On the day of the engagement, the weather was clear. The wind blowing from between Yita Mountain and Yima Mountain carried a slight chill, alleviating the summer heat.
The engagement banquet was held at Jiang Baohua's home. A few earth stoves were set up at the entrance, with Zhou Guizhi leading some women from the family to prepare the feast, sorting and washing vegetables, and cooking sorghum rice in large pots.
Jiang Xingbing and his brothers went to borrow tables and chairs, while Hu Hai, Dong Youfu, and several cousins from the Jiang Family began slaughtering pigs, cutting deers, skinning rabbits, and cleaning pheasants.
By the time it was nearly noon, the aroma of meat filled the air, and the wind carried the scent throughout the village.
Children ran joyfully, weaving between tables and chairs, circling the earth stoves, waiting for the feast to start.
