Su Caiqing straightened her head and said, “Today is the most important day of Chaoying’s life. As her parents, you should appear in the best and most energetic state possible. I’ll keep the makeup very natural, the kind people won’t notice unless they look closely, so you can relax.”
After much persuasion, coaxing, and even a bit of playful pleading from Wang Chaoying, the factory director finally agreed to let her apply the makeup. He added that if it looked unnatural, he would wipe it off immediately.
When Su Caiqing finished, everyone took a closer look and indeed could not see anything obvious, yet the director looked noticeably more spirited.
This time not only did the director stop objecting, even the director’s wife clicked her tongue in amazement. “You really can’t see anything, but somehow it just looks different!”
Wang Chaoying was very satisfied as well, and only after pulling her parents together for a photo did she finally stop fussing.
Amid the bustle and confusion, the people coming to fetch the bride soon arrived.
As soon as the door opened, the groom’s group saw Wang Chaoying and collectively exclaimed, “Wow!” The bride was truly beautiful.
Even the groom, Huang Zili, stood frozen for a moment, wondering how he had never realized before that his own wife was so beautiful.
When Su Caiqing saw Liang Qiheng immediately snap a photo of that key moment, she nodded in satisfaction. Although this was his first time acting as a wedding photographer, his reactions were quick.
When they arrived at the hotel, Liang Qiheng jumped out of the car just as quickly to capture the moment the bride and groom entered.
The large wedding portrait of the couple standing at the hotel entrance was also Su Caiqing’s idea, meant to make the occasion feel more festive.
Sure enough, many people gathered in front of the wedding photo, looking at it with great curiosity.
Before the ceremony began, Su Caiqing was invited into the lounge once again.
While touching up her makeup, Wang Chaoying said, “Sister Caiqing, the wedding host can’t come today. Why don’t you do it instead?”
Su Caiqing raised an eyebrow. “Your parents won’t be pleased, will they? I’m a widow who hasn’t been widowed for long.”
Allowing Su Caiqing to participate in the wedding at all had already been a significant concession from them.
“If you don’t do it, I won’t feel comfortable letting anyone else handle it,” Wang Chaoying replied matter-of-factly.
Seeing how unconcerned she looked, Su Caiqing quickly understood. The host probably had not suddenly become unavailable, it was likely something Wang Chaoying had planned all along.
The girl was truly willful and bold.
Without much hesitation, Su Caiqing said, “Alright then. You’re responsible for convincing your parents. If they don’t agree to let me host, then you can’t force me to do it either.”
“Leave it to me!” Wang Chaoying said confidently.
Not long after, the director’s wife came to find Su Caiqing, holding her hand and asking her to step in as the host for the ceremony.
Su Caiqing readily agreed, privately admiring how quickly Wang Chaoying had managed to persuade her parents.
By noon, most of the guests had arrived, and the ceremony soon began.
The guests all found it rather novel, because ceremonies like this were rarely seen. Most weddings simply involved the groom’s and bride’s families hosting separate banquets, and once the meal was finished, everyone dispersed.
When the ceremony began, Su Caiqing first went on stage and delivered a few opening remarks before inviting the groom to come up.
Unexpectedly, Huang Zili stumbled as he stepped forward, whether from nervousness or something else, and his head bumped directly against the stage.
The scene instantly became a little chaotic, and Wang Chaoying’s previously radiant face fell.
Seeing this, Su Caiqing quickly picked up the microphone and said, “Our groom is quite impatient. He can’t wait to bring his bride home. Look at him rushing so eagerly that he’s run straight into a stroke of great fortune! Groom, what’s the hurry? It’s not as if the bride is going to run away from you.”
The guests burst into laughter, the sound dispelling much of the awkward atmosphere. Looking again at the groom’s slightly reddened forehead, it no longer seemed so ridiculous.
A blow that brings great fortune, there was nothing wrong with that interpretation.
After confirming that the groom was fine, the ceremony continued.
Next came the customary rituals of joining hands, changing forms of address to the parents, serving tea, and receiving red envelopes. Fortunately everything proceeded smoothly, and no other unexpected incidents occurred.
Once the ceremony ended, the guests began eating while the bride and groom went around offering toasts.
After stepping down from the stage, the director’s wife took Su Caiqing’s hand again and said, “Thank you so much just now. Good thing you were quick-witted and managed to smooth things over.”
That phrase about “great fortune arriving” not only created a lucky omen but also neatly resolved the embarrassment. When guests mentioned the incident later, they would remember it as a sign of good fortune rather than something shameful.
Su Caiqing politely brushed off the praise.
With no role in the toasting, she went to the table where Director Zhao was sitting.
“Caiqing, what you said earlier was wonderful!” Director Zhao said immediately when she saw her. “One auspicious phrase after another, it made everything sound so festive!”
“Thank you, Aunt Zhao,” Su Caiqing replied with a smile. “It’s such a happy day that good fortune makes people speak kindly. The children have been behaving, right?”
She reached out and patted a few of their heads. They were indeed sitting quite properly.
Director Zhao quickly replied, “They’re very well behaved! The older ones are watching the younger ones, so I hardly have to worry. I left the youngest at home with my old man. If the child gets hungry, he’ll mix some malted milk for them, so don’t worry.”
Su Caiqing naturally expressed another round of gratitude.
In truth, she had not wanted to bring all the children along. Each person required a seat, and with her included, they took up more than half a table. But Wang Chaoying had repeatedly insisted that she bring everyone who could come to eat, and she could not refuse such warm hospitality.
Although times were no longer as harsh as before, opportunities to eat a full meal of fish and meat like this were still rare. It was obvious the hosts pitied how difficult it was for her to raise several children.
Not long after they began eating, Liang Qiheng also came over and took a seat. The table was filled with familiar neighbors.
Several adults helped pick fish bones out and place lean meat onto the children’s plates, allowing Su Caiqing to finally eat properly herself. Otherwise the children alone would have kept her busy.
After finishing the meal, the children took their candy and obediently followed Director Zhao home.
Su Caiqing and Liang Qiheng stayed behind to help entertain guests and take group photos, remaining busy until after the evening meal before everything finally wrapped up.
Before leaving, the director’s wife secretly stuffed a cloth bundle into Su Caiqing’s hands.
“You have many children at home, and what was divided on the table probably isn’t enough for them. Take these back for the children.”
Before Su Caiqing could refuse, she had already pushed the bundle firmly into her hands. Then she slipped a red paper packet into her palm as well.
“This is today’s red envelope. Our whole family thanks you. You helped us tremendously. I still have guests to attend to, so I won’t see you off. Xiao Liang, thank you for making the trip!”
With that she hurried away, as if afraid Su Caiqing might return the items.
Su Caiqing did not even have time to say thank you.
Liang Qiheng took the bundle from her and tied it to the back seat of his bicycle. The two of them then pushed the bicycle along as they slowly walked home.
“I don’t think I’ve praised you yet,” Liang Qiheng said. “You really handled that situation well today. ‘Great fortune arriving’—your reaction was quick.”
Su Caiqing laughed. “Alright, I’ve heard enough praise today. You can stop flattering me.”
“Fine then, I’ll praise something else,” he said. “The outfit Wang Chaoying wore today looked really good. I have to admire you for coming up with it and actually making it.”
“It’s not bad,” Su Caiqing replied casually.
In one of her previous transmigrations, she had ended up assisting a top fashion designer, following that designer from the very bottom all the way to the peak of the fashion world. For her, pattern making, sewing, and garment construction were not difficult at all.
Thinking about it, every time she transmigrated she had ended up as someone else’s assistant, helping the main character. Although she never became the protagonist herself, she had learned quite a few useful skills.
Liang Qiheng said, “Since we’ve worked together for a while and can be considered acquaintances now, I’ll just say it directly. Could you help me make a few of those… good-looking outfits as well? I want to put them in my photo studio to attract customers.”
Su Caiqing looked slightly surprised, not expecting the young man to have such an idea.
There were not many photo studios these days, but they were all basically the same. Customers simply sat or stood for a photograph, then returned later to collect the prints. Prices were identical everywhere, so there was little difference between studios, and business remained rather average.
Liang Qiheng clearly wanted to create something distinctive.
Seeing her expression, he asked, “What? Do you think it’s a bad idea, or do you just not want to make them?”
Su Caiqing withdrew her gaze and said, “Neither, I’m just a bit surprised. I can make the clothes, you’ve already seen my skills. But the clothes I made for Chaoying were possible because she provided the sewing machine, thread, and fabric. Without those, I can’t do much.”
Hearing that it was possible, Liang Qiheng immediately became enthusiastic.
“Don’t worry, I know all that. If Wang Chaoying can get those things, I can too. At worst I’ll just ask her for help.”
Wang Chaoying’s father was a factory director, and his factory was a machinery plant. Machinery factories had connections with many other factories. Textile mills needed their machines, and spinning mills did as well. Her family had broad connections and a wide network, so obtaining those materials would not be difficult.
Liang Qiheng had been Wang Chaoying’s classmate and had even taken her wedding photos, so she would likely not refuse to help him.
“In that case, I’ll just be responsible for making the clothes,” Su Caiqing said. “You’ll need to prepare all the materials and tools. As for payment, we should settle that beforehand. It would be best to write it down.”
If there was money to be earned, Su Caiqing naturally would not refuse.
Liang Qiheng agreed immediately. “Of course. I know your rules. Now that you’ve agreed, I feel much more relieved.”
Su Caiqing glanced at him and asked, “Why do you look so stressed? What’s troubling you?”
Liang Qiheng let out a long sigh. “It’s a long story. After I graduated from university, I was assigned a job teaching at a school. I didn’t like it. Playing with children is fine, but making them study and chase high exam scores, that’s not for me. So I resigned and opened this photo studio instead. Because of that, my father lost his temper like never before, and my mother wasn’t happy either. If this studio doesn’t do well, they’ll definitely find a way to push me back into teaching.”
Liang Qiheng’s father was a professor who had once been criticized during earlier political campaigns. However, because someone had protected him and because his academic ability was genuinely strong, he was soon rehabilitated and invited back to serve as a professor again.
Liang Qiheng’s job assignment after graduation had probably been intended as a continuation of the family profession.
Su Caiqing said, “But I think even if your photo studio makes money, your parents still won’t be very happy.”
Compared with teaching, running a photo studio was unstable and could easily be labeled as speculative business activity. The experiences of those years had likely left psychological shadows on Liang Qiheng’s parents, making them fear that if he did not follow official arrangements, he might once again be branded as someone engaging in speculation.