Sold into a ghost marriage? Four-year-old and his thuggish father go on a killing spree.

The autumn air is crisp and clear, and the harvest is safely stored away.

Gu Yandong and Chen Xiuying's wedding was held on such a bountiful day.

The wedding was simple, yet incredibly lively.

The day before, Gu Yanqiu had taken his uncle to repaint the two new rooms that had been allocated to him, inside and out.

The walls were painted snow-white.

Gu Niannian became the "chief designer," and she used the red paper her father brought back from the county town to cut out several crooked but childlike "囍" character window decorations.

Carefully stick the glue to the window.

Looking at her "masterpiece," Gu Niannian was extremely satisfied.

It's as if those bright red paper-cut window decorations can bring all the joy into the house.

On the wedding day, two large pots were set up in the courtyard of the Gu family's old house.

Aunt Wang, along with several quick-witted women from the village, was busily preparing a banquet.

The aroma of braised pork with vermicelli mingled with the steam from a large pot of steamed white flour buns.

It filled the entire Chengjiawan area.

Everyone in the village knew that the third son of the Gu family was getting married, and they all came to offer their congratulations.

The courtyard was bustling with people, even more lively than during the Spring Festival.

As the second elder brother, Gu Yanqiu took out ten yuan as a gift and stuffed it into his younger brother's hand.

In an era when an average worker's monthly salary was only twenty or thirty yuan, ten yuan was definitely a huge sum of money.

This drew a murmur of surprise from those around them.

"Second Brother, this...this is too much!" Gu Yandong blushed and repeatedly declined.

"Take it!" Gu Yanqiu shoved the money into his pocket, patted his shoulder, and said in a deep voice, "You're married now, you're an adult. You need to live a good life from now on and treat Xiuying well."

Around noon, the wedding procession returned.

Chen Xiuying, wearing a brand-new red cotton-padded jacket and a red hair tie, was surrounded by the village girls as she walked into the courtyard.

She kept her head down shyly, her cheeks as red as ripe apples.

According to custom, a new bride should serve tea to her parents-in-law upon entering the family.

Wang Guifang sat in the main seat of the hall, expressionless as she accepted the teacup Chen Xiuying handed her. She took a sip and placed it on the table without offering a smile or taking out the red envelope she had prepared.

The atmosphere in the courtyard instantly became somewhat awkward.

Chen Xiuying stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to do with her hands and feet.

Just then, Aunt Sun Xiufen came over again, walked around Chen Xiuying, and said sourly, "Oh my, so this is the new sister-in-law? She's dressed so 'plainly'. Although our family isn't rich, we can't be this shabby for a wedding, can we? She doesn't even have a Dacron shirt."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiuying lowered her head even further, her eyes reddening.

"Sister-in-law!" Gu Yandong was so angry that he was about to step forward to argue.

"Shut up!" Aunt Wang walked over carrying a steaming plate of four-happiness meatballs, just in time to hear this. She slammed the plate down on the table, glared at Sun Xiufen, and said, "Xiuying is responding to the national call to be thrifty and frugal! Unlike some people who only know how to compare themselves to others all day long, their moral character is questionable! If you think it's shabby, then don't eat it!"

Aunt Wang was highly respected in the village. As soon as she spoke, Sun Xiufen was like a chicken with its neck being choked. She opened her mouth but didn't dare to say another word, and slunk away to the side.

The crisis was thus resolved.

Looking at Aunt Wang's tall figure, Gu Niannian felt extremely impressed.

The feast began, and the children were the happiest.

Gu Niannian grabbed a handful of peanuts and red dates, mingling among a group of teenagers, scattering them while shouting, "The bride is here! May she have a son soon!" She laughed more happily than anyone else.

Looking at her uncle, who was surrounded by people and had a happy smile on his face, and at her sister-in-law, who was shy but kept secretly looking at her uncle, she felt an indescribable warmth and satisfaction.

This family has finally gained another member.

A relative who truly loves their uncle.

The wedding festivities continued until evening.

After the guests left, the courtyard finally quieted down.

After Gu Niannian finished helping Aunt Wang clean up the dishes, she was about to go home when Chen Xiuying stopped her.

Only the two of them remained in the new house.

Chen Xiuying took out something wrapped in a handkerchief from a new bundle on the kang (a heated brick bed).

It was stuffed into Gu Niannian's hand.

Gu Niannian opened it and saw a crystal-clear fruit candy.

"Your sister-in-law left this for you." Chen Xiuying's voice was very gentle. She squatted down and gently hugged Gu Niannian.

This hug was warm and soft.

Chen Xiuying whispered in her ear, in a tone filled with infinite pity and solemnity:

"Niannian, I heard about you from Yandong."

"From now on, your sister-in-law is family. If anyone dares to bully you, I'll be the first to stand in for it!"

Gu Niannian's nose suddenly stung with tears.

Tears welled up like beads from a broken string.

It's been a very, very long time... no one has said anything like that to her.

This feeling of being unconditionally protected and cherished is the warmth she has longed for in both her lives.

She buried her face in Chen Xiuying's red cotton-padded jacket, which smelled of soap, and burst into tears.

This time, it wasn't because of sadness, but because she finally had a sister-in-law who truly loved her.