The autumn wind, carrying the sweet fragrance of osmanthus and the rich aroma of ripening rice, swept across every inch of the Hongqi Production Brigade. The rice paddies, dyed golden by the autumn wind, stretched out in undulating waves, like a golden carpet spread across the earth. The heavy ears of rice bowed their heads, swaying in the wind and whispering softly, their sounds blending with the rustling leaves of the old locust tree at the village entrance to create a gentle melody. On the gray bricks and tiles of the Shen family courtyard, vibrant red trumpet creeper flowers climbed, their delicate petals falling softly, carpeting the bluestone path in front of the door. This, along with the red lanterns hanging on the walls, created a charming contrast, making the ancient courtyard even more festive.
Today, the Shen family courtyard is the focus of the entire brigade.
On the wooden pillars on both sides of the courtyard gate, large red "double happiness" characters with gold foil were pasted, the ink still dripping, exuding a strong festive atmosphere; colorful silks hanging under the eaves fluttered in the wind, like a flock of fluttering butterflies; in the open space of the courtyard, several square tables were set up, already filled with melon seeds, peanuts, candies, as well as osmanthus cakes and mung bean pastries specially made by Wanqiu Food Workshop, the sweet aroma filling the air, attracting passing children to tiptoe and peek, only to be laughed and pulled away by their parents.
Lin Wanqiu stood in front of the carved window in the main room, bending down to help her daughter, Chen Nianxi, tidy up her wedding dress.
Shen Nianxi wore a pomegranate-red brocade wedding gown, the hem embroidered with intertwined floral patterns in gold thread, and the cuffs trimmed with pure white rabbit fur, which accentuated her snow-white skin and exquisite features. Her waist-length hair was styled into an elegant updo, adorned with a red-gold and pearl-encrusted hairpin, the tassels dangling beside her ears, swaying gently with her breath. The little girl who once ran and jumped behind Nian'an had now grown into a graceful young woman, her eyes possessing both Lin Wanqiu's gentle grace and a unique, charming liveliness.
"Mom, don't be too nervous, the line is crooked." Shen Nianxi turned her head slightly, looking at the stray hairs at her mother's temples that were damp with sweat, and couldn't help but chuckle softly, her eyes filled with deep warmth.
Lin Wanqiu looked up at her daughter's beautiful face, and her eyes suddenly welled up with tears. She reached out and gently brushed a stray hair from her daughter's cheek, her fingertips trembling slightly: "Mom isn't nervous, she's happy."
I was so happy, it felt like I was holding a piece of hot honey, the sweetness spreading from my heart to my fingertips.
She remembered what Nianxi looked like when she was just born—a tiny bundle wrapped in a coarse cloth swaddle, her eyes and brows wrinkled, like a little kitten. Back then, the food workshop was just starting out, and she was busy running sales and production, often staying up late into the night in the workshop with Nianxi in her arms. Nianxi was well-behaved, never crying or fussing. When hungry, she would gnaw on her little fists, her big, bright eyes watching quietly as she kneaded dough and steamed cakes. Later, as Nianxi grew up, able to run and jump, she would follow her to the fields to check on the crops and help wrap pastries in the workshop. Her small figure became the warmest comfort on her entrepreneurial journey.
In the blink of an eye, that little girl is about to get married.
Lin Wanqiu's fingertips gently traced the gold thread on the wedding dress, her voice trembling slightly: "Xi'er, after you get married, you'll be a wife of the Gu family. You must learn to be sensible and take good care of yourself, understand?"
"Mom, I know." Shen Nianxi reached out and held her mother's hand tightly, her nose slightly sore. "Don't worry, Gu Yanchen will treat me well. Besides, I live so close to my parents' home, I can come back anytime I miss you."
Standing to the side, Shen Tingzhou watched the tender scene between the mother and daughter, his resolute brows softening slightly. He wore a dark blue Zhongshan suit, his posture still upright as a pine tree, though a few strands of silver hair at his temples stood out sharply in the sunlight. He stepped forward and handed Nianxi a jade pendant wrapped in red silk, his voice low and solemn: "This is a jade pendant passed down from the Shen family, given to me by your grandmother. Now I'm giving it to you. From now on, wear it, as if your parents were by your side."
The jade pendant was lustrous and translucent, warm to the touch, and exquisitely carved with auspicious dragon and phoenix patterns. Shen Nianxi took the pendant, her fingertips trembling slightly, her eyes instantly reddening. She knew how important this jade pendant was to her father; it was his promise to her mother, and the heirloom of the Shen family. Now, her father was entrusting it to her, placing his heavy love and expectations upon her.
“Dad…” Shen Nianxi choked up, but before she could finish speaking, Shen Tingzhou gently patted her shoulder.
"Good child, don't cry. Today is your big day, be happy." Shen Tingzhou's voice was slightly hoarse. He turned his head to look out the window, a trace of reluctance flashing in his eyes.
His daughter, the precious child he has cherished for so many years, is going to become someone else's bride today.
Seeing the father and daughter's expressions, Lin Wanqiu quickly wiped away her tears and teased them with a smile, "Alright, alright, stop being so sentimental. When the wedding procession arrives, you'll look so embarrassing."
As she spoke, she turned and took out a jade hairpin from her dressing case. The hairpin's head was adorned with a lifelike white magnolia. She had personally crafted this hairpin using jade from her spatial storage, a process that had taken her three full months. She carefully inserted the hairpin into Nianxi's hair, stepped back, and examined it closely, her smile growing even gentler: "So beautiful. Our little Xi is the most beautiful bride in the entire county today."
Shen Nianxi raised her hand and gently stroked the jade hairpin in her hair, her eyes filled with joy. She knew that this jade hairpin embodied her mother's hard work, and every line was engraved with her mother's love.
Suddenly, a burst of lively gongs and drums, along with laughter and children's cheers, broke the warmth inside the main room.
"The wedding procession is here!" someone shouted, and a commotion immediately broke out in the courtyard.
Lin Wanqiu's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly pulled Nianxi to the window. Shen Tingzhou also stepped forward and stood beside them, their gazes fixed on the courtyard gate.
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