142, an auspicious day, applying makeup.

May 1st, International Workers' Day, an auspicious date for weddings.

The air was crisp and cool. At the first crow of the rooster, Gao Shen was already awake. The mere thought that he was about to marry Qingxin, that they would soon be joined as husband and wife under the witness and blessings of family and friends, kept him from sleeping. He felt incredibly spirited, his heart a mix of excitement and nerves.

If not for the fact that he wanted to greet his beloved with full vigor today, he likely would have spent the entire night in a state of agitation, having only forced himself to sleep out of necessity. Though he had only managed four or five hours of rest, it was more than enough for someone like Gao Shen, who had undergone long-term training.

Gao Shen rose and went into the small courtyard, performing a set of military boxing exercises to release the tension and excitement surging within him. He felt as though his emotions might spill over at any moment, and he knew he had to steady his mind and heart to meet his beautiful bride in his best possible state.

Before long, perhaps stirred by the sound of his exercise, Liu Gang and Da Hu also rose. They joined Gao Shen for a morning workout. After working up a sweat, Gao Shen felt a sense of relief and physical ease. He then stood in the courtyard and took a cold shower; instantly, his vitality was restored, and the restlessness in his heart subsided.

After washing up, Gao Shen began to prepare himself. He donned his formal military dress uniform and put on his service cap—the first time he had worn the cap in quite a while. He adjusted his collar insignia, shoulder boards, and honorary badges. While he usually wore combat fatigues in daily life, today was a different occasion; he would complete the wedding ceremony with the solemn dignity befitting a soldier.

Liu Gang also put on his old military uniform, though it lacked the cap, insignia, and shoulder boards, as retired soldiers are no longer permitted to wear those markings.

Hearing the commotion, Zhang Liangping hurried to get up and dress in the gray Zhongshan suit that Jing Qingxin had bought for him. Meanwhile, Li Dahu returned to the Li family courtyard to wash up before calling upon his father to head to the villagers' homes, as previously arranged, to collect tables, chairs, bowls, and basins for the wedding banquet.

Li Dahu’s activity naturally roused the rest of the household. Seeing that the time was approaching, everyone began to rise and prepare.

Knowing that Jing Suyun and Liu Ping would be busy helping Jing Qingxin with her makeup, Li Chunhua finished her own preparations and went to Gao Shen’s courtyard to prepare breakfast for everyone. Since they had stocked up on plenty of ingredients the day before, many items were ready to go, making the process quick and efficient. After all, they couldn't let everyone go hungry, as the official wedding banquet was still several hours away.

Auntie Li steamed some buns and prepared a simple vegetable congee served with pickles. It was a humble meal, as she figured no one would have the time or appetite for anything too elaborate.

Just as breakfast was ready, the six women who had come to help with the cooking arrived. Knowing the importance of the day, they were eager to avoid any delay and preferred to arrive early rather than scramble later.

As an elder, Zhang Liangping greeted them warmly. With a smile, he said, "You’ve arrived so early—have you had breakfast? We are just about to eat; if you haven't, please join us!"

The six women were bashful, as they had indeed rushed over without taking the time to eat, thinking they would simply wait for the main feast. They hadn't expected the hosts to be so hospitable, insisting they eat before starting work. They truly were kind-hearted people; the women couldn't help but think that city folks were different indeed.

Auntie Li, knowing they were shy, simply handed each of them a bowl of congee and placed a basin of buns on the table, urging, "Don't be modest, come and eat! You'll work better once you've had something in your stomachs."

Having spent some time with Gao Shen and Jing Qingxin, Auntie Li understood their character and goodness. She knew their elders were equally easygoing and that these invitations were sincere. Seeing them begin to eat, Auntie Li gathered a bamboo basket, filled it with breakfast for Jing Qingxin, Jiang Min, and her own daughter, and carried it to their room.

She then called Jing Suyun and Liu Ping to the small courtyard to eat, telling them to help out once they were finished.

Jing Qingxin had just finished washing up and dressing. Without her makeup on yet, and with most of the day still ahead, she ate half a bowl of congee and a bun, finding it difficult to function on an empty stomach.

After breakfast and rinsing her mouth, she began to apply her makeup. She had set up a glass mirror on a wooden cabinet, which Gao Shen had procured for her; otherwise, the small, hanging mirrors common in local homes would have made applying makeup impossible.

She had always kept a set of skincare and makeup supplies in her space—all products from her mother’s "Beauty Dwelling" line, a series of exquisite, high-quality cosmetics. The packaging consisted of elegant, vintage-style porcelain bottles, quite distinct from the modern, plastic containers of the era. Thus, she naturally retrieved her personal items from her luggage.

After basic skincare, she applied a layer of brightening cream, which instantly enhanced her complexion. She used eyebrow powder to gently shape her brows into elegant willow-leaf arches, then applied a light brown eyeshadow as a base with a small brush, blending in a touch of deeper brown at the outer corners of her eyes and along the lower lash line to add depth.