"Don’t open it! Don’t flash your wealth! Count this money with your spouse when you’re on the bed tonight!"
"It’s fine! Let everyone take a look!" Qin Fen was thrilled that his mother-in-law had given him face.
The distant aunt insisted, not loosening her grip, "You can’t look! You have to listen! If you offend your mother-in-law, you’ll bear the consequences yourself!"
Since things had gone to this point, Qin Fen could only let go, "Then I’ll listen to what Auntie says."
"That’s the right attitude," said the distant aunt, finally releasing her hold.
Qin Fen had been feeling stifled all day, but now his heart felt much relieved, looking forward to the wedding being over soon, and to opening the red envelopes at night.
After a day of festivities, relatives finally began to leave gradually as the evening came.
At night, those who had helped were treated to ’Molecular Wine,’ and the teasing of the bridal chamber started up again.
Wang Erzhu’s father, seeing that the commotion was almost over, directed everyone to return the borrowed items house by house. The neatly arranged stove platform was dismantled overnight, and the courtyard was cleaned up with everyone’s help.
An Hao, full of gratitude, knew it was rare for a family to get a bride and finish the tidy-up in two days. Usually, the first day was for preparation, the second day for the wedding, and only on the third day would people start returning the borrowed items.
After all, everyone’s usually exhausted from the wedding day and few would want to do these tasks then.
Once everything was taken care of, Wang Erzhu’s father and Shen Zhihua’s father came to report to An Hao, ensuring that nothing borrowed was taken advantage of and all tasks were satisfactorily managed.
Despite a few hiccups, as long as the Qin family’s interests were undamaged, that was enough.
"Good girl, it’s all in the past now, let me go through today’s accounts with you!" Wang Erzhu’s father handed over the list of gifts received, today’s expense ledger, and the invoices to An Hao, "Take a look tonight. If there’s any issue, you can come to me tomorrow."
"Okay," An Hao took all the documents, "Uncles, you’ve really worked hard these past two days. There was no need to rush. The remaining work could have actually waited until tomorrow."
"That’s different. If we did it tomorrow, we’d have to provide a meal! Finishing a day earlier means you all can save a bit." This was what the two men had agreed upon.
In the case of the Qin family, everyone understood, and they tried to save the family money wherever possible.
After all, An Hao had not neglected them these past two days.
"Thank you, Uncles!" An Hao was very grateful. She asked Qin Jian to bring out the things they had prepared: a bottle of wine, a big piece of pork for each person, along with some wedding sweets and melon seeds, "This is a small token of our appreciation! We are really thankful for your help, Uncles; it’s thanks to you and everyone else that the wedding went off without a hitch."
"No, no, no, we can’t accept this! You’ve already given us so much, how can we keep taking your money? No way, no way!"
Neither of them would accept it no matter what.
"Please take it! We’re very grateful for your help with Qin Fen’s wedding! An Hao had already prepared these; you must accept them. Don’t refuse anymore, Uncles, or we’ll feel bad. Besides, we will surely need your help again in the future." Qin Jian also spoke, echoing An Hao’s sentiments.
"Well... if you insist, we’ll accept it! If you need anything in the future, just say the word, we’ll definitely help out."
"Don’t even mention it. We’re all from the same village, and who doesn’t have their troubles? Whenever you need help, we’ll be there."
After seeing off the two people in charge, An Hao gave out small packs of sweets and melon seeds to the others who had helped in the courtyard.
Once everyone took their share and left, the courtyard finally became quiet.
Now it was time to look at the ledger!