Chapter 48: Dongxu

An hour and a half later, the motorcade finally arrived at the entrance of Qin Family Village.

"The groom is here!"

"The groom is here!"

A group of brats followed the motorcade, and Damao lived up to expectations by scattering some peanuts and candies, drawing some passersby to scramble for them.

"Big brother, big sister, we've come to pick up the bride." The matchmaker and Jia Youzhong stepped forward to speak with the other side's person in charge, while Damao started scattering candies and peanuts again.

"Father, Mother, I've come to pick up Huairu." Jia Dongxu hurried to follow, and Zhang Ping'an and Zhuzi also brought the gifts into the main room.

"My goodness, they really are city folk; two pig hind legs, and there's chicken, duck, and fish, too. There's quite a lot of cigarettes and alcohol as well."

"That's right, Dahu's girl is truly lucky to be able to marry into the city."

"Who's to say she isn't? I think the few young men behind her aren't bad either; when Huairu returns for her first visit home, I'll have her ask for us."

Once these words left the woman's mouth, the other women's eyes flickered, clearly all having the same idea.

"Brother Dabao." Zhang Ping'an also saw an acquaintance, Qin Huairu's younger uncle, Qin Dabao.

"Good, you really were right, kid; I actually got to drink this wedding wine."

"Hahaha, isn't that a given?"

"Hurry into the main room to eat something to tide yourself over; my big brother has prepared quite a lot of dowry here, I have to go help."

"Alright, you go ahead and get busy."

Zhang Ping'an entered the main room and saw it was sugar-water eggs and pastries again. Last time at Erzhuang's father-in-law's place, Zhang Ping'an had grown sick of them. People in this era loved sugar, so the sugar water was very sweet, but for him, it was a bit cloyingly sweet.

"Dongxu's uncle, please sit."

"Good, good, you go ahead and get busy, I'll help myself."

"Eh~ you are guests from afar, just sit, and call out if you need anything."

"Good, good." Zhang Ping'an hurriedly agreed; he didn't like being overly polite and fussing.

"Zhang Shu, Dongxu's father-in-law's place has pretty good conditions too."

Xu Damao's hometown was also in the countryside, and he would go back during holidays, but it was still not as good as Qin Family Village.

"Indeed."

Zhuzi felt the same way. He had thought the countryside nowadays was all tattered clothes and shoes, but looking at the villagers of Qin Family Village, although their clothes had patches, they were clean and tidy.

"As long as you're willing to work hard, life won't be too bad. Zhuzi, eat more; there's still a stretch of road to go when we head back later."

"Alright, Zhang Shu."

By the time everyone finished eating, it was about time; once the firecrackers were set off, they could take the bride home.

As the sound of firecrackers rang out, candies and peanuts were scattered on both sides. Jia Dongxu took Qin Huairu, who was still covered by a red veil, to get their marriage certificate and seal first, while Zhang Ping'an led the original group and the wedding procession straight back to the Siheyuan.

Two wheels were faster after all; Jia Dongxu had already received the big red certificate, ready to start his new life, while Zhang Ping'an's group had only just entered the city.

"The groom is back with the bride!"

Following the shouts of a group of brats, firecrackers also rang out around the Siheyuan. Yan Bugui sat upright, holding a writing brush, back at his old profession: accountant.

The twins had been taken to Zhang Ping'an's courtyard by his mother, for fear that the sound of firecrackers would scare them. As it turned out, the two little ones weren't afraid at all, and kept stretching their heads out to look.

"Father, Mother, look, Xiao Zi and Donglai are also fond of joining in the excitement as they grow up."

"Hahaha, who's to say they aren't? They definitely take after San Jie."

Meanwhile, Lao Jia and Zhang Xiaohua were both in formal attire today, greeting the guests coming and going.

"Second Uncle, Second Aunt, Third Uncle, Third Aunt, please sit."

"It's a bit chaotic today, I'm afraid we won't be able to host you properly."

"Youcai, Xiaohua, you go ahead and get busy, don't worry about us, we aren't outsiders."

"Good, good, good."

"The groom is back with the bride!"

Hearing the commotion, Lao Jia and his wife hurried out, and the people behind them also followed to watch the excitement.

"The bride's figure looks like she's good for childbearing."

"Indeed, she's definitely the type to give birth to sons."

The crowd couldn't see Qin Huairu's face, but since it was the transition between summer and autumn, her clothes were thin, and Qin Huairu's figure naturally couldn't be hidden.

"Good, good, good. Dongxu, Huairu, you got the certificate?"

"Got it, got it. The uncle and the others are right behind and will be here soon."

"Good, good, good. You two go inside and tidy up first."

For the groom and bride to enter the house, scattering candy to disperse the crowd was inevitable. Erzhuang, who had just gotten married a while ago, had experience; he scattered the candy to both sides, and everyone was busy scrambling for it, so the path in the middle naturally cleared. Jia Dongxu gave Erzhuang a thumbs-up on the sly.

"Hehe."

Zhang Ping'an and Qin Huairu's family members had also arrived, and seeing the dowry, everyone was discussing it animatedly.

"This quilt looks thick; one quilt is worth two or three of mine."

Originally, Qin Huairu's family planned to prepare four quilts, but four didn't sound auspicious, and they didn't have enough cotton for six, so they simply used the cotton for four quilts to make two.

"That's right, and there's a washbasin stand, a soap dish, a big red basin, and a large wooden chest."

"This girl's family is really generous."

"Who's to say they aren't? The Jia Family has indeed married a good daughter-in-law."

He Daqing was busy in front of the stove, and when Zhuzi returned, he hurriedly changed his clothes to go over and lend a hand.

He Daqing was exhausted today; he had gotten up at four in the morning to slaughter the pig and prepare the dishes, and had been busy ever since. It was fortunate he was an old hand.

It was almost eleven o'clock now, and the cold dishes were already prepared and could be served at any time. It was also fortunate they had prepared an extra table; many of Lao Jia's colleagues had come, and since it was the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, everyone had brought their children along, so they had almost run out of seats.

Lou Zhenyu had also come, though he left after giving his gift and saying a few words.

"You kid aren't playing fair; you didn't even send such a big wild boar to the factory."

"Director Lou, you are wronging me. You can see these ten tables of people, and I still have to send gifts to the bride's family; one pig really doesn't leave much behind."

"That's not my concern. In any case, you owe me another pig. Alright, you all aren't used to me being here, so I'll have Xiaojun stay behind," Lou Zhenyu said, then stepped on the gas and slipped away.

"Ping'an, my dad is just joking. Don't mind him, hurry and take your brothers to grab a seat at the feast."

Lou Xiaojun originally hadn't planned on coming, but upon hearing that He Daqing was cooking, he hurriedly tagged along with his father.

"..."

Zhang Ping'an arranged for him to sit at the table with Dazhuang and Erzhuang, as the young people would have more to talk about.

The feast started before long. Lou Xiaojun paid attention to his image at first, but seeing everyone wolfing down their food, he also rolled up his sleeves to eat and drink.

Everyone was once again won over by He Daqing's culinary skills, praising the food as they ate, when Jia Dongxu also brought Qin Huairu out to toast the guests.

"Wow, this bride is so beautiful."

"This girl is truly pretty."

"Brother Dongxu is just too lucky."

Several young men from the Siheyuan and the surrounding alleys who were just beginning to understand love looked at Qin Huairu and then enviously at Jia Dongxu, a feeling of "you were born before I was, and by the time you were born, I was already old" rising in their hearts.

"That's right, my sister Huairu is a famous beauty for ten miles around, and I will be too in the future," the little girl in Qin Dabao's arms said in a milky voice.

"Hahaha," the whole table was amused by the little girl's words.

"Jingru, what do you know at your age?" Qin Dabao looked at his daughter, unable to laugh or cry, and rubbed her head.

"Hmph," the little girl haughtily turned her face to the side.

Only then did Zhang Ping'an notice that Qin Dabao's daughter was actually Qin Jingru; at this time, she was still a four or five-year-old little girl.

Only then did Zhang Ping'an notice that Qin Dabao's daughter was actually Qin Jingru; at this time, she was still a four or five-year-old little girl.

"Brother Dabao, is this your daughter? What a cute little girl."