Taking a day off?

Shen Que was puzzled, but he understood Jiang Cheng.

Since Jiang Cheng spoke up, she must have her reasons.

"Alright!"

Shen Que agreed.

Jiang Cheng’s smile became even bigger as she waved at Shen Que, who obediently leaned over, bending down and tilting his ear towards Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng leaned in, her voice neither too loud nor too soft, reaching Shen Que’s ear.

"Go get the household registration book."

"Huh?"

Shen Que was dumbfounded.

The household registration book?

Grandma Shen, who was watching the scene, suddenly realized what was happening and swiftly kicked him.

"Hurry up! You big fool!"

Shen Que was still confused, but since the two most important people to him both said so, he obediently turned to fetch it.

Outside the door, Grandma Shen had already rushed up to Jiang Cheng, the tacit understanding between old friends kicking in.

"You’re going to the Civil Affairs Bureau?"

"Yes!"

Jiang Cheng’s voice was filled with joy, and she made a quiet gesture to Grandma Shen, whispering, "Let’s not tell him, see if he figures it out."

Grandma Shen turned around immediately upon hearing this.

"Shen Que—change your clothes!"

Jiang Cheng shook her head with a chuckle, waiting outside.

She had made up her mind on the day of their engagement.

She wanted to marry Shen Que, and whether it was sooner or later, it didn’t make much difference.

Right now, she was about to go on a business trip to Beijing for training.

She didn’t want Shen Que to continue waiting under the title of fiancé; at the very least, getting a marriage certificate would give Shen Que a big promise.

Soon, Shen Que stepped out, having changed his clothes, and looked at Jiang Cheng with an intense and tender gaze. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

As soon as Jiang Cheng saw him, she understood that he had figured it out.

Shen Que took a giant step down three stairs, standing in front of Jiang Cheng.

"Do you really want to... register for marriage with me?"

His cautious tone made Jiang Cheng respond without hesitation.

"Of course! Unless you—"

Before she could say the word "willing," Jiang Cheng’s hand was already held by Shen Que, and in the next moment, he was pulling her towards the door.

The momentum suggested that even a second’s delay wouldn’t do.

With a doting smile on her face, Jiang Cheng waved goodbye to Grandma Shen behind her.

Grandma Shen was equally excited, watching the two leave, pacing at the doorway before deciding to cook.

Yes, to cook!

Today is a good day, so something good to eat is warranted!

Meanwhile, Jiang Cheng and Shen Que set off.

Shen Que rode a bicycle with Jiang Cheng sitting at the back.

They didn’t speak along the way, but both were very happy.

Shen Que was so ecstatic that he funneled all his energy into cycling.

Jiang Cheng had to hold onto the back seat, feeling the wind whistling by her ears.

After a swift ride, Shen Que stopped at the entrance of the Civil Affairs Bureau.

The Civil Affairs Bureau had just opened, and they were the first couple to arrive.

With his long legs, Shen Que braked as Jiang Cheng nimbly hopped off, looking at Shen Que.

"Mr. Shen, please take good care of me from now on."

"I will!"

Shen Que didn’t know what else he should say.

All he felt was joy.

The two walked side by side into the Civil Affairs Bureau, sitting across from the staff handling the procedures.

The staff asked for their household registration book; they handed it over, and after checking, the staff asked, "Are you getting married voluntarily?"

"Yes!"

"Absolutely voluntary!"

Shen Que’s emphatic "absolutely voluntary" earned him a dispassioned look from the staff.

Having worked here long enough, they’ve seen all kinds of "fools."

They’re indifferent to it by now.

The staff had them recite a passage, then with two "pops," stamped it, and out came their freshly minted marriage certificate.

In fact, it wasn’t even a certificate; it was just a paper with wheat designs, without even a photo, only the names of the two of them.

Yet it was this piece of paper that made Jiang Cheng and Shen Que a family.

Shen Que carefully stored away the marriage certificate, thanking the staff.

Jiang Cheng pulled out celebratory candy from her small backpack and handed it out.

Everyone who received candy offered congratulations or blessings, and Shen Que’s smile never left his face.

After giving out the candy, the two walked out of the Civil Affairs Bureau, and Shen Que instinctively held Jiang Cheng’s hand.

"Thank you."

Jiang Cheng burst into laughter.

"It’s the first time I’ve seen a couple coming out from registering and the guy saying thank you."

Shen Que’s excited mind gradually calmed down, and he earnestly said, "I just have to thank you."

"I know you did this to ease my mind, though we probably should have the wedding first..."

Before Shen Que could continue, Jiang Cheng interrupted.

"Shen Que, I’ve always wanted to marry you. In the new year, I want a different relationship with you. As for the wedding, we can wait until I return from Beijing."

"Alright! Whatever you say!"

The two stared at each other silently for a while, finally smiling at each other when someone called for a path, realizing they did look a bit silly.

Shen Que first took Jiang Cheng home before going to work himself.

At work, Shen Que greeted the old guard at the entrance of the factory and handed him some candy.

"Enjoy the candy, sir. Jiang Cheng and I registered."

The old guard, realizing it, immediately congratulated him.

Shen Que thanked him, carrying a bag of candy to distribute everywhere he went.

After making a round, almost everyone at the factory knew that he and Jiang Cheng had registered.

Of course, Lin Chengyuan, who also worked at the mechanical factory, learned about it too.

At that moment, Lin Chengyuan didn’t know what he felt inside or what he should feel.

His mind was filled with a daze.

That day, Lin Chengyuan couldn’t focus no matter what; he kept getting distracted.

On the other hand, Shen Que was in high spirits, grinning at everyone he met.

*

After registering, Jiang Cheng was much calmer than Shen Que. After returning home, she said a few words to Grandma Shen and didn’t bother with anything else.

As for the registration with Shen Que, Grandma Shen spread the news herself, not needing her at all.

Jiang Cheng returned to the small courtyard and continued organizing her training materials.

She was racking her brain for information on future Hua Xia exports and combining it with factories currently capable of exporting to create a cohesive plan.

That evening, Grandma Shen prepared a full meal, and after Shen Que returned, they celebrated again.

After the celebration, Grandma Shen spoke up, "Shen Que, even though you two have registered, you still need to be mindful since you haven’t had the wedding yet."

"Around here, having a wedding is what really counts, so for now... don’t live together."

At this point, Grandma Shen felt a bit embarrassed.

Shen Que’s expression turned serious, and he agreed.

To be honest, he hadn’t considered this!

That day, he was just too happy, too busy handing out candy.

Across from Shen Que, Jiang Cheng had anticipated this; she had some "small" thoughts initially, but after hearing Grandma Shen’s instructions, she had to set aside her "advanced" ideas from the future.

So she’ll just wait a little longer.

Little did Grandma Shen know that the one she should have been wary of trying to push this... was Jiang Cheng.

Bound by the times, Shen Que’s mindset was genuinely not as "eager" as Jiang Cheng’s.

Or perhaps he was eager, but Shen Que didn’t dare, and couldn’t.

Once the topic was finished, Grandma Shen concernedly looked at Jiang Cheng and asked, "When will you go to Beijing?"