Each one was tied with a red string to peanuts dyed with rouge and had double happiness characters cut from red paper pasted on it, looking incredibly festive.
The house was bustling, busy until late at night, but today was just for preparations.
The first day of February is the formal day for the bride’s side.
Early the next morning, the Qin Family members all woke up early, and the neighbors who came to help also arrived early.
Right now, holding banquets in the village involves the help of all the folks.
The managers and others arrived almost at the same time, directly assigning tasks.
Qin Shusen, who has been the village chief for many years, has considerable prestige, and most families in the village would invite him over to manage affairs when holding banquets.
Qin Shusen directly pointed out a few people, "You young guys, go borrow tables, you two go help set up the accounting table over there, and you women, go to the head chef’s and help with the vegetable preparation..."
Isn’t it said that weddings and funerals in this era are celebrated lively?
No matter what the occasion, holding a grand banquet means everyone gets involved.
Everything is borrowed from each family, even the bowls and chopsticks are gathered from various homes.
The men and women chatted and laughed, completing tasks, all while needing to dress nicely.
Compared to dining directly at a hotel, this has more of a personal touch.
By 11 in the morning, preparations were almost complete, and the courtyard was set with tables, with eager children already surrounding them, just waiting for Qin Shusen to give the word to start the feast.
There was no need for Lin Chuxia to help here, she just needed to find a quiet corner and watch the excitement.
She hadn’t seen such a lively scene in ages, not even when Little Yaoyao had her full month celebration was it as lively as today.
Watching the kids holding their chopsticks at the ready, and when the dishes were finally placed on the table, dozens of chopsticks dashed forward in unison, clearing the plates in an instant, she couldn’t help but cover her mouth and laugh.
She suddenly recalled the time when someone in the village held a banquet during her childhood, and it was the same as now, gathered around the table.
Lin Jiayi sat in the middle, with her and Lin Jiadong seated to her left and right.
Probably thinking that with them around, she’d be able to eat more.
After all, at home she was the one who dominated, whatever she said was how things went.
But when the dishes arrived, Lin Jiayi wanted to show off, while she and Lin Jiadong simply ate without hesitation.
By the time Lin Jiayi reacted, that plate of food was already gone, and she hadn’t taken a single bite.
She got angry but no one cared, when the second plate came, they continued with it just like the first.
Thus, after missing the first two plates, Lin Jiayi couldn’t care less about being angry.
When the third plate arrived, she pulled it directly in front of herself, not letting anyone touch it.
She even claimed that since she missed the first two plates, this one was all hers.
But so what? At home she may dominate, but outside, others wouldn’t indulge her.
One of the older kids at the table grabbed her hair with one hand and took the dish with the other, placing it back in the middle of the table.
Once again, Lin Jiayi didn’t get to eat the third plate.
Back then, every family was poor, even if throwing a big banquet, there weren’t many dishes, three plates and most of the feast was covered.
Lin Jiayi didn’t eat a single bite, cried and complained to Mother Lin, while she and her brother stuffed themselves full.
Back then Lin Chuxia thought Lin Jiayi was a bit silly, with a heart even smaller than a needle’s eye, incapable of anything but being bossy and throwing tantrums.
The cries of several children brought Lin Chuxia back from her thoughts.
Little Zhuangzhuang held a bowl out to Lin Chuxia, "Auntie, I brought you some good food, all of it I grabbed, Auntie, eat some."
"And mine is for the little brother," Niuniu said beside him, holding up half a bun.
But Lin Chuxia didn’t want to sleep, rolling her eyes at him, "What do you know? Today is elder sister’s big day, I have to make sure she looks beautiful as she gets married, gives her an unforgettable wedding, it cannot be ruined because of me, get up, get up."
Seeing she really didn’t want to sleep, Qin Yang got up too.
When they got to elder sister’s place, the Qin Family and Wang Tianxue were already up, the lights on in the house and the courtyard, all bright.
Qin Juan had already dressed in new clothes, which Wang Tianxue specially selected for her.
A red small suit with a red sweater underneath, a red coat on the outside.
Even the shoes were big red leather ones.
"I’m here, I’m here."
Lin Chuxia hurriedly stepped, putting down the things she brought on the table.
"Elder sister, today I’m going to make you look beautiful, so you become the prettiest bride."
Several people around Qin Juan gave her space, watching her apply makeup.
Occasionally uttering light sighs.
Wang Tianxue said, "I told you, makeup should be left to Chuxia, Juanzi, you look truly beautiful today, suddenly feel like Jia Liang isn’t worthy of you, I almost hate to see you get married."
As she spoke, her voice became choked.
To say Qin Juan remarried, the one most reluctant to part would truly be Wang Tianxue.
Their backgrounds are similar, both women who divorced bringing children.
Also, during Wang Tianxue’s just divorced period, it was Qin Juan who comforted her.
When she most needed companionship, it was Qin Juan and Ningning who stayed by her, giving her a home warmer than kin, far beyond mere family.
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