Otherwise, None of You Will Finish This Wedding Ceremony

Suddenly, someone in the crowd gasped softly and exclaimed, "This... this dowry is too generous! Come and take a look!"

A crowd of people swarmed over, their eyes wide with amazement.

The dowry consisted of eight loads. The first two loads were filled with brocade quilts and silk mattresses, all made of bright, soft satin with fine stitches, clearly indicating their value.

The third and fourth loads contained complete sets of fine porcelain tableware, tin kettles and copper basins, carved woodenware, pots, pans, tables, chairs, chests, and cabinets.

The fifth item carried several bolts of fine blue silk, brocade, and fine cotton cloth.

The sixth tray was lined with red cloth and contained about ten ingots of silver with snowflake patterns.

The seventh item was the most eye-catching, featuring several pieces of pure gold ingots, gold hairpins, and small gold plaques—understated yet substantial.

The eighth load contained the girl's dowry, including her jewelry box, sewing basket, fine rouge and face powder, personal items, and a few other presentable belongings.

Where in the countryside had anyone ever seen such a well-organized and expensive dowry?

They exclaimed in amazement, "This is no ordinary wedding; this is the kind of extravagance only a wealthy landlord would have!"

"Wow! They even brought gold as a dowry? Doesn't that mean Zhou Dazhu's family is rich now?"

Just then, the sound of firecrackers went off outside, Zhou Dazhu walked in wearing a groom's robe.

The villagers crowded into the courtyard and immediately spotted Zhou Xiaoyan sitting in the room.

He was dressed in a bright red wedding gown, looking radiant. The fabric and the embroidery were so exquisite that no one in the entire village had ever worn such a presentable garment.

Everyone stared in disbelief, exclaiming in amazement, "My goodness! This wedding dress is absolutely gorgeous!"

"Absolutely! The workmanship and the materials alone must have cost several tens of taels of silver!"

"We've never seen such a splendid bride in all the surrounding villages!"

Someone chimed in with a sour tone:

"What's the use of being pretty? Neither of Zhou Xiaoyan's biological parents came today."

She won't even have anyone to accept her farewell later, let's see how she leaves the house!

In the main hall, Zhou Fusheng and Liu Su'e were already sitting properly, Zhou Wanwan sat quietly to the side.

When the auspicious hour arrived, the matchmaker helped Zhou Xiaoyan, dressed in a bright red wedding gown, out of the room and into the main hall.

Today is the day for the bride to leave her family home and bid farewell.

Zhou Xiaoyan bowed deeply to Zhou Fusheng and Liu Su'e in the hall and shouted loudly:

"Father, Mother, your daughter is getting married today. I bid you farewell!"

After saying this, he bowed respectfully, and Zhou Dazhu followed suit.

Zhou Fusheng quickly raised his hand. "Get up. When you get to your husband's family, you must be sensible and well-behaved."

Liu Su'e nodded in agreement. "Live a good life and come back to visit often."

Next came the tea ceremony.

Zhou Xiaoyan brought over the hot tea that had been prepared beforehand, first offering it to Zhou Fusheng, and said softly:

"Father, please have some tea."

Zhou Fusheng took the tea, took a sip, and handed over a red envelope.

She brought out another cup and handed it to Liu Su'e:

"Mother, please have some tea."

Liu Su'e smiled and accepted the gift, then stuffed the prepared red envelope into her hand as well.

Tears streamed down Zhou Xiaoyan's face. "Father, Mother, I have no way to repay you in this life, I only wish you both Ankang."

Liu Su'e patted her on the shoulder and said:

Don't cry, it's such a joyous day, why are you crying?

Things will get better from now on, just enjoy life with Dazhu.

Zhou Xiaoyan nodded.

The whole village fell silent. A few people secretly went to the Zhou Family and told Old Madam Zhou what had happened.

Old Madam Zhou angrily shouted:

"Are Liu Su'e and Zhou Fusheng out of their minds? How could they give such a wretched girl such a large dowry?"

That's a money-losing machine; why would it need so many good things?

Fuyu, go to Zhou Dazhu's house and bring those things back as well.

We can't let our things benefit outsiders.

Zhou Fuyu rubbed his hands together and said, "Mother, I'll go right now."

Zhou Fukang quickly said, "That's my daughter too, I have to go."

A calculating glint flashed in Zhao Zhaodi's eyes. "Our Qingyuan will be starting school soon, which will cost a lot of money. If we have this dowry, we'll be much better off."

A group of people rushed excitedly to Zhou Dazhu's house.

In the wedding hall, the matchmaker was announcing loudly:

"Bowing to Heaven and Earth--"

Zhou Xiaoyan and Zhou Dazhu stood side by side facing outwards and slowly bowed.

"Bowing to the parents--"

The two turned around and bowed to Daniu Daniu and his wife in the hall.

Just as she was about to say the last sentence, the matchmaker opened her mouth:

"A couple's pair--"

A loud shout suddenly came from outside the courtyard gate, "What bowing! What marriage!"

Everyone was startled and turned around in unison.

Zhou Fuyu shouted loudly:

"You Zhou Family embezzled our money and swallowed our dowry! Hand it all over to me today!"

Otherwise, none of you will be allowed to worship in this hall!

Zhou Fusheng looked at them and said:

"What nonsense are you spouting? Did you provide this dowry?"

You already signed a severance agreement; Zhou Xiaoyan has no relation to your family anymore.

"We paid for this dowry ourselves, so please stop making unreasonable demands."

Zhou Fukang and Zhao Zhaodi also rushed over. Zhao Zhaodi glared at Zhou Xiaoyan and said, "You brat, have I raised you for nothing? How dare you call other people 'father' and 'mother'?"

Zhou Dazhu lifted Zhou Xiaoyan's veil, and Zhou Xiaoyan glared at them and said:

What are you doing here? We've already severed ties.

These dowries weren't paid for by you, so what does it have to do with you?

Zhao Zhaodi scoffed, "So all the time we spent raising you for over ten years was for nothing?"

Zhou Xiaoyan looked at them and said:

"I've been working for my family since I was a child, and in the end, I sold myself into the Zhou Family. My sister and I spent fifty taels of silver."

My sister and I have never spent fifty taels of silver in all our lives, have we?"

Zhao Zhaodi glared at her coldly and said, "The debt you owe me is one you can never repay in this lifetime. Don't even mention fifty taels, even five hundred taels wouldn't be enough to pay it back."

Zhou Wanwan chuckled and said:

"Wow! Who has such thick skin? Thicker than a city wall!"

"We signed a severance agreement yesterday, what are you all making a scene for?"

Zhao Zhaodi looked at the dowry placed in the courtyard and said:

"Give me that dowry, and I'll let you continue your marriage. If you don't give it to me, Zhou Dazhu won't have a good life either."

I'll come to your house to eat and drink every day from now on.

This is utterly shameless.

Zhou Xiaoyan looked at Zhao Zhaodi and said, "What exactly do you want? Are you trying to force me to my death?"

Zhao Zhaodi looked at her and said:

Isn't everyone's like this?

You haven't forgotten you have a younger brother, have you? If he achieves success in the future, won't you benefit from it too?

Zhou Xiaoyan looked at Zhou Qingyuan beside her and said, "Zhou Qingyuan, is that what you think too?"

Zhou Qingyuan coughed and looked at Zhou Xiaoyan, saying:

"Sister, that's not what I think, but it seems like everyone in the family thinks that way."

Your parents are always right; they still care about you.

"Or you can give them the dowry, and you'll still be a Zhou Family. The previous contract is null and void."