Song Wei’s styling was undoubtedly a great success.
The atmosphere was lively when Lin Zhen arrived to pick her up.
He brought along the “Three Rounds and One Sound” — a bicycle, sewing machine, wristwatch, and radio — all carried by his companions.
Although everyone had expected these items to be part of the wedding, seeing them in person still made some people green with envy.
“Lin Zhen is really generous.”
“If someone prepares the ‘Three Rounds and One Sound’ for my daughter in the future, he’d definitely be a good son-in-law.”
“Well, isn’t that obvious?”
“I wonder how much betrothal money Lin Zhen gave Song Wei.”
“I know this! Xinghua mentioned it—he gave three hundred yuan!”
“What? Three hundred?!”
In those days, a betrothal gift of one hundred yuan was already considered impressive. Lin Zhen had given three hundred!
It was like marrying a golden treasure.
“Actually, compared to what Song Wei earns from writing, it’s not that much, right? The betrothal money is a one-time thing, but as long as Song Wei keeps writing, the money will keep rolling in.”
“Didn’t Lin Zhen say he was broke? With the ‘Three Rounds and One Sound’ and three hundred yuan in betrothal money, he doesn’t seem broke at all.”
“Come on, the bicycle was bought earlier. And won’t the ‘Three Rounds and One Sound’ end up in Lin Zhen’s household anyway? Song Wei’s family isn’t here, so the radio and sewing machine will ultimately stay with Lin Zhen. It’s not a loss for him.”
“And the three hundred yuan betrothal money—is Song Wei keeping it herself?”
“Do you think Song Wei’s family knows she’s getting married? Why did only her brother come?”
Villagers loved to gossip, and when they gathered, they couldn’t help but chat about these things.
As long as no one caused trouble on the big day, it was fine.
The bride’s family still had to play their part in “obstructing” the groom.
Song Jing was the official representative of the bride’s family, and the educated youths at the dormitory also acted as her family.
They didn’t make things too difficult for Lin Zhen, only asking him to do some push-ups and drink two glasses of wine.
Lin Zhen effortlessly completed a hundred push-ups in a short time, earning cheers from the onlookers.
“Look at his physique, and then look at yourselves. Can any of you do a hundred push-ups in one go?”
The young men blushed and stayed silent.
“These days, some girls like pretty boys, but others prefer a strong physique like his. Since you’ll never be pretty boys—I mean, your faces won’t ever be that fair—you might as well work out and aim to marry a good wife like Lin Zhen did.”
After all, Lin Zhen’s wife was not only capable and tough but also knew how to earn money.
Song Wei made her appearance amid everyone’s attention.
The crowd gasped in admiration as she stepped out of the room.
She was naturally beautiful, and with a bit of makeup, her delicate face looked even more radiant and full of vitality.
Lin Zhen wore a military overcoat with a red flower pinned to his chest, looking exceptionally spirited.
Their eyes met—Song Wei smiled, while Lin Zhen’s gaze was entirely fixed on her.
He extended his hand. “I’ll take you home.”
Song Wei placed her fair, slender hand into his large, sun-tanned palm. The contrast between dark and light seemed perfectly matched.
“Okay.”
“Woo-hoo… the groom is taking the bride away!”
The children cheered and gathered around excitedly.
The adults around them also smiled warmly.
Only Song Jing felt a tinge of sadness.
His little sister was getting married.
They made their way to Lin Zhen’s house, where tables and stools had long been set up.
Entering the main hall, the couple stood side by side as an elder officiated the ceremony in a loud, clear voice.
First bow to heaven and earth.
Second bow to the parents.
Seated in the place of honor were Great Uncle and Great Auntie, along with the ancestral tablets of Lin Zhen’s parents placed on the table.
As for Lin Zhen’s paternal grandparents, everyone tacitly avoided mentioning them.
Finally, the couple bowed to each other.
Song Wei and Lin Zhen faced each other and bowed deeply.
“The ceremony is complete!”
Amid the cheers of the children and the laughter of the adults, the couple was warmly ushered into their new room.
They ate raw dumplings and drank the ceremonial wine.
(Note: Eating raw dumplings is a traditional Chinese wedding custom where the bride is asked if the dumplings are raw. The word for “raw” (生 shēng) sounds like the word for “to give birth,” so when she says “raw,” it symbolizes fertility and the hope for children.)
Afterward, Song Wei changed into a women’s military overcoat and went out with Lin Zhen to toast the guests.
They made sure to acknowledge everyone they needed to.
Having lived here for a year and a half, Song Wei was already familiar with most people, so it didn’t feel awkward.
Just then, the food was served.
Lin Zhen and Song Wei’s wedding banquet was undoubtedly the most lavish in the surrounding brigades in recent years.
There were three meat dishes alone.
The fish was so large that each table was served a whole one—truly treating the guests like family.
During the banquet, Lin Zhen and Song Wei spotted Fourth Lin’s family, who had shamelessly shown up uninvited.
If it weren’t for the fact that it was a joyous occasion where violence was inappropriate, they would have already been thrown out.
Lin Zhen patted Song Wei’s shoulder. “Let’s ignore them for today.”
Fourth Lin noticed Lin Zhen looking his way and quickly ducked his head, avoiding eye contact.
Someone at Fourth Lin’s table asked, “Fourth Lin, why didn’t your father come? It’s just your family here.”
Everyone already knew the reason, of course.
Fourth Lin grumbled angrily, “He’s getting married, but Lin Zhen didn’t even bother to invite his grandfather. How disgraceful.”
“Then why are you here?”
Fourth Lin retorted without shame, “I’m his own uncle! Why shouldn’t we be here?”
Tsk tsk… How thick-skinned.
When the food was served, everyone else at the table was utterly disgusted.
Fourth Lin’s family had terrible table manners.
They acted as if they hadn’t eaten meat in eight lifetimes, lunging for the meat dishes as soon as they were served. The children even grabbed food with their dirty hands.
The others at the table were furious.
“How is anyone else supposed to eat like this?!”
Fourth Lin shamelessly replied, “What’s the problem? The kids don’t know any better. Can’t you adults be more understanding? Why aren’t you eating? If you’re not, I’ll move the dishes closer to us. I don’t mind—there are other dishes, aren’t there?”
“Fourth Lin, have you no shame? You didn’t even bring a gift, yet you come here to freeload! Lin Zhen didn’t invite you, did he?”
Originally, the conflict between Fourth Lin’s family and Lin Zhen’s household hadn’t concerned the others at the table. They might have just teased them a little.
But no one expected this family to be so ill-mannered, hogging all the meat dishes and making it impossible for others to eat.
Everyone had contributed gifts to attend the banquet, and they were all looking forward to the meat. Knowing that Lin Zhen’s family was serving big fish and pork, some had even skipped dinner the previous night to save their appetites.
Fourth Lin’s family had provoked the collective anger of everyone at the table.
People at nearby tables also watched with disdain.
Showing up uninvited and without a gift was bad enough, but acting like bandits was beyond unacceptable. No one would want relatives like that.
Song Wei and Lin Zhen heard the commotion and came over.
Their faces darkened at the scene.
Lin Zhen said coldly, “Could I trouble everyone to help me throw these people out?”
He then turned to the others at the table. “Uncles, aunties, we’ll have your table’s dishes replaced.”
Hearing this, the others at the table broke into smiles.
They rolled up their sleeves. “Leave it to us! We’ve never seen anyone like this—acting like they just got out of prison after eight hundred years without a meal.”
“What do you think you’re doing? Lin Zhen, I’m your own uncle! Your own uncle!”
“Bah! How dare you call yourself his uncle? Get out of here!”
Really, who could enjoy a meal with them around?
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