He Daqing, do you know how I've lived these past years?

The master glanced at the crowd and then at the sky, before beckoning Leyou back to the courtyard.

He lowered his head and said:

"Because time was of the essence, I had already sent the marriage certificate to the heavens within the courtyard, praying to the surrounding spirits."

I hope you will not let Jingxian down in the future, otherwise…”

Just as Leyou was about to speak, he heard a shout from afar:

"Wait, I'm not there yet, wait for me!"

Leyou turned around and squinted to carefully examine the person running towards them from a distance, only recognizing them when they were right in front of him.

"Hey, isn't this my brother Zhao! It's been years, I've missed you terribly!"

The man who ran over was the same man Leyou had encountered when he forcibly seized Japanese grain at the dock.

That's Zhao Ge, the damned guy who disappeared for several years after promising to be a recommender.

"Good brother, I've been looking for you for years. I found out you were in Qujiang after searching all over Ji'an Township."

I traveled all the way to Qujiang, but you went to Tuyang, and then I heard you went to Yunnan.

Do you know how I've gotten through these past three years?

"If the commander hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known you were here, and that you got married today. Congratulations!"

Leyou took Zhao Ge's hand and walked into the courtyard, saying:

"Brother Zhao, please take a seat, thank you!"

After settling things over with Brother Zhao, Leyou looked around and noticed that his master and the commander were sitting on high seats in the main hall.

On the table in the middle were two pieces of red paper, with a pair of silver rings inlaid with green glass and a pair of gold rings on top, but the engraved characters on them were unrecognizable.

Curious, I approached and saw that it contained the names of Leyou and Jingxian, along with their birth dates and times.

In addition to the betrothal gifts and return gifts, the names of the officiants are also listed below.

Good heavens, the school principal's name was prominently displayed, something even Leyou himself didn't recognize.

On either side of the seats were grains, noodles, chicken, tea cakes, and some silver coins with the character "囍" (double happiness).

At that moment, the principal walked over, grabbed Leyou, and pulled her into the lobby, shouting loudly:

"The elders are seated, and the three letters and six rites are presented."

"The time has come, please invite the bride."

At that moment, Jingxian's door opened, and Jingxian, who had just been getting her face scrunched up inside, had a red silk scarf draped over her head.

Wearing a red cheongsam, black stockings, and black high heels, she slowly walked out, supported by Huang Ying and Mulan.

"The bride is so beautiful!"

"This young man is so lucky!"

……

Lost in the praise of the guests, Leyou was suddenly slapped hard on the back of the head by the principal.

Leyou realized what was happening and hurriedly went forward to help Jingxian.

The principal then pulled out a scroll depicting magpies and peonies and shouted:

"Nan Leyou, a student at National Sun Yat-sen University, was a company commander in the Western Yunnan Expeditionary Force and a member of the Jiangdong Column."

He is of high moral character, helpful, and friendly.

He fought bravely against the enemy and repelled invasions, resulting in physical injuries but not mental ones. The people called him "Little Mengchang" and he earned the reputation of being a minor knight-errant.

"The woman, Zhuang Jingxian, is respectful to elders and kind to children at home, possessing virtuous character; she is also helpful and compassionate towards the vulnerable outside the home."

This is a perfect match!

here

The auspicious ceremony was completed, and the marriage was thus sealed.

With affection as deep as that of a loving couple, we wish to treat each other with the utmost respect.

Auspicious leaves and locusts, their prosperity will surely follow in their descendants.

With one heart and one mind, we can create a harmonious and happy home.

May we be forever united as husband and wife, like mandarin ducks and butterflies in a vow.

After he finished speaking, the guests in the courtyard clapped enthusiastically.

"it is good!"

"well said"

"This is a good match."

The principal smiled and nodded to the couple, then shouted again:

"The auspicious time has arrived; the newlyweds may take their seats."

"One Worship"

"Second Worship Hall"

"Couple's Worship"

"Sent to the bridal chamber"

Leyou walked ahead, laughing heartily, while Jingxian followed behind, pulling on Leyou's clothes. Huangying supported Jingxian from behind.

As soon as I entered the room, I saw Mulan spreading burlap sacks on the floor.

Leyou sat on the bed with Jingxian, and at that moment the principal's wife brought in longan soup and asked Leyou to go out and entertain the guests.

Huang Ying and the others ate with Jing Xian inside the house.

"Hey kid, come on, have a drink!"

"Haha, we're definitely going to drink to our hearts' content today!"

……

Leyou kept bowing and greeting Zhou, picked up a small white porcelain cup from the table, and walked towards his master's table first.

"Master, thank you for your care and love over the years, and for helping me get married."

You are like a father to me. I raise a glass to you!

"Haha, you fool. It's all about timing, fate, and destiny! Everything is ordained by Heaven! Drink!"

"Commander, let me raise a glass to you to thank you for your care and concern, for treating me like a dear uncle. Thank you."

"You brat, for risking your life to kill those Japanese devils, I should be toasting you with this drink. Come on, drink this first."

Leyou tilted his head back and downed the drink in one gulp, then poured himself another glass and downed it in one gulp as well. He then poured himself yet another glass and downed it in one gulp.

"Commander, you drink one cup, I'll drink three. This is a junior's way of showing respect to a senior."

"Principal, thank you for your kindness and tolerance towards me. I'd like to propose a toast."

"Haha, enjoy life to the fullest while you can, don't let your golden goblet stand empty before the moon! Cheers!"

After spending time with her master at one table, Leyou moved on to the other tables.

"I won't say much more. I am deeply honored that everyone has come to my wedding banquet. Everything is in the wine, so please drink to your heart's content."

Lively and joyful, all worries were forgotten, truly embodying the old saying:

"What can dispel sorrow? Only wine."

……

"Master Dao, several years have passed. Apart from the brothers who live a little further away, everyone who lives nearby has come."

"Can we test our martial arts skills now?"

The master stroked his beard and said with a smile:

"Master Wu, please wait a moment. In the past, it was always the old Taoist priest who performed this, but now he is old and frail, so my disciple will take his place today."

"Alright, we'd also like to have a go at the esteemed Young Master Mengchang."

"Yes, I heard about it from my fellow practitioner Guanggui a few days ago, and I'd like to experience it for myself."

"I've heard that Young Master Mengchang is quite skilled with a samurai sword in Yunnan. I'd like to test the speed of my red-tasseled spear as well."

……

And so, everyone pulled the table apart.

The white lime circle was revealed, and Leyou was pushed into the circle by his master, waiting for his fellow practitioners to compete.

"Leyou, Twelve-Road Tan Tui, please enlighten me."

"Wu Dongchang, Cai Li Fo Kung Fu, young man, be careful."

After exchanging salutations with clasped hands, both sides assumed their starting stances to observe each other's spirit and energy.

Leyou, acting as a junior, took a sudden step back and delivered a powerful whip kick, his left leg aimed fiercely at Master Wu's head.

Master Wu used his left forearm to block the instep, then twisted his wrist in mid-air, his five fingers forming a claw to grab the ankle, while his right hand, clenched into a fist, struck at Le You's knee.

Seeing this, Leyou had no choice but to push off with his right foot, tumbling twice in the air before landing. He then used his left foot to propel himself forward, bending over and leaning towards Master Wu.

Master Wu shook his left hand and charged forward with a punch.

Leyou squatted down forcefully and attempted a sweeping kick, but it only went half a step off course. When he looked up, he saw that his opponent had thrown a punch right down on him.

Leyou braced himself with both hands, spun half a circle, kicked Wu's right wrist with his right foot, and kicked his stomach with his left foot.

Master Wu was in a half-crouching lunge position when he took a kick.

With his left hand, he punched directly into Le You's stomach. Le You took the blow head-on, was forced back a step, and then quickly charged towards Master Wu with a sudden stomp of his right foot.

With one leg raised and pressed down towards the chin, Master Wu raised his right hand, but missed the center gate. Le You then directly struck the opponent's chest with both hands in a tripod-like motion.

After catching Leyou's whip kick, the opponent turned to the left and punched Leyou in the head.

Oh dear, these martial artists who have mastered various stance training techniques are tough to deal with.

Seeing Leyou retreat, Master Wu immediately pressed forward, his left and right palms constantly shifting positions.

Seeing that Le You had withstood the palm strike, he immediately followed up with a palm strike and a fist strike from the right.

Leyou could only half-raise his right leg to kick the opposite foot cake, and immediately raised his right toe to kick Master Wu's head behind him.

After completing the combo, Leyou quickly crouched down and, taking advantage of Master Wu's retreating steps, successfully hooked his leg and then pounced on him, falling to the ground.

Just as he was about to punch the other person in the neck, he was hit in the stomach with a powerful punch, and his whole body immediately curled up like a shrimp and took two steps back.

Just then, the sound of gongs and drums rang out.

After both sides stood up, they clasped their hands in a salute.

Master Wu walked over, patted Leyou on the shoulder, and walked back into the crowd with a smile.

At this moment, a thin middle-aged man picked up a red-tasseled spear from the weapon rack, walked into the circle, and clasped his hands in a salute to Leyou.

Leyou nodded and explained the situation, then walked into Jingxian's room, took out two samurai swords, and clasped his hands in a fist salute to the man.

The battle between the two sides is about to begin.

"Hey"

The man opposite him made a sound, his left hand in front and his right hand behind, repeatedly twirling the butt of his gun and thrusting it at Le You.

Leyou hurriedly raised his right hand to slash with his knife, but the other party suddenly pulled back and thrust his spear at his neck.

Leyou quickly jumped into the air and took two steps forward, kicking the man's left hand with his right foot.

Upon seeing this, the man turned around, half-kneeled, clenched his left hand, relaxed his right hand, and forcefully shoved the bucket backward.

Startled, Leyou quickly spun halfway around with her left foot. It was so dangerous; it was truly a life-or-death moment. If she hadn't reacted in time...

After leaping aside, Leyou gripped his twin swords tightly and slashed at the opponent with an unstoppable, domineering stance.

Meanwhile, the opposing team quickly raised their spears and thrust them at Le You's legs and head, but each time the spear was either deflected by a knife or blocked by a spear.

After going back and forth for twenty or thirty rounds, another gong and drum sounded.

After returning the greeting with clasped hands, Leyou laughed heartily, put his arm around the martial arts master's shoulder, picked up a jar of Daughter's Red wine, and walked towards the other martial arts masters.

Drinking wine from large bowls, eating meat from large bowls, and loudly expressing one's heroic sentiments—that is the passion a man should have.

Meanwhile, martial arts masters from within the white circle also went over to spar.

When something exciting happened, the people around shouted loudly.

……