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Meng Liangdong entered the courtyard, yet he couldn’t approach the bride; several young servants laughing, pulled the eager Meng Liangdong to the living room. There, Mo Sanniang’s parents and some elders of the family were already waiting.

Madam Mo’s eyes were red, obviously having just cried. However, upon seeing Meng Liangdong dressed in the festive red wedding attire with a red flower on his chest, a smile slowly emerged in her eyes.

They say a mother-in-law’s affection for her son-in-law grows with each look, and it’s so true!

"Father, mother."

Without waiting to be led by the master of ceremonies, Meng Liangdong happily knelt on the soft cushion in front of Madam and Master Mo, calling out "father" and "mother".

This call amused everyone present.

Master Mo, who was usually stern and serious, also broke into laughter, saying "good" over and over.

Not to mention Madam Mo, her face glowing with delight, she was nearly bursting with joy.

"Come here, take the red envelope." Madam and Master Mo handed over the red envelopes they had prepared in advance to Meng Liangdong, urging him with smiles to stand up quickly.

After paying respects to Madam and Master Mo, it was time to pay homage to the ancestral tablets of the Mo family, followed by several of the more senior elders.

After all the bustle, Meng Liangdong was led out the door, yet his eyes still lingered in the direction of Mo Sanniang’s bridal chamber.

Lin Yuan followed by his side, knowing that Meng Liangdong was anxious to take away his bride.

As she was laughing, people started appearing from the direction of the bridal chamber.

An old woman led the way, holding a red basin in front with the other hand scattering something on the ground.

Her lips were moving, but it was impossible to hear her words due to the crackling of firecrackers outside.

Presumably, she was uttering auspicious phrases.

Following the old woman was the bride being carried on the back of a fat matchmaker. Mo Sanniang, with her head covered in a red veil, was dressed in red all over. Apart from her fair, apple-holding hands tightly clinging to the matchmaker’s neck, no other parts of her were visible.

It is customary for a bride to cry during the wedding, but Mo Sanniang had already ruined her makeup with tears earlier.

Crying again would certainly require another touch up, so Aunt Chen and others had persuaded Madam Mo to leave and repeatedly instructed Mo Sanniang not to cry anymore on her way out.

The bride isn’t allowed to touch the ground when leaving the house, hence she must be carried out and placed into the bridal sedan. However, Mo Sanniang had no brothers, so the matchmaker had no choice but to carry her to the bridal sedan.

Watching the fat matchmaker carry Mo Sanniang and still manage to make merry conversation, Lin Yuan couldn’t help but realize why these matchmakers were all so tall, large, and plump. So that’s why — it’s for carrying brides!

After whispering a few words to Xia Zheng, the two of them closely followed the newlyweds out the door.

The fat matchmaker carried Mo Sanniang to the front of the bridal sedan, meticulously placed her inside with caution, and said with a smile, "Getting on the sedan! Sit tight!"

Then she whispered, "My girl, once you’re seated, don’t move about easily; this ensures safety and stability!"

Clearly, Aunt Chen and others had already advised Mo Sanniang, who nodded gently in response. A bride mustn’t speak; she clutched the auspicious apple tightly in her hands, her heart filled with both happiness and sentimentality.

Once the fat matchmaker adjusted the bride’s dress and let down the curtain of the sedan door, she waved her handkerchief and called out, "Lift the sedan!"

By this time, Meng Liangdong was also already mounted on his horse. Looking back at the bride entering the sedan, his mouth was so agape with happiness that he couldn’t close it.

Hearing the matchmaker’s call, Meng Liangdong joyfully nudged his horse’s belly and started forward.

As the procession moved, the musicians resumed their performance.

The wedding procession cannot take a return path, so it had to keep moving forward, making its way around the streets to return to the bridegroom’s house via another route.

"Get on!" Xia Zheng climbed onto a cart carrying dowry first, taking the whip from the person driving, then promptly pulled Lin Yuan up as well.

The entire cart, packed with the bride’s bedding and silk, had little space for passengers; with two people sitting, it became even more cramped.

Sitting tightly next to Xia Zheng, Lin Yuan chuckled and suddenly remembered the incident when Lin Dashuan trafficked Xiao Linshuang.

She had shared a mount with Xia Zheng at that time, never imagining that after so long, their relationship would have grown this close.

Lost in thought, Xiao Linshuang came running out, "Big sister, big sister, I want to go too, I want to go too!"

At the sight of Xiao Linshuang emerging, Lin Yuan instinctively reached out, only to find that the cart was moving faster.