Chapter 190 I, Li Shiliang, owe my success today entirely to you!
(Thanks to reader 20230412152829483 for casting a monthly vote.)
Weddings in the countryside are very simple. If it were done according to the customs of the city, the whole process of sending letters and making formalities would take at least half a year to a year.
However, the marriage between Dog Lao San and Zhao Min went straight to the wedding stage after only three months.
This joyous occasion has its pros and cons; some people think it's good, while others think it's bad.
Li's mother said, "From now on, your third brother will have someone who cares about him, and your third aunt can help take care of the children. From now on, these will be good days."
Some people might say, "Marrying a widow, especially one with a child, I bet all of Dog Lao San's earnings will go towards supporting other men."
That's human nature. Instead of feeling jealous of what they can't have, they criticize others and even slander widows for no reason.
As for Dog Lao San himself, he was naturally happy!
Two days after Dog Lao San and Zhao Min got engaged, he received socks made by Zhao Min. He never thought he would be able to get a wife in his life.
That night, Dog Lao San lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) by himself, biting his clothes and crying bitterly.
In Dog Lao San's opinion, even if Zhao Min brought a girl, or even a boy who didn't have his surname, he would still be willing to raise him well.
Dog Lao San doesn't think that blood ties matter. For example, he and his aunt originally had no relationship, but now, do they not get along well?
His aunt raised him, so he will take care of her in her old age and see her off when she dies!
So what's wrong with taking care of a kid?
This child will be his own child from now on!
Although the marriage was arranged a bit hastily, Dog Lao San felt that everything that should be included was necessary, after all, it was his first time getting married.
Therefore, when Li Shiyue looked at the blushing, head-down dog Lao San in front of her, who seemed quite embarrassed, she burst out laughing.
"Haha, Third Brother, just say what you want to say. Our relationship is so solid."
Is there anything about this wedding that you feel is inappropriate?
Li's mother gently patted Li Shiyue's arm, glared at her, and then turned to the third dog with a warm smile and asked, "Third brother, don't listen to Shiyue's teasing. Tell your aunt what's wrong."
Don't worry, we can just borrow the tables, chairs and benches from the school. We'll clean them and return them later. Mr. Jiang has agreed to that.
"I've already discussed the meal with my third aunt. Each table will have a chicken, a plate of fried eggs, a pot of sauerkraut stew with sliced pork, four vegetable dishes—two cold and two hot—and finally, some fried dough sticks from the shop in town. Eight dishes will be enough."
Dog Lao San scratched his head, nodded, and replied to Li's mother, "Auntie, it's nothing, you can decide."
"I came here so that October could be the officiant at my and Zhao Min's wedding."
Dog Lao San's words were unexpected by everyone present.
Even if the marriage process is very simple, the officiant is always a respected elder in the clan.
Logically speaking, Dog Lao San should have invited Li Youfu to be the officiant at the wedding.
After a moment of hesitation, Li Shiyue quickly said, "Third Brother, don't worry about me, just don't go to find Li Youfu."
Although we had some conflicts, haven't we made up with them on the surface?
I was thinking about the road at the entrance of our village, and I'll organize everyone to contribute money and effort to fix it later.
From now on, when we start trading with each other, whether it's renting out shops or doing business, we're all from the same village, so we need to have a unified set of rules.
Externally, we are all one entity; internally, we know what we're doing.
Third Brother, don't think I'll be unhappy if you ask Li Youfu to officiate your wedding.
That's impossible!
cannot!
Third Brother, don't you know who I am?
We have solid connections among ourselves, that's all we need to know, there's no need for us to do this for my sake...
Before Li Shiyue could finish speaking, she was interrupted by Dog Lao San, who was waving at her.
"October!
I didn't do it for you!
I really didn't want Grandpa Youfu to officiate my wedding!
Really! I don't want to!
I was able to get married only because I settled down here and worked for you. You respected me and let me manage your paper mill and shops, so I could have a job.
I know that I'm in charge of things for you along with Ma Zi and the others.
But no matter what, I, Li Shiliang, owe my success today entirely to you!
They've never taken me, Li Laosan, seriously!
At this point, Dog Lao San—ah, no, Li Shiliang—slowed down his tone, “October, I just want you to officiate my wedding. I don’t think you can’t do this just because you’re young.”
I think if you officiate at my wedding, I'm sure I'll be able to live a good life with Zhao Min from now on.
October, what do you think?
Li Shiyue stared at Li Shiliang, whose eyes were filled with sincerity, her mouth agape, unable to utter the words of refusal.
Li's mother and the others were also stunned. In the end, Li's mother persuaded Li Shiliang, "Third son, how about your aunt invites Mr. Jiang to officiate the wedding?"
Although Mr. Jiang is a bit younger than you, he has the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations) and is also a teacher in our school. Your daughter will also have to go to school in the future.
According to what was said in October, you all have to attend the classes every five days on the night of October.
"How about we have Mr. Jiang officiate your wedding?"
As Li's mother said this, she glanced at Li Shiyue.
Where can we go in October?
Putting aside her young age, she's still a young woman!
Whose wedding officiant is a young girl?
If word got out, people would probably laugh at us.
If Li Shiyue were to say it herself, it wouldn't matter whether she was the officiant at someone else's wedding.
She never cared about such things, let alone bothered with them.
What she cares about is matters concerning her own interests, like when Li Youfu said he wouldn't let women into the ancestral hall, that's something she cares about!
But now, listening to Li's mother's words and looking into Li Shiliang's eyes, Li Shiyue felt a little concerned and realized that she should take on this job.
"Third Brother, I..."
"October!
I sincerely want you to officiate my wedding with Zhao Min. I also genuinely believe that with you officiating, we can have a good life together from now on.
Dog Lao San turned to look at Li's mother and said, "Auntie, I know you mean well!"
I know some people outside will laugh at me, let them laugh. If I cared about them, I wouldn't have come here to ask!
I was secretly pleased that October called me "Third Brother." Let those outsiders say what they want; they're all outsiders. Knowing your kindness is enough for me.
After speaking with Li's mother, Li Shiliang turned to look at Li Shiyue.
"October! You'll be the officiant at Third Brother's wedding!"
Li Shiliang had already said so much, how could Li Shiyue refuse?
How could she possibly refuse?
She simply couldn't bring herself to refuse!
Yan Jiuniang watched from the side, winked at Li Shiyue, and then nodded.
"good!
Third Brother, I agree!
I, Li Shiyue, will set a precedent for something that has never happened before!
With me setting this precedent, this kind of thing will happen again!
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