The next morning, after breakfast, the old man took Zeng Rui-xiang and Zi-fu to the ancestral hall to worship their ancestors. Then they would ride horses from the ancestral hall to welcome the bride. When they left, Zi-luck set off a string of firecrackers. The bridal sedan chair was waiting at the gate of the ancestral hall. Zi-fu came out of the ancestral hall and Zi-luck lit the firecrackers to see him off. Zi-fu couldn't ride a horse, so Lin Kang-ping had to lead the horse alongside him.

  As the wedding procession walked away, Zi Qing accompanied Shen Shi back home. Most of the guests had arrived, including some unexpected ones, such as classmates from Bai He Academy and county school, as well as local gentry. The county government also sent a congratulatory gift, but it was unclear how they knew about the wedding. With people coming and going, Shen Shi was extremely busy, unable to keep up with the demands of brewing tea, finding utensils in the kitchen, locating plates, and sharpening knives. There were countless other tasks, and her head was spinning, yet she didn't call out for Zi Qing again, leaving her to stay inside and accompany the female guests.

  After lunch, the villagers left and the situation improved a bit. The dinner was a formal banquet, and the master of the kitchen had started busy early. Shen's family took out more than a dozen large dried cuttlefish to stir-fry with meat, as well as spicy stir-fried squid threads. The village chef said he had never done it before, so Shen's family hurriedly demonstrated.

  In the afternoon, at more than three o'clock, the sound of drums and music was heard outside the courtyard gate. The dowry went first, with two sedan chairs carrying gold and silver headdresses, followed by two sedan chairs carrying embroidered screens, four large red trunks, two wardrobes, a child's bucket, large and small wooden basins, large and small copper basins, and six sets of bedding. Behind them were the betrothal gifts from the Zeng family, including headdresses, fabrics, and other items, which were carried over in thirty-two sedan chairs. The Liu family kept the gift money, sheepskin, happy tea, and happy wine.

  These thirty-two trunks were all moved into Zifu's new house. The aunt and the bridesmaids opened up four chests, inside which were new clothes for every season and fabrics, as well as Zifu's dowry that had been aired out. After the aunt finished making the bed, the bride sat down at the head of it.

  Ziying remembered that at the time, Xiao Jie secretly gave Er Jie some food to eat, so she also found some exquisite pastries. Taking advantage of the fact that everyone was outside discussing something, she secretly handed them over to her new sister-in-law and said: "Big sister, I'm Ziying. Eat something first to fill your stomach, there are still many things later, I'll help you keep an eye on the outside."

  "Thank you, sister, I'm not hungry," said the bride.

  Ziying didn't know what to say, so she put the pastries beside her and left. Less than half a time later, someone came to urge them on. They said that the auspicious hour had arrived, and they should prepare for the wedding ceremony. After the ceremony, the bride was sent into the new room again. A group of guests gathered around to watch Zifeng lift the bride's veil, teasing and joking. The bride looked very beautiful, elegant and refined.

  Not a moment's delay. The banquet began, and at the first table, Shen Jianshan and Shen Jianshui sat in the main seat, saying it was a one-table-two-seat arrangement. The men's tables were rowdy, with cups clinking and an exceptionally lively atmosphere, because of the drought, many families couldn't even eat their fill, and today's feast was so sumptuous, with seafood, things they had never heard of in their inland mountain village. The women's tables were also rowdy, but it was because of the dishes being served, and they begrudged every strand of cuttlefish and squid. Zi Qing felt a pang of sadness and said to Lin Kangping, "It's really pitiful, the hearts of parents all over the world, for the sake of their children being able to eat something good, they themselves stare at it greedily, but don't dare to pick up their chopsticks."

  "So I must work hard to make money, so that my Qing'er can live a carefree life. Let our children grow up happily and peacefully in the future."

  Zi Qing's face turned red after hearing this, and just as she was about to retort, they heard a commotion outside.

  It turned out that a large piece of braised pork in the village had accidentally fallen to the ground, and was picked up by a chicken. The man saw it and felt distressed, chased after the chicken, which dropped the meat from its beak while trying to escape. The man quickly picked it up, blew off the dust, and said he would take it home to wash and feed his children.

  Ziying was deeply moved, and the people around him didn't laugh at him. Instead, someone even helped him chase after a chicken. This most genuine and primitive paternal love deeply touched Ziying and Lin Kangping. Lin Kangping's father had passed away early, and he had been sold since childhood, so he had never experienced this kind of seemingly simple yet profound paternal love. Apart from being shocked, he was probably more envious. Ziying secretly grasped Lin Kangping's hand, and when Lin Kangping realized Ziying's intention, his heart warmed up.

  In a moment, Zifeng brought the bride to pay respects with wine, Shen asked Ziqing to bring a cushion and follow, when meeting elders they would kneel down and put it on the ground, by the bride's side was a bridesmaid accompanying her, using a tray to receive the red envelopes given by the elders.

  Shen's successor, Zifu, said that this time the older generation of cousins didn't need to kneel down, so naturally they were exempt from giving red envelopes. This year's economy is not good, and everyone is having a hard time. Zifu had no objection, if it weren't for the customs, he would probably want to be exempt even from his elders.

  The ceremony ended, and the bride was sent back to her new home. The guests also bid farewell one after another. When Old Master Shen left, he told them that the next day at noon, his son would bring the bride over to pay respects. Mrs. Tian said, "No need to trouble you, anyway we will come over for dinner, it's all the same whether we pay respects here or there."

  Shen's family listened and wanted to say something, Zeng Ruixiang pulled her back, Zi Qing asked He's family on the side, "Grandma, why doesn't my mother want Grandpa and them to come over tomorrow, it would be so much more convenient."

  "How can that be the same, on the other side is the ancestral house, logically your elder brother and sister-in-law should go over to kowtow, your grandparents prepare a gift, prepare a table of wine and dinner, for the new bride to recognize her family members."

  He said that as soon as Zi Qing understood, Tian's family would not be willing to spend money on wine. Adding the three aunts' families, they might not even have enough for two tables. Coming here, it's all saved. No wonder Shen's family was unwilling, every year sending so much silver over there, it's like throwing water in and hearing the sound of water, what's the point?

  After the guests left, Shen's family heated up a few dishes and had Zifeng send them to the bride to eat. They were afraid that someone would go to disturb the bridal chamber soon.

  As soon as Zi Qing heard the commotion in the bridal chamber, she wanted to follow along, but Shen Shi pulled her back and said: "They're all just a bunch of young men, what's a big girl like you doing joining in on the excitement, aren't you ashamed?"

  Lin Kangping also advised on the side, Zi Qing thought that she had seen it anyway, and if she didn't go, she wouldn't go. Let Lin Kangping go, and it would be the same to tell her about it afterwards. Zi Qing made up her mind and was about to rest when Shen Shi called out to her.

  Shen said that Ziqing was just in time to stay and help her count the gifts. At this kind of family banquet, relatives would give gifts, and close relatives and villagers would all get a free meal. Ziqing took over the account from Zilu, three uncles gave two taels of silver each, three aunts gave one string of cash each, and Xiaoyu secretly added a piece of red silk on her own. As for Zeng Ruiqing, he really didn't show up, it was unclear whether he knew or not, Ziqing guessed that Father would be heartbroken again.

  He gave another five taels of silver, and Zi Qing knew that He had been relatively well-off in recent years. Every time he sent her back to the village, Shen would give her some loose silver, saying that Second Aunt Zhao seemed to be a bit unclear at times, pinching and calculating, but now that Shen had the means, she naturally didn't want to humiliate the old lady, covering all her expenses for food, clothing, and daily necessities. The others were just a few distant relatives, basically giving twenty cents, with some giving eight or ten cents, altogether not even adding up to a string of coins.

  The next morning, the new daughter-in-law had just finished making breakfast when Old Master and Madam Tian, along with the three aunts from the Tian family, all arrived. Old Master and Madam Tian sat in the east room, while Zeng Rui-xiang and Shen-shi sat below them. He-shi occupied the west room, and the three uncles stood by. Zi-fu led the new bride to kneel down and pay her respects with tea. The gifts from Old Master and Madam Tian were silver bangles, Shen-shi gave a jade scepter, He-shi gave a silver hairpin, and the three uncles each gave jade ornaments that could be worn as pendants on the chest or waist. The new daughter-in-law presented Old Master, Madam Tian, and He-shi with new clothes made of fine cotton fabric.

  When Zǐ Qíng took out the silver bangles, Chūn Yù's husband and wife exchanged a glance, seemingly somewhat humiliated and resentful. Of course, Zǐ Qíng didn't know that Old Master had spoken to them beforehand, emphasizing that these silver bangles were specially given by Shěn Shì to help Tían Shì save face, fearing that Chūn Yù would cause trouble when she arrived.

  After breakfast, Zifeng took the new daughter-in-law to familiarize herself with the situation in the courtyard. The Shen family's uncles and their families went out for a stroll. Only the old master and three aunts from the three families stayed behind to have lunch in the main hall.

  Zi Qing was just about to go out, when he heard Chun Yu say to Tian Shi: "Mother, look at the gifts that Zi Fu's grandmother and uncles have brought today. When our Da Mao gets married, you should prepare some good things too."

  "You'd better take a look at what you've given. It's really embarrassing, listening to you, we only gave a string of money out of consideration for your face, but the three uncles each gave two taels of silver yesterday and one of them even gave a jade pendant today. If I had known this earlier, I would rather have come alone. To be honest, Second Brother and his wife didn't treat me unfairly, and Zifeng has always been closer to me, I'm too ashamed to eat this meal." Autumn Jade complained.

  "Qiuyue, I know you're also tired of your sister being poor, and you want to curry favor with Second Brother. I didn't stop you, so go ahead and fawn on him if you want. Why come complaining to me? Nowadays, wherever I go, people look down on me - even my parents and siblings can't stand the sight of me. They'd trample all over me, let alone outsiders!" Chunyue shouted.

  Ziying smiled and just then Zifu brought the new daughter-in-law into the courtyard, Tian Shi hurriedly stopped their quarrel. Qiuyü came out and warmly grasped the new daughter-in-law's hand, saying: "Have you finished visiting? I am Zifu's younger aunt, Zifu has been close to me since childhood, if there is anything that needs my help just tell me, don't go outside. Look at this hand, one glance and it's clear she's a lucky person, not like our rural people's hands, I envy you city misses, no need to work in the fields, embroider flowers, recognize characters and pass the time."

  "Little sister, when have you ever gone down to the fields to work as a farmer? I don't recall it," asked Zifeng.

  Qiu Yu still wanted to say something, but Shen Jian-shan and the others returned. Zi Fu brought his new wife to re-brew tea and chatted with several aunts and sisters-in-law.

  After dinner, the old man and his family left first. He Shi also wanted to take her three sons home. The time she spent talking was not short either. Shen Shi appreciated the kindness of her natal family and prepared many food and cloth gifts to give out. Zi Qing knew that in recent years, her two elder brothers-in-law had followed their own family's example in growing watermelons and sweet potatoes, so their lives were much better than before. Every year, they would have at least one or two hundred taels of silver income, and they also bought some land. So, they were naturally more generous when giving out gifts.

  After all the guests had left, Shen Shi stretched her waist and said that she was exhausted these days and needed to relax.