Xu Lai contracted most of the farmland in the village this year, and her neighbor also contracted some. Originally, she hadn't planned to do this, but after hearing Uncle Guiping mention that many fields in the village were abandoned, she decided to do so.
She then contracted the land and negotiated a price of 400 yuan per mu.
She uses technology to farm; she pulls out seedlings one by one and throws them directly into the field, letting them survive on their own.
At first, many people were skeptical, thinking that such a method would not be able to produce any crops. Xu Lai listened without saying anything and waited for the results in the summer.
She and her grandmother went to pick Qingming grass again and made qingtuan (a type of glutinous rice dumpling). Xu Lai couldn't help but sigh, she felt like she had just done it last year, but she didn't expect it to be a year already.
And the ferns and bamboo shoots, nourished by the rain, have begun to revive, sprouting little by little.
Xu Lai saw raspberries on the mountain, so she took a small basket. Since none of the raspberries had been picked, she picked all the ripe ones, filling a small half-basin.
Once you get home, soak it in salt water to remove the protein, then you can eat it without worry.
In May, their new home was basically renovated and they just needed to let the formaldehyde dissipate before they could move in.
Xu Lai bought a lot of saplings and planted them in the front and back yards. In two or three years, they could pick the fruit and eat it.
Zhao Qingyun wanted to move in as soon as the formaldehyde dissipated, but there was a rule here that a fire had to be lit before moving into a new house. Zhao Qingyun wasn't from here, so she didn't know about it.
So when Xu Lai heard him say that the wedding was in June, she was a little surprised, "Where will it be held?"
Zhao Qingyun put her hands behind her head and said, "In the village, what I mean is to hold one event in City B and one event here."
Xu Lai nudged him, "The new house hasn't been heated yet, so we can't move in."
Zhao Qingyun frowned. "Where did this rule come from?"
Xu Lai shrugged. "I don't know either. That's how it is here. Maybe we'll start the fire in June and then have the wedding."
She didn't have high requirements for the wedding, but she agreed with Zhao Qingyun's suggestion to have two weddings. He had a lot of relatives on his side, and it wouldn't be right to make one side accommodate the other.
Just then, Ms. Yingqiu was also urging them to hold their wedding, so Xu Lai thought they should hold it in City B first, and then hold another one back home as the year draws to a close.
Xu Lai has been busy lately. Although it's not yet harvest season for Sanhua plums, the May crisp plums are ready to be picked. Now, she doesn't need to go door-to-door to find suppliers; the orchard owners have brought samples for her to try.
She was busy selling plums, picking them offline, and also had to plan her wedding.
Seeing that she was working so hard, Ms. Yingqiu took over the task and would send messages from time to time to ask for their opinions. Xu Lai naturally agreed to everything.
The wedding dress was designed by a designer. Zhao Qingyun took Xu Lai to have it custom-made from the day the two registered their marriage.
When the wedding dress arrived at her home, Xu Lai tried it on and felt a tightness in her chest.
Zhao Qingyun hugged her from behind and asked, "Does it fit?"
Xu Lai nodded, then shook her head. Zhao Qingyun smiled and pinched her soft flesh, "So what's the matter?"
Xu Lai pointed to her chest, "It feels stuffy and tight."
Zhao Qingyun whispered something in her ear with a smile, and Xu Lai slapped him, her face flushing red. "Shut up! Don't flatter yourself. What does it have to do with you?"
Zhao Qingyun smiled and took a step back. "I'll send it back tomorrow and have them revise it."
In this hurried rush, the wedding was finally set for June 24th, an auspicious day for marriage.
They went to City B three days in advance. It was the first time the grandparents had ever been to a big city, and they were full of curiosity about everything.
Xu Lai and Zhao Qingyun took them to visit some of the famous attractions in City B, making the trip worthwhile.
The day before the wedding, Xu Lai's parents arrived in City B. At 10 p.m., Xu's mother knocked on her door, and Xu Lai opened the door to let her in.
Zhao Qingyun was at her parents' house. According to custom, the bride cannot meet the groom the night before the wedding. However, she did not have her own house there, so he vacated the apartment for her and her grandparents to live in.
Xu's mother handed her a card, "The password is your birthday. There's 80,000 yuan in it. Their family gave a dowry of 1.01 million yuan. Don't worry, your father and I don't want a penny."
Not only did they refuse, they also added 80,000 yuan to make it 1.09 million yuan for her, so that she could have more confidence after marrying into the family.
Xu Lai refused the money, saying, "Keep it for yourselves. We'll need money for many more things in the future. I have my own money."
Xu's mother stood up and walked to the door. Xu Lai heard her say, "Mom and Dad are sorry."
She heard it, but she couldn't say it was okay on behalf of her younger self.
At four in the morning, Xu Lai was pulled out of bed to get her makeup done. Her bridesmaids were Zhao Qingyun's cousin and Xia Ning. This wedding was mostly attended by his relatives, while only Xu Shen and Xia Ning, her close friends, were allowed to attend. For the wedding during the Chinese New Year, the groom's side wouldn't have as many guests.
When the time came, a large group of people came over. This wedding was held in a very casual manner, without any of the usual door-blocking and question-and-answer sessions.
But the wedding shoes were still hidden; Xia Ning placed them very conspicuously behind the curtains.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Qingyun rushed in, exchanged a smile with Xu Lai, and then picked her up to go downstairs.
Xia Ning sighed, "Brother, your wife is still barefoot. I know you're anxious, but can you not be so anxious?"
Everyone laughed. Zhao Qingyun scratched his head and looked around for possible hiding places for the wedding shoes.
Xia Ning pointed behind the curtains, gave Xu Lai a grateful look, and found the shoes for her to change into.
Then comes the tea ceremony, receiving the "change of address fee," and then going to the hotel.
There were about forty or fifty tables set up in the hall. Xu Lai had never known that Zhao Qingyun had so many people.
As the wedding began, she walked towards him step by step. Originally, there was supposed to be a scene where the father handed his daughter over to the groom, but since Xu Lai and her father had a strained relationship, it was changed so that she walked over alone.
Who knew that walking in high heels and a floor-length wedding dress would be so difficult?
Zhao Qingyun didn't stand still like a wooden stake. When Xu Lai tripped for the second time, he stepped forward and took her hand, leaving even the emcee at a loss.
The emcee tried to smooth things over, saying, "Our groom is really eager."
After saying "I do," we exchanged rings, and then we kissed.
After the emcee said that you may kiss your bride, Zhao Qingyun kissed Xu Lai through her veil.
Just as the emcee was about to say that the bride and groom were rather reserved, Zhao Qingyun lifted her veil and kissed Xu Lai's lips.
The kiss lasted only a few seconds before it ended, and everyone gasped in surprise.
After all the ceremonies were completed, Xu Lai was too tired to move. Zhao Qingyun had drunk a bit too much. He had just chased away the people who wanted to make a ruckus in the bridal chamber, and then hugged Xu Lai, burying his face in her neck.
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