Chapter 101: Dad, Have Some Tea!

Chapter 101: Dad, Have Some Tea!

Dragon Lake Market is one of the largest markets in all of Bobai. Although today isn't a market day, Dragon Lake Street is still bustling with people. Compared to Double Prosperity, where only a handful of people are seen on non-market days, the difference is like night and day.

At ten in the morning, a medium-sized tractor adorned with a large red wedding character stopped at an intersection in Dragon Lake, instantly drawing a crowd of onlookers.

In this era, when rural couples married, the bride would often walk to the groom's home. If a family used a bicycle to fetch the bride, it was already a sign of considerable wealth. Seeing a tractor used for this purpose was akin to using a luxury car like a Rolls-Royce in later generations. Naturally, people stopped to watch.

After about ten minutes, the bride arrived, escorted by seven or eight people, with a few more carrying her dowry behind her.

When the crowd caught a clear glimpse of the bride's appearance, their eyes widened in amazement.

"Good heavens, this bride is stunning!"

"Yes, she's as beautiful as those actresses in the movies."

"No wonder the groom used a tractor to fetch her. Marrying such a beautiful bride, you can tell the groom's family is well-off."

"Look, that average-looking guy is the groom. How do you say it? A flower stuck in…"

"Cow Manure!"

"I thought it was 'stuck in cow dung'?"

"Is there any difference between cow dung and cow manure?"

"Well, no…"

"Exactly!"

Amid the chatter, the groom, Deng Yuntai, welcomed his bride.

Seeing the breathtakingly beautiful bride, Deng Yuntai felt as though he were dreaming. He had never imagined he could marry someone so exquisite.

According to local customs, the groom must present a red envelope when fetching the bride. Deng Yuntai was well-prepared. After regaining his composure, he greeted the wedding guests one by one, then pulled a red envelope from his pocket and handed it to the bride, Zhang Xiuping.

Some brides would open the red envelope to check the amount inside. If it didn't meet their expectations, they would refuse to leave until the groom provided a satisfactory sum. This often led to awkward scenes, especially if the groom hadn't brought enough money.

Zhang Xiuping, however, didn't follow this practice. After receiving the red envelope, she didn't even glance at the amount and, with the help of two lucky women, boarded the tractor.

The dowry was then loaded onto the vehicle, and the guests were invited to join. Soon, the tractor was packed to capacity.

This was after controlling the number of people fetching the bride; otherwise, the vehicle wouldn't have been able to accommodate everyone.

As the tractor started and drove off, the crowd gradually dispersed.

That day, news of the groom using a tractor to fetch his bride spread throughout the brigades of Dragon Lake Commune. The bride's beauty became the talk of the town.

Even though the tractor didn't move very fast, it was still quicker than riding a bicycle. In less than an hour, they arrived back in Thatchfield Village.

According to the marriage customs of Bobai County during the Republic of China era, when the bride arrived home, three firecrackers would be set off, followed by the sounds of flutes, drums, and more firecrackers. Nowadays, the tradition has simplified, and only firecrackers are used.

Amid the crackling of firecrackers, the bride stepped out of the tractor, supported by two lucky women.

As the bride walked forward, people followed behind, scattering colored paper and chanting: "One scatter for abundance, two for a house full of gold and jade, three for a lasting marriage, four for prosperity, five for honor and wealth, six for eternal love, seven for happiness and longevity, eight for a thriving family, nine for warding off evil, and ten for good fortune."

Before entering the house, the bride and the wedding guests washed their faces and hands in a basin prepared by the groom's family. After Zhang Xiuping washed her face and hands, she tossed two coins into the basin as part of the ritual.

Next came the offering of sacrifices to the ancestors.

After paying respects to the ancestors, the bride served tea to her parents, marking the moment she formally addressed them as her own.

"Dad, have some tea!"

Seeing the daughter-in-law he had personally chosen standing before him, bowing and respectfully offering tea, Deng Shirong was overjoyed. With a smile, he accepted the tea, took a sip, and handed the cup back.

Zhang Xiuping took the cup with both hands and passed it to the Ou sisters, who were acting as her bridesmaids.

Deng Shirong then handed her a large red envelope he had prepared earlier, saying warmly, "I wish you a happy marriage, a lifetime of love, and a baby soon!"

"Thank you, Dad!" Zhang Xiuping accepted the red envelope with both hands and handed it to the Ou sisters for safekeeping.

After serving tea to her parents, the bride was escorted to the bridal chamber, where she and the groom drank the "cup-to-cup wine."

As Deng Yuntai and Zhang Xiuping linked arms and gazed into each other's eyes, their hearts raced.

Though they were married, their previous interactions had been limited. The most intimate moment had been when Zhang Xiuping hugged Deng Yuntai from behind while riding a bicycle to register their marriage. This was the first time they had been so close face-to-face, and it was hard for either to remain calm.

After drinking the wedding wine, their faces flushed—whether from the alcohol or their emotions, it was hard to say.

Next came the ritual of sharing fruit. The bride and groom ate jujubes and olives together, then lit two oil wicks, symbolizing unity.

After the tea ceremony, Deng Shirong busied himself with preparing the banquet.

Today, he was the head chef, and his eldest daughter played a crucial role in the kitchen. Others with some culinary skills assisted the father-daughter duo.

In his previous life, Deng Shirong had mourned the early death of his eldest son, a regret that haunted him till death. In this life, seeing his eldest son marry filled him with joy. He poured his heart into the feast, ensuring the guests would remember this banquet for a lifetime.

The main dishes included spicy crab, pan-fried prawns, steamed sandworms, meatballs, egg rolls, boiled chicken, boiled duck, braised pork belly, stir-fried pork with yellow sauce, pork with celery and garlic, steamed carp, sweet lotus root, and bamboo shoots.

The soups featured sandworm vermicelli soup, pork bone and yam soup, and sweet lotus root soup.

Vegetarian dishes included fried peanut candy, stir-fried greens, stir-fried sweet potatoes, sauerkraut with pickled garlic sprouts, stir-fried pumpkin, and stir-fried winter melon.

Both the variety and portions were extravagant, setting a new standard for rural banquets of the era.

(End of this chapter)