A wedding in Yuanxi County (Part 1)

Next, Zhao Dongchuan made a special trip back to Shuangshui Village to discuss specific matters with his father-in-law, Tian Futang, including the bride price.

Tian Futang genuinely valued Zhao Dongchuan, so he also followed the example of He Xiulian's father-in-law and did not ask for a single cent as a bride price.

After failing to persuade him, Zhao Dongchuan no longer dwelled on it.

He took the prepared invitations and delivered them to familiar families in the village.

He repeatedly asked people to just come and not bring gifts, so as not to increase everyone's burden.

Afterward, Zhao Dongchuan rushed back to the Huangyuan Cultural Center.

He went to Director Wang to report on his work, tell him the good news, and obtain a marriage introduction letter.

Of course, he also invited Wu Huiliang and Du Lili.

Fortunately, the nature of his work did not require him to be in the office, and with his works, he was now a famous poet and writer in Huangyuan and even across the country. If it weren't for his young age, he would probably have been given more responsibilities.

During this time, Zhao Dongchuan also met with Huang Laosan several times.

He learned about the current sales and inventory of products.

To his delight, the newly introduced bell-bottoms and frog-eye glasses were selling very well in the south, but not so much locally.

Several large distributors were lining up with money to buy goods, which made Zhao Dongchuan feel that his financial future was bright.

This indicated that business was gradually developing, and his time to shine was approaching.

After giving instructions to Huang Laosan, Zhao Dongchuan quietly left the 'secret base'.

With matters settled, Zhao Dongchuan returned to Yuanxi County to begin wedding preparations.

He even specially prepared a new set of clothes for his father-in-law and mother-in-law at a tailor shop in the county.

Runye was also busy, following Xu Aiyun to purchase '囍' (double happiness) characters, red flowers, ribbons, balloons, and fruits for the wedding in the county.

On the afternoon of the thirteenth day of the first lunar month, Zhao Dongchuan and Tian Runye, amidst their busy schedules, went to the County Civil Affairs Bureau with their marriage introduction letters from their respective workplaces and obtained their marriage certificate.

From this moment on, they were truly a legally protected couple, certified by the state!

The two happily looked at their marriage certificate, their faces beaming with joyful smiles.

Zhao Dongchuan took out a handful of White Rabbit milk candies and distributed them to the staff in charge of marriages.

"Congratulations, congratulations!"

A stream of couples processed their marriage certificates at the marriage registration office, and everyone was enveloped in a joyous atmosphere.

On the fourteenth day of the first lunar month in 1977, a day suitable for marriage and groundbreaking, at 9 AM, Zhao Dongchuan once again put on his Zhongshan suit, with a red silk sash across his chest, dressed as a groom, and sat in the jeep sent by Tian Fujun.

The car, adorned with red silk ribbons, slowly drove towards the Revolutionary Committee compound.

Tian Runye had also woken up early. Although a ceremony had already been held in Beijing, she was still nervous. This time, marrying in the presence of her parents, relatives, and friends, the meaning was naturally different.

Xu Aiyun placed the red flower on Runye, while Runyes Mother helped her put on the jade pendant given by Zhao Dongchuan's grandparents from behind her.

"Oh, our Runye is so beautiful! That rascal Dongchuan is so lucky!" Xu Aiyun exclaimed, looking at the beautifully made-up and smiling Tian Runye.

"Second Aunt!" Runye said, holding Xu Aiyun's hand and smiling.

"Our Runye is certainly beautiful, but Dongchuan is also a good young man. You two must be loving and harmonious in the future!" Runyes Mother said with satisfaction, looking at Tian Runye, immersed in happiness in the mirror.

For her daughter's important marriage, Tian Futang was in charge; she only wanted her daughter to be happy.

Zhao Dongchuan arrived at Second Uncle's courtyard at the Revolutionary Committee, and amidst the playful clamor of the female guests, he scattered a large handful of candies before helping Runye into the car.

The County Guesthouse was actually very close to the Revolutionary Committee compound, only a few hundred meters away, but to ensure that both Zhao Dongchuan and Runye could have a more dignified appearance, the usually incorruptible and impartial Tian Fujun couldn't help but show a bit of favoritism this time.

Zhao Dongchuan and Tian Runye sat in the back seat of the car, exchanging smiles, their faces full of happiness.

Soon, the car drove into the guesthouse.

The dining hall was already full of people.

There were Tian Futang and his wife from Shuangshui Village, along with their relatives, and familiar members from the production team Zhao Dongchuan used to be in.

Naturally, Sun Yuhou's entire family was also present.

They came as a whole family: Shaoan, Shaoping, Lanxiang, and Lanhua, who also brought Mao Dan and Gou Dan. Even Wang Manyin, who usually wandered around, somehow heard the news and rushed back.

People from Shigejie Commune also came, including Bai Mingchuan, Xu Zhigong, and Liu Genmin.

From the county, there was Tian Fujun's family, as well as Runye's colleagues from Yuanxi County Elementary School, and the elementary school principal.

Of course, many county leaders also came, some for Tian Fujun, and others for Zhao Dongchuan, the great talent from Huangyuan City.

Wu Huiliang and Du Lili from Huangyuan City also came, along with Jia Bing and his wife, holding a small baby, and several colleagues from the Huangyuan Cultural Center, as well as the Cultural Center Director.

Counting them all, dozens of large round tables were set up.

They were covered with clean, white tablecloths.

On them were peanuts, melon seeds, walnuts, apples, pears, and other fruits, as well as cigarettes, alcohol, and tea.

Shaoping and Shaoan temporarily acted as the groom's side, helping guests find their seats, while He Xiulian and Tian Xiaoxia were also busy arranging fruit and pouring tea.

Many of the guests already knew each other, so they gathered and chatted comfortably.

As Runye's Second Uncle and Second Aunt, Tian Fujun was respectable, so he naturally accompanied his brother, Tian Futang, and his wife at the entrance to greet guests.

In the kitchen behind the dining hall, a dozen chefs were vigorously stir-frying dishes, preparing the wedding feast.

Among them was a famous master, Hu Defu, the plump head chef of the Shigejie Commune canteen.

Several of his signature dishes were famous throughout the county, the most renowned being his braised pork hock.

"The groom and bride are here!"

With a shout.

Zhao Dongchuan, holding Tian Runye's hand, stepped out of the car and slowly entered the wedding venue.

Looking at the beautiful and moving Tian Runye and the handsome and dashing Zhao Dongchuan, everyone couldn't help but feel that they were a golden couple.

Tian Futang was even more filled with pride and joy.

"Look, this is my daughter, this is my son-in-law, what a grand occasion!"

This son-in-law was willing to spend money, and the guests who came were all distinguished, including many county officials.

Of course, this made him very proud, as he had personally chosen this son-in-law.

He was the father-in-law, and by rights, he should have sat at the head table, but there were too many guests, and Zhao Dongchuan was also afraid he might feel uncomfortable, so he arranged for him to sit at the Shuangshui Village table.

Soon after, Zhang Youzhi, as the specially invited master of ceremonies, announced the start of the wedding.

Zhao Dongchuan's superior, the Director of the Huangyuan Cultural Center, acted as the officiant and delivered a warm speech of blessings.

He introduced some of Zhao Dongchuan's works and achievements, and also introduced Tian Runye.

Many people at the wedding actually didn't know Zhao Dongchuan's true identity and hadn't thought about it in that way. Only after hearing the introduction did they realize his identity as a writer, and they all exclaimed, "So it's him!"