Chen Lan later heard from her mother that the "Quan Fu Ren" (a woman chosen to officiate auspicious ceremonies) was personally selected by Grandma Liu. The chosen person was Zhang Dani, the wife of Li Daqiang. Chen Lan also felt that Zhang Dani was an excellent candidate. She was very suitable to be the Quan Fu Ren. Her in-laws were healthy, she had both sons and daughters, her husband and wife were loving and harmonious, and most importantly, she was very amiable in her interactions with others, with a cheerful and straightforward personality. She got along particularly well with her husband's younger brothers and sisters.
Xiang Xi's wedding was a top priority for the family. Although Chen Lan couldn't personally participate in the preparations, she sent a group of her "child soldiers," young helpers, to assist Xiang Xi's family next door. Her eldest daughter, Wang Chunni, who was fourteen years old this year, was the main force, leading her twelve-year-old sister Wang Chunfang and another twelve-year-old sister, Liu Chunhua, along with ten-year-old Jia Hui. They were responsible for helping to transport duvet covers, sheet covers, and other bedding, as well as all the decorations for the new house to the neighboring family.
Ming Zhe was responsible for leading Chen Lan's two younger brothers, Wen Kai and Wen Qi, along with her sons Jia Yao, Jia He, and Jia Xing, to transport various ingredients for the wedding banquet to the neighboring family. The entire family was busy with fervent activity.
Time quickly passed, and it was the twenty-second day of the twelfth lunar month. Grandma came to find Chen Lan to discuss the matter of inviting the "Kitchen God" the next day. Chen Lan presented her grandmother with a pair of majestic and solemn seated portraits of the Kitchen God and the Kitchen Goddess, dressed in their finest attire, giving a feeling of solemnity and reverence. Her grandmother was very pleased with the portraits and left happily with them.
As the saying goes, "On the twenty-third of the twelfth lunar month, the Kitchen God ascends to heaven." This day is the "Kitchen God Sacrifice Day." This year, because Xu Mingxuan was at home, neither Grandma nor Old Lady participated in the Kitchen God sacrifice, leaving the task to the men. Xu Mingxuan naturally took the lead in the Kitchen God sacrifice, with Uncle Fu, Uncle De, Ming Zhe, and a group of youngsters assisting.
As soon as dusk began to fall, Xu Mingxuan led the elder and younger men of the family to the kitchen. They set up a table and offered incense to the Kitchen God enshrined in the niche on the kitchen wall, presenting offerings such as glutinous malt candy. Xu Mingxuan smeared the malt candy around the Kitchen God's mouth, saying as he did so, "Esteemed elder, when you go to heaven, speak many good words and refrain from saying anything bad."
After smearing the Kitchen God's mouth, the divine portrait of the Kitchen God was taken down, along with the paper horses and fodder for offerings. They were then set ablaze in the courtyard. At this time, the elder and younger men of the family, led by Xu Mingxuan, chanted prayers while burning the offerings: "This year again it is the twenty-third, we send off the Kitchen Lord to the Western Heaven. With strong horses, with fodder, have a smooth and safe journey, the offered candy is fragrant and sweet, please speak well to the Jade Emperor."
This year's Small New Year's Eve dinner was eaten together by several families at Chen Lan's home. There were three tables for this year's Small New Year's Eve dinner. With Chen Lan's system, the New Year's meal was naturally very sumptuous. Mother Cui, along with Cui Qiao, Hu Yuzhen, Zhao Xiaoyue, and a group of young helpers, prepared three tables full of dishes. Each table had fish and meat, and a large pot of lamb hot pot. The steaming hot pot symbolized a "flourishing and prosperous" coming year; the large fish portended good luck for "abundance year after year." Sudancox.com
Eating dumplings was also essential for the Small New Year's Eve dinner, especially on this day. Eating dumplings on Small New Year's Eve has a very good symbolic meaning, which is to take the meaning of "farewell dumplings and welcoming noodles."
After the Small New Year's Eve dinner, time quickly moved to the twenty-fourth of the twelfth lunar month. Today was a good day to invite the Quan Fu Ren to spread the bed. A group of young girls from the family, led by their eldest sister Chunni, all went to Xiang Xi's house next door to watch the excitement.
When the group returned after watching the bed-spreading ceremony, they were still looking quite engrossed. Chen Lan couldn't help but wonder what was so interesting about spreading a wedding bed. Jia Hui's mouth was still softly reciting: "Spread the bed, spread the bed, full of festive joy. This year we spread the bed, next year a top scholar will be born. First, spread the mandarin ducks playing in the water, second, spread dragon and phoenix bringing prosperity, third, spread fish and water in harmony, fourth, spread lasting marital love, fifth, spread early birth of precious sons, sixth, spread descendants filling the hall, seventh, spread a hundred years of harmonious marriage, eighth, spread everlasting love, ninth, spread family harmony, tenth, spread boundless prospects."
Chen Lan also felt that the old customs of weddings in the past were quite interesting, all of them embodying beautiful wishes and seeking good fortune from the joy of the newlyweds!
Since tomorrow was the twenty-sixth of the twelfth lunar month, the grand day of Xiang Xi's wedding, Cui Qiao and Hu Yuzhen, along with several skillful women, gathered at Chen Lan's home to chat with Chen Lan and cut window decorations. As they chatted, their hands were busy cutting. Chen Lan was surprised by how skillful they were. The cutouts included not only large red "Xi" characters (for joy) but also many festive window decorations, such as magpies presenting plum blossoms, peacocks playing with peonies, lions rolling the brocade ball, two dragons playing with pearls, lotus flowers and fish, and mandarin ducks playing in the water, and various other patterns.
The twenty-sixth of the twelfth lunar month was the day of Xiang Xi's official wedding. Early in the morning, everyone in the family, regardless of age, woke up early. They all put on festive new clothes and were full of joy. Zhang Dani also arrived at the house early, and under the guidance of her mother-in-law, began to apply makeup and dress Yulia.
The entire family was adorned with lanterns and decorations, and the house was brightly lit. The young boys of the family, led by Ming Zhe, were rubbing their fists in anticipation, waiting for Xiang Xi to come to welcome the bride. The young girls were not to be outdone, all declaring that today Xiang Xi's uncle had to give them more red envelopes before they would open the door. Chen Lan couldn't help but laugh, it seemed as if they were going to snatch the bride.
Not long after, Xiang Xi arrived at the main entrance with a group of young men from the valley, calling out to open the door. Ming Zhe and his group of boys were already prepared and tightly held the door shut, refusing to open it. They posed various challenges to Xiang Xi, much to everyone's amusement.
Fortunately, Xiang Xi was well-prepared and had brought a large number of red envelopes of various sizes. In the end, Xiang Xi used red envelopes to pave his way through one hurdle after another. Finally, the door to the bridal chamber was opened by Chunni, and Xiang Xi finally saw his bride.
Although Xiang Xi's family lived next door, out of consideration for the bride's feet not touching the ground, a red carpet purchased by Chen Lan from the system was laid on the ground. It is said that laying a red carpet on the ground also carries significance: it means that the bride will not have power over the groom in his family.
After stepping over the brazier at the entrance, the most important ceremony followed – the wedding bow.
After bowing to heaven and earth, and to their elders, they performed the couple's bow, and only then could Xiang Xi and Yulia be considered officially husband and wife.
Finally, the most lively part of the celebration began – teasing the bridal chamber. In the past, "teasing the bridal chamber" represented auspiciousness, so every family that married a bride would have their bridal chamber teased, and it was said that the more vigorous the teasing, the better. Chen Lan felt that teasing the bridal chamber was merely for the sake of liveliness and festivity. However, to find pleasure in wantonly teasing the groom and bride was not advisable.