As Zhang Huai walked, he shot Liu Sanshun a strange look. Liu Sanshun was acting very odd today, as if he had it out for him. He hadn’t done anything mean, just kept pestering him.

Seeing him stare, Liu Sanshun grinned. "What’re you looking at? Did I get more handsome lately?"

Seeing Huai Zi’s frustrated expression, his mood suddenly improved.

Zhang Huai gave a helpless smile. "I can’t be bothered with you."

Once the dishes for the three banquet tables in the main hall began to be served, Juhua, Liu Xiaomei, and the other girls went into the bridal chamber to see the bride.

The bridal chamber, while decked out in festive red, was extremely simple.

Her dowry consisted of only a single cabinet and two chests, along with some smaller items like basins and buckets placed against the wall. The bed, however, was piled high with new quilts and pillows.

Liu Xiaomei whispered to Juhua, "For a dowry, the most important thing is to see how much needlework the bride has done. Sister-in-law Guizhi’s skills must be excellent. Look at all the quilts and pillows on the bed, and the clothes, shoes, and socks in the chests—that’s enough to last for several years! This is all stuff she saved up from when she was a girl. Once you’re engaged, you even have to start preparing your man’s shoes and socks."

Juhua nodded. Poor families had no land or jewelry to offer as a dowry; they could only rely on their own two hands to create such things.

The bride was a simple, sincere, and sturdy girl. She was fairly relaxed, mainly because Lanzi and Zhuzi were her cousins, which made her feel less reserved. Blushing, she invited everyone to sit on the edge of the bed. There weren’t enough stools, so some people had to stand.

Meizi, who was getting married next year, was also in the middle of preparing her dowry. She knew firsthand how arduous needlework could be. Looking at the two large chests filled with everyday shoes, cotton-padded winter shoes, socks, and insoles—for both men and women—she was incredibly envious. ’This Guizhi actually made so many shoes!’

She couldn’t help but open the cabinet for a look, too. Inside were plenty of clothes as well.

She rubbed her own hands, thinking, ’How many days must this have taken?’

So far, she had only managed to make four pairs of shoes for Li Changming and hadn’t even gotten around to her own.

Her face filled with admiration, she said to the bride, "Sister-in-law Guizhi, you’re so skilled! You made so many clothes and shoes, and your needlework is so fine."

Zhuzi laughed. "My cousin is very deft with her hands. Cousin, you’ve made enough shoes to last you for years!"

Guizhi beamed, overjoyed by all the compliments. She smiled and said, "I just saved them up little by little over the years. It might look like a lot, but they wear out fast when you actually use them."

Juhua and Liu Xiaomei exchanged a glance. Liu Xiaomei stuck out her tongue, thinking, ’I don’t have that kind of skill. I can barely keep up with the sewing I do for my brothers. Where would I find the time for all this?’

Juhua, meanwhile, was praying in her heart, ’I hope Qingmu marries a wife who’s good with a needle. That would make my life so much easier.’

Just then, all the dishes for the feast outside had been served, and a group of young men swarmed in.

Li Changxing came in laughing. "Sister-in-law, you weren’t angry just now, were you? Big Mouth and I are good friends, I was just teasing him for fun. You can’t blame me for that, right? I’m hoping to come here for dinner often in the future!"

A young man Juhua didn’t recognize chuckled. "In your dreams! You think Big Mouth is still a bachelor who can hang out with you all day?"

But who would have expected Guizhi to say so forthrightly, "It’s a good thing that you all think highly of Big Mouth and come to visit him. What’s one meal among friends—" The crowd was overjoyed to hear this, every one of them beaming. "—but now that we’re married, we have to be more frugal. If you come for a meal, you’d better bring some food with you. Catch some fish, trap a rabbit, or something. Bring it over, and I’ll cook it for you."

Before anyone else could react, Juhua couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing. She quickly ducked her head behind Liu Xiaomei, trying to stifle her giggles.

Zhang Huai was surprised to see Juhua laugh first. He shot a smiling glance at Li Changxing, thinking, ’Did you really think the bride was a pushover like Big Mouth?’

’This bride seems like a sharp one who doesn’t mince words. From now on, if anyone wants to pick on Big Mouth Zhao for being simple and honest, or try to get the better of him in a verbal spar, they’ll have to get through his wife first.’

The people in the room had been on the verge of roaring with laughter, but Juhua’s outburst drew their attention. After a brief pause, they all started laughing too.

Li Changxing laughed. "But of course. Now that you’re married, you’ll be raising kids soon, so you naturally have to be thrifty. Don’t you worry, Sister-in-law. We’re not that clueless. If we get our hands on anything good to eat, we’ll send some over."

This time the bride blushed and was too embarrassed to reply—he was already talking about raising kids, and it was her very first day as a married woman!

Zhuzi shot him a harsh glare and said, "Keep talking nonsense. I bet you’ll stay single your whole life!"