150, The Stance of the Gao Family

Relying on his height and agile movements, Liu Gang ultimately snatched the bouquet from their company commander! He was so delighted that he couldn't stop grinning from ear to ear.

Jiang Min and Li Xiaomei were also among the crowd participating, but hindered by their short stature and the sheer number of people, they could only feel disappointed. However, upon seeing that Liu Gang had actually caught the bouquet, they couldn't help but scoff at him.

Liu Gang, lost in his joy, naturally didn't notice!

"Good lad! I'll be waiting to drink to your wedding next!" Zeng Lin stepped forward, clapping a fist onto Liu Gang’s shoulder with a playful grin. His brother wasn't young anymore; it was high time he settled down.

Once the ceremony concluded, the formal wedding banquet began. This was the feast every villager had been looking forward to. Although the newlyweds were not accepting monetary gifts, the simple-hearted villagers couldn't truly show up empty-handed and brazenly eat for free.

Therefore, Jing Suyun and Mother Gao had been busy receiving gifts from the moment they started greeting villagers until the start of the ceremony. Though they initially tried to decline, the villagers’ enthusiasm was overwhelming, and they eventually had to accept them.

After it was all said and done, five or six baskets of items were piled up in the main hall, containing an assortment of everything imaginable. There were eggs, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and other vegetables and foodstuffs; brown sugar, rock sugar, seasonings, and other cooking supplies; and daily necessities like washbasins, towels, and combs. In short, the villagers brought whatever they could spare as a token of their well-wishes.

Of course, there were a small number of people who truly came empty-handed; there are always those who don't feel any shame.

Since gifts had been accepted, regardless of size or value, Jing Suyun meticulously recorded them in a notebook, noting who gave what as a matter of social etiquette, keeping a tally to stay informed.

Zhang Liangping and the two groomsmen busied themselves seating the guests, trying their best to arrange a spot for everyone. Some impatient villagers, fearing they wouldn't get a seat, rushed to occupy tables before they could be directed, and the others could do nothing about such people.

Because today was a public holiday, almost everyone in the village had come. Furthermore, a group from the Second Production Team where Gao Yaohua worked had also arrived, invited by Father Gao and the couple Gao Wei and his wife—these were families with whom they usually had good relations.

Since they had shown up at the door, Gao Shen couldn't just turn them away. It was a wedding, after all. In the end, he had to have Li Yougen and his son go to the homes of other villagers to borrow four more tables to finally accommodate everyone who had come to witness the ceremony.

Auntie Li and six other women were in charge of the banquet food. Seeing a much larger crowd than they had anticipated, the women felt a surge of anxiety, but fortunately, they were experienced in such work and didn't fall into complete disarray.

Gao Shen’s helpers were exhausted, running around greeting guests, arranging seating, and registering gifts; they hadn't stopped since the early morning.

In contrast, the groom’s father, Gao Yaohua, acted like a grand master, sitting as steady as a mountain at the head table without ever moving. He sat alongside the two team leaders of Dajing Village.

Gao Yaohua maintained his haughty air, neither helping to greet guests nor assisting with coordination. He chatted and laughed with the two team leaders, occasionally ordering Mother Gao to pour him tea and fetch water, which made the helpers furious.

One would think he was a guest of honor! He showed absolutely no sense of responsibility as an elder. The others were speechless and simply chose to ignore him. If not for the fact that a wedding was taking place, Zhang Liangping would have loved to step up and give him a piece of his mind—the old man!

As for Gao Wei and his wife, they took advantage of the chaos to scurry about, trying to snatch some personal benefit. However, Jing Qingxin had already spoken to her godmother, Auntie Liu, and Auntie Li beforehand.

Because the three women were in charge of different tasks, Jing Qingxin had specifically warned them not to let anyone take advantage of the situation and to keep a close eye on the supplies, especially pointing out Su Lijuan as someone who required special attention.

As a result, after Su Lijuan scurried all over the place, even scouring the kitchen area, the supply storage in the main hall, and the tables, she didn't manage to gain a single advantage. She was kept under close watch by the helpers, which made her so angry that she gorged herself once the meal finally began!

Seeing his family’s behavior, Gao Shen didn't want to engage with them. He had no energy to spare for them. Regarding his family, he now maintained a calm detachment, letting them do as they pleased, provided they didn't disrupt his wedding banquet.

After the interactive segment ended, Gao Shen began opening bottles of wine for every table. Since it was a wedding banquet, how could it be complete without wedding wine?

This made the men of the village incredibly happy. Even if there wasn't much wine, being able to have a glass was more than enough to satisfy them!

According to custom, the newlyweds had to toast the guests table by table. After tossing the bouquet, Jing Qingxin had returned to the inner room to change. She had prepared a dress for the toasts in advance; although her Xiuhe gown was exquisite and beautiful, she couldn't bear to wear it while pouring drinks. The bridal outfit was entirely handmade, and if it were stained, it would be difficult to clean.