Yufeng Manor.
The grand hall, capable of accommodating thousands, was adorned with small red lanterns, filling the space with festive cheer.
Both the Lan family members and the guests congratulating the happy couple raised their glasses to drink.
"Esteemed guests!"
After the groom knelt to place a large diamond ring on the bride's finger, they shared a ceremonial drink, and presented their joyous marriage certificate, the renowned host of the wedding raised the microphone and said, "May I ask everyone to momentarily set aside their drinks and quiet down."
The chatter in the hall gradually subsided.
Elder Lan and others, seated at the main table, also looked up towards the stage.
The host enunciated clearly, "Next, we will have the gift presentation ceremony!"
Gift presentation.
This meant announcing to everyone present the amount of gifts brought by guests to congratulate the marriage of Lan and Murong.
Upon hearing this, Elder Lan frowned and looked at his eldest son, Lan Ximing.
When preparing for the wedding, Elder Lan had explicitly stated that regardless of the number of guests or their relationship with the Lan family, the Lan family should not accept too many wedding gifts.
A thousand yuan per congratulatory guest!
A thousand yuan as a wedding gift might not seem like much for an ordinary family's wedding.
The Lan family, being one of the three major affluent families in Tiandong, who would even consider a thousand yuan insignificant among those qualified to attend the wedding?
Yet, Elder Lan insisted on this.
The reason was simple: "Our Lan family is currently in an unprecedented period of glory. Especially with this alliance with the direct descendant eldest daughter of the Murong family from Sijiu, our prestige in Tiandong is unmatched. This is a good thing, but not entirely so. The Lan family descendants must always remember the principle of prosperity leading to decline. From now on, we must strive to maintain a low profile as much as possible and engage in more charity to ensure the continued prosperity of the entire family."
At that time.
The core disciples of the Lan family had all agreed.
But now, they were going to announce the gifts!
Most were a uniform thousand yuan, so was there a need for a gift presentation?
It was evident.
The Lan family disciples had not heeded Elder Lan's teachings of accepting only a thousand yuan per guest!
"Father."
Lan Ximing coughed dryly and said, "I dare to offer you a word."
Elder Lan slowly asked, "Are you trying to say that my thinking is out of step with the times?"
Lan Ximing remained silent, but glanced at his wife beside him, who was the "mother of the bride" for today, Chu Yazhi.
Chu Yazhi was a full seven years younger than Lan Ximing.
She had given birth to their eldest grandson, Lan Yunhai, at the age of nineteen.
Lan Yunhai was also the couple's only son.
There was an old saying, "A mother's status rises with her son's."
This saying didn't hold much sway for Chu Yazhi.
Because Chu Yazhi's maternal family, the Chu family of Tianhu, was also a prominent clan.
Moreover, seventy years ago, the elders of the Tiandong Lan family and the Tianhu Chu family were old acquaintances, which led to their alliance.
Lan Yunhai's refined and elegant demeanor was undoubtedly inherited from Chu Yazhi's excellent genes.
Similarly, Chu Yazhi had played an indispensable role in Lan Yunhai's becoming so outstanding!
Wearing a black cheongsam with a slit and high heels tonight, Chu Yazhi exuded a mature and alluring charm, looking more like her son's elder sister.
"Old Master."
Chu Yazhi, elegantly cracking sunflower seeds, received her husband's gaze and said slowly, "You are absolutely right. Times have indeed changed. If Yunhai were to proceed according to your instructions, it would not only displease the face-conscious Murong family but also make our Tianhu Chu family feel embarrassed."
Elder Lan could scold his son.
But his daughter-in-law—
Alas.
Elder Lan sighed softly, a hint of loneliness flashing in his eyes.
He couldn't help but lecture his son again: "Ximing, no matter how times change, they will never escape the natural law of prosperity leading to decline. Ten years ago, if I made a decision,呵呵, who would dare defy it?呵呵."
Elder Lan chuckled lightly, no longer wishing to say more.
From the gift presentation segment, Elder Lan had to admit a fact.
He was old.
No one cared about his old ideas of "low profile and more charity" anymore.
Faced with Elder Lan's helpless smile, Chu Yazhi, with her legs crossed and tapping her high heels, a barely concealed mockery appeared on her lips!
Elder Lan saw it.
But his heart remained unmoved.
Looking at Murong Mingyuan, who was toasting the young master of the Helan family with Lan Yunhai, he suddenly muttered, "Perhaps, the eldest daughter of the Sijiu Murong family marrying Yunhai is the beginning of decline for our Lan family?"
Lan Ximing, Chu Yazhi, and the others' expressions immediately changed.
Elder Lan continued to mutter, "Murong Mingyuan is so passionate. Doesn't anyone think that even the most vigorous flame will eventually be extinguished? When Miss Murong finds married life not as wonderful as she imagined, where will our Lan family go?"
"Father!"
Chu Yazhi was displeased and retorted, "Today is Yunhai's joyous occasion. Your words are truly inauspicious. Are you feeling unwell? Perhaps you should go rest in the back."
Faced with his daughter-in-law's sharp retort, Elder Lan remained silent.
In fact.
The old man knew he shouldn't be speaking such discouraging words at his grandson's wedding.
Not only would it be futile, but it would also evoke resentment from the younger generation.
"I am old after all, no longer the man I once was. In the years since I retired, my children and grandchildren have likely done things they shouldn't have behind my back. Never mind, never mind, let them do as they please. No matter what, I have done my best, and my conscience is clear before my ancestors after my death."
Elder Lan mused inwardly.
He picked up his teacup and took a sip.
So bitter!
On stage.
The host was loudly announcing: "Order of precedence is not important."
"Zhang Mingzhi from Huangdao, gift of 660,000!"
"Ma Xiuqing from Weicheng, gift of 880,000!"
"Du family of Tiandong, gift of 3.88 million!"
"Bai family of Tiandong, gift of 6.66 million!"
"Chu family of Tianhu, gift of 8.88 million!"
"Helan family of Sijiu, gift of 1.68 million!"
The renowned host's clear voice echoed through the hall of over a thousand people with the microphone.
Each time he announced a guest's gift, the crowd would applaud and cheer loudly.
Even the newlyweds, who were toasting, paused, smiled happily, and clapped their hands.
"I didn't expect the Bai family to give such a large gift of 6.66 million. It seems my judgment was flawed. In the future, we must never allow the Bai and Lan families to get any closer."
At a side table, Du Yingjun, upon hearing the announcer mention the Bai family's gift, frowned secretly and instinctively looked to his side.
Bai Yujing happened to be looking over, raising his glass from afar with a friendly smile.
Du Yingjun's handsome face also quickly showed a smile of "we are brothers" as he raised his cup.
The two raised their glasses from afar, met each other's eyes, and drank!
"Two show-offs."
Du Tianci, sitting beside him, cursed inwardly upon seeing this scene. "No, three show-offs, including Lan Yunhai. May Buddha bless your wives, that they all get snatched away."
Just as the simple and unpretentious Young Master Tianci was once again devoutly praying to Buddha in his heart, the gift presentation segment reached its peak.
The grand finale!
In fact, this final honored guest was not a congratulatory guest, but a member of Murong Mingyuan's maternal family.
And it was not a wedding gift, but a dowry.
The host specifically took a sip of wine before puffing out his cheeks to sing loudly.
"The dowry list from Sijiu Murong is as follows—"
"Cash of 188 million yuan!"
"A six-story residential building in a high-end district in eastern Sijiu!"
"A grassland ranch, one hundred fine horses, 800 cattle, and 3,000 sheep!"
"Villas in major prefecture-level cities such as Tiandong Yunhai and Huangdao!"
"Nine limited edition luxury cars!"
Each time the host shouted, the most enthusiastic applause would erupt.
Lan Yunhai beamed, his eyes filled with an eternal love for Murong Mingyuan.
Murong Mingyuan looked back at him with eyes full of unwavering resolve: "Brother Yunhai, I am willing to die for you."
Mother-in-law Chu Yazhi's face was full of pride: "I am a queen, shining with my own light."
Elder Lan's white eyebrows slightly drooped, feeling it was time for him to leave.
Young Master Tianci was again praying in his heart—
The host finally finished announcing the gifts.
The applause finally subsided.
"Next—"
Just as the host was about to announce that esteemed guests should continue drinking and dancing, suddenly!
A remarkably attention-grabbing melody was heard from outside the hall entrance.
"What melody is this?"
Young Master Tianci exclaimed in astonishment, "Why does it sound like the coffin-carrying song of black people?"
Bang!
The two doors of the hall were suddenly kicked open.
The exceptionally striking music of the black people carrying coffins roared into the hall.
Simultaneously—
From outside, the shouts of over ten men and women rang out in unison: "Qingyun's Li Qianfan, representing my beloved wife Su Ziyu! I am here to congratulate Young Master Lan Yunhai and Ms. Murong Mingyuan on their joyous wedding!!"
—
The good show has finally begun, more to come tonight!