The 22nd day of the twelfth lunar month.

The family compound of the steel rolling mill in the provincial capital.

Three firecrackers went off, and Wang Peng drove his Santana sedan slowly into the family compound.

The bride has been brought home, and the streets are lined with onlookers.

Chen Yinghao lit a string of firecrackers and circled the Santana three times.

In an instant, the place was bustling with noise and laughter.

Wang Peng turned his head and smiled, "Brother-in-law, are you happy today?"

"Do I look unhappy?" Chen Qingshu laughed. "You don't know, I was so excited last night that I couldn't sleep."

Li Mingzhu and Li Mengjiao, who were in the back seat, chuckled.

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Li Fang rolled her eyes at her husband, secretly pleased with herself.

She was wearing a red wedding robe, her hair was styled in a bun, and she had a shiny plastic flower in her hair.

"Sister Fang, you look so beautiful today. Indeed, brides are always the most beautiful," Wang Peng praised sincerely.

My thoughts immediately drifted back to the past.

When he had a falling out with his family and ran away from home in a fit of anger, Li Fang stayed with him all this time.

Now that she has finally found a good home, Wang Peng is genuinely happy. "Sister Fang, I wish you happiness, joy, and happiness forever."

“Pengdi…” Li Fang’s voice choked.

"Don't cry, Sister Fang," Li Mingzhu quickly comforted her, saying, "You shouldn't cry on such a joyous day; it's bad luck."

Li Mengjiao held her hand and couldn't help but complain to Wang Peng, "These words should have been said during the wedding ceremony."

"Sorry." Wang Peng scratched his head; now was definitely not the time to act on emotion.

Chen Qingshu patted him on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry, Pengdi, I will take good care of Xiaofang and won't let her suffer any grievances."

"You'd better keep your word. I don't tolerate any nonsense." Wang Peng raised an eyebrow.

At that moment, a middle-aged man knocked on the car window.

He wore a red paper flower folded into his chest with the words "Master of Ceremonies" written on it.

Wang Peng rolled down the car window.

"Driver, the evil spirits have been averted. Please take the bride and groom to the factory now," the emcee said with a smile.

"Alright." Wang Peng snapped his fingers and slowly started the car.

The road was crowded with onlookers, and several children waved at the car window.

A mischievous child suddenly rushed in front of the car, startling Wang Peng so much that he quickly slammed on the brakes.

A woman took the child away and smacked him twice on the bottom, making the naughty child cry loudly.

The onlookers laughed heartily.

The upstairs room was very small, and the wedding ceremony was held in the plaza downstairs.

Wang Peng stopped the car, and Li Mengjiao and Li Mingzhu helped the bride out of the car.

The emcee quickly stopped him, saying with a smile, "Brother of the new bride, you must carry the new bride onto the stage, but her feet cannot touch the ground."

"Okay." Wang Peng bent down and carried his cousin on his back, slowly walking towards the wedding venue, with two girls following behind on either side.

Chen Qingshu held his wife's arm, afraid that she might fall.

Once on stage, Wang Peng put down his cousin and led Li Mingzhu and Li Mengjiao off the stage.

"Dear relatives and friends, welcome to the wedding of the groom Chen Qingshu and the bride Li Fang."

"I am the wedding emcee and also a good friend of the groom's father."

"Now, I declare the wedding ceremony officially open."

At this point, he immediately led the applause, and soon the audience erupted in applause.

Wang Peng looked at his cousin, clapped his hands vigorously, and showed a maternal smile.

The wedding proceeded smoothly, and soon came the much-anticipated part: receiving the betrothal gifts.

Mr. and Mrs. Chen sat in chairs, smiling broadly as they accepted the bows from their son and daughter-in-law, and then took out monetary gifts from their pockets.

"Goodness, this stack is quite large."

The emcee counted the money and announced loudly, "The groom's parents have given a gift of one thousand yuan. Please give them a round of applause."

Thunderous applause erupted.

Everyone was envious; the average salary in the provincial capital was only four hundred yuan, so a thousand yuan was definitely not a small amount.

"That's a lot of money." Li Mingzhu looked up at Wang Peng and said softly, "When I get married, I want my parents to give me a thousand yuan too."

"Hehe!" Wang Peng quietly pulled her hand and said, "A thousand is too little. Get your father a house."

"Hmph! Dream on!" Li Mingzhu laughed. "But I'm an only child, so the house will definitely be mine in the future."

At this moment, shoe polish was smeared on Chen Yinghao and Liu Yili's faces, causing everyone to burst into laughter.

On such a joyous occasion, the two of them couldn't possibly be angry; they chatted and laughed to make everyone happy.

Next, my second uncle and aunt went on stage and also took out 1,000 yuan.

The emcee hurriedly announced, "Comrades, the bride's parents have also given the newlyweds a gift of 1,000 yuan. Let's give them a round of applause!"

Amid applause, the bride and groom bowed to them.

Li Fang became emotional, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"Girl, don't cry!" Auntie was also feeling bad, but she forced a smile. "Don't cry. It's a joyous day. You should smile."

"Dad, Mom, I promise you, I will treat Xiaofang with all my heart," Chen Qingshu said.

"Son, I believe in you." Li Guixi patted his shoulder and said, "Son, live a good life from now on."

The father-in-law and son-in-law chatted for a few more minutes before Li Guixi and Zhao Li were asked to leave the stage.

The wedding continued.

The emcee called out names from the list, and the relatives whose names were called would come up on stage to give money and receive a bow from the bride and groom.

"Dapeng, I personally went to Wangcun to inform them about Xiaofang's wedding, but she didn't come, nor did she send any gifts," Li Guixi said.

They are referring to Wang Peng's parents, Wang Song and Li Guifen.

Li Guifen is Li Fang's aunt.

It's inappropriate for a niece's aunt not to attend her wedding.

Zhao Li snorted, "Da Peng, it seems that the two of them are determined to cut ties with you."

"Hehe, I couldn't be happier." Wang Peng said nonchalantly, "If they don't come, they don't come. It'll be peaceful."

“Yes, quiet.” Li Guixi sneered. “These days, everyone can live without anyone else.”

Wang Peng laughed; what he said was true.

The wedding continued smoothly.

At 10 a.m., the wedding ceremony was officially introduced, and the guests went to a nearby restaurant for the banquet.

This is a six-story hotel.

Wang Peng and Li Mingzhu, his second uncle and aunt, Du Lei, Li Mengjiao, and Li Mengjiao's parents were sitting in the VIP room.

The twelve dishes—six meat dishes and six vegetable dishes—along with two bottles of medium-grade baijiu (Chinese liquor), clearly demonstrate the importance the Chen family placed on this wedding.

Midway through the ceremony, the bride and groom came over to offer toasts, and Li Longfei stood up and drank three cups.

After lunch, the wedding officially ended, and the guests went home.

Wang Peng handed the car keys to Li Longfei, saying, "Uncle Li, you guys go back first. I'll stay in the provincial capital for a few days."

Li Longfei refused to take the car keys, saying, "We'll take the bus back. You can drive the car; we need to get some goods soon."

After the Lunar New Year, the cultural department will import a batch of Hong Kong and Taiwan films, which is what Li Longfei was referring to.

"Dad, Mom, I want to stay in the provincial capital for a few days," Li Mengjiao said.

"No, it's almost Chinese New Year," Li Longfei refused directly, saying, "Come again next summer vacation."

Li Mengjiao pouted, looking very unhappy.