Aning was fifteen years old when she married Shen Zheng.
He was a mud-legged man who shouted on the street, "Everyone must have a dream to live." He sold firewood for three days and saved up a pottery bracelet with a missing corner, which he put on her wrist as a betrothal gift. She was the sweetest girl in the alley. Her parents thought he was poor, so she only said: "He has light in his eyes."
Others laughed at her for being stupid, but she didn't defend herself.
That winter, he held her hand and said, "Aning, in the future I will let you live in the biggest house and eat the softest rice." She did not respond, but inserted the peach wood hairpin she cut by herself into his messy bun.
Later, he really became General Shen.
Everyone said that the general's wife was so lucky. She went from a cold kiln to a rich family, and changed from coarse cloth to silk. But the accountant knows best that every transaction of the general's wealth is managed by his wife; the veterans in the army know best that in those years when the general was working hard on the front line, it was his wife who was raising food in the rear.
Only Aning herself knew that what she missed most was not the days when she accumulated wealth and jade, but when she entered the military camp at the beginning of that year - he broke off half of his share of dry biscuits and put it into her hand. It was as hot as her heart.
In twenty years, he changed from a loach to a dragon, and she changed from a girl to a queen.
That year there was turmoil in the court, and the aides took turns to say: "The general should recruit a noble lady from a high family to strengthen his sacred heart."
Aning heard it and said nothing.
At night, she opened the old wooden box for her dowry, took out the peach wood hairpin that had worn away its edges but not her memory, and gently placed it on his desk.
When Shen Zheng returned home, his face suddenly darkened when he saw the hairpin.
On the second day, the staff who provided suggestions were kicked out and looked disgraced.
At night, he opened the door and came in. Aning's back was turned to him, and there was an old robe sewn under the lamp - it was the one he wore back then. It was washed and turned white, and she couldn't bear to throw it away.
He walked over, awkwardly brushed away the broken hair on her temples, and inserted the hairpin back into place.
Aning didn't look back, but his eyes were hot.
He squatted down, buried his head in her lap, and said in a muffled voice:
"Aning, I, Shen Zheng, have been poor, miserable, and stepped into the mud in my life. But what I'm most afraid of is not these things. It's making you think that I forgot who was squatting beside the stove with me and sharing half a piece of dry biscuit."
"You are responsible for the wealth, and you are the one who helped me earn my bright future. I don't recognize you as a noble girl. I recognize you."
"An Ning, you guard me and I will guard you."
"We are the whole."
The moonlight outside the window fell in and shone on the bald peach wood hairpin.
Twenty years later, it still looks the same.
Like him, like her.
Like that winter, two children from a poor family had a dream of wealth.
Purpose: To praise beautiful love