After the engagement rites were finished, everyone gathered outside in the garden for an afternoon banquet.
In the garden, a huge red tent was erected, and inside it, long tables were lined with warm delicacies.
Without holding back, everyone indulged in the delicious food while musicians played tunes at the side to entertain the guests.
When the banquet was nearing its end, Yi Chen tagged along with Master Ru and introduced himself to many town officials who had come to congratulate him for the day.
Being the next town head, it was expected of him to know all these people eventually, so he did this task sincerely and maintained rapport with them for a while.
Finally, Yi Chen was guided back to the main hall, where the seating arrangements were changed.
There were only two seats side by side at the end of the hall. Yi Chen took the seat on the left side, and Feng Yu sat on the one on his right.
"Gift Offerings will begin now!" Madam Lin's voice echoed in the hall the next moment, and according to a previously decided sequence, all guests lined up with their gifts.
"Congratulations on your engagement, and I wish you a happy married life."
"Thank you,"
Yi Chen and Feng Yu simultaneously nodded with a well-practised smile while receiving the gifts.
Yi Chen entertained and received the gifts from the males while Feng Yu did the same with the female guests.
Most people who were lined up were either people who had a close relationship with Master Ru or held important positions in town.
The gifts from the rest of the townsfolk were received by other attendants outside the hall.
'God, this is boring…' Yi Chen thought as he accepted another gift with a smile plastered on his face.
However, just then, a familiar face arrived in front of him.
"Brother Hu?!" he couldn't help but exclaim.
"Yes, it's me." Brother Hu said with a warm smile and continued, "Congratulations for the day! Take this, all the fellow sweepers contributed money, and we bought it for today's occasion."
Brother Hu put forward a bottle wrapped in red cloth to him. However, Yi Chen could still tell how expensive the item was.
"It's not much compared to the other gifts you've received, but this was the most we could do…" Brother Hu chuckled in an embarrassed manner.
'This…' Yi Chen couldn't help but feel a bit emotional at this gesture.
He shared no blood ties with these people who had taken care of him since he was ten years old.
However, seeing that they were still willing to spend so much money on someone like him, it was natural for him to feel a delicate ache in his heart.
"How could you say something like that, Brother Hu? This gift means a lot more to me than any other gifts," Yi Chen said with a bright smile while controlling his eyes from welling up in tears.
After receiving the gift, he warmly embraced Brother Hu.
"See you later at the banquet tonight," Yi Chen said warmly.
"Haha, sure. The others would be coming as well tonight, so you'd better receive a toast from all of us," Brother Hu patted him on his back.
"I sure will," Yi Chen nodded with a smile and bid him goodbye with a nod before focusing back on the other guests.
By two in the afternoon, all the engagement formalities were officially finished, and the guests soon left the residence.
However, this was only the start of their busy day.
The wedding ceremony will begin at seven in the evening, so Yi Chen and Feng Yu were soon guided to their quarters to freshen up and change into their wedding robes.
Meanwhile, all the other servants busied themselves with the wedding preparations.
By the time it was six. The entire Great Blue Residence was decorated in red silk banners, and hundreds of bright lamps were installed to brighten the whole event.
The guests who had started coming in by now couldn't help but be in awe at the grandeur of the event as they slowly took their seats in the main hall.
Soon, an hour passed by and the hall was filled with guests on both sides.
In the middle, a grand chair was placed for Master Ru and starting from the platform below him to the main hall's entrance, a scarlet red carpet was laid.
Soon, Madam Lin, who was taking charge of the ceremonies, announced the arrival of Master Ru, and the hustle and bustle of the crowds died down the very next moment.
Master Ru's figure made way into the hall the next moment. Dressed in a black robe embroidered with golden dragons, he exuded a mighty presence that made one feel an awesome respect.
With an expressionless face, Master Ru soon reached the hall's end and took his seat.
A while later, Madam Lin announced, "The groom is entering the hall!"
Yi Chen, who was waiting outside the door, took a deep breath the next moment and pushed open the hall's door.
With his head held high, he walked towards Master Ru in a slow and deliberate pace before stopping a few steps before the main seat.
The crowd couldn't help but nod in approval when they saw Yi Chen.
He was dressed in a domineering red robe that had golden dragons ascending the heavens embroidered on it.
Just seeing it, a man would feel his blood pumping.
'Well, the son-in-law of the town head isn't as bad as I thought…'
This thought rang in the minds of several youth who had attended the groom hunting event, and the previous pity in their heart turned into envy.
'How lucky…' They thought with envious gazes.
Seeing that Yi Chen has taken his position. Madam Lin finally announced what everyone has been waiting for.
"The bride will enter the hall now!"
All the heads, including that of Yi Chen's turned towards the entrance door, which slowly opened the next moment.