Chapter 170: Chapter 170

The next day, Tian Xiang and Meng Cheng went out for a day, returning to school by afternoon.

In the days following, they each attended their classes. During holidays, Meng Cheng would come and pick her up, and sometimes they would stay at the Meng Family for a night, discussing wedding plans and making attire arrangements.

Meng Cheng was certainly going to wear a suit on the wedding day, this was something Tian Xiang had decided long before.

But Tian Xiang didn’t want to wear those red cotton padded jackets; she wanted something special.

At first, she thought of wearing a cheongsam, but worried it might be too cold, and she might end up shivering outside.

At the end of October, Meng Zhi returned from abroad and suggested Tian Xiang wear a wedding dress.

Although a wedding dress might not be very warm, it was beautiful and would match Meng Cheng’s suit perfectly.

Previously, such Western customs were not allowed, but in the past year, due to reforms, no one managed these matters anymore. Some novel things from outside were gradually introduced, and everyone’s thoughts and perspectives widened a lot.

Tian Xiang looked at the wedding dress sketch that Meng Zhi drew for her with interest, but she wondered if the tailors here could make such complex attire?

Meng Zhi: "It’s a small matter. As long as you like it, my sister and I will arrange it for you. If it’s not possible to make it here, we can find someone outside to do it and bring it back in time for the auspicious date."

That sounds feasible.

Tian Xiang asked Meng Cheng for his opinion.

Meng Cheng had been abroad twice and had seen wedding dresses; he had no objections as long as Tian Xiang liked it.

Thus, the wedding attire for the wedding day was decided to be a wedding dress.

After confirming these things, Tian Xiang wrote to her family to inform them about the wedding arrangements.

Both sides would hold the wedding, first bustling at the Tian Family side, then later together in Beijing.

The next afternoon after class, Tian Xiang took Xiao Lei to the mail room to send the letter to her family.

They bought a few stamps, and on their way back to the cafeteria, they ran into Chang Wan and Lu Feng.

The two were coming from the cafeteria, seemingly just having had a meal together.

Tian Xiang found Lu Feng too disgusting and avoided them with Xiao Lei.

Xiao Lei whispered gossip to Tian Xiang, "I saw them last weekend too, the guy is said to be from Normal College, and even helped her carry things. Zhao Qian asked her if they were dating, but Chang Wan said they weren’t.

If they’re not dating, why does he often come to see her? What’s going on between these two?"

Xiao Lei didn’t understand.

Tian Xiang could roughly figure out what was happening.

The villains attract each other’s stink.

Lu Feng, although not the main character anymore, is still a master at deceiving women.

Chang Wan seems smug, commanding while not giving him a status, but who knows who’s playing who.

Tian Xiang wasn’t interested in meddling with their affairs, as long as they didn’t bother her.

Near the end of the year, when the final exams approached, Meng Zhi brought back the wedding dress tailored outside for Tian Xiang.

It was brought back by Meng Cheng’s aunt, Meng Shaoqing.

Despite coming to the Meng Family many times, it was Tian Xiang’s first time meeting Meng Shaoqing, who was simply too busy, always on a business trip or on the way.

Meng Shaoqing was a different personality compared to Meng Zhi; one cherished freedom as an idealist, not marrying or having children, just wanting to live freely.

The other was a typical strong woman who, to climb to her current position, divorced her foreign husband upon returning home, left her son abroad, and dedicated herself to her career, viewing everything else as trivial.

After hearing Meng Shaoqing’s stories, Tian Xiang felt a bit emotional; now here was a true protagonist who could sacrifice everything for the bigger picture.

As for herself, she was engrossed in romance with Meng Cheng and hopelessly captivated by his beauty, like a foolish ruler.

But asking her to give it up was simply impossible.

Every time she saw Meng Cheng’s handsome face, she couldn’t help but lament how good looks can be misleading.

Meng Shaoqing asked Tian Xiang to find time to try on the dress and suggested alterations if necessary.

Tian Xiang nodded and quickly expressed her gratitude.

Meng Shaoqing smiled and also gifted her a book, a classic foreign book in a collector’s edition, as a present for their meeting.

See, a gift from a strong woman is certainly different, particularly classy.

With Meng Shaoqing’s return, the old master booked a room at a restaurant; the whole family went out for a meal, including Meng Xiuyuan’s family of three.

A rare family reunion, but there were not many people.

Thinking of his two unmarried daughters, the old master didn’t know what to say, finally focusing on Meng Cheng and Tian Xiang.

For this family to prosper, it would have to rely on grandsons and granddaughters-in-law in the future.

In the days ahead, as Tian Xiang prepared for final exams, she saw less of Meng Cheng. After the exams ended, she stayed at the Meng Family for two days, discussing with the old master the details of next year’s wedding and obtained the marriage certificate with Meng Cheng before buying tickets to prepare to return home.

Meng Cheng couldn’t accompany Tian Xiang home to celebrate the New Year. Last year, he hadn’t been in Beijing for the New Year; his family came to accompany the old master, who missed his grandson and was unhappy.

Additionally, the wedding banquet here needed managing, some things required his attention, and after careful consideration, it was better for him to stay. After all, the wedding would be held on the eighth after the New Year, and they would head over early.

When Tian Xiang left, Meng Cheng saw her off.

Upon her return, Hu Honglian and Tian Weibing had also bought tickets to greet their daughter at the station.

Tian Xiang brought back a lot of items for the wedding, two large boxes.

Before departure, the old master had phoned Director Lin, considering the late hour of arrival, to arrange a car to fetch her from the train station.

With a car, it took only half an hour to arrive home.

Hu Honglian handed the driver a box of cookies to show appreciation, then hurriedly cooked dumplings for her daughter.

Knowing she was coming back, these preparations were made in advance.

Tian Xiang hadn’t tasted her mother’s dumplings for nearly half a year; although the school had them, none tasted as good as home.

Hu Honglian saw her daughter eating quickly and urged her, "Eat slowly; I’ll make more for you tomorrow. Nowadays, meat isn’t hard to buy; at some private stalls, you don’t even need coupons."

Tian Xiang nodded with dumplings in her mouth.

Hu Honglian sighed beside her, feeling an indescribable illusion as if her daughter had gotten thinner.

After finishing a big bowl of dumplings, Tian Xiang ate a salted egg and gestured to the two boxes she brought back, "There’s clothing made for you inside. Do you want to take a look?"

"You made clothes for us?"

Tian Xiang nodded, "One set for each."

Hu Honglian felt joy inside, but since it was too late now, she let her daughter sleep and postponed it until tomorrow.

Returning to her familiar boudoir, Tian Xiang slept straight through to ten in the morning the next day.

Tian Weibing was at work, and Tian Chenhui went to help at his original workplace, leaving only Hu Honglian at home.

Seeing her daughter awake, Hu Honglian brought out the warm breakfast, and while doing so, discussed the wedding issues with her.

The date was settled, notifications sent out, except for the neighbors; she hadn’t decided whether or not to invite them.

If not inviting them, the kinship lies there. If they are not invited, it would appear impolite. Those who know won’t say much, but those who don’t might wonder what’s going on, asking questions and creating gossip.

Hu Honglian sought her daughter’s opinion on whether they should be invited or not.