The sweetest in the entertainment industry

Chapter 423 Returning
People from Guangdong are very particular about the timing of their affairs; they need to choose an auspicious time to feel at ease.

Gu Lanxi's return to her parents' home was her first time returning to her hometown as a new woman after marriage. Naturally, she had to choose an auspicious time to worship her ancestors.

Noon belongs to Yang Fire, and both of them are born in the Year of the Horse. The Horse also corresponds to "Noon" in the Twelve Earthly Branches. The superposition of the double Fire element will lead to excessive energy. People born in the Year of the Horse are prone to restlessness and irritability at noon. If they are to perform important ceremonies, their wishes may be difficult to achieve due to the energy field.

The morning is associated with Yang, which is auspicious. After repeated calculations, the master finally decided to hold the sacrificial ceremony at 10:00 AM.

It takes about three hours to fly from Beijing to Guangzhou. With travel time between the two cities and various preparations upon arrival, they left home at four in the morning.

Fortunately, the plane belonged to our family and had a bed.

The two slept from the car to the plane, and slept all the way until the plane landed, finally managing to perk up.

Lu Nanting rehearsed until very late last night. The flight route was applied for in advance and the departure time was set, so the two of them couldn't come early. Zhang Ruolan asked her two aunts and the Gu family to help them prepare the sacrificial offerings.

When the two got off the plane, their two uncles were already waiting for them, along with many other relatives, who helped unload the gifts they had brought back.

The group returned home, bringing with them sacrificial animals, wedding cakes, pastries, fruits, tea, wine, incense, candles, and paper money. The two immediately went to the ancestral hall.

All the elders of the Gu family who could come had arrived, but there was no time for pleasantries at this moment.

The clan elder personally oversaw the arrangement of the offerings, and the timing was perfect when everything was set out.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

There was no other way; Gu Lanxi had relatively more freedom, but Lu Nanting was truly working non-stop all year round, and everyone was afraid that the two of them would miss the auspicious time.

The ceremony officially began with the lighting and placement of incense and candles. The clan chief then began his ancestral rites in the local dialect:
"On February 7, 2024, Gu Lanxi, the filial daughter of the Gu family, together with her husband Lu Nanting, respectfully offer this fine wine and seasonal delicacies before the ancestral tablets of the Gu family:"

Today, Gu Lanxi, the 25th generation descendant of the Gu family, is residing in the Guilu Mansion, enjoying harmonious marriage. On this auspicious day, she and her husband return to the ancestral hall to pay homage to their ancestors, offering incense, candles, and wine to express their gratitude for their hard work and to pray for the continuation of their lineage.

Although our parents passed away early, our filial piety remains undiminished. Our son-in-law and relatives have come together to remember their kindness. We humbly pray that our ancestors will have mercy and allow us to enjoy this offering; may they bless our descendants with lasting blessings!

After speaking, he gestured for the newlyweds to hold the incense.

The two stood side by side, listening quietly. Gu Lanxi understood the clan leader's words, but Lu Nanting's Cantonese was limited to simple daily conversations, so he didn't understand most of it.

However, this did not prevent him from maintaining a solemn and dignified expression.

Because Zhang Ruolan is also from this area, although she married into the North, she still retains many of her customs. The Lu family still holds ancestral worship ceremonies during festivals.

The smoke from the burning incense and candles rises like wisps of silk from the wick and the tip of the incense stick. At first, it is a straight line, but when it encounters a breeze, it gently curls up, like countless transparent ribbons stretching and entwining in the air.

Puffs of smoke drifted over the offering table and memorial tablet, flowing slowly under the eaves and between the window frames.

The young couple had their backs to the door, so they couldn't see the countless tiny dust particles floating and sinking in the beams of light as the sunlight shone through. However, they could both smell the unique slightly burnt aroma of sandalwood, mugwort, cinnamon, and dried tangerine peel when the Gu family's traditional handmade incense burned.

The young couple took the lit incense sticks and, as they walked, noticed a warm yellow patch of light beneath their feet.

Today is a sunny day, a good day.

Lu Nanting, the new son-in-law of the Gu family, was a little nervous as he met the Gu family ancestors for the first time.

The Gu family has grown into a large and prosperous clan, and each branch has set up its own ancestral hall for the convenience of worship. Only Gu Lanxi's branch remains here.

However, the Gu family has lasted for more than 700 years. Even if her lineage has gone through 25 generations, there are countless descendants. It is impossible for them all to have memorial tablets in the main ancestral hall.

Only direct ancestors and those who have made special contributions to the family can occupy a place here. The memorial tablets of collateral branches and other family members can only be placed in the side hall of their own branch, or even be included in the collective memorial tablets.

Gu Lanxi's mother was able to occupy a small position in the corner of the main ancestral hall because she bravely and resolutely gave up her life, which prompted the family to change its clan rules. From then on, women could also be included in the clan genealogy and enter the ancestral hall, becoming legitimate heirs.

This was a landmark event for the entire family.

The ceremony lasted about twenty minutes. After it was over, the group moved to the old clan chief's house.

The elders sat in a row, and Gu Lanxi introduced Lu Nanting to them one by one.

For each person introduced, they would receive a gift—a festive red envelope, one for each of them.

Gu Lanxi took it, but judging from its weight alone, she couldn't quite guess what was inside. With everyone watching, she didn't dare reach out and squeeze it, so she held it quietly in her hand. Unexpectedly, Lu Nanting, having received the red envelope, casually handed it to her.

The elders immediately burst into good-natured laughter.

Gu Lanxi was embarrassed by the laughter and tried to save face: "You gave him too much, he couldn't carry it all. Luckily, I had the foresight to bring a super big bag."

Everyone burst into laughter again.

After everyone had met properly and talked for a while, when it was almost time, the group went to Zhang's Restaurant.

Since the young couple got married, the Gu family has always preferred to go there whenever they have guests for a meal.

Today's homecoming banquet is to formally introduce Lu Nanting, the new son-in-law, to family and friends, and the Gu family has naturally arranged it here as well.

The Gu family ancestral hall was a bit far from the Zhang family restaurant. The young couple got into the car, with Lu Nanting driving and his cousin following in front. Gu Lanxi couldn't resist opening red envelopes in the passenger seat.

"It's either 888 or 666... ​​Did they plan this in advance?"

Each red envelope contained a special number. After gathering the different amounts of money, Gu Lanxi looked at them for a while, then suddenly pinched one corner, fanned it out, revealing the serial number on the banknote, and couldn't help but be pleasantly surprised:

"Wow, they're all brand new consecutive numbered tickets! I knew it, they must have planned this in advance!"

Unlike some places where people give large sums of money as red envelopes, Cantonese people give red envelopes for good luck and don't care about the amount.

Even during the Lunar New Year, the Gu family would only give their children five or ten yuan as a red envelope, rarely exceeding fifty yuan. To get a hundred-yuan bill, one had to find a way.

"Because everyone likes you and wants you to be happy!"

Seeing her happily counting the money, Lu Nanting's mood also improved.

"I'd say I like you more. When I was little, they all called me 'the devil's nightmare'."

"Oh? What have you been doing?"

“I’ve always loved participating in all kinds of competitions. Every time I receive a certificate, I take it home and put it in a folder. Every year on the first day of the Lunar New Year, before dawn, I get up, take the folder, and go from house to house to wish people a happy new year…”

Say some auspicious words, boast a bit, and then get the biggest red envelope.

Those were rare days when her grandparents wouldn't think she was shameful.

Although as soon as I get home, before I can even open the envelopes, my grandma will rush over, showing the kindest smile of the year, and snatch all the red envelopes away as quickly as possible, saying she'll save them for me.

But she felt smug whenever she saw those children who were usually arrogant and haughty, finding it hard to be happy on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Lu Nanting couldn't help but laugh: "Is it that devilish?"

"Yeah, they always talk bad about me, and I'm not happy about it."

"A vengeful spirit?"

"Yes, I'm afraid that if I accumulate too much, I won't be able to stop."

"Hahaha!"

Lu Nanting took it as a joke and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Gu Lanxi quickly put the money away, zipped up her bag, and then reached into the back seat to grab a red jacket to change into.

Today she wore a beige knee-length cheongsam. When she went to the ancestral hall, she wore a white coat and only pinned a ruby ​​brooch on her chest to add a festive touch. When she went to the hotel later, she naturally couldn't dress so plainly.

"Find me those ruby ​​cufflinks."

Gu Lanxi changed her clothes, found the things, and quickly dressed him while the car was parked.

Lu Nanting leaned down and gave her a loud kiss on the forehead.

A steady and secure happiness~
Please vote for me with monthly tickets! Let's stay in the top 100!