Always feeling like she’d only slept a blink, Hua Jin awoke in a noisy clamor.
She shed her comfortable casual clothes and put on a new outfit that her mother had insisted she wear, afraid her daughter might opt for her usual convenient attire.
Looking at the pink clothes in her hands, Hua Jin resignedly dressed herself, feeling an inexplicable embarrassnt—having grown up, she could no longer easily pull off any color like she did in her childhood. Now in her two lifetis combined, she felt like an old cucumber trying to act youthful.
No matter what, she couldn’t hold back on her brother’s joyous day. She put on pretty clothes, styled her hair into a simple bun, chose a plain pearl hairpin from the dressing box, lightly brushed her eyebrows, and applied so colorless lip balm, instantly making her naturally pink lips even brighter.
With just a change of clothes and enhanced lip color, there was such a significant difference. Gazing at herself in the mirror, Hua Jin couldn’t help but be amazed by her beauty.
Bright eyes and white teeth, skin as fair as fat, a head of thick black hair, delicate pear blossom face, slender willow waist, delicate skin and bones, a gentle smile with captivating eyes, cherry lips curving lightly, as exquisite as peach blossoms in spring, as pure as chrysanthemums in autumn.
Although not devastatingly beautiful, she counted as one of the rare beauties, comparable to certain big stars and great beauties that once dazzled the screen.
Looking at herself, Hua Jin couldn’t resist clicking her tongue in admiration—good genes, what can be done, she inherited the best traits from her parents.
Once dressed, she imdiately received praise from her grandmother and mother.
"This is how a young lady should look, truly beautiful," the old lady Hua couldn’t get enough of her, beaming with pride. If she weren’t too busy, she would have loved to stay by her granddaughter’s side.
"This is right," Qi Shi nodded in satisfaction—the pretty daughter always dressed like a tomboy, feeling it belittled the lovely face they gave her.
Yet her daughter was busy practicing skills, climbing up and down the mountains, and words fell on deaf ears.
"Mother, is there anything I can help with?" Hua Jin asked with interest.
"No..." Qi Shi didn’t want her newly dressed daughter to work, though she knew her daughter’s temperant—everyone was busy, and she’d fret if idle. Seeing her niece approach, she changed the topic, "You and Hui’er can help greet the guests with your aunts."
With that, she hurried away, as busy as could be, squeezing even this mont out.
"Cousin," Liu Hui, dressed in a fresh yellow outfit with a flower headband, flitted over to Hua Jin like a butterfly, tightly clutching her arm, snuggling next to her.
"Cousin, you’re so beautiful," gazing at her fairy-like cousin, Liu Hui couldn’t bear to blink, though long accustod to her cousin’s beauty, she was still astonished by her wardrobe change.
"Our Hui’er is also very beautiful," Hua Jin generously praised the little beauty beside her.
The Hua family’s looks were uniformly excellent; Hui’er’s appearance resembling her second aunt’s naturally made her a little beauty.
"Not really..." Unlike Hua Jin’s thick-skinned nature, Liu Hui felt bashful.
"If cousin says so, then it’s so—our mber is truly pretty."
"Cousin..." Liu Hui playfully pouted at her cousin, lightly stomping her foot.
"Alright, alright, won’t say more. Let’s go and help..." Watching the busy aunts, Hua Jin decisively pulled Liu Hui along to follow.
As the lucky hour arrived, the two brothers, clad in red wedding robes, accompanied by cousins and brothers, set off with drums and gongs to fetch the brides.
By the ti they brought the two new brides ho, an hour had passed, followed by bowing ceremonies and sending them to the bridal chambers. Hua Jin didn’t know which bride to follow, running between the bridal rooms with Hui’er and other visiting sisters—fortunately, they were close by.
Wearing wedding dresses made from red cloth gifted by the Hua family, adorned with jewelry from the dowry, the brides under the red veils astonished the grooms and caught the admiration of many young n joining the bridal room revelry.
Two good girls were gone from the village.
After the bowing ceremony, the most important part—the feast—began.
The wine ca from Wei Dapeng’s house, the valley’s sole brewery run by his family. The village chief’s family practically took all their wine, leaving just a small jar, but the profits were significant—making old man Wei grin endlessly.
Gratefully acknowledging his son’s decision to join Hua Village with the Sun family, otherwise, there wouldn’t be the current happiness— not only was there a bountiful harvest, but the shop could also make silver coin like before, as if the calamity never happened.
The feast lasted a full day. As the most considerate sister-in-law, Hua Jin certainly wouldn’t let the two sisters-in-law go hungry, and dined with them and her cousin.
Every tricky gaze t left the two sisters-in-law too shy to lift their heads throughout.
After the toast went around three tis, it was ti for the bridal chambers. Hua Jin and her cousin were sent back to their rooms by their mother and grandmother.
Saying it wasn’t appropriate for young girls like them made Hua Jin feel regretful; she wanted to observe up close what an ancient bridal chamber revelry looked like.
Overall, it was quite lively; Hua Jin could hear clearly from her room. With elders and matchmakers present, there was no concern of it going too far—it was all celebratory. Soon, a group of teenagers was ushered out from the bridal chamber by the matchmaker and elders.
Then there was nothing left for the groom outside—just needed to accompany the bride.
The remaining aftermath took quite a while to finish, and Hua Jin went out to help.
At the table, the dishes were almost cleared out; six at, four vegetables, two soups, and pastries were consud till none remained. Even the scraps were taken ho by each table.
Originally the leftover was to be given to villagers, now saving trouble, just requiring plates and cutlery to be collected and cleaned, and tables and chairs returned.
Of course, moving items ant bringing gifts, mostly pre-prepared pastries. As for the kitchen helpers, no one went empty-handed—not only were they given silver coins, but each also took ho so leftover at and extra dishes.
Everyone ca happily and returned ho happily.
No wonder they liked working at the village chief’s house, where they always gained more than they gave.
Finally was the family of relatives, Sun’s household, and Hua Chengtian’s temporary master Zhao Ji’s house, who worked tirelessly all day, even dining last, helping to return tables and cutlery to each family.
As they left, old lady Hua wasn’t stingy, sharing uncut chicken and rabbit from the kitchen with each family, and even the few leftover pastries.
Busy until midnight, whether Hua Lao Han, old lady Hua, or Hua Chengtian’s couple—they were tired but really joyful.
Two major family matters solved in one go, allowing them to sleep well at night.
In the valley’s peace, tranquility, and in Lingyun State, a large influx of disaster victims arrived.
Bringing trendous pressure to the state city and news of the Tartars’ attack.
And this wasn’t the first group—for earlier there had been a more affluent batch, consisting of influential or wealthy rchants, as well as so affluent landowners.
A broken ship still has three thousand nails; though calamity brought imnse loss to everyone, compared to the destitute, as long as one holds power and influence, they will always manage without want.
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