HLM – Chapter 947 A Grand Han-Style Wedding

It was Eva’s first time attending a wedding like this. Her camera kept clicking rapidly, and Dale beside her also held up a toy camera, snapping photos. She planned to make a special report for school afterward, introducing Chinese-style weddings to the kids back in New Zealand.

“I’ve taken so many amazing photos! Ron and the others are going to be so jealous!” Dale said, noticing someone watching her as she raised her camera.

Wang Bo reminded her, “They don’t know you, and they don’t know who Ron is.”

Dale replied casually, “Yeah, I know. But that just makes them jealous of me, right? They don’t know the boxing champion’s little brother—only I do.”

With the help of masseur Li Bo, Oakley had recovered very well. He had returned to the U.S. before the New Year to compete in professional boxing, performing brilliantly and becoming a rising star in the sports world.

The two girls frequently took photos, while more people photographed them in return.

Han-style weddings like this were very common in Fengcheng. People had seen them often and weren’t particularly curious anymore; the ceremony followed a familiar routine.

But Eva, in a golden qipao, and the delicate little girl in a curved-hem dress, were a sight nobody had seen before.

Wang Bo said to Eva, “You stand on the bridge and look at the scenery. The people looking at the scenery are on the building, looking at you. The bright moon decorates your window, and you decorate someone else’s dream.”

Hearing this, Eva chuckled softly. “Such a beautiful line—so touching.”

Dale turned around. “Sister, you’ve been tricked. That’s actually a poem, and the teacher read it without any sincerity.”

She thought for a moment, then added slowly, “It should be said like this: hmm, you hold a camera to photograph the scenery, while the person photographing the scenery is in a car photographing you. The sunlight decorates your lens, and you decorate someone else’s dream!”

Next to them, Su Dongdong was surprised. “Your little girl’s Chinese is really good! I remember you said she’s been living in New Zealand, right?”

Wang Bo patted Dale’s braids and laughed. “That’s all thanks to me as her teacher.”

Suddenly, he realized Dale had grown up. She was no longer the one he first met, wearing a princess dress with her hair in high twin braids.

Though her words were adapted from someone else’s poem and the meaning had shifted far from the original, Su Dongdong was right—her Chinese was already very strong, and her comprehension impressive. This wasn’t something a mere little girl could do.

At the hotel, the wedding officially began. A series of firecrackers were set up. Zhou Haojie’s cousin waved at them. “Come on, guys, help out. We don’t have enough hands—each of you hold one firecracker, and we’ll light them together.”

Wang Bo and his classmates went over. It was simple enough.

It was time for the bride to descend from her sedan chair. The ground was covered with a red carpet. According to custom, the bride’s shoes were not supposed to touch the ground.

The time for her descent had been calculated precisely—not a minute early or late.

Zhou Haojie dismounted and walked over, then waved to Wang Bo. “Xiao Bozi, come here. I need to trouble you with something.”

Wang Bo replied, “Trouble me? No problem. But if you call me Xiao Bozi again, I’ll—”

Zhou Haojie chuckled. “Here’s the thing: next up is the ‘Three Arrows to Determine the World’ ceremony. The farther the arrow flies, the better. My dad wanted one of our strong uncles to do it, but I think you’re more suitable.”

Wang Bo took off his suit. “No problem. A rough guy like me is made for rough work.”

The “Three Arrows to Determine the World” ceremony involved shooting three arrows: the first toward the sky, praying for the heavens’ blessings; the second toward the earth, giving thanks for the land that nurtures us—together, these two arrows symbolizing eternity. The final arrow was shot into the distance, wishing for a happy and fulfilling life.

The wedding company prepared a proper strong bow, with red ribbons tied at both ends. The arrow shafts had no tips, only soft plastic balls, so even if something was accidentally hit, no harm would be done.

“When the firecrackers go off, you shoot. Got it?” an MC said.

Wang Bo nodded. “Perfect…”

“Crackle! Crackle!” The firecrackers suddenly went off.

Wang Bo hurriedly drew the bow. “You told me too late!”

The MC, trying to restrain him, exclaimed in alarm, “Wait! The auspicious time isn’t here yet! Who the hell lit the firecrackers?!”

Someone ran over. “Teacher Liu, hurry! Someone saw the fuses of two firecrackers tangled together and tried to light them with a lighter instead of untangling them…”

“My goodness!” the MC shouted. “Just shoot—the extra two minutes won’t matter!”

Wang Bo’s left hand held the bow while his right pulled the arrow back fiercely. He had tried the bow earlier and knew the force required; even with his strength, he needed to exert almost all of it.

He had practiced archery in Sunset Town. Though not an expert, he wasn’t a complete novice—Uncle Bing had taught him the basics.

“Hey!” With a muffled roar, the longbow curved fully into a moon shape.

The spectators applauded loudly. Someone shouted, “Wow! This guy’s got godlike strength!”

The arrow flew at a 75-degree angle toward the sky. Wang Bo released his grip, and a whistling sound followed—the arrow disappeared instantly.

Shooting toward the ground was simpler. He drew the bow fully, and the soft plastic ball bounced off the ground with strong elasticity, sending the shaft up two or three meters.

Wang Bo jumped in surprise, and the applause grew even louder. “Keep going, no problem!”

The final arrow was shot along the cleared street. In the suburbs, there were few cars or pedestrians. Wang Bo loosed the arrow, which vanished without a trace.

The bride and groom entered next, passing over a fire pan—symbolizing a life full of warmth and prosperity. Then they stepped over a saddle with an apple on it, representing safety and peace.

Zhang Rui, visiting from another province, was astonished. “Wait… this is a Han-style wedding? Did they even have apples in the Han Dynasty?”

Next, the wedding company arranged four pairs of beautiful girls dressed as maids: the first scattered flower petals, the second carried red candles, the third held elegant lanterns, and the fourth rolled out a red carpet.

The bride and groom followed behind, entering the grand hall.

The hall was decorated luxuriously in vibrant red. The groom first lifted the bride’s veil with a balance pole, symbolizing satisfaction and happiness. Then they walked up to the wedding platform holding red silk ribbons.

Under the MC’s guidance, they bowed to the guests, thanking everyone for attending. The main ritual followed: bowing and kowtowing to express gratitude to their parents.

Finally came the essential ritual of husband and wife bowing to each other.

Wang Bo was watching the spectacle when someone tugged at him. Curious, he turned around to see a middle-aged woman smiling at him. “Young man, are you married?”

“Not yet, but…”

“Not married? Good. Young people shouldn’t rush—choose a good wife. Let me tell you, my daughter is a fine girl…”