Chapter 653 - 651: Showing Off

The new house was just one street over from the Wu Family’s alley. It was only a minute’s walk away, very close and convenient for visiting.

The layout was similar to the Wu Family’s current residence, but a little more spacious. It was also a courtyard house, in a quieter, more secluded environment.

Su Li was like many others; when she got a second chance and had money, the first thing she did was buy property. After all, real estate values always go up.

She now had quite a few properties to her name, including other courtyard houses, but none were as well-located or had a layout as good as the Wu Family’s.

After seeing the new house, Su Li couldn’t help but click her tongue in amazement.

’How should I put this... In her past life, she never would have imagined she could own a courtyard house like this.’

’The value of this courtyard house couldn’t be measured in money alone.’

According to tradition, the groom’s family was responsible for preparing the house and furniture. Once the house was ready, the furniture inside was more or less ready too.

All sorts of daily necessities and appliances, like a refrigerator, television, and tape recorder, had already been set up properly.

This time, Su Li was visiting to bring over the furniture and items that were part of her dowry.

The dowry included furniture—the latest modular style—a new sewing machine, a desk, a bookcase, a bookshelf, a pair of camphorwood chests, and several square trunks. These could be stacked together or moved around and rearranged into different configurations.

These items were all custom-made to the house’s dimensions. Because they were so heavy and cumbersome, they wouldn’t be moved over on the wedding day itself—that would be too much of a hassle.

Usually, apart from a few specific items, everything was put in place and arranged ahead of time.

Besides these large items, there were also many smaller things Su Li had to prepare.

Aside from the quilts—enough to last a lifetime—there were also curtains, tablecloths, a television cover, and other decorative fabrics.

Su Li had spent quite a bit on all of this.

However, all of this paled in comparison to the quilts her "little aunt" and the others had helped prepare.

When her little aunt and the others came, they had gone to great trouble to bring quilts that could last for twenty years, and they showed them to Su Li.

They had carefully selected satin quilt covers in vibrant, festive colors.

Those quilt covers were made of real, high-quality satin, with hand-embroidered dragons and phoenixes. It was the kind of delicate handiwork where the fabric would wrinkle and the silk threads would fade after a single wash.

For the new quilts Su Li and Wu Sheng would use for their wedding, they had specially invited a "woman of good fortune" to sew them, purely to bless the couple with future happiness.

Those whose parents were not both living, or who came from incomplete families, were not allowed to touch the bride’s dowry. Even her little aunt, Wu Qihua, refused to do any of the sewing.

A "woman of good fortune" wasn’t easy to find; many factors had to be considered. Those who were chosen for the task always looked proud and grateful.

Su Li witnessed and participated in these events, and through them, she felt the solemnity and importance attached to this marriage.

These traditions, while called rules, were really about taking things seriously.

At times, Su Li had been so tired that she felt like just going through the motions, but she always found her energy again.

A wedding is just a formality, but the more seriously and importantly you treat it, the better you can understand the meaning of marriage.

After a busy day, almost everything was finally taken care of.

All that was left was to wait for the wedding to begin.

The so-called wedding was really the wedding banquet. The restaurant had been booked long ago, the invitations had all been sent out, and all that remained was for friends and family to gather for a good meal.

After tonight, Su Li and Wu Sheng wouldn’t be able to see each other again.

Their wedding was in five days.

Su Li had no problem with that at all.

’How should I put it... She felt like she’d been rushing around so much—whether from nerves or something else—that she hadn’t had a moment of peace in days.’

’Her mind needed to quiet down.’

Besides, now that most of the preparations were done, she needed to rest and recharge.

’Getting a few good nights of sleep and seeing some friends wouldn’t be bad. And I need to spend time with Tang Mo, too.’

Since Tang Mo had returned, he had been helping out, so the two of them had less time alone together.

Su Li felt she needed to enjoy her last few days of being single.

With that in mind, Su Li slept incredibly soundly that night, not waking up until ten the next morning.

Waking up naturally without an alarm truly was the happiest way to live.

Su Li got up, made a lavish lunch, and ate with Tang Mo.

After eating, Su Li took Tang Mo to meet her friends.

This friend was Li Li. Li Li had been transferred back to the Imperial City for work, at the same radio station where she had interned.

She was now a radio reporter and announcer, and she was doing quite well for herself.

For her wedding, Su Li had invited all her close classmates who lived nearby and could make it. Chang E couldn’t come because she lived too far away and was almost in tears over it.

Li Li, however, could definitely come and was even able to take time off work.

She was also going to be Su Li’s bridesmaid.

The news that Su Li was getting married and already had a child had spread some time ago. But later, everyone’s attention was drawn to Su Li’s accomplishments, so no one really brought it up anymore.

Chang E and Li Li were close with Su Li, but by a strange coincidence, neither of them had ever met Tang Mo.

When Li Li and the other classmates in the Imperial City who were attending the wedding saw the restaurant for the banquet, their hearts skipped a beat.

That wasn’t a place ordinary people could just walk into, let alone hold a wedding reception.

Everyone was excited but also a bit apprehensive. They wanted to ask Su Li what the situation was. Then, one of the classmates—no one knew who—mentioned that they had never seen Su Li’s son and suggested they all meet him.

Su Li was more than happy to introduce Tang Mo to them.

In the afternoon, after a short rest, Su Li took Tang Mo to the agreed-upon coffee shop to meet her classmates.

Coffee shops had recently popped up like mushrooms after a spring rain. With their elegant atmosphere, they were perfect for friends to meet up and had become very popular.

Seeing Su Li walk in with Tang Mo, her classmates were a little surprised.

Because Tang Mo looked older than they had imagined.

"Come, come, let me introduce you. This is my son, Tang Mo. Handsome, right?"

"Handsome! Yes, very handsome."

Su Li smiled. "Little Mo, say hello to these aunts and uncles."

Tang Mo obediently greeted each of them.

They quickly replied, "Hello, hello! Come, sit down."

Li Li, being the closest to Su Li, asked, "So, Little Mo, what grade are you in?"

Tang Mo answered honestly, "First grade."

Li Li and the other classmates were a bit stunned. First grade? Judging by his height, he couldn’t possibly be in first grade, could he?

Li Li asked, confused, "First grade? You always used to say you were going to pick up Little Mo, but how can he be in first grade?"

Su Li saw their expressions and huffed proudly, "First year of high school."

"Huh? First year? He’s in high school?" Li Li froze for a second before it hit her. "First year of high school? But he’s so young!"

Su Li huffed again, pleased with herself. "That’s right, first year of high school. My Little Mo is a little genius, you know. Next year... after skipping a grade, he’ll be a senior taking his college entrance exams."

Her classmates were shocked. They choked.

They choked on their own spit.

"COUGH COUGH... First year of high school... a senior next year... This..."

Their bewildered gazes shifted between Su Li and Tang Mo. Su Li had only just graduated from college, but her son was already in high school? And he was about to be a senior, which meant he’d be going to college soon, wouldn’t he?

Su Li just beamed, waiting for them to digest the news.