Chapter 191 Under the Red Curtain, a Spring Night.
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Since Li Shiyue had agreed to be the officiant at Li Shiliang and Zhao Min's wedding, he felt he had to do it well!
People who were originally indifferent to other people's weddings are now busy as spinning tops.
In a little while, we need to make sure the red silk, the double happiness symbol, and the red candles are all confirmed.
Soon it will be this feast again, with eight dishes. Although it is an even number, it is still not as perfect as ten.
Therefore, Li Shiyue took Shitou up the mountain and came down after two days and one night, each carrying a wild boar.
Both of them were covered in soot, but Li Shiyue happily said to Li Shiliang, who ran over, "Third Brother, add two meat dishes to the table!"
Li Shiliang, a rough and clumsy man, burst into tears in front of everyone.
He lowered his head and wiped his face with his large hand. When Li Shiliang looked up again, his eyes were red, and he said to Li Shiyue, "Okay! Third Brother thanks you!"
But we can't go up the mountain anymore, that's enough!
Enough, enough!
The seventh day of the seventh lunar month is the Qixi Festival, which is also an auspicious day for marriage!
In the late afternoon, a carriage draped in red silk and with furs that had been washed until they shone, carrying people, left Liujiatun. Accompanying the carriage were members of the Wang family, carrying reed pipes (bili).
It was the Wang family member that Li's mother invited to play the wind instrument when the paper mill was being built.
Of course, there were also people carrying gongs and drums, who were hired musicians to add some noise to Li Shiliang's wedding procession.
When they arrived at Zhao You's house, it was dusk, and the last rays of the sun fell on the wedding procession.
Li Shiyue, dressed in a pink dress and with his hair in two buns, stepped down from the carriage. He smiled at Li Shiliang, who was wearing a dark red shirt, and said, "Third Brother, go knock on the door."
Li Shiliang was so happy he was practically dumbfounded, his face beaming with a silly grin that made him even more amusing to look at.
After a lively scattering of a plate of copper coins and two plates of candy, the door was finally opened.
Zhao Min, wearing a bright red dress and a veil, walked with Li Shiliang across the threshold toward the carriage.
Logically speaking, at this time there should be a high-class carriage with a sidecar.
Li Shiyue had previously suggested that they simply buy one in the city, but Li Shiliang said that he and Zhao Min had discussed it and decided to use a cart instead.
“Minniang said that in the countryside, there aren’t so many rules. It’s still hot now, so riding in a cart is fine.”
So, Zhao Min was sitting in a cart with Li Shiliang, her head covered by a veil, while Li Shiyue, who was driving the cart, was holding Zhao Min's baby in his arms.
The child was very obedient; after being given a piece of candy, she stayed quietly in Li Shiyue's arms.
They made a lot of noise and fun on their way back to Liujiatun. When they arrived at the village entrance, Li's mother and the others had already lit torches and were waiting for them.
The carriage arrived at Li Shiliang's house, where his third aunt, unusually dressed in a bright indigo blue outfit, stood at the door waiting with a smile on her face.
After handing the child over to Li's mother, Li Shiyue quickly got out of the car to fulfill her duty as the officiant at the wedding.
Almost everyone from Liujiatun had come. Li Shiyue stood at the front and glanced around from left to right. Only Li Youfu and his eighth uncle were missing. Li Wangming, who was studying in the prefectural city, had not returned, nor had Li Shiyang, who was on duty in Sanshan County.
Almost everyone else from Liujiatun arrived, except for Qin Tao and Li Shigui, whom she hadn't paid attention to for a long time; they were just standing on the sidelines watching the show.
"Today is an auspicious day, and we gather here to celebrate our perfect match!"
The groom, Li Shiliang, is a diligent, honest, and upright person.
The bride, Zhao Min, is gentle, virtuous, and possesses both beauty and character.
Today, the two are happily married; it is a match made in heaven!
May you two, husband and wife, live in harmony, grow old together, have many children, and enjoy a wonderful life together!
These words were come up by Li Shiyue after consulting with Yan Jiuniang; they were all pleasant-sounding wishes for the newlyweds.
Once inside the house, Third Aunt was invited to sit in the seat of honor.
"First bow to heaven and earth, praying for favorable weather and abundant harvests;
Bowing twice to the parents to express gratitude for their upbringing;
Husband and wife bow to each other, wishing you eternal love and a long and happy marriage!
"Auntie, from now on you will be my mother!"
"I will definitely take good care of you in your old age and see you off when you die!"
Third Aunt watched as Li Shiliang and Zhao Min kowtowed to her, and she bit her tongue to force back her tears.
On such a joyous day, it's not appropriate to shed tears.
The young man she raised with such care, bit by bit, has finally gotten married. This is a good thing, a good thing!
Finally, when the newlyweds were drinking the nuptial wine together in their new home, a funny incident occurred.
Li Shiliang was so nervous that he choked on the small cup of wine he was drinking. He coughed until his face turned red before he could catch his breath and came out.
After the ceremony, Zhao Min gave Li Shiliang a piece of advice: "Drink less, and drink slowly."
Li Shiliang was pulled outside by the onlookers to drink.
Li Shiyue had already been asked to leave and went to the front with them.
At this moment, only Third Aunt and Zhao Min's youngest daughter remained in the house.
Third Aunt urged the children to eat the peanuts and red dates on the table, then she took Zhao Min's hand and handed her a small wooden box.
"Inside are all of the third son's assets, the deeds in the paper mill and paper shop, which are a source of monthly dividends."
The land deed for our house, this one is in red;
Also, the land deeds and house deeds for the new house under construction at the village entrance and the house we live in now are all inside.
I don't have much cash, but I've spent a lot on buying things during this period.
Minniang, although I am not the biological mother of the third son, I have been raising him since he was ten years old. He is no different from my own son.
I'm getting old, and I don't have many years left to live. From now on, you and Lao San should live a good life together. I'll bless you both even in the afterlife!
Zhao Min was stunned. No family would bring out all their savings before even consummating the marriage.
"Mother, what have you done..."
Zhao Min dared not accept the box; she felt as if it weighed a ton.
Third Auntie, however, insisted on pushing it over. Then she reached out and patted the head of the little girl who was eating quietly to the side, and said to Zhao Min with a smile, "Don't worry, from now on this girl will be Third Brother's biological daughter!"
The girl is even better. Look at Shiyue. If she can be even a fraction as good as Shiyue in the future, that will be a great blessing for the girl!
When the time comes, we'll send the girl to school. Once she's educated, can read and write, and can do math, she'll be able to make a living anywhere!
So, when Li Shiliang, who had drunk quite a bit, returned to his room that night, he saw Zhao Min staring blankly at the wooden box.
Zhao Min said that her third aunt had handed over all the family's wealth to her, and Li Shiliang nodded in agreement without even changing his expression: "My mother is getting old, and it's too much trouble for her to manage these things."
"You take care of these things, and I promise I'll work hard and earn more money for the family."
But is this what Zhao Min was talking about?
She was so angry that she pinched Li Shiliang's waist: "What kind of new bride takes charge of money as soon as she enters the house?"
If others find out, they'll think I'm a bad person, that I'm only after your money!
Li Shiliang, however, clasped his hands and begged for mercy: "Minniang, Minniang, don't pinch me, don't pinch me, it hurts, it hurts."
"Sanlang, look..."
“Just accept what your mother gives you. Why do you care what outsiders say?”
We're family, we'll live our lives together, we don't need to care about others.
"Minniang, it's late, you should go to sleep."
Beneath the red curtains, spring unfolded overnight.
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