With three superpowers at his fingertips, he could dominate the 1970s.

According to the old customs of Beijing, newlyweds must return to the bride's parents' home on the third day after their wedding—to bring good fortune by "returning home on the third day."

Jiang Zhiyu's situation was special; her maternal family was in Shanghai, and her parents had come to live in Beijing. Therefore, her homecoming visit was naturally arranged at the Qi family's residence.

---

As dawn broke, Song Yanzhou opened his eyes.

Jiang Zhiyu lay on her side, breathing evenly, with half her face buried in his arm.

He dared not move, afraid of startling her. He had been feeling dizzy and lightheaded for the past two days, and felt as if this life was stolen.

He stared blankly at the top of the tent for a while, thinking about the return gifts for the bride's parents—which he hadn't gone through one last time yet.

After shifting for a while, I slowly pulled my arm out from under her neck, lifted the blanket, and got up.

Just as I touched the edge of the bed, a muffled sound came from behind me:

"What time is it?"

"It's only 5:30."

"You should sleep a little longer."

Jiang Zhiyu hummed in agreement and then turned over.

Song Yanzhou went downstairs quietly.

The lights were already on in the main room, and Chen Guifang and Sister Yang were packing the gifts for the bride's return visit—two pieces of cured pork, a pair of live chickens, two bottles of fine wine, a package of Daoxiangcun pastries from Beijing, and a bolt of Dacron fabric that Song Yanwei had insisted on giving them to her the night before.

"mom."

"Zhiyu likes sweets, shall we order another box of pastries?"

Chen Guifang didn't even look up:

"Added, one pound of red bean cake."

"Go back to your room and wash up. Don't get in the way."

Song Yanzhou made a soft "Ai" sound, but didn't move.

"...We'll have to take another look."

Chen Guifang looked up at him and smiled helplessly:

"Inkstone Boat."

"Both sides of the in-laws spoke yesterday. Given our in-laws' character, they won't complain about anything we lack."

Why are you so nervous?

Song Yanzhou scratched the back of his head but didn't reply.

Sister-in-law Yang chuckled to herself.

---

Just after seven o'clock, the jeep drove to the entrance of Qijia Alley.

Several aunties who were out early to buy groceries in the alley saw the car and their eyes lit up.

"Oh—they've come back for their third-day homecoming!"

"This goddaughter of the Qi family is truly fortunate to have married into both families with such grace."

Jiang Zhiyu wore a light gray wool coat over the same moon-white shirt she wore on her wedding day, her long hair simply tied up, as she followed Song Yanzhou out of the car.

The aunties and grandmas in the alley gathered around to look, but it wasn't crowded; they just stood aside and looked at it with smiles.

Jiang Zhiyu nodded politely in greeting, then took out candy from her pocket and distributed it to the children around the adults. She was praised all the way into the Qi family's gate.

---

The courtyard gate was pushed open—

Jiang Boxun and Su Wanqing were already there. Qi Zhengli stood at the entrance of the main room, and Liu Hong peeked out from the kitchen.

"Oh, I'm finally here!"

Liu Hong wiped her hands on her apron, rushed out to greet Jiang Zhiyu, and grabbed her hand:

"Was the journey smooth?"

"Have you had breakfast yet? I made millet porridge and steamed buns."

"I ate. Mom cooked some glutinous rice balls for me."

"Then eat some more."

Liu Hong pulled her towards the main room, but halfway there she remembered something, turned around and glared at Song Yanzhou:

"Xiao Song."

Song Yanzhou immediately stood at attention:

"Godmother."

"Has Zhiyu been wronged by you?"

Song Yanzhou puffed out his chest:

"Absolutely not."

"Hmm—" Liu Hong drawled, "I'm watching."

Qi Zhengli burst out laughing:

"Old woman, the way you're acting—it's a traditional wedding celebration for the third day after the bride's return to her parents' home, and you're treating her like a criminal."

Su Wanqing came out of the kitchen carrying tea, smiling as she spoke.

"Big sister, with this kind of fuss, I don't even dare to speak up for Yanzhou."

The room was filled with laughter.

Jiang Zhiyu was pulled to sit down on the sofa, opposite Jiang Boxun.

The old man held his teacup, slowly blew on it, his eyes full of smiles, but he only uttered one sentence:

"You've lost a bit of weight."

"without."

"Dad, you've misread it."

"Um."

Jiang Boxun took a sip of tea. "How well do the Song family treat you?"

"fine."

"I forgot to tell you! My grandma even gave me a house before I got married!"

Jiang Boxun nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

Song Yanzhou sat properly to the side, his back straight.

---

The feast was set out early.

Liu Hong's cooking skills are superb—braised pork, sweet and sour carp, stewed chicken, stewed cabbage and tofu, cold shredded vegetables, plus a big bowl of dumplings.

According to custom, the new son-in-law should toast his wife's family at the homecoming banquet.

Song Yanzhou, holding his cup, first toasted Jiang Boxun and Su Wanqing:

"Dad, Mom."

"I'll protect Zhiyu for the rest of my life."

Jiang Boxun grunted in agreement, clinked glasses with him, and drank it down.

Su Wanqing smiled and took a sip, her eyes reddening again.

"Silly child, Mom knows."

Then turn to Qi Zhengli and Liu Hong:

"Godfather, Godmother."

"I won't say much more about my promises; just wait and see how I perform!"

Qi Zhengli was taken aback, then smiled:

"That kid has a sweet tongue."

"drink."

After the three elders clinked glasses, Song Yanzhou tilted his head back and downed his glass in one gulp.

Jiang Zhiyu glanced at him from the side, said nothing, and reached out to replace the cup in front of him with warm tea.

Song Yanzhou looked back at her, his eyes full of silly smiles.

At the other end of the table, Jiang Boxun and Qi Zhengli exchanged a glance, and the two old men each picked up their teacups—without saying a word, they clinked them together.

---

After the meal, Liu Hong pulled Jiang Zhiyu back to the inner room.

The light in the inner room was soft, and Liu Hong pulled a small cloth bag from the bottom of a camphor wood chest.

"These are a pair of silver bracelets left by your godfather's maternal grandmother from many years ago."

"It's an old item, not worth much."

According to the customs of the capital, when a woman returns to her parents' home three days after her wedding, her family is obliged to give her a pair of wrist-weights to weigh down.

"Your parents came in a hurry, but they've handed over all their savings to you, so this task falls to me. It's just for good luck."

Jiang Zhiyu took it without refusing.

The silver bracelet is quite old, with a warm patina and a shiny inner ring.

"Godmother."

"I'll keep it."

Liu Hong reached out and touched her face:

"Your mother says you've been sensible since you were little."

"Don't be too sensible after you get married."

"Be affectionate when you need to be, and throw a tantrum when you need to."

Jiang Zhiyu smiled and replied:

"Know."

Liu Hong rambled on for a few more minutes before Qi Zhengli called out from outside the door:

"Old woman—that young couple should be going now, don't stop them."

"Okay, okay."

The jeep drove out of the alley.

Song Yanzhou suddenly asked you, Jiang Zhiyu

"What did Grandpa say to you this morning? You seemed quite happy after he told you."

"Oh! It's a message from my old boss. The thing I asked the higher-ups to investigate for me has made some progress!"

Song Yanzhou's heart tightened:

Are you leaving?

Seeing his nervous profile, I gently patted his arm.

"Don't worry, you still have a few days left on your honeymoon, right? I'll leave after you go, to be with you. Are you satisfied now?"

Song Yanzhou finally breathed a sigh of relief!

Who's more unlucky than him! He hasn't even had a chance to warm up his wife before she has to go to work!