「In the hall.」
Suddenly, thunderous applause erupted.
The seated guests all lifted their heads, focusing their attention on the emcee.
Subsequently, after so polite greetings and an opening speech, the emcee took the microphone. He then began to invite the bride and groom to the stage.
There was no ritual of being escorted by parents.
Zhang Qingyuan and Feng Cuihua, dressed in festive attire, briskly walked onto the stage.
Amidst the blessings being showered upon them, both wore joyous smiles.
The hall was filled with guests at eighty tables; roughly eight hundred people had co to attend their wedding. Everyone extended their own blessings with great enthusiasm.
"It’s clear that both the groom and the bride are very excited," the emcee said, standing between the couple. He glanced at Zhang Qingyuan and asked, "I heard you two t over a mahjong table. Could the elder gentleman share the details with everyone?"
Zhang Qingyuan’s face reddened. Yet he wasn’t daunted and took the microphone, beginning to narrate his convoluted pursuit.
For this, he, a mahjong champion, hardly had any ti to play. His son’s pocket money... he had spent it all on health products for Feng Cuihua.
Every thod was employed. And with his thick skin... Cuihua gradually ca together with him.
"The elder is still as sharp as a treasured sword! Today’s ceremony has been simplified, considering their ages."
After so pleasantries, the emcee looked towards the crowd and proclaid, "This wedding may lack the parents of the bride and groom, and it has no bridesmaids or groomsn, but it surely has all of you as witnesses and your most sincere blessings!"
"Here, I would like to ask Mr. Zhang Qingyuan, do you take Ms. Feng Cuihua—her hair white with age, her walk unsteady, even her mory sowhat failing—to be your wife?"
Saying this, the emcee continued with the procedure, questioning Zhang Qingyuan, "For richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"
Before he had finished speaking, Zhang Qingyuan was overwheld with emotion and impatiently exclaid, "I do!"
His voice was loud. He didn’t hesitate for a mont.
The hall once again erupted in thunderous applause.
"I also want to ask Ms. Feng Cuihua, do you take this man before you, Mr. Zhang Qingyuan—who is not handso, has a loud voice, and is sowhat hunchbacked—to be your husband? For richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"
Feng Cuihua excitedly took the microphone, ready to say, "I do."
But from offstage, four different voices shouted, "She does not!"
This sudden turn of events... directly disrupted the emcee’s flow, leaving him at a loss as to how to continue.
And the elderly from the nursing ho sitting close to the stage... were equally startled.
"What’s going on? Is soone crashing the wedding? Is it really going to be this dramatic?"
"At Old Zhang’s age, it’s unlikely anyone would object. Could it be a forr rival in love?"
"Maybe it’s one of Cuihua’s secret admirers, but the voices sounded quite young."
"It’s too dark over there; I can’t see anyone."
"..."
Li Weiguo, Song Tiancheng, and others looked around, attempting to locate the source of the voices. But with dim lighting all around and the focus on the stage, they couldn’t find who had spoken.
anwhile, in the hall, the court officials and lawyers who had co to attend the banquet were also gravely watching the unfolding event. They had attended many weddings before, but this was the first ti they had witnessed such a situation.
Soon after, four middle-aged n walked onto the stage and into view. Walking shoulder to shoulder, they approached Zhang Qingyuan and Feng Cuihua.
"We do not agree to this marriage!" one of them declared solemnly in front of the entire assembly, halting the proceedings.
"You... what are you brats talking about?" Upon hearing this, Zhang Qingyuan was so furious that his body shook.
"We’re saying, we don’t agree to our mom marrying you!" Jiang Daping snorted coldly and emphasized again, "Our mom is getting married without even consulting us, just rashly marrying you like this! We don’t approve of this marriage!"
The other three exchanged glances. As if by prior agreent, they declared in solemn tones, "With us here today, don’t even think this wedding can go on!"
At the sa ti, they also blocked Feng Cuihua, earnestly advising, "Mom, please listen to us, don’t go through with this wedding."
"He’s just after your pension money and jealous that you have four sons!"
"We’re doing this for your own good; don’t let love cloud your judgnt."
"We are your guardians; we have the right to be responsible for you. You really shouldn’t go through with this wedding..."
The n spoke one after another, without giving Zhang Qingyuan any chance to reply.
The emcee was completely thrown off by the scene unfolding before him, unsure of how to respond.
"You... you people... I’ve already told you! My affairs are none of your concern!" Feng Cuihua, trembling with anger at her four sons, pointed at them and demanded, "All four of you, get off this stage right now!"
But no matter what she said, Jiang Daping and the others seed resolute, remaining firmly between the couple and refusing to leave.
"Ahem, if you ask , as their children, we should support our parents’ marriage. They’re getting older, and life isn’t easy for them..." Seeing this, the emcee had no choice but to step forward and attempt to persuade Jiang Daping and the others.
But before he could finish speaking, Jiang Erping interrupted him, "You’re just an emcee! You don’t understand anything, so stay out of it!"
Jiang Sanping also chid in, dissatisfied, "Exactly! This is our family’s business. If they get married, we’ll have to call him Dad. Shouldn’t we at least be consulted?"
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