The Sun Hasn’t Set Yet
However, Lin Chuan’s family was quite thoughtful, and they didn’t forget the tradition of giving a token as a bride’s gift for addressing them as “Mother” and “Father.” In this era, a bride-price was typically only about a hundred yuan, so one couldn’t expect much. Su Su received nine yuan and ninety-nine cents—a symbolic “one in ten thousand.”
Lin Chuan’s mother said, “I meant to give it to you during the wedding, but Chuanzi carried you off in such a hurry that I didn’t get the chance.”
Lin Chuan kept his head down and continued eating, pretending not to hear his mother teasing him.
“Thank you, Mother.” Su Su, having never been married before, wasn’t aware of such customs. Since they gave it to her, she accepted it graciously, knowing that good days would come gradually.
The food was simple, but Lin Chuan’s mother pushed the meat dishes toward Su Su, and no one else reached for them.
“Why aren’t you all eating? This stir-fried meat is really tasty,” Su Su said, noticing their restraint. She lightly nudged Lin Chuan, who was sitting beside her.
He turned to look at his wife—so beautiful—and silently reached his chopsticks into the dish to pick up the largest piece of meat. With a plop, he dropped it into Su Su’s bowl, then resumed eating.
“…” It was a piece of fatty meat, with only a speck of lean meat the size of a mung bean. Su Su couldn’t bring herself to eat it and picked it up to return it to Lin Chuan. Seeing his puzzled expression, she explained, “I don’t eat fatty meat. You can have it.”
Lin Chuan hesitated for a moment before thinking how wonderful it was to have a wife who even gave him meat. Feeling touched, he picked up a piece of pork belly, skilfully removed the fatty part, tossed it to Lin Jiang, and placed the lean meat into Su Su’s bowl.
“…” Su Su was thoroughly embarrassed.
After they finally finished the meal, Lin Chuan’s mother said, “Shanzi, clear the table. Why are you standing up and leaving? Do you think you’re the master of the house?”
Lin Shan, who was usually silent and studious, frowned and said, “Isn’t there a sister-in-law now? Why should I clear the table? Since when does a new bride not do any chores?”
Su Su glanced at Lin Shan in confusion. She hadn’t interacted much with the second brother. Had she offended him somehow?
Lin Chuan’s mother glared at Lin Shan and scolded, “What are you talking about? You…”
Lin Chuan put the chopsticks in his hand heavily on the table and said, “Lin Shan, come out with me.”
What was he going to do? To teach his brother a lesson outside?
Mother Lin turned her anger to Father Lin, “Look how you spoiled him. He has no manners. Today is Chuanzi and Su Su’s wedding day. According to tradition, the bride isn’t supposed to do any work, or she’ll have bad luck in the future. He didn’t know that, and you didn’t bother to teach him or bother to say anything? Like a Donkey!” Then, turning to Su Su, she said, “Su Su, don’t be upset. That boy has read too many books and lost his common sense.”
“Mm, I’m not upset,” Su Su replied. But recalling the novel, she remembered that Lin Shan was a devoted follower of the female lead because she had tutored him in his studies. Now that the sister-in-law had changed, he was clearly unhappy.
First day of marriage, and he’s already trying to bully his sister-in-law?
Su Su smiled lightly and said, “I heard people say that Lin Shan and Qin Yueyue have a good relationship, that he often went to her for tutoring. Maybe he’s upset because I suddenly took her place?”
Her words made Lin Chuan’s mother even angrier. “Don’t worry about him. Go back to the house, and I’ll deal with this boy.”
“That’s not necessary. Time will reveal a person’s true nature,” Su Su said, maintaining her composure. Still, she intended to make sure Lin Shan understood the female lead’s attitude toward their family.
While the female lead wasn’t inherently bad—she was ambitious and hardworking for her time—her treatment of the Lin family wasn’t particularly kind.
After saying this, Su Su returned to the rear courtyard, feigning a look of melancholy. She offered to help clean up, but Lin Chuan’s mother wouldn’t let her, firmly believing in the importance of traditional customs.
When Su Su opened the door, she saw Lin Chuan returning with Lin Shan, who looked aggrieved and was pouting. Lin Shan opened his mouth as if to say something, but quickly shut it again.
Smack! Lin Chuan smacked the back of Lin Shan’s head and said, “Lost your voice? Forgot what you’re supposed to say?”
“I remember.” After Lin Chuan’s stern “lesson,” Lin Shan reluctantly turned to Su Su and said, “Sister-in-law, I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright,” Su Su replied with a smile, though she found Lin Chuan’s disciplinary methods amusingly direct.
Lin Shan breathed a sigh of relief and asked, “Can I go back to studying now?”
“From now on, if you have questions, ask your sister-in-law. She’s a college graduate—much better than that other woman. Got it?” Lin Chuan mentioning the female lead as ‘that other woman’ showed that he really didn’t like her.
“She’s great,” Lin Shan muttered.
“If she’s so great, why don’t you go live with her? Our family doesn’t need a freeloader who sides with outsiders. If it happens again, don’t blame me for kicking you out.”
“You used to say she was my sister-in-law and deserved respect,” Lin Shan argued, clearly hurt.
Lin Chuan hesitated, glancing at Su Su, before smacking Lin Shan again. “That was then, this is now. Su Su is your sister-in-law now. She’s an outsider. Got it?”
“Got it,” Lin Shan replied, aggrieved.
Su Su smiled and said, “You don’t need to be so harsh with him. He’s still young and doesn’t understand that some people might seem good on the surface but secretly live off others like parasites. He’ll figure it out in time.”
Lin Chuan nodded. “Go study.” Then, turning to Su Su, his voice softened. “Wife, let’s go home.”
“Alright.” Su Su felt a wave of happiness—she finally had a home in this world.
Overjoyed, she grabbed Lin Chuan’s hand, and the two walked toward their small, rustic house under the glow of the setting sun.
Though the house was old and worn, it exuded warmth.
Especially with the tall, handsome man by her side, clad in his neat military uniform. He would prove to be a capable and dependable husband, apart from his long absences due to military duties.
She had already decided: if he couldn’t take care of her, she would simply follow him to his post.
Back at the house, Lin Chuan began tidying up. One of the other rooms was quite messy, but he insisted Su Su not do any chores, saying it was bad luck for the bride to work on her wedding day.
Just as the atmosphere was turning cozy, the sound of people approaching could be heard outside. It wasn’t just a few—it sounded like a crowd.
Could it be people coming to tease them during the wedding night? Su Su grew nervous. She dreaded such antics, knowing how wedding pranks worked. New brides and grooms were expected to endure the teasing without getting angry, and no one was spared—regardless of age or relationship.
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