Arriving at the Xia residence, I saw a young man waiting at the door. He approached and said, "Hey, uncle/aunt/sister/brother! You're here! Please come in and have a cup of brown sugar tea. Your presence has made the place much more lively and festive today! Would you like to enter the gift book now?"
The gift book is like presenting a gift. After all, you are a poor rural family, so you don't have anything special. Usually it's a handful of eggs, a few cents, or a few feet of cloth. It's nothing expensive. These are just favors. You must remember them well. When you have a wedding or funeral in the future, you have to return these favors. Of course, these are also indicators. Generally speaking, if the gifts are more expensive, it means that they value your family more. If the gifts are ordinary, it means that they treat you as an ordinary person.
Xia Ruzheng was in charge of the important work of keeping this record book. She was a member of the Xia family and could read and write, so of course she was the one who kept the records.
Before this, Xia Ruzheng had already counted the candies, drinks, bowls, chopsticks, chairs, etc. on each table, and also checked the kitchen. Xia Ruqian had a few close aunts to help her dress up, and everything was in order. Only then did she sit there with peace of mind to receive gifts.
After entering the gift book, I was led to sit among the crowd. When I saw people I knew or was close to, I sat with them. After a while, someone came and brought me brown sugar sesame tea.
Helping to make tea were Xia Juaner and several other little girls, who were also the smartest and most diligent girls in the village.
"The Xia family is really generous. It's really like brown sugar sesame!"
Nowadays, in many households, only pregnant women or people in confinement after childbirth can drink brown sugar tea.
"Of course, Xia Chunfu is rich! And he only has two daughters. If he doesn't spend money at this time, will he bring them into the coffin?"
"That's right. Xia Chunfu was quite lucky, but his wife died young and passed away before she gave birth to a son."
"Indeed, without a son, everything is empty!"
As they were talking, they came to the topic of the lawsuit between the Xia brothers. This lawsuit had been going on for decades, and no one had gained any advantage over Xia Chunfu. Everyone felt sorry for themselves again. If Xia Chunfu had a son and an heir, he would have had successors. Now that he had no son, it didn't matter.
After Xia Chunfu finished greeting the guests at the back, he came to the front to entertain them. He thanked one for coming today and told another that they must have a few more drinks today. Everyone was in harmony and peace.
While they were chatting, sunflower seeds and peanuts were placed on the table for everyone to enjoy. At that time, it was considered a sign of nouveau riche; no one would waste their belongings like this, but Xia Chunfu was rich and willing to spend, so there was nothing he could do. Many people secretly stuffed several bags with sunflower seeds and peanuts, intending to take them home to chew on for their families, while others drank cup after cup of brown sugar water. They would never have such an opportunity again.
The Xia family didn't care. They had anticipated such a situation long ago, so they made preparations early.
At around eleven o'clock, the Liu family came to the house. They set off firecrackers for a long time outside before coming in. The house suddenly became more lively, and everyone started gossiping about the Liu family.
The Liu family is not rich, but they are well-off. Liu Guoqing also has several brothers, so it is impossible for him to live a good life relying on his parents' things. The young couple will have to rely on themselves in the future.
The banquet officially started at twelve o'clock. Different kinds of dishes were served in a continuous stream. Everyone was very satisfied with the meal and felt that the Xia family's banquet was very good (which means very good) and the gift money was well spent.
Of course, there was a rule back then that any leftovers from a banquet could be packed away. The Xia family's dishes were incredibly rich, not only in fat but also in rich, meaty portions. Everyone was eager to grab them! Who could possibly see so much fat in such a short time?
Xia Ruqian took the gift book and went to talk to Xia Chunfu: "The Xu family has also come. It's not good to chase them away on such a big day."
Xia Chunfu saw that Xia Ruqian had written Old Man Xu's name and a fifty-cent gift behind it, which he considered quite generous. He said, "Let them eat. They don't need a bite anyway. We'll just stop interacting in the future."
Xia Chunfu has not forgotten what Xu Xianhua did!
Xia Ruqian nodded and didn't care anymore.
Halfway through the banquet, the bride and groom were going to toast, but the bride only had to hold the wine glass and the groom poured wine. Liu Guoqing also brought his brothers to help drink.
Liu Guoqing led the radiant Xia Ruqian out. Xia Ruqian was wearing a red dress and her hair was braided by Xia Ruzheng. It was unique and beautiful. Unlike other brides, she did not wear fake flowers, but gold and some fake pearls and diamonds as ornaments. There was only one red flower.
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