In just a few days, He Ci and Su Ning will be getting married, and the family is already busy preparing. The house was just built last September, and it has been simply decorated inside.
Su Ning's room was used as their bridal chamber, while Su An continued to live in his own room. Li Mei and Su Qiang gave up their main room and moved into the east room.
As their children grew up, it became inconvenient for them to live together at night, so the elderly couple voluntarily gave up their bedroom to serve as a guest room.
The furniture and appliances were all newly purchased when He Ci was engaged; he had bought almost everything he could afford. As friends, the three of them didn't know what to give as a gift! So they pulled Zhu Zhou aside to think about it together.
Zhu Zhou was a villager, and he knew all the wedding customs. After discussing it with the others, they bought a plaque with their names on it.
Qi Yan found it very novel. He had heard that movies were shown outdoors in the countryside, and Zhuzhou had arranged for a movie screening in the evening, providing everything from the loudspeaker team to the fireworks and firecrackers.
In the countryside, such a wedding would be considered quite respectable, but in the port city, it would be considered shabby. There are no grand weddings, no wedding dresses or gowns, just fellow villagers and relatives.
On the Lantern Festival, which was also the eve of the wedding, according to custom, the congratulatory message needed to be delivered to the ancestral graves. As a son-in-law who had moved into the bride's family, the ancestors he was to pay respects to could only be those of Su Ning's family.
That afternoon, the person in charge took He Ci to pay respects at Su Ning's ancestral graves. Qi Yan hired the loudspeaker troupe for two days, and just as it got dark, they set up a stage in the village. The movie projector also found a good spot and adjusted the camera.
Adults enjoy listening to songs and operas, while children all rush to see movies, and even people from neighboring villages come to watch.
The scene was lively, with people filling the courtyard and entrance, even more so than during the Lunar New Year, and the atmosphere was festive everywhere.
Li Mei sat in the room talking intimately with Su Ning. Although her family was ostensibly taking in a son-in-law and their daughter wouldn't marry far away, Li Mei was still very sad inside.
When He Ci came in, he saw the mother and daughter wiping away tears. He went over and gently wiped Su Ning's tears with a handkerchief.
"Why are you crying! Tomorrow is our wedding day, we should be happy."
Su Ning sniffed, "Brother Ci! I'm happy. I can live with Mom and Dad after the wedding. Don't you really need to inform your family?"
He Ci patted her head and said, "No, we can decide our own marriage. Their presence will only cause trouble and make everyone unhappy."
"We'll be living together as a couple. From now on, I'll be a live-in son-in-law, relying on the Su family and you for financial support. Mom, you can't kick me out then."
Li Mei was amused by him. "What do you mean by living off a woman? We'll accept you as our son, but not as a live-in son-in-law. That would be unfair to you."
Qi Yan poked his head out and said, "Auntie! Why don't you give Ning'er another baby sister? I'll become your son-in-law. I want such a good mother-in-law too."
Li Mei also liked Qi Yan very much. Apart from the initial unpleasantness, she felt that this young man was quite good after spending time with him.
"Giving Su Ning a younger sister is fine, but if you want to marry into the family, there are plenty of girls in the village. Just pick one and an auntie will introduce you to someone."
Qi Yan waved his hand, "I wouldn't dare to date those girls. Every time they see me, it's like they've seen Tang Sanzang's flesh. I'm really afraid they'll eat me up."
Qi Yan had heard too much gossip and was now a little afraid of the women in the village, fearing that he would fall asleep and wake up the next day in someone's room.
In the port city, he didn't care how many women he slept with; others were after his money, he just wanted comfort.
It's different in the village. I heard that if someone sees a girl's body, they'll marry her, let alone sleep with her. He hasn't had enough of being a womanizer yet! He wouldn't dare mess with the women in the village.
He Ci has already announced that a banquet will be held in the village tomorrow, and no monetary gifts will be accepted. Adults and children from all around can attend, as long as they come to offer their blessings.
Li Mei and Su Qiang felt it was a bit extravagant; no one had ever held such a grand wedding, and it was a continuous banquet with no monetary gifts accepted.
He Ci was just trying to be happy. He felt guilty for not giving Su Ning a grand wedding and wanted more people to witness their happiness.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
