Chapter 649 - Chapter 649: Chapter 636: Adding Makeup (1/2)

Chapter 649: Chapter 636: Adding Makeup

He had planned to cherish Zhuang Qingning for a lifetime, how could he possibly bully her?

But truth be told, he did feel a modicum of fear.

He feared that Zhuang Qingning would not tease him…

Soon enough, the imperial edict granting their marital union reached Enji Village.

Following the precedent set by Feng Ning and the Lord of Ninghe County, the villagers weren’t altogether astounded by the presence of the nobles from the capital city, and no longer exhibited excessive astonishment.

However, this time due to it being an imperial marriage, the blessings from the Empress, the Emperor, and Concubine Hui and many others, the overall extravagance surpassed tenfold the grandeur of the previous county lord’s ceremony.

The gifts were delivered like a flowing stream to Zhuang Qingning’s home, all tied with thick red flowers. The festive vibe was extraordinary, and given the sheer quantity of the presents, the term “ten-mile wedding procession” was no exaggeration.

Zhuang Qingning’s courtyard in Enji Village was simply too small to accommodate so many gifts, so she had to open the doors to the Lord of Ninghe County’s mansion and move all gifts there.

Before all the gifts could be properly stored, Zhuang Qingning started receiving more.

The villagers of Enji Village thought that since Zhuang Qingning’s wedding was confirmed, they should add to her dowry as her kin. Naturally, the dowry could no longer merely consist of foodstuffs; it ought to be something of value.

Thus, every household contributed as best as they could. One household bought a couple of bolts of satin, another made silver jewelry. Some thought that Zhuang Qingning did not lack for opulence, simply offering a peace-lock pendant or a silver bowl for her future children with Chu Jinnian.

Zhuang Qingning, “…”

She suddenly felt overwhelmed by pressure.

The feeling of being forced to have kids, even before she got married?

Chu Jinnian, on the other hand, was grinning ear to ear, immensely gratified within his heart.

In view of the villagers’ goodwill and generosity, Zhuang Qingning initially intended to decline many of the gifts considering their financial circumstances.

“Miss Ning, if it were any other time, it wouldn’t matter if you didn’t want to accept these things, but this is a joyous occasion. These presents are tokens of everyone’s good wishes. To reject them at your once-in-a-lifetime event, especially when it’s contributing to the dowry, would leave people disappointed,” Mrs. Wen advised from the side. “Your workshop business will continue to grow and prosper, reaping plentiful benefits for everyone. There’s no need to fuss over this.”

“Absolutely.” Zhou Daya also chimed in, “These gifts bear everyone’s good wishes – they would like to share in your joy. Please don’t refuse.”

Having listened to their advice, Zhuang Qingning accepted all their blessings and gifts. She instructed Xiangqiao and others to keep a record and store all in the warehouse for now. It could be used for gifting back during their family’s future occasions.

Before they could finish receiving gifts from the village, people from Miao Village and Shijiazhuang started to arrive one after the other.

Then came villagers from nearby settlements who had worked in the workshop, or benefited from purchasing wheat or bean seeds from Enji Village. Led by the village chief, they came in droves to offer their congratulations.

Just as everything was about to get finalized, Cheng Ruize came to visit.

Eight large boxes filled to the brim with items made Zhuang Qingning’s small courtyard look rather congested.

Cloth, medicinal herbs, head ornaments and jewelry, various spices, and even two deeds of houses and lands.