After Xiao Yuan finished showing off in the dormitory, he immediately called home.

Mr. Xiao and Mother Xiao were busy working in the fields when Mr. Xiao’s phone rang. He stopped working, dug out the phone from his pocket, and answered.

"Erhu, what’s up?"

Upon hearing it was a call from Xiao Yuan, Mother Xiao quickly stopped working too: "Erhu, did something happen at school?"

Xiao Yuan’s voice sounded especially cheerful: "No, Dad, Mom, find a quiet place."

Mr. Xiao and Mother Xiao hurriedly took their phones to the shade at the edge of the field: "Alright, no one’s here, go ahead."

Xiao Yuan said with a smile: "I got married."

"What did you say?"

Mr. Xiao almost dropped the phone he was holding.

"Anning and I got our marriage certificate; we are now legally married."

Xiao Yuan happily announced.

Mr. Xiao’s face instantly fell: "I’ll beat you, you little brat."

Mother Xiao was also quite angry: "Erhu, did you deceive the girl? This... Our family hasn’t even proposed yet, no dowry given, and you got married?"

Xiao Yuan replied: "Mom, I didn’t trick Anning. We’re both in love and wanted to get married early. Anning was not old enough, but she happened to do some work for the state during her trip to the Capital, allowing us to get a special permit to marry. The leader even personally handled our marriage certificate."

Upon hearing that the marriage certificate was handled by a leader, Mr. Xiao felt relieved.

He had lived an honest life, always being straightforward and sincere, never cheating or deceiving anyone. If he owed anyone, he could not sleep well for several days. It weighed heavily on his mind.

He feared that Xiao Yuan had lured Anning, deceiving the young girl to marry him hastily out of concern.

"So... where are you going to hold the wedding?"

Mr. Xiao asked.

"Definitely at our home."

Xiao Yuan affirmed: "I’m calling to ask you to go to Fengtai Village to propose to Sister Shi. Anning said she has cut ties with her parents and is living with her sister, so just propose to Sister Shi and discuss the wedding with her."

"Okay."

Mr. Xiao laughed: "We’ll change clothes and head to Fengtai Village. Oh, should we find a matchmaker?"

The Xiao Family still retained many old customs. Even if young people fell in love freely, both families had to find a matchmaker to facilitate the marriage. Otherwise, it wouldn’t work.

To the elders, a marriage needs a matchmaker; without one, it’s deemed shameless.

"Of course we need one."

Xiao Yuan thought for a moment: "Dad, let Mom ask Aunt to go along and act as the matchmaker."

The Aunt mentioned by Xiao Yuan was his father’s cousin’s wife. She was quite a good person, and most importantly, she was eloquent, known for her silver tongue in the surrounding villages.

"Okay, I’ll ask your mom to bring some things to find your Aunt."

Mr. Xiao hesitated again: "Erhu, our family doesn’t have much money now, can’t offer much for the dowry. Do you still have money? If you do, we could pool some together and make it look decent at least."

"I do have some; I’ve just completed a project and got some payment."

Xiao Yuan was considering it too.

He thought for a while: "Alright, I’ll handle it. I’ll bring the money home tomorrow when I return."

Xiao Yuan then mentioned something else: "Mom, call my grandma and ask her to stay at our place for a few days. I’m getting married, it’s such an important occasion."

Mother Xiao quickly nodded: "Sure, I’ll have your big brother pick her up."

Xiao Yuan said a few more things, gave all the necessary instructions, and hung up the phone.

Mr. Xiao put the phone back in his pocket, his eyes almost disappearing with joy.

He looked at Mother Xiao: "Our Erhu is getting married, and we’ll be parents-in-law soon."

Mother Xiao was also joyful: "Yes, I never thought Erhu would be the first to get married."

The couple chatted as they walked home, a little unsteady on their feet due to happiness.

After washing her hands and face and changing clothes, Mother Xiao took some things to find Aunt Xiao.

Mr. Xiao called out Xiao Chang.

He was smiling: "Dahu, borrow a motorcycle to fetch your grandma to stay at our house for a few days and tell her Erhu is getting married and she should come and prepare."

"Erhu is getting married?"

Xiao Chang was surprised: "So soon?"

Mr. Xiao laughed while washing his face: "Yes, indeed, it’s quick. Anning doesn’t mind our family’s poverty and is willing to marry Erhu. They’re in love and want to marry early, so they got the certificate."

Mr. Xiao thought about soon having a daughter-in-law and laughed again: "Our family is soon gaining a new member, it’s a joyous occasion."

Xiao Chang frowned slightly: "A family wedding, where will Erhu’s new house be?"

Mr. Xiao paused.

He had been too happy earlier and hadn’t thought of this issue.

"First, clear a room. After the wedding, we’ll talk about it. Our house is old and needs to be rebuilt, but there’s no time now. We’ll wait until next year when your mom and I save some money, then we’ll tear down the old house and build a new one."

Xiao Chang asked no more questions and went out to borrow a motorcycle.

Mr. Xiao finished washing, changed clothes, and Mother Xiao returned with Aunt Xiao and Uncle Xiao.

Uncle Xiao came with a motorcycle.

Mr. Xiao took Mother Xiao, and Uncle Xiao took Aunt Xiao. The four went to the village shop to buy many things and headed straight to Fengtai Village.

Upon arrival, Si Linna set aside her work and asked the village aunties to help prepare a table of food and alcohol, inviting the village head and several elders to join them.

Both families were easy-going and pleasant, so the wedding plans were discussed quickly without anyone causing trouble.

After eating, drinking, and discussing, the wedding plans were nearly finalized.

Mr. Xiao initially thought Si Linna might challenge him over the dowry, and he was prepared to do whatever necessary, even borrowing from relatives and friends to gather enough money.

But Si Linna was understanding and did not pressure them over the dowry.

She straightforwardly said: "The dowry, whether much or little, doesn’t matter to me. So long as the kids are happy, it’s fine. Our kids are capable, so money will never be an issue in the future. Whether the dowry is given or not doesn’t matter; if the family is really struggling, I won’t say anything."

Nonetheless, the Xiao Family couldn’t forgo the dowry.

Mother Xiao laughed: "Let the kids discuss it themselves. Once they come up with a plan, we’ll try to figure it out."

Si Linna nodded: "Once the marriage is set, as long as the kids are in love, everything else is minor."

Mother Xiao was increasingly pleased, feeling the union was truly wonderful and one of a kind.