She shook her head helplessly, then suddenly noticed that Minister An was smiling at her family.
Looking around, I realized that everyone was already seated.
"Xiao Che, it's great to bring your family to experience this," Minister An said kindly. "This gala is for the whole nation; our leaders should also share in the joy with the people!"
Grandpa Xiao and Xiao Che both smiled and echoed his sentiments.
The lights suddenly dimmed, and cheerful music began to play. Two handsome male and beautiful female hosts walked onto the stage, and the evening officially began.
"Dear viewers, Happy Chinese New Year!"
The audience erupted in enthusiastic applause.
The first program was a folk song and dance performance, with colorful costumes that were dazzling to the eye.
After the song and dance performance, the crosstalk performers went on stage together and began their crosstalk performance.
Xiao Yanqing chuckled with delight, and Bai Yajing, seeing her son so happy, let him be. Everyone else was laughing too, so it didn't bother anyone.
Several elderly people also enjoy watching crosstalk, and the atmosphere was filled with laughter.
As the event drew to a close, Bai Yajing exclaimed sincerely, "That was fantastic! Grandpa, A-Che, shall we come again next year?"
Xiao Che smiled, looking at the expectant eyes of his wife, children, and the elderly members of the family: "Okay, as long as the organization allows it."
After the New Year, it quickly came to the fifth day of the first lunar month, the day Lin Huan was to get married.
Early in the morning, before dawn, the whole family got up. Grandma combed Lin Huan's hair, and Bai Yajing, who had also learned the skill, applied makeup to her. Although she was a bit flustered, the final makeup turned out surprisingly well.
"Beautiful! So pretty!"
Everyone who came in to help with the makeup exclaimed in admiration. Grandma smiled and said, "Now that conditions are better, everything is exquisite and meticulous! Plus, Huanhuan is beautiful, and Nannan is skilled at handicrafts. Look, after a little tidying up, she looks as beautiful as a fairy!"
Lin Huan looked at her face and couldn't be happier.
"Sister-in-law, you're amazing!"
"Huanhuan, quickly put on your new clothes!" After combing Lin Huan's hair, Grandma took out a brand-new woolen coat from the closet, her face beaming with smiles. "This is the last maroon one in the foreign exchange store. Your sister-in-law queued for three hours to get it."
Lin Huan took it, feeling the unique crispness yet softness of the fabric under her fingertips. She carefully unfolded it, and the Chairman Mao badge pinned to the front of the garment shone brightly in the morning light.
"Thank you, Grandma, thank you, sister-in-law!" Her nose tingled, and she quickly tilted her head back to stop the tears from falling.
Bai Yajing smiled and opened the clothes for her to wear. "Silly girl, you are my sister, don't be so polite with me. You helped me raise the children in the family. You, as their aunt, are more like their mother than I am."
She's been busy with work these past few years, and her children have been raised by her grandparents, Lin Huan, and Sister Yingzi. She's also the one who makes most of the clothes and other things.
She patiently tutored the children when they had trouble with their homework. She remembered all of this.
So in addition to the dowry, she also gave an extra six hundred yuan as a dowry.
She didn't ask what her grandmother and the others gave her, but she guessed it wouldn't be a small amount.
Lin Huan rushed into her arms, not daring to cry for fear of ruining her makeup. She only looked up after calming herself down.
Bai Yajing checked her makeup and was relieved to see that it wasn't ruined.
“Live a good life with A-Lin, and don’t forget to come back and visit often. This is your family home…”
"Mmm..." Lin Huan nodded repeatedly, her heart throbbing with emotion.
"It's so beautiful."
Grandma smiled as she helped her button up the last button, her eyes filled with reluctance and her eyes a little moist. After so many years together, she had long regarded Lin Huan as her own granddaughter.
Bai Yajing had good hearing and vaguely heard a commotion coming from outside the window.
She peeked out and saw Zhou Lin, dressed in a brand-new blue Zhongshan suit with a gleaming Youth League badge pinned to his chest, being led towards them by a group of young people. Sunlight shone on his handsome face, making him appear exceptionally energetic.
"Alright, the auspicious time has arrived. Let's send Huanhuan off to her wedding!"
The firecrackers went off all at the entrance, and the sounds of music and drums were incredibly lively.
The red silk hanging in the courtyard added to the festive atmosphere.
Several men and women from the family were out entertaining guests.
"They're here! They're here!" Grandma saw them through the window and quickly took a red paper flower from the drawer and pinned it to Lin Huan's chest, gently reminding her, "Remember, you must bow three times to the Chairman Mao statue later, but don't do the old way."
Lin Huan nodded, her heart suddenly racing.
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