Chapter 253: Mid-Autumn Gift, Worshipping the Moon Goddess

Chapter 253: Chapter 253: Mid-Autumn Gift, Worshipping the Moon Goddess

A moment later, Han Xiaorui came out of the house, holding four boxes.

"What’s this?" Ye Feng asked curiously.

Han Xiaorui smiled. "For Grandma, a set of Buddha Beads made of 108 Tridacna Beads; for Auntie, a pearl necklace; and for you and Grandpa, rings made from Tridacna."

"Whether it’s the Tridacna or the pearls, I gathered them from the seabed myself and had them made. It’s just a small token of my appreciation, nothing much."

Ye Feng could feel how much Han Xiaorui valued his family. He smiled and accepted the gifts.

"These were so carefully prepared. How can you call this a ’small’ token? It’s clearly a huge one!"

’His grandma and aunt have a lot of jewelry, but you can never have too much.’

’Especially since it’s from Han Xiaorui. They’ll treasure it even more.’

Han Xiaorui smiled. "Be careful on the road!"

Ye Feng nodded, hugged Han Xiaorui, and couldn’t help but kiss her.

Having successfully proposed, Ye Feng was in high spirits and full of vigor.

When he was single, he had felt free and easy, thoroughly enjoying the bachelor life.

But ever since they started dating, his heart was now occupied by that one person he couldn’t stop thinking about.

It was fine when he was busy; she didn’t cross his mind as often.

But the moment he had some free time, his mind would unconsciously drift to Han Xiaorui.

Especially in the dead of night, loneliness and longing would well up in his heart.

She was at the very core of his being.

’The term ’sweetheart’ really makes sense now.’

After Ye Feng left, Han Xiaoqing quickly sidled up to her.

"Sis, you actually accepted his proposal?" Han Xiaoqing said in disbelief.

Han Xiaorui smiled. "What else? Did you want me to say no?"

Han Xiaoqing scratched the tip of her nose. "Of course I didn’t want you to say no. I just didn’t expect Brother Ye to propose so soon."

Han Xiaorui looked at the brilliant diamond ring on her hand. "You know, this thing is actually quite pretty! So sparkly!"

"Our feelings are there, our families approve, so there’s no need to drag things out. I’m not in a rush, but Ye Feng is."

Han Xiaoqing covered her mouth and snickered. "The Xu family is antsy too! The way Old Madam Xu looks at Pingping and An’an, you can tell she wishes they were her own."

Han Xiaorui smiled. "Just you watch. On the sixteenth of the eighth lunar month, when they come to watch the tidal bore, they’ll want to set a date!"

Han Xiaoqing was taken aback. "So it looks like they want to hold the wedding before the end of the year?"

"It’s possible," Han Xiaorui said with a smile, feeling quite excited about the good things to come.

After all, every time she saw Ye Feng, she felt a great sense of longing!

’Being able to see and touch him, but not ’eat’ him, always leaves me feeling unsatisfied.’

Han Xiaorui was never one to deny herself. If she loved someone, she loved them; if she liked someone, she liked them. It was that simple.

It was just one part of her life.

She wanted to live a rich and wonderful life, so she was bound not to invest too much time and energy in any single thing.

Therefore, her guiding principle in everything was to follow her heart and avoid internal conflict.

「This year, for the Mid-Autumn Festival」

Wu Cuicui invited Han Xiaorui to celebrate with them, along with her children and sister.

Not only that, but Yang Minmin had even written a formal-looking invitation herself.

So, Han Xiaorui came over with her two daughters, her sister, and Wu Jiao and Wu Yao.

Wu Cuicui had also brought her parents, her sister, and Yang Zhigang over.

As for Zhang Xiufang, Yang Zhigang didn’t let her come. She could stay home and celebrate by herself.

Wu Cuicui was completely fed up with Zhang Xiufang now. She had worked so hard taking care of the woman.

But not only did she not get a single word of praise or thanks from Zhang Xiufang, she got nothing but verbal abuse.

As a junior member of the family, she had put up with it for the sake of her husband and Second Uncle.

When Zhang Xiufang cursed at Wu Cuicui for raising Zhang Lili’s "bastard," Wu Cuicui was so furious that she declared she would never come back.

Although the child was premature and a lot of money was spent on her intensive treatment at the hospital...

...after she came home, Wu Cuicui cared for her meticulously, treating her as her own child.

Little Shunshun had grown a bit now. Her face and arms were chubby, and her skin was fair and delicate.

Her features combined the best of Yang Jianming and Zhang Lili, making her a delicate and beautiful baby.

’When Zhang Xiufang was calling her a bastard, did she not even open her eyes to look?’

’She’s clearly Yang Jianming’s child!’

’No matter how many faults Zhang Lili has, you can’t deny that this is the child she had with Yang Jianming.’

’Zhang Lili might be a bad person, but Yang Jianming is an even bigger asshole. Why doesn’t Zhang Xiufang curse her own son?’

’Since they’re already divorced, why take it out on the child?’

Han Xiaorui looked at the baby in the carriage and reached out to poke her cheek.

"Sister Cuicui, this child is lucky to have met you!"

Wu Cuicui smiled. "At first, I started taking care of her because Second Uncle asked for my help. But after raising her through all the diapers and feedings, there’s truly no difference from having my own!"

"However much I doted on Minmin, that’s how much I dote on Shunshun now! No matter what, she’s my child."

Han Xiaorui nodded. "Whoever raises a child is the one who loves them most! And of course, the child will be closest to whoever raises her."

"Isn’t that the truth?" Wu Cuicui laughed. "The little one has already started to recognize people. If she doesn’t see me for a moment, she cries! She’s a clingy one!"

Yang Zhigang was with a few of the children, stacking red-dyed pine wood into a small, two-foot-high tower.

On the eight immortals table in the courtyard, there were various flavors of mooncakes, as well as fruits and candies.

A bright, round moon hung in the sky.

Yang Zhigang lit the pine wood tower and waited for it to catch fire.

Yang Zhigang knelt in the direction of the moon, and the children copied him.

Yang Zhigang led everyone in worshiping the moon and praying for blessings.

They prayed for their family to be safe and sound, healthy and strong.

They prayed for favorable weather, and for a bountiful harvest to fill the granaries.

They prayed for calm winds and sunny skies, and for full nets on every fishing trip.

They prayed for peace and prosperity, a strong nation with wealthy people, and abundance year after year.

Yang Zhigang was a man who loved life and took it seriously.

During the Mid-Autumn Festival, he sang "The Thousand-Mile Moon Carries My Longing" in a clear voice, "The vast night envelops all around, a new moon like a hook at the edge of the sky. Recalling the past is like a dream, where can I seek that dreamscape again..."

Although this song is about romantic love, it is now often used to express longing for family, friends, and other kinds of relationships.

Yang Jianguo sang along. He understood his Second Uncle and was encouraging and accompanying him through the song.

Because the family sang this song every year, Yang Minmin knew it too and sang along.

Not only did she sing, but Yang Minmin also held hands with Pingping and An’an and led them in a dance.

Pingping and An’an, though they couldn’t sing the words, seemed to have the song’s melody engraved on their hearts.

Dancing with their big sister Yang Minmin, they looked like adorable little fairies under the moon, their laughter crisp and joyful.

Tears welled in Yang Zhigang’s eyes. He had already learned that Ye Feng had proposed to Han Xiaorui, and that their wedding day would soon arrive.

This might be the last Mid-Autumn Festival he would spend with his granddaughters.

In the future, the ones spending the Mid-Autumn Festival with his two granddaughters would be the family that Han Xiaorui and Ye Feng built together.

He was just the former father-in-law; it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to tag along.

It would also be inappropriate to have Pingping and An’an come over to his place for the festival, as it might prevent them from feeling a sense of belonging in their new home.

All his hopes and wishes were poured into this song.

He prayed to the moon goddess, asking her to grant Pingping and An’an clear minds, sharp wits, a life of peace and joy, and a future full of fun and hope.