Chapter 339 The Grand Finale (Part Two)
She didn't say yes directly, but her words revealed the goodwill and warmth that had accumulated through their interactions.
Jiang Ling understood, and asked softly, "So you're willing?"
Xiao Qiu lowered her head even further, her neck turning red. After a long while, she nodded almost imperceptibly.
Jiang Ling smiled and patted her hand:
"I'm glad you're willing. The Zhao family is a kind family, and Sixi is someone you can rely on. You'll live close by after you marry into the family, and you can continue to manage the workshop, or manage it less, it's up to you. Once you have your own home, live a good life."
Xiao Qiu raised her head, her eyes already red, tears welling up, but not of sadness: "Miss... I... I never dared to imagine... that I would be where I am today... all because of you, Miss..."
Jiang Ling wiped away the tears that slid down her cheeks. "Don't talk nonsense. It's because you're ambitious, kind-hearted, and hardworking that you've found such a good match. There's a long road ahead of you, so live it well."
The following day, Jiang Ling gave the Zhao family a definite answer.
Grandpa Zhao and Grandma Zhao were overjoyed and immediately began making arrangements.
According to village custom, a matchmaker was invited to formally visit the family and a small betrothal ceremony was held.
Jishui Village is small, so the news spread quickly, and the villagers offered their congratulations, saying it was a good match.
In the workshop, Xiao Qiu was teased by the women in a good-natured way, and she was so embarrassed that she didn't dare to look up, but the happiness in her eyes and brows could not be hidden.
Zhao Sixi was extremely busy, but he always had a smile on his face.
Besides his work in the workshop, he would help his father and brothers tidy up the new house whenever he had free time.
The Zhao family repainted and wallpapered the east wing, made new furniture, pasted red paper on the windows, and tidied up the courtyard.
The auspicious day is set for the sixth day of next month.
Everyone has finished the autumn harvest, and the weather is just right, neither too hot nor too cold.
Jiang Ling, as the "maternal family," also began preparing a dowry for Xiao Qiu.
Jishui Village has been busy all year, it's time for it to have some fun.
In addition to practical fabrics, jewelry, and money for safekeeping, she also brought back a few exquisite and durable small items from modern times and added them to the collection.
October 6th arrived in the blink of an eye, an auspicious day for marriage.
Before dawn, Jishui Village was already awake.
The Zhao family courtyard was brightly lit and bustling with noise.
The makeshift stove was ablaze with fire. Sister Zhao, wearing an apron, directed several women who came to help to chop vegetables and mince meat. The aroma of stewing meat from the large pot had already begun to waft out.
Ah Zhu also made new friends here, helping out in the kitchen alongside several unmarried young women.
Little Fatty's mother, along with a group of women, conducted a final inspection of the dowry in a specially reserved side room, carefully stuffing the corners of the trunks with auspicious dried fruits such as peanuts, red dates, longans, and lotus seeds, symbolizing "early birth of a son."
Jiang Ling's courtyard has now become Xiao Qiu's "boudoir".
Xiao Qiu was surrounded by women early in the morning, getting ready and dressed.
She wore a wedding dress that Jiang Ling had specially commissioned the best embroiderer in Ping'an County to make. It was not extremely elaborate or luxurious, but the stitches were fine and dense, and it was embroidered with patterns of twin lotus flowers and mandarin ducks.
Her hair was adorned with a gilded hairpin given to her by the Zhao family, along with several fresh red roses, which made her skin appear even more radiant than snow.
As the chubby mother helped her straighten her skirt, she exclaimed in admiration, "Oh my, look at our bride, how beautiful she is! Si Xi is such a lucky boy!"
"That's right, Xiao Qiu is capable and kind-hearted, she deserves such a good match." Sister Zhao also chimed in with a smile.
Xiao Qiu was so embarrassed that she couldn't lift her head, and could only smile with her lips pursed.
"Make way, make way! The rouge and face powder are here!"
A clear and lively voice came from behind, and Xiao Tao squeezed in carrying a delicate basket.
After several months apart, Xiao Tao has changed even more.
She wore a pale yellow cotton dress with lotus patterns, her hair was neatly styled in a single bun and adorned with two small pearl flowers, and her face was lightly powdered. The timidity and shrinking in her eyes were gone, replaced by the competence and clarity honed through her business experience.
"Xiao Tao!" Xiao Qiu's eyes lit up even more when she saw her.
"The bride looks so beautiful today!" Xiao Tao put down her basket, stepped forward, took Xiao Qiu's hand, looked her over carefully, and exclaimed sincerely.
She took out several porcelain boxes from the basket. "These were specially brought by Madam Song. She said they were rouge and perfume, popular in the capital, to add to the bride's makeup."
As she spoke, she personally dipped her brush in rouge and gently applied it to Xiao Qiu's face, her movements light and practiced.
Then he picked up the inkstone and began to draw her eyebrows.
The two of them stood head to head, whispering intimate words to each other.
"The fabric of this wedding dress is so fine, and the embroidery is exquisite. It looks so beautiful on you." Xiao Tao stroked the lotus pattern on the sleeve of the small autumn dress, a hint of envy in her eyes.
Xiao Qiu saw the envious look in her eyes in the mirror, and her heart stirred. She smiled slightly and whispered, "Envious? Do you also want to get married?"
Xiao Tao's hand trembled, and she almost drew the Luo Dai incorrectly. Her face flushed red instantly, and she spat out:
"You little brat, you're not even married yet and you're already teasing me!"
She pretended to tickle Xiao Qiu, who quickly begged for mercy, and the two burst into laughter.
Amidst the laughter and chatter, Xiao Tao's gaze inadvertently drifted through the window to the busy crowd outside the courtyard.
There, Xiao Ran was helping to hang red lanterns with several young men.
He had grown taller, and wearing a newly made dark blue fine cloth robe, he had shed much of his boyishness, with straight shoulders and a clear, bright face.
Seemingly sensing the gaze, he turned his head, his eyes meeting Xiao Tao's from inside the window.
In an instant, both of them looked away as if they had been burned.
It turned out that Xiao Tao learned things very quickly at the Song family and was deeply liked by Madam Song.
The perfume business was booming, so the Song and Ji families partnered to open a shop in Ping'an County.
Seeing that the general store had been closed for a long time and Xiao Ran had nothing to do, Madam Song hired him to work in her store, so that he could manage the store in Ping'an County with Xiao Tao.
After a while, the two became acquainted again.
Xiao Tao always personally picked up the perfumes from the shop in Ping'an County. After several visits, and thanks to the chance encounter under the peony flowers, Xiao Tao and Xiao Qiu became increasingly close, like sisters.
Now that her best friend is getting married, she is naturally the one who tries the hardest.
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