Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 1233 Study

The next day, May 1st.

Early in the morning, a little after seven o'clock, Xiaowei coaxed Xiaohong to get up, eat breakfast outside, and then go to Xiaqiu's house.

Many relatives and friends have already come over and are chatting and eating melon seeds in the house and yard. The yard, which was just cleaned yesterday, is covered with melon seed shells and orange peels. Several naughty children are running around and playing.

"Xiaowei, have you eaten yet?" Old Xia, dressed in a suit, directed them, asking as he saw Xiaowei and Xiaohong come in.

Xiao Wei said, "I've eaten. I know you're busy here with lots of people."

There are boiled dumplings inside. I had someone make them these past few days. They're convenient, filling, and don't require any other dishes, so it's easy.

Old Xia said, "Let's go eat some more dumplings, shrimp ones, the filling is alright. It'll take all morning to prepare. Xiao Hong, take care of yourself, don't force yourself if you can't handle it."

The two agreed and went inside to find Xia Qiu.

Xia Qiu was all dressed up, in a bright red wedding gown and with her hair up. She was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed) blowing on a bowl of dumpling soup, and the room was filled with the aroma of dumplings.

Several classmates, all dressed up nicely, sat beside him and chatted.

As soon as Xiao Hong came in, she was dragged over, and everyone rushed over to touch her belly, laughing and making a ruckus.

Xiao Hong said, "A bunch of crazy women! I'm not the first person to get pregnant, haven't I seen this before?"

Some of her classmates got married right after graduating from high school, and now their kids are all over the place.

In the countryside, nobody cares about being of legal age. If you're not old enough, you don't get a marriage certificate. As long as the wedding banquet is held, that's considered it done. If you have a child, you don't register the birth. You just get the marriage certificate when you reach the legal age.

Some people never get a marriage certificate in their entire lives, yet they still live happily ever after.

After playing for a while, Aunt Xia brought over two small bowls of dumplings. Xiao Hong was finally free and ate a few dumplings with Xiao Wei.

After eating dumplings and chatting for a while, Xia Qiu and her classmates reminisced about their past campus life. It was already eight o'clock when the wedding procession arrived.

In Beixi, Liaodong, when people get married, the bride's mother cannot attend the wedding; she must stay home and wait for the wedding ceremony.

Old Xia directed everyone to get on the vehicles. There were specific rules about who would sit in the first car, the second car, and the last car. In addition, two children had to ride with the newlyweds in the decorated car.

Everyone boarded the vehicle as arranged. Those carrying basins, bowls, or bags, those scattering money, and those with tasks got on first. The rest of the group would make a fuss in the house and courtyard, watching the groom go through the formalities.

With the new wine and money, Liu Xiaodong kowtowed to Aunt Xia to express his determination, and to the bride to express her own. A group of people joined in the commotion, deliberately causing trouble. Liu Xiaodong was sweating profusely before he finally managed to carry Xia Qiu out and put her in the car. He let out a long sigh of relief.

The bride got into the car, and her family members who were going also quickly got in. The Liu family members were running around making arrangements and coordinating things. After checking several times and making sure everything was in order, the convoy left the Xia family compound and drove into the city in a long line.

Two cars carrying video cameras followed the convoy, sometimes running in front and sometimes backing up, busy as bees.

The roads from the county town to the city are all paved, though a bit narrow, but still quite easy to drive on.

Zang Yuanwei drove the tree-lined avenue, with Wang Guifang and Beibei following behind the convoy.

"Mommy, where's Daddy?"

"He's in the car ahead, didn't you see him get on?"

"Then why doesn't he take this bus?"

"When you're escorting the bride to her wedding, you have to ride in the front car."

"Then why not let the bride ride in this car?"

"You can't just ride in someone else's wedding car."

"Can I sit in the front too?"

"No, the car has already been driven out, we can't stop in the middle. There's a rule about it. If we stop, it's not good, and people will be angry with your dad."

"So, how long will it take to get there?"

We'll be there soon.

"Honestly, she's an adult and still needs someone to take her out. How embarrassing. Is she scared?"

"No, this is a wedding, you have to give gifts for weddings."

The little one just wanted to sit with her dad, and kept asking questions, just to express her dissatisfaction. Wang Guifang was at her wit's end, so she pressed the little one down on the car seat and put her arm around her. The little girl laughed and struggled, but she was too weak to resist.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, firecrackers went off as soon as the convoy was seen, continuing until everyone got out of the cars and went inside, filling the entire street with smoke.

As soon as Beibei got off the bus, she grabbed Wang Guifang and ran forward. When she found Xiaowei, she rushed over and hugged his leg tightly, refusing to let go. Xiaowei laughed and picked her up.

Wang Guifang said, "Oh dear, this has implicated me too. I was just asking you why you sat in the front instead of in our car."

Xiao Wei said, "Okay, I'll carry her. You stay with Xiao Hong, sis."

Wang Guifang said, "Should I go in with them? Would that be alright?"

Xiao Hong said, "No, there are rules. The number of people can't be off, or people will complain. Sister, why don't you sit here and wait for a while? Or you can go for a walk. It's quick here. We're not eating here."

The custom of sending off a bride is to go alone and return in pairs, symbolizing a perfect couple. This is something that cannot be done carelessly.

Xiaowei said, "This isn't at home. Both my husband's and my wife's families are all mixed together. My sister can just not sit on our side."

Xiao Hong thought for a moment and said, "That's true. Sister, you can just find a table to sit at, as long as you don't sit here. It's a good opportunity to study."

Wang Guifang reached out and pinched Xiao Hong.

Doing things at a restaurant is faster than at home, saving many steps and a lot of time.

After receiving the offerings, wearing flowers, changing their address, and scattering money, the large group drove into the restaurant, sat down, and the wedding began.

This is the largest restaurant in Beixi, capable of seating nearly 600 people at the same time. Even with all the family members from both the bride's and groom's families seated, there are still some empty spaces.

In a normal wedding, there are some procedures involved, such as the bride's family having a meal first and then seeing the groom's family off once they are satisfied. Only then does the groom's family begin their own meal. In this case, the entire meal is served at once, which is convenient.

Zang Yuanwei pulled Wang Guifang to a random table and sat down. Most of the people there didn't know each other, and no one pried into their backgrounds.

The table for writing down the gift accounts was set up at the entrance of the hall. Liu Xiaodong's family was actually a bit stingy in this matter. Xiao Wei felt that he shouldn't have accepted the gift, but it had nothing to do with him, so he didn't say anything.

Liu Xiaodong's father is the director of the county education bureau, and quite a few people from the county came to attend.

The banquet began immediately after the ceremony, with large and small plates being served. Xiao Wei glanced at the table and saw that there were about thirty people just serving the food. It seemed that the cost of hosting such a large banquet hall was quite high, and if large banquets couldn't keep up with the demand, they would probably lose money.

The banquet dishes were average, mostly common dishes like chicken, fish, and pork knuckle. Xiaowei fed Xiaobei, served Xiaohong some food, and made sure she ate well. He just ate a few bites himself, not hungry yet, having eaten too much for breakfast.

After the wedding banquet ended, Xiaowei said goodbye to Uncle Xia, Xia Qiu, and Liu Xiaodong, and the family of four left immediately.

(End of this chapter)