The next day, Ningning went outside and heard the villagers discussing how Bao Shanyan had taken Wen Zhqing to the county town to get their photos taken and register their marriage.
It seed Bao Shanyan had indeed listened to her advice.
As if temporarily resolving the issue of Wen Zhqing, Ningning’s days beca more peaceful, officially entering the waiting-to-be-married phase.
During this ti, Huaihua Village was lively for two days because of the year-end pig slaughter and pork distribution.
Nine pigs were slaughtered, with five handed over to the commune and the remaining four butchered, ensuring every household in the village got so pork.
During those days, the chimneys of every household in Huaihua Village were filled with the sll of at.
With the excitent fading, the day for Ningning’s marriage arrived.
The pork the Gu Family received two days ago was partially consud, with the remaining half used for today’s wedding feast. Her second brother went to the mountains to hunt so wild chickens and rabbits, making sure there was enough food by exchanging with other families in the village.
This was a rare good day. Although it was winter and cold, the sun ca out early in the morning. The close friends of the Gu Family arrived early and helped in the kitchen, preparing dishes for today’s banquet, chatting and laughing all the while.
As the bride, Ningning also got up early to dress herself in her room.
The red wool coat revealed her complexion and figure well, a purchase Ningning made using points from the System Mall.
Red fabric was quite precious in this era.
A wool coat made in such fabric was even more rare.
Even visiting the provincial city’s departnt store would probably yield nothing, as red is a celebratory color desired by everyone.
As for the coat’s origin,
Ningning told the Gu Family that Officer Sheng gave it to her.
If Sheng Zexi asked, she’d say it was prepared by the Gu Family.
Earlier, Sheng Zexi had co to take her to buy her wedding outfit, and they went to the provincial city but couldn’t find anything suitable.
Thus, Ningning had to purchase it from the Exchange Mall.
The items needed for daily necessities were very cheap in the mall.
She not only bought this red wool coat but also a set of modern costics.
Today was her wedding day, attended by so many people and marking a new life after rebirth. Naturally, she wanted to look her best.
Thus, she declined the help from her sister-in-law and so village girls who wanted to assist her in dressing up.
These costics couldn’t be seen by others.
Ningning was proficient in makeup, finishing in half an hour, and also planned her hairstyle. She decided against tying her hair up and instead wanted to braid it into a princess style.
No man can resist the allure of a woman’s princess hairdo.
As ti passed, the kitchen’s aroma beca increasingly enticing, and villagers who ca to attend the banquet started arriving one after another.
They gave wedding gifts and blessings, each with a joyful smile.
The Gu Family had almost invited the entire village, including a couple of educated youths who were on good terms and never spoke ill of Ningning, like the shy young Lu Weixian and another diligent girl who arrived early for countryside work.
This girl had given up on returning to the city, recently fell in love with a young man from a Huaihua Village family, and was already engaged. In a few days, they planned to marry and have a family reunion for the New Year.
Accompanying the sound of a jeep approaching, children far away cheered and ran, announcing the arrival.
"It’s here, it’s here! The officer groom is coming to pick up the bride."
Many people listened and rushed out to see.
The jeep stopped at the Gu Family’s door, its door opened, and a tall man in neat military uniform, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, stepped out.
Grandpa Sang and Grandma Sang, here to witness their grandson’s wedding, had stayed at the hotel, unwilling to leave, waiting for this day.
After Sheng Zexi got out of the car, they too were helped out.
"Today is the day I marry my bride, folks, enjoy so wedding sweets and rejoice." Sheng Zexi handed out prepared bags of candy at the Gu Family’s door as Grandpa Sang and Grandma Sang entered.
Anyone who offered blessings, whether old or young, received candy.
Sheng Zexi was generous, giving several pieces per person.
Candy was considered a scarce commodity in this era, loved by all, especially children.
Those little ones uttered unending good wishes, even so one- or two-year-olds who could barely speak, watching their older siblings eat candy.
They stamred out a fuzzy blessing, their large eyes fixed on the candy in Sheng Zexi’s hand. When he placed candy into theirs, the child flashed a toothy grin, excitedly telling his grandma, "Candy, candy, so sweet~"
The candy bags were fully distributed, as Sheng Zexi entered the Gu Family.
He saw Ningning erge from the room in fiery red attire.
The mont she stepped out, everyone gasped.
Gorgeous, truly beautiful!
Vibrant and coquettish, like a blazing fla warming every heart on this winter day.
"Our Ningning is even prettier than city girls; I’ve never seen one more beautiful."
"Indeed, even those city-educated girls can’t compare."
"No wonder Officer Sheng is so taken with her."
"Our Ningning and Officer Sheng are exactly that, what’s the word?"
The shy Lu Weixian, seeing Ningning, montarily dazed, instinctively completed, "A match made in heaven, a handso man and beautiful woman."
"Yes, that’s it, a match made in heaven, Xiao Lu, you’re so knowledgeable."
The praised Lu Weixian blushed, his eyes sparkling brightly.
Old Gu took Ningning’s hand and placed it in Sheng Zexi’s large palm.
"Xiao Xi, I’m entrusting my Ningning to you. Take good care of her. If you treat her poorly, none of the Gu Family will agree or forgive you." Old Gu’s eyes reddened.
As the head of the household, a pillar of support, Old Gu was generally reserved in his emotions, not good at expressing them.
Yet undeniably, the one he cherished most was his daughter Ningning.
Now, having raised her for seventeen years, his daughter was getting married, and he couldn’t bear to part.
Only his wife knew, how he had struggled to sleep at night, thinking about his daughter leaving for marriage, moving with the military to the Northwest, possibly not seeing her for an entire year. It hurt him, and he secretly cried several tis, although these would remain untold to Ningning.
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