boyutpedia Chapter 181 The Marriage is Done
Chapter 181 The Marriage is Done
A group of people were bustling about and talking.
The noise surged through the village like a tide.
Before everyone arrived at the Shen family's old house, several villagers with extremely nimble legs and feet, as if driven by the excitement, trotted all the way and informed everyone in the old house of the news in advance.
When Bai Jin and his group actually arrived at the door of the old house, the head of the family, Shen Zhenxi, and Liu finally woke up from their dream. It turned out that they were not just joking.
The two of them stood there, looking at each other, and saw shock and helplessness in each other's eyes.
Their faces were filled with complicated expressions, showing surprise at this sudden event and emotion about the major event in their daughter's life that was about to happen.
Just as the two men were looking at each other, Bai Jin remained calm and ordered his men to quickly arrange the chairs in the yard in an orderly manner.
The servant was well-trained, and in a short while, several exquisite chairs were placed steadily.
Bai Jin respectfully asked the two elders to take a seat. His attitude was humble and polite, and his eyes were full of respect.
Then, the ice man came over happily with a smile on his face.
Her face was filled with a festive glow, as if this happy event was her own.
She cleared her throat and shouted in a clear and loud voice, "Congratulations to the Shen family, congratulations to the Shen family. Today, at the invitation of the county magistrate, we are here to propose marriage to Shen Shaoxue, the eldest daughter of the Shen family!"
The sound echoed in the yard like a huge bell, causing everyone to hold their breath and listen attentively.
As she spoke, she slowly pulled out a gift list from her sleeve. The list was beautifully crafted, the paper shimmering with a slight sheen. The Iceman unfolded the list, tilted his head slightly, and read aloud:
"County Magistrate Bai Jin's Marriage Proposal Gift List
1. Wild Geese
A pair of live geese, their feet tied with red silk, are placed in a specially made goose cage. Their sturdy bodies and neat, shiny feathers symbolize marital fidelity and respect for seniority, and are essential for the six ceremonies of accepting a bride's hand in marriage.
2. Livestock
Two sheep, their fur as white as snow, their bodies strong, and their horns hung with red tassels. Sheep means auspiciousness, implying good luck and good fortune, and the sheep's docility indicates a harmonious and smooth married life.
A fat and strong pig, slaughtered and cleaned, and covered with a red cloth, represents a wealthy family and a rich life.
3. Wine Etiquette
Eight jars of fine wine, carefully selected local brews, boast a pure, mellow flavor. Each jar is painted with auspicious images of dragons and phoenixes, symbolizing a happy marriage and the harmony of yin and yang. This wine is indispensable for engagements, weddings, and other ceremonies.
4. Cloth
Xuanxun (Xun), three pieces of black silk and two pieces of xun silk. Xuan represents heaven and xun represents earth, which means the marriage conforms to the way of heaven and earth and is blessed by the gods. Its texture is fine and its color is pure.
The bride is given a bundle of five pieces of silk, made of high-quality silk in red, yellow, blue, green, and purple, which is gorgeous and eye-catching, showing the man's sincerity and respect, and symbolizing the colorful life after marriage.
There were ten pieces of silk and satin, each with exquisite texture and smooth touch, embroidered with flowers, birds, fish and insects, or woven with auspicious cloud patterns, showing luxury and taste, and complementing the woman's clothing.
5. Fur Goods
A pair of Lipi (deerskin) is made of high-quality deerskin. Carefully tanned, the leather is soft, tough, and has a natural sheen. Embroidered with twin lotus flowers and mandarin ducks, it symbolizes the love and eternal companionship of a couple, and is a precious betrothal gift.
6. Jewelry
A golden hairpin, made entirely of pure gold, with a thumb-sized round pearl inlaid on the head and surrounded by several tiny rubies. It shines brightly and is extremely gorgeous, which can help women add to their elegance and luxury.
A pair of silver hairpins, the hairpins are wrapped with silver wire into the shape of plum blossoms, and the stamens are embellished with tiny sapphires. They are exquisite and elegant, and contrast with the gold hairpins, making the woman look more gentle and dignified.
A pair of gold earrings in the shape of a small phoenix. The phoenix's tail is outlined with gold wire, making it look lifelike. The phoenix holds a pearl pendant in its mouth, swaying gracefully, symbolizing auspiciousness and nobility.
A pair of jade bracelets, made of top-grade Hetian mutton-fat jade, with a warm and delicate texture and flawless white color. The bracelet body is engraved with a simple blessing pattern to bless the woman with peace and prosperity.
7. Food and Pastries
Eight boxes each of red date cake, peanut candy, longan cake, and lotus seed cake are included. Red date cake is made by steaming plump red dates with fine glutinous rice flour. It's sweet and soft, symbolizing the early birth of a son; peanut candy is made by simmering roasted peanuts with maltose. It's sweet and delicious, symbolizing fertility and good fortune; longan cake is made by baking fresh longan flesh with rice flour, creating a fragrant aroma and wishing for a happy reunion; lotus seed cake is made from ground lotus seeds, offering a delicate texture and a wish for continued childbirth. Each cake is presented in an exquisite lacquered wooden box, carved with auspicious motifs such as a unicorn delivering a child and a magpie perching on a plum tree.
Four boxes of tea: one each of premium Longjing, Biluochun, Tieguanyin, and Pu'er. Harvested from renowned mountains and gardens, the tea boasts fresh buds and leaves, roasted by expert craftsmen for a delicate aroma and rich flavor. Each tea is packaged in a porcelain jar painted with ink landscapes, its lid wrapped in red silk, a testament to both elegant taste and respect for the woman's family.
Eight baskets of fresh fruit, including apples, oranges, grapes, lychees, and other seasonal fruits, were presented. Apples symbolize peace, oranges signify good fortune, grapes represent fertility, and lychees are known for their sweetness. Each fruit was carefully selected for its plump shape and vibrant color. The baskets, tied with colorful ribbons, added to the festive atmosphere.
8. Four Treasures of the Study
A pair of Hu brushes, the pen holders are made of Xiangfei bamboo, with poems engraved on them. The brush hairs are made of high-quality wool, which is soft and elastic, suitable for both writing and painting.
There are two ingots of Hui ink, which are of fine quality and elegant fragrance. There are exquisite carvings on the ink ingots, such as patterns of pine and crane for longevity, dragon and phoenix for auspiciousness, etc., which are of great artistic value.
Ten pieces of Xuan paper are as white as snow, with even texture and strong water absorption, making them suitable for writing and painting, and can help the members of the woman's family to display their talents.
A piece of Duan inkstone, the texture of the inkstone stone is delicate and smooth, and the breath turns into ink. The inkstone pool is carved with a lotus pattern, and it is surrounded by an exquisite inkstone box with mother-of-pearl inlaid on the box surface, which is gorgeous and exquisite.
9. Porcelain
A pair of blue and white porcelain vases, each decorated with elegantly painted ladies, features flowing lines and vibrant colors. Their elegant form, with a slender neck and rounded belly, adds a touch of elegance to any desk, symbolizing peace and prosperity.
The famille rose porcelain tableware set includes over 20 pieces, including bowls, plates, dishes, spoons, etc. The tableware is painted with various floral designs in soft, delicate colors and exquisite craftsmanship. It can be used for daily use by the bride's family or for entertaining guests, showcasing taste and style.
10. Spices
A box of agarwood, with its subtle, elegant, and long-lasting fragrance, can be placed indoors to calm the mind, repel insects and ward off evil spirits, add a refined atmosphere to the home, and also demonstrate a man's concern for the woman's quality of life.
Two boxes of sandalwood, with a rich and mellow aroma that soothes the body and mind. They can be used for incense, bathing, etc., bringing physical and mental pleasure to the woman and allowing her to enjoy a refined life.
The above gifts are all carefully selected and prepared to express Bai Jin's respect for the Shen family and his sincere desire to marry Shen Shaoxue. May the marriage between the two families be smooth and prosperous.
白锦
"The first month of autumn in the Jiachen year"
The Iceman's voice rose and fell, and with each item he read, the crowd gasped in amazement. It was as if the exquisite gifts had already appeared before everyone's eyes, filling them with anticipation and imagination for this marriage.
The sun shone on the courtyard of the Shen family's old house, creating a bustling scene. Everyone's eyes followed the gifts being carried into the courtyard in order according to the gift list. Each one was exquisite and dazzling.
Shen Shaodong stood aside, watching all this quietly, with a look of satisfaction in his eyes.
He nodded slightly, thinking to himself: This kid Bai Jin has done a very good job in proposing marriage this time. He has considered every aspect carefully, which is enough to show his importance and sincerity towards this marriage, and he has lived up to my expectations of him.
Shen Shaodong walked over with steady steps and came in front of his parents.
He exchanged a glance with his parents, their eyes conveying silent communication, and then he nodded slightly to them.
This nod contained multiple meanings. It was a comfort to his parents, indicating that they did not need to worry about Bai Jin's marriage proposal; it was also an approval, indicating his approval and support for this marriage.
In this peaceful and expectant atmosphere, the Bai and Shen families successfully began the ceremony of exchanging engagement letters.
Both parties, with solemn yet somewhat relieved expressions, slowly handed over the engagement letter. Because Bai Jin said his parents were both in the capital, no one mentioned the matter.
The birth date of the newlyweds was written in neat handwriting on the engagement letter, as if carrying the two families' beautiful vision and earnest expectations for the future.
With the exchange of engagement letters, the marriage was officially confirmed and a new family bond was established. Everyone's faces were filled with joyful smiles, as if they could already see the picture of Bai Jin and Shen Shaoxue's future happy life slowly unfolding before their eyes.
Shen Shaodong smiled and slowly took out five taels of silver from his sleeve. The silver shone with a soft luster under the sunlight.
He walked steadily up to the Iceman, gently handed the silver into his hand, and said politely, "Thank you for your hard work in facilitating this marriage. I hope you will accept this small token of my appreciation."
The ice man took the silver and the smile on his face instantly became as bright as a blooming spring flower. The crow's feet at the corners of his eyes became a little deeper because of the smile.
She thanked him repeatedly, her voice filled with uncontrollable joy: "Oh, Master Shen, you are too polite. This is my duty. It is my honor to contribute to such a happy marriage."
In fact, the Ice Man was so happy that he couldn't contain his joy.
She secretly calculated in her heart that County Magistrate Bai was extremely generous and had already given her 20 taels of silver.
Now, with the five taels given by Shen Shaodong, she easily earned a full 25 taels of silver after this happy event.
This is a considerable sum of money for an ordinary family, enough for her to live a fairly wealthy life.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but grin again, and then she said goodbye to everyone and left happily.
Her steps were light as if there was wind under her feet, and her back revealed a sense of pride and satisfaction that was hard to conceal.