Chapter 834: Chapter 835: Just to Get the Certificate
"Hey, what are you trying to do?" Li Sijieās mother said irritably: "Do you realize that Sijie is pregnant? You surely donāt want her to abort the baby, or to have the baby grow up without a father, do you?"
"What? Sijie is pregnant?" Li Jianguoās eyes widened in surprise, then he suddenly burst into laughter, saying, "Thatās wonderful news, then we must bring out the liquor to celebrate."
Cui Ying sensed the change in Li Jianguoās attitude and laughed, "Brother-in-law, does this mean youāve accepted this son-in-law?"
Li Jianguo glared and said, "Accept! Of course, I accept! Who said I didnāt? I was just scaring him a little to prevent him from bullying my daughter in the future."
"Pfft!" Cui Ying couldnāt help but laugh out loud.
Li Sijie and her mother were stunned for a moment, then both showed surprised and delighted expressions.
Li Sijieās mother stood up, smiling, and said, "Alright, alright, Iāll bring out the liquor right away. This is to honor you from your daughter and son-in-law."
Li Sijieās mother and Cui Ying went to prepare a table full of dishes. Liu Hu was about to leave, but in the end, he was asked to stay. In fact, he was also very interested in chatting with Song Xiaodong, but as it was someone elseās family banquet, he felt it might be inappropriate.
"Excellent liquor, excellent liquor, this must be fifty years old." Li Sijieās father poured a glass of liquor, smelled it in front of his nose, took a small sip, squinted his eyes to savor the taste, and immediately praised it loudly.
Song Xiaodong smiled and said, "Uncle is truly discerning. This is indeed fifty-year-old liquor, and there is not much of it left now. I knew Uncle would like this, so I got you two bottles."
Li Jianguo nodded repeatedly and said, "Exactly, exactly, this is what I enjoy. In the military, the liquor is just right. The liquor produced by the distilleries outside, even Maotai, doesnāt taste as good as the ones from the military."
The atmosphere that followed was incredibly good. Song Xiaodong, Li Jianguo, and Liu Hu found too many topics in common. Li Jianguo seemed to be taken back to the feeling of being in the military, which improved his mood even more. Everyone drank a lot, and the two bottles of liquor Song Xiaodong brought were soon emptied by the crowd.
Fortunately, everyone could hold their liquor well, so no one got drunk.
After the meal, Liu Hu left. Song Xiaodong and Li Sijie stayed behind, and everyone sat together chatting. Naturally, the conversation turned to the child in Li Sijieās belly and the wedding arrangements.
"Xiaodong, now that Sijie is four months pregnant, have you thought about when you are going to get married?" Li Sijieās mother asked first.
Li Sijie hurriedly said, "Thereās no rush. Dongzi is too busy with things right now, and we donāt have time for a wedding ceremony."
Li Jianguo frowned and said, "No matter how busy, you still need to get married, right? Otherwise, whatās the deal with the child?"
Song Xiaodong immediately said, "Uncle and Auntie, I definitely want to give Sijie a wedding ceremony, but because Sijie is pregnant now, we want to make it a proper ceremony, which will be very hard, and Iām afraid of any possible accidents. So I was thinking of waiting until Sijie gives birth and recovers before we get married."
Li Sijie quickly went along with Song Xiaodongās words, "Yes, Iām carrying a belly now; even wedding photos wouldnāt look good. So weāll just take them later on."
"But at least, you guys should get your marriage certificate, shouldnāt you?" Li Sijieās mother immediately chimed in.
Song Xiaodong promptly said, "Uncle and Auntie, Sijie and I came back this time to get your approval before getting our marriage certificate. As long as you have no objections, Sijie and I will get it."
"Dongzi..." Li Sijie began to speak, but Song Xiaodong immediately held her hand, preventing her from doing so.
Li Sijieās mother quickly replied, "Getting the certificate is good, itās good."
Li Jianguo also nodded and said, "For young people, itās right to prioritize career. A wedding is just going through the motions. Once youāve picked up the marriage certificate, we can rest assured."
For Li Sijieās parents, this was her second marriage, and being with Song Xiaodong always felt unsteady to them. Without a marriage certificate, there was no way for them to truly believe in the relationship. Only by obtaining the marriage certificate would it be considered a real marriage.
Song Xiaodong said with a smile, "Sijie has been working so hard, carrying our baby. I must make everything legitimate for her, and for our child as well."
The smiles on Li Sijieās parentsā faces grew even warmer, and they found Song Xiaodong more agreeable by the minute.
After chatting for a while, Song Xiaodong and Li Sijie entered their room. Li Sijie closed the door and said, "Donāt worry about it. When the time comes, we can just say we got the certificate, or even get a fake one to pacify them."
Song Xiaodong replied, "Thatās not it. I want to get a real certificate."
"A real one?" Li Sijie immediately shook her head and said, "No, no, thatās not possible. If you get a marriage certificate with me, what about the others? This absolutely canāt be done."
Song Xiaodong took Li Sijieās hand and said, "Donāt worry, I will take care of everyone. I wonāt let it be ambiguous for you following me. Itās just that the wedding has to be low-key, even abroad."
With worry, Li Sijie said, "But... how are we going to get a real certificate? Wouldnāt that be illegal?"
Song Xiaodong said with a smile, "Donāt worry, Iāll find a way."
He had Li Sijie lie down on the bed and massaged her. After all, a pregnant woman at this time is easily fatigued.
Song Xiaodong continued, "Sijie, but considering the current situation, itās difficult to explain everything about our family clearly."
Li Sijie quickly said, "Letās not talk about that. My parents wonāt visit us anyway. Even if they do, it will only be for a short while. Weāll just cope with it then, and it will pass. Over time, even if they learn the truth, as long as weāre living well, they wonāt talk about it anymore. If we spill it now, it would only create unnecessary complications and trouble."
Song Xiaodong nodded and replied, "Thatās what I was thinking too, but somehow not being completely honest makes me feel uneasy."
Li Sijie said, "Thereās nothing to feel uneasy about. As long as weāre living well, thatās good enough. Making things too complicated and stirring up trouble, thatās whatās really not good."
Song Xiaodong nodded and agreed with Li Sijieās thoughts.
That night, Song Xiaodong and Li Sijie stayed over. Li Sijieās home was a three-bedroom house, with just enough bedrooms for everyone.
This was one of the rare occasions when the two of them slept together alone. Li Sijie leaned happily against Song Xiaodong, her hand reaching for him.
"Sijie, are you seducing me?" Song Xiaodong asked in surprise.
Li Sijie bit her lip and said, "Be careful and itāll be fine."
"What about at home?"
"There were too many people around, and I was too excited. I was afraid I couldnāt control myself."
Song Xiaodong was taken aback, then felt guilty; however, there was nothing he could do about it. Tonight, he was going to make it up to Li Sijie properly.