After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the days passed quickly and September arrived. He's body had improved a lot, and Shen took her over again, taking good care of her. On this day, after celebrating Zi Yu's eighth birthday, Shen discussed with He that Zi Qing was 15 years old this year, and it was time for her to have a hairpinning ceremony, so she wanted to hold one properly.

  He Shi listened and said: "Since that's the case, you can ask a whole person to help her dress up and pin up her hair, and you'll be considered a lucky person. You can hold the tray for her instead. Rural families don't have many rules. Just invite her uncles and aunts over, our family's girls haven't had one yet."

  Shen said, "It's okay to talk about the first and second brothers, but the third brother is too far away, so let's just forget it. It's not a big deal anyway. Zi Lu will still have to come back for their wedding. As for her aunt's side, we only plan to inform her younger sister. If I weren't afraid that the child's grandfather wouldn't be happy, I wouldn't want to invite anyone from their family."

  The two of them had discussed it and agreed, so Shen Shi told Zeng Rui Xiang about it. Zeng Rui Xiang naturally agreed and said: "I want to personally braid my daughter's hair, in the blink of an eye, Qing Er has grown up so big, I really don't want to give her away in marriage. I still remember when she was born, I was excited that I had finally given birth to a daughter, I personally named her Zi Qing, hoping that she would have a smooth and peaceful life, without any wind or rain. Who knew that this child would be plagued by disasters and difficulties? It must be because of my inadequacy as a father, so I want to personally braid Qing Er's hair, hoping that from now on, her days will be peaceful and happy."

  Shen listened to Zeng Ruixiang's words and also sighed. He thought that he was a complete family with both parents and children, and as the biological father of the child, it had special significance. Let's just fulfill one of Zeng Ruixiang's wishes.

  Zeng Ruixiang personally went to inform Old Master and Tian Shi, saying: "Father and mother, we plan to give Qing'er a good birthday celebration. The child is fifteen this year, it's her hairpinning ceremony, I plan to pin up her hair myself. Please come and witness the ceremony, no need to prepare gifts, I'll go notify her younger sister myself. As for others, never mind."

  Tian Shi listened and was dissatisfied, saying: "Which girl in our family has ever managed the household? What's so special about Zi Qing?"

  The old man glared at her. Mrs. Tian thought of what her son had said about not needing to prepare gifts, so she reluctantly agreed. After thinking for a moment, she said: "Others may not have been notified, but your second sister has always gotten along well with Zi Qing. Last time when Kangping's house was built, we didn't tell Xiaoyu, and she complained about us. Since she plans to come over and stay for a while, why don't you hire a car to send her a message and let her come over?"

  "Mother, let's just forget it. Second sister can come whenever she wants to. It's not worth troubling her from so far away, and besides, there's also big sister. We didn't prepare to notify anyone, and if little sister wasn't close by, we wouldn't have notified her either. Father and mother went too, it's the same thing. The child is young, and we're afraid that making a big fuss would actually harm the child's fortune. Originally, this child has already had more than enough misfortune, and besides, we don't want to let her see people she doesn't want to see." Zeng Rui Xiang finished speaking and left.

  Tian heard the news and gritted his teeth, thinking to himself: "You just don't want Chunyu's family to come, do you? I'll find someone to deliver a message to Chunyu's family myself. A free meal is not to be missed, let alone when Chunyu's family doesn't have much to spare in their stomachs anyway." However, to be on the safe side, Tian also sent a message to Xiaoyu. Of course, neither Old Master nor Zeng Ruixiang knew anything about this.

  September 27th. The sky had already darkened, and Zi Qing was taking a stroll in the courtyard with Mrs. He when Lin Kangping suddenly appeared before her. First, he obediently called out "Grandma", then walked to Zi Qing's side. Seeing this, Mrs. He smiled and asked: "Did you rush back especially? Was the road tiring?"

  Lin Kangping replied: "It's okay, I'm used to running."

  He found an excuse to go back to the house first, but still knocked on the two men a few times and told them to return to their rooms early.

  He ran away, and Lin Kangping immediately pulled Zi Qing to run towards the back mountain. As soon as they turned over a small gate, Zi Qing fell into his arms. Lin Kangping held her tightly, buried his head in Zi Qing's neck, and rubbed against her skin with his chin stubble, which seemed to have not been trimmed for several days due to their hasty journey, causing Zi Qing's skin to feel slightly itchy.

  Ziying was about to struggle, but then she heard Lin Kangping's low voice, "Qing'er, I miss you so much." Ziying's heart softened, and she couldn't help but yield to him. The two of them rubbed their faces together for a long time, Ziying worried that her parents would be anxious, and also worried that Lin Kangping was tired from the journey, urging him to return to his room, Lin Kangping reluctantly let go of her.

  The next morning, the two uncles and aunt from Baitang Village arrived first, despite Shen's instructions that no gifts were needed. The two uncles still gave Zi Qing a silver hairpin with carved flowers and a jade hairpin. At around 10 o'clock, San Po, several paternal uncles and aunts, and Si Po all arrived, as well as the oldest villagers and the village head. By 11 o'clock, Lao Yezi and his three daughters had all arrived. The Chunyu family, except for Da Mao and Er Mao, had all come. Zeng Rui Xiang and Shen did not expect that Chun Yu's whole family would come, Zeng Rui Xiang's face sank as he looked at Tian Shi, who deliberately chatted with the two sisters-in-law without looking at Zeng Rui Xiang. Chun Yu also hastily went forward to greet several elderly relatives.

  The three old women also saw the thoughts of Zeng Rui Xiang and Shen Shi, although she had always disliked Chun Yu, but still pulled Shen Shi to whisper a sentence: "Since that's the case, there's no reason to drive away the guests who come to the door, just be clear in your heart."

  Fortunately, the prepared food was still abundant. The guests arrived and sat in the hall, filling the room to capacity. Zeng Rui Xiang invited everyone to move to the empty space in the courtyard, where stools had already been set up.

  The Shen family laid out a large grass mat and several bamboo pillows, and Zeng Ruixiang said: "Today, my daughter is fifteen years old. My wife and I are grateful for our daughter's growth over the years. Today, we hold a hairpinning ceremony for her. Firstly, to educate our daughter not to forget the kindness of her parents' upbringing. Secondly, hoping that our daughter will be a good wife and mother in the future. Thirdly, to pray to heaven for our daughter's happiness and well-being from now on. For this reason, my wife and I want to personally pin up our daughter's hair. Thank you all for attending our daughter's hairpinning ceremony. Now, please let our daughter come out."

  After washing and dressing, Ziying wore a black top with a big red border, black pants, and her hair scattered as she came out of the room. She faced the guests and bowed, then sat down on a cushion with her legs crossed. In Shen's hands was a round tray covered with a red cloth, under which was a long strip of something that should be a hairpin, and below it was a set of coupled colored clothes. Zeng Ruixiang took a comb and gently combed Ziying's long hair, choking back tears as he said: "My Qienger has finally grown up, become a beautiful big girl, can get married. Dad is reluctant to part with you." At this moment, Ziying's tears burst out of her eyes.

  Zeng Ruixiang braided Zi Qing's hair into a bun, with straight bangs in the front and the rest of her hair hanging down. Clumsily wrapping it with silk ribbon, Shen Shi opened the red cloth, and Zeng Ruixiang pinned a jade hairpin on Zi Qing. Zi Qing stood up. The womenfolk all said a few congratulatory words to Zi Qing.

  Later, Ziqing returned to the east house. Her cousin, Zeng Zihua, carried a set of coupled-color dresses and followed her in. Ziqing changed into this coupled-color top and same-color underskirt, came out to pay respects to her parents with a kneeling bow. After a while, Shen Shi brought another tray for Ziqing, lifted the red cloth, it was a gold hairpin. Below was a set of magnificent silver-embroidered crimson satin dress with hundred butterflies. Zeng Rui Xiang removed Ziqing's hairpin and replaced it with the gold hairpin.

  When Ziqing came out of the house for the third time, she had changed into a new silver and red satin dress with embroidered flowers, which was still the fabric given to her by Lin Kangping last year. Ziqing thought it was too luxurious, but today it happened to be useful.

  Zi Qing walked in, unexpectedly stunning the whole audience. Zeng Rui Xiang was about to change Zi Qing's hairpin when Lin Kang Ping walked over and said: "Dad, mom, I'm here, I want to personally change my Qi Er's hairpin, I rushed back just to put on the golden hairpin I gave her with my own hands. Because I want to tell Qi Er that my feelings for her are stronger than gold, this lifetime, no matter what happens, whether it's illness, poverty, or rumors, I will always believe in her, love her, and protect her, please let today's guests bear witness."

  Zi Qing's eyes were a blur, this man truly loved her to the bone, in order not to let her regret, he specially rushed thousands of miles, just for her 18th birthday, in order to dispel rumors and protect her reputation, he especially spoke frankly in front of the village elders and relatives, this lifetime, he protected her.

  Lin Kangping said, taking out a small box from his bosom. A golden hairpin with a rose pattern and a set of red and green gemstones, one end of the hairpin was also carved with a rose. Shen looked at He, who nodded, then stepped aside. Lin Kangping carefully inserted the hairpin into Ziying's hair bun, only revealing the rose at the tip, and pinned on the brooch. Whispering in her ear, "My Qianger can finally get married, I've been waiting so hard." Ziying's face turned red with embarrassment.

  "It's still good that Zi Qing is lucky, right, big sister? Look at how much Kang Ping loves Zi Qing and is willing to spend money. Since the engagement, he has sent so many gifts, all of which are gold and jade, very valuable. This fabric, tsk, it can't be bought for less than ten taels of silver. I've never seen anything like it. Luckily, we didn't tell Da Mao, what could Da Mao possibly give to Zi Qing?" Qiu Yu whispered to Chun Yu, who glared at her angrily.

  "Zi Qing, Second Aunt doesn't have anything good to give you. Second Aunt made a pair of shoes for you, it's also Second Aunt's intention." Xia Yu said.

  The two aunts also hurriedly took out their gifts, and even the third aunt had prepared a pair of embroidered shoes for her. The several paternal aunts had all received many orders from Zi Qing over the years, so they naturally each brought a small gift this time, either a set of clothes or a set of shoes and socks, which they now took out. Autumn Jade gave a set of everyday clothes, a fine cotton flower-patterned dress, which was quite clean. Zi Qing thanked them one by one, happily accepting the gifts.

  Tian and Chunyu saw that everyone had prepared gifts, but they didn't have any, so they felt a bit awkward. Shen hastily said: "Didn't I say we're just here to put on a show for the kids, no need to bring gifts. Come on, let's go eat."

  The three old women glanced at Zi Qing and said on purpose: "Such a good girl, such a good day, how can you come empty-handed? If I had a granddaughter like this, I would laugh in my dreams. This child is kind and filial, listening to Lin Hou Sheng's words today, her future blessings will not be small."

  Tian's face turned red and black, the old man also stared at her, his heart was full of resentment. This old woman was too much, she didn't even prepare any gifts, and his son had specifically told her not to notify Chunyu, but she still came with a large group of people to freeload. It was so embarrassing, especially with all these outsiders around. When he got back home, he would definitely scold them severely.

  The Shens had set up four tables, with men and women seated separately. Autumn Jade kept pulling on Zi Qing's arm, saying enviously: "Zi Qing, you have a lot of jewelry in your hands, it must be worth over a hundred taels of silver! You're really lucky to be marrying into the Old Zeng family. Your sister-in-law said that the garden is even bigger and better than this one, with at least 20 mu of land. The house is also impressive, with several courtyards... I've never heard of such a thing! The furniture is all made of fine wood, with intricate carvings we've never seen before. Once the garden is finished, you'll have to invite us over for a good look around, to see what kind of houses rich people live in. And then you can treat us to a few good meals too! From now on, your sister will be living off of your leftovers - I wouldn't even mind wearing your hand-me-down clothes and jewelry!"

  Chun Yu listened with a look of expectation, while Zi Qing furrowed her brow slightly.