269: Chapter 199 Wedding (Part 2) (Extra for Yaoyao’s Birthday) 269: Chapter 199 Wedding (Part 2) (Extra for Yaoyao’s Birthday) The night progressed.
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The officiant was Zhou Jingping’s comrade, Yang Pengsheng from the Capital Military District, a man over fifty with a pair of black-rimd glasses.
Unlike Zhou Jingping’s robust deanor, he appeared refined and gentle, more like a university professor than a military officer if he weren’t in uniform.
Looking at the couple before him, Yang Pengsheng felt deeply moved.
He was well aware of the stalemate between Zhou Jingping and Zhou Mikang over the years, and he understood Zhou Jingping’s hardships perhaps even more than Lin Yanqiu did.
Now, seeing everything coming smoothly to a resolution, he was genuinely happy for Zhou Jingping from the bottom of his heart.
Therefore, after the bride and groom recited a segnt of quotes together, he abandoned formalities and got straight to the point, “Comrade Zhou Mikang, Comrade Lin Chuxia, from today onward, you are officially husband and wife.
On the journey ahead, you should support each other, respect your elders, be friendly with comrades, and make progress together.
Here, I wish you a lifeti of happiness and companionship!”
“Thank you, Uncle Yang!” Zhou Mikang and Chuxia quickly expressed their gratitude.
“Let the feast begin!”
Old Master Zhou, Old Madam Zhou, Zhou Jingping, Lin Yanqiu, Old Master Zhao, Old Lady Zhao, Zhao Yulan, Lin Baohe, Dagang’s Grandpa, Grandma Chen, and the bride and groom took seats at the main table.
Among the ten elders, six were from the bride’s side.
Such an arrangent thoroughly reassured Zhao Yulan and Lin Baohe.
If it weren’t for respect, why would it be arranged this way?
Chuxia also felt a warm feeling in her heart.
Regardless of whether Old Lady Zhou had accepted her, and regardless of whether she and Mikang married for love, everything today made her feel valued by the Zhou family.
This gave her confidence for the path ahead!
Halfway through the al, Chuxia and Mikang went table to table to toast the guests.
The guests attending the wedding included relatives from both the Lin and Zhou families, as well as friends who were close to Old Master Zhou, Zhou Jingping, and Lin Yanqiu.
Almost ninety percent of these people knew of Zhou Mikang’s previous engagent to Ye iru from the Ye family, and how he had refused to marry anyone since their breakup.
Or rather, a significant portion of the guests, after the cancellation of the marriage arrangent between the Zhou and Ye families, had thought of introducing their own daughters, or the daughters of relatives or friends, to the Zhou family as potential brides, but without exception, all were rejected by Mikang, who didn’t even care to et them!
Therefore, when they had firmly believed Mikang would either remain single or marry iru, Chuxia’s unexpected appearance had understandably shocked them!
Besides the customary exchange of favors at the wedding, many were curious to see what extraordinary qualities the new bride possessed.
And yet, upon arriving at the banquet hall and learning that those shabby rural folks were the bride’s family, you could imagine their disappointnt!
How could their daughters (nieces, granddaughters) be inferior to a country girl?
Even after seeing Chuxia in person, their opinions didn’t change.
Aside from her slightly better appearance, what other admirable qualities did this bride have?
Now, they unanimously felt that the only reason they hadn’t beco relatives with the Zhou family was that they hadn’t persisted enough.
If they had only persisted a bit longer, waiting until Mikang could no longer withstand the nagging of his elders, it might have been their daughters (nieces, granddaughters) sitting at the main table!
With those thoughts, so looked at Chuxia with increased scrutiny.
Chuxia certainly noticed those critical glances, but she couldn’t care less about those people; after all, she wasn’t going to live with them.
What did their scrutiny matter to her?
Thus, during the toasts, far from the nervous deanor she had with the Zhou family, Chuxia was composed and confident.
When so deliberately tried to make her drink, Mikang stepped in before she even had to speak.
After a few such instances, everyone recognized Mikang’s protectiveness over his bride and stopped trying to provoke trouble.
On such a joyous day, what was the point in creating discord?
Zeng ili and Jing Zhe, mother and son, sat at one table with Zeng ili’s mother and Mikang’s great-aunt Lin Yani.
The mother and daughter were always keenly observing the mother and son’s expressions.
Of course, their motivations differed.
Zeng ili wanted to gauge the extent of Jing Zhe’s feelings for Chuxia to decide whether she should continue to pursue him, while Lin Yani was watching Zhu Xinqin to prevent any disruption to her nephew’s matrimonial prospects.
Although Zhu Xinqin had always been at odds with Lin Yanqiu, she still respected Lin Yani greatly.
Seeing her worriedly eyeing her, she smiled, “Big sister, don’t worry, I wouldn’t do anything to embarrass myself at this ti.”
“No, I was worried you might not get enough to eat.” Lin Yani said with a smile as she served Zhu Xinqin so food, “Eat more.”
Zhu Xinqin laughed, “Big sister, do you really think I’d be shy?”
Feigning deep thought for a mont, Lin Yani shook her head, “It seems not.”
“Then it’s settled,” Zhu Xinqin spread her hands, and seeing Chuxia and Mikang approaching, stood up smiling, “Xiao Chuxia, you look truly beautiful today.
You’re the prettiest bride I’ve ever seen!”
“Thank you, Aunt Zhu.” Chuxia quickly thanked her, then turned to greet other acquaintances, “Hello, Director Xu, Teacher Song Xiaoyu, Teacher Jing, Captain Zeng.”
Director Xu and Song Xiaoyu nodded smilingly at her, while Jing Zhe raised his glass, “Chuxia, happy wedding!” Then he downed his glass in one gulp.
“It’s Lin Chuxia,” Lin Yani protested.
“Chuxia, this is your aunt,” Mikang introduced Chuxia, who had never t Lin Yani.
“Hello, Auntie.”
“Good, good…” Lin Yani happily grasped Chuxia’s hand.
“My nephew really knows how to choose.
He picked such a handso wife.
No wonder he was so composed — it turns out he was waiting for Chuxia all along.”
Zeng ili couldn’t help but tease, “Mom, you’re getting better and better at talking.”
“I’m just telling the truth,” Lin Yani said, nudging Mikang and Chuxia towards another table.
“Drink less.” Of course, that last remark was ant for Mikang.
“Big sister, you can’t do that.
You have to drink more at a wedding,” Aunt Zhu quickly grabbed Mikang by the sleeve.
“Little Bee, we haven’t drunk at this table yet — you’re not allowed to leave.”
“Aunt Zhu, I wasn’t planning to leave.
I haven’t introduced Chuxia to the other aunts yet,” Mikang said, pointing to a few won Chuxia hadn’t t, “This is Aunt Li, this is Aunt Miao, this is Aunt Qi.
They are all mom’s friends.”
Chuxia greeted each one in turn, and the aunts showered her with complints.
One couldn’t tell what they thought internally, but from what they said, it seed they too believed Chuxia and Mikang were a match made in heaven.
An hour of toasting passed, and the wedding banquet was nearing its conclusion.
After the banquet ended, Lin family relatives were escorted back to the Zhou Family Ancestral Ho.
They would stay there until Chuxia returned after her post-wedding visit.
anwhile, over these few days, Mikang had arranged for soone to take them on a tour, turning it into a group vacation.
…
Inside the bridal chamber, a dazzling red greeted Chuxia’s eyes.
Imrsed in this red sea, Chuxia’s heart uncontrollably started pounding.
Sitting beside her, Xiaoqiong, feeling her nervousness, gently stroked her back and moved her lips but didn’t know what to say.
She could vaguely guess what Chuxia was nervous about, but being unmarried herself, she had no idea how to comfort her about such matters.
“It’s okay,” Chuxia smiled at her and reassured, “It’s just a new place, a bit nerve-wracking.
After all, everyone gets married eventually.
I’ll get used to it after a while.”
“Yeah,” Xiaoqiong agreed, nodding.
Her hands shaking as she added, “Yesterday, you discussed with your aunt and about letting get married during New Year’s.”
“Then just go ahead and do it,” Chuxia smiled back at her.
“By then, we’ll both be married won.”
“Married won sounds so awful.”
“Awful or not, you can’t escape this day.”
“Ugh, can you not remind ?”
“Even if I don’t remind you, it’s still a reality!”
“…”
As the two bantered lightheartedly, Zhou Jiping and Zhou Xiangping entered the room.
“What are you whispering about?” Zhou Xiangping asked, wrapping an arm around Chuxia’s shoulder with a grin.
“Third sister-in-law, Third Brother asked and second sister to co and keep you company.”
After the wedding reception, so Zhou family relatives followed to the Zhou residence.
In the lounge, Zhou family elders and Mikang were busy entertaining guests.
As the bride, Chuxia was supposed to stay in the bridal chamber according to old customs and didn’t need to co out to greet guests anymore.
Taken aback by the formal address of third sister-in-law, Chuxia took a mont to understand Zhou Xiangping was referring to her, and then awkwardly smiled, “I’m not ignoring you, I just didn’t realize who third sister-in-law was.”
“Pfft!”
All three burst out laughing.
Even the usually reserved Zhou Jiping couldn’t help but affectionately tousle Chuxia’s hair.
“Third sister-in-law, no wonder Third Brother loves you so much.
You’re adorably muddled, hehe…”
“If second sister and fourth sister have things to do, they can go.
Xiaoqiong’s company is enough for .”
The blunt Zhou Xiangping looked at Chuxia discontentedly, “Are you rushing us out?”
Chuxia quickly explained, “Not at all!
I’m just worried that with all the relatives coming, it’s too much for the family to handle.”
Zhou Jiping tousled her hair again.
“Sister-in-law, you’re too honest.
She’s just teasing you.
You should have told her that she’s too noisy and that’s why you wanted her gone!”
Seeing how close Chuxia’s two sisters-in-law were to her, Xiaoqiong quietly sighed in relief.
Difficult sisters-in-law are such a headache!
It looks like her mother was right — Chuxia really is blessed and is bound to have a very happy life!
(To be continued.
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