Reborn in 1985: Starting from Contracting a Ranch

Chapter 59 The Wedding Procession

The heavy snow lasted for five days, and every morning the doors were blocked by snow. It wasn't until the end of the year, which was the 18th day of the 11th lunar month, that the snow stopped and the weather cleared up.

Seeing that the door hadn't been sealed off for a day, Mrs. Shan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The second son got married on the 21st day of the 11th lunar month, which is New Year's Day.

If this continues, wedding banquets may be affected.

"Finally, it's stopped snowing." After shoveling the snow out of the yard, Shan Yaowen went to prepare for the wedding.

At this time of year, when people get married and hold a banquet, they need to borrow pots, pans, and other utensils. How can a family possibly afford so many?

Basically, everyone in the production team helped each other out. Whenever someone needed something, they would take the initiative to bring it over. The host family couldn't refuse, and they would definitely give the host two packs of cigarettes.

Mom did all of that, and Shan Yaowen went to town to get everything that was missing.

Previously, they bought wedding cigarettes, wine, candy, and tea, but this time they bought firecrackers, and Shan Yaowen also bought several large boxes of fireworks.

There were no balloons, and those weren't fashionable at the time; instead, there were bright red stickers and red flowers.

As the wedding day approached, Shan Yaowen's family had almost finished preparing everything they needed, and the house was also repaired.

The room on Shan Yaowen's side also connected the kang (heated brick bed) and the stove area, so he definitely wouldn't be able to squeeze onto the same kang with his father and the others after getting married.

"The snow shouldn't fall so heavily again, right?" Looking at the sky that had finally cleared up, Shan Yaowu breathed a sigh of relief.

Although the heavy snow these past few days didn't cause any damage to their family, it was still too depressing to be stuck at home all day with the sun out because of the snow.

Now that the sun is out, even though there's no warmth at all, it's still comfortable for them.

"It's still snowing. The radio said it might continue, so we need to keep up with snow removal and disaster relief efforts and prepare for a protracted battle."

Mr. Shan smoked his cigarette and looked at the scene in the yard. "But this date was well chosen. It's good to get married when it doesn't snow heavily."

Shan Yaowen didn't say anything, but was thinking about what else he hadn't bought.

Two days later, on the morning.

The 21st day of the 11th lunar month is New Year's Day.

When the rooster crowed for the first time inside the house, Shan Yaowen got up from the kang (a heated brick bed). It was just getting light outside, and he had no desire to continue sleeping.

Today is the day he officially gets married.

Mother Shan had gotten up long ago and had already started a fire; the fire in the stove made her face glow red.

"Go wash up first, the water's in the thermos."

After saying that, Mother Shan got up and stuck a ring of cornbread into the pot, cooked a pot of millet porridge, and chopped a plate of pickled vegetable dumplings.

"Eat more, you won't have a moment's rest all day."

Shan Yaowen hummed in agreement, his mouth full of porridge, but his mind was in turmoil.

Although I have lived two lives, this is truly my first time getting married.

In his past life, he was a bachelor until old age, but unexpectedly, after being reborn, he hadn't even started building his career before he was about to get married.

He was halfway through his meal when his older brother, Shan Yaowu, walked in, picked up his bowl, and started shoveling food into it. "The car's ready. When are we leaving?"

"No rush, the Lin family's house isn't far, it's just a short walk away."

As she tidied up the house, Mother Shan said, "You can set off once the cook comes in."

The cook is a famous chef in the village, his skills are superb, and everyone in the village hires him when they have an event.

After finishing our meal and shoveling the snow in the yard, it was already dawn.

The village chef also arrived with his tools. After checking the menu with Mr. Shan and finding no problems, he got to work.

Fearing he wouldn't be able to handle the workload, he even set up a stove in the yard.

After tidying up the yard, Shan Yaowen took off his work clothes and specially changed into the newly made cotton-padded jacket. He buttoned it up, put on a scarf, and was ready to set off.

He and Gou Dan had made a promise before that whoever got married first would be the best man. Although Shan Yaowen got married first, he married Gou Dan's sister, so he couldn't be the best man.

Actually, there are a few other suitable people, but unfortunately they are all married.

Dan Yaowu drove his tractor along the road, while Dan Yaowen huddled beside him. Although it wasn't snowing today, the wind was fierce, sharp as a knife, and stung their faces.

The vehicle was a farm tractor, which his older brother borrowed from the ranch. The ranch leader knew that Shan Dashan's second son was getting married, so he lent it to him without hesitation.

Although the two families live very close to each other, Shan Yaowen still prepared the necessary rituals.

Originally, their wedding customs involved riding horses, carriages, and sedan chairs. However, after the reform and opening up, it became popular to use larger items like bicycles and motorcycles for wedding processions. Shan Yaowen followed the trend and borrowed a tractor to pick up his bride.

Although he has no money or ability now, he still needs to have what he should have.

Seeing Shan Yaowen huddled in the back of the truck with his neck hunched over, Shan Yaowu kept laughing beside him: "Why are you shivering? Are you cold or scared?"

"Tch, big brother, you're one to talk. I remember you got married in May, and you were so excited you didn't sleep all night. You were yawning the whole time when you went to pick up your wife. I remember it all."

"You're just being stubborn, aren't you? Didn't you sleep well last night either?"

"..."

The two brothers didn't talk much. Firstly, it was too cold that day, and secondly, the tractor was so loud that they had to shout to be heard.

Without saying a word, Shan Yaowen kept his eyes fixed on the road ahead, and before he could even take two glances, they had arrived.

It only took a few minutes in total.

It really only took the time to say a few words before they arrived.

When we arrived at the Lin family's door, there was already a crowd of people standing outside. Adults and children were all wearing floral cotton-padded jackets. The children, with their snotty noses from the cold, refused to go in and insisted on watching the tractor.

As soon as the vehicle came to a stop, they swarmed around it, running around the tractor.

Then Shan Yaowen distributed wedding cigarettes and candies to everyone.

After satisfying the adults and children watching the commotion outside, they entered the courtyard. At the gate, they were questioned and teased for a long time by the woman's relatives and friends. Only after being given two red envelopes were they allowed to go inside.

A stove was burning in the main room, making it warm and cozy.

Lin Nian sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), wearing a red cotton-padded jacket with small floral patterns, a red flower in her hair, and rouge on her face, making her cheeks rosy.

She kept her head down, her hands clasped together on her lap, her fingers slightly red from the cold.

"What are you standing there for? Call her 'new bride'!" Seeing that Shan Yaowen was staring at the bride without saying a word, an auntie next to him patted him on the shoulder.

Shan Yaowen coughed lightly, his lips trembling for a long time before he finally managed to squeeze out, "Niannian..."

Upon hearing the voice, Lin Nian looked up at the person in front of her, her eyes bright and her lips curving slightly upwards. Feeling embarrassed, she quickly lowered her head again.

The women around immediately burst into laughter.

Next came the farewell ceremony, with the two kneeling on the ground and kowtowing three times to Lin's parents.

Lin's mother's eyes were slightly red. She turned away and wiped her eyes with her sleeve. Lin's father sat in the chair, his eyes full of smiles. "Live a good life."

Lin Nian hummed in response, her voice muffled, as if it were being squeezed out of her throat.

Lin Hao looked at his sister and good brother with emotion, said nothing, walked over and patted their clasped hands, then led them out.

As soon as I stepped outside, the wind picked up again.

Shan Yaowen first helped Lin Nian onto the tractor before getting on himself. Just as he entered, Lin Nian's relatives had already stuffed two quilts, a red lacquered wooden box, and a sewing machine into the truck bed.

This is the dowry given by the Lin family. Yaowen had already given the bride price list beforehand: two hundred yuan in cash plus two sheep.

The tractor drove around their team's area once, but on the way home, Chu Er and a bunch of men suddenly appeared out of nowhere:

"Hey, Second Brother Shan, if you don't bleed today, I'll take your surname."