Returning wealthy individuals develop their hometowns and become rich in the 1980s

"Just like your aunt when she was young, you were both charming and elegant!"

No one present dared to refute Chen Zirong's words. She was indeed beautiful when she was young, but Chen Lianxiang, who was standing next to her, was no less so.

Chen Lianxiang felt a little embarrassed by what her aunt, whom she was meeting for the first time, said, and could only softly call out, "Aunt."

Chen Zirong took a small box out of her handbag and stuffed it into Chen Lianxiang's hand. "This is a gift from your aunt. Don't open it yet. Open it when we get back."

Chen Lianxiang tried to push, but Chen Zirong stopped her with her hand. "Don't push, or I'll be unhappy."

"This...," Chen Lianxiang said somewhat shyly, glancing at her cousin Chen Dong standing beside her. Seeing Chen Dong smile and nod at her, Chen Lianxiang accepted the gift with relief, saying, "Thank you, Auntie!"

At the main table, the aunts, nieces, brothers, and sisters were happily reuniting. The many guests who had arrived at the main entrance had already filled the seats on the second floor. Seeing that it was almost time, Lin Chaoyang walked over with a smile, put his hand on Fang Zhenfan's shoulder, and said, "Brother Zhenfan, today it's your turn to go up and say a few words as the officiant."

"Okay, definitely," Fang Zhenfan immediately stood up, dusted off his sleeves, and followed Lin Chaoyang onto the stage. He coughed lightly into the microphone, and after everyone in the hall turned to look at the stage, Fang Zhenfan took out a manuscript he had brought with him and looked at the crowd below.

"Distinguished guests," Fang Zhenfan stood upright before the microphone, speaking in a strong voice, "Today is the auspicious day of the marriage of Lin Qingsheng, the eldest son of the Lin family, and my niece Lianxiang. As their witness, I sincerely wish them a long and happy life together!"

Fang Zhenfan paused, then continued, "My niece Lianxiang is beautiful and virtuous, and my nephew Qingsheng is talented and righteous. This is a match made in heaven. We have chosen this auspicious day to marry them. From this day forward, may they live in peace and prosperity!"

"good!"

The hall erupted in applause. Chen Lianxiang sat in the main seat, her head bowed, tears welling in her eyes, but she forced them back. Lin Qingsheng held her hand under the table, his grip firm and his expression full of affection.

"I hereby declare the wedding ceremony officially open!"

"good!"

The specially invited wedding emcee then took over, loudly announcing, "Please welcome the bride and groom to perform the wedding ceremony!"

"Oh oh oh! The wedding ceremony is here!" Ronghui and Xiao Rongguo, those two lively characters, clapped their hands and jumped around next to Lin Qingsheng and Chen Lianxiang, making everyone laugh.

Lin Qingsheng led Chen Lianxiang by the hand and walked towards the center of the hall. Lin Chaoyang and Zhong Qiman had already been invited to the center and sat on a bench, smiling as they watched Lin Qingsheng and Chen Lianxiang approach.

"I bow to Heaven and Earth!"

"Bowing to the parents a second time!"

"Husband and wife bow to each other!"

Following the emcee's instructions, Lin Qingsheng and Chen Lianxiang completed the three sets of movements. Immediately afterwards, a waiter came over with a tray. Chen Lianxiang knew this meant it was time to serve tea to her parents-in-law. Holding the tea, she first respectfully curtsied to Lin Chaoyang, saying, "Father-in-law, please have some tea!"

"good!"

Lin Chaoyang picked up the teacup on the tray, took a small sip, and then placed a prepared red envelope on the tray. At the same time, he said to Chen Lianxiang, "Live a good life together from now on, have a harmonious marriage, and have children for my Lin family as soon as possible."

"My daughter-in-law knows!"

Chen Lianxiang then presented the tray to her mother-in-law, Zhong Qiman, curtsied in return, and said softly, "Please have some tea, Mother-in-law!"

"good!"

After taking a sip, Zhong Qiman placed the teacup back on the tray, along with a red envelope. She also took off the jade bracelet she was wearing. Seeing that Chen Lianxiang had already handed the tray to the waiter, she took Chen Lianxiang's hand and put the jade bracelet on her wrist.

Chen Lianxiang originally wanted to politely decline, but Zhong Qiman said, "This is the family heirloom of the eldest son and daughter-in-law of the Lin family. Today I will pass this bracelet on to you. From now on, you will be the eldest daughter-in-law of the Lin family and the head of the household."

"I will definitely be filial to my parents-in-law and take care of all the household affairs so that they will not have any worries," Chen Lianxiang said without hesitation.

After serving tea to his parents-in-law, Fang Zhenfan still had to serve tea to the officiant. He was already sitting there calmly. Lin Qingsheng and Chen Lianxiang arrived together, one kneeling and the other bowing deeply to Fang Zhenfan, the officiant, saying, "Thank you, Uncle Fang!"

Fang Zhenfan picked up the tea Chen Lianxiang offered, drank it down in large gulps, and then said, "Good tea, good day, good marriage!"

After saying that, he placed the red envelope on the tray and laughed heartily. Not far away, Chen Xiangui watched his daughter wearing the wedding dress he had helped design, having completely moved on from her previous marriage and entered into love again. Even though he was a strong-willed man, he couldn't help but shed tears, and unconsciously wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes.

Huang Lanzhi, on the other hand, was much more sentimental. She felt sorry for everything her eldest daughter had gone through. Seeing her daughter meet a good man again today, with harmonious in-laws and a loving husband, she felt relieved of a major worry. She couldn't help but take a tissue and sob quietly.

"The ceremony is complete!"

As the emcee's loud voice came through the microphone, the wedding was considered a complete success. The waiters, who had been waiting, immediately began to serve plates of delicious food to each table.

Crab meat and shark fin soup

Steamed Lobster

Salt and pepper crab

Braised goose feet with abalone

Steamed Sole with Black Bean Sauce

Braised Vegetables with Oyster Sauce

……

The hall on the second floor was filled with thirty tables, all of which were packed. In addition to relatives of the Chen and Lin families, there were uncles and elders from the Hongmen General Hall, friends from the New York Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Lin Chaoyang's old neighbors and colleagues, as well as some Chinese businessmen who had heard the news and came to show their support.

Fang Zhenfan, the officiant, sat at the head of the table, next to Lin Chaoyang and Chen Xiangui, the two rival in-laws. Further down were Lin Chaoyang and Zhong Qiman, sandwiching the newlyweds Lin Qingsheng and Chen Lianxiang in the middle. Chen Dong and Zhang Yi sat at the second table with Chen Zaiguang and Zeng Xia.

As everyone continued to toast and exchange drinks, the atmosphere at the banquet grew increasingly lively. Several old musicians invited by Lin Chaoyang played the erhu and pipa in a corner, performing a Chaozhou opera tune. Their melodious singing blended with the sounds of clinking glasses, creating a strange harmony.

Lin Chaoyang pulled Chen Xiangui aside and introduced him to several elderly overseas Chinese, saying that he was a relative from Chaozhou and Tuozhou. The elderly men immediately became warm and chatted with Chen Xiangui in their broken Chaozhou and Tuozhou dialect. Chen Xiangui was in a good mood today and accepted all the invitations. He drank one cup after another without getting drunk at all, and looked at these elderly overseas Chinese with great interest.

"Brother Xiangui, you have such a generous spirit!"

"We're drinking until we drop tonight!"

"Hahaha!"