Chapter 83
Time passed like this, and it was December in a blink of an eye.
It was Sunday.
While most people were resting, He Daqing and Chen Xueru finally got married.
Early in the morning, the courtyard on the Daqianmen side began to bustle.
The preparations started the day before.
Sheds were built in front and behind the courtyard to protect against wind, rain and sun, and a lot of red cloth, red paper and so on were also prepared.
He Daqing's courtyard was also tidied up, with the whole house and courtyard full of red. Of course, there were also red lanterns, red wedding characters, new quilts, new furniture, and pillows filled with new embroidery. The food and drinks for the banquet were also purchased according to the menu prepared by the chef of the restaurant that had been contacted before.
This time, the chef He Daqing invited to get married was a chef from Fengzeyuan. According to the relationship, he was also a senior brother of He Daqing, otherwise he would not be able to invite anyone to prepare the banquet.
Originally, it was thought that the two families would just sit down and have a simple meal together.
Later, when someone from the Chen family came and gathered together again to discuss, one of Chen Xueru's uncles rejected the proposal.
In his words,"Marriage is a matter of one's lifetime, how can one take it lightly?"
"He Daqing is getting married in a formal ceremony, and my niece Chen Xueru is also getting married in a grand ceremony. The dowry must be substantial. No matter how many relatives there are on both sides, this ceremony cannot be too small."
"You don’t have many relatives, so don’t you have any friends or neighbors?"
"If you only set up two tables for the banquet, what will your relatives, friends and neighbors think?"
"Those who know know that the two have officially married. The Chen family married off their daughter and kept a low profile."
"If I didn't know this, I would have thought that they were remarrying, or that He Daqing was taking a concubine. Where would the Chen family put their face? How would my niece be able to face people in the future, and hold her head up in front of relatives, friends, and neighbors?"
"People don't gossip, do they?"
Faced with the scolding from Chen Xueru's uncle, not to mention He Daqing, even Old Man Guan and Zheng Wentian were like grandsons and could only nod and agree.
At the end they had to smile and say,"You are right, let's do as you say."
This is not only because Chen Xueru's uncle is older, but also because what he said makes sense.
He Daqing and his men only wanted to keep a low profile, but completely ignored Chen Xueru's feelings.
In this era, although the authorities are promoting the Three Antis and Five Antis and prohibiting waste, marriage is such a big event, but it is not as simple as it was in the 1960s and 1970s.
At that time, people were really poor and could not buy food even if they had money, so they had to do it simply.
But it was different in the early 1950s.
At this time, marriages were still more in accordance with the old customs.
Although the authorities advocated new styles, the people below still chose to have a lively wedding. After all, a person only has this one time, and which girl doesn't want to marry in glory?
Chen Xueru's uncle said this because he really loved his granddaughter and didn't want Chen Xueru to be wronged in the old He family.
So, the original The arrangement of the wedding banquet was not very suitable.
While He Daqing was re-preparing, he also began to send invitations to his predecessor's friends, senior brothers, and junior brothers, asking them to attend his wedding.
Only the old neighbors in the Siheyuan were not notified.
Because he really didn't want to have anything to do with the people in the Siheyuan.
In addition to his predecessor's friends and brothers, He Daqing and Chen Xueru also sent wedding invitations to the surrounding shop owners, neighbors, etc., inviting them to attend the wedding. Although He Daqing was not very familiar with the neighbors in Daqianmen
, Chen Xueru was familiar with them.
Therefore, the neighbors in Daqianmen were added to the wedding invitations.
The final statistics.
Wow.
There were quite a lot of people coming, more than a hundred.
He Daqing and Guan Yushan discussed it and directly found two carpenters to move the previously dismantled The big round tables that were opened in Zai Hui Lou were put together again.
Two tables were placed in the main room. Two tables were placed in the east wing.
Four tables were placed in the bun shop in front.
The remaining tables were prepared to be placed in the backyard, or in the alley at the backyard gate. Anyway, they could be placed anywhere. There was no shortage of other pots and pans, tables, chairs, benches, kitchen stoves and so on.
After all, He Daqing had kept all the things that were in Zai Hui Lou at the beginning. They would definitely be enough to deal with the wedding. If they were really not enough, they could borrow from the neighbors around, and it wouldn't delay anything. After all, getting married these days is not very complicated, because no matter what you do, it is determined by the material basis. In such a social environment, it is difficult to make a big splash.
It is incomparable with the old times, because according to the policies from above, if you really want to make a big deal, it would be extravagant. Waste, learn about the Three Antis and Five Antis.
It is even more incomparable with the new era in the future, because the material foundation of this era is there. If you want to follow the future, you must have this condition.
Therefore, the wedding held under this situation can only simplify and return to the essence.
Witnessed by the relatives and friends of both parties, a man and a woman form a new family. Relatives and friends congratulate and bless the establishment of such a new family, and by the way, eat and drink well, have a lively and happy time, and don't be so particular.
He Daqing wore a previously customized suit and leather shoes, a tie, and his slightly long hair was also turned back. The whole person looked very energetic.
Thanks to the favor of his living father, as his physical attributes improved, his body and skin were very good. Even if he looked old, he looked only in his twenties, and he didn't look like a man with two children at all.
In addition, he was different from the people of this era in terms of confidence and temperament. People rely on clothes and horses rely on saddles.
Now that he has been dressed up like this, for those who are used to his casual dress before, of course, there is a bright feeling in front of them.
Many of his former friends and fellow apprentices said they almost didn't recognize him, saying that he was in high spirits after having a good thing, and that he was rejuvenated after getting a girlfriend.
As for He Daqing's appearance and dress, if you tell them that He Daqing is already thirty-six or thirty-seven, his son is already eighteen, and he is just a bun seller, they simply can't believe it.
Because appearance and temperament are really deceptive.
Anyway, after seeing He Daqing, many people in Daqianmen no longer say things like flowers stuck in cow dung, but instead think that the two of them are a perfect match.
In fact, don't mention the surprise of the old He family's relatives and friends.
When picking up the bride, even Chen Xueru, who was dressed in a bright red Chinese dress, couldn't help but be stunned when she saw He Daqing.
Then she nodded with satisfaction and said,"Okay, He Daqing, I didn't realize it before, but now that you have made it up, it really looks like that."
He Daqing smiled and nodded,"You are also very beautiful"
"Do I need you to tell me that?"
A young girl who was Chen Xueru's bridesmaid smiled and said,"My cousin is a famous beauty. She received love letters every day when she was in school. Now that she is marrying you, you should be happy.""
"That's right, that's right, so many young men are pursuing our Xueru, but our Xueru didn't like them. Now she's marrying you, so you should be happy."Just as Chen Xueru's cousin finished speaking, a pretty girl standing on the right of Chen Xueru as her bridesmaid also smiled and said in agreement.
One of the bridesmaids is Chen Xueru's cousin, named Chen Yuling.
The other is her best friend, named Li Xianglan.
They are both young and beautiful girls, with fair skin and beautiful looks, in their youth. At first glance, they are rich girls, with good family backgrounds and no hardship.
"Hey, I'm already so happy."
He Daqing was not angry when he heard the two girls teasing, and he just said:"You must be happy to marry such a young, beautiful, gentle and virtuous wife!"
He didn't care much about the two girls.
After all, he still understood the principle that rabbits don't eat grass near their burrows.
And this era is not suitable for messing around. If you are really discovered, the end will definitely be miserable.
Now he talked to the two girls just to explain the next situation to them.
After laughing for a while, when the time was almost up.
He Daqing took the crying Chen Xueru to say goodbye to Chen's mother, and got into a very classic old Buick sedan with the two bridesmaids.
This car was provided by his cheap third uncle Zheng Wentian to support his wedding.
The other members of the Chen family rode bicycles to Daqianmen.
It's not that they can't find two more cars, but the main reason is that the capitalists are not having a good time these days, and they must keep a low profile when doing things..
In addition, Xijiaominxiang where the Chen family lived was not far from Daqianmen, only about two miles away, and everyone could get there in a few minutes by bicycle. There was really no need to make so many fuss for the sake of pomp and circumstance.
If it was too grand, it would not be good for anyone's family. (To read the exciting novels, go to Fulu Novel Network!)
When He Daqing came back to pick up the bride, his second uncle Guan Yushan and his third uncle Zheng Wentian were already waiting at the entrance of the alley.
Also standing on the side were his cousin Guan Ziqing, his cousin Zheng Zhiqiao and his wife, and his cousin Zheng Xinlan and her husband.
These were the only relatives the old He family had in the old city.
When they saw the sedan coming back to pick up the bride, the bun shop suddenly became noisy.
The crowd surrounded the two of them and walked into the alley, and from the main gate of the alley, they went to the house behind the bun shop.[]
In the yard, Sha Zhu was taking some of He Daqing's nephews and others to fiddle with tables, chairs, benches, bowls and chopsticks, and some of He Daqing's fellow apprentices were directing them.
As the saying goes: When there is something to do, the apprentices will do the hard work!
Although He Daqing did not accept any apprentices, his fellow apprentices, who had been working as cooks in the restaurant, had accepted many apprentices. Now that they knew that He Daqing was getting married and lacked manpower, they brought two apprentices to help.
Move tables and stools, wash and cut vegetables, serve plates and bowls...
Anyway, they were used as labor. If there was any work to do, just tell them and they would definitely do it for you without any complaints.
To be honest.
It was because he had a good relationship with his former apprentices and had a good relationship with his former cooking brothers.
Otherwise, not to mention that he would have done the work for nothing, if the relationship was not in place, even if you spent money, they might not come.
It was not like today, when the two kitchens were almost full of chefs.
Each of them was vying to show off their skills, saying that they wanted to support their junior brothers. The apprentices they brought didn't even have a chance to make a phone call, so they could only move tables, chairs and benches to the yard.
Of course, this does not rule out that they knew about He Daqing and recognized Guan Yushan, Zheng Wentian and others.
After all, it was only the early 1950s, and cooks were not as popular as they were in the 1960s and 1970s, and there was no such thing as the Eight Great Members. Knowing that He Daqing had connections, they would naturally be more enthusiastic.
There were also children from unknown families, chasing and playing in the yard, crying and shouting, and it was very lively.
He Daqing took Chen Xueru's hand and went to the wedding room first to arrange for the two little bridesmaids to eat some fruits, candies, etc. After arranging the two little bridesmaids, He Daqing followed Chen Xueru, Guan Yushan, Zheng Wentian and others to the door to greet people. Some came early, some came late, and all the guests had to be greeted.
There weren't many people from the Chen family, but they were all important figures, including an uncle and two uncles, several cousins, aunts, sisters-in-law, and many relatives and friends.
Su's mother's side was relatively simple, with only an uncle coming, who was also an important figure and had to be treated well.
On the contrary, on He Daqing's side, except for a few elders who had come to learn cooking from him, there were basically no direct relatives.
If it weren't for Guan Shan's family and Zheng Wentian's family to support the occasion, this wedding would have been difficult to handle.
When the time came to about eleven thirty, most of the guests had arrived.
Under the auspices of the best man, the wedding of He Daqing and Chen Xueru officially began.
".Happy that today the wedding ceremony is completed, a good marriage is concluded, the son of He family marries the daughter of Chen family!"
"The two families are united in marriage, and the contract is signed in one hall. The marriage is eternal, and the match is the same. Look at the peach blossoms on this day, which are bright and suitable for the family. I predict that in the future, your descendants will continue to grow, and you will be prosperous. I respectfully write this promise of growing old together on a red paper, so that the red leaf alliance can be recorded in the love genealogy. This is the certificate"
"Now that the auspicious time has arrived, I declare that the wedding officially begins."
"The two newlyweds came forward and bowed to heaven and earth. One bow to heaven, for a perfect match; two bows to earth, for a happy marriage; three bows to heaven and earth, for a long and lasting marriage."
"Two bows to parents, one bow to honor parents, the love between flesh and blood is as deep as the East Sea; two bows to thank parents for their upbringing, the grace is as heavy as a mountain; three bows to wish parents a happy family life and a long life"
"The couple bows to each other. One bow means they are wholeheartedly devoted to each other, deeply in love, and will grow old together. Two bows mean they are willing to do what they want, and will be in love forever. Three bows mean they are lucky to be together, and will be together forever."
"…………"
It can only be said that He Daqing got married too early. If it was a few years later, he might have to pay his respects to the statue of the great man and experience the wedding characteristics of the 1960s and 1970s.
After a simple ceremony, the banquet officially began.
There were really a lot of people coming today. He Daqing set up a total of twelve tables.
Of course, the relatives of the two families added together, there were only four or five tables, and the rest were all friends and neighbors.
Because Chen Xueru has been in Daqianmen for a long time.
Now that she is getting married, the familiar shop owners in Daqianmen must bring their families to show their support.
There are also her former classmates, friends, business partners, etc.
Adding them together, there are quite a few people.
He Daqing has never been a stingy person, and he has never counted on getting rich by getting married.
So the standard of today's banquet is very high. Each table has twelve dishes, both meat (Li De's) and vegetarian, and there is no count of white wine and drinks.
If it tastes good, then drink more.
If it doesn't taste good, then drink less.
If you calculate it, the cost of one table must be thirty or forty yuan.
Anyway, even if they didn't lose money, they wouldn't make any money either. Everyone was spending money to eat, and the food was more affordable than going to a big restaurant.
The whole wedding cost about 600 to 700 yuan.
When He Daqing and Chen Xueru sent all the guests away, and took Sha Zhu to clean up the tables, chairs, pots, pans, etc., it was almost three or four o'clock.
After the wedding was completed, what was the first thing to do?
Enter the bridal chamber?
This was definitely impossible, after all, it was still early and it was not time to enter the bridal chamber yet.
In fact, when He Daqing returned to the room, Chen Xueru was happily counting money with Xiao Yushui.
You one, I one.
After counting, the total was 1,879.80 yuan, just 20 cents less than 700 yuan.
And He Daqing spent a total of 668.5 yuan on this wedding, and made a net profit of 1,211.30 yuan.
Of course, most of the betrothal money came from the relatives of the two families.
Or most of it came from He Daqing's second uncle and third uncle, who each gave 600 yuan.
Next came Chen Xueru's uncle and two cousins, each of whom gave 100 yuan.
The rest came from others, totaling 379.8 yuan. If you really counted it, it would probably not be enough for the banquet.
Chen Xueru pushed the money on the table to He Daqing, saying calmly,"We just counted it twice."
"This is more than 1,800 yuan in total. You can deposit it in the bank tomorrow. Most of it is from your side. Our wedding was so wonderful today. I was thinking of giving some money, but I didn't expect there would be so much left."
He Daqing heard this and said with a smile:"Wife, I give it all to you. You can spend it as you like."
Chen Xueru stared at He Daqing for a while, and confirmed that he really wanted to give the money to her for safekeeping, then she smiled and said:"You are sensible!"