Chapter 144: A Variety of Styles in Dressing Up!

Seeing that Jing Qingxin was all set, Jing Suyun and Liu Ping realized there was nothing left for them to do. Thinking that Gao Shen’s small courtyard must be a hive of activity, they hurried over to help.

Only Jing Qingxin, Jiang Min, and Li Xiaomei remained in the Li family’s small courtyard. The latter two were gazing at Jing Qingxin with expressions of pure infatuation. It was enough to make Jing Qingxin’s skin crawl; who wouldn't get goosebumps being stared at so intensely by their own gender?

"Alright, you two, that’s enough! Stop fawning over me! I can't handle it!" Jing Qingxin said with a feigned glare. Yet, with her current attire and her natural beauty, even a glare from her looked charming.

"Sister Jing, you look so beautiful. I have never seen a girl as pretty as you!" Li Xiaomei said with a giggle.

Jing Qingxin was amused by the remark. "Hehe, you little girl, how many people have you even seen? There is always someone better, and a sky beyond the sky!"

"Sister Qingxin, you are the most beautiful, no matter what!" Jiang Min chimed in, speaking with such conviction that she seemed desperate for Jing Qingxin to believe her.

"Fine, fine, I’m the most beautiful, happy now? Do you two want to look pretty too?" Jing Qingxin’s eyes sparkled with a mischievous, bright charm.

"Yes!" they answered in unison.

"Then sit still and don't move!"

Seeing there was still some time before the wedding procession, and since the girls were clearly captivated by her makeup, Jing Qingxin decided to give them a simple makeover.

She tidied their eyebrows, applied a brightening cream, added a touch of blush, and finished with a light pink lip gloss. The fresh and pleasant look suited them perfectly. Being in the prime of their youth, all they needed was a simple dress and a light touch of makeup to look radiant. The two girls stared at their reflections in the mirror, their smiles blooming with immense satisfaction.

Just as the three were frolicking, a sudden, bustling noise erupted outside the courtyard gate. They all guessed that the wedding procession must be arriving.

***

Outside the Li family’s gate, the area was already crowded with villagers. Since it was a holiday and no one had to work, everyone from the elderly to the smallest children had gathered early to join the excitement—especially since they knew there would be meat to eat.

When the crowd arrived at the Gao family’s courtyard, they were stunned by the scale of the preparations. Ten or more tables were lined up in the open space outside the gate, already set with cold dishes and bottles of wine. There was no need to worry about a shortage of food, either; one look at the towering stack of seven or eight steamer baskets by the outdoor stove, and the wooden boards laden with various meats and vegetables, made it clear that the wedding feast would be lavish.

With lunch taken care of, the villagers turned their attention to the atmosphere. It had been a long time since the village had seen such a grand wedding, and the layout of the Gao courtyard struck everyone as both novel and formal. Usually, weddings in the village were simple affairs—just a meal and it was over.

"People from the city really know how to put on a show!" the villagers whispered to each other in awe.

Regardless of how it was done, the villagers were just happy to join in the fun. Some of the younger wives had wanted to go inside to see the bride, but the gates were locked, and word was that the bride was still having her makeup done. In the past, brides didn't keep people waiting, but this wedding was different.

Unable to see the bride, the crowd had to curb their curiosity and sit patiently on the wooden stools provided, chatting, laughing, and cracking melon seeds.

"Hmph, so pretentious. Not even letting people look! A bride is a bride, what more could she do? I don't believe she can turn herself into something extraordinary," Liu Fangfang muttered, sitting on a wooden stool with a look of discontent.

She was filled with resentment. Because of that woman, she had spent the last few days enduring strange looks and whispers from the village women. She knew they were gossiping about her, but she hadn't been able to catch anyone in the act, which only fueled her anger.

When she heard yesterday that the hateful woman was marrying that crippled soldier, she felt a surge of schadenfreude. Even if she heard his leg had healed, he was still just a soldier—what was there to be proud of? Her own uncle was a high-ranking official, and she moved in circles with the children of powerful families. Compared to her, that woman was delusional!

"Fangfang, keep your voice down," Zhang Yun whispered, noticing the looks they were drawing and pulling at her sleeve.

Irritated by the interruption, Liu Fangfang snapped back, "Why should I lower my voice? A bride is meant to be seen, yet she acts as if she’s too good for us, keeping the big gate shut! Is this any way to treat guests?"

She hadn't wanted to attend the wedding, but since there was no gift money required and the villagers were invited for free, her greed for meat had won out. Even though her family was well-off, it wasn't easy to get meat in the village. Since the woman was hosting, why shouldn't she attend? In fact, she intended to eat as much as she could and eat them into poverty! Hmph!