the next day.
Firecrackers were set off at the Lin family ancestral hall early in the morning.
Lin Ziyan and her two younger sisters returned from the temple early in the morning and came to the ancestral hall to pay their respects.
Aunt Chen helped put the clothes and shoes she would wear on her wedding day into a dustpan.
After lighting incense, Atai had Lin Ziyan climb the ladder to put the incense sticks and candles into the incense burner.
This task should normally be done by the younger or older brother in the family, but the Lin family is a special case, so the rules have been changed accordingly.
Lin Ziyan found it quite novel, saying that while the people here were superstitious, they weren't excessively so, and many of their rules were humane.
They say they're not superstitious, yet they still worship at temples and the sea.
Each deity governs a specific area; there are deities specifically for childbirth and marriage.
"Grandma, when you got married, did you also put the incense and candles into the incense burner yourself?" Lin Ziyan couldn't help but ask.
Inside the ancestral hall, smoke filled the air, mingling with the scent of sandalwood and gunpowder.
The walls made of blue bricks, the red table and the blue tiles, all exude an antique charm.
Both weddings and funerals are held in the ancestral hall, but it always appears solemn and dignified.
“It was much more complicated back then. I was only responsible for the ancestral worship. I only met your grandfather once before I got married.” Grandma Lin’s eyes curved into crescents, her gaze distant.
Jiaojiao and Xiaoxiao leaned against the blue brick wall, looking at Grandma with curiosity.
Aunt Chen and the two aunties next to her exchanged glances. Aren't these rules complicated enough? They look at them and it's exhausting.
The Lin family has many rules. In addition to paying respects at the ancestral hall, they also have to go through all the traditional rituals.
The newlyweds cannot meet for the next two days; they will have to wait until the wedding banquet begins.
Because the feast was held in the village, Grandma invited the entire village.
The Lin family had some connections with people in the village.
Lin Ziyan's lips twitched slightly. She had originally planned to just wear her wedding dress and go through the motions, but when she saw what her grandmother had prepared, her scalp tingled.
Besides the duvet cover and blankets that Sister Fang prepared.
Grandma also asked my uncle to buy a lot of quilts from abroad, more than a dozen quilts, and I don’t know when we’ll be able to use them all.
Now everything is piled up in the second-floor living room, along with various pots, pans, and dishes, all prepared according to the old standards.
"Grandma, why did my father borrow money from Wei Er back then?"
"The family's situation shouldn't be that bad..." Lin Ziyan asked as soon as she thought of it. She used to think that her family was poor, which was why they borrowed money.
Now she always feels that's not it.
Putting aside the gold bracelet, even the jewelry that Ah Tai took out later wouldn't warrant borrowing money.
The worship ceremony will have to wait a while, and everyone is leaning against the blue brick wall chatting.
At the same time, everyone had doubts about this matter.
Lin Atai said calmly, “At that time, I couldn’t pawn my jewelry. Besides, your father was a man of principle and didn’t want to spend the old man’s money. Moreover, he was absolutely certain that he could pay it back.”
“Even if the shrimp farm can’t continue operating, he has other skills to make money.”
If her adopted son hadn't returned to China, she wouldn't have dared to take out those gold bracelets.
There were also later calligraphy copybooks, and so on.
Lin Ziyan became even more curious. According to the original owner's memories, the Lin family had never gone hungry.
Apart from the vegetable garden, the Lin family has rented out all their other land.
There has never been a shortage of rice and flour in our home.
“I can testify to this. Your father did have other ways to make money. When my daughter was born, there was a famine. Even if we had money, we couldn’t buy food. It was only with your father’s help that we were able to buy some,” Aunt Chen said, her eyes welling up with tears.
The other aunties nodded.
"Your father's family might also be coming tomorrow."
"I don't know how they found out about the banquet, but they sent someone to let me know they're coming," Grandma said expressionlessly.
A hint of mockery shone in her cloudy eyes.
Lin Ziyan pursed her lips. "When my father passed away, weren't they notified?"
Aunt Chen, "Why wasn't we notified?"
"Your Uncle Chen went to deliver the news of the death himself, but he was kicked out without even a sip of water."
"Ayan, even if they come, don't pay them any attention. We're in the right no matter what."
Lin Atai regained her composure but did not refute Aunt Chen's words.
Human relationships are about give and take.
When my son-in-law was alive, he would send gifts to our home during holidays.
He also contributed to the living expenses of the two elderly people.
Grandma Lin knew all of this, and her son-in-law never hid it from her.
Lin Ziyan nodded. She glanced at her grandmother, who had never mentioned these things to her before.
The banquet will begin tomorrow. The villagers will eat two meals first, with a continuous feast.
The formal wedding banquet is the day after tomorrow.
"Ayan, you'll stay in the room on your wedding day. We'll take care of the rest."
"You can be a good bride in peace," Aunt Chen continued, her eyes reddening again.
She grew up with Lin Ziyan's mother. When they were young, the two villages were close to each other, and the two families would take turns eating together.
After she married into Haibi Village, the two families became even closer.
At that moment, five or six people arrived at the village entrance, asking questions as they walked towards the Lin family's house.
"The banquet isn't starting until tomorrow. Where did you all come from?"
Grandma Li stopped them and asked one more question.
The village has already started putting up "double happiness" characters, and red ribbons have been tied to the paths on both sides.
"Grandma, we are the family of Lin's son-in-law. We came all the way from the county as soon as we heard the news."
A bearded man, his shirt soaked with sweat, said with a smile, his eyes gleaming.
"The county? That's not far. You've come too early." Granny Li could tell at a glance that these people had ill intentions.
Five or six men arrived early, carrying nothing, just to freeload?
“Our surname is Li, and our two families used to be on good terms, but unfortunately, the relationship ended after my younger brother passed away…”
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