Chapter 6: Convincing My Parents

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But that wasn’t the end of it. Before the Lu family could even process this sudden news, Gu Fengji dropped another bombshell.

“This is the bride price. The wedding will be held here. Why don’t we just have a simple meal together the day after tomorrow? You can invite whoever you want. I, Old Ling, and a few comrades will come, but we won’t be picking up the bride. Our side lives in collective dormitories with no family quarters, so there’s no place for her to stay if we bring her over.”

“Also, Xiao Lu, pack your bags quickly. I’ll arrange for someone to help buy your train ticket. It will take anywhere from three to five days. I’ll inform my family about the marriage too. Once you arrive in the capital, just listen to my family.”

As Gu Fengji spoke rapidly, he handed a leather envelope to Lu’s father, cutting through the situation decisively.

He had little affection for Lu Jiaor and considered this arrangement the most lenient he could offer. Beyond this, there was nothing more.

Lu Jiaor wasn’t upset by Gu Fengji’s words either. After all, this marriage was forced and reluctant from the start. Did she really expect the man to welcome her with open arms and hold a grand wedding? If he weren’t a soldier, at least this arrangement showed some shred of conscience.

Lu Jianping and Su Yulan, who had just been overjoyed to marry off their daughter, suddenly felt a chill from Gu Fengji’s words. They didn’t care much about the bride price but the thought of their daughter going alone to the distant capital filled them with worry.

“Xiao Gu, Jiaor is going alone to the capital; it’s too far. Can’t she stay here? If she doesn’t follow the army, she can stay at her parents’ home. We won’t cause you any trouble.”

“Yes, yes, Jiaor definitely won’t be a burden.”

The couple found it hard to accept their daughter going to her in-laws alone, without her husband’s company, and tried to persuade their new son-in-law.

Gu Fengji shook his head. He very much did not want Lu Jiaor to stay here. Not because it would distract him, but because knowing she was nearby made him restless.

Better to out of sight, out of mind.

The moment Lu Jiaor heard that the man wanted her to go to the capital, her heart stirred. Going to the capital was good—no one there knew her. Moreover, what kind of place was the capital? A wonderful place.

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Most importantly, she was no longer the old Lu Jiaor. Whether in habits or mannerisms, every move she made was different, and her parents, who knew her best, might recognize something amiss. She couldn’t guarantee they wouldn’t notice.

So...

“Mom, Dad, he’s right. If I stay here, I’ll only distract him, and it’s not in accordance with army rules. We can’t be a burden.”

Having made her decision, Lu Jiaor naturally spoke up for Gu Fengji and persuaded her parents.

Lu Jianping and Su Yulan listened and admitted their daughter was right, but their worries remained.

Gu Fengji didn’t expect his wife to speak for him and be so willing to go to the capital. He glanced at her with some surprise. At least her obedience eased his mood somewhat.

After registering the marriage and settling everything, Gu Fengji and his group left by car.

“Jiaor, you’re going so far alone and don’t know anyone there. He can’t even accompany you back. Mom’s afraid you’ll be mistreated.”

A mother’s worry knows no bounds. Before her daughter married, Su Yulan only thought about how to marry her off; now that she had, she worried about her daughter’s life with her in-laws.

Lu Jianping also looked worried. Issues between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were hard for a man to address.

“Mom, don’t worry. I’ll live honestly. If anyone mistreats me, I’m no pushover. Besides, I think his family is reasonable—they wouldn’t be shameless.”

“Also, Mom, the capital is a good place. Once I’m settled there, I can bring you all over.”

“If my brothers and sisters can come to the capital, they won’t have to farm anymore, and their futures will be better.”

Lu Jiaor had to go to the capital. It was mainly for herself, but truly, it was for her family. So she tried hard to persuade Lu Jianping and Su Yulan.

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When Lu Jianping and Su Yulan heard their eldest daughter speak of bringing the whole family to the capital in the future, especially concerning the prospects of their four children, the couple couldn’t oppose.

Just as Gu Fengji had predicted, without his intervention, Lu Jiaor had settled her parents.

Since their eldest daughter had made up her mind, Lu Jianping and his wife stopped resisting. Once home, they took out the leather envelope Gu Fengji had given and counted the bride price money inside.

A thick stack of unity bonds.

Fifty in total, amounting to five hundred yuan.

In these times, five hundred yuan as bride price was indeed quite a sum here. Lu Jianping and Su Yulan were very satisfied.

“Jianping, hurry and order half a pig. I’ll notify the other relatives and later finalize the menu.”

Su Yulan remembered the instructions from her son-in-law and quickly told her husband to take care of it.

It was fortunate that the banquet was scheduled for the day after tomorrow; otherwise, the meat and dishes would have been troublesome.

So the couple busily set about their tasks, and Lu Jiaor continued leading her little brother to prepare meals. It was almost noon, and the elementary school children would soon be home for lunch.