"Meng Ning, did you get a fake certificate to fool me?" Mother Meng still didn't believe it and repeatedly checked the authenticity of the marriage certificate.
Meng Ning pointed to the seal and said, "Mom, it's issued by the civil affairs bureau. It's real."
"Where's the son-in-law then? Why didn't you bring him to meet me?" Mother Meng glanced at the door and then said, "I just wanted you to go on a blind date, to get to know the guy first. How did you end up getting married? You don't even know much about him."
"You already did the research. He works at Shengyu Group, he's thirty years old, has a good job, and looks decent..." Meng Ning recalled her interactions with Fu Tingxiu and said, "He seems quite gentle, and with both his parents deceased and no siblings, his family situation is simple, so there won't be much trouble."
No mother-in-law issues, which was a plus.
Mother Meng took a long time to process this news. Holding the marriage certificate, she wasn't sure if forcing her daughter into marriage was the right decision.
She knew Meng Ning was pressured by her, marrying hastily just to make her happy.
Mother Meng had cancer, a fact she was still hiding from Meng Ning. Ever since Meng Ning's last relationship failed, she hadn't been willing to date anyone.
Worried about what would happen to Meng Ning after she passed away, with no one to take care of her, to help or comfort her, she had pushed Meng Ning to go on blind dates, hoping she would find a reliable man and have a family.
Now that it was done, there was no use saying anything more.
"Xiao Ning, bring your husband home to meet me," Mother Meng said, sitting down. "Even though you have the certificate, I still need to meet him."
"Alright, I'll ask him later. We'll have dinner together tomorrow." Meng Ning said, "Mom, I have to go to the market. It's hot outside, and you're not feeling well. Stay home and rest, don't go out."
After repeatedly reminding her mother, Meng Ning gathered her things and left for the market.
Meng Ning had a stall at the Xingle Road night market where she sold handmade jewelry, all of which she crafted herself.
She bought a second-hand van to transport her goods, setting up her stall at 5 PM and closing at 11 PM daily.
When business was good, she could make around ten thousand yuan a month, enough to survive in the expensive city of Beijing.
She had studied jewelry design, but after an incident a few years ago, no jewelry company was willing to hire her, so she started her own business.
As Meng Ning set up her stall, the night market began to buzz with activity. She took a moment to send a message to Fu Tingxiu: My mom wants to meet you. Are you free for dinner tomorrow?
The message seemed to vanish into the void.
A customer soon arrived, and Meng Ning got busy, not thinking much about it.
It was a good night. Meng Ning made over four hundred yuan and packed up her stall at 11 PM sharp.
Sitting in her van and counting the day's earnings, her phone rang.
It was a message from Fu Tingxiu: Sorry, I'm on a business trip to City A. I'll be back in a few days. Once I'm back, I'll arrange the dinner.
Understanding that business trips were common for someone working at a big company, Meng Ning replied with one word: Okay.
After closing up the stall and heading home, aside from now having a marriage certificate, Meng Ning's life remained unchanged. So much so that in the following days, busy with her early starts and late finishes, she almost forgot she had a husband.
One evening, she was busy until midnight before packing up her stall. It started to rain, and her van broke down right at her doorstep.
Meng Ning got out of the van with an umbrella to inspect it. This second-hand vehicle had given her trouble multiple times. Though there were no major issues, it had plenty of minor problems.
She couldn't afford a new one—just a second-hand van would cost her more than half a year's income. So, she had to keep fixing it and using it.
After a quick check, she realized it needed to go to the repair shop again, costing her another few hundred yuan, which pained her.
With over a hundred meters to her apartment complex, the rain getting heavier, and it being late at night, Meng Ning parked the van by the roadside and went to the back to retrieve her things under the umbrella.
She needed to bring back the unsold jewelry, some of which still needed to be processed. There were also pieces brought by customers for repairs that needed to be done tonight.
The wind was strong, and Meng Ning struggled to hold onto the umbrella while carrying a large box. She was already half-soaked and in a very sorry state.
Unbeknownst to her, Fu Tingxiu, who had just returned from City A, witnessed the entire scene from his Rolls-Royce parked nearby.
Meng Ning's slender figure seemed like it could be blown away by a gust of wind, yet she stood strong and unwavering. No matter how hard the wind and rain, she remained resolute. When her umbrella was blown away, she got completely soaked but still protected the box, heading towards her apartment complex with her head down.
She was just a small figure at the bottom rung of society, bearing the brunt of the storm alone.
Feeling a deep sense of empathy, Fu Tingxiu grabbed an umbrella and said to the driver, "Head back to the old house." Then he got out and quickly walked towards Meng Ning.