It was truly the wheel of fate turning. Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west. Back then, no one in Wu County wanted Wei Zheng. Now everyone was scrambling for him. Qiao Lian's family had practically sold her off for just 100 kilograms of grain. People said she'd tried to hang herself before the wedding. And now? Now everyone envied her for marrying such a good man.
That was destiny.
"It depends on whether Qiao Lian knows how to handle herself."
On New Year's Eve, the entire country received special power supply. Each local government hosted unlimited buffets for only 0.5 virtual coins. In some places it was bug eggs with mushrooms, in others garlic sprouts with bug eggs, or even water grass with bug eggs. Each region had its specialty, based on whatever grew most abundantly.
Jing Shu pitied those who had to eat garlic every day. Their breath was so strong that they greeted others with a hand over their mouths.
That evening, the Spring Festival Gala began right on time. The hosts appeared without makeup, and the performances were lighthearted skits and songs filled with hope for the future. The message was simple: the sun would rise, dawn would come, and no one should give up hope.
"Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
The family clinked cups and began their New Year's Eve feast, watching the Gala together. Even before the apocalypse, Qiao Lian's family had never eaten so well. There were several kinds of seafood, including strange shellfish they didn't even recognize. Someone said it was abalone, but honestly, it wasn't nearly as tasty as pork belly.
Speaking of pork belly, Jing Shu had roasted slices herself, even adding precious barbecue seasoning. Wrapped in fresh lettuce, the crispy, tender pork melded with the crunch of greens. It was the first time Qiao Lian's family had tasted something so delicious.
Then came the dumplings: shrimp and three-delicacy dumplings, chive and egg dumplings, even pineapple dumplings. There was too much to choose from. Just a few bites of each dish, and they were stuffed. They hated that they couldn't eat more—another bite and they might burst.
"You've brought so much food for us. We're imposing on you far too much," Jing Pan said awkwardly.
"Don't mention it, Eldest Sister," Jing An replied, raising his glass of milk—reconstituted from powder, not wine. "When I got married, you three sisters all helped us plenty."
Grandma Jing grinned so widely her eyes nearly disappeared. As an elder, nothing pleased her more than seeing siblings united. In the past she had been partial to her youngest son, stirring resentment among the daughters. But now, treating them all equally, everything was much better.
Speaking of drink, the grapes in the Cube Space were ripe. Jing Shu planned to make wine, and while she was at it, brew some rice wine and fermented sweet rice. A bowl of that in the morning, with poached eggs and tangyuan, would be perfection.
The family passed a joyful New Year's Eve together. Before the apocalypse, people would stay up all night, never turning off the lights. Adults played mahjong, children played cards until dawn, and firecrackers thundered at midnight. Now, there was nothing. The world lay in darkness and silence.
Just after midnight, as the Gala ended, the power shut off. Everyone went to bed. Jing Shu handed out hot water bottles to each person, to warm their bedding. Even though they'd had a kang with a clay stove burning the night before, the quilts had still been icy, taking half an hour of body heat to warm.
She suddenly remembered the prize draw at Suning, where she had won a dozen rechargeable hand warmers. Those would be invaluable when the temperature dropped to minus seventy. Hot water bottles would never last more than an hour or two in that cold, and boiling water again wasted time. The warmers were far more convenient.
Thanks to the hot water bottles, the bedding was cozy, and the whole family fell asleep quickly, grateful for her thoughtfulness.
On the first day of the New Year, at four in the morning, everyone rose early to prepare for Wei Zheng and Qiao Lian's wedding. The household was bustling with activity.
Jing Pan had invited around sixty guests: classmates and friends, some of Wei Zheng's acquaintances, colleagues of Wei Chang, and even workers from the Livestock Breeding Center.
There were no hotels anymore. The banquet was set up right at home. Ingredients had all been washed and prepared the day before, so today it was just a matter of cooking them into wedding dishes.
Cooking for sixty people at once was already a challenge, let alone during the apocalypse when supplies were scarce.
So Grandma Jing, Jing Pan, and others who could cook all went to the kitchen. Su Lanzhi, who was clumsy with her hands, took on other tasks, such as recording the gifts and keeping the accounts.
"Be careful when taking gifts," Jing Shu reminded them. "Dad, stick with Mom and stay alert. Someone jealous might cause trouble. Here, take this gun and keep it close."
"How valuable could the gifts be, to need guarding?" Grandpa Jing scoffed. "Fine, let the men go out as guards."
Jing Shu and Wu You'ai had nothing to do, so they helped apply Qiao Lian's makeup.
Grandma Jing had sewn red dragon-and-phoenix wedding robes, festive and beautiful, instantly giving the air of a proper traditional wedding. Jing Shu first applied a cucumber mask, then used their last bits of makeup to give Qiao Lian a light touch, finishing with an elegant updo.
Qiao Lian had been dejected, thinking she would have no proper wedding gown. She had always dreamed of a decent ceremony. But when Wei Zheng's grandmother arrived, she brought everything: wedding robes, bedding, and even a newly decorated bridal room. It fulfilled every fantasy she had about a wedding.
How had her husband's family treated her? They fed her well, supported her family, and still her relatives clung to her like parasites. In that moment, she made up her mind.
At noon, the wedding began as planned.
Though there were no firecrackers, there were drums and gongs—arranged by Wei Chang. All of Wu County knew that Wei Zheng was getting married. Guests poured in, and soon the courtyard was full. The advantage of a flat house was its spacious yard. Two cars were moved out, and borrowed tables and chairs filled the space. It might have looked mismatched, but it held everyone.
A stage had been built, and a host invited to preside.
At the gate, gifts were collected and recorded in a red ledger. Su Lanzhi kept the accounts while Jing An and Grandpa Jing cross-checked them. It was important to know who had given what, so they could return favors in the future.
Before the apocalypse, people gave cash. Now, gifts were all sorts of things—food, tools, supplies—since virtual coins meant survival. The items were random, but many were still valuable.
"Alright, no one else is coming. Take the gifts inside. Let's start."
"Okay."
At that moment, the screech of brakes split the air. A pickup truck roared forward, slamming straight toward the courtyard gate.
"Now, in this exciting moment… let us warmly—"
"Ahhh!"
Bang! Bang!
Screams erupted, followed by gunfire.
Still standing in the courtyard, Jing Shu didn't hesitate. She charged outside.
The wedding was thrown into chaos.