The Night Before the Wedding: Dumplings on the Wedding Procession and the Old Father&#03

In the backyard, several blond-haired, blue-eyed foreigners were squatting in a row by the well, looking aggrieved.

Just hours before, they were still arrogantly trying to take over the kitchen of this rural wedding banquet.

When they opened the door, they were stunned by the incredible knife skills of those retired master chefs who had mastered state banquets.

The Western technology that we were once so proud of has suddenly become child's play; now we can only obediently squat by the well peeling garlic and washing onions.

Feeling embarrassed, Jiang Jianguo awkwardly touched his nose and quickly slipped back to the front yard.

After a noisy day, the Lin residence finally quieted down as the moon rose above the willow branches.

Night fell, and the eve of the wedding arrived as scheduled.

Inside the boudoir in the backyard.

Exquisitely cut double happiness characters are pasted on the carved wooden window.

The main lights were not on inside; only a few pairs of red candles flickered quietly on the table.

A faint scent of sandalwood wafted in the air.

Jiang Ruoyun, dressed in a soft silk nightgown, sat upright in front of a brass dressing mirror.

Song Wan stood behind her daughter.

She changed into a plain, smoky blue cheongsam, exuding a calm and understated elegance.

In Song Wan's hand was a century-old sandalwood comb with a warm, lustrous sheen.

The comb teeth slid slowly down Jiang Ruoyun's cascading black hair.

"Comb through to the end."

Song Wan's voice was very soft, yet it sounded exceptionally clear in the quiet night.

"Two combs of white hair, level with the eyebrows."

The comb fell again, lifting a strand of hair.

"Three combs and children and grandchildren fill the ground."

After reciting these old sayings that have been passed down for thousands of years.

A faint redness slowly rose in Song Wan's eyes, which always exuded shrewdness and composure.

She looked at the pampered girl in the mirror, who had been cherished since childhood.

Tomorrow, I will truly become someone else's bride.

Jiang Ruoyun saw her mother's reddened eyes through the mirror.

Her nose stung, and her lips trembled slightly.

"mom……"

Jiang Ruoyun turned around, hugged Song Wan's waist, and buried her face in the familiar fragrance of her clothes.

Tears fell like beads from a broken string, dripping down my face.

Song Wan did not stop her, but simply reached out and gently patted her daughter's thin back.

Just like more than ten years ago, when I coaxed that little girl who was afraid of thunder to sleep.

"Why are you crying?"

Song Wan gently scolded him, but her tone was full of unyielding affection.

"I'm getting married tomorrow, and my eyes are so swollen from crying that the veil can't cover them."

She pulled a plain white handkerchief from her sleeve and gently wiped away the tear stains from her daughter's eyes.

"I've been watching Lin Mo with a cold eye for so long."

Song Wan never spoke much, but every word she uttered was always to the point.

"He seems carefree and doesn't care about anything. But deep down, he's responsible and knows when to advance and retreat."

"He can preserve his craft in this turbulent world of fame and fortune, and he can also hold up half an umbrella for you in the storm."

"I'm at ease leaving you with him."

Jiang Ruoyun sniffed, and her inherent arrogance resurfaced.

She blushed and muttered softly.

"Who wants him to protect me? He has a terrible mouth and he's always yelling at me. He also doesn't let me eat too many snacks."

Song Wan was amused and reached out to gently poke her forehead with her finger.

"You little rascal, you're getting the benefits and you're still acting innocent."

"He's just worried about you suffering from stomach pain. Only he can tolerate your double standards."

"After getting married, you need to tone down your pampered princess attitude. As a couple, you need to learn to care for each other, dealing with the mundane realities of daily life."

Jiang Ruoyun nodded obediently and rubbed her cheek against her mother's chest.

The candlelight flickered, and the whispers of the mother and daughter filled the room, a tender and affectionate atmosphere.

Meanwhile, in the courtyard.

Under that century-old camphor tree, beside the stone table.

Lin Mo was carrying two rough porcelain plates as he slowly walked out of the front hall.

One plate contains freshly fried peanuts.

The heat control is exquisite, each piece is coated with an even sheen of oil, exuding an irresistible crispy aroma.

The other dish was a simple cold salad of houttuynia cordata, with a few drops of aged vinegar added, making it crisp and refreshing.

Jiang Jianguo had already sat down on the stone bench with an air of authority.

Today he took off his stiff, handmade suit and put on a loose cotton coat.

He no longer acted like a tycoon in front of his relatives during the day.

At this moment, he was just an old father filled with sorrow, about to marry off his daughter.

In the center of the stone table, there was a bottle of local yellow wine from the old distillery in town.

"sit."

Jiang Jianguo raised his chin and pointed to the opposite side.

Lin Mo nodded and pulled out a stone bench to sit down.

His expression remained relaxed and composed.

He reached for the bottle and tilted it slightly.

The amber-colored liquor flowed from the bottle neck, creating a ring of tiny bubbles in the white porcelain cup in front of Jiang Jianguo.

"Dad, the night breeze is a bit chilly."

Lin Mo put down the wine bottle, his tone gentle and polite.

"I just warmed this wine on the stove; it'll warm my stomach."

Jiang Jianguo picked up the cup and looked at the warm rice wine inside.

He didn't engage in the usual toasts and drinking at business dinners.

He simply raised the glass silently to his lips and tilted his head back.

He downed most of the warm wine in one gulp.

The spiciness, combined with the rich aroma of grains, instantly slid down the throat and into the stomach.

"You think you can get rid of me with a plate of lousy peanuts?"

Jiang Jianguo gave a stubborn snort, but honestly picked up a peanut and threw it into his mouth.

It's crunchy and gets more fragrant the more you chew it.

He couldn't resist taking another sip of wine.

Lin Mo didn't argue, poured himself a glass, and slowly sipped it.

"If you like it, I'll fry it for you every day when we go back to the capital so you can have it with your drinks."

The two of them sat there in the night, each taking a drink.

No one deliberately sought out topics to discuss.

There was only the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze and the occasional long chirping of insects.

The earthy yellow wine has a strong aftereffect, and Jiang Jianguo drank it a bit too quickly today.

Before long, an unnatural flush appeared on the richest man's cheeks.

Alcohol catalyzed the vulnerability hidden deep in one's heart.

Jiang Jianguo's eyes gradually became blurry.

He put down his wine glass and suddenly leaned forward.

He stretched out his large, calloused hand and grabbed Lin Mo's arm tightly.

The force was so great that his knuckles turned white.

"Lin Mo..."

When Jiang Jianguo opened his mouth, his voice was extremely hoarse and had a strong nasal tone.

He is no longer the decisive chairman who was at the negotiating table.

Her eyes were red and swollen, and tears streamed uncontrollably down the fine lines at the corners of her eyes.

"This girl..."

He clung tightly to Lin Mo, crying as he poured out his heart in broken sentences.

"Ruoyun has been spoiled by her mother and me since she was a child. She has never lifted a finger to do housework."

"She doesn't sleep well at night and always kicks off the covers."

"You woke up in the middle of the night, so keep a close eye on her and make sure she doesn't catch a cold."

Lin Mo did not break free, letting his father-in-law hold him.

He abandoned his usual nonchalant demeanor.

He stood with his back straight and his eyes focused intently on the old man opposite him.

Jiang Jianguo wiped away the tears on his face and sniffed.

"She has a sensitive stomach. If she eats anything too cold or too spicy, she'll break out in a cold sweat from the pain in the middle of the night."

"You're a great cook... I'll have to work hard for you from now on."

"Never let her eat whatever she wants."

The old man became more and more upset as he spoke, and his shoulders trembled with sobs.

He suddenly raised his head, his bloodshot eyes staring intently at Lin Mo.

In those eyes, there was pleading, reluctance, and an undisguised warning.

"You brat, I'm entrusting the most precious thing in my life to you."

Jiang Jianguo gritted his teeth, his forehead veins bulging with excitement.

"If you ever dare to wrong her again, if you ever dare to let her suffer even the slightest grievance..."

He raised his other hand and slammed it hard on the heavy stone table.

"Even if I, Jiang Jianguo, give away all my wealth, I'll haunt you even as a ghost!"

These words lacked any semblance of dignity befitting a wealthy family.

It's just a father's most primal and instinctive protective instinct towards his offspring.

Lin Mo quietly looked at Jiang Jianguo.

Looking at this old man who was usually aloof and arrogant, but was now crying uncontrollably.

He reached out and grasped Jiang Jianguo's trembling arm.

The force was steady and firm.

Gone were the jokes of the past, and there was not a trace of laziness.

Lin Mo picked up the full glass of yellow wine in front of him.

He stood up and looked directly into Jiang Jianguo's eyes.

"Dad, don't worry."

Lin Mo's voice wasn't loud, but it was as steady as a rock.

"As long as I have a breath left in my body, I will live this life."

"I'll protect her with my life."

There were no fancy words or flowery language.

Only the most direct and purest promises.

Done.

Lin Mo tilted his head back and downed the strong liquor in his glass in one gulp.

What he swallowed was scalding hot wine, but also a man's priceless promise.

Jiang Jianguo stared blankly at Lin Mo.

Looking into his clear, unwavering eyes.

After a while.

The old man finally let out a long sigh of relief.

He forcefully wiped away the tears on his face, a relieved smile appearing at the corner of his eyes.

"Good...good lad."

Jiang Jianguo also raised his glass.

He bumped his empty cup against Lin Mo's hand.

The crisp sound of the impact echoed in the night breeze.

The promise between the two men was fulfilled completely at this moment.

As dawn broke, the thin mist over the water town had not yet dissipated.

The melodious sound of oars echoed from the waterway in the distance.

Lin Mo changed into the fiery red wedding dress and pushed open the door.