bookrebus Chapter 328 Wedding
Chapter 328 Wedding
At 8:30, the convoy arrived at Lingyun's home, a newly purchased two-story house.
The area downstairs was already packed with people, all relatives of the Ling family. They all crowded around when they saw the convoy arriving.
Ling Yun got out of the car, carried An Shiyu out, and carried her all the way home.
Lingyun's mother stood at the door, wearing a red coat and with her hair neatly combed. Seeing An Shiyu, she smiled and greeted her.
"Shiyu!" She took An Shiyu's hand. "This is your home now."
An Shiyu was a little embarrassed, so she lowered her head and followed Ling's mother inside.
Ling Yun and An Shiyu went back to their room to change into traditional Chinese wedding attire. An Shiyu wore a red and gold phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, instantly transforming her aura, making her appear like a fairy descending to earth.
An Shiyu's steps were light and graceful, with the gold-threaded tassels swaying with her movements, exuding elegance and making Ling Yun completely stunned. Ling Yun didn't know how to describe it, only remembering that the Queen of the Women's Kingdom in Journey to the West was just as stunning.
An Shiyu blushed slightly under Ling Yun's gaze and gently nudged him, "Have you become a fool?"
Ling Yun scratched his head. "Wife, this phoenix coronet and wedding gown suit you best."
The couple left the bedroom and began a traditional wedding ceremony at home.
A square table was set up in the living room, with several plates of pastries and fruits on it, as well as a pair of red candles. A large red "囍" (double happiness) character was pasted on the wall, and couplets hung on both sides.
Lingyun's father was sitting at the octagonal table, wearing a dark Zhongshan suit. When he saw An Shiyu come in, he stood up.
An Shiyu called out, "Dad."
Lingyun's father sighed and then laughed.
Ling Yun and An Shiyu knelt down in front of the octagonal table. A soft red cushion was laid on the floor.
Ling Yun's elder sister, Ling Yujin, brought over two cups of tea, one for Ling Yun and one for An Shiyu.
"I'll serve tea to my parents," she said.
Ling Yun took the teacup and handed it to her father.
"Dad, have some tea."
Mr. Ling took it and drank a sip.
An Shiyu also handed over the teacup, "Dad, have some tea."
Mr. Ling took the teacup and took another sip. He put down the teacup, took out two red envelopes from his pocket, one for each person.
"Live life well," he said.
The two then offered tea to Lingyun's mother, who in turn took out two red envelopes and gave them to them.
An Shiyu quickly thanked her mother.
"If you want to thank Mom, have a baby soon and let Mom take care of it for you," Ling Yujin said with a smile.
An Shiyu blushed, and the people around her started to make a fuss.
"Pay respects to our parents! Pay respects to our parents!"
Ling Yun and An Shiyu kowtowed three times. One to Ling's father, one to Ling's mother, and one to their ancestors.
After kowtowing, Ling's mother helped An Shiyu up.
"Alright, alright," she said, "get up quickly, the ground is cold."
Firecrackers went off again outside, and someone shouted, "Time to go to the hotel!"
At 9:30, the convoy set off again.
The hotel we visited was called "Shungeng Mountain Villa," located south of Jinan, and is one of the best hotels in Jinan. After driving for more than twenty minutes, we could see the red carpet laid out in the hotel entrance from afar, stretching from the steps all the way to the roadside.
Flower baskets, red, yellow, and pink, lined both sides of the carpet. A colorful balloon arch stood at the entrance, swaying in the wind. A group of people stood at the door, all hotel greeters, dressed in red cheongsams, their faces beaming with smiles.
Ling Yun got out of the car and helped An Shiyu out.
An Shiyu stood by the car, staring blankly at the flower baskets, the balloons, and the girls in cheongsams.
"You've prepared so much?" she whispered.
Liu Min and the others got out of the car behind and surrounded them.
"Wow, this hotel is really grand," Liu Min said.
"Shungeng Mountain Villa," another girl said, "is the best hotel in Jinan."
Ling Yun took An Shiyu's hand and led her inside.
The hall was large and filled with tables. Each table was covered with a red tablecloth and had red chair covers. The stage was directly in front, covered with a red carpet, and the backdrop was a huge red curtain with a golden "囍" (double happiness) character on it. The lights shone down, illuminating the entire stage.
The emcee walked over; he was a man in his thirties, wearing a red Tang suit and holding a microphone.
"The bride and groom have arrived?" he asked with a smile. "Perfect timing, just half an hour left, let's get ready."
He led Ling Yun and An Shiyu to the adjacent lounge.
The lounge wasn't large, furnished with a sofa, a mirror, and a coat rack. An Shiyu sat down in front of the mirror, and the makeup artist came over to touch up her makeup.
"Lingyun," An Shiyu called to him.
He turned around.
She sat there as the makeup artist did her eyebrows. She looked at him in the mirror, a hint of nervousness in her eyes.
"When we go on stage later," she said, "you hold my hand, I'm afraid I won't be able to walk steadily."
Ling Yun nodded.
"Also," she said, "when the emcee asks you questions, don't be nervous, just say whatever you want to say."
"Um."
At 10:00 AM sharp, the wedding ceremony began.
The hall was packed with people, over eighty tables, ten people per table, a sea of faces. Some tables were full, while others had a few empty seats, with waiters waiting to add chairs.
Lingyun stood on one side of the stage, waiting.
The music started; it was the wedding march, very slow and solemn.
The hall doors opened, and An Shiyu walked in. She took her father's arm and walked forward step by step. Her white wedding dress trailed on the ground, the train very long, and two little girls helped her hold it up from behind.
Everyone was looking at her, including Ling Yun.
She walked slowly and steadily. A smile graced her face, but tension lingered in her eyes. She looked ahead, at Ling Yun, and approached step by step.
As they walked to the front of the stage, An's father placed her hand in Lingyun's.
"Treat her well," said Mr. An, his voice a little hoarse.
Ling Yun nodded.
He held her hand. Her hand was a little cold and trembling. He tightened his grip a little.
Two people walked onto the stage.
The emcee stood on the stage, holding a microphone, with a smile on his face.
"Distinguished guests, dear friends and family," he began, his voice booming, "Today is a joyous day. October 1st, National Day, a day of universal celebration. Our bride and groom have chosen such an auspicious day, adding to our joy."
Some people in the audience applauded.
Ling Yun stood there without saying a word.
An Shiyu stood beside her, her face flushed.
"Alright," the emcee said, his smile fading, "let's get down to business. On this joyous day, let's ask the groom first. Groom, do you take this beautiful bride beside you to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to stay with her forever, till death do you part?"
Ling Yun looked at An Shiyu, and she looked at him too.
"I'm willing," he said.
Applause erupted from the audience.
"Alright!" said the emcee. "And the bride? Do you take this handsome groom beside you to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to stay with him forever?"
An Shiyu looked at Ling Yun, her eyes bright, and said, "I'm willing."
The applause from the audience grew even louder.
"Alright!" said the emcee. "Now, let's exchange rings."
Ling Yun took out a ring box from his pocket and opened it. Inside were a pair of simple silver rings, without diamonds. He took out the woman's ring and slipped it onto An Shiyu's ring finger.
An Shiyu also slipped the men's ring onto his finger. Her movements were very light and slow, as if she were afraid of hurting him.
"The ceremony is complete!" the emcee announced. "Now, the groom may kiss the bride."
The audience began to murmur.
Ling Yun bent down and kissed her on the lips. An Shiyu closed her eyes.
The applause of the audience was thunderous.
The wedding banquet began at noon.
Ling Yun and An Shiyu changed their clothes and came out to offer toasts. An Shiyu changed into a red cheongsam, which fit her well and made her waist look very slim. Ling Yun changed into a dark red Tang suit, similar to the one he wore in the morning, but with a less tight neckline.
Zhao Weiguo, Sun Peng, Li Mo and several other groomsmen followed behind, each carrying a tray with wine glasses and bottles on it.
The first table was occupied by both sets of parents and elders.
Mr. Ling stood up, holding his glass, his eyes red.
"Good girl," he said, looking at An Shiyu, "we're family now."
An Shiyu nodded, her eyes also reddening.
Ling Yun raised his glass, clinked it with the elders' glasses, and drank it all in one gulp.
The second table, the third table, the fourth table...
As Lingyun drank cup after cup, her face grew redder and her head became increasingly dizzy.
An Shiyu stood beside him, supporting him.
"Can you still hold on?" she asked.
"good."
She looked at him without saying a word.
The wedding banquet ended at 3 p.m.
The guests left one after another. Ling Yun stood at the door, seeing them off with An Shiyu. Each person said a few words and shook hands as they left.
After seeing off the last guest, Ling Yun leaned against the wall and let out a long sigh of relief.
An Shiyu stood next to him, also exhausted.
"It's finally over," she said.
Ling Yun nodded.
Zhao Weiguo and the others came over. "We're leaving now. You should go back and get some rest."
Ling Yun nodded, and the group left.
An Shiyu took Ling Yun's hand and said, "Let's go home."
Ling Yun nodded.