Chapter 269: Chapter 269

Liu Laoda’s two daughters, Liu Er Niu and Liu San Niu also wanted candy, but as they were moving stools, and their father hadn’t nodded, they dared not go.

The two watched as the dozen or so children scrambled for candy, feeling very envious.

Granny Zhou, smiling, grabbed a handful of candies and placed them on the table in front of them, "You’ve worked hard, come, eat some candy. This is brought back by our Eldest Young Master from the county, it’s very sweet."

These candies were wrapped in colorful paper, and even before eating, the aroma of fruit could be smelled.

The two little girls each grabbed a few and happily smelled them under their noses, reluctant to eat them.

"Hurry and thank Granny Zhou." Liu Laoda said to his daughters.

"Thank you, Granny Zhou." Liu Er Niu and Liu San Niu exclaimed happily.

"Such good children." Granny Zhou laughed, and again grabbed more candies for each of them.

There were so many candies that their hands couldn’t hold them, Liu Er Niu and Liu San Niu joyfully stuffed them into their pockets.

Liu Er Niu saw her father smiling at them and handed over the candy in her hand, "Dad, have some candy."

"This is for you kids to eat. Dad only drinks wine." Liu Laoda laughed heartily, waving his hand.

"There are quite a lot of wine jugs piled up at home, soon it’ll be time for the feast, let’s first serve wine to those who’ve helped you." Granny Zhou said with a smile.

Eldest Young Master Chai entered the house, and the old servant Uncle Gui led him to the main hall.

In the main hall, sat two old men with white hair.

Eldest Young Master Chai stepped forward, and saluted the two, "Uncles, your grand-nephew greets you."

One of the somewhat older old men said, "Da Lang, when will the Li Family come here to deliver the gifts?"

Eldest Young Master Chai replied, "According to custom, they should arrive around dinner time."

The other old man sighed, "Da Lang, I know you’re eager to marry off your sister, but marrying this way is too..." He shook his head, indicating he couldn’t continue speaking.

The first old man to speak asked, "How much betrothal gift did the Li Family bring over?"

Eldest Young Master Chai disliked hearing people say that Chai Eying was marrying poorly.

Suppressing his displeasure, he said, "I didn’t accept any betrothal gift."

"What?" The first old man said in surprise, "You didn’t accept a betrothal gift? You’re just sending E Ying away?"

The other old man was also surprised, "Your sister is getting married, not bringing a husband into the family! The daughter of the second branch took several hundred taels as a betrothal gift, you didn’t take a single coin. Can your sister hold her head high in the Chai Family? Won’t the Li Family look down on E Ying?"

Eldest Young Master Chai said calmly, "She won’t return to the Chai Family."

"Don’t talk nonsense, which daughter doesn’t return to her parental home?" The first old man said with a stern face, "She’s stubborn, and you’re as stubborn?"

The other old man said, "Da Lang, when the Li Family comes over later, let’s talk about the betrothal gift. If you’re embarrassed to speak, we’ll speak. No betrothal gift, we won’t marry off the girl."

Eldest Young Master Chai stood up. "Uncles, please enjoy your wine, the rest I will handle well."

"Marrying off a sister without taking a single coin in betrothal gift, still call that handling well? This approach disregarding old customs could harm your sister." The first old man said, with deep distress in his voice.

Eldest Young Master Chai didn’t want to talk about this topic anymore.

If he wanted to receive more betrothal gifts, he wouldn’t marry his sister into the Li Family.

He said, "Uncles, take a rest here first, I’ll go check if the banquet is ready."

"Go, go, you’re busy, we aren’t guests, no need to entertain us." The two waved him off.

Eldest Young Master Chai saluted them, then left.

He first went to the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Granny Zhou was leading two cooks busily preparing the banquet dishes.

The main feast wouldn’t start until tomorrow, today was just a small banquet, mainly to serve those who helped, as well as to dine with the Li Family members who came to deliver gifts, the matchmaker, and two clan elders.

To accompany the Li Family members were only two uncles from the clan.

Two tables for the banquet, not too challenging.

Eldest Young Master Chai checked the dishes and drinks, then left the kitchen.

He headed towards Chai E Ying’s chamber.

The atmosphere here was more lively, with occasional laughter heard in the room.

Eldest Young Master Chai set aside the earlier unpleasantness, smiled, and walked into Chai E Ying’s bedroom, "How’s the preparation of my sister’s dowry going? By the way, my brother-in-law’s outfit, let me see it first."

Chai E Ying’s eldest sister-in-law was also in the room, she laughed, "Your fondness hasn’t changed, always coveting other’s outfits. Surely, the one you wore back then wasn’t bad."

According to local customs, the bride’s outfit is prepared by the bride’s family, and the groom’s outfit and accessories are prepared by the bride’s family.

The day before the wedding, the groom’s family arrives to deliver the gifts and takes the outfit along with the dowry accessories prepared by the bride’s family, returning the next day to receive the bride.

If it’s a distant marriage, when the betrothal gifts are delivered, the wedding attire is taken away.

Since Chai Eying is marrying locally, at dusk, the Li Family will send a matchmaker to fetch the wedding attire, and deliver the bridal jewelry and farewell ceremony offerings.

It’s almost dusk now, and the Li Family should be arriving soon.

"I was just curious. My brother-in-law is already so handsome, if he puts on that beautiful wedding attire, won’t he overshadow me?" Eldest Young Master Chai laughed heartily.

Chai Eying’s sister-in-law laughed and said, "Don’t worry, even if he does, I won’t hold it against you."

Their two-year-old son, Chai Tianlang, was playing with a little wooden horse and chimed in, "Dad, I won’t hold it against you either."

This made Eldest Young Master Chai laugh even more heartily.

Chai Eying watched their happy family and mused to herself, wouldn’t her own marriage also be filled with such laughter every day?

Thinking about how she would become a daughter-in-law of the Li Family after tomorrow, Chai Eying blushed with embarrassment.

Luckily, her elder brother’s family was chatting away, and Nanny Jiang was busy with other things, so no one noticed her.

Chai Eying’s sister-in-law said to Eldest Young Master Chai, "Eying’s four dowry trunks are all ready. Three trunks of brand-new clothes and shoes, and one trunk of books. The bride’s wedding attire is hanging here, Eying treasures it greatly."

She smiled and pointed to behind Chai Eying’s bed, where a curtain was hanging, covering something.

Eldest Young Master Chai walked over with a smile to take a look.

Behind the curtain, a wooden stand held two sets of brand-new wedding outfits for a man and a woman.

Eldest Young Master Chai had paid a good sum to hire four skilled embroidery girls to work with Chai Eying to make them within ten days.

He said to Chai Eying, "Look at the time, it’s ready to be taken down. The Li Family will come to fetch the attire soon."

Just as he finished speaking, a loud bang of firecrackers sounded from outside, followed by cheering from the children.

The old servant Uncle Gui, who was busy in the outer room, walked in with a smile and said at Chai Eying’s room door, "Eldest Young Master, Eldest Young Madam, someone from the Li Family has arrived."

Chai Eying jumped up from her chair in a flash.

Her sister-in-law pressed her down with a laugh, "There’s no need for you to go. You’ll see the Li Family after the ceremony tomorrow. What’s the rush?"

She pushed Chai Eying back into her chair.

Chai Eying’s face flushed even redder.

She turned her head, "Who said I wanted to see the Li Family? I... I was just startled by the firecrackers."

Eldest Young Master Chai straightened his attire, took his son’s hand, and called to his wife, "Yunniang, let’s go to the main house." ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novｅlfire.net

"Yes, let’s go see what gifts the Li Family has brought," Chai Eying’s sister-in-law said with a smile, walking over to pick up their son.

Nanny Jiang glanced at Chai Eying and said with a smile, "Third Miss, I’m going to have a look in the main house. I’ll be back shortly."

Chai Eying was eager for her to go, and it was just right to ask her to gather some information about the Li Family’s preparations, "You go ahead, there’s nothing much to do here."

Nanny Jiang, knowing her thoughts, smiled and said, "I’ll just take a quick look and come back."

Chai Eying turned her head away, her eyes smiling.

Eldest Young Master Chai and his family arrived at the main house in the front courtyard, which was bustling with many people.

By this time, twilight had set in, and bright candlelight filled the main house.

Red candles exuded a festive air.

The two clan elders of the Chai Family sat at the head, and the neighbors crowded half the room, all surrounding the Li Family members, chatting and laughing.

The village chief, acting as the matchmaker, dressed festively today like an official on stage.

He laughed as he told everyone about the preparations of the Li Family.

How many banquet tables were prepared, who would be attending, the menu items, and the decorations of the new house.

Everyone was eager to see the wedding tomorrow.

For local weddings, the villagers would watch the bride’s send-off, then join the procession to the groom’s house to attend the ceremony.

It was a common custom for weddings in the village.

Delivering the gifts from the Li Family was Second Young Master Li Xingsheng, accompanied by Liu Er’s two sons.

This too was a village custom. When the bride’s family marries off a daughter, they often invite the girls’ friends. When the groom’s family marries, they invite unmarried young men from the village to participate in the festivities.

Second Young Master Li, dressed newly today, like a scholar, was handsome and eloquent. He entered and scattered candies, making the children very happy.

Next, he handed out red envelopes to everyone.

Not much, just eight coins in each red envelope, but it made all the onlookers, the women, and their husbands, very pleased.

Everyone praised the Li Family for their thoughtful gestures.