Lu Liang's home was not far from Xiao Yu's, both within the same provincial capital, a drive of less than half an hour.
As soon as Jiang Qixin stepped out of the car, he was greeted and taken away to talk by the people arranged by Xiao Yu's family.
There was a saying on their side.
That the groom's elders would come over, chat with the bride's family, solicit their opinions, and see if there was anything they needed to pay attention to.
Then they would meet the elders who accompanied the bride's side and return to the hotel for hospitality.
Lu Liang, accompanied by Pi Xiaoqian, Xu Dahai, and others, arrived at the doorstep of Xiao Yu's house.
Guo Xuyang followed behind the group, carrying the quilt.
A quilt was not something just anyone could carry.
Generally, the person carrying the quilt was the groom's closest buddies. There were benefits to carrying the quilt, as the bride's family would give a token of appreciation to the person carrying it for their effort.
Although not much, it was enough to buy a couple of packs of cigarettes.
Without exception, Lu Liang was blocked at the door by Yu'er, Xin Rui, and a few others.
"Red envelopes, red envelopes, if you want to pass this way, leave your toll."
"Dahai, one for each," Lu Liang said to Xu Dahai.
This was an indispensable part of the wedding festivities, so Lu Liang had prepared them long ago. Each red envelope contained ten thousand yuan, and he had twenty-odd prepared, asking Xu Dahai to carry them specifically.
Since there were no outsiders, and most of them were Guo Xuyang's women, giving too little would look bad.
Moreover, weren't these women all little rich girls? They wouldn't care about such a small amount.
A red envelope with ten thousand yuan each not only saved face but also raised their status. Why wouldn't they do it?
Money made things easy. Once the red envelopes were handed over, the doors were opened in unison.
"Please," Ye Zi said with all seriousness.
"What's the trick? You let us pass so easily?" Guo Xuyang was a little disbelieving.
"Do you think everyone is as greedy as you? We're easily satisfied," Xin Rui said.
Guo Xuyang always felt there was something behind Xin Rui's words, but he didn't pay much attention.
Today was Lu Liang's big day, and everything else had to give way to Lu Liang's wedding.
Lu Liang, holding the bouquet, went upstairs and was blocked by the door again.
"Red envelopes, red envelopes, if you want to pass this way, leave your toll."
Laughter could be heard from inside; by the sound of it, Xia Li and a few others were blocking the way.
"Dahai, continue," Lu Liang said.
Xu Dahai slipped the red envelopes through the door crack.
"Not enough, still three short," Xia Li's voice came through.
"Didn't you say six? Why are you still three short?" Xu Dahai was puzzled.
"Just give it if you're told to, why so many questions? Do you still want to get in?" This voice seemed to be Xu Lili.
Well, it wasn't his money anyway, so he didn't feel bad spending it.
Xu Dahai slipped three more red envelopes in, and only then were they let in by the group.
It turned out there were some little ones in the living room, and it seemed the red envelopes were for them.
Guo Xuyang's guess was correct. He watched as Xu Lili placed three red envelopes into the hands of three little ones.
"Isn't this too much? No, no, we can't take this red envelope," said a woman in her thirties.
Xiao Yu hadn't mentioned any children beforehand, so Lu Liang had arranged for the red envelopes to be packed with ten thousand yuan each, without bundling them, for convenience.
Who would have thought there would be three little ones here today.
"Sister, this is for the children, just take it. It's a festive occasion today, so why not take the red envelope if it's given for free?" Xu Lili said.
"This is too embarrassing."
"It's alright. The groom is a rich man, and this is less than a drop in the bucket."
A young woman looked at the middle-aged woman sitting upright on the sofa and said, "Second Aunt, Xiao Yu has found a good partner."
"Mm, as long as Xiao Yu likes her. I, as her mother, have no objections."
Hearing their conversation, Guo Xuyang took a closer look.
It turned out this middle-aged woman was Xiao Yu's biological mother, and Xiao Yun's stepmother. There was no doubt that the person sitting with her was Xiao Yun's biological father.
Judging by his age, he looked to be around fifty-two or fifty-three. He was plump and his facial features didn't resemble Xiao Yun's, though his eyebrows and ears were a bit similar.
It seemed Xiao Yun took more after her mother.
Before Guo Xuyang could observe carefully, he was ushered into Xiao Yu's bridal chamber by a few people.
Xiao Yun was also in Xiao Yu's room, helping to arrange something.
"Brother Liang, you have to find Xiao Yu's shoes," Xia Li said.
"Did you tie them to your thighs again?" Pi Xiaoqian said naughtily.
"We can't say that, Brother Liang has to find them himself," Xia Li said.
"Where am I supposed to find them? You've hidden them so well. At least give me a hint," Lu Liang said.
"Not in the sky, not on the ground, not on the bed, and not on the person," Xu Lili said from the side.
"This hint is a bit too broad? If they're not anywhere, where could they be?" Lu Liang said.
"You'll have to find that out yourself."
Xiao Yu's bridal chamber was not large, about fifty square meters.
Besides a bed, there was a wardrobe, a dressing table, two bedside tables, and a chair.
The rest were various scattered items.
"Not in the sky and not on the ground, so they must be in mid-air.
Not on the bed and not on the person, which means they are not on the bed, nor on any of you.
In mid-air? Could they be in the wardrobe?" Lu Liang said.
Pi Xiaoqian was about to rummage through the wardrobe, but Xia Li blocked him.
"What are you doing? It's all Xiao Yu's clothes inside. What are you looking at, a grown man?"
Pi Xiaoqian's face turned red from Xia Li's retort.
He really hadn't considered that earlier.
Indeed, a girl's wardrobe would have many things unsuitable for men to look at.
At the very least, there would be plenty of girls' undergarments.
"Brother Liang, the wardrobe can be ruled out," Fatty said. "Xia Li not letting me look means they're not in there."
"How do you know they're not there?" Xia Li retorted, unconvinced.
"If they were, you wouldn't refuse," Fatty said.
That made sense. If they refused, where else would Lu Liang find the shoes?
"Then it's down to the bedside tables. Dahai, help me check if they're in there?" Lu Liang said.
Xu Dahai went over and opened the bedside table, but they weren't there.
There were only some scattered snacks and a few books lying quietly inside the bedside table.
Could they be inside the dressing table?
Lu Liang thought about it and walked over to the dressing table, reached out, and pulled open a drawer, but still, they weren't there.
This was strange. Where could a pair of shoes be hidden?
Guo Xuyang quietly released his senses and couldn't help but smile knowingly.
These women were too good at hiding things.
Xiao Yun had been sitting on the chair at the dressing table without moving since the group entered the room.
If Guo Xuyang hadn't released his senses, who would have thought the shoes were hidden under the chair where Xiao Yun was sitting?
The pair of red leather shoes were tightly secured to the seat of the chair with tape. If one didn't look closely, one wouldn't notice them from the side.
"Xiao Yun, your sister is getting married today, aren't you going to offer something?" Guo Xuyang said with a smile.
"Offer what?"
"Aren't you going to prepare some dowry?"
"Didn't you help prepare the dowry? You were so generous, when would it be my turn?" Xiao Yun said with a hint of jealousy.
"When was I generous?"
"Aren't the things Xiao Yu is wearing prepared by you?"
"You can't blame me for this. These were all prepared by Brother Liang."
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