Reborn 73 years later, he takes his mother-in-law hunting in the mountains.

Book lovers are all in the discussion area, chatting about the charm of urban novels.

The jeep pulled up in front of Ding Dahu's house, followed by a string of bicycles and horse-drawn carriages.

Gou Shengzi jumped out of the passenger seat, clutching a handful of candies wrapped in red paper, and threw them into the crowd.

The children swarmed to grab it, while the adults watched with smiles.

The gate was closed, but people inside were laughing and joking.

Tie Zhu went up and knocked on the door:

"Open the door! Open the door! We're here to pick up the bride!"

Xie Chunfang's voice came from inside:

"What's the rush? The bride isn't even dressed up yet!"

Gou Shengzi peeked through the crack in the door and called inside:

"Auntie, open the door and let us in to warm up."

"What's so warm?" someone inside laughed. "Put the red envelope in first!"

Gou Shengzi slipped a few small red envelopes through the crack in the door, and a scramble ensued inside.

The door opened a crack, a hand reached out, and then withdrew.

"Oh dear, it's only five cents a packet! That's not enough!"

Tie Zhu handed in the red envelope containing one or two cents, and a commotion and a frantic snatching immediately broke out inside.

Lu Yao walked over with a smile, took out a handful of candy from his pocket, and threw it over the wall.

There was another commotion inside.

After a while, the door finally opened.

A group of women blocked the doorway, with Xie Chunfang at the head, hands on her hips, smiling at Lu Yao.

"You country bumpkin, if you want to marry our little Meizi, you'll have to get past us first."

Lu Yao laughed: "How will we get through this?"

Xie Chunfang pointed to a stool in the yard, on which sat a bowl of dumplings:

"After eating this bowl of dumplings, you have to bite off half of each one; you're not allowed to eat them all."

Lu Yao picked it up, took a bite, and found it raw.

He forced himself to chew and swallow.

"To have or not to have?" a group of women asked in unison.

"born!"

Lu Yao answered.

The whole courtyard burst into laughter.

Xie Chunfang took the bowl and nodded in satisfaction:

"Alright, go in."

It may seem like they're making things difficult for the groom, but it's just a local custom.

On your wedding day, it won't be lively without talking, laughing, and joking.

Chinese tradition is all about liveliness; if red can be used, no other color will be used.

Unlike in the West, where weddings and funerals often share the same color scheme.

The solemn vows made getting married feel like joining a suicide squad.

At this moment, the hall was filled with joyful singing and laughter.

Lu Yao walked inside, but Ding Mei's door was closed.

Yuan Shumei and Jing Youxiang blocked the doorway, and Liu Shuangyan arrived at that moment.

However, contrary to her usual behavior, she didn't join in the commotion; instead, she simply pulled Zuo Xiaoying aside and watched quietly.

"Lu Yao, if you want to pick up your bride, answer the questions first!" Jing Youxiang shouted.

"ask."

"Who's in charge at home from now on?"

Lu Yao did not hesitate:

"My wife has the final say."

Ding Mei's laughter came from inside the room.

Yuan Shumei then asked:

Who manages the money?

"She's in charge."

Who will give birth to the child?

"Your next life."

Lu Yao's answer made the girls at the door laugh so hard they almost fell over.

Jing Youxiang blushed deeply.

Lu Yao is fine with anything in private, but he feels embarrassed when Lu Yao teases him in public.

Asking these questions is also part of the wedding prank process, reflecting the Northeastern tradition of pampering one's wife.

Although many men beat their wives back then, they mostly spoiled them when they weren't beating them.

In the city, when men get their salary, they give it to their wives, who are described as "money boxes."

As the saying goes, "There's a money-gathering rake on the outside and a money-storing box on the inside. It's not that the rake has no teeth, it's that the box has no bottom."

This illustrates the importance of marrying a good wife.

The door finally opened.

Lu Yao went in and saw Ding Mei sitting upright on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) with her head covered by a red veil, her hands neatly placed on her knees.

He walked over, squatted down, and said softly:

"Little Meizi, I've come to pick you up."

Beneath the red headscarf, Ding Mei's small mouth remained perpetually open in a smile.

Marrying Lu Yao is the wish of every girl in the village. The dream of the old lady, the regret of the old lady.

Xie Chunfang came from behind and placed a pair of new shoes on the ground:

"Put on your shoes, step on the red paper, and then go out."

Lu Yao looked down and saw a red paper on the ground with two "double happiness" characters written on it in ink.

He helped Ding Mei put on her shoes and stepped onto the red paper.

Ding Mei stood up, and Lu Yao carried her on his back as they walked out.

The Chinese tradition is to carry the wife on his back, so that she can rely on him and become his backbone.

The Western tradition is to hug, to hold one's wife like a pet.

No matter what you do, it carries a beautiful meaning.

The sound of firecrackers crackled and popped in the courtyard.

Ding Dahu stood in the crowd, his eyes a little red, his heart a little sore, but he still grinned.

Xie Chunfang gave him a push:

"What are you standing there for? Your daughter is leaving."

Ding Dahu walked over, opened his mouth but didn't say anything, he just patted Lu Yao on the shoulder.

This is a kind of entrustment; a thousand words are left unsaid.

Lu Yao put Ding Mei in the jeep and went around to the driver's seat himself.

Ding Mei is the first bride in the entire Jiapigou area to be brought into the wedding by motor vehicle.

I feel glamorous and respectable, and my happiness index is 100%.

This can be considered a new way of celebrating a happy occasion. Unlike the previous generation who used sedan chairs carried by people when they got married, they didn't ride in horse-drawn carriages like other people do.

The groom picked them up himself in his own car—how novel!

Ding Dahu personally escorted Hu Niu to the carriage to act as a sedan chair bearer.

Gou Shengzi, Tie Zhu, and He Wangcai squeezed in the back, while the big red flower at the front of the car trembled in the wind.

The car slowly started moving, and Ding Mei looked out through her red headscarf.

Xie Chunfang stood at the door wiping away tears.

Just send a few elder relatives to accompany them.

Yuan Shumei, Jing Youxiang, and others, carrying their dowries and dressing basins, boarded Cao Erdan's carriage.

Lu Yao drove very slowly, heading home.

This process of happiness should be slowed down; we should savor it fully.

No matter what you do, the process is more important than the destination.

He turned his head to look at Ding Mei, who was wearing a red veil.

He reached out and dug a hole in her exposed pointed chin:

"Little Meizi, are you happy to be my wife?"

"..."

Ding Mei didn't speak, but nodded slightly.

Lu Yao pinched her chin again. Ding Mei flinched slightly, then brought her chin back. She actually liked him touching her and didn't mind any part of her body being touched.

Hearing Lu Yao sigh, Ding Mei couldn't help but ask:

"What, are you reluctant to marry me? And you're sighing?"

"No, I'm just relieved! My wish has finally come true!"

Ding Mei didn't reply, but you could tell from the corner of her mouth that she was smiling.

The road is short; even if you take your time, you'll get there quickly.

From afar, I could see people blocking the alleyway near Lu Yao's house.

The alley was eight meters wide and packed with people.

People were even standing on the rooftops.

After picking up their bride, Gou Shengzi and Tie Zhu rode their bikes back as fast as they could.

For no other reason than the right to set off firecrackers.

With these two close friends of Lu Yao, no one else has the right to let him go.

The two felt honored to be able to personally lift such a long string of whips for Lu Yao.

"Crackling and popping"

The sound of firecrackers was deafening.

The onlookers cheered and laughed.

This is the most lively and busiest wedding in Jiapigou in recent years.

Although Ding Mei wasn't a vain or showy person, she was still happy that Lu Yao valued her.

She was unaware that Lu Yao and Zheng Shuang's wedding was far more grand.

Celebrities from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan have all come, as have many international friends.

No matter how many guests came, they couldn't earn Ding Mei's smile at that time.

This event was specially organized for Ding Mei, and she was overjoyed.

Today, she is the star of the show.

Lu Yao looked around and couldn't help but feel gratified.

All the friends he made in this life were present.

People from nearby villages also came.

May you live a hundred years, live ten thousand years, and be an ox, like a second daughter.

The Diao brothers.

Some villagers from Shilazi Village.

Even Shui Miao, the female company commander of Fenhe Bay, came.

Standing in the crowd, he looked at himself with a smile on his lips.

This girl is looking at people with such affection, she looks even more shy than a bride.

Maybe it's thinking about its own fingers!

Lu Yao dared not tease her at this moment, for fear of causing a scandal if others saw it.

From today onwards, I am a married man, and I need to be mindful of my behavior.

Someone brought over a red silk ribbon with a large red flower in the middle, and asked Lu Yao to use this ribbon to lead the bride into the courtyard.

Lu Yao looked up and saw that the person who handed him the silk was actually Yu Lu, Ju Wen's aunt.

I couldn't help but smile: "You're here too."

Yu Lu nodded with a smile.

Behind Zhao Balai, a henchman with his head wrapped up like a rice dumpling couldn't help but glare with resentment, but... he dared not speak out.