The moment he woke up, Chi Wu had Uncle Gan brought over. Chi Wu insisted that since they were family, they shouldn't hire outsiders; the cook should naturally be one of their own.

Besides, if he wasn't home managing the trivial affairs, Uncle Gan naturally had to be brought in to worry and exert himself. In Chi Wu's mind, Uncle Gan was someone to be placed wherever a need arose.

Tired of listening to Auntie's sour remarks, the two of them left immediately after waking up and went shopping at the department store without even having breakfast at home. Poor Uncle Gan was left alone to deal with a gaggle of middle-aged and elderly women.

Truthfully, it would have been better to let Uncle Gan go to the office; at least people at the company listened to him. Here, very few people afforded him that respect.

It must be said that both Cheng Ying and Chi Wu were people prone to worry. At this time, such matters should have been handled by their parents, but instead, Cheng Ying and Chi Wu were managing everything themselves.

It wasn't that their parents weren't capable, but rather that the two were accustomed to this kind of life, having been independent since childhood. Cheng Ying picked out underwear for Chi Wu quickly.

Since he wouldn't wear brightly patterned briefs, they might as well pick designer brands. Even in those simple times, there were specialized offerings for a select few.

As for feeling shy about buying underwear for Chi Wu—sorry, that feeling simply didn't exist. Over the years, Cheng Ying had washed his underwear countless times; buying a ready-made pair was nothing.

Chi Wu felt that being able to pick out such intimate items together was a manifestation of happiness and pride. Facing outsiders, Chi Wu was never shy either.

With a cold, aloof demeanor, he had the sales lady pick out a dozen pairs of red briefs. If there was any embarrassment, it would be reserved for when they were alone back home with his wife.

This was the inscrutable aspect of Chi Wu's psychology. Cheng Ying’s face twitched; she truly didn't approve of "red." Chi Wu said coldly, chin held high, "Getting married?" Cheng Ying dared not look at him.

What kind of taste was this? "I thought you meant for the whole month!" Chi Wu felt his wife wasn't getting into the spirit.

Since they were out shopping together today, they should naturally buy red things. "Hmph," he grunted.

They walked away from the counter. Once they were a safe distance, Cheng Ying spoke up, "I thought you'd be quite shy.

Were you faking it last night?" Chi Wu replied, "I’m not showing the underwear to them; why should I be shy with them?" Cheng Ying found a flaw in his logic. "I'm truly honored." When it was Cheng Ying's turn to buy clothes, Chi Wu still had plenty of opinions.

Cheng Ying asked, "What style do you want? This one isn't right, that one isn't right.

Do you have any objective in mind?" Chi Wu retorted, "Yes, I do. Why wouldn't I?

Red! Look at the colors you're picking!" Cheng Ying shot back, "You old-fashioned fool, people wear white wedding dresses too." Chi Wu scoffed, "Do you want it to look like a funeral?

I'm getting married, so I get the final say. We should wear red; it’s festive.

I don't care what others wear, but you have to wear red." Cheng Ying felt Chi Wu was being unusually stubborn for the first time. "It’s my wedding, though." Chi Wu threw out a line, "Do you think Grandma would let you wear something so drab?" Alright, Cheng Ying conceded defeat.

But wearing the era's traditional fitted red gua, she didn't see much difference from wearing a patterned gua. "You're not expecting me to be red from head to toe, are you?" Chi Wu beamed, "That would be the best.

Me, red, inside and out." Cheng Ying thought of Chi Wu’s red briefs. How was this boy not colorblind?

"Do you think that's presentable?" Chi Wu shrugged, "We got through it that way before. Whether it looks good or not, you only wear it for one day.

It’s fine, I don't mind." Cheng Ying's face darkened. Why did she drag him out to buy clothes?

How dense was she? "You’re so generous." Chi Wu felt his patience was quite good, accompanying Yingzi just by looking at her.

"Hurry up and pick something." Cheng Ying looked at the only two bridal wear sections in the department store. Was there a choice?

"Let’s just take this set." She turned to Chi Wu, asking in a chilling tone, "Are you satisfied?" Chi Wu pointed a single finger at a red formal dress nearby. "It’s okay.

If you feel this isn't good enough, we'll take that set too." Cheng Ying felt she had made a mistake by dragging Chi Wu out for a stroll. "Forget it, this is fine." She didn't even want the one set.

Carrying the red garment, Cheng Ying teased herself, "Oh my, it's wool too—quite extravagant." Then, she grabbed Chi Wu and refused to move on. "Didn't you say you were red inside and out?

Why haven't I seen your red clothes?" Why should I be the only specimen? If someone is going to look ridiculous at the wedding, we should do it together.

Chi Wu frowned, "Have you ever seen a man wear red? Although I look good in anything, on such an important day, I shouldn't deliberately try to steal the spotlight, right?

Of course, I'll wear what others wear for their weddings; don't worry, I won't embarrass you." Looking at Chi Wu, Cheng Ying had lost the desire to shop; facing Auntie would have been better. "Forget it, let’s go." This was torture.

Luckily, the bright red wool dagua wasn't in her hands, or Cheng Ying definitely would have stuffed the clothes into a trash can. Seeing that nine out of ten weddings featured the same outfit, Cheng Ying couldn't be happy.

This wasn't just Chi Wu's only wedding; in Cheng Ying's heart, this was likely the only one without any surprises, too. Although they wanted something simple, family-oriented, and warm, this casualness was too much!

If they couldn't wear a wedding dress, she still needed a statement piece of clothing. What kind of scene was this, where every bride had the same look?

Sister usually dressed with such distinctiveness; how could she become so conventional for her wedding? Cheng Ying thought to herself that she’d wear a pair of red cloth shoes then, just to disgust him and teach him a lesson for not letting her have her way.

Chi Wu couldn't fathom his wife's gloom. In Chi Wu's mind, the mere thought of Cheng Ying wearing this outfit symbolizing marriage for him was scorching hot.

As for the identical styles, in Chi Wu's view, that was perfect; this was what a bride should look like. Truly, their ways of thinking were completely misaligned.

It wasn't until the twenty-fifth that Chi Wu realized he hadn't received a single kind word from his wife despite buying her an entire set of clothes. He scratched his head—what was the reason?

How had he offended Yingzi? Chi Wu would never have guessed that Cheng Ying's fixation was the clothing itself.

In the evening, Chi Wu called the younger ones together, saying that since he now had a family and a career, his freedom was gone, and he needed to go out and have one last wild night. Cheng Ying thought, had bachelor parties not originated from guys like them?

However, she was surrounded by her recently arrived Old Aunt and Aunt-in-Law—in short, a whole contingent of women from the family—leaving her no chance to go out and have fun. Aunt-in-Law sighed, "Our Yingzi is finally getting married.

Your uncle was planning to support you for a few more years; no opportunity now!" Cheng Ying replied, "I haven't exactly let Uncle support me less. You don't need to worry about me marrying far away or being bullied now that Wu Zi is coming into our family." Aunt-in-Law looked at Cheng Ying speechlessly.

"Getting married isn't about which family you marry into; it’s about starting your own household now. Do you understand?" Second Aunt chimed in, "Oh, I don't quite follow." Old Aunt said wisely, "It’s just that the two have been together since they were kids; this isn't anything new." Cheng Ying quipped, "Maybe I should switch to something new?" Before the words had fully settled, she received a light smack on the back of her head.

Cheng Ying held her head, "I'm getting married tomorrow!" The Old Matriarch retorted, "Even if you were giving birth tomorrow, if you said the wrong thing, I’d still discipline you. Is that something you just casually swap out?

Have some sense in how you speak!" Cheng Ying felt truly wronged. "I was just joking, Grandma!" The Old Matriarch, though perhaps vague in other moments, was not confused now.

"Jokes aren't allowed either." Cheng Ying pouted, "Grandma, I saw Sister Dayue getting married in the village. Her family was so reluctant, their eyes were red from crying.

Look at you; not only are you not crying, but you’re hitting me! How is that fair?" The Old Matriarch was unreasonable.

"What's wrong with me hitting you? Are you feeling wronged?" Cheng Ying held back her grievance.

"If you’re not going to be lenient, just aim for the soft spots, alright?" This was someone not to be crossed. The Old Matriarch handed Cheng Ying a red cloth bundle.

"Try this on." Cheng Ying's eyes widened. "You made this?

For me? When did you prepare it?" Oh, the Old Matriarch, who was only lucid for a few hours a day, had actually gone to the trouble of making this for her.

Cheng Ying felt a sudden urge to cry. Aunt Rong explained, "Grandma prepared everything over the last few days.

It’s because you two decided things so hastily, otherwise, Auntie would have embroidered some flowers on it; it would definitely be prettier than this." Cheng Ying opened the red cloth package. Bright red fabric, gold thread embroidery, a mandarin collar, a nipped-waist quilted jacket.

It looked so antique, so dazzling. "Grandma, you are my true Grandma!

I finally don't have to wear the red gua Chi Wu bought!" Cheng Ying held the jacket up against herself. Not only would she wear this now, but even thirty or fifty years later, this outfit wouldn't look dated; it was stunningly beautiful.

The Old Matriarch chuckled, "I knew you'd like it. I made it according to your usual tastes." Cheng Ying asked, "Grandma, can I not wear these quilted pants?

They don't match at all." The Old Matriarch said, "It's a wedding, dear. As long as you're happy, it's fine.

They are pressed at the bottom of the bundle." Aunt Rong chimed in, "Grandma knew you definitely wouldn't like wearing those padded trousers, nor the matching pleated skirt—that’s the old custom." The Old Matriarch stated firmly, "It’s my granddaughter’s wedding; I certainly want my granddaughter to be happy. Grandma has prepared something else." Aunt Gan brought over another red package.

"Your Grandma told me to do nothing else but specifically find clothes you would adore." Cheng Ying felt like she was about to become a nun—the feeling of being so specially attended to was wonderful. "Grandma, it’s been so long since you’ve paid me this much attention.

If I had known, I would have gotten married sooner." The Old Matriarch murmured shyly, "Oh, see if you like it. Stop talking nonsense." The Old Matriarch seemed a bit embarrassed.

Cheng Ying opened the package Aunt Gan brought. It was a wrap-around long dress made of the same gold-embroidered fabric as the little jacket, with a slit opening on the side near the knee.

Cheng Ying felt it was a piece of art that transcended eras, suitable for both ancient and modern times. "I absolutely love it!" Aunt Gan noted the slightly subdued atmosphere.

"Yes, I like it too. But for it to fit so perfectly, Yingzi must thank Auntie.

If it were according to Mom’s wishes, those quilted pants would be worn underneath this dress. I had to argue hard with Mom to have the skirt tailored to your waistline." Aunt Gan’s words were very direct.

Cheng Ying glanced at the quilted pants inside the bundle. If she wore those under this skirt, could it still be a wrap dress?

"That would really use too much fabric. Thank you, Auntie." She definitely had to thank her for that.

She couldn't let Grandma run wild. Aunt Gan turned away, suppressing a smile.

"It’s nothing. Those are just for wearing underneath when it’s cold." Cheng Ying looked at the entire outfit, hugged the Old Matriarch with one arm, and said, "Grandma, your eyesight is bad; why bother with all this effort?

I could have managed with the store-bought clothes too."