bookrandom Chapter 95 Pre-Wedding Preparations
Chapter 95 Pre-Wedding Preparations
After Xiaobao and Xiaoxue got engaged, Lin Yue took Xiaoxue's birth date and time and Xiaobao's to an old Taoist priest for verification. She could actually do the calculations herself, but considering it was a family matter, she consulted a former Taoist master who said there would be an auspicious date three months and six months later. Lin Yue asked whether to choose a closer or farther date. Gong Yong, Xiaobao's father, said, "I also did some calculations, and these two dates are particularly good, either three months or six months from now. Write these dates down and discuss them with your in-laws." The father-in-law added, "Write these two dates down and send them to Xiaobao so Xiaoxue and her parents can discuss and choose a date. Then we'll notify our relatives and friends." Lin Yue agreed. One of the auspicious dates was three months from now; it was only July, so October's National Day was very auspicious. The other date was New Year's Day. Gong Yong suggested that since many relatives and friends had fixed working hours, most would be on holiday on these two dates, making it easier for them to attend the wedding. Lin Yue also felt that National Day must be a good day.
Lin Yue sent these dates to Xiao Bao, who then forwarded them to Xiao Xue to ask her parents which date would be most suitable so they could make preparations in advance. For example, if relatives and friends were coming, accommodations needed to be arranged, whether it was a secluded spot in the valley, underground, or an empty room in the company. Therefore, it was necessary to obtain the approval of the in-laws across the street.
After receiving the message from his mother, Xiao Bao quickly called and texted Xiao Xue. Xiao Xue was taking a shower and didn't see the message. Xiao Bao waited a while before taking a shower himself, but still hadn't received a reply, so he called her. Xiao Xue answered and said she was showering and drying her hair, and would call back later.
After drying her hair, Xiaoxue lay in bed, then got up and knocked on her parents' door. She told them that Xiaobao's family had set two dates and asked which one was more suitable: National Day in October, three months later, or New Year's Day. The elderly couple thought about it and decided that National Day was more suitable, as relatives and friends would have a seven or eight-day holiday, and it would be convenient for them to come. They finally agreed to choose National Day. Xiaoxue quickly called Xiaobao to tell him they had chosen National Day, and Xiaobao told his mother, Lin Yue.
Lin Yue thought for a moment and told Xiao Bao to have the company arrange two vans to pick up relatives and friends. She then instructed Xiao Bao to notify HR to clean and prepare Xiao Bao's newly renovated apartment first, followed by the remaining fully furnished suites returned to the company by former employees. These suites needed to have water, electricity, gas, and furniture fully equipped, and HR was asked to compile a list. Lin Yue also cleared out the third floor where the injured were being cared for during their training, and prepared the second floor as well. She also arranged for some bodyguards to enter the canyon and have the third and fourth floors cleaned, as well as the row of twenty-odd rooms in the valley within the canyon, all for the purpose of receiving relatives and friends.
Gong Yong was drying Lin Yue's hair when he said to his wife, "These empty rooms probably won't be enough to clean."
Lin Yue said, "I don't think that's enough. Then you can empty out the entire five-star hotel that our family built in town."
Lin Yue added, "But it can't accommodate many people, so it probably still won't be enough. Aren't there two other hotels nearby? One of them is a five-star hotel. Let's talk to the owners of those hotels. They're old friends. Let's ask them to make room for us during the National Day holiday. What do you think?"
Gong Yong said, "Okay, let's see. If any of our relatives or friends are older and not currently working, they can come a month in advance. We'll try our best to arrange accommodations near the canyon, including company suites. For other relatives who are further away, we'll arrange for them to stay in five-star hotels. Do you think that's appropriate?"
Regarding some leaders, Gong Yong said, "Relatives who drive here can all be arranged to come from areas under the company's jurisdiction. They can come a month in advance. As for others, well, I think it's difficult to invite them."
Lin Yue also said, "It doesn't feel right not to call and tell them, but it also doesn't feel right to call and tell them. Should we notify them or not?"
Gong Yong thought for a moment: "We are almost 70 or 80 years old. Do you think our appearance has changed in the past few years? If our son's wedding makes many high-level leaders aware of our condition, it probably won't be a good thing for us."
Lin Yue thought for a moment and said, "That's true. So what do you think we should do?"
Gong Yong thought for a moment and said, "Let's do this: we'll notify our relatives and friends on a small scale, as well as the veterans who had a mentor-student relationship or a lineage with us at the previous gathering. We don't have many close relatives or friends of our own, so we'll mainly see how many relatives and friends Xiaoxue has. We'll ask Xiaobao to inquire and register them, and then we'll confirm. Is that okay?"
Lin Yue said, "What I'm worried about is that they came even though I didn't invite them."
Gong Yong said, "You mean those leaders in the central government?"
Lin Yue said, "It's very likely they will come."
Gong Yong said, "We both have hair, so let's wear wigs then."
Lin Yue said, "That's fine too. Otherwise, we don't need to wear wigs. We can just dye them all black, and then put on some light makeup. When people ask, we can just say we're wearing makeup. What do you think?"
Gong Yong said, "That works too. Well, given our mental state, we can't really hide it."
Lin Yue said, "After my son's wedding, I plan to go into seclusion. What do you think?"
Gong Yong said, "Alright, I'll go into seclusion with you too."
Lin Yue felt it was still early, so she quickly called her son. Xiao Bao's phone was busy, so she sent him a text message: "Ask Xiao Xue's family how many relatives they're planning to bring. We'll go talk to those two hotels in town beforehand. We own a five-star hotel, and we also have another five-star hotel and a regular hotel. We'll see how many people are coming and decide if we should go talk to them." After sending the message, Lin Yue and Gong Yong packed up and prepared for bed.
After Xiaobao and Xiaoxue ended their call, Xiaobao saw a message from his mother and took a screenshot, sending it to Xiaoxue. Xiaoxue was just about to go to sleep when she saw the screenshot Xiaobao sent; it was Xiaobao and his mother discussing accommodations. Xiaoxue thought for a moment, then took her phone and knocked on her parents' door. Her parents were still awake, sitting on the bed calculating her dowry and the relatives and friends who were coming.
Xiaoxue told her parents that Xiaobao was asking how many relatives were coming.
Xiaoxue's mother said, "Your in-laws are so generous. They even arranged a five-star hotel and said we could come a month in advance."
Xiaoxue's mother continued, "How about this, I'll arrange for your grandparents and maternal grandparents to come here a month in advance for a visit and to attend your wedding. They're coming early because they're getting old and flying isn't convenient for them. If they don't fly, they might need someone to drive them, and they should all be able to come. Then there's your brother and sister-in-law, and your sister-in-law's side probably includes her younger brother and her parents; they'll definitely come as part of their trip. And then there's your father's side, with my brother, and your second uncle's family, who have younger siblings. So, there are quite a few family members in total."
Xiaoxue said, "Mom, please call and notify everyone individually to confirm." Xiaobao said that round-trip airfare was covered, and they should notify the staff in advance before they arrive at the airport or when they need someone to come. A bodyguard would be arranged to meet them, and a van would pick them up from the airport. If it was by train, they would pick them up at the train station. As for the hotel, since they own a five-star hotel, close relatives could stay in the factory dormitory building, or on the third floor of the building where Xiaobao lives, or even in the canyon. Other relatives could be arranged to stay at the hotel. Finally, Xiaoxue's father said that it was best to arrange for everyone to stay at the hotel, as there were some things that outsiders shouldn't be involved in, and it wouldn't be appropriate to comment. Xiaoxue agreed, and her grandparents could be arranged to stay in the canyon, where the environment was quiet and good for their health. Xiaoxue's parents agreed. After finalizing the arrangements, Xiaoxue quickly replied to Xiaobao's message, then said goodnight and went to sleep, saying they would talk more tomorrow.
The next day, Ms. Lin Yue and Mr. Gong Yong, who hadn't been to the company for over a year, came to the conference room for a meeting. The main purpose of the meeting was to inform all management that the company would be giving employees a day off early for the National Day holiday in October. This was because the boss, Xiao Bao, would be getting married during the holiday and invited all management members and their relatives and friends to attend. The wedding would be held in the company square, with a five-star outdoor banquet. The square was large enough to accommodate approximately 100 tables. HR and finance were also notified to coordinate. Finance needed to confirm the airfare purchase agreement and contract signed with a third-party agency and book and pay for round-trip tickets for Gong Yong's relatives and friends. HR was instructed to clean all the company's newly renovated family-style dormitories, have unoccupied or departing rooms cleaned and registered for the guests. The company canteen was also notified that some chefs would be requisitioned later. During the National Day holiday, all frontline employees who wished to take leave to return to their hometowns were to be approved. The company needed to calculate orders in advance, have the sales department prepare, ensure logistics were delivered ahead of schedule, and ensure warehouse storage was adequate, preparing for the boss's wedding three months in advance. All frontline employees were approved to return to their hometowns for the National Day holiday. Those who didn't return home but wished to attend the young boss's wedding were welcome to attend. It was explicitly stated that gifts from employees would not be accepted, but gifts from management were also welcome. When Xiao Bao said this, laughter erupted in the office; the entire company leadership, including Lin Yue and Gong Yong, laughed. After the laughter subsided, Lin Yue and Gong Yong expressed their gratitude for everyone's support of Xiao Bao's work over the years and hoped for continued support after his wedding. They then left the meeting room, leaving the rest of the meeting to Xiao Bao. This was the first time in many years that Lin Yue and Gong Yong had invited all management to Xiao Bao's wedding, as a sign of warmth and respect. Afterwards, Lin Yue and Gong Yong returned to the valley; Lin Yue called each of her apprentices, and Gong Yong called several veteran employees.
When Lin Yue called Xiao Hui and Lao Xiao, they said they would come to help a month or two in advance, which Lin Yue gladly welcomed. Lin Yue also notified her old friends who had supplied her with spirit rice noodles for many years, including her friend Ouyang Hanrui, the old Taoist priest, and the old Taoist priest's master, as well as Officer Zhao. Lin Yue had asked Officer Zhao for help many times in private matters, and these were all old friends. Lin Yue personally called to inform them, intending to send invitations, but ultimately did not.
Lin Yue politely called his superiors and a central government leader to offer his condolences, informing them of his child's upcoming wedding and inviting them to the ceremony. The central leader confirmed his attendance, as did Lin Yue's and Gong Yong's superiors. After making all the calls, Lin Yue checked his notebook and realized his own five-star hotel was definitely not enough. He immediately told Xiao Bao to negotiate with two other hotels. Xiao Bao rushed to town after the meeting to discuss the situation with the owners of another five-star hotel and several regular hotels. Xiao Bao requested to book the five-star hotel for seven days before National Day, surprising the owner as hotels were fully booked and expensive during the holiday. For the regular hotels, Xiao Bao also requested that all staff be cleared out; guests only needed to provide the names of those attending his wedding to check in. Xiao Bao would have his company clerk discuss this with them, and the hotel's management agreed and made the arrangements. Simultaneously, Xiao Bao called the general manager of his own five-star hotel, explaining that he was getting married during National Day and requesting that the best rooms be cleaned and prepared in advance. After Xiao Bao confirmed with the three hotels, the managers of the three hotels came to Xiao Bao the next day to confirm the specific dates. Xiao Bao said that apart from the seven days of the National Day holiday, the other two hotels could be booked by others, but those who had made advance reservations should not be booked out. His own hotel was not allowed to accept any reservations for the seven days before the National Day holiday. Lin Yue, Gong Yong, and Xiao Bao could all imagine that the hotel would probably be full of relatives and friends even before the National Day holiday.
Indeed, it was true. Two days after Lin Yue made the call, her old friends started arriving one after another. Lin Yue and Gong Yong were both in their seventies and eighties, and most of their friends were also elderly men and women of that age. This group wasn't working and was traveling around; Lin Yue's invitation made them overjoyed. Xiao Hui and Lao Xiao were the first to arrive. The day after Lin Yue notified them, they bought plane tickets, packed their things, and rushed over. Neither of them brought their daughters, saying they would arrive a day or two before the wedding, during their National Day holiday. They missed Lin Yue and genuinely wanted to help.
Next, the veterans who had fought alongside Lin Yue also arrived. These retired or discharged veterans packed their things and rushed over as soon as they received the call. Everyone knew that the canyon where Lin Yue was located was a good place, and they all wanted to get there first. After arriving, none of them wanted to stay in a five-star hotel; they wanted to linger on the third floor of Lin Yue's clinic. Several old men were alone or in pairs, and soon the third floor was full, filled entirely with soldiers. Some brought their spouses, some didn't. Those with spouses shared rooms, and those without shared rooms. In short, after the third floor was full, people were moved to the second floor. Fortunately, there weren't many wounded recently, so many rooms were empty. The original hospital had been converted into guest rooms. After the medical equipment was removed, each room felt cozy. Each room had a living room, a bathroom, a kitchen, and two hospital beds, which now seemed quite lovely.
Soon, Lin Yue's apprentices also rushed back from all over the country, with those abroad worried about not being able to buy plane tickets. People from all sides flocked to Lin Yue's valley. Xiao Xue's relatives, her grandparents and maternal grandparents, arrived a week later, personally picked up by a van arranged by Xiao Bao. After returning, they stayed in the same building as Lin Yue's grandparents, making it convenient for the elderly to chat. Others, Ouyang Hanrui, a close friend of Lin Yue, arrived with his young wife. Old Zhao hadn't arrived yet due to work, but his wife and two children came. The old Taoist priest who was with Ouyang Hanrui and his master arrived three days after receiving the call, each staying in a valley within a valley in the canyon. They were all familiar with the situation there.
When Lin Yue's apprentices arrived, they didn't want to stay in a five-star hotel. Instead, they headed into the valley and stayed on the fourth floor above the grandparents' house. All four floors were suites, and they preferred to squeeze into one suite several of them. Seeing this, Lin Yue said, "Alright, you can figure it out yourselves." Since they were young, the suites all had double beds, so couples shared one room, and the others shared a couple per room. These apprentices had arrived a month or two in advance, partly to rest in this nice place with good food, and partly to help out.
In just half a month, quite a few people came. Besides the five-star hotel offering complimentary meals, Lin Yue also opened up a window in her company shop; those who wanted to eat there could, or those who wanted Lin Yue's own special meals. Since these people lived scattered, there was always a place for them to eat for free, so they could choose whatever they wanted. But strangely, everyone always headed towards the valley to eat. Only less familiar relatives and friends would go to the restaurant in Lin Yue's company or the temporary canteen where the five-star hotel delivered fast food. Later, everyone noticed the rush to the valley and followed suit. The valley floor, which used to be a parking area, now had ten large round tables set up daily. Gong Yong immediately had them erected with steel frames and covered with glass, because these ten large round tables were outdoors and would get wet in light rain, making it inconvenient to eat. Even the passageway to the inner valley was used by vans to transport people in for meals. As for why everyone did this, the unspoken reason was simple: the food inside was just too delicious. Lin Yue had to call five or six chefs and a dozen or so helpers from the company to set up a temporary kitchen in a designated area, responsible for feeding the dozen or so tables of people each day. However, the number of people did not decrease but increased, from ten tables to twenty tables, as more and more people rushed into the valley.