Chapter 28 The Wedding Banquet

Shen Chuning was stunned.

She had only thought that if she had to marry, it was better to marry Zhou Yubai than be tricked into marrying Chen Ziyun and harming her father and brothers like in her dream.

Zhou Yubai might be stern, but as a soldier, he was upright.

In her dream, after her third brother was killed, Zhou Yubai had taken care of her and helped her find the killer. He was a trustworthy man!

But she hadn’t considered joining the army with him. She wanted to stay with her father and brothers, using the space to improve their lives.

Without waiting for a response, Zhou Yubai added, “If you don’t want to join the army, you can stay home. I have a month of leave every year. As long as the situation is stable, I can come back.”

“Mm.” Shen Chuning nodded softly.

The eve of Shen Chuning’s wedding arrived quickly.

Shen Chuning had planned to leave half the dowry for her family, but thinking the number 250 wasn’t auspicious, she added ten yuan, making it 260 yuan, handing it to Shen Qingsong.

“Dad, here’s the money.”

Shen Qingsong was worried about not giving his daughter enough, so he didn’t want to take her money.

He tried to return it, “Ningning, Dad knows you’re filial, but this is your dowry, Dad can’t take it.”

Shen Chuning’s face darkened, “Dad, didn’t we agree? I’ll keep half as a nest egg, and the other half is for you and my brothers.

If you don’t take it, I won’t get married. I’ll go to the Zhou family to break off the engagement!”

Shen Chuning made a move to leave.

Shen Qingsong quickly pulled her back.

“Ningning, Dad will take it, okay?”

The wedding was tomorrow.  If Ningning broke off the engagement now, it would be a disgrace.

He would take the money and give it to his daughter later.

Seeing her father take the money, Shen Chuning smiled, “Dad, rest early, I’ll go to bed too.”

After returning to her room and closing the door, Shen Chuning entered the space.

Another batch of crops had matured.

She collected them and planted new crops.

Although harvesting and planting didn’t require manual labor, using her mind consumed a lot of mental energy.

After finishing, she felt exhausted.

She fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Early the next morning, she heard the noise outside.

In Ci Hang Brigade, the custom was to hold a banquet at the bride’s home in the morning and at the groom’s home at noon.

Although they advocated for simplicity, the Shen family cherished Shen Chuning.

The father and sons attached great importance to the wedding banquet.

Shen Qingsong invited the oldest woman in the village, Shen Apo, to comb Shen Chuning’s hair.

The combing ceremony was simple.  The old woman combed Shen Chuning’s hair three times.

“First comb, to the end, second comb, to live in harmony, third comb, to have many grandchildren.”

The old woman sang blessings while combing.

Then she braided two pigtails for Shen Chuning, tied red hair ties, and added a small red flower to her hair.  The bride’s attire was complete.

Shen Zhengliang brought twenty kilograms of pork early in the morning.

Shen Zhengxu caught several large fish from the river.

Shen Qingsong picked all the vegetables from the yard and invited several capable aunties to help cook.

Auntie He, who lived next door, came with her daughter He Hui.

Auntie He brought the clothes they had made for Shen Qingsong, Shen Zhengxu, and Shen Zhengliang.

The clothes fit perfectly.

Shen Zhengxu, wearing the new clothes his sister bought, felt happy, “Auntie, your skills are getting better and better.  Your clothes are better than those from the supply and marketing cooperative.”

Everyone likes compliments.

Auntie He smiled, “Zhengxu is always so complimentary. But you’re wrong, this wasn’t made by me, but by my daughter, Xiaohui.”

Shen Zhengxu looked at He Hui, “Xiaohui, you’ve surpassed your mother, your skills are even better.”

He Hui had a round face, medium-sized eyes, and a round nose.  Although her features weren’t striking, they were soft and gentle.

She wore a blue floral shirt and black pants, with two pigtails, looking fresh and neat.

Hearing Shen Zhengxu’s compliment, her ears reddened.

She didn’t respond and went to sit with the other aunties to pick vegetables.

Shen Chuning remembered that in her dream, Big Brother and Xiaohui would get married next year.

Unexpectedly, Xiaohui already liked Big Brother.

She sat beside He Hui and helped pick vegetables.

The aunties were discussing He Hui’s marriage.

“Cuiying, Xiaohui is not young, she should get married, right? Have you found a suitable match?”

An auntie asked.

Before Auntie He could answer, another auntie said, “Xiaohui is skillful and capable.  Matchmakers would be lining up.  If there’s no news, are you planning to keep her at home longer?”

Auntie He sighed, “How can I?  Girls shouldn’t stay at home too long. My daughter will be twenty-one next year, she’ll become an old maid.

I’ve been trying to find a match for her, but she hasn’t met anyone she likes.”

The other aunties exchanged glances.

She hadn’t met anyone she liked, what did that mean?

She had high standards!

He Hui was capable, good at housework, and learned her mother’s sewing skills.

Her father was the accountant of Ci Hang Brigade, and she had finished primary school, considered educated in the village, likely to succeed her father.

She had the right to be picky.

Shen Chuning, while the aunties chatted, secretly nudged He Hui, whispering, “Sister Xiaohui, what do you think of my Big Brother?”

Shen Chuning didn’t know how to start a conversation, so she went straight to the point.

He Hui’s ears reddened, and her face burned, “Shen… Shen is very good!”

“Would you like to develop a revolutionary friendship with my Big Brother?” Shen Chuning looked at He Hui with bright eyes, full of anticipation.

He Hui’s face turned crimson. She avoided Shen Chuning’s gaze, whispering, “Ningning, don’t talk nonsense.”

Then, she added softly, “It’s not just up to me.”

Shen Chuning knew He Hui’s feelings.

She smiled, “Sister Xiaohui, don’t worry, as long as you don’t dislike my Big Brother, I’ll take care of the rest.”

He Hui blushed, wanting to disappear.

She reproached Shen Chuning, “Ningning, don’t be silly.”

Soon, the aroma from the Shen family’s yard filled the village.

Since Shen Chuning didn’t want a grand wedding, they only invited close neighbors and relatives.

Shen Qingsong’s siblings didn’t come.

Shen Qingsong had hoped his siblings would come to support his daughter, looking at the gate several times.