Chapter 452

In Shenzhen during the twelfth month, a rare hint of crisp coolness arrived.

Morning mist like a thin gauze veil shrouded the newly completed Wanshang Garden Hotel on Shen Nan Avenue.

Usually the cold, hard lines of modern buildings, today they have completely changed their appearance.

Red silk ribbons cascade down from the rooftop, swaying gently in the breeze.

Large double happiness papercuts cover the bright glass curtain wall, strangely harmonizing the clash between tradition and modernity.

At the entrance stands an imitation ancient archway; though newly made, its carved beams and painted columns and painted beams, with gilt and bright colors, are thoroughly festive.

The parking lot is already packed to capacity.

Black sedans, brand-new motorcycles, and even a few luxury cars with Hong Kong license plates are jammed together, bumper to bumper.

The air is filled with the faint smell of gunpowder from firecrackers, mixed with the sweet aroma of dim sum breakfast, and an intense, inseparable atmosphere of joy.

Inside the hotel's largest banquet hall, the "Jinxiu Hall," the scene was entirely different.

The lofty palace lanterns cast warm red light.

All around, blooming peonies and kumquats were displayed, symbolizing wealth and auspiciousness.

Directly ahead, a wedding platform covered with a red carpet was erected, its backdrop a massive embroidered scene of dragons and phoenixes bringing good omen.

Below the platform, dozens of round tables were draped with equally festive red tablecloths; the dishes, cups, and chopsticks gleamed, and although the feast had not begun, the tables were already filled with guests in formal attire.

The buzzing chatter rose and fell like the tide.

Everyone wore smiles, clasped hands to congratulate each other; acquaintances gathered to chat, while strangers watched the grand scene with curious eyes.

Cantonese, Mandarin, and even a few sentences of Russian and English mingled, weaving the Special Economic Zone's distinctive open symphony.

In the backstage private lounge, the atmosphere was completely different.

Li Ping'an, rarely, wore a dark red Chinese standing‑collar robe, which made his figure appear even more upright.

He stood by the window, watching the endless stream of visitors below; his face showed little expression, yet his slightly trembling fingertips betrayed his unsettled mind.

Lin Xueqing sat before a dressing mirror, giving a final adjustment to her exquisite crimson‑purple qipao.

Her hair was styled into an elegant bun, adorned with a jade hairpin; though fine lines traced her eye corners, they glimmered with satisfied, gentle radiance.

"The time is approaching," she whispered.

"Mm," Li Ping'an replied, turning around.

He looked at his wife, his gaze softening, "Today's spectacle is probably far more lively than ours back then."

Lin Xueqing laughed, "Can it compare? Back then we had two beds, invited neighbors for a few candies, and that was the ceremony. Now three children are involved, it's in the Special Economic Zone, and you, as an elder with some reputation, can the guest list be any smaller?"

There was no complaint in her tone, only sentiment and contentment.

In the adjacent large lounge, a scene of bustling excitement unfolded.

The three grooms—Li Yaozong, He Xiao, and Chen Anbang—were already dressed impeccably.

All three wore uniform champion‑red python robes, jade belts cinching their waists, hats adorned with palace flowers; the usually steady, flamboyant, or scholarly young men now appeared a bit nervous and oddly uneasy under the solemn attire.

He Xiao kept tugging at his collar, "Why is this collar so tight? It squeezes tighter than a mechanic's wrench!"

Chen Anbang carefully straightened his hat, looking left and right in the mirror, "Ancient texts record that wedding attire follows strict rules; this robe's cut is indeed elaborate."

Li Yaozong remained the calmest; he gently adjusted He Xiao's crooked hat wing and laughed, "Xiao, don't fidget; later when you fetch the bride you'll need that 'wrench' strength. Anbang, stop analyzing; today the three of us are just props—just follow the master of ceremonies."

Just then, the door was pushed open.

Sha Zhu and Chen Jianghe entered, one after the other.

Sha Zhu, also dressed in a brand‑new cobalt‑blue long robe, his face flushed, saw his son He Xiao's outfit, his eyes lit up, and he stepped forward to give his son's shoulder a firm pat, "Good! Full of spirit! Just like when I married your mother!"

His hand was strong; the pat made He Xiao grin with his teeth showing.

Chen Jianghe appeared somewhat slender, perhaps from years of shuttling to the Soviet Union; his face bore traces of wind and frost, yet his eyes were bright.

He looked at his son Chen Anbang, clad in a red robe, his demeanor calm yet scholarly; a complex glint—pride, remorse—shone in his eyes, finally manifesting as a strong, silent embrace.

"Dad, you're back," Chen Anbang said softly.

"Mm, I'm back. For my son's important day, even if heaven were to cut a knife, I'd still return," Chen Jianghe said hoarsely.

He looked at Li Yaozong and patted his nephew, whom he'd known since childhood, "Yaozong, stay steady later."

Three fathers, three temperaments, yet at this moment they shared the same excitement and anticipation.

Meanwhile, in the dedicated suites upstairs, the three brides were putting on their final touches.

A Zhen, Xiao Ling, and Wen Jing, three girls of distinct personalities, were all dressed in the same resplendent Chinese bridal attire—a true phoenix crown and rosy veil.

The bridal gowns were bright red woven‑gold cloud brocade, embroidered with intricate phoenix and peony motifs, the cuffs and hems rimmed with dazzling gold.

On their heads they wore not the simple stage phoenix crowns but meticulously restored jeweled feather crowns, inlaid with artificial kingfisher feathers; though not genuine, the craftsmanship was superb, sparkling with pearls and gems, making the brides' faces look like jade, dignified and radiant.

Professional makeup artists were performing the final checks, smoothing red paper, adjusting pearl hairpins.

Li Nuanqing and Li Anning, as sisters and bridesmaids, also wore matching but simpler skirt‑jackets, assisting nearby, their eyes full of awe and blessings.

"Sister‑in‑law, you all look wonderful!" Li Nuanqing, arm‑linked with A Zhen, praised sincerely.

A Zhen smiled shyly, looking at the familiar yet strange self in the mirror, her heart pounding like a drum.

Xiao Ling, more lively, gave a gentle spin, the tassels on her veil swaying, "This dress is heavy, but truly beautiful! Like performing in an opera!"

Wen Jing was the quietest of all; she simply gazed at herself in the mirror, her fingers gently brushing the delicate embroidery on the wedding dress, as if to imprint the splendor and happiness of this moment deep in her heart.

An auspicious moment is approaching.

In the banquet hall, the venerable senior MC stepped onto the celebratory stage and cleared his throat.

The guests in the hall gradually fell silent.

The senior MC was spry and vigorous, his voice booming, with a strong Cantonese accent, yet he strained to speak clear Mandarin:

"Friends and relatives, honored guests! Today the heavens are benevolent, the gentle wind is pleasant! We gather here on the South Sea shore, at the reform window, to jointly witness a joyous and grand event that comes once in a hundred years!"

He paused briefly, his gaze sweeping over the entire venue.

"As the saying goes, when three stars are in the household, blessings and prosperity arrive at the door. Today, the Li, He, and Chen families unite in a triple marriage of three sons, a perfect alignment of three stars, filling the hall with joy!"

A wave of enthusiastic applause and cheers rose from the audience.

"We Chinese value etiquette and uphold tradition. Marriage unites two surnames; it serves the ancestral temple above and continues the lineage below. Today's ceremony follows ancient rites, incorporates new meaning, both comforting our ancestors and opening a new chapter!"

The MC's words pushed the atmosphere to its first climax.

"Next, let us give the warmest applause to welcome the three Grooms and perform the welcoming ceremony!"

The drums and music began.

A hired folk orchestra played the lively tune of "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix."

The side door of the banquet hall swung open, and the three Grooms in red—Li Yaozong, He Xiao, and Chen Anbang—accompanied by their fathers and best men, entered the hall with vigor, passing through a corridor that split automatically through the crowd, and walked toward the bridal platform.

Applause, cheers, and whistling (mainly from He Xiao's group of young auto‑factory workers) filled the air.

The three young men tried to stay solemn, but the uncontrollable smiles on their faces and the occasional excitement flashing in their eyes when they met each other's gaze revealed their feelings at that moment.

The bride‑receiving segment was cleverly moved to a temporarily arranged "boudoir" area on one side of the banquet hall.

The three Brides, wearing red bridal caps, sat upright there, strictly overseen by Li Nuanqing, Li Anning, and the sister group.

A gate‑blocking performance was, of course, inevitable.

For the three Grooms to receive the Brides, they must pass three trials.

First trial: responding with poetry.

Chen Anbang stepped up without hesitation, thought briefly, and composed a poem titled "Harmony of Qin and Se," which, though not masterful, rhymed neatly and bore auspicious meaning, allowing him to pass easily.

Second trial: skillful technical solution.

He Xiao showcased his skill; the MC had someone bring a bicycle lock with a deliberately loosened chain. He Xiao produced the tools he always carried (indeed he had them), fixed it in a few swift moves, and earned the hall's applause.

Third trial: business arithmetic.

Li Yaozong faced a complex cost‑profit calculation problem, mentally computed for a moment, then gave precise figures and a brief analysis, appearing steady and capable, fully displaying the qualities of a future corporate heir.

Having passed the three trials, the sister group smiled and gave their blessing.

Next came the solemn tea‑offering and name‑changing ceremony.

The three couples first offered tea to the three mothers seated at the front—Lin Xueqing, Ma Dongmei, and Li Pingle.

"Mom, please have some tea."

Three calls, each with a different accent, yet all equally sincere.

The three mothers, eyes brimming with tears, took the cups, sipped, then produced thick red envelopes and gold ornaments they had prepared, placing them on each daughter‑in‑law while uttering auspicious phrases such as "harmonious and beautiful" and "may you bear noble offspring soon."

Then they offered tea to the three fathers—Li Ping'an, Sha Zhu, and Chen Jianghe.

"Dad, please have some tea."

Li Ping'an looked at his grown son and his soon‑to‑be daughter‑in‑law, his heart a swirl of emotions.

He took the cup, his hand steady, and said only: "From now on, respect and love each other, hand in hand with one heart."

The red envelopes were handed out, their weight not light.

Great, great, great! From now on we're one family! Xiao, if you dare bully Xiao Ling, I'll take care of you!

Chen Jianghe gave his son a firm pat on the back of the hand, saying everything without words.

The core wedding ceremony began.

The bridal platform was arranged like a Heaven‑and‑Earth table, with tall red candles blazing and incense curling.

Six newlyweds, three pairs side by side, faced the direction of Heaven and Earth outside the hall.

The MC shouted, "First bow to Heaven and Earth! Thank the heavens for granting this auspicious match!"

The three couples bowed low.

"Second bow to the parents! Thank them for raising us, their kindness as heavy as a mountain!"

The newlyweds turned and deeply bowed to the six parents seated on the stage.

Tears glimmered in the parents' eyes, yet their faces blossomed with the most gratified smiles.

"Spouses bow to each other! Harmony of Qin and Se, may you grow old together!"

The couples stood opposite each other, bowing to one another.

The red bridal cap swayed gently, as if one could see the shy smiling face of the Bride beneath it.

The ceremony concluded.

Applause thundered, unending.

Next came the symbolic entrance to the bridal chamber.

The newlyweds were led to the temporarily arranged, festively decorated "bridal chamber" area at the back of the banquet hall.

The Groom used a red‑silk‑wrapped balance rod to gently lift the Bride's red cap.

When the cap fell, the Bride's shy, timid face was revealed, and she locked eyes with the Groom, prompting waves of cheers from nearby friends and relatives.

Then came the "sitting on the blessed bed" and the consumption of a "may bear noble offspring soon" fruit platter.

Red dates, peanuts, longan, and lotus seeds were scattered over the couples and the bed, symbolizing good fortune.

The ceremony was traditional, yet the simultaneous handling of three couples made it especially lively and festive.

The banquet officially began.

Fine wine and delicacies were served like a flowing stream.

The newlyweds changed into relatively light toast‑wear and began to toast each table.

Li Ping'an, with Lin Xueqing; Sha Zhu, with Ma Dongmei; and Chen Jianghe, with Li Pingle, each toasted the guests in gratitude.

Li Yaoyang rushed back from Harbin Institute of Technology, wearing student clothes, excitedly trailing behind his older siblings, helping pour wine, his face flushed red.

Li Nuanqing and Li Anning accompanied the Brides, caring for them attentively.

Glasses clinked throughout the banquet hall, with endless blessings, chatter, and laughter.

Guests from various fields and places gathered because of this wedding.

There were local officials and merchants from Shenzhen.

There were banking sector and trade partners who came from Hong Kong.

There were old friends from Beijing and representatives of some related units.

There were also several representatives from the Soviet trade line, full of curiosity about the Chinese‑style wedding.

Even Zhou Wenbin, Ma Guotao, Zhang Wei, Xu Jiaming, Wang Dahu and other core members of the group all arrived, temporarily setting aside their busy work to blend into this rare celebration and relaxation.

Li Ping'an offered a round of drinks, then returned to the main table to sit briefly.

He watched the noisy yet warm scene before him, watched his sons, nephews and sons‑in‑law's happy smiles, watched old friends, comrades and partners drink heartily, and a complex emotion rose in his heart.

There was a sense of comfort.

The children have all started families, have their own careers and partners, and a new chapter of life unfolds.

There was a feeling of sentiment.

Time has truly flown; it seemed just yesterday they were toddlers learning to walk, and now they can handle matters on their own.

There was also a heavy sense of responsibility.

This wedding was not only a family celebration; to some extent, it also symbolized that their group, with Wanshang at its core, has truly taken root, multiplied and grown on the hot soil of the Special Administrative Region—a milestone.

Family is the foundation.

Career is the branches.

Only when the foundation is firm can the branches flourish and reach the heavens.

The banquet gradually drew to a close.

Some guests began to take their leave.

The newlyweds and their parents stood at the doorway, seeing each guest off one by one.

Night had deepened, and Shenzhen's lights remained dazzling.

The evening breeze carried a chill, yet it could not disperse the warmth in his heart.

After seeing off the last batch of guests, Li Ping'an and Lin Xueqing stood at the hotel entrance, watching their three sons each take their new wives, get into cars, and drive toward the new homes they had arranged in Shenzhen.

The taillights merged into the street traffic, moving farther and farther away.

"Everyone's gone," Lin Xueqing gently rested against her husband's shoulder.

"Yes, everyone's gone," Li Ping'an squeezed her hand, "Let's go back, too."

He turned back to glance at the hotel, still brightly lit.

"Today was truly wonderful."

Those simple three words said it all.

This grand and traditional Chinese wedding, like a Stone cast into the river of time, sent ripples that connect the family's past and future, and also reflect the city's past, present and tomorrow.

The ancient rites and new chapter, in the night of the Special Administrative Region, slowly close the final page.

And the new life, greeting the morning light, has just begun.