The house was decorated with big red "happiness" characters everywhere, and it was cleaned spotlessly.
Makeovers had become popular for weddings that year, but An Hao didn’t hire a makeup artist, she applied a light makeup on herself facing the mirror.
The makeup style of that time wasn’t very attractive, with deathly pale faces and cheeks smudged with red rouge, and lips painted a bright red as if smeared with blood.
An Hao softened these elements a bit, she dusted some blush on her snow-white skin and applied a thin layer of lipstick, trimmed her eyebrows herself, and the whole person instantly looked much more spirited and joyous.
She wore a red brocade coat and styled her hair into an ingenious braid, everything was well prepared.
Afterwards, she also dressed up Gu Shuangshuang, seeing her beautiful cheeks in the mirror, Gu Shuangshuang was so happy she couldn’t stop smiling.
An Ping opened the door early in the morning and set off a string of firecrackers at the doorway, the crackling sound attracted all the villagers.
One by one, they gathered at the door of the An Family to witness An Hao’s unique wedding ceremony.
Song Yueqin was in the crowd, some people are strange, clearly in pain yet they insist on joining the excitement.
An Hao sat on the kang bed with her heart fluttering like a little rabbit, Qin Jian was to come back to fetch her today and then they would head to the city, and tonight she would become Qin Jian’s wife in the truest sense.
The noise outside was loud, An Hao could hear all sorts of gossip.
"The An Family’s celebration is quite a sight. No matchmaker, no bridal procession, and they even have bridesmaids for a self-organized wedding."
"Yeah, quite novel. Let’s see how Qin Jian will come later!"
"This is going to be quite a scene. Old Qin fainted twice from anger upon hearing about Qin Jian’s marriage, without receiving even a wedding invitation from the other side."
"Did he really faint from anger?"
"What else could it be? But he deserves it! Who does that, swapping a sick child with another, avoiding the fool’s fate themselves."
"Exactly. Now the Qin Family is at a loss, they didn’t even come over today, just sulking at home."
Gu Shuangshuang, eavesdropping by the window, heard the village women’s chatter and pursed her lips, "There’s always so much drama in the village."
"Yes, there are those who can’t stand to see others do well, those with ulterior motives, and those who stir up trouble every day as if they’re afraid the world is too peaceful. But most are the simple and honest fellow villagers. These past days, you’ve only seen the unpleasant side of things," An Hao said with a smile.
"It’s alright, it’s alright. Seeing all facets of life is always good," Gu Shuangshuang said, when suddenly a noise erupted, and through the window she saw a group of soldiers in military uniforms coming over, leading them was Qin Jian.
"He’s here, he’s here!" Gu Shuangshuang turned around excitedly and called out, "An Hao, your beloved has arrived!"
"Hmm!" Just as An Hao was about to go to the window to peek, Gu Shuangshuang pulled her back, "Don’t get too excited! Sit nicely, you can’t let him see you now. Give him a big surprise later! Make the staff officer dazzled!"
An Hao smiled with her lips pursed.
At that moment, An Ping pushed the door open and came in, looking at An Hao with a chuckle and said, "Brother-in-law has arrived! I’m going to block the door later and ask him for a big red envelope!"
"Don’t be too mischievous. Let me get married smoothly today," An Hao reminded him.
"Oh my, already favoring the outsider! Not the least bit untrue!" As they were speaking, Qin Jian arrived with the wedding procession.
An Ping clanged the door shut and stood outside like a door deity.
The wedding procession led by Qin Jian was nothing short of magnificent, nearly the size of a reinforced company.