Chapter 234: Chapter 234
That truly was a case of ’how the tables have turned.’ Once, no one in Wu County wanted Wei Zheng, but now everyone is scrambling for him. As luck would have it, Qiao Lian’s family sold her for 200 pounds of food, and it’s said Qiao Lian even tried to hang herself before the wedding. But now? Who doesn’t envy Qiao Lian for finding such a good man?
"It depends if Qiao Lian can see the truth of it or not."
On New Year’s Eve, All China had a special power supply, and every government administration held an unlimited 0.5 Virtual Coin buffet. Some places served dishes of insect eggs and mushrooms. Others featured garlic sprouts with insect eggs, while still others offered seaweed with insect eggs. Each region had its specialties, generally based on what could be grown and what was most abundant.
Jing Shu pitied those who ate garlic. They had to cover their mouths when greeting others because of the strong smell.
The New Year’s Eve gala started on time in the evening. The host still appeared without makeup. This year’s program mainly consisted of light-hearted comedy sketches and dances expressing hope for the future. The overall message was clear: the sun will always rise, just as dawn always comes, so don’t give up hope.
While the New Year’s Eve gala played, the family began a lavish dinner. Qiao Lian’s family had never eaten such a sumptuous meal, not even before the apocalypse!
The seafood selection alone included several unfamiliar types of shellfish, supposedly abalones. They tasted alright, but not nearly as delicious as pork belly, Qiao Lian’s family thought.
Speaking of which, the pork belly Jing Shu had roasted was extravagantly seasoned with barbecue spices and finally wrapped in lettuce. When they bit into it, the crispy tenderness of the pork combined with the freshness of the lettuce made for the most delicious grilled meat Qiao Lian’s family had ever tasted!
And then there were the dumplings: shrimp and three-delicacy dumplings, chive and egg dumplings, even pineapple dumplings—an overwhelming variety! After tasting a few bites of each dish, they were full. It was so frustrating not to be able to eat more without feeling like throwing up!
"Look at this, you come to our house and still bring so much food... we’re indebted to you for too much," the elder aunt said, embarrassed.
"Elder Sister, don’t be so formal. You three sisters helped out a lot when I got married," Mr. Jing said, raising his glass—not of alcohol, but of milk reconstituted from powder.
Grandma Jing couldn’t stop smiling. Elderly people cherish sibling affection the most. Her past favoritism toward her younger son had caused discontent among her daughters, but now that she treated them all equally, things were much better.
Speaking of wine, the grapes in her space had ripened. Jing Shu planned to make wine and also prepare a batch of sweet fermented rice. It would be perfect with poached eggs and sweet dumplings in the morning!
The family had a joyous New Year’s Eve. Before the apocalypse, New Year’s Eve meant staying up all night with the lights on. Adults would play mahjong, children would play cards all night, and at midnight, the sound of firecrackers would erupt everywhere. Unfortunately, in the current apocalypse, none of that remained; the whole world fell into darkness and silence.
Just after midnight, as the gala broadcast concluded, the power was cut. The whole family had no choice but to go to sleep. Jing Shu distributed hot water bottles, filled with boiled water, to everyone to warm their beds. Although the heated kang in the spare room had been going the previous night, the bedding was still ice-cold and took over half an hour of body heat to warm up.
Jing Shu suddenly remembered the raffle she had entered at Suning. She had won several rechargeable, constant-temperature hand warmers. Those would be perfect when the extreme cold drops to minus 70 degrees. Hot water bottles won’t stay warm for even an hour or two in such low temperatures, and boiling water is a waste of time. Hand warmers are much more convenient.
With the hot water bottles warming their beds, everyone had to admit Jing Shu was very thoughtful. The family soon fell asleep.
「At four in the morning on New Year’s Day」
The entire family rose to prepare for Wei Zheng and Qiao Lian’s wedding. Everyone was incredibly busy, almost beyond their limits.
The elder aunt had invited about sixty people to the wedding. Some were her old school friends, some were Wei Zheng’s friends, some were the Uncle’s connections, and of course, there were colleagues from the livestock farm.
Since no hotels were available, they set up tables in their own home. All the raw ingredients had been prepared the day before. Today, they just needed to cook the washed and processed vegetables into wedding banquet dishes.
Preparing a meal for sixty people was quite a challenge, especially during the apocalypse when resources were scarce.
So, Grandma Jing and the elder aunt, both skilled cooks, went to help with the meal. Mrs. Jing, admitting she was clumsy with her hands, helped with other tasks, like recording the gifts received.
"Be careful when receiving gifts, Dad. You stay with Mom and be vigilant. There might be envious people around," Jing Shu advised. "Here’s a gun; keep it with you for protection."
"What? Do we really need several people to watch over a few miscellaneous gifts?" Mr. Jing grumbled. "Fine, the men will go out and act as guards."
Jing Shu and Wu You’ai didn’t have much to do, so they helped Qiao Lian with her makeup.
Grandma Jing had sewn a red Dragon and Phoenix Robe for Qiao Lian. It was festive and beautiful, instantly creating the atmosphere of a traditional Chinese wedding. Jing Shu first applied a cucumber mask to Qiao Lian’s face, then used her limited cosmetics to give her a light makeup look, and finally styled her hair. Perfect.
Qiao Lian had been initially depressed because she didn’t have any bridal attire. She had always dreamed of a proper wedding. To her surprise, Wei Zheng’s grandmother (Grandma Jing) had arrived bringing so many wonderful things: bridal clothes, a bridal quilt, and a beautifully redecorated wedding room. It fulfilled all her fantasies about a wedding.
How had her new in-laws treated her? They pampered her with delicious food and drink, even supporting her own family. And yet, her family clung to her like vampires... At that moment, Qiao Lian made a decision.
「The wedding ceremony officially began at twelve o’clock sharp.」
Although there were no firecrackers, the sound of gongs and drums, arranged by the Uncle, filled the air. The entire Wu County soon knew that Wei Chang’s family was welcoming a new daughter-in-law. As the first guests arrived, the elder aunt’s house quickly filled. The advantage of their single-story house was its large courtyard. After moving two vehicles out, they managed to set up tables and chairs borrowed from various places. Though a bit mismatched, they squeezed everyone in.
The Uncle had even set up a small stage and hired a host to officiate the wedding.
At the courtyard entrance was the gift reception area, complete with a red ledger for registering gifts. Essentially, every arriving guest presented a gift. Mrs. Jing was responsible for recording them, while Mr. Jing and Grandpa Jing verified everything.
The records were important for reciprocating gifts in the future. This was the customary way of social exchange. Find the newest release on ⓝovelFire.net
Before the apocalypse, people usually gave money directly. After the apocalypse, bartering goods became popular, as Virtual Coins and other supplies were lifesaving necessities. Consequently, Mrs. Jing received an assortment of items, all of which held some value.
"Alright, no one else seems to be coming. Let’s bring the gifts inside. The ceremony is starting," Mrs. Jing said.
"Okay," replied Mr. Jing, helping to gather the items.
Just then, a loud screech of brakes tore through the air. A pickup truck came rushing forward, heading straight for the courtyard gate...
"In this thrilling moment... let us offer our fervent..." the host began.
At that instant, screams erupted, followed by gunshots! Jing Shu, who had been in the courtyard watching the festivities, didn’t hesitate for a second and dashed out!
The wedding scene descended into chaos!