The twentieth of the twelfth lunar month. A Dragon Day, clashing with the Dog; a day of negative influence from the south.

It was one of the year’s rare auspicious days, perfect for matchmaking, engagements, and weddings. It was also favorable for travel, consecrating statues, and praying for blessings, as well as setting up a new bed, praying for children, and breaking new ground.

As it was also the last auspicious day of the year, no small number of families had chosen it for weddings or engagements.

Before the sun was up, the entire Zhao Village was already bustling with excitement.

At Zhao Jing’s home on the south side of the village, a beaming Mr. Zhao had the young men of the Zhao clan running around in circles.

"All of you who are going with Jing to the Chen family to fetch the bride, wash the sleep out of your eyes! Straighten your collars and check that your buttons aren’t misaligned. Don’t show up at the Chen family’s home and let our in-laws laugh at us."

"You’re not a good-looking bunch to begin with, so being Jing’s groomsmen is already an insult to him. If you don’t tidy yourselves up, you’ll bring shame on the entire Zhao clan."

"Jing looks impressive enough today. He won’t bring us any shame."

Hearing Mr. Zhao, the women who were bustling about and laughing in Zhao Jing’s courtyard couldn’t help but roar with laughter.

"With our Jing’s good looks, he’d never be a disgrace."

"His new in-laws couldn’t be more satisfied with Jing. I heard they even personally made his wedding clothes."

"It’s just as the saying goes: the more a mother-in-law looks at her son-in-law, the more she likes what she sees. Jing practically grew up at the Chen family’s house, and now he’s really becoming one of them. Chen Song and his wife must be smiling so much their faces hurt."

The group chattered and laughed, filling the courtyard with a joyous uproar.

Zhao Jing let them all tease him, simply smiling without saying a word.

He was dressed in red wedding finery, the vibrant color setting off the young man’s fair, warm complexion and his refined, handsome features.

As the sun began to rise, a brilliant golden light enveloped him, making him seem at the peak of his youth. He was intensely, almost pressingly, radiant—more dazzling and eye-catching than ever before.

"The main thing is that our Jing is so outstanding. If I had such a fine son-in-law, my face would be aching from smiling too."

"You’re not the only one smiling like that—our Jing is too! He’s getting a wonderful wife. Just look at the smile on his face; it hasn’t left him for a moment. Even Ninth Sister-in-law is grinning so wide she can’t close her mouth. This just proves what a great match this is, a truly happy occasion for both families."

At this, the people in the courtyard roared with laughter once again.

The Zhao Family’s home was incredibly lively; the clamor seemed to carry all the way across the street.

The Chen family’s home, a mere hundred meters away as the crow flies, was also packed with guests and buzzing with conversation.

Mrs. Ying, a good friend of Xu Su Ying, had come early, and with a handsome gift in tow.

The men who had once worked alongside Chen Song in various places and had kept in touch over the years also arrived with their families.

Even some of the people Chen Song had rescued from trouble over the years, and common folk he had been fortunate enough to help, heard of his family’s happy occasion and came to join the festivities.

Chen Song’s colleagues had yet to arrive.

It was the end of the year, and the county magistrate was touring the villages and towns, inspecting everything from public order and the local economy to the state of the winter wheat sprouts.

One-third of the county government’s constables were accompanying the magistrate on his tour, another third were guarding the government office, and the last third were out handling various cases.

The end of the year was always the busiest time. If Chen Song weren’t marrying off his daughter, he wouldn’t have a moment to spare either.

After all, he was not only new to his post but also the second-in-command; he was expected to shoulder some of the county magistrate’s burdens.

But he had been handpicked for promotion by the magistrate himself and had always been entrusted with great responsibility. On the occasion of his daughter’s wedding, the magistrate had specially granted him two days of leave and even gave him a gift in private, a true sign of immense favor.

Chen Song’s colleagues wouldn’t be able to arrive until noon.

Chen Bai, however, arrived in the village early, bringing his wife and daughter along.

Liang was still too young, so he’d been left at home. Cheng had asked his tutor for a day off to see his older cousin get married, but he had been too excited to sleep the night before. He’d kicked his blankets off repeatedly and, unsurprisingly, had come down with a fever.

The boy’s fever hadn’t broken before the couple left, so they worried the drafty ox-cart ride would aggravate his condition and left Cheng at home.

Chen Bai and his wife arrived without any large parcels or small bundles. Normally, gifts from fellow villagers or relatives consisted of a bolt of cloth, a pair of pillowcases, a bucket, or two combs. It wasn’t unheard of for those from poorer families to bring two heads of cabbage as a gift.

Chen Bai and Chen Song had always been close. With his own niece getting married, Chen Bai would have been expected to give a thick quilt, or at the very least, a new set of clothes.

But they had nothing. The family of three arrived empty-handed. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"So what is the dear aunt adding to her niece’s dowry? A silver piece, maybe? Or are you getting her silver earrings and a ring?"

Such questions were for Mrs. Qian to handle. Chen Bai just chuckled and scratched his head, then went off to find Chen Song to talk.