151, toast dress, the banquet concludes.

This was a legacy passed down by her mother, and Jing Qingxin wanted to treasure it carefully. If she ever had a daughter in the future, she would pass it on as well, a continuation of the bond between mother and daughter.

Jiang Min and Li Xiaomei stood guard at the entrance of the inner room, waiting for Jing Qingxin to change and emerge. They kept their roles for the day firmly in mind, ready to stay by her side and offer any help needed.

Before long, the wooden door opened. A refreshed and radiant Jing Qingxin stood in the doorway, smiling as she allowed Jiang Min and Li Xiaomei to look her over.

She wore a red blouse with a matching bow at the collar. It was the same shirt she had worn on the day she registered her marriage with Gao Shen, and the only red one she currently owned; naturally, for a wedding banquet, one had to dress in a festive spirit.

Paired with the blouse was a white, floral-patterned midi skirt that reached her ankles, which she had fashioned from a longer skirt. A wide belt with the same floral pattern cinched her waist, and she still wore her red peony-embroidered shoes.

In this era, high heels and modern pumps were not yet in vogue, and compared to simple black leather shoes, Jing Qingxin felt the embroidered ones were a much better match, lending her outfit a rich, vintage charm.

As for her hair, she had styled it into a fishtail braid that fell over her left shoulder, tied at the end with a thin cord adorned with two small red flowers.

While Jing Qingxin viewed this attire through a postmodern lens as having a nostalgic, vintage appeal, to Jiang Min and Li Xiaomei, it felt entirely different.

The outfit was not only fashionable and beautiful, but it also exuded a youthful, vibrant sweetness, coupled with a delicate, spirited grace. In short, to both of them, Jing Qingxin looked absolutely stunning.

"Sister Jing, how is it that every outfit you wear looks so good?" Li Xiaomei asked with undisguised admiration.

Jing Qingxin teased, "Well, you tell me—do I look good, or does the outfit look good?"

"Uh...?" Li Xiaomei looked bewildered. Weren't they the same thing? Was there a difference?

Jing Qingxin and Jiang Min burst into laughter.

Some people in this world are destined to be a focal point; no matter where they go, all eyes naturally gravitate toward them, even if it isn't their intention.

When Jing Qingxin walked out of the main room toward Gao Shen, Liu Gang and Zeng Lin were already waiting there, holding wine bottles and glasses.

Undoubtedly, Jing Qingxin’s arrival drew the gaze of everyone present. Even in casual dress, she remained dazzlingly beautiful. The red and white ensemble made her look as vibrant and delicate as a flower in full bloom.

However, this only made those already harboring jealousy grind their teeth in frustration.

Liu Fangfang, who had been mocking Jing Qingxin for hiding away to dress up, felt a stinging sense of humiliation as she watched Jing Qingxin emerge looking so bright and moving. She seemed like a beautiful, blossoming flower, and inexplicably, Liu Fangfang felt as though she had been slapped in the face.

But at this moment, she could do nothing. The entire village was here; she couldn't stir up trouble, so she could only seethe with envy.

*Hmph,* she thought, *there is plenty of time ahead. As long as she stays in this village, there will always be an opportunity.*

Gao Shen looked at the bride who belonged to him. His gaze shifted slightly; he had always known she was beautiful and moving, but today she was even more radiant, leaving him utterly captivated and enthralled.

Jing Qingxin naturally caught the depth of his gaze and felt a secret joy. How could she not be happy to see the one she loved so mesmerized by her?

She tucked her arm into Gao Shen’s and whispered, "Let's go! Everyone is waiting for us to toast them."

With that, Gao Shen and Jing Qingxin walked from the left side of the tables to the right, holding their small glasses and offering toasts to each table. There were many young people in the village, and with alcohol on the tables, it was inevitable that they would stir up some rowdy fun, even checking the bride and groom’s glasses to see if they were truly filled with liquor.

The couple did not object and allowed them to inspect the glasses openly, for they were indeed drinking alcohol. However, their drinks were different from the standard white spirits the guests were consuming; they were drinking the vintage reserves from her secret space, which meant they would never feel dizzy or drunk.

Half an hour later, the toasts were concluded. The newlyweds and their attendants sat down in the main room to rest. A meal had already been laid out on the table, prepared separately by Aunt Li and the others.

After a busy morning, the group was hungry. Not minding that the food had cooled slightly, they picked up their chopsticks and began to eat.

***

By the time Jing Qingxin and Gao Shen saw off the last of the villagers, it was already two o’clock in the afternoon.

Outside the courtyard, there were still piles of bowls and chopsticks, the makeshift stove, and the tables and chairs that needed to be cleaned up.

"We’re heading back! You two come over early tomorrow!" Father Gao said to them before turning back toward the Second Production Team.

He showed no intention of staying to help, not even offering a polite gesture of courtesy before walking away.

Father Gao’s carefree departure left everyone speechless, their expressions twitching in disbelief.

Su Lijuan, clutching her coat as if to hide something while her belly looked conspicuously round, didn't even say goodbye. She called her two sons and hurried off as if someone were chasing her.

As for Gao Wei, he seemed to understand the meaning of courtesy better than the other two. He gave a perfunctory "Happy wedding!" and strolled away with an air of affected sophistication.

Watching the three leave, Mother Gao felt her face flush with shame. She knew she had to stay and help; otherwise, if the family acted like guests at their own son’s wedding, they would become the laughingstock of the village.