Stayed up all night.
Zhao Ergou, the groom, couldn't sleep, neither could the elder Cheng Wanwan, nor could the women who came to help in the yard.
The whole night, the women in the yard were cutting, washing and preparing vegetables. Before dawn, all the vegetables were ready, packed separately in large bowls, pots and buckets, and placed next to the stove for ready use at any time. Can fire.
Old Man Zhao and Old Mrs. Zhao squinted for an hour before getting up to help. The old lady went to each house to borrow dishes and chopsticks, and the old man asked each house to bring tables and chairs. Cheng Wanwan couldn't put them in the yard, so he just On the large flat ground at the entrance of the soap workshop, there are hundreds of tables and benches. The scene is really spectacular.
"Dawang, go bring firewood!" Zhao Youyin carried a big pot and sent the messenger, "Erwang, don't be idle, there is not enough water, go fetch water!"
He put the pot on the stove and prepared to start steaming rice. His task today was to be responsible for the staple food for thousands of people, including white rice and corn rice. Steaming two large pots together would take at least dozens of pots to be steamed. This Not an easy job.
Zhao Youcai's task is to welcome guests, who come to give gifts. He is responsible for collecting the gifts and storing them in the warehouse, while shopkeeper Yan is responsible for recording the gift lists, and the two cooperate with each other.
"Grandma Zhu, why are you here so early?" Zhao Youcai smiled and greeted Grandma Zhu, "It's still dark, why don't you get some more sleep."
Mrs. Zhu handed over a cloth bag in her hand. This was a wedding gift prepared by the Zhu family. A piece of red cloth and twenty red eggs were actually enough. However, she selfishly asked Huzi to go to the city and buy one. The longevity lock comes back and is given to the newly married couple, hoping that they will have a baby soon.
After she sent the congratulatory gift, she said with a smile: "Dashan Niang invited the whole village to have a drink. There are hundreds of tables of guests. How can we be busy? Although my old lady is old, she can still do something. Helping with the dishes can also help Dashan." Wouldn’t it save me some trouble, mom?”
As she said this, she walked into the kitchen, where many women had come, each performing their duties and busy.
Wu Huiniang is the head chef and is responsible for arranging work for the kitchen assistant, who then arranges the scattered little things, so that everyone prepares for the lunch in an orderly manner.
Wenshi also has two brushes, and all the vegetarian and stir-fried dishes are left to her.
Mrs. Sun was watching the roasting of whole sheep with several women outside. Forty or fifty sheep were killed and roasted on the fire. This way of eating was something they had never heard of or seen before, and they were all very strange.
In the house, Cheng Wanwan was not idle either.
Together with Matchmaker Zhao, she helped Zhao Ergou put on the groom's clothes. The bright red groom's clothes fit him perfectly, and with a red hat on his head, his whole temperament suddenly changed. Calling Ergou again, It seems that this piece of clothing has been desecrated.
Zhao Ergou looked very nervous and didn't know where to put his hands and feet.
"Oh, where did those boys who accompanied the bride-to-be go?" Matchmaker Zhao stepped out of the house and shouted at the top of her voice, "Three cows, four eggs, Dawang, Erwang, you guys hurry up and change your clothes!" "
It is the custom of this dynasty that when the groom comes to accept the bride, the unmarried brothers of the family need to go with him to show the sincerity of the man's proposal.
Four sets of costumes had been prepared long ago, and they were also all red, but without hats. The four of them stood side by side behind the groom, and the posture of the wedding group was instantly revealed.
At this time, the sky was getting brighter, and the bearers came with the sedan. The horse at home was also brought over after being decorated, and a team of gongs, drums and trumpets also gathered at the door.
"We've been playing and playing all the way, and it's almost the auspicious time." Matchmaker Zhao said with a happy face, "Groom, get ready to mount your horse."
Cheng Wanwan tied a big red flower on Zhao Ergou and said softly: "Jingcheng, from today on, you are a real adult. With your own little family, you have to take on more responsibilities. Come on, bring Yingying back."
Zhao Ergou suddenly knelt down and kowtowed to Cheng Wanwan three times before getting up and walking out.
He got on his horse and walked at the front, followed by his four younger brothers, followed by a sedan chair, and then followed by a procession of gongs and drums.
As soon as the groom left the house, firecrackers began to be set off at the entrance of the courtyard. Amidst the crackling firecrackers, trumpets were played, gongs and drums were beaten, and the people headed towards Hekou County in a lively manner.
After walking for more than an hour, we finally arrived at Hekou County.
At this time, the sun has risen high, and the golden light is shining down. The huge procession of welcoming brides is walking under the sun, which is very eye-catching.
Passersby stopped and talked.
"Mr. Cao is holding a happy event today. This must be the son-in-law of the Cao family."
"I heard that the groom is the biological son of Sui Ruren. Tsk tsk, the Cao family has half a foot in the official family."
"It doesn't matter that Sui Ruren is a seventh-grade woman. She is a peasant woman and her son is also a farmer. Boss Cao doesn't care about his daughter so much that he married her to the village to suffer."
"But the bridegroom is quite good-looking, and he's not a crooked man."
"..."
Amid everyone's discussion, the wedding team finally stopped at the gate of Cao's mansion.
The decoration of Cao's Mansion is particularly festive. All the doors have been repainted. The vermilion paint reflects the sunlight. The red doors and blue tiles are very grand.
As soon as the honor guard stopped, Matchmaker Wang came out with the young master of the Cao family.
There is only one male in the Cao family. The first sister is married, so only this younger brother can do many things.
The groom is sitting on a tall horse. At this time, the bride's brother needs to recite a song "Please dismount" loudly to invite the groom to come down. Then he will give the groom a test. After passing the test, he will urge the bride again and again. At this time, the bride will go out and get on the sedan.
"You come out of the Orchid Pavilion gracefully, and step by step to the balcony. The governor has a lot of money, and you have to get off your horse eventually."
Young Master Cao finally memorized this poem after much stumbling.
Zhao Ergou immediately turned over and dismounted, standing tall and tall, looking like a handsome groom.
Matchmaker Wang approached Young Master Cao and reminded in a low voice: "It's time to ask the question."
The questions were all ordinary questions, and the young master had written them down in advance. They were just a formality, not considered making things difficult.
Young Master Cao rolled his eyes, suddenly put his hands on his hips, lifted up his robe, stood with his legs apart, and said aggressively: "I can't remember those sour questions, you get under my crotch, as long as you get through , I will recognize you as my brother-in-law, come on!"
Matchmaker Wang was shocked and lost her voice: "Young Master, you must not do it. Today is a big happy event..."
"Shut up!" Young Master Cao pushed Matchmaker Wang away, "This is the Cao family, I am Young Master Cao, and I have the final say here! Huh, Zhao Jingcheng, you took so much money from our Cao family , I’ll let you get through it, wouldn’t you dare?”
The eight-year-old young master of the Cao family raised his chin, his little eyes filled with anger.
Last night, he heard from his mother that his father gave a lot of the Cao family's wealth to his eldest sister as a dowry, and a lot of the Cao family's money became the Zhao family's money. That money, which should have belonged to him, all went into Zhao Jingcheng's pocket. He couldn't swallow this tone. He had to make this person named Zhao look embarrassed in public!
