Chapter 412: Chapter 411: Registering the Marriage
During the National Day holiday in October, Daya and Gu Kai Zhi registered their marriage.
After they received their marriage certificate, the He family went to a restaurant to celebrate.
He Lang asked, "Kai Zhi, how many days off do you have this time?"
"I can stay for another five days. I took special leave to come back and register our marriage."
After getting Daya’s consent, Gu Kai Zhi had submitted his marriage application to his superiors well in advance. His commanding officer approved a week of marriage leave.
"So when are you planning to hold the wedding? Your parents don’t know yet, do they?"
Gu Kai Zhi glanced at Daya. "My parents know An Xin and I are dating; I’ve told them. But they don’t know we’ve registered our marriage yet. As for the wedding, I plan to have it here this time. When I get the chance, I’ll take An Xin back to my hometown and we’ll have another one there."
Mr. He said, "That’s not a bad idea. You should take Daya back to meet your parents. But if you have the wedding in Beijing City, will your family be able to come?"
Gu Kai Zhi shook his head. "Better not. My parents are getting old, and no one in my family has ever traveled far. They probably wouldn’t even know how to buy a train ticket. We’ll deal with that when we go back next time."
Mr. He could understand. It was the same for them; if their children hadn’t brought them here, they would have been completely lost.
He Lang said, "Since you’re having a wedding, I’ll start notifying friends and family tomorrow. Let’s hold it at our own hotel. We have a larger banquet hall that’s just right. I’ll go back tonight and we can discuss what we need to get everything ready as soon as possible, so we don’t delay your return."
Gu Kai Zhi nodded. "Thank you, Brother He."
He Lang scoffed, "Still calling me Brother He? Shouldn’t you be changing how you address me?"
Gu Kai Zhi smiled with belated realization. "Right, I forgot. Uncle."
He Lang laughed heartily. "Ha! Ah, I never thought you’d actually become my nephew-in-law."
Xue Yue teased, "Now that you’ve had Kai Zhi change his address for you, shouldn’t you give him a red envelope?"
Everyone looked at He Lang.
He Lang chuckled. "There will be one. When you two have your wedding ceremony, I’ll give you a big gift."
Shiyi asked Gu Kai Zhi, "Does that mean I should call you brother-in-law now?"
Gu Kai Zhi smiled. "Yes, but you can still call me Uncle if you want."
Daya pinched him. "What nonsense are you talking about? If Shiyi calls you Uncle, what does that make me?"
Gu Kai Zhi grinned. He actually wanted to say she could call him Uncle too, but he figured this wasn’t the right time or place to say it.
Mr. He asked them, "What are your plans after marriage? Will Daya join you at the military base, or will you live apart?"
Daya and Gu Kai Zhi exchanged a look.
Gu Kai Zhi said to Mr. He, "We’ve already discussed this. An Xin has her job here, so we plan to live apart for now. I’ll come back whenever I have time, and if she’s free, she can also come stay at the base."
Daya wasn’t like other women who planned to stop working after getting married. She wanted to work. If she moved to the military base, she definitely wouldn’t find a job right away. Besides, her uncle and aunt had sent her to study accounting, and she genuinely liked the profession and wanted to stick with it.
He Lang looked at Gu Kai Zhi. "Is there any possibility you could be transferred to a base here in Beijing City?"
"I haven’t heard of any such decisions at the moment. But if an opportunity comes up, I’ll certainly fight for it."
"Mm."
Tonight was, for all intents and purposes, the couple’s wedding night. Since Gu Kai Zhi didn’t have a place in Beijing City, He Lang arranged for them to stay at the hotel.
After the He family left, Gu Kai Zhi took Daya’s hand and led her back to their hotel room.
Once they were back, they took out their marriage certificate to examine it closely. In the end, it was just a piece of paper.
Daya looked at the marriage certificate; Gu Kai Zhi looked at her.
"Are you happy?" Gu Kai Zhi asked.
Daya nodded.
Gu Kai Zhi smiled. "We’re finally married. I’ve finally made you mine."
Daya pouted. "I belong to myself."
Gu Kai Zhi stroked her hair. "Alright. Then I’m yours."
Daya pursed her lips into a smile.
Gu Kai Zhi smoothly lifted Daya’s chin and leaned in to kiss her.
Daya closed her eyes, grabbed a handful of Gu Kai Zhi’s shirt, and kissed him back.
Now that they were husband and wife, Gu Kai Zhi lost his inhibitions, and his hands began to roam freely.
Daya pushed him away.
"Not now. It’s not even dark yet."
Gu Kai Zhi glanced out the window and sighed.
"There’s no one else here. What’s wrong with the daytime?"
Daya pinched his cheek. "How can you be so thick-skinned? And you a soldier, too."
Gu Kai Zhi raised an eyebrow. "Soldiers get married too, you know. Or do you think soldiers don’t have children?"
Daya blinked. "We just got married, and you’re already thinking about kids?"
Gu Kai Zhi said with a smile, "I do want us to have children, but I also know that now isn’t the right time. I can’t always be by your side, and it would be especially hard on you alone."
Daya pressed her lips together. "Mm." She wasn’t ready to have children yet, either.
The next day, Xue Yue took Daya shopping for wedding clothes and other necessities for the ceremony.
"Daya?"
Suddenly, a man rushed over from across the street, grabbed Daya’s arm, and looked her up and down.
"You’re Daya, right?"
Xue Yue pulled the man away, took a good look at him, and didn’t recognize him.
"Who are you?"
Liu Jianwei pointed at himself and said, "I’m Liu Jianwei. I’m Daya’s uncle. Daya, why aren’t you saying anything? Don’t tell me you don’t recognize me?"
Daya looked at Liu Jianwei. It was indeed him, but he had lost his former vitality and looked quite wretched.
Xue Yue glanced at Daya. Seeing her silence, she understood the situation.
"How did you end up in Beijing City?"
Liu Jianwei stared at Xue Yue, a flicker of greed in his eyes. "I came to Beijing City to make a name for myself."
Xue Yue simply scanned him from head to toe. Liu Jianwei rubbed his hands together guiltily. "I just got my clothes dirty at work. Oh, right, Daya, how come you came to Beijing City and never went home? The family has been talking about you nonstop. Your grandmother especially misses you."
Daya’s eyes were filled with coldness. ’Miss me? More like they’re wondering if I have any value left for them to exploit.’
Daya didn’t want to get involved with the Liu Family anymore. She said to Xue Yue, "Auntie, let’s go."
Xue Yue nodded and tried to walk past him, but Liu Jianwei stood right in their way, blocking them.
"Hey, Daya, since we were lucky enough to run into each other, let me treat you to a meal."
Daya said coldly, "No, thank you. We have things to do, and we’re not hungry."
Liu Jianwei pressed on, "Daya, where are you living now? I could come find you when I have time."
As if Daya would ever tell him that.
Since she couldn’t go forward, she grabbed Xue Yue’s arm and turned to leave.
Liu Jianwei didn’t chase after them. He just narrowed his eyes. Seeing Daya’s clothes, he figured she must be doing very well for herself now. His mind began to scheme about what to do next.
He’d heard from his sister-in-law that her third brother was doing good business in Beijing City. He wondered if he could get a piece of the action.
