Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside

Chapter 1328: The Wedding [8]

Actually, these are still few. With Qin San Lang’s current wealth, giving Gu Jinli a dowry of 120 chests is completely doable, but Gu Jinli said, this is the countryside, offering such a flashy dowry is too conspicuous; no one does that here.

One should not flaunt one’s wealth. He could provide 36 dowries, and her family would provide 30 chests of dowrys, making a total of 66 chests, converting the rest into silver for her to keep.

Qin San Lang agreed, but he still felt he owed her, saying that after avenging his family, he would make up for the dowry.

However, some doubted, saying, "Could this 66 chests of dowry just be for show? The Gu Family, no matter how rich, can they really afford such a dowry?"

Daughters are money-losers; even if there is silver, it is kept for the sons.

Someone immediately retorted, "How could it be fake? Just look at those bent carrying poles, you can see it’s solid goods, not hollow!"

After hearing this, everyone immediately looked at the poles carrying the dowry and saw that they were indeed bent: "Solid goods, indeed solid goods, the Gu Family certainly deserves their wealthy reputation."

"Of course, the Gu Family is in the big business of spices and ham, how could they not have money? Look at those piles of earth bricks and roof tiles on the chests, just this dowry takes up six chests, who knows how much land and property they are accompanying with this."

"It’s not just land and houses, I’ve heard there are also manors and shops. If my family had a manor and a shop, I wouldn’t worry anymore."

"Pah, Liu Dazeng, with your lazy ways, you still dream of being a shop-owning master? Dream on!" Liu Dazeng’s wife suddenly appeared out of nowhere, yelling at Liu Dazeng: "What nonsense are you talking about? Hurry up, the wedding carriage is almost at Songzi Manor, there’s a trail of joy money to pick up along the way, hurry and go collect it!"

She continued cursing: "You’re still not being diligent with collecting money, and you dream of getting rich? If you really got rich, it would mean God went blind!"

After hearing this, Liu Dazeng and the others immediately chased after the wedding carriage.

The Qin family’s wedding carriage moved very slowly, but there was a large crowd running after it.

Qin San Lang, riding on a horse, came to the side of the wedding carriage, knocked on the carriage, and leaned in to say, "Xiao Yu, we’ll just take a quick round trip through the town, we’ll be back soon. Don’t be afraid, if you’re tired, take a nap, I’ll wake you when we get home."

Upon hearing his voice, Gu Jinli felt a bit joyful in her heart and said through the carriage curtain, "I’m not afraid, these are all familiar places, nothing to fear, just a bit hungry."

Qin San Lang had heard that the bride could only have one meal in the morning, realizing she might be hungry, he said, "There’s a box in the carriage with some food and a pot of hot water, feel free to eat."

The weather was very cold, and it had been snowing for days, so he had specially put some hot food in the carriage for her.

Gu Jinli, delighted, quickly opened the box and indeed found a pot of hot water and a box of pancakes wrapped in a quilt beside it.

Gu Jinli knocked on the carriage and said, "I see it, you can go ahead, no need to stay here with me."

The groom usually rides a big horse up front, there’s no one accompanying the bride all the way.

Qin San Lang, hearing this, laughed and reminded her, "Remember to eat, don’t let yourself go hungry."

After saying that, he lightly urged his horse forward, bowing with cupped hands to return the greetings of the congratulating townsfolk.

Gu Jinli, however, did not eat those pancakes, only drank a small cup of hot water... Mrs. Cui had said that once the bride leaves her family, she shouldn’t eat until after the wedding ceremony, or it would bring bad luck.

Mrs. Cui didn’t say how it would be bad, though?

But she wanted to spend her life with Brother Qin, so since Mrs. Cui suggested it might be bad, she chose not to eat.

After drinking the water, she took out the quilt from the carriage and covered herself, dozing off leaning against the carriage wall.

After an unknown amount of time, the carriage was knocked again, and Qin San Lang’s voice came through, "Xiao Yu, asleep? Wake up, we’ve entered the village; we’re almost home."

When Qin San Lang called the first time, there was no answer; he figured she was asleep, so he called a second time.

Fortunately, she was alert and awoke at the second call.

Gu Jinli replied, "Mm, I hear you, no worries."

Upon hearing this, Qin San Lang laughed and said, "Hang in there a bit more, after the wedding ceremony and lifting the veil, you can change out of your wedding dress and rest."

"Alright." Gu Jinli replied, removing the quilt, tidying her wedding dress and headgear, as well as the red bridal veil covering her.

"The bride is here, the bride is here!!" The children in the village ran alongside the wedding carriage, shouting excitedly. Company Commander Qin had said the louder they shouted, the more joy candies and happiness money they would get.

They continued shouting all the way to the Qin family’s door, shouting with all their might.

"The groom’s family arrives, the bride’s coming down!" The Zong matchmaker shouted, handing Qin San Lang three arrows wrapped in red cloth covering copper coins.

The procedures had been explained beforehand, so Qin San Lang took the arrows and, following tradition, shot three arrows, each lifting a corner of the carriage curtain, revealing a vivid red shadow, drawing cheers from onlookers.

Qin San Lang laughed and lifted the curtain, saying thrice, "Dear wife, let’s go home."

After the third call, Gu Jinli replied according to custom, answering three times, "Okay."

Qin San Lang’s smile grew wider, and he took her hand, helping her off the carriage... the horse pulling the carriage was indeed impressive, from causing a ruckus at home to the town and back, it wasn’t frightened at all, dutifully bringing the lady back.

The Zong matchmaker hurriedly took out a red silk ribbon from the carriage and tied it around the wrists of Gu Jinli and Qin San Lang, saying, "Tie the red silk, and may you be joyfully together till old age."

She softly reminded Qin San Lang, "It’s done, lead the bride into the house, remember to walk on the red cloth, avoid the muddy path."

Qin San Lang nodded, holding the red silk and leading Gu Jinli along the path covered with red cloth toward home.

Madam Guo arrived with servants, who scattered golden rice and copper coins at the entrance, lit a fire basin, and placed the golden jade Ruyi brought by Madam Guo.

Gu Jinli walked the path filled with golden rice and copper coins, stepped over the fire basin, and took hold of the gold and jade double Ruyi placed in the house before starting the wedding ceremony.

"The auspicious hour has arrived; the bride and groom will bow to Heaven and Earth now!" shouted the Zong matchmaker. After the bride and groom stood in their places and the guests gathered, they looked toward County Magistrate Zheng.

The wedding ceremony is a big deal and requires a highly respected person to officiate. County Magistrate Zheng was here today to be that person.

Originally, Qin San Lang wanted Jiang Dahu to be the officiant, but Jiang Dahu suggested that since the Zheng Family is a noble family, even though County Magistrate Zheng is a collateral branch, he has the backing of the Zheng Family. With a bright future ahead, having him officiate would build ties, making it easier for Qin San Lang when he goes to the Northwest to connect with the Zheng Family. He was old and couldn’t help him much.

County Magistrate Zheng stood not far from Qin San Lang, holding a jade token inscribed with "Heaven, Earth, Sovereign, Parents," and announced loudly, "The auspicious hour has arrived; the bride and groom, bow to Heaven and Earth!"

The Zong matchmaker guided Qin San Lang and Gu Jinli to face the house door, and they knelt to bow to Heaven and Earth.

After they finished bowing, County Magistrate Zheng said, "Rise!"

He then shouted, "Second bow to the parents!"

Qin San Lang and Gu Jinli were turned to face Elder Qin and knelt down.