Chapter Sixty

Zhou Si's wedding was held as scheduled. Zhou Lin took a day off and arrived at the Zhou family home with Mu Jin before dawn.

Mu Bai, Wen Zhaoran, and Bai Qiqiu, being close to Zhou Si, accompanied the two to escort him to his wedding.

The Zhou family courtyard was bustling with people, and voices could be heard everywhere. Uncle, cousin, and younger cousin had arrived early to help with the work.

At noon, the relatives who came to help at home had a meal at the Zhou family's house.

To save face for Zhou Sitian, and fearing that Zhou Wushi might not treat the relatives who came to help well, they didn't even serve any meat dishes.

Mu Lingyun brought a lot of rabbits and pheasants yesterday, and I prepared them at home so she could cook them for her relatives at noon today.

Zhou Wu originally intended to keep it for herself, but unexpectedly, Mu Jin was watching from the kitchen and even spread the word.

I told Wu Niu and the others that Mu Lingyun brought a lot of meat yesterday to entertain them.

The relatives inside the house all sighed with admiration, saying that Zhou Wushi had truly found a good son-in-law.

Zhou Wushi had no choice but to hide the pheasant, keeping only one and stewing the rest.

At lunchtime, the relatives ate to their hearts' content, but Zhou Wu's heart was breaking.

Because of their in-laws, Mu Laoqi and Zhou Ling also came over. However, considering that Zhou Ling was heavily pregnant, the two did not stay long and returned home after lunch.

As dusk approached, the sun was about to set.

Zhou Si sat in the room, extremely nervous, and tightened her grip on the bridal veil.

With a smile, Xi Momo drew an intricate floral design on the birthmark on his forehead, making it look both delicate and festive.

The room was packed with people, uncles, aunts, and cousins, all of whom were praising Zhou Si to the skies.

Zhou Si was already a little nervous, and now she was even more shy, her face flushed as if she had applied rouge.

“Speaking of which, Jin-ge’er, Si-ge’er is getting married. As her older brother, you should at least contribute to her dowry, shouldn’t you?”

Aunt Wu Niu was cracking melon seeds when she glanced at Mu Jin, who was helping Zhou Si with her eyebrows.

Mu Jin continued working with her hands and smiled, saying, "We're close relatives, and Si'er's marriage is a major life event. As her elder brother, I'll do my best to contribute as much as I can. Speaking of which, Aunt, what did you contribute to Si'er's dowry?"

Wu Niu paused in her action of cracking melon seeds, and patted the melon seed crumbs off her hands.

He took out about six copper coins strung together with a red string from his pocket and placed them in front of Zhou Si.

"This is a token of our appreciation from your uncle and me. Please don't think it's too little, Si-ge'er."

Zhou Si smiled slightly and thanked Wu Niu Shi.

He sighed inwardly, realizing that it was truly no easy feat to squeeze six coins out of his stingy aunt.

With Wu Niu throwing out a brick, the remaining elders of the Zhou family in the house also took out their silver coins one after another. Before long, the copper coins in front of Zhou Si piled up into a small hill.

As the last stroke of her brow fell, Mu Jin thought of the dowry her elders had given her when she got married, which hadn't even been included in her dowry before Zhou Lingqiao took it away.

Take the dyed pea-green cotton cloth out of the bag that Mu Bai is carrying.

Everyone in the room gasped; this cotton cloth wasn't cheap.

Immediately afterwards, Wen Zhaoran took out the Ruyi hairpin, which made everyone gasp.

Bai Qiqiu and Mu Bai worked together to make a jewelry box out of peach wood, with cloud patterns carved on it. It took them a lot of effort.

I consulted Zhou Lin several times and even asked him for some wood lacquer to apply to it. It looked quite professional.

Although it was made by themselves and wasn't worth much money, it was still a token of their affection.

Mu Qing's eyes lit up when Mu Jin took out the cotton cloth.

Upon seeing the Ruyi hairpin added by Wen Zhaoran, he could no longer stay in the room and hurriedly went out to find Zhou Wushi.

Mu Jin glanced at Mu Qing, who hurriedly left the house, and gave Wen Zhaoran and Bai Qiqiu a look.

"Zhaoran, this Ruyi hairpin of yours is very precious. Put it in your dowry chest immediately, and put these copper coins in as well. You two stay there and guard it. Don't lose the good intentions of your uncle and aunt on this joyous day."

Zhou Si's dowry has been placed in the courtyard, adorned with large red "double happiness" characters.

Bai Qiqiu called Zhou Lin to open the chest and cabinet. The copper coins and the small box containing the Ruyi hairpin fit perfectly into the jewelry box that he and Mu Bai had made.

Place the cotton cloth on top and close the box.

Bai Qiqiu glanced at the dowry prepared by Zhou Wushi, which consisted mostly of Zhou Si's old belongings, and was truly shabby.

When Zhou Wushi arrived, she saw Bai Qiqiu and Wen Zhaoran standing like guardian spirits, watching over Zhou Si's dowry without moving.

A little while later, Mu Bai came out of the house, bringing some melon seeds for the two of them. The three of them chatted and ate them, seemingly not planning to leave.

Zhou Wushi took a deep breath, and thinking of the cotton cloth and silver hairpin inside, she forced a smile.

"Are you thirsty? Standing here must be tiring. There's some sugar water inside. Go have some and rest."

Bai Qiqiu shook his head. "Auntie, we're not tired, but we are quite thirsty. Bai'er, go and get two cups of sugar water for me and your second brother from inside."

Mu Bai nodded, put the melon seeds in his hand into Wen Zhaoran's hand, and ran happily into the house to get water.

Until Mu Lingyun arrived in a mule cart to fetch the bride, Bai Qiqiu and the other two never left the dowry area.

As firecrackers went off, Zhou Lin, with red eyes, carried Zhou Si out the door.

Zhou Si, carrying him on her back, was also filled with reluctance to part with Zhou Lin and Mu Jin, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Mu Jin followed behind, wiping away tears from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, feeling even more reluctant to part.

After placing Zhou Si into the mule cart, Zhou Lin said in a deep voice, "My younger brother is now in your care."

Mu Lingyun said solemnly, "Big brother, don't worry, I will take good care of him and never let him suffer any injustice."

Zhou Lin nodded with red eyes, while Zhou Si cried even harder.

Mu Jin, her voice hoarse, wiped away his tears, "On such a joyous day, don't cry."

The two were more like Zhou Si's elders than Zhou Wushi and Zhou Laosan.

The mule cart drove away, and from then on, Zhou Si married a man.

The magnificent sunset at dusk was also sending him off to his wedding.

She looked smiling, with delicate and gentle features, and her red eyes even had a hint of moisture.

Zhou Si gazed at Mu Lingyun with deep affection.

Mu Liang, filled with remorse, drifted further and further away from the crowd, leaving only a sigh.

Having settled her last concern at the Zhou family home, Mu Jin didn't linger. After chatting with her uncles, aunts, and cousins ​​for a while, she took Zhou Lin home.

From then on, there was nothing more for him to worry about at the Zhou family.

Mu Bai, Wen Zhaoran, and Bai Qiqiu went to the Mu hunter's house for a wedding feast. When the three of them returned home, their eyes were all red.

"I miss my brother a little."

Wen Zhaoran looked at the empty room, sighed, and said with a sense of loss that she felt a void in her heart now that Zhou Si had gotten married.

When no one was there to help him cut pig feed, I taught him embroidery at night and chatted with him.

Mu Bai took the small bundle from Bai Qiqiu's room. "Second brother, I'll sleep with you tonight."

Wen Zhaoran smiled and patted the bedding. "Come quickly."

Zhou Si got married, and her whole family felt a deep sense of loss.

Early the next morning, when Mu Jin was making breakfast, she also ladled a bowl of brown rice porridge for Zhou Si.

Coming to his senses, he sighed and chuckled.

Seeing that Zhao Ran and Bai Qiqiu looked tired, he laughed and said, "Si'er is married to the Mu Hunter family, it's just a short walk away, why do you look like you'll never see him again?"

Wen Zhaoran sighed, "There are still some differences."

Bai Qiqiu nodded in agreement, "Big brother, you're one to criticize us, you also scooped up an extra bowl of porridge."

Mu Jin shook her head helplessly. She was used to having someone by her side, and it was really hard to get used to that person suddenly going to the side.

Zhou Lin felt extremely sad, happy for Zhou Sixun's new lover, yet also deeply reluctant to let him go.

No matter what, life goes on.

After composing myself and having breakfast, I quickly put the vegetables into the cart and, along with Mu Heng, went to town.

Mu Jin washed the dishes and said softly, "Si'er is married now. Qi Qiu, you and Zhao Ran can go cut pig feed together. There isn't much work in the fields, I can manage on my own."

Mu Bai quickly said, "Big brother, I'm here for you. I'll help you."

Mu Jin chuckled and said helplessly, "I ran into your father and uncle yesterday. They were talking about you, saying you're so happy you don't want to leave. The wheat harvest is coming soon, and there's a lot to do at home. Stay for a couple more days, then go home and come back after you're done with this."

Mu Bai pursed her lips, thinking of Zhou Ling's big belly, and reluctantly nodded.

The tomatoes in the vegetable garden have ripened quite a bit, and after taking some to the rice noodle shop, there's still a whole basket full left at home.

The green beans keep coming in batches, and we can't possibly eat them all.

In the yard, Hibiscus was drying a lot of vegetables, storing them up to eat in the winter.

Before they knew it, it was time for Zhou Sisan to return to his parents' home.

Mu Jin didn't expect that not long after noon, Zhou Si and Mu Lingyun would return here carrying a wild rabbit and a pheasant.

Wen Zhaoran clung to Zhou Si's arm, her eyes filled with joy.

Mu Jin paused for a moment, then smiled, "Have you gone back to your parents' place?"

Zhou Si nodded. Although he wanted to go straight back to his elder brother's house, it wouldn't be very pleasant if he didn't go see Zhou Wu Shi.

If the villagers find out, they'll definitely gossip about it.

However, when he was at the Zhou family's house, he felt awkward, and Zhou Wu and the others also felt awkward, and they were speechless.

Fortunately, the two returned late, and it was lunchtime soon.

Otherwise, each day would truly feel like an eternity.

Arriving at Mujin's place, Zhou Si finally felt like she was back home.

Mu Jin looked at him closely and saw that he had a rosy complexion and was full of energy, so he must be doing well at the Mu Hunter's house.

Thinking about it carefully, the Mu family are all kind people, and the sister-in-law is Mu Jin's good friend, so there really isn't anything to worry about.

"Your older brother will be so happy to see you when he gets back later."

Mu Jin smiled and gestured for them to sit down.

Bai Qiqiu sighed and said with a smile, "Si'er, now that you're home, Zhaoran, that little fellow, talks about you all the time, more than ten times a day."

Zhou Si's smile deepened. She patted Wen Zhaoran's head and chuckled, "No wonder I've been sneezing so much these past two days. It was you who was nagging me. But I really, really miss you all."

Mu Lingyun nodded in agreement, "Big brother, you don't know, the day Si'er first came into the family, she cried for almost half the night. I couldn't coax her no matter what I did, and I almost came to find you in the middle of the night."

Zhou Si nudged him and said angrily, "What nonsense are you talking about? I didn't cry for that long."

Mu Lingyun just laughed, half of her pillowcase was soaked with tears, "It won't be long?"

However, seeing that her new husband was already somewhat embarrassed and annoyed, she naturally dared not say those words again.

When Zhou Lin returned home and saw the two of them, his joy seemed to overflow from his eyes.

Seeing the happiness in Zhou Si's eyes, he finally felt relieved.

In the evening, Mu Jin stewed a pot of pheasant with dried green beans, and the family enjoyed a reunion dinner.

The atmosphere at the table was cheerful and lively, filled with laughter and conversation.