Disaster Apocalypse: Farming, Family, and My Hidden Secret Space-Chapter 529: The Wedding

"Madam, if you need anything, please feel free to instruct this old woman."

Hua Jin glanced at the middle-aged woman in front and shook her head, "No, you can go about your own tasks. I've just been sitting for too long, causing stiffness, so I am stretching."

Seeing that the Madam truly had nothing necessary, the three women retreated to the side. Moments later, they noticed Hua Jin had stopped and sat by the table. The woman promptly stepped forward again: "Madam, are you thirsty?"

Seeing the eager expression of the person before her, originally intending to fetch water herself, Hua Jin paused and nodded: "I am a bit thirsty."

These were all servants of the Luo family—come to think of it, Hua Jin had seen them before but hadn't expected that she'd become their mistress.

Finishing the tea, with three people standing stiffly in the room, Hua Jin admittedly felt uncomfortable.

"I have nothing that requires attending here, you may go about your own tasks."

"Not at all, not at all. Attending to Madam is our duty," the woman smiled.

"How may I address you, Auntie?"

"Please, Madam can just call me Old Li."

Looking at the eldest among the middle-aged women, Hua Jin opened her mouth, intending to abide by local customs, and nodded: "Old Li, could you help me get a little something to eat?"

Seeing the table's array of symbolic foods such as dried longan, red dates, peanuts, signifying auspicious fortunes, Hua Jin felt even hungrier, especially as the sky darkened after a day of fasting.

"We have, we have, please wait, Madam. This old woman will fetch some right away." She was a thoughtful person, instructing the two maidservants to serve with care before leaving, prompting Hua Jin to glance at her a few more times.

Hua Jin's gaze landed on the two maidservants. Sitting idly was indeed dull.

"Why don't you introduce yourselves?"

We can't just keep calling them maidservants.

Upon hearing Madam's inquiry, the two hurriedly stepped forward, recollecting the master's instructions before his marriage, filling them with nervousness and respect as they responded.

"Servant Xing Hua."

"Servant Tao Hua."

Two flowers indeed, their names are pleasant and memorable. Hua Jin nodded.

"No need for fear, rise."

Hua Jin remained unused to others kneeling before her and promptly spoke: "No need to kneel at every turn, simply answer."[p]

"Yes," their soft voices eased their tension.

With Madam's kindness, their lives as servants would be more pleasant.

"Help me remove the jewelry from my head, would you?" Burdened with an array of adornments, Hua Jin felt utterly fatigued.

It wasn't that Hua Jin hadn't thought to do it herself, it's mainly that there were too many things on her head, add to that many items used for better securing, entangled and cumbersome, it's better to let the two maidservants handle it.

"Yes," Xing Hua and Tao Hua hurriedly stepped forward.

When Old Li returned with food, she saw the two maids assisting Madam in removing her hair accessories.

Then she laughed: "Unsure what Madam likes to eat, but these are foods Master instructed in advance for Madam. This old servant has chosen some for you."

Tao Hua, perceptive as ever, promptly tidied the table, creating space.

With all the jewelry removed, Hua Jin's hair instantly felt much more relaxed, no longer burdened by what felt like several pounds atop her head, truly exhausting for one.

Then, she was drawn to the dishes on the table. Seeing them raised Hua Jin's satisfaction with Luo Song even further. At least marrying into the Luo family meant not having to sacrifice culinary enjoyment.

There were sweet and sour ribs, clear chicken soup, braised beef, tender minced meat egg custard, Hua Jin lingered on the beef for a moment. She never lacked it but hadn't expected the Luo family to have it. Could they have slaughtered a cow for the wedding? Thinking of this, Hua Jin muttered, "Amitabha," though her consumption remained swift.

Her appetite had always been quite healthy, she cleaned up the dishes, leaving nothing. This surprised Old Li and the maidservants, but as servants, they wisely kept their expressions in check, not giving any indication that Hua Jin noticed, partly because she wasn't paying attention.

Having eaten her fill, Hua Jin had the energy to start inspecting the bridal room. The first impression was red; it was as if she had entered a world filled with red, giving it a festive feel. It was clear considerable thought had gone into the arrangement.

The room was, needless to say, the largest in the courtyard, and the furniture was painstakingly prepared; its craftsmanship surpassed even her father's, with exquisite carvings, immediately indicating that the Luo family's craftsmen constructed it, not something whipped up in two or three months. Touching the furniture's texture, it's apparent they prepared these long ago.

Hua Jin chuckled softly, did that fellow court her with such certainty on their eventual marriage?

She didn't know she had falsely accused Luo Song. These items were ordered by Master Luo to be meticulously crafted, looking forward to her joining the family, even Luo Song upon seeing them couldn't help but praise his grandfather's foresight, and the old master remained proud for several days because of it.

With these furniture pieces accompanying from her family besides her beloved dresser box, the rest were really rendered useless.

"Old Li, my dowry..."

"Madam's dowry has been placed in the adjacent room, with a special person overseeing it, Madam needn't worry."

With this explanation, Hua Jin felt reassured. Though village people were generally good, there were some who were short-sighted. They contained family and parental preparations, losing or damaging any would dearly trouble her.

Seeing the sky darkening, Hua Jin couldn't help but yawn.

"Madam, are you tired?"

"A little," Hua Jin smiled. Rising early, after such a day of bustling about, left her more exhausted than doing chores.

"Then let this old servant fetch some water for Madam."

Considering her current makeup, Hua Jin didn't decline, with her face covered in powder, sleeping without washing was impossible.

She thought merely a basin of water would suffice, but upon seeing Old Li accompanied by two others carrying a huge tub of water inside, she realized the stark difference in their understanding of washing.

Touching her hair, heavy with grease, she did find Old Li rather considerate, then discovered a surprising sight.

The bedroom was uniquely designed, with a corner fashioned into a bathroom.

Old Li smiled: "This was arranged by Master himself after the engagement, does Madam find it pleasing?"

Hua Jin was touched, nodding. Though unable to compare to a modern bathroom, it was already quite good. But the critical detail was that Luo Song personally completed it, providing a good mood simply from this display of thoughtfulness.

The floor was paved entirely with bluestone, with a screen dividing the bathroom into two sections. One part clearly reserved for bathing needs, even minor aspects like the drainage were considered.

The other section held a clothes rack, already neatly stocked with a few quality garments, and even included a dressing table, featuring a large copper mirror, bearing better clarity than those used by rural families.

Hua Jin stood before the copper mirror; ever since her makeup was done, she had dared not look. Firmly pressing the large copper mirror, she couldn't help but steal a glance and sighed in relief.

Though the rouge on her cheeks was still a bit exaggerated, it exceeded her expectations, at least it wasn't resembling a frighteningly pale plaster face. It was that beautiful face, indeed, the colored accents made her lovelier than flora itself.

The reality from lifting the bridal veil was stunning, not as terrifying as she imagined, Hua Jin laughed.

"Madam is exceptionally beautiful, this old servant has seen many, yet never one as fair as Madam."