Chapter 450 - 450: The Wedding Approaches

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

After breakfast, the members of the “Beggars’ Gang” from the county arrived at Chu village, looking energetic and excited, ready to work in the fields without needing any summons.

Soon after, the women of the village also came to the Chu family to help prepare for the next day’s wedding feast. They slaughtered chickens, ducks, and fish, and washed vegetables, ensuring everything needed for the banquet was ready in advance.

Chu Xuhua and Chu Xujin checked the bridal sedan, sedan bearers, flower children, and all arrangements for the upcoming wedding procession.

Tang Jinghong observed and learned from the preparations, thinking ahead to his own future wedding.

Chu Qingyue, Chu Xujin, Chu Qingshuang, and Ge Lihua took leave from their duties to assist at home, prioritizing their brother’s big day to ensure everything went smoothly.

Hongyu Jun, Lin Wanning, and Si Yuheng also arrived at the Chu family.

Si Yuheng saw that Chu Qingzhi’s family was doing business and wanted to see if he could find something to do. There were many people looking for work in the county. He was new here and the shopkeepers did not trust him and would not use him.

When Hong Yujun heard that he was looking for work, he asked him to help make wine. He thought about it and agreed. He had to earn some money first. He could not always spend Wanning and his uncle’s money. Otherwise, he would be too useless.

Hong Yujun quickly informed Chu Qingzhi of the new helper and then busied herself in the workshop. With the additional help from Si Yuheng and five villagers, they barely had enough hands for the brewing process.

As the sun climbed higher, the entire village of Chu bustled with activity.

Around midday, Li Qingyin arrived to help her nephew with his wedding preparations.

Li Qingyu, who had just returned from purchasing supplies in the county, greeted her, “Qingyin, you’re here?”

“Third sister, we’re here too,” announced Li Qinghu and Li Qingwu. They felt obliged to help their nephew, despite the past tensions within the family.

Putting aside the past grudges, Li Qingyu was very happy to see her two brothers come to help. “Eldest Brother, Second Brother.”

Seeing that Li Qingyu did not give them a cold face, the two of them secretly heaved a sigh of relief. Li Qinghu said, “Third Sister, if there’s anything at home that we can do, just let us know. We can do anything.”

Li Qingyu asked the two of them to help kill the pigs. This wedding banquet was a big one. The villagers, relatives, friends, and business partners had all been invited. There were 85 tables. She wanted to hold it in a grand manner.

Li Qinghu and Li Qingwu agreed without hesitation and went to the old house together.

Pigs were slaughtered in the courtyard of the old house. There was a well there, so it was more convenient to use water.

As the day of busyness passed, evening arrived.

Since Shen Ruyue was getting married the next day, she went to An Shangwu’s house to prepare. Chu Xuhua personally escorted her there with all necessary items.

An Shanwu had already married a wife. He asked his wife to invite her grandmother over to help prepare for the wedding tomorrow.

The grandmother was a warm-hearted person. After hearing about the matter, she immediately agreed. As soon as she arrived, she started preparing.

In her room, Shen Ruyue sat in front of the mirror, smiling at her reflection and the thought of getting married.

Getting married was like a dream.

Grandmother had prepared everything for the next day. “Ruyue, rest quickly. Tomorrow, after the rooster crows, you’ll have to take a shower and change your clothes. After that, you’ll have to prepare until the afternoon. It’s very tiring. If you don’t rest well, you might not be able to take it.”

The ceremony typically takes place at dusk. Generally, the bride wakes up after the crowing of the rooster to start her preparations. She is not allowed to eat anything during the process and can only rest after the completion of the formal ceremony, which includes paying respects at the ancestral hall. It is a very tiring day for the bride.

Shen Ruyue agreed obediently. “Grandma, I’ll sleep right away.”

Grandma left the room.

Shen Ruyue lay on the bed. At the thought of getting married, she could not help but be excited. Once she was excited, she could not fall asleep.

Chu Xuhua could not fall asleep either. When he thought about the wedding tomorrow, he wished he could dial time forward.

Time passed according to its own pace. Finally, three crows sounded.

A rooster crowed, and all the roosters in the village echoed. The entire village was filled with roosters crowing.

Chu Xuhua immediately got out of bed…

On the other side, Shen Ruyue had also woken up.

The bathwater was ready. Under the grandmother’s urging, Shen Ruyue quickly went to take a bath. There was a time limit for how long she could take a bath.

She had already planned what to do at every time today. It was very tedious and particular.

However, with a capable person like grandma around, today’s wedding ceremony would definitely be held successfully.

At noon, Chu Qingzhi, Chu Qingyue, Chu Qingning, Wu Yaqing, and Ge Lihua came to the An Shanwu’s family.

An Shanwu’s house was very lively. There were fruit and sugar cakes in the courtyard. They invited their neighbors and friends to their house.

Chu Qingzhi and the others were here to put on makeup for Shen Ruyue.

After entering the room, Chu Qingning gently placed her hands on Shen Ruyue’s shoulders and looked at the beautiful bride in the mirror. “Sister-in-law, you’re so beautiful today!”

Shen Ruyue was overjoyed and could not hide her smile. “You’ll be as beautiful when you get married in the future.”

Chu Qingyue smiled and said, “You’re already very beautiful. With this dress, you’re simply as beautiful as a fairy.”

At this moment, Grandma said, “A girl is the most beautiful on the day of her marriage.”

Chu Qingyue echoed, “Grandma is right.”

Chu Qingzhi took out a banknote worth 6,000 taels of silver and placed it in Shen Ruyue’s hand. She smiled and said, “Add this to you dowry.”

Shen Ruyue looked down at the banknote and hurriedly returned it to Chu Qingzhi. “It’s too much money. I can’t take it?”

Chu Qingzhi said, “This is money I took away from bad people. Just take it.”

Shen Ruyue immediately understood what Chu Qingzhi meant. “But it belongs to you now. I…”

Chu Qingzhi said, “I gave this to you willingly. If you refuse again, I’ll be unhappy.” n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Only then did Shen Ruyue accept the banknote. “Qingzhi, thank you.”

Chu Qingzhi said, “We’re family now. There’s no need to be so polite.”

Chu Qingyue gave Shen Ruyue a pair of gold earrings. “I bought these with my own money. You can’t refuse.”

Chu Qingning gave him a Ruyi Lock. “I haven’t started earning money yet. I bought this with my pocket money. Don’t mind it.”

Wu Yaqing’s gift was more valuable. The two golden hairpins were inlaid with a lifelike golden butterfly. When they moved, the two butterflies flapped their wings like real butterflies. They were extremely beautiful.

“Grandma, put the hairpins on Ruyue’s hair.”

Shen Ruyue had already put on the bride’s outfit and done her hair. Next, it was time for makeup.

Grandma was happy that Shen Ruyue had such good sisters. “Okay, I’ll put the hairpins on her..”