Meng Jiao comes from a good family and has seen pictorials of some Hong Kong celebrities. After Jiang Ning dressed up like this, she was even more beautiful than those celebrities.
"Ningning, it's such a waste that you don't become a movie star," she laughed.
Jiang Ning smiled and said, "Beauty is often short-lived. The lives of ordinary people are the happiest. Sister Jiao, it's easy to find priceless treasures, but hard to find a true lover. You've read a lot, you should understand this principle better than I do."
"Yes, I understand what you mean. Let nature take its course!"
Meng Jiao no longer rejects Gao Baoliang's advances.
As they were talking, Gao Baoliang poked his head into the house.
Meng Jiao quickly covered Jiang Ning's head with a red veil, then yelled at him:
"Who would peek beforehand? Go away, go help out outside."
Outside, things are already bustling with activity.
The HR manager gathered everyone who came to help early in the morning, and then wrote down their names and roles on a large red sheet of paper.
That's how it is in rural areas when it comes to weddings and funerals; there are no specialized companies that contract things out, and everyone helps each other out.
Each family sent one person to help; some cooked, some poured tea, some cleaned the table and did chores... there was a clear division of labor.
Cooking is a major part of the wedding and a highlight of the event.
Unable to hire the experienced chef, Lin Chen turned to a friend of his named Yang Liang, who was a keen explorer of all kinds of delicacies. Even an ordinary sparrow could be transformed into a delicious dish through his meticulous marinating and roasting.
Because of this, I am often scolded by my family for not doing my job properly.
This time, having him as the head chef really gave him a chance to showcase his skills.
I just quickly cook some porridge for breakfast to tide me over, and my main focus is on preparing good lunch and dinner.
Following the menu provided by Jiang Ning, prepare all the necessary ingredients for each dish in advance.
The kitchen was definitely not enough, so Yang Liang set up a temporary earthen stove outside. Next to the stove, some people were washing vegetables and others were chopping vegetables. Various ingredients were put into large basins, filling more than a dozen basins.
Of course, these basins were borrowed.
No one would prepare so many containers; it all depends on mutual help.
They prepared enough food for about fifteen tables.
The tables, chairs, and benches were all borrowed from various places. Because the neighbors were also having a wedding, they almost didn't have enough to borrow.
The situation next door was similar, with dozens of people busy at their respective posts.
The ground in front of the Lin family's house was divided in two, separated by a red cloth strip, with a dozen or so tables set up on each side.
That scene was probably the most spectacular sight Chayuan Village had seen in decades.
As time went by, after nine o'clock, more and more people from the village came over. The young wives were usually the ones serving tea and water, inviting the visitors to sit down and serving them tea, with happy smiles on their faces.
Although these women who helped out didn't receive a salary, they could get so-called "thank-you gifts," sometimes two packs of cigarettes, and if they were being polite, a small packet of candy.
Don't underestimate these two packs of cigarettes; they were a form of hard currency in those days.
Almost every man in the family smokes, and the cigarettes served at banquets are usually high-end ones. You can exchange good cigarettes for cheap ones at the supply and marketing cooperative, which saves you money.
In some households where no one smokes, cigarettes can be served with soy sauce, vinegar, and other condiments.
Because of these customs, many older women and young wives come early, partly to see the bride and partly to find out what brands of cigarettes and alcohol the host family is serving.
At ten o'clock, the wedding finally began.
Lin Chen wore a red Tang suit with gold trim and a melon-shaped hat, which amused everyone as soon as he appeared.
The wedding ceremony was held in the inner room, with Lin Fugui as the officiant and Wang Xiufen, as an elder, sitting in the most honored seat.
The wedding proceeded according to the established procedures, attracting a couple hundred people from the entire village to watch.
The house was packed inside and out.
Many mischievous kids, unable to squeeze in, simply pressed their faces against the windowsills to peer inside.
While Lin Chen's house was bustling with activity, Lin Tao's house was noticeably quieter.
They were dressed in traditional wedding attire: the men in white shirts and black trousers, and the women in red shirts and black trousers, each with a large red flower pinned to their chest.
Ma Huijuan's face was given a heavy makeover by a makeup-savvy older woman, making her look a bit like a monkey's bottom.
Yu Xiaofeng couldn't let the atmosphere become awkward, so she took the lead in cheering, "Come on, let's bite the apple!"
A classic wedding scene: the couple eating the same hanging apple.
With that shout, everyone's spirits were immediately lifted.
"One more, one more!" the crowd cheered.
Those watching the commotion from the outside started to waver and rushed over, eager to see the couple's lips locked in a kiss, finding a forbidden thrill in the scene.
Lin Tao didn't like this part, but he had no choice but to cooperate because of Yu Xiaofeng's domineering nature.
Ma Huijuan shyly moved closer to the apple, but suddenly someone snatched it away, and Lin Tao bit her lips.
That bite was quite severe; it drew blood from the corner of her mouth.
Everyone burst into laughter.
At this moment, it was Lin Chen's turn to lift the veil. Everyone held their breath to look at the bride. The next second, she was truly stunning. Everyone was stunned for two seconds before exclaiming, "So beautiful!"
Like someone who stepped out of a painting.
How can someone be so beautiful!
In an instant, everyone was drawn to it; the more they couldn't see it, the more they wanted to see it.
......
After the wedding ceremony ended, the crowd gradually dispersed, and everyone went to find seats to wait for the banquet to begin.
After the first batch of fifteen tables were filled, there were still many people without seats. The manager quickly told them to wait a moment, as there would be a second batch.
He was also puzzled, as fifteen tables were usually enough, but there were an unusually large number of people today.
Lin Tao's group of people gradually took their seats. Many of them were originally family members, but were forced to separate. They waved to each other, all looking forward to what delicious food they would get to eat.
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