about my little granddaughter. I hope you won't laugh at me."
Even someone of Chu's father's stature lowered himself and acted like a junior when he saw Shu Xuehong. "Not at all, it's our honor that you could come. It's just that Yi'an kept it a secret so well that even we didn't know she was your granddaughter."
Sui Qing turned her head to look at Chu Mu, "Chu Mu, why didn't you greet anyone?"
The moment Chu Mu saw Shu Xuehong, he guessed who she was. Although he had never met her before, Chu Mu vaguely sensed the old man's extraordinary status from his father's attitude. Gently lowering his arm and fastening his suit jacket, Chu Mu bowed slightly to the old man. "Hello, Grandpa."
Shu Xuehong's gaze returned to the young man standing beside her granddaughter, and she silently thought to herself that he truly resembled the saying, "Well-dressed and refined, a gentleman like jade." The old man raised his hand and patted Chu Mu's shoulder gently, replying, "Young man, today is a big day, you don't mind if I come, do you?"
Chu Mu smiled politely, "It was my fault for being impolite. I should have come to see you before the wedding. Please don't take offense."
Shu Xuehong chuckled, looking at Shu Yi'an who was standing there dumbfounded, and affectionately patted the little girl's face. "What's wrong? Are you stunned to see your grandfather? Are you unhappy?"
Shu Yi'an hadn't recovered from the shock of seeing her grandfather, staring blankly at the old man with tears welling up in her eyes. She hadn't expected her grandfather to suddenly appear on such a day and give her such a big surprise. She had thought that getting married alone wouldn't be so sad, until Chu Mu held her hand before she got out of the car and asked, word by word, "Are you ready?" She realized how terrible it was to be all alone, how unbearable it was to have a wedding without family, without friends, and without any expectations.
She was still a young girl; her head, adorned with a flower crown, drooped, and her eyes slowly reddened. "I thought... I thought you wouldn't come..."
Seeing her granddaughter in her wedding dress, Shu Xuehong was filled with emotion. "How could I not come to a wedding that only happens once in a lifetime?"
Since there were elders on the bride's side, there was no need for the two of them to walk the red carpet together. Seeing that it was almost time, Sui Qing hurriedly called for the ceremony to begin.
The stall covered with red roses stretched for ten meters. When Shu Yi'an walked in from the doorway arm in arm with Shu Xuehong, the guests on the ground whispered among themselves.
"I heard that this bride has quite a powerful background."
"What? You're from the capital too? Weren't you said to be a girl from an ordinary family?"
"Sigh." Someone who knew the story shook their head in disapproval. "He was much more impressive than that. That old man was called Shu Xuehong. I heard he was one of the first members of the Jiusan Society back then, a famous master of Chinese studies, a true intellectual. He was a student at Peking University back then." The Jiusan Society, in the 1940s, was formerly known as the Democratic Science Symposium. In those days, Shu Xuehong was spirited and erudite. In his twenties, he was a well-known intellectual in Peking, writing many articles that were published in newspapers, each word of which could cause a sensation back then.
In truth, Shu Xuehong felt empty inside during the two weeks Shu Yi'an was away from Yangzhou. One day, he took some time to visit his deceased son and daughter-in-law on the back hill. Suddenly, he noticed many white chrysanthemums placed in front of their tombstone. He knew then that Shu Yi'an had come to visit his parents. The old man stared at the black-and-white photo of the two on the tombstone, his heart heavy with sorrow. He leaned against the grave, tears streaming down his face, feeling he had failed them.
The elderly man, who had dedicated half his life to the new China, had originally planned to retire in Yangzhou. He had made this resolution after his retirement, spending his days tending to his plants and cultivating his mind. However, the day before Shu Yi'an's wedding, he suddenly rummaged through his belongings and insisted that the housekeeper book a plane ticket to Beijing. Despite his advanced age and high blood pressure, the elderly man endured the four-hour journey to this city he hadn't visited in years.
When the Chu couple saw the old man, they were taken aback, not understanding who he was or how he had appeared at the wedding. It was only after Shu Xuehong's butler produced identification to prove the old man's identity that he explained with a smile, "This old gentleman is also considered part of the bride's family; he is Shu Yi'an's maternal grandfather."
Father Chu and Sui Qing then realized what was happening and quickly invited the old man to sit in the reception room. Their surprise was palpable; they hadn't expected Shu Yi'an, who came from Jiangnan, to have such a family background. Shu Xuehong kindly gestured for the couple to sit as well, and had Qingshan bring out a brocade box he had brought from Yangzhou.
The box is four feet square, covered in the famous Shu embroidery, and the opening is inlaid with a ruby. One glance is enough to tell that it is a priceless object.
“When the girl married into the family, her parents passed away early, leaving me, an old man, with nothing prepared. Consider this her dowry.”
Mr. Chu and Ms. Sui immediately said they could not accept the gift. "Our daughter has already suffered a loss by marrying into this family, so why should we be bound by such formalities?"
Ignoring the couple's refusals, Shu Xuehong opened the brocade box directly. Inside was a fine white jade brush with the year, October 1949, clearly engraved on its body. "I haven't accumulated much in my life. This was a gift from my teacher back then. The jade is of fairly good quality. Don't be so quick to refuse me; there's a reason I'm giving it to you."
Shu Xuehong took a sip of tea and slowly began to speak. “Our Yi’an family was also taught manners and etiquette from a young age. In terms of knowledge and talent, I dare say that we are worthy of your Chu family. I am getting older and can no longer withstand any major storms. Consider this as a promise you two made to me. My Shu family members will definitely be safe and sound here with you.”
Mr. Chu solemnly accepted the box handed to him by Shu Xuehong and earnestly assured the old man, "Rest assured, our Chu family will not let Yi An down."
The elderly man, holding Shu Yi'an's hand, stood on the stage with his back always straight, neither humble nor arrogant. As the wedding march neared its end, he tremblingly and with a reluctant expression handed his granddaughter to Chu Mu. The subsequent ceremony, as always, followed the established ritual: after exchanging wedding rings and clearly and firmly declaring "I do," the officiant officially announced their marriage.
Chu Mu gently brushed aside the soft hair on Shu Yi'an's forehead and placed a kiss on her forehead.
Shu Xuehong smiled at the two of them, then got up and left. Chu Mu watched the old man's retreating figure, recalling what he had said to him while Shu Yi'an was changing clothes. "She told me she was getting married very calmly. I don't know how you two met, but I know she must like you very much. I know my granddaughter."
"But son, as your wife, you will definitely understand her better than I, as her grandfather, will in the future. Her parents and I have carefully treasured her for over twenty years, so you must cherish her too."
Chu Mu also remembered his promise to the old man. He stood tall opposite Shu Xuehong, his eyes firm, and answered loudly, "I will be faithful in word and deed. I understand what you mean, rest assured."
Shu Xuehong had rarely met someone as intelligent as Chu Mu. He could guess her meaning with just a little prompting. The old man nodded meaningfully, "I know you're busy. Bring her back to see me when you have the chance."
Upon hearing this, everyone present understood that the old man, who had experienced countless hardships, had acknowledged the Shu family's son-in-law.
Because of Shu Xuehong's arrival, Shu Yi'an had a sunny day. In the evening, she and Chu Mu saw the old man off to his car. Watching his figure gradually disappear into the distance, Shu Yi'an suddenly looked up at Chu Mu and said something.
"The peach tree is young and tender, its leaves are lush and green. This maiden is going to her husband's home, may she bring harmony to her family."
Chu Mu was taken aback. "What?"
“My grandfather told me this,” Shu Yi’an smiled like a flower in the moonlight, “Now that I’m married to you, I’m going to live in harmony with you and your family. Don’t worry, I will be a very, very good wife.”
Chu Mu chuckled and pulled Shu Yi'an's hand towards the car.
Where are we going?