The firecrackers continued to crackle as Li Chen’s party was ushered into an ornately decorated reception room to await Zhang Mei’s entrance. Auspicious ornaments and decorations adorned every surface in shades of red and gold.

After what felt like an eternal wait, a melodious tinkling of bells announced Zhang Mei’s arrival. All eyes turned towards the doorway as the bride made her grand appearance.

Zhang Mei emerged resplendent in a vibrant red traditional qipao gown, the iconic dress signifying auspicious joy and new beginnings. The qipao was embroidered with intricate phoenix and peony patterns glistening with golden threads. A striking red silk coat draped over her shoulders.

Her face was almost fully obscured by a lacy red veil and ornate phoenix crown headpiece. Only her eyes peeked through demurely, glancing down in a picture of traditional bridal modesty. Strings of luck knots adorned her veil and jeweled hairpiece.

Zhang Mei’s fair hands were covered in red lace fingerless gloves. She grasped a stiff fan for shielding her face - a symbolic gesture of reservation before marriage. Each step was measured and careful in her ornate red footbound shoes embroidered with more symbols of happiness.

Mu Lingling walked closely behind her daughter, overcome with emotion at this culminating moment. Other female relatives and attendants surrounded Zhang Mei, ushering her forward ceremoniously.

Li Chen stepped towards his bride, eyes shining with awe and devotion. With both hands, he reverently lifted the veil’s red lace edge to steal a proper glimpse of Zhang Mei’s face for the first time that day.

In this moment, the bridal attendants joyously showered the couple with shower of zinnia petals, symbolizing hopes for a fertile and bountiful union. Zhang Mei’s journey from her childhood home was complete - she was now fully departing as Li Chen’s wife.

Zhang Su and Liu Ying exchanged sidelong glances, unable to mask their jealousy as Zhang Mei made her stunning bridal appearance. Zhang Liying’s eyes were wide, drinking in every luxurious detail of the bride’s phoenix-embroidered gown and glittering jewels.

Just then, the sound of a car pulling up to the villa interrupted the unveiling ceremony. Zhang Meixiu, Zhang Su’s youngest daughter, hurried in wearing an exquisite lavender bridesmaid dress. Despite her beaming smile for her cousin, Meixiu’s arrival was met with scathing looks from her own family.

"There you are, you silly girl! You’re late to your own cousin’s wedding," Liu Ying scolded loudly, drawing disapproving glances.

Zhang Liying joined in condescendingly, "Did you get lost again with your head in the clouds? Typical Meixiu."

Mu Lingling shot them a withering glare. "That’s enough! This is Zhang Mei’s day. Can you not criticize the poor girl for once and simply enjoy this beautiful moment?" she chided firmly.

Liu Ying opened her mouth to protest, but Zhang Su placed a calming hand on her shoulder and shook his head minutely. As much as it pained them, they knew to keep their jeers at Meixiu’s expense silent for now amid such opulence.

Meixiu shrank slightly at her family’s digs, but quickly regained her bright demeanor as she moved to join the other bridesmaids surrounding her radiant cousin. While Zhang Su’s family seethed with envy and greed, Meixiu was simply overjoyed to share this special occasion with Zhang Mei, her kind heart untainted by the ugliness.

The traditional wedding procession departed Zhang Mei’s villa, a long line of ornately decorated cars following the bride carried by an elaborate sedan. Zhang Su’s family followed behind in their more modest sedan.

Inside, Zhang Su grumbled, "I can’t believe Mu Lingling rented out that gaudy villa just to show off. Putting on such airs."

Liu Ying nodded in agreement. "Let’s hope the hotel they’re having this wedding at isn’t too extravagant. Probably just some run-down place for appearances."

Zhang Liying and Zhang Weijun exchanged looks, hoping their mom and dad were wrong about the groom’s lack of wealth. Only Zhang Meixiu remained silent, not letting their negativity ruin her excitement for her beloved cousin.

However, as the procession rolled up to the venue, their disdainful smirks turned to dropped jaws. They had arrived at the iconic Moonlit Mirage Hotel - the most opulent and expensive hotel in the entire city.

Zhang Su’s eyes widened as he looked upon the rows and rows of sleek, ultra-luxury cars lining the entrance, each more wildly expensive than the last. This was clearly a event drawing the ultra-rich and powerful elite.

"Th-This can’t be right...how could that peasant girl Zhang Mei afford such a lavish venue?" Liu Ying stammered in disbelief.

Zhang Liying swallowed hard, realizing the truth. "It seems...our cousin-in-law is actually wealthy beyond our wildest dreams."

A slow, greedy grin spread across Zhang Su’s face as he exchanged a look with his wife. No matter how much they despised Mu Lingling, this was their chance to finally rise up in status and security through Zhang Mei’s new family ties.

Zhang Weijun excitedly began listing fancy cars he hoped to receive, while Zhang Liying rapidly calculated potential designer wardrobes in her mind’s eye.

Despite their initial jealousy, the prospects of exploiting this marriage filled Zhang Su’s family with avaricious glee. The demands and excessive requests would start immediately after the nuptials.

As the bridal procession arrived at the Moonlit Mirage Hotel’s grand ballroom, they were greeted by a vibrant lion dance performance. The colorful, regal lions twirled and kicked to clamorous drumbeats and cymbals, meant to ward off evil spirits and bless the new couple.

Zhang Mei was carefully carried in her extravagant sedan chair through the lion dancers and into the ornately decorated ballroom ante-chamber. Red lanterns and auspicious symbols like double happiness characters adorned every corner.

In this bridal room, Zhang Mei’s attendants helped her touch up her makeup and dress one final time before the ceremony. Li Chen knocked ceremoniously on the door, bringing gift baskets filled with auspicious fruits, nuts, and sweet lotus seeds - representing fortune, fertility, and a sweet life together.

The attendants playfully refused him entry at first, only relenting after Li Chen’s family symbolically gave them red envelope "keys" to allow him to receive his bride. Finally, the doors parted and Li Chen beheld his stunning wife-to-be.

Hand in hand, the couple descended a carpeted staircase and made their grand entrance into the ballroom, attended by a trailing procession of bridesmaids and groomsmen. All guests rose in respect as the pair made their way to the ceremonial altar, resplendent with dragons, phoenixes, and hanging red double happiness banners.

There, Zhang Mei and Li Chen bowed three times to light incense venerating the heavens, earth, and their ancestors. The couple then served ceremonial red-dyed eggs and sweet lotus seed tea to their parents, symbolizing their shared commitment to carrying on their family lineage.

With both families bearing joyful witness, the monks proceeded with chanting ceremonial blessings over the couple who clasped hands and drank from the traditional double-cup tied with a red string, signifying their final binding union.

Zhang Mei was now officially Li Chen’s wife, beginning their new life together draped in centuries of rich cultural tradition.

The Zhang family watched from the sidelines, eyes green with unbridled envy as the beautiful ceremony unfolded. Zhang Liying, in particular, openly glared - she had always harbored dreams of marrying into a wealthy, influential family like the Lis.

Zhang Su’s gaze frantically darted around the opulent ballroom, recognizing high-profile face after face that he had only seen gracing magazine covers and newspaper headlines. Surrounded by the upper echelons of society, he felt disgracefully out of place.

In contrast, Sun Lixia and Mu Lingling watched on with immense pride as their children joyfully bound themselves in matrimony before their esteemed guests. Sun Lixia leaned in and murmured to her old friend, "I suppose we’re officially family now."

Mu Lingling’s eyes shone with happy tears as she replied, "I’m just thankful the cancer didn’t take me before witnessing this special day for my daughter." The two women shared a warm smile despite the Schmidt family’s icy stares.

Photographers scrambled to capture every poignant moment on camera as the sacred rituals proceeded - the ceremonial tea servings, the lighting of ancestral incense, the sipping of two cups tied by a fated red string.

In a far corner, the Jiang family shifted uncomfortably in their seats, worry etched on their faces. Their daughter Jiang Xiaolin, who had once hoped to become Li Chen’s wife herself, had not returned home since the previous night - uncharacteristic behavior that raised concerns, try as they might to dismiss it as Xiaolin simply avoiding the pain of watching her former love interest marry another.

As Zhang Mei and Li Chen sealed their vows amid cheers from supportive family and friends, the Zhangs could only grit their teeth and plaster on fake smiles, greed glittering behind their hollow congratulations.