Early the next morning, the whole family put on their new padded jackets, ate breakfast, and headed to the Old House with Ye Yaopeng's and Ye Yaohua's families.
At the Old House, Ye Huimei had also dressed up and put on the pair of gold stud earrings A-Guang had given her-the ones he had brought over one night, which Ye Yaodong had told her to return.
She had also changed into the new floral padded jacket she had made herself. The outfit Lin Xiuqing had made was thicker, so she planned to save it for her wedding day.
Their engagement was a simple affair, with little for the bride's family to do. The groom's side handled practically everything for both the engagement and the wedding. Lin Xiuqing and her sisters-in-law were only there to help cook refreshments.
There was an engagement banquet, but the groom's family hosted it. Nobody from the bride's family attended except for two brothers, who were called "Six-Day Uncles" in the local dialect, apparently. All three brothers went along this time, though, since Ye Yaodong also counted as a friend.
After nine, A-Guang rode over on a bicycle to pick her up. Several red ribbons were tied to the front, and he brought a few friends carrying several shoulder-pole loads of wedding candy, Longevity Noodles, and pastries.
The children in the house were overjoyed. Every one of them received a red envelope and had plenty of candy to eat.
An engagement was only an engagement. It was straightforward, without much ceremony.
After they came in and ate the refreshments, they took her away. The three Ye brothers all went along, while Lin Xiuqing and her sisters-in-law began distributing wedding candy to relatives and neighbors.
After the banquet at noon, Ye Huimei still returned to her own