Chapter 8: Rural Weddings

Chu Jiaqiang smiled with delight: "Good! Brother, I wish you both everlasting happiness! May you grow old together!" Chu Jiaqiang handed each of them a large red envelope that he had prepared in advance. Inside each envelope was nine hundred yuan, symbolizing a long-lasting union.

Next comes the banquet! Each table will have six dishes, symbolizing good fortune and prosperity. Although the variety of dishes is limited, the quantity is ample. People from rural areas do not concern themselves with the number of dishes, but it is essential to have enough to eat

The old village chief sees things much more clearly than Chu Shengmin. Chu Jiaqiang is the most educated person in the village, but he is not the wealthiest. Moreover, having spent the past few years in the city, he has interacted with many people, and his connections are somewhat extensive. Perhaps he could indeed create some significant changes; if so, Chu Jiazhai would benefit immensely. As the village chief, he prioritizes the interests of the village above all else. He will not give up as long as there is a glimmer of hope for the village's prosperity.

Chu Jiaqiang nodded slightly: "Hmm! Not bad! You go ahead and get busy, and we will have a couple of drinks later."

Chu Jiaqiang and others also went out, and they saw Chu Jiaxiong holding an umbrella, shielding the bride as they walked home. It is also a tradition for the groom to hold an umbrella in Chu Jiazhai, symbolizing sharing joys and sorrows together

One of the little boys said to his mother: "Mom! I am getting married, and you must give me a substantial red envelope! Otherwise, I will not get married."

The wedding ceremony has concluded, but the steps of marriage are not yet complete; there remains the final step—introducing the families! This involves the groom taking the bride to meet his relatives. Once the groom and bride have acclimated to the room, they will come out hand in hand

Hehe! You all go ahead and get busy. We brothers have plenty of time ahead. Big brother, if you don't plan to go out anymore, just stay in the village and see if you can help a bit.

Upon arriving at the door, the two did not rush inside but paused at the entrance. At that moment, Chu Jiaxiong's parents presented large red envelopes strung together with red thread, hanging one around each of their necks. Consequently, each of them received two large red envelopes, which made the children watching extremely envious

"Uncle, you ... ... " Chu Shengmin said anxiously

The wedding ceremony at Chujiazai differs from the traditional Chinese wedding ceremony. Although it also involves three bows, it does not follow the format of "first bowing to heaven and earth..." Instead, the bows are directed forward, with the front of the hall symbolizing heaven and earth, thus also honoring the ancestors. There is no exchange of bows between the couple. The old village chief stands nearby, and when he sees that everyone is ready, he immediately raises his voice, deliberately elongating it.

Although no one knows how much money is inside, the red envelope is so large and appears quite substantial, it is clear that it must contain a considerable amount. Everyone exclaims, as expected of university students

Rise! Kneel again! Bow twice! The bride and groom shall simply follow suit

Due to the large number of people, we could only set the table twice, but some children appeared at both meals just to drink cola

Everyone present is acquainted with each other, and the two newcomers already have their necks adorned with red envelopes, while the children are watching intently with unblinking eyes

Behind it is a tractor known as the "Tractor King," adorned with a large red double happiness character. The Tractor King is a modified version of a tractor, resembling trucks from the 1960s and 1970s, with significantly improved appearance and passenger capacity. This is also the most expensive and best vehicle in Chujiazai, whether considered a cargo truck or a passenger vehicle; in any case, everyone usually takes this vehicle to the market. It belongs to the old village chief's son, Chu Shengyi, as his means of livelihood.

"Uncle Village Chief, please say something! Our village has learned from past experiences in fruit cultivation," urged Chu Shengmin, pressing the old village chief.

"Good! Later, I will have a few drinks with my elder brother," Chu Jiaxiong said solemnly

Everyone followed the bride and groom into the house and arrived at the hall. The parents of Chu Jiaxiong were seated slightly to the side at the front of the hall, leaving the center open. The most important step of the wedding—paying respects—was about to take place. The onlookers were at their highest number; of course, aside from the old village chief who was the host, the bride and groom, and the parents of Chu Jiaxiong, the rest were merely bystanders, purely there to join in the excitement.

Chu Jiaxiong first led the bride towards Chu Jiaqiang, who smiled slightly, knowing that his part was about to begin

At this moment, the old village chief fell silent. After a while, he finally looked up and said: "Alright! Jiaqiang has good intentions. Regardless of whether it succeeds or not, and whether it can be of help to the village, everyone can appreciate this goodwill. In the future, if there are difficulties, feel free to bring them up with Grandpa Village Chief. This old body of mine still has some use."

The woman struck him and said: "You are still young, yet you dare to threaten me? Have you grown wings? When the time comes, it won't be your turn to speak"

He has tasted the peaches, guavas, and other fruits from the old house orchard, and they are indeed more fragrant and crisp than those from outside, making them very palatable. Moreover, they are large, have beautiful skin, and are visually appealing, which will surely attract buyers; however, the price is still to be determined.

Get up! Kneel again! Three bows! Get up!" Seeing the two stand up, the old village chief finally shouted: "Enter the new house!" This is equivalent to the traditional phrase "entering the bridal chamber," which conveys a similar meaning, as both refer to the bride and groom entering their marital room to adapt to their new home.

As they chatted, they suddenly heard the mischievous voices of children outside: "The bride is here, the bride is here!" "Look! The bride is so beautiful!" "Uncle Daxiong looks so handsome today!" and so on. In fact, these little kids have no real understanding of what beauty or handsomeness means; they simply think the bride is beautiful because she is dressed nicely, just like those people on the Chu family's television, who are considered handsome simply because they are wearing suits.

This is the elder brother! Chu Jiaxiong introduced, and upon seeing Chu Jiaqiang, his tone was filled with joy. The bride also called him elder brother. She was aware that this person was the only university student in Chu Family Village at the moment. She had heard of Chu Jiaqiang before; when he was admitted to a prestigious university, it caused a stir in several surrounding villages.

Thank you for your support, Grandpa Village Chief!" Chu Jiaqiang said hurriedly, thinking to himself: Now Uncle has no way out, right?

The vehicle is equipped with a large bed, along with blankets and pillows, as well as a large wardrobe; these constitute the dowry provided by the bride's family

The Chu family's parents presented a large red wooden tray, which held many peanuts, candies, and cigarettes. This was a gift for relatives during the recognition ceremony. The candies given to children symbolize sweetness and happiness, the peanuts given to women represent fertility and blessings, while the cigarettes given by men carry no specific meaning. There are also specific customs during the distribution: the groom hands out cigarettes, while the bride distributes candies and peanuts.

This remark instantly left the newlyweds blushing deeply

Chu Jiaqiang also had his own calculations in mind. He planned to find a buyer in a while to sell the peaches and other fruits from the orchard. This would reassure his second uncle and others, while also providing hope to the villagers

Cigarettes are not part of Chu Jiaqiang's share, as he has matters to attend to. As siblings, we must help support hetushu.com, that big red plate. This also carries a certain meaning, symbolizing the deep bond of brotherhood.

As the firecrackers went off, the little kids screamed while covering their ears. Chu Jiaqiang found it amusing; the children's voices were already high-pitched, and with so many of them shouting, they nearly drowned out the sound of the firecrackers. Many of the dogs tucked their tails and huddled in the corners, too scared to move, while some hurriedly fled. The big black dog was a bit braver but still retreated slightly, barking wildly at the red firecracker paper flying everywhere.

The old village chief interrupted him: "Shengmin, I understand your concerns. Jiaqiang has also mentioned staying in the village for two years. It is good for young people to have ambition, and we should support that. Old Ba has indeed managed the orchard, but he is he, and Jiaqiang is Jiaqiang. Everyone has their own methods and their own circumstances"

Everyone burst into laughter, and the children began to tease: "A Jian, when are you getting married?" "Who is the bride?" and so on. Seeing this, Chu Jiaqiang felt in high spirits and began to enjoy rural life even more. He was also thinking about when he could find a wife, have one or two children, and then life would be complete.

As soon as the bride and groom arrive at the doorstep, the firecrackers that have been hung in advance are immediately lit. The groom and bride cannot evade this; at most, they can only hold their umbrellas a little tighter. This symbolizes the trials and tribulations on the path of marriage, which must be faced.

Haha! I wouldn't dare let you drink too much; if I got you drunk, wouldn't your wife come looking for me to settle the score?

"One bow!" the old village chief shouted, and the two newcomers immediately bowed.

Thank you, elder brother!" both of them expressed simultaneously

A red envelope of nine hundred is definitely a substantial amount in Chujiazha. If the villagers were to find out, it would surely elicit a wave of astonishment. In their community, red envelopes typically range from two to five yuan, with ten yuan being quite rare. During the New Year, giving this amount to one's own children is common, with fifty or one hundred yuan being the upper limit. Just now, Chujiaxiong's parents gave one hundred, and nine hundred is beyond their imagination

The groom and bride, kneel! Upon hearing this, both the groom and the bride knelt down

Chu Jiaqiang looked at the familiar face and couldn't help but feel happy. Chu Jiaxiong had matured, and the once young girl had now grown into a graceful beauty.

"Elder brother, let us step away for a moment," Chu Jiaxiong said apologetically, noting that he had not yet had the opportunity to speak with his elder brother much today

Chu Jiaqiang's second uncle hurriedly reported to the village chief about the matters that Chu Jiaqiang intended to leave behind, hoping that the village chief could persuade him. The villagers present were astonished; why would he give up a high-paying job in the city to come back and plant fruit trees? Did Chu Shengmin make a mistake in his speech, or did they misunderstand, or was there something wrong with Chu Jiaqiang's mind?

A plate of greens, this dish is merely for show; it looks better with both meat and vegetables. A serving of chicken, each plate contains half a chicken. A peanut stew with pig's trotters, the aroma is enticing. A mushroom stew with old duck, this dish is actually the most nutritious, as it includes a good amount of wild ingredients, ensuring the flavor is exceptional. A common dish of pork, stir-fried with some black fungus. Lastly, a dish of sweet and sour fish, which is a favorite among children; not only does it look appealing, but the sweet and sour taste is delightful. Additionally, there is a jar of homemade aged wine and a large bottle of cola or Sprite.

Chu Jiaxiong exclaimed in surprise and joy, "Elder brother, are you really not going out?" The bride also stared with her round, beautiful eyes.

At this time, married individuals or elders are expected to present red envelopes to the bride and groom