Hello, Comrade. I'm Here to Marry You!

Su Zhaozhao also fried some peanuts, just in case Xie Huaizheng and Liu Guosheng wanted a couple of drinks later. That way, they’d have a little something to snack on.

Lastly, she took the fruit out of the refrigerator. She sliced some apples and pears and arranged them on a platter.

Xie Huaizheng finished setting the table with bowls and chopsticks and brought all the dishes out.

When he caught the scent of apples in the air, his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Su Zhaozhao noticed at once. ’He still really hates apples.’

But Su Zhaozhao couldn’t help but pick up a slice of apple and offer it to Xie Huaizheng. "Want a bite?"

Xie Huaizheng shook his head. "No, thanks. I don’t want any."

"Just try it. Won’t you give it a try?"

Xie Huaizheng shook his head again, his face a mask of resistance.

Su Zhaozhao had rarely seen such obvious disgust on the man’s face.

He might have shown disdain for people he disliked before, but never a look of such utter revulsion.

’Looks like he really, truly hates apples.’

’It means the shadows in his heart haven’t completely faded.’ Su Zhaozhao took a bite of the apple herself, deciding not to push Xie Huaizheng.

’It’s okay,’ she thought. ’There’s still plenty of time.’

Soon, Liu Guosheng and Zhou Xiaoyun arrived. The moment they stepped inside, they exclaimed, "It smells wonderful! Zhaozhao, what delicious food have you been making? The aroma is just incredible!"

"Oh, it’s nothing special, just a few simple home-cooked dishes. They’re not as good as yours, Aunt Yun."

As Su Zhaozhao spoke, an embarrassed smile crept onto her face. "I hope you won’t mind my cooking."

She had always cooked for herself, but to be honest, she rarely shared her meals with others.

Her work kept her busy, so on the rare occasions she had free time, she would just cook for herself. She never invited people over for dinner.

She knew that preparing a large feast was exhausting.

And if she was taking a day off, she preferred to enjoy it herself.

"Zhaozhao, dear, you’re being far too modest! Just look at all this food; it smells absolutely divine. I could smell it all the way from the hallway. Someone even asked who lived here!"

Zhou Xiaoyun’s praise surprised Su Zhaozhao. ’Is she exaggerating that much?’

"Alright, enough with the pleasantries. Let’s eat," Xie Huaizheng said from the side. "You two don’t get to enjoy such delicious food every day. I’m the lucky one here."

"You sly dog," Liu Guosheng said, unable to stop himself from shaking his head and sighing.

But seeing Xie Huaizheng grow from a young hothead into a married man with a career, he still felt a deep sense of emotion.

During the meal, Liu Guosheng asked them, "You two got your marriage certificate here, but why haven’t you had a gathering with your families? Little Xie, shouldn’t you at least take Zhaozhao back to your home to meet your relatives?"

"My mother came to visit last time."

But she had come alone.

"How is that enough? Little Su, you married him, but you haven’t even been to his home to meet his family? Marriage isn’t just about two people; it’s about two families!"

"That’s right. You young people might not understand, but after you’re married, your two families will be interacting often. Besides, Zhaozhao, you’ve married so far from home. Aren’t your relatives worried? Oh, I mean the ones on your mother’s side."

Zhou Xiaoyun knew Su Zhaozhao’s father and stepmother were no good, but surely her own mother must have been wonderful to her?

How else could she have raised such a lovely, beautiful young woman?

’Shouldn’t her mother’s side of the family get to meet Xie Huaizheng, too?’

"They..." Su Zhaozhao’s head started to ache. She still needed to go back with Xie Huaizheng to sort out her household registration.

That way, Su Dashan and Zhang Fengxia couldn’t stir up trouble again once they got out.

"We’ll probably make a trip back eventually."

Zhou Xiaoyun then turned to Xie Huaizheng. "Huai Zheng, you should take Zhaozhao to Beijing soon to meet your family. Just meeting your mother isn’t enough, is it? Wasn’t this an arranged childhood engagement set by your grandfather? Of course he needs to meet her."

"I will, Aunt Yun. Don’t worry. I’ve been thinking about all this. I’m just waiting for the right moment."

Zhou Xiaoyun patiently advised Xie Huaizheng and Su Zhaozhao. She was worried about the two youngsters’ inexperience and concerned that Su Zhaozhao wouldn’t be happy in her marriage.

She saw Su Zhaozhao as her own daughter. To think, this girl had bravely come all the way out here by herself to marry Xie Huaizheng.

’Goodness, she’d never met a girl so brave.’

The thought made Zhou Xiaoyun’s heart swell with emotion.

Zhou Xiaoyun then raised her glass to Su Zhaozhao. "Zhaozhao, let’s have a drink, you and I."

Su Zhaozhao didn’t refuse. She turned to Xie Huaizheng and Liu Guosheng and said, "Then let’s all have a toast!"

The four of them clinked their glasses together, and Su Zhaozhao downed her drink in one go.

The drink was a rice wine Zhou Xiaoyun had brought, homemade by her family. It was very strong. As it went down, Su Zhaozhao felt a fiery burn in her throat, and her face began to flush.

Xie Huaizheng noticed her reaction and couldn’t help but frown.

He poured her a glass of cool water, brought it to her lips, and helped her drink. "If you can’t handle it, you should just take small sips," he said.

"I just thought that’s how everyone was drinking," Su Zhaozhao said, taking a sip of water from the glass he held.

’This wine really is fragrant and smooth!’

Xie Huaizheng flicked her forehead. "You’re going to get drunk."

’If she gets drunk... that would be to my advantage.’

After the meal, Zhou Xiaoyun and Liu Guosheng left, having thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

The food had been plentiful and delicious, the soup was exceptionally fresh and sweet, and even the fruit served afterward was tasty.

As they were leaving, Su Zhaozhao even packed two bowls of sweet mung bean soup for them to take home.

"Uncle Liu, Aunt Yun, I’m sure you’re both too full to eat anymore, so please take this mung bean soup home for later. If you don’t feel like it tonight, you can put it in the fridge for tomorrow."

"Zhaozhao, you’re so thoughtful," Zhou Xiaoyun couldn’t help but say, deeply moved. She had truly never met such a considerate and thorough host.

"Not at all, I just made too much. We can’t finish it all by ourselves."

After Su Zhaozhao saw Liu Guosheng and Aunt Yun out and closed the door, Xie Huaizheng wrapped his arm around her waist, bent down, and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Honey, you’ve been working so hard for so long. You must be tired. Let me rub your shoulders."

Su Zhaozhao immediately waved her hand to stop him.

"No, don’t worry about me. Go wash the dishes. I’ll have to trouble you to clean up that whole mess."

"It’s no big deal," Xie Huaizheng said with a smile, and turned to start cleaning.

As for Su Zhaozhao, she was completely exhausted. She collapsed onto the sofa and quickly drifted off to sleep.

When Xie Huaizheng came out after finishing the dishes, he saw Su Zhaozhao asleep on the sofa.

The girl was curled into a tiny ball, a sight that made Xie Huaizheng’s heart melt.

The temperature in West State fluctuated wildly between day and night. It was hot during the day but very cool at night. ’If she sleeps like this, won’t she catch a cold?’

Xie Huaizheng walked over and gently stroked her cheek. "Zhaozhao, wake up. Go sleep in the bedroom."