August 19th.
Engagement day.
Before dawn, Qiu Xi was already being woken up.
Busy with washing up, breakfast, makeup, and checking items…
In short, everyone was on their feet.
At 9:30 AM, the groom’s family was scheduled to arrive.
“Sister Li, we’ve come to propose,” Chu Sheng said with a joyful smile as she walked in, her face beaming.
Behind her, Nan Hao and Nan Hua carried the betrothal gifts they had previously agreed upon.
“Good, come, come, please sit here,” Mother Qiu said with a smile, gesturing for them to move to the side.
The four parents took the seats of honor at the front. On the other side, Nan Hua saw Qiu Xi.
“Xi Xi, I’m here,” Nan Hua said, holding the girl’s hand, his eyes full of affection.
“Mmm,” Qiu Xi replied, her cheeks slightly flushed, nodding gently.
“Let’s go.”
“Okay.”
The two walked hand in hand in front of the four parents.
“Little Xi, come here.”
“This is for you.” Chu Sheng and Nan Hao each handed out a red envelope.
This was their custom.
“Aunt Chu, Uncle Nan, thank you.”
“Oh, dear~”
After receiving the red envelopes, they sat for a while longer.
When the time came, both families set off.
As for Hua Linglong and the others, they had started working as soon as the groom's family arrived.
They did not stop even when the others took a break, instead, they began packing their things and took a car to the engagement venue ahead of time.
By the time they arrived, they could start working immediately.
Today was the engagement day. Although it was a small affair for just two families, close relatives had indeed come.
Especially on the bride’s side, apart from the venue, the banquet was entirely handled by the bride’s family.
Thus, compared to the bride’s side, the groom’s side had fewer attendees.
However, the Qiu family did not have a large number of guests either. Apart from Uncle Qiu Jue’s family and Aunt Huang Xian Yi’s family, the rest were Master Du Bin, Grandma Li, and a few of Qiu Xi’s close friends.
These few friends were invited because they were very close to the couple and also had good relationships with their own families.
As for the Nan family, besides parents and grandparents, there were Nan Hua’s few brothers, and that was all.
It wasn’t that the Nan family had no relatives, but rather that their relationships with most relatives were not good. The remaining guests were mainly business partners.
These people might be invited to a wedding, but it was not necessary for an engagement.
Therefore, the attendance was not large; a little liveliness was sufficient.
With everyone gathered, the auspicious time arrived.
“Esteemed relatives and friends…” This was Ni Xue.
Invited by Qiu Xi to be the host for this engagement banquet.
“… A joyous occasion on a fine day, a good match made on an auspicious date, today…”
The first item on the agenda, which Qiu Xi and the others had discussed and added, was the groom’s proposal.
There were no witnesses then, but now, the family would witness it together.
The two stood in the center of the stage. Nan Hua knelt on one knee, “Xi Xi, will you marry me?”
Holding the ring with one hand, his eyes were fixed on the girl above.
“I will,” came the steady reply, not a promise, but carrying weight.
Saying this, she extended her hand.
The moment the ring was placed on her finger, everyone in the audience applauded.
After Nan Hua put on his ring, he naturally stood up and held her hand for a photo.
“A marriage certificate, a lifelong commitment…”
The second item was signing the marriage certificate.
This certificate was also Mother Qiu’s masterpiece, prepared by her over half a month.
The two walked to a nearby table, dipped their pens in the golden ink, and signed their names.
“A cake symbolizing sweet love, requiring a joint cutting…”
This was the third item, cutting the cake.
The moment Ni Xue’s voice fell, Qiu Ge, who was standing nearby, pushed a cart forward.
This cake was personally learned by Father Qiu. After using a lot of materials, he finally learned how to make it.
The one before them was prepared by Father Qiu after working all night to maintain its freshness and delicacy.
Picking up the knife nearby, the two exchanged a glance. They placed their hands together, gripping the knife, and then cut into the cake.
After the couple finished cutting the cake, it was placed on a long table that had been prepared.
Once these processes were completed, it was time for the parents to make their appearance.
The fourth item was speeches by the elders.
Since Grandpa Nan was present, Grandpa Nan gave the opening remarks.
His few words were all in favor of Qiu Xi’s side.
Needless to say, everyone from the Qiu family, young and old, was smiling as they listened.
Then it was the Qiu family’s turn. Father Qiu went up to represent them.
He was wearing a perfectly tailored dark ink Tang suit. This was the first time Father Qiu was dressed so formally since becoming a father.
Standing on the stage, he looked towards his daughter before slowly beginning his speech.
He didn’t say much, but every word was a blessing.
At times, his gaze towards Nan Hua carried a slight hint of warning.
“Mom, why aren’t you going up to speak? Seeing Dad like this, he might cry if he says any more,” Qiu Ge asked his mother quietly after watching his father come down.
This was the first time he had seen his father like this – reluctant and sentimental…
Mother Qiu glanced at her daughter in front, then at her husband who was walking down, and gently shook her head.
“How do you know I wouldn’t be more exaggerated than your dad if I went up…”
Originally, she was supposed to speak, about a mother’s feelings for her daughter… but she was also afraid she wouldn’t be able to hold back, so she ultimately let her husband go up.
Qiu Ge, “…”
In his life, unless he got married himself, he was unlikely to see this again…
As for getting married?
That was impossible, of course!
So, he might as well take more photos now for future remembrance.
Thinking this, and seeing his father approaching, Qiu Ge immediately moved aside and began to discreetly take photos.
Although he had already taken quite a few, his father didn’t mind, so he took more.
“A destined love… Now, let us invite the couple… to share the engagement wine.”
This was the final item, the engagement couple and the engagement wine.
“Xi Xi, please.”
“Ah Hua, please.”
Picking up the wine glasses, they both leaned in.
The engagement ceremony was complete.
Finally, it was time for group photos.
“Alright, you two can go down and toast everyone, and give out red envelopes.”
This marked the preparation for the banquet to begin.
Fortunately, there weren’t too many people. Qiu Xi and Nan Hua walked around, and finished toasting quickly.
After the banquet ended, the guests left first. Afterwards, Nan Hua’s family followed back to the Qiu residence.
Before sunset, they returned home with the bride’s dowry and gifts.
Thus, the engagement ceremony was successfully completed.
Qiu Xi and Nan Hua also became fiancés.
…