108: Attending a wedding!

The sky had just begun to brighten.

Outside the window, the sound of firecrackers began to crackle and pop.

It grew more intense with each burst, mixed with the playful laughter of children and the clamor of voices from near and far.

Whenever someone in the village got married, it would be this lively, and once it started, it would last from morning until night, so...

You could basically forget about sleeping in.

Ye Chen and Bing Lan opened their eyes almost at the same time.

Neither of them had slept soundly.

One had a mind filled with the cultivation techniques of the "Mysterious Heart Sutra" and the promise made for a month later, leaving his heart in turmoil.

The other, though seemingly calm, kept having the words Ye Chen had spoken drill into her mind; how could she possibly sleep peacefully?

Now, awakened by this deafening commotion, all traces of fatigue had vanished.

"Are you awake?" Ye Chen sat up and rubbed his aching temples.

"Mm."

Bing Lan sat up as well.

After tossing and turning all night, the neckline of the men's pajama top she was wearing had loosened even further, revealing a patch of fair shoulders and neck.

The morning light, filtering through the gap in the curtains, happened to land on her skin, making it glow with a lustrous sheen.

Ye Chen's gaze brushed against it, his heart skipped a beat, and he quickly averted his eyes, but Bing Lan simply went about taking a set of clothes from her suitcase.

As it turned out...

Ye Chen was stunned to discover that she had pajamas in her suitcase.

Wait...

If you had pajamas, why didn't you say so?

But before he could ask, Bing Lan had already turned and stepped behind the curtain.

By the time both of them had finished washing up and walked out of the room dressed, Zhuang Yufen was already busy in the main room.

On the table were steaming white porridge and a few side dishes.

"You're up? Come and have breakfast!"

She was all smiles, her gaze darting between her son and Bing Lan. Seeing them standing side by side, looking like such a perfect match, she was overjoyed.

"Mom, is it so noisy outside because the wedding is about to start?"

Ye Chen sat down and took a sip of porridge.

"That's right."

Zhuang Yufen explained, "Today's wedding is being held at the Xingang Hotel in town. It's a grand affair, and they've been making a ruckus since this morning. We'll be heading over in a bit."

Ye Huasheng, who was to the side, hesitated for a moment: "Do we really have to go?"

He kept feeling that...

His older brother hadn't given up.

"The invitation has already been sent. We're all neighbors and relatives; it wouldn't look good if we didn't go." Zhuang Yufen rolled her eyes.

Upon hearing this, Ye Huasheng drank his porridge in silence, tacitly agreeing.

Ye Chen nodded: "Then I'll drive in a bit."

"Good!"

Zhuang Yufen nodded quickly, then looked at Bing Lan, feeling a bit embarrassed, "Miss Bing, country weddings are noisy and have many customs. If you're not used to it, just tell A-Chen, and we'll come back early."

Bing Lan shook her head gently: "Auntie, I'm fine."

Her tone was calm, revealing no particular emotion, but this willingness to "follow local customs" made Zhuang Yufen feel even more comforted...

Breakfast was finished quickly.

Ye Chen went to the courtyard to bring the car to the entrance, and everyone got in.

It was Ye Huasheng and Zhuang Yufen's first time riding in such a high-end car; they didn't know where to put their hands and feet.

Bing Lan, however, was quite natural; she sat in the passenger seat and fastened her seatbelt.

Ye Chen started the car, drove slowly out of the village road, and merged into the traffic heading toward town.

The closer they got to the town, the more obvious the festive decorations became; motorcycles adorned with red silk and cars with the "Double Happiness" character stuck on them were endless.

The Xingang Hotel was the only decent hotel in Shanyao Town. It had four floors, and its decoration was considered grand in the local area.

At this moment, a long red carpet was laid out at the hotel entrance, and it was filled with flower baskets. A massive rainbow arch had an electronic screen scrolling the message: "Congratulations to Mr. Ye Hao and Ms. Liu Shui on their wedding."

The parking lot was already packed.

Among them were many vehicles belonging to town leaders and business owners...

But the moment the Cullinan appeared, it immediately caught the attention of the greeters at the door and many of the guests.

"Holy crap, a Cullinan? Whose is that?"

"Never seen it before. Out-of-town license plate... Is it from Xiamen City?"

"Could it be a friend of that kid Ye Hao? Does he have connections like that?"

Amidst the chatter, Ye Chen parked the car in a slightly secluded corner, and the four of them got out.

But as soon as they stepped out...

The nearby villagers, who were huddled together smoking and chatting, had sharp eyes and immediately recognized Ye Huasheng and Zhuang Yufen.

"Oh, Huasheng! Yufen! You're here? Is this... A-Chen? Haven't seen you in years, you've changed a lot!"

"This car... is it A-Chen's? Amazing! Did you make a fortune in the city?"

"And this is..."

Everyone's gaze fell squarely on Bing Lan. Beyond being stunned by her beauty, they were mostly in disbelief.

There was no helping it...

A goddess like Bing Lan was destined to be the center of attention wherever she went.

Ye Huasheng nodded and responded, feeling a bit awkward.

Zhuang Yufen, however, straightened her back and wore a polite smile: "She is A-Chen's girlfriend. The car belongs to Xiao Lan; we're just catching a ride."

She didn't try to hide or cover anything up.

After all...

People inside and outside the village had already seen them; hiding it would only lead to rumors.

And as soon as her words were out...

Everyone's face showed astonishment.

You have to know...

The air of elegance Bing Lan carried clearly showed she was no ordinary person.

So much so that...

The people around were lost in wild speculation, and the way they looked at Ye Chen changed.

Ye Chen didn't engage in much small talk; shielding Bing Lan and his parents, he walked straight toward the hotel lobby.

The lobby was even more lively and bustling with noise, with dozens of round tables almost completely full.

The emcee was on stage testing the microphone, and the background music was festive and joyous.

At the registration desk, Ye Hao was wearing a tight-fitting suit with a groom's red flower pinned to his chest, bragging to some young friends.

When he caught sight of Ye Chen's group entering, especially when he saw Bing Lan, the smug smile on his face froze for a second, then he forced it back on, though a deep sense of jealousy and unwillingness flashed in his eyes.

Damn it!

That woman is even more beautiful than yesterday!

That son of a bitch really hit the jackpot, getting picked by a woman like that.

But...

If you came today, just wait to make a fool of yourselves!

When the time comes...

I want to see...

If that woman will still continue to date you?

Ye Hao walked up, his tone exaggerated.

"Yo, Brother Chen is here!"

"You just got divorced, and you've already found such a beautiful girlfriend. You really are the envy of everyone!"

"Quick, quick, please come inside! We saved good seats for you!"

He deliberately emphasized the word "divorced," afraid that others wouldn't hear it.

Sure enough...

Once the people around heard that Ye Chen was divorced and had found a new girlfriend, they started speculating even more wildly...

But Ye Chen couldn't be bothered to pay attention to them; he followed the custom and handed over the red envelope he had prepared in advance.

The person recording the gifts was a distant relative of Chen Jinhua. He took the thick red envelope, squeezed it, and immediately beamed with joy, shouting out loud: "The Ye Huasheng family, gift money of 8,888 yuan!"

The voice transmitted vaguely through the microphone, and guests at nearby tables turned to look, whispering and discussing.

"Whoa, the Huasheng family is so generous?"

"I heard his son is doing well in the city?"

"I heard A-Chen got divorced and found a girlfriend who drives a Cullinan. Maybe that beautiful girl put up the money..."

Ye Hao's face darkened again.

He had wanted to see the Ye Huasheng family make a fool of themselves, but he hadn't expected them to give such a generous gift, which only made his previous claims about Ye Chen being destitute look like a joke.

Ignoring the various gazes, Ye Chen followed the directions and led his parents and Bing Lan to a round table near the front of the stage.

This position wasn't the best, but it wasn't bad either. At the same table were a few other relatives from town, all elders he recognized but couldn't name.

Not long after they sat down, the wedding ceremony officially began.

The lights shifted, the music became sentimental, and the emcee used an impassioned tone to invite the bride and groom onto the stage.

Ye Hao walked out with his head held high and chest puffed out, escorting a woman wearing a bulky wedding dress and heavy makeup.

The woman had slightly high cheekbones and thin lips, and her gaze held a sense of pickiness and arrogance as she looked at people. She was none other than the daughter of Town Mayor Liu Mang, Liu Shui.

The ceremony proceeded step by step: exchanging rings, drinking nuptial wine, and the parents of both sides going on stage...

When it was time for Town Mayor Liu Mang to speak, this short, stout Middle-aged Man puffed out his beer belly, walked onto the stage with an official's gait, and took the microphone.

"Dear friends and relatives, fellow villagers and elders!"

"Today is the joyous wedding day of my daughter, Liu Shui, and my worthy son-in-law, Ye Hao. Thank you all for coming to support us despite your busy schedules!"

"Taking advantage of this joyous day, I also have some happy news to announce; you could say it's a double celebration!"

The audience gradually quieted down, and everyone looked toward him.

Town Mayor Liu Mang's smile deepened, and his gaze swept over Ye Chen's table as if by chance.

"Everyone knows that our Shanyao Town is planning new developments, and the future prospects are bright!"

"Our town committee and town government have always encouraged fellow villagers to make rational use of land resources, improve living conditions, and achieve prosperity together!"

"Today, I would like to specifically commend the two families of the brothers Ye Huaqiang and Ye Huasheng!"

He gestured toward the Ye Huaqiang family sitting at the main table. Ye Huaqiang immediately puffed out his chest, his face beaming.

"The brothers are in harmony and are actively responding to our policies!"

"Through friendly consultation and with the approval of the town, Comrade Ye Huasheng has voluntarily transferred the land use rights for his homestead located at the west end of town, by the stone bridge, to his older brother, Comrade Ye Huaqiang, for the construction of demonstration housing for the new countryside!"

"This is a model of brotherly love and a concrete action in support of the town's development!"

"Let us applaud their righteousness!"