Chapter 241 240. Day and night together until old age
Zhou Yi's objection was rejected again.
Lei Li covered his mouth, and glanced at him with a pair of peach blossom eyes smiling. His eyes were gentle and his voice was soft, which was even more terrifying than when he threatened Zhou Yi with his eyes before.
“…”
Okay.
He stopped talking.
Zhou Yi shut up silently.
He looked at the two young people in the room who were eager to get married, and the two in-laws with happy faces, who were already thinking about what names to give their grandchildren.
Father Lei Dashan and mother Liu Ye'er watched Xiaobao grow up and loved him very much. They wished Shengjiang could grow up overnight so that they could marry Xiaobao and have a great-grandson soon. They must be happy to know that Shengjiang was going to be engaged to Xiaobao.
There is no need to mention Lei Jingsheng.
She had long since tacitly accepted that Xiaobao was Jiang's husband. In the past two years, she and Xiaobao had become closer and closer. They were more like siblings than sisters-in-law. She even secretly gave Xiaobao a "sex education picture book" - a pornographic book - to broaden his knowledge.
He also discussed with Qingzhi and Xiaobao how to make a wedding dress and what patterns to choose. He also said that it can't be made too early, because the style will become outdated and the body shape may change, but it can't be made too late, otherwise it will be too late.
During the Dayou Dynasty, it was customary for unmarried boys and girls to make their own wedding gowns. Mothers or fathers with good craftsmanship, reluctant to let their children go through the trouble, would also help sew their children's wedding gowns. Naturally, wealthy families preferred custom orders.
Except for Zhou Yi, the whole family was in high spirits.
What else can Zhou Yi say?
Naturally, they also made good preparations for the engagement. Although the engagement was not as solemn and formal as the wedding, it could not be sloppy.
Engagement means paying the betrothal gift.
The six rites of marriage are: accepting the bride’s proposal, asking for the bride’s name, accepting the bride’s good wishes, accepting the bride’s betrothal gifts, asking for the date of marriage, and welcoming the bride to the wedding.
The first is Nacai.
Picking a nice day with clear skies and breezes, Lei Li and Zhou Yi asked a matchmaker to go to Xiaobao's house to propose marriage, and brought gifts, including a pair of wild geese symbolizing loyalty, and several boxes of things.
When they opened it, they saw two boxes of plain-colored and high-quality silk brocade, a box of Xiaobao's favorite books, and another box containing several boxes.
One box contained a variety of hairpins, another was filled with rouge and perfume, and the remaining box contained a thin stack of large-denomination silver notes. Each note was worth a hundred taels, so this stack must have been worth at least several thousand taels.
The matchmaker was the most famous and well-reputed matchmaker in Qingmi County, but no one had ever seen a family make such a big show of accepting a marriage proposal. It was just a proposal, and the gift she gave was comparable to a betrothal gift, except for a letter of engagement.
"Wow! Look at this lavish spending! Even the county magistrate wouldn't be so generous!"
The red matchmaker kept praising Xiaobao, saying "I value you" and "I like you" left and right, expressing Lei Shengjiang's true feelings and praising Xiaobao to the sky.
Miao Fulang was also a little surprised.
But when she thought about marrying her only son, she no longer considered these things extravagant and expensive. Even the priceless golden embroidered dress in the book was something Miao Fulang thought her little treasure was worth.
Xiaobao was a little flattered.
He felt it was too expensive and was about to say something when Lei Li smiled and handed him a small box containing a glittering mother-of-pearl comb.
"Ginger is specially prepared."
“…”
Xiaobao blushed before he could say anything.
Bracelets, handkerchiefs, hydrangeas, hairpins, combs, etc. are all common tokens of love in Xiling. He naturally knew what it meant to give a comb as a gift.
Lovesickness and longing.
I hope we can stay together day and night and grow old together.
I didn’t expect that... Jiang, who looks innocent and cute, actually knows all these romantic things.
Xiaobao's impression that Jiang belonged to his younger brother weakened a little, and the idea of his young husband became more and more obvious, making him blush and his heart beat fast. He was half a beat slow before taking the box containing the wooden comb.
"...Thank you, Daddy Li."
"Still calling me Daddy Li?"
Lei Li glanced at him mischievously with a smile, and seeing that he was embarrassed, he called him "Daddy" softly, and immediately laughed happily and responded,
"Hey! Daddy's here!"
Xiaobao's face turned even redder, and he also called Zhou Yi "Dad". Zhou Yi smiled from his slightly serious face, nodded, and responded happily.
Next is asking for the name.
The red matchmaker already knew Xiaobao's name and birth date in advance. She asked the Miao family again according to the procedure and wrote down the birth date with Lei Shengjiang on red paper.
Najib.
The red matchmaker performed very well, divined the birth dates of the two young people, and then showed a look of joy and said that it was a very auspicious omen. She praised both parties and said that they were a match made in heaven and were one-of-a-kind.
——In fact, no matter what the birth date is, the results are all auspicious signs. The matchmaker is not a professional fortune teller, and she will not deliberately break up a marriage for the sake of making money.
"good."
Lei Li was delighted to hear this and gave the matchmaker Hong a big red envelope. The matchmaker Hong weighed it and smiled from ear to ear. She quickly said to the Miao family,
"We can exchange marriage certificates now."
A solemn and sacred marriage certificate with bright red and gold stamping.
Prepared in advance.
Lei Li and Miao Fulang exchanged the marriage certificates with Lei Shengjiang and Miao Yurui written on them. Both of them were smiling, and Zhang Daqiang was even more grinning from ear to ear. Zhou Yi, who originally did not agree with getting married early, also couldn't help but smile.
Xiaobao blushed in embarrassment.
He glanced gently outside the door and met a pair of dark pupils. His slightly round peach blossom eyes suddenly lit up. He wanted to come in but was hesitant, so he shyly hid behind the door.
Seeing this, Xiaobao, who was a little embarrassed, burst out laughing and thought it was so cute.
The one hiding at the door was naturally Lei Shengjiang.
According to the custom of the Dayou Dynasty, when proposing marriage, the man's elders and matchmakers would go to the boy or girl's house, and the man was not allowed to follow. This was because if the proposal failed, the man would have to avoid suspicion with the boy or girl to prevent the boy or girl from being gossiped about.
So although Lei Shengjiang wanted to follow, he didn't dare to go in. He just waited secretly at the door. He was so anxious that he took a sneak peek.
Unexpectedly, I was caught by Brother Xiaobao.
Lei Shengjiang's face was red, but he was reluctant to run away. Instead, he waited until his father and grandfather came out, and said goodbye to brother Xiaobao through the door.
Lei Shengjiang blushed as he thought, all that was left was the betrothal ceremony, and then he and Brother Xiaobao would be engaged, and no one else could compete with him for Brother Xiaobao!
Pay the betrothal gift.
The man gives a betrothal gift to the woman or the man's family as a confirmation of the marriage.
Lei Shengjiang's personality is similar to Zhou Yi's, he is neither hurried nor slow, and has his own methods, but he becomes extremely anxious when he meets Xiaobao. He just proposed marriage yesterday, and today he urged his father to go to Xiaobao's house to deliver the betrothal gifts.
"What's the rush?"
Lei Li looked at Lei Shengjiang with amusement, patted his head, and said mischievously, "Xiaobao—Yu Rui wouldn't run away with someone else overnight. Yu Rui might not even be awake at this hour."
It's really early now.
It was just getting light.
Lei Shengjiang was so excited that he almost didn't sleep all night. He couldn't sleep so he went out for a walk in the morning. When he saw Zhou Yi coming out to relieve himself, he immediately went up to him and asked his father to deliver the betrothal gifts.
“…”
Zhou Yi was speechless for a while.
I know you are anxious, but there is no need to be so hasty. You don’t have to worry about being beaten if you go to deliver the betrothal gifts at this time.
Lei Li, who was following Zhou Yi slowly, heard it and seemed to be tickled funny. He laughed so hard that Lei Shengjiang's face turned red.
After finally waiting for breakfast, Lei Shengjiang couldn't wait to urge his father and grandfather to open each box containing the betrothal gifts and check them carefully twice. Only then did his excited and hot heart finally calm down.
Brother Xiaobao accepted his betrothal gift and is now his fiancé!
When Xiao Zhouzhou saw his brother leaving, he immediately grabbed his father's sleeve, his face serious, and said in a serious tone, "I'm going too, to see my sister-in-law."
"Sister-in-law?"
Lei Li laughed heartily upon hearing this. He glanced at Lei Shengjiang, whose face was red, teasingly before asking Xiao Zhou Zhou, "Did your brother ask you to call me sister-in-law?"
"no."
Xiao Zhou Zhou shook his head, "It's Sister."
"Jing Sheng?"
Lei Li said with a smile, "She's quite clever. She asked you to call her sister-in-law before the kiss was even confirmed. Jiang was so happy to hear that."
“Daddy…”
Lei Shengjiang was a little embarrassed, but also really happy, so he just smiled foolishly without even frowning.
Lei Jingsheng hadn't woken up yet. He was sleeping soundly with Qingzhi in his arms. He wouldn't be seen until noon, and Qingzhi had learned to stay in bed.
——When Qingzhi first came into the house, he went to bed early and got up early every day. Sometimes, he couldn't persuade Lei Jingsheng, so he would stay in bed for a while and explain the reason to Liu Yeer.
Liu Yeer smiled and said, "Jingsheng and Li Ge'er both like to sleep a little longer. You should not get up too early in the future. Get enough sleep before getting up. Being able to sleep is a blessing."
It was the first time Qing Zhi heard that being able to sleep is a blessing. She was surprised and embarrassed at first, but gradually got used to it and didn't get up until the middle of the morning, so he was not here now.
Lei Li laughed, "Call me sister-in-law more often, Zhou Zhou. Look how happy your brother is, his smile is brighter than a flower."
"Hehe~"
Lei Shengjiang laughed foolishly, feeling shy yet excited. "Brother Xiaobao... Yurui is Zhou Zhou's sister-in-law, so we should call her sister-in-law. Sister taught me the right thing!"
Since yesterday, Lei Shengjiang probably felt that they were engaged and their relationship was different, so he refused to call Xiaobao brother anymore, and instead called him Yurui, as if he was the same age as Xiaobao and no longer a child eight years younger than him.
"Um!"
Xiao Zhou Zhou nodded immediately.
He made up his mind to call her "A-sao" more often in school so that everyone would know the relationship between her and his brother, and make his brother happy to make up for his mistake.
——Little Zhou Zhou, who had only delivered half of the message, was later caught by Lei Shengjiang. He frowned and taught him a lesson in a soft voice, punishing the impatient boy to write big characters.
Little Zhou Zhou's personality seems to be similar to Zhou Yi's. He always has a stern face and looks very serious. However, he does not love studying like his father and his brother Sheng Jiang. Instead, he gets a headache when he sees words and tries every means to avoid studying.
It's comparable to Lei Li who used all sorts of tricks to avoid learning to read and write.
However, little Zhou Zhou was young and attached great importance to promises. As long as Lei Li or his father agreed with him on how many characters to practice and how far he should learn, he would complete it seriously no matter how reluctant he was, and he would complete it as soon as possible without any delay.
This is much more obedient than Lei Li was back then.
After breakfast, Lei Li, Zhou Yi, Lei Shengjiang and Xiao Zhouzhou went to the Miao family to deliver the betrothal gifts as a confirmation of the marriage. Completing this means the engagement is official.
Compared to the time of proposing marriage, this time the betrothal gift was much more important. There were three boxes of fine cloth alone, and the money in the money box was doubled, with both small and large amounts.
Because Lei Shengjiang put all his savings into it, not a single penny was left out.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
