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Geng Lianhua was called over by Zhang Lan. Today, she was the official mother-in-law, tasked with guarding the new house to hand over the betrothal money to her daughter-in-law.
After dressing up Zhang Wanyou and his wife, they were sent to the new house by Cong Tao and the others. Meanwhile, the rest of the family members were responsible for greeting guests and preparing the food.
It was a grand occasion for Zhang Weiguo’s wedding, marking the last joyous Wedding event for the Zhang family. Zhang Lan and the children had put in their best efforts. Wang Qian contributed the grains from the space, and today’s main dishes were steamed mantou and flower rolls. Meat was limited, mainly due to the rationing system, but the elderly gentlemen pooled their resources. Seafood took center stage, a contribution from Zuo Hao and his brothers.
Geng Lianhua and her group brought some seafood from home, but since some seafood was hard to handle and store, an idea struck the elderly lady. She brought dried seafood, including salted fresh fish, to be brought over. Though it had a strong smell, fish and shrimp, when eaten, wouldn’t cause any harm and certainly wouldn’t upset one’s stomach.
The chef soaked the salted fish to remove excess salt before deep-frying it, turning it into a dish. Oil was something the Wang family had in abundance. While the other dishes were uncertain, the oil was guaranteed to be plentiful.
Zhang Hua had almost finished helping and sent Zhang Lan to the new house. She was concerned that some matters might be overlooked, so she asked her sister to keep an eye out.
The bridal car for the bride was a military jeep provided by the military academy, a high-level treatment for the era. In a time where rural folks still used horse carriages and city dwellers rode bicycles, the Zhang family’s grand reception couldn’t be understated. Without Zhang Weiguo’s contributions, the school wouldn’t have been involved in such matters. Moreover, the school leaders were invited to participate in the wedding, considering the groom was their student—this matter of prestige couldn’t be taken lightly.
Today, Zhang Weiguo wore a brand-new green military uniform. Initially, Zhang Lan planned for his brother to wear a different style of clothing, but Zhang Weiguo insisted on wearing the military uniform. He believed it was fitting, especially since he and Bai Jianing had agreed to wear matching military uniforms for their most significant life event—their wedding.
“The wedding car has arrived…”
Cong Tao, who was observing from a distance, spotted a jeep adorned with red silk flowers approaching, followed by several military jeeps. It seemed like a convoy of the elderly gentlemen was trailing behind.
Zhang Hua quickly instructed the young girls and boys waiting outside to get ready, prepared to shower the arrivals with confetti.
“Wan’er, are those bao bao treats ready? Have them ready to give to your new aunt as soon as she gets out of the car,” she instructed, wary of a repeat of the situation during Wang Zhenguo’s wedding, a widely-known incident in the area.
Ensuring everything was in order, Zhang Wanyou and his wife, dressed in new attire, stood at the entrance of the new house, awaiting the moment the new daughter-in-law would step inside.
In the 1980s, it wasn’t common to set off firecrackers at weddings. Such celebrations were usually reserved for funerals. When Zhang Weiguo’s wedding car came to a halt, cheers erupted from the crowd. Even the neighbors who had come to watch couldn’t help but applaud when they saw the military couple.
The admiration for military personnel remained strong during that era. Young women preferred to marry officers first and then workers, with little regard for individuals from privileged backgrounds. People valued reliability above all else. Unlike today’s emphasis on material possessions, the people of that time had a simple outlook. As long as someone was dependable, other factors like wealth and status were often overlooked, showcasing the sincerity of the era.
“Wow, the groom is so handsome…”
A person in the crowd couldn’t help but exclaim.
“That bride is also lovely. They make a perfect match. Our neighborhood now has a military couple; this is wonderful. I bet they hold a significant rank. Who else can afford to use a military jeep for their wedding? This person is definitely extraordinary.”
People with daughters couldn’t help but feel regretful, thinking that if they had met this young man earlier, perhaps their daughters would have been the center of attention today.
After Zhang Weiguo and Bai Jianing got out of the car, Qu Wan was the first to run up and hand the bao bao treats to Bai Jianing. “Aunt, please take this. You can place it in the new house later.”
Bai Jianing wasn’t sure about the gift from her niece, but upon the explanation, she nodded in understanding. The other two bridesmaids also got out of the car.
Zhang Weiguo quickly directed his two classmates to handle other matters. The grandchildren of the elderly gentlemen stood on the sides, assisting in showering confetti. With insufficient manpower, they had to join in to help.
Zhang Weiguo and his new bride were all smiles, their mouths almost unable to close due to their happiness. Bai Jianing’s fair skin took on a rosy hue under the colorful confetti, nodding and smiling in response to everyone’s well wishes.
“Dad, Mom,” they walked up to the elderly couple guarding the door, bowing deeply and sweetly addressing them.
“Ah, ah,” Geng Lianhua beamed with joy, taking out a red envelope prepared by their daughter and handing it to the bride.
“Everyone, please come inside and have a seat,” Zhang Hua warmly invited the others into the house.
Zhang Weiguo’s classmates distributed candy to the curious neighbors, a small gesture of hospitality.
The men from the bride’s family, carrying a large stack of bedding adorned with red flowers tied with red silk, entered the house together.
This can be considered Han Ying’s dowry for her daughter, with complete bedding and furnishings, meeting the highest standards based on current conditions. The Bai family had only one daughter, and Han Ying was determined not to let her daughter feel deprived, using up all the savings she had accumulated over the years for this occasion.
Upon entering the house, even Bai Jianing was stunned. Initially, she had agreed with Zhang Weiguo to use the furniture left by the previous owner and not make many additional purchases. Being occupied with her own tasks later on, she hadn’t had time to come over. However, seeing the newly furnished furniture inside left her in awe.
The old-fashioned furniture in the house had been repainted by Wang Qian and others in pure white. Additionally, they procured some new furniture, mainly focusing on practicality—pieces that wouldn’t go out of style even in the future.
The ceiling was adorned with colorful decorations, casting a radiant glow in the room. The freshly painted walls didn’t show any traces of the previous occupants, giving the house a completely new look.
Observing his wife, along with the guests from the bride’s family, looking astonished, Zhang Weiguo felt an immense sense of satisfaction and pride. Thanks to his nephews, he was able to achieve this. Without them, he admitted he wouldn’t have been able to accomplish such a transformation. Not only did they think of the idea, but they also managed to bring it to life with various furniture styles.
The Zhang family’s new house was transformed into a completely new space, earning nods of approval even from the brothers who had come to escort Bai Jianing.
“Big brother, just look at our brother-in-law. He’s truly not making our sister settle for less. Who would have thought during our wedding, anyone would have the excellent conditions like Jianing? A standalone house in the city center, fully equipped with everything needed at home. I just peeked next door, and even the cooking supplies are all prepared. Mom always said Jianing is blessed, and now, I must admit, this girl is truly fortunate. It seems like she’s hit the jackpot. Don’t judge Weiguo’s family based on being rural; just look at his parents—absolutely open-minded people,” remarked Bai Wensang, the second eldest in the Bai family, with an envious expression.
At this point, the eldest and third brothers from the Bai family didn’t respond. It was hot, they hadn’t eaten much in the morning, and luckily, there were plenty of fruits displayed in the house, unusual varieties they didn’t typically see. Being the bride’s family today, they indulged without hesitation, knowing they were the ones being celebrated and not caring about any potential ridicule.
“Why are you both so quiet? It’s just fruit. But the way you’re eating, it’s like you haven’t had any for centuries,” Bai Wensang said, looking a bit disdainful at his two brothers, embarrassed by their eating manners.
Bai Wenqiang quickly picked up a date and fed it to his brother. “Brother, try it quickly. It’s really sweet. Let me tell you, if you don’t eat it now, it might be gone next time. Who knows when you’ll get to taste it again.”
After Bai Jianing and Zhang Weiguo sat in the new house for a while, taking photos with friends, Bai Wensang and the third brother secured the door curtain with a weight. Zhang Hua swiftly handed red envelopes to both of them, following the customary gesture. Despite their combined age being quite high, they accepted the red envelopes with a sense of peace.
Once everything was arranged, everyone got into cars and headed straight to the Wang family’s grand estate, where the wedding ceremony was set to take place. The school leaders of Zhang Weiguo were going to be the officiators for the ceremony.
The helpers quickly made their way to the Wang family’s grand estate, fortunately not too far away. Upon receiving the news, Zhang Lan and the others began setting up tables near the lake, taking advantage of the pleasant weather. Dining by the lake allowed them to enjoy the scenery while being sheltered by the numerous trees, making the meal cooler and facilitating communication among guests, much more convenient than being indoors.
Qu Kai and Wang Qian took charge of arranging the food, and serving fell to Zhang Weiguo’s dormitory mate. Thankfully, the number of guests today was manageable; otherwise, it would have been quite overwhelming for them.
Although they had prepared ten tables, they ended up setting up eight, leaving room for flexibility. The remaining two tables would be used later in the evening.
The wedding ceremony in the main hall had concluded. Wang Qian listened in briefly, hearing the typical platitudes about adhering to family planning and working well as a couple, common phrases of the era. Compared to modern times, the language was much simpler, with people being more straightforward, aligning their words and actions with the characteristics of that era.
After attending to the guests in the main hall, Mingcheng hurried to the back to check on things. “Sis, are the dishes for the table ready? People will be arriving soon; serve the dishes quickly.”
Wang Qian nodded with a smile, “Brother, don’t worry. The cold dishes are all set; we’re just waiting for everyone to arrive before serving the hot dishes.”