Sun Zhenling and Xinyan exchanged a glance: "Luckily, Third Cousin stopped that person; they really don’t know their place."
Xinyan was about to say something when she heard Sun Zhenhai’s voice: "Cousin, my mom wants me to tell you that the wedding procession is almost at the entrance of the alley, so you should get ready."
Xinyan had naturally prepared in advance. She found a pair of identical cups and placed one with suitably warm sugar water into the space. When the new bride enters, she would pretend to find it and directly swap out the sugar water.
After delivering the message, Sun Zhenhai turned and jogged out: "I’ll go check to see if they’ve arrived and come back to let you know."
Sun Zhenling also stretched her neck excitedly to look outside but, considering that Xinyan couldn’t go out, resisted the urge to run out.
Xinyan, seeing her expression, found it amusing: "You should go along too."
Sun Zhenling was about to refuse when she saw Old Mrs. Jiao walk in with a smile: "You two young ladies go out and watch the excitement; I’ll sit here for a while. Just make sure not to delay your tasks later."
Xinyan actually wanted to join the festive crowd too, but felt walking away wouldn’t be appropriate. She was about to say something when she heard Old Mrs. Jiao say: "It was your Aunt Chunxue who asked me to come over."
Upon hearing this, Xinyan understood: "Then Granny Jiao, I’ll leave it to you here, I’ll be back shortly."
Old Mrs. Jiao waved her hand: "Go, go."
The Jiao Family and the Han Family had long been friends, and Old Mrs. Jiao was quite elderly. Han Chunxue was instructed by her sister-in-law to arrange for someone to come over, considering Old Mrs. Jiao was blessed with longevity and happiness.
Old Mrs. Jiao was quite particular and did not sit on the newlyweds’ bed inside but sat on the sofa outside, waving them off to enjoy the festivities.
As they reached the gate, they saw Second Brother carrying Second Sister-in-law, surrounded by a group of comrades and family friends walking back, although it wasn’t easy for him given the various antics and challenges put forth by the crowd.
Among the crowd, Xinyan also spotted He Jinxuan, who was with a group of people moving Second Sister-in-law’s dowry back.
The crowd continuously expressed awe: "This new bride’s dowry is quite plentiful, it seems her family’s situation is good."
Someone chimed in: "I heard this new bride’s second uncle is a leader in the military."
"The two families are quite well-matched."
"You’re being old-fashioned; both of them are in the military, it’s a free romance, a mutual understanding, very modern."
Everyone heard this and was once again filled with envy.
Chu Hongsen and Ge Yumei, the second uncle and second aunt, truly treated Chu Zhenhua like their own daughter. The stash of money that Chu Zhenhua’s dad saved monthly, along with the Han Family’s bridal gifts, remained untouched, all kept by Chu Zhenhua.
Today, part of the dowry was arranged by the elder beforehand, and part was prepared by Chu Zhenhua’s second uncle and second aunt. It certainly added to her dignity.
In a lively and festive manner they entered, bowing to the portrait of the senior leader in the front courtyard and then bowing to thank the guests attending the wedding. Lastly, the couple exchanged vows, called their parents, and were escorted back to the wedding room in the backyard.
Xinyan immediately handed a cup of brown sugar water to the new bride Chu Zhenhua: "The newlyweds enter, full of joy, with sugar water in the belly, sweet and blissful, wishing Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law a happy marriage, early arrival of a child, and a life sweet as honey."
Chu Zhenhua blushed and took the sugar water, drinking it in one go: "Thank you, Yanyan."