149. The Bridal Bouquet of Happiness

With the vows concluded, the wedding ceremony reached its official end. As Jing Qingxin held the bouquet that symbolized happiness, she couldn't help but think of the bouquet-tossing tradition from post-modern weddings.

She had fully received Gao Shen's heartfelt intentions, and in this moment, she was truly happy. She wanted to share this joy with others, just as they did in the future, and pass on this happiness. She leaned in close to Gao Shen and whispered her idea to him.

"Do as you wish! Whatever makes you happy," Gao Shen replied with a doting expression and a gentle smile. He had crafted the bouquet himself, trimming the stems according to a picture in a book and decorating them with red cloth. He had chosen eleven red roses because the book stated that eleven roses meant "I love you for a lifetime." This perfectly reflected his love for Qingxin, and he had poured his devotion into creating the bouquet. Now that the ceremony was successfully completed, he felt she had surely sensed his love; the flowers themselves were secondary, and he could always make her more. Since she had this idea, he supported and respected it completely.

Jing Qingxin beamed. She knew he would agree. If not for the guests present, she would have loved to throw herself into his arms and kiss him.

Gao Shen turned toward the crowd and called out, "Everyone, may I have your attention!"

Instantly, the place fell silent. Everyone looked at the couple with curiosity and confusion.

Seeing that she had the room's attention, Jing Qingxin smiled and said, "Today is the wedding of Gao Shen and me. We are so grateful to everyone for coming to witness and bless our union."

Pausing, she raised the bouquet and smiled. "This is the bride's bouquet, symbolizing happiness and fulfillment. Right now, I want to pass this happiness on. I hope that whoever catches this bouquet will also find a happy and fulfilling marriage."

The crowd erupted into excited chatter. They found her idea novel and intriguing. Many remarked that they had attended plenty of weddings, but had never encountered anything so fun and unique, and they showed great interest.

"Bride, how do we catch the flowers?" someone shouted from the crowd, and others echoed the question. Seeing their enthusiasm, Jing Qingxin felt delighted; after all, a wedding was meant to be a lively affair.

She smiled and said, "Don't worry, everyone, listen to me. I will stand with my back to you and toss the bouquet backward. Whoever catches it will be blessed with good fortune! However, only unmarried men and women may participate."

A chorus of sighs rose from the crowd—many were young, newly married couples who regretted missing out on the fun. Since this was their first time seeing such a tradition, everyone wanted a chance to join in the excitement.

Jing Qingxin quickly added, "Unmarried folks, please line up in front of the stage! For those who can't join the toss, don't be disappointed—Gao Shen will be tossing out small red envelopes for everyone to add to the fun!"

The small courtyard turned into a scene of jubilation. Everyone was high-spirited, rolling up their sleeves and keeping a wary eye on their neighbors. Even Liu Fangfang, who had originally been disdainful of everything regarding Jing Qingxin, felt moved by the sentiment and pulled Zhang Yun into the crowd. Who wouldn't want the promise of a happy, perfect love? Getting a bit of good luck wouldn't hurt, either.

The elders, including Zhang Liangping, stood back with smiles, leaving the space to the youth. Watching the lively, energetic scene, they felt a sense of youthful vitality return to them.

Gao Shen took a stack of red envelopes from Zeng Lin, his hands full—there must have been at least forty or fifty of them. The crowd’s eyes sparkled at the sight. Su Lijuan was not to be outdone, dragging her two sons as she shoved her way to the front, completely ignoring the complaints of others.

Seeing that everyone was ready, Jing Qingxin turned her back to the crowd and shouted, "I'm going to count to three, and then I'll toss it!"

"Okay!" the crowd roared back in a unified voice that could be heard for half a kilometer. The two production team leaders couldn't help but sigh, thinking to themselves, "If only you all worked this hard and were this spirited in the fields!"

Gao Shen, watching the atmosphere his wife had stirred up, felt infected by the joy and wore a pleased smile.

"One, two, three!" As soon as she finished, Jing Qingxin tossed the bouquet with both hands. Following her lead, Gao Shen tossed the red envelopes into the crowd.

The scene erupted in cheers.

"Oh! I'm too short!"
"What a pity, so close!"
"Sigh, my bouquet!"
"Wow! I grabbed two envelopes!"
"What? You got two? You must have stepped in dog poop for luck!"

A cacophony of sounds filled the air, but the mood was one of pure joy. Amidst the scramble, the bouquet landed squarely in the hands of Liu Gang.