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    Chapter 150: The Main Text Ends

    In the afternoon, Lu Lin and Lu Miao heard that Lu Yao's family had returned and closed their restaurant right away. They all headed to Changrong Street.

    Along the way, Lu Miao was asked, "Is it true that Xiao Dou really passed the imperial exam and became a zhuangyuan?"

    "How could it be fake!"

    Hu Chunrong, holding her chest, sighed, "Goodness gracious, how is this child so amazing! He used to look so quiet and unassuming, but now he's become a zhuangyuan!"

    When they arrived at the Zhao family's house, Zhao BeiChuan was splitting wood in the courtyard. He thought the servants were too slow, so he picked up an axe and quickly chopped a small pile of wood.

    "Big Chuan."

    "Hey, Second Brother, you’re here," Zhao BeiChuan put down the axe and clapped his hands as he went to greet them.

    "Where's Lu Yao?"

    "He’s in the house."

    Lu Lin and Wang YouTian stayed in the courtyard to chat with him, while the others rushed into the house.

    Lu Yao was cutting red cloth with Xiao Nian. This cloth was to be made into red flowers for Xiao Chun’s wedding, which was to take place the day after tomorrow.

    "You came just in time, come and help."

    "We just got here, and you’re already putting us to work," Hu Chunrong joked with a smile, taking off her jacket and rolling up her sleeves. She took the scissors and started cutting, her hands swift and skilled. In no time, the red silk was cut. Lu Yun and Lu Miao brought over stools and sat next to them, helping to tie the silk flowers.

    "How are you holding up with all the travel back and forth recently? How’s your health?"

    Wearing a front-buttoned cotton jacket, Lu Yao casually lifted it and said, "The baby has been quite well-behaved; it hasn’t been causing any trouble. But my belly has grown a lot, making everything inconvenient."

    Lu Miao came over and touched it, "It’s quite big. It’s only been seven months, and it’s already this big."

    "It might not necessarily be that the baby is big. Some babies are positioned more forward, while others are more behind. But you should still exercise regularly to prevent complications during childbirth."

    Lu Yao nodded, "Didn’t Mom come?"

    "No, the old lady has caught a slight cold recently and was afraid that coming over might affect you."

    Upon hearing this, Lu Yao’s expression changed, "Is it serious?"

    Hu Chunrong quickly reassured, "Not serious at all. We’ve already called a doctor, and it’s just a common cold. A few doses of medicine will fix it."

    Lu Yun also added, "When I went to see her yesterday, she didn’t want to take any medicine. She said that back in the village, she would just tough it out without any medicine, and there was no need to be so delicate."

    "That old lady. I’ll have to go and give her a piece of my mind tomorrow."

    "Let’s not talk about her for now. How about Xiao Dou? I heard he passed the exam and became a zhuangyuan?"

    Lu Yao nodded proudly, "Yes!"

    Even though they had heard the news on the way over, they were still too stunned to speak.

    "Who do you think this child takes after? He... he..." Hu Chunrong couldn’t find the words to describe it for a long time.

    Lu Yao said, "Maybe the Zhao family’s ancestors’ graves are emitting some auspicious smoke."

    Several people burst out laughing. "You're not wrong! It must be the good feng shui of the ancestral grave, blessing the descendants."

    Lu Yao didn't quite believe in that. He had seen firsthand how hardworking and persistent Xiaodou had been over the years, something ordinary people couldn't achieve. His success in the imperial exam was thanks to his own abilities.

    "What are his plans for the future? Is he going to serve as an official in Shang Jing?" Lu Yun placed the tied silk flowers on the bed and asked.

    "I don't understand the official matters. As soon as Xiaodou returned, he was invited to the prefectural school and might be visiting the governor's mansion. He probably won't be back until very late tonight."

    "Our Xiaodou has become quite busy!" Hu Chunrong added. "How's the restaurant in Shang Jing going? Now that you're all back, who's managing it there?"

    "The business in Shang Jing is going well, but with such a big celebration, we can't be tied down by the restaurant. We've temporarily closed it and will reopen later."

    Lu Miao looked somewhat worried. "Will you go back to Shang Jing later?"

    "No, I won't go. Traveling at this stage of pregnancy is too risky. After Xiaochun and Qiulan get married, let them go to Shang Jing first to oversee things. Beichuan and I will stay in Ping Prefecture until the child is a bit older, then we'll go."

    "That's good. While you were away, Mother often talked about you and worried she wouldn't be able to help when you give birth."

    Lu Yao was also concerned. The prospect of childbirth was terrifying, especially since two of his younger brothers had difficult births. He was genuinely worried.

    Fearing a difficult birth and the worst possible outcome, Lu Yao quickly dismissed those thoughts, trying not to dwell on the worst.

    Once the red silk flowers were made, Lu Yao found a cloth bag to store them. He planned to take them to the new house for decoration the next day.

    "How are the wedding preparations for Xiaochun and Qiulan coming along?"

    "We've just returned, so we haven't gone over yet. But before I left, I entrusted Zhang Yu with the preparations. She's Qiulan's aunt, so she'll get things ready to avoid any last-minute chaos when we return."

    Hu Chunrong said, "Let's close the shop for a few days and come help you out. Don't rush; your health is the priority."

    "Yes." With so many family members around, Lu Yao felt at ease.

    Lu Yao also asked about the border war and whether there had been any news of Ge Changbao.

    "A letter arrived a few days ago. The border conflict is still ongoing, but the barbarians are nearly defeated. It should be over in about a month." Mentioning her husband, Lu Miao felt wronged. It took him so long to send a letter, and it was hastily written with just a few words, unlike how he used to be before they were married.

    Lu Yao comforted her. "With the busy situation at the border, it's already a great effort that he managed to send you a letter. Don't blame him."

    Since they had just returned, Lu Yao was extremely tired, so everyone went to the new house to help, leaving him at home to rest.

    In the evening, the group returned, and Zhao Beichuan had someone roast two lamb legs and ribs at home. They enjoyed a lively meal together.

    *

    The next morning, Lu Yao got up early and took Xiaonian to Xiaochun's new house to help with the preparations.

    "It's crooked, move it a bit to the left! Which side is left?" Hu Chunrong directed from below as Lu Miao hung a painting above. The painting depicted pomegranates, symbolizing fertility and abundance.

    Ha ha ha ha, everyone burst into laughter.

    Lu Yao, unable to contain his joy, entered the house and saw Zhang Yu arranging the master bedroom. She was scattering red dates, peanuts, longans, and lotus seeds.

    The curtains and bed canopy had been changed to bright red, and the room had 'double happiness' characters pasted on the walls, making it look festive and lively.

    Zhang Yu saw him and immediately smiled. "You're here! I heard you returned yesterday and was worried about your health, so I didn't visit. Lu Boss, you've been hiding quite well!"

    "What?" Lu Yao didn't understand.

    Zhang Yu pointed at his belly. "When did you get pregnant? You never mentioned it."

    Lu Yao sheepishly rubbed his nose. "Having a child at this age, I'm afraid people will mock me if I mention it." Actually, Lu Yao wasn't that old. He wouldn't turn twenty-nine until after the new year, but in this ancient time, when most people married at the age of fourteen or fifteen, his age seemed a bit late. In a few more years, he'd be considered a grandparent.

    "Don’t worry," Zhang Yu pulled him to sit down beside her. "Why would they laugh? I think it's perfect. Your younger siblings have grown up, and your career has stabilized. Now you have the time to raise a child."

    "I really appreciate your help with the wedding preparations."

    "No need to be so formal. You're not an outsider. One is my nephew, and the other is my nephew-in-law. As their aunt, of course, I need to be busy with this."

    "Thankfully, you're here. If we had to start preparing after we returned, it would definitely be too late."

    "This is my first time handling such preparations. I asked around while doing it, and eventually, it took shape."

    The two chatted a bit more about the recent events in Ping Prefecture. There were no major incidents, but plenty of minor ones, mainly private family matters. Lu Yao just listened for fun.

    Before long, more people arrived, informing them that the bride-gifts were ready to be sent to the Zhang family.

    The so-called bride-gifts were meant to urge the bride’s family to send her over soon.

    Eight types of gifts were needed, all in pairs. For ordinary families, the bride-gifts can be very simple, sometimes just a few strings of cash.

    For those more particular, they would gather all eight types of gifts. Xiao Chun had prepared the bride-gifts early: a pair of wild geese, two carps, two sheep, two pigs, two boxes of pastries, two bolts of fine cloth, two jars of wine, and twelve dou of fragrant rice. Several people would be needed to carry these gifts to the Zhang family.

    Zhao Beichuan went straight to the winery for help. More than a dozen strong men carried and delivered the gifts.

    The following day was the wedding day. Everyone was excited yet nervous, especially Xiao Chun, who hadn't stopped smiling.

    Hu Chunrong teased him, "Are you this happy about getting married?"

    "Of course!"

    Lu Miao clicked his tongue. "Sister-in-law, you haven’t seen Qiu Lan. Anyone would be thrilled to marry him."

    "Oh, is he a handsome young man?"

    "He’s not just any handsome man. You'll see tomorrow!"

    Once everything was almost ready, Lu Yao invited everyone to a restaurant. He had booked two private rooms upstairs and arranged for the kitchen to prepare the food.

    On their way, they encountered Cao Wuye entertaining guests. The table was filled with familiar faces. Lu Yao went over to greet them.

    "Hey, the busy man is finally back!"

    "Don't tease me, Fifth Master."

    "Hahahaha, I heard your younger brother passed the imperial examinations and became the top scholar?"

    "Yes, he got lucky. He was still in the sixties in the rankings during the imperial examinations, but the royal family chose him as the top scholar during the palace examination."

    Everyone was astonished and clapped their hands. "Your brother has great abilities. Being chosen by the royal family means he’ll rise to prominence and become a high-ranking official!"

    Lu Yao smiled and waved his hands. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves."

    Cao Wuye added, "By the way, I have some serious news. The supplies we donated earlier this year came in handy. I heard that in December, the Khitan besieged Ying Prefecture. The Zhenbei Army relied on the supplies we sent to hold out for forty days and eventually lifted the siege."

    "That's great news!"

    "Yes, there might be a reward. I've already submitted the list of donors. We'll see what the reward will be."

    Lu Yao clasped his hands and thanked him. "Thank you for your kindness, Fifth Master."

    "Not at all, we still need to rely on Boss Lu in the future."

    Qu Tian, sitting next to them, said, "Isn't your family's Xiaodou going to hold a zhuangyuan feast?"

    "Yes, tomorrow we'll first hold the wedding banquet for my second brother. On the first day of March, the day after tomorrow, we'll hold Xiaodou's zhuangyuan feast. We'll have a three-day continuous banquet at the restaurant. You all must come!"

    "Is Xiao Chun getting married?"

    "Yes."

    "Great!" Everyone responded in agreement.

    After eating at the restaurant, Lu Yao took a carriage to Changshui Street. He had been concerned since hearing that Mother Lu had caught a cold yesterday.

    When he arrived, Mother Lu was sitting on the kang, sewing small quilts for the baby in Lu Yao’s belly.

    Seeing him, she quickly put away her sewing basket. "Quick, take off your shoes and come up to the kang."

    Lu Yao took off his cloak, removed his shoes, and climbed onto the kang. Mother Lu pulled a small quilt over his legs and held his hand, savoring the moment.

    "Is the baby kicking?"

    "Yes, it kicks every night, quite mischievous."

    Mother Lu reached out and touched his belly through his clothes. "It’s quite big. Don’t eat too much from now on, or it might be difficult when the time comes."

    Lu Yao stuck out his tongue. "I know."

    "I thought you'd be giving birth in Shang Jing. I didn’t prepare these things, but it’s good that you’re back. I'll be with you when the time comes."

    "Yes."

    "Your fourth and fifth brothers suffered a lot during their births. I'm afraid you'll have a hard time too."

    "It's alright, mother. Since I’m pregnant, I have to go through this."

    "I understand, but as your mother, I can't help but worry." Of all her children, she loved the third son the most, having raised him with great tenderness. How could she bear to see him go through such hardship?

    Lu Yao leaned on his mother's shoulder. "I’m a bit scared too, which is why I came back to stay with you."

    Mother Lu gently brushed his hair behind his ear. "Tomorrow Xiao Chun will be getting married, won’t he?"

    "Yes, my sister-in-law and the others are helping out there. They found me in the way and sent me back."

    "She's just afraid you'll get tired."

    "Hehe, I know." Lu Yao picked up a small quilt beside him. "Who is this for?"

    "Who else? For my grandchild. I thought since you were in Shang Jing, you wouldn’t need these things, but since you’re back, I’ll prepare a few more. Babies need frequent changes during the first month, so there will be enough for washing and changing."

    "Mother, you're the best."

    "Acting like a baby even at your age?"

    "No matter how old I get, I’m still your son."

    The old lady smiled, her eyes full of love and affection.

    That evening, Zhao Beichuan came to take him home. Since they had to get up early the next day, Mother Lu didn’t insist on keeping them and let them return to rest.

    *

    The early spring morning was even chillier than the night.

    It was still dark, but the Zhao family’s courtyard was already brightly lit.

    Lu Yao wore a thin cotton garment under a stone-blue cloud-patterned brocade robe. The robe was large enough to conceal his belly, making it hard to notice his seven-month pregnancy unless you looked closely.

    His complexion was exceptionally good, perhaps due to the increased blood flow from the pregnancy. He was pale with a rosy hue, and his features had become softer.

    Zhao Beichuan wore a deep blue robe over a white round-collar shirt. He stood tall and put his arm around Lu Yao’s shoulders. The two of them made a perfect pair.

    Outside, Xiaonian and Xiaodou were already prepared, along with Xiao Lan’er and Old Madam Zhao, all dressed in their new clothes. The family climbed into the carriage and headed to the new house.

    When they arrived, everyone else was already there: Lu Lin and his wife, Lu Yun and his wife, and Lu Miao. The children were also there, wearing red cotton jackets and small topknots, looking incredibly adorable.

    As soon as Lu Yao arrived, Dandan, Taozhi, and Yinzi rushed over. The three children were very fond of him.

    Zhao Beichuan found Xiaochun, who was already ready, and patted him on the shoulder. “Nervous?”

    Xiaochun nodded.

    “Don’t be nervous. Your brother and I will go with you.”

    “Okay.”

    The Zhang family lived on the western side of Changxing Street, quite a distance away, so they had to leave early in the morning to fetch the bride.

    They used stately horses, and the sedan chair was carried by eight people, almost the highest standard the common folk could afford. Zhao Beichuan and Zhao Beidou rode horses behind Xiaochun, slowly heading towards the Zhang family.

    The sky had just begun to lighten, and there were still few people on the street, only the night watchman and early workers. When they saw the wedding procession, they stepped aside to watch.

    “Whose wedding is this?”

    “I don’t know, but it looks grand!”

    “Look at that eight-person sedan chair. An ordinary family couldn’t afford that. It must be a wealthy family. Let’s go see!”

    A group of onlookers followed behind until they reached the front of the Zhang family’s house.

    The wedding officiant called out, “Light the firecrackers, welcome the bride!”

    The sound of crackers filled the air. Zhang Qiulan, hearing the noise from inside the house, stood up immediately.

    Zhang Yu quickly pushed him back down. “Don’t be impatient. There are still door challenges. They’ll have to wait a bit before they can enter.”

    “I can’t wait to see my little husband and enter the bridal chamber.” Zhang Qiulan pulled the veil over his head and hurried outside.

    At the main gate, the two Zhang brothers were blocking Zhao Beichuan and Zhao Beidou.

    Zhao Beidou flexed his muscles. “Do you want to compete in literature or martial arts?”

    Literature? They had a new top scholar. Martial arts? His elder brother could lift mountains. Dealing with these two would be easy.

    The two brothers trembled and said, “L-let’s compete in literature. If you can solve the riddles, we’ll step aside.”

    “Alright, let’s hear them.”

    "A dog with four mouths, guess a word."

    Before Zhao Beidou could answer, Zhang Qiulan quickly walked over and separated the two, saying, "Answer what? Don't delay the auspicious time."

    ……

    ……

    ……

    The wedding matron quickly responded and called out, "Welcome the newlyweds onto the carriage!"

    Zhao Fengchun hurriedly came over and helped his husband onto the carriage. The sound of drums and music began to play as they headed towards the new home.

    Behind them, the Zhang family members were busy instructing the servants to quickly carry the dowry and follow. This wedding was indeed rushed.

    Finally, they arrived at the door of the new home, where firecrackers went off again. Zhao Fengchun dismounted and received the groom, and the two held a red silk ribbon as they walked into the courtyard.

    Many people had come to witness the event today, and most of them were here to see Lu Yao and Zhao Beidou. No matter who they were here for, this wedding was bound to make a sensation throughout Ping Prefecture.

    "The newlyweds have entered the house, may they live to a hundred years in peace and health!"

    Lu Yao and Zhao Beichuan stood up and craned their necks to look outside. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the couple finally arrived.

    Dressed in similar red garments, the bride and groom entered the main hall.

    The officiant called out, "The newlyweds shall now pay respects!"

    Lu Yao pulled Zhao Beichuan, and they quickly sat down. There were no elders in the Zhao family. With the elder brother acting as a father and the elder sister-in-law as a mother, they were the ones to receive the homage.

    "First, bow to heaven and earth, seeking blessings and protection from the gods."

    The couple turned outside and bowed deeply.

    "Second, bow to the elder brother and sister-in-law, for their care and upbringing."

    Xiao Chun's nose tingled, and tears uncontrollably streamed down her face. The two knelt and bowed their heads, performing the grand gesture of gratitude.

    Lu Yao quickly reached out and said, "Please rise."

    "The newlyweds exchange bows, may you live a long life together, and may your hearts be forever united!"

    "The ceremony is complete—"

    Cheers erupted as a large crowd surrounded the couple and led them into the bridal chamber. Lu Yao took Zhao Beichuan's hand and went to greet the guests.

    Today, many distinguished guests were present, including the prefect and his wife, the deputy magistrate and his wife, and several generals from the military camp.

    Almost all the prominent merchants from Ping Prefecture were present, and even those who couldn't attend had sent gifts. Fortunately, they had bought a larger courtyard earlier; otherwise, it wouldn't have been enough to accommodate everyone.

    Even so, it was still crowded, so they had to arrange for the male guests to be seated in the adjacent courtyard. Lu Yao had bought that courtyard, purchasing it for less than 3,000 taels of silver during the war.

    The female guests remained in the main courtyard, chatting leisurely. Around 9 AM, the banquet began. There were twelve dishes in total: four cold and eight hot, all of which were signature dishes from the Lu Family's restaurant. The wine served was Lu Yao's five-year cellared Lu Wine.

    Fifty tables were prepared in advance, each seating eight people, accommodating up to 400 guests. However, it wasn't enough, and they had to quickly arrange an additional ten tables of food to barely accommodate all the guests.

    The meal lasted from noon until dusk. After seeing off the guests, they finally had a moment of respite. Lu Yao quickly sat down for a rest and drank a few sips of tea.

    Zhao Beichuan, worried that Lu Yao might not be able to handle it, finished his tasks and hurried over.

    "Are you tired?"

    Lu Yao leaned against him and said, "Not tired, just a little sore in the waist."

    Zhao Beichuan pressed his palm against Lu Yao's lower back and gently massaged it. "Seeing Xiaochun get married, I'm really happy!"

    "I'm happy too. Both of them have had tough lives, so it's not easy for them to be together. They’ll definitely care for each other more deeply."

    "Yeah, you should've seen us going to meet the bride this morning, it was quite amusing. Qiu Lan was afraid that those two younger brothers would embarrass Xiaochun, so he rushed out on his own."

    Lu Yao laughed so hard he held his stomach. "Oh my, hahaha, his personality matches Xiaochun’s so well."

    Zhao Beichuan wrapped his arm around his shoulder and kissed his forehead. Lu Yao gently rubbed his chin against Zhao Beichuan’s, softly humming the wedding march, marking the perfect conclusion of the wedding.

    A silver crescent moon hung in the sky, making the night perfect.

    (End of Main Text)

    Author's Note:

    The next part is an extra story, continuing from after Xiaochun’s wedding. If you enjoyed it, feel free to continue reading!

    Check out other completed works of the same type: 'Fierce Wife'

    Modern urban story: 'The Southern Wife of a Northeastern Boss'

    Historical infrastructure-building story: 'I’m Here to Build Infrastructure'

    There are many more stories in the author’s collection. Feel free to browse and, if you like, add them to your favorites!

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