Chapter 851: Daughter's Wedding

Under the assistance of her sisters-in-law, Chen Sufen and Liu Yueer, Gu Taohua was still in a daze while dressing in bridal attire. But once she walked out from the bedroom, the drowsiness vanished entirely amidst the crowd’s praises.

Liu Yueer handed a mirror to Gu Taohua and said, “Sister, look at how beautiful you are today.”

A face as delicate as a flower appeared in the mirror.

Many female guests from various families gathered in Gu Taohua’s boudoir, all looking at her, exclaiming in admiration.

Even though Gu Taohua was usually candid by nature, she was still a young lady of marrying age. Hearing everyone’s praises, she blushed with shyness.

“Indeed, Manager Tong has a good eye. The new bridal makeup done as she requested is truly beautiful,” the bridesmaid said with a grin. “Next time, when someone else gets married, I’ll do the same makeup if they invite me.”

Gu Honglian remarked, “That’s also because Taohua is naturally good-looking.”

Gu Taohua looked at Tong Huaqiong and called out, “Mother.”

Tong Huaqiong approached and looked closely, saying, “Indeed, very beautiful.”

A flush appeared on Gu Taohua’s face, and the sparkling lights from the hair ornament on her head made her appear even more heavenly.

“Mother, you’re crying.”

Gu Taohua saw the tears moistening the corners of Tong Huaqiong’s eyes, feeling a pang of sorrow in her heart.

She wasn’t marrying far away, her new home was just two streets away from her mother’s house, and she could return any time she wished.

Originally, she felt nothing special, but just before leaving, she realized she was getting married. The reluctance to leave Tong Huaqiong was stronger than the joy of marrying her beloved, leaving an emptiness in her heart.

Gu Taohua’s eyes turned red instantly.

The lively boudoir was filled with sadness.

Chen Sufen and Lu Zhaozhao, having gone through this themselves, were also saddened. Having spent so long with Gu Taohua, they were equally reluctant to see their sister-in-law marry.

Even Liu Yueer, who had been worried Gu Taohua might not get married, couldn’t hold back tears.

“Taohua marries well; there’s no mother-in-law to pressure her, she calls the shots in everything. She can leave if she wants, do business if she wants to, and Chengmin is accomplished. There’s no better match,” Mrs. Zhao said.

“A daughter has to marry eventually, and Taohua isn’t in a blind arranged marriage like us. She’ll live happily with Chengmin, and if they have a chubby boy, life will be complete,” replied the second aunt of the Gu family.

“It’s a joyful day; hold back the tears.”

“From now on, only good days.”

…

Everyone started persuading.

The process was quite familiar; everyone present had at least attended a girl’s marriage, and the sadness was a common feeling before a bride left her home.

Tong Huaqiong wiped the corners of Gu Taohua’s eyes with a handkerchief, “Be happy on this joyous day, have a bowl of noodles to fill your stomach first.”

Su Qing brought a bowl of noodles, which Gu Taohua ate while it was hot.

Having been up preparing since early morning, she was indeed hungry.

Suddenly, the sound of celebration erupted outside; Su Chengmin had come to marry her.

Everyone in the room rushed out to watch the excitement, leaving only Chen Sufen, Lu Zhaozhao, Liu Yueer, and the family’s own people inside.

Tong Huaqiong seized the opportunity to hold Gu Taohua’s hand and said, “Taohua, remember, this is always your home, and coming back is not returning to your mother’s house, but to your own home.”

“In marriage, you should understand each other and tolerate each other, but don’t wrong yourself. Don’t listen to nonsense like following the chicken if you marry a chicken, or following the dog if you marry a dog. You are yourself.”

“Don’t believe that not having a son makes a woman inferior, allowing the man to act unruly. The men in our family don’t take concubines, and neither should our sons-in-law.”

“I hope you and Chengmin live harmoniously for a lifetime, but I also hope you live by your own heart.”

Tong Huaqiong had said these words many times.

On the eve of leaving, she reminded Gu Taohua once more.

For every sentence she spoke, Gu Taohua solemnly agreed.

“The groom has arrived.”

“Little brother-in-law is here.”

Man Er and Duo Er, and several other children, burst in laughing.

Outside, the sound of trumpets and firecrackers rang out.

Su Chengmin, dressed in a wedding costume, appeared.

Outside was bustling; Gu Dashi and Gu Jingzhe were testing Su Chengmin with the younger members of the Gu family.

Gu Dahan chimed in from the side, “Don’t overdo it, don’t overdo it.”

Fortunately, Su Chengmin passed the tests.

“The son-in-law, when dressed up, truly exudes talent.”

The second aunt of the Gu family sneaked a look through the window and was genuinely amazed by Su Chengmin’s dignified appearance.

She only knew Gu Taohua had mentioned Lai Fu, and after Lai Fu resumed the identity of Su Chengmin, the second aunt of the Gu family had yet to meet him, but seeing him now was quite shocking.

She heard Su Chengmin was the son of the Chief of Staff, the nephew of the Mighty General, and now with the Imperial Guard. The second aunt kept praising the good match Gu Taohua made.

“I received a letter saying that Taohua was marrying the Commander of the Imperial Guard, but the elder brother and sister-in-law didn’t believe it. I should really let them come and see,” she said with a look of regret to Tong Huaqiong.

When Tong Huaqiong asked Gu Jingzhe to invite the second uncle and aunt of the Gu family and the village chief to Beijing to send off Gu Taohua, she hadn’t asked Mr. Gu and Mrs. Gu to come to Beijing.

The two cursed Tong Huaqiong for being unfilial in the village, spreading unkind words about Gu Taohua.

Of course, Gu Taohua’s wedding did not need their presence to add to the joy.

The auspicious time arrived.

Tong Huaqiong placed the bridal veil on Gu Taohua’s head and delivered traditional blessings.

With her face covered by the veil, Gu Taohua could see nothing but her own toes.

All she heard was Tong Huaqiong’s gentle and meticulous instructions, feeling overwhelmed with reluctance, her tears almost about to fall.

“Mother, your daughter is leaving now,” Gu Taohua choked up.

Tong Huaqiong equally felt reluctant.

At that moment, a pair of warm hands took hold of Gu Taohua’s.

Gu Taohua’s heart instantly settled.

Su Chengmin held her hand, leading her step by step from the boudoir to the courtyard, and from the courtyard to the wedding sedan.

Amidst laughter, the sound of trumpets, and firecrackers… Gu Taohua only heard these noises, seeing only a world of red, feeling everything surreal even as she sat in the sedan.

From Qinghe Bay to Yan Guan Town, stepping by step into Shengjing, from the vice manager of Tong’s Trading House, to marrying the much-sought-after Commander of the Imperial Guard in Shengjing.

More importantly, Su Chengmin was her own choice, the one she loved.

Gu Taohua’s dowry stretched down half the street, astonishing people in Shengjing. The dowry Tong Huaqiong gave Gu Taohua was in no way inferior to what was given to Lu Zhaozhao.

Tong Huaqiong stood at the door, watching the wedding procession disappear into the distance before turning back into the house with reddened eyes.

Her son and daughter-in-law had gone to the procession, while Manager He helped oversee the banquet from inside and out.

Manager Tong was marrying off a daughter, and the banquet was the highest standard.

Once the feast began, beggars lined up against the wall.

According to the custom in Dasheng, whenever there was a wedding or funeral, beggars would come to ask for leftover food, and the hosts wouldn’t chase them away.

Instead, they hoped for more beggars to come, as this showcased the banquet’s abundance and the host’s benevolence.

Tong Huaqiong’s feast lasted three days, with plenty of beggars arriving in the first two days as well.

Tong Huaqiong was very generous, although she didn’t invite the beggars to the tables, there was plenty of buns and meat dishes for them.

All the city’s beggars came in droves due to this, meaning even more beggars than the previous days attended on the main day.

Among them, a younger beggar squatted against the wall, gazing at the departing wedding procession, lost in thought for a long time.