(Continuing from yesterday) Looking at these stones, I was thinking that they existed before my physical body, while "I," the one with a sense of unity, existed before them. Everything stands in relation, all are products of consciousness.

The countryside is truly a tranquil place. This tranquility is not the absence of sound; just as the chirping of insects and the rustling of grass are incessant, these are the sounds of nature, akin to white noise, yet they relax people.

I enjoyed the moment's peace while playing until my dad called me on WeChat, asking me to come back. I told him I was already on my way back.

I thought we would start the meal as soon as we got back. None of us had breakfast that morning, so I figured my parents were as hungry as I was. However, when I returned, I saw the bride and groom surrounded by a large crowd in the living room, not knowing what ceremony was being held. I went to my cousin's room, where there were also quite a few people, and my parents were inside.

My mom told me it was time to "serve tea." After her explanation, I learned that this was the part where the bride and groom bow to their elders, and the elders give them red envelopes.

The tea ceremony officially began, with various elders entering in turn. The bride and groom bowed earnestly, and the elders handed red envelopes to the person hosting the ceremony, who then passed them to another person acting as a clerk, who recorded the elder's identity and the amount of the gift in a book.

My parents also prepared a red envelope for me, and I followed them into the ceremony. When it was my turn, I patted my cousin's son and asked him not to bow to me.

During the registration, the host asked if we had bowed to the aunt, and I helped answer, "Yes, we did!" I, this straightforward person, finally understood how to be flexible!

The tea ceremony finally concluded, and the meal began. I usually have no expectations for dining out, especially for such a rural banquet, but this time it changed my mind.

The first course was fried spring rolls, followed by three plates of meat dishes. As someone who practices the order of eating—vegetables, meat, and carbohydrates—I waited five full minutes without picking up my chopsticks. Just when the other relatives at the table thought I wasn't eating, a plate of cold beef tripe was served. It had cilantro in it, so I thought, okay, this counts. I picked out a few pieces of cilantro to eat, then started on the steamed chicken feet, lotus root, and beef tripe. Surprisingly, every dish was delicious. The entire wedding banquet served over a dozen dishes, not only were they tasty, but the portions were generous. By the end of the banquet, our table still had plenty of food left, and I noticed the other tables were similar. I felt a bit sorry for my cousin and the others.

The wedding was reportedly organized by a company that handles both joyful and solemn occasions. This wedding provided a full range of services from setting up tents to air conditioning, huge fans, and the procurement and preparation of the banquet. Without those air conditioners, many people would have been at risk of heatstroke.

Since my cousin's wife is pregnant and experiencing severe morning sickness, the toasting segment was very simple, just a formality, unlike the raucous weddings I attended years ago. I felt that people are indeed becoming more "civilized and mature." This is a sign of progress in our times, or so I believe.

Due to the heat, everyone dispersed after the wedding banquet. After blessing the bride and groom and greeting my cousin and his wife, we planned to see if any relatives could drive us to the town so we could take a taxi home. Unfortunately, there were none. I opened Didi to search for a ride, and surprisingly, I got a response immediately; there was a driver nearby. I even thought they might be someone attending the wedding.

It turned out not to be; it was just a passing driver who had already driven a bit before accepting the order and had to turn back to pick us up. Although we had to wait at the village entrance, it was truly lucky! The driver was very young, and once we got in, the air conditioning was at a very comfortable temperature, and the car was very clean, sweeping away the heat we had felt while waiting at the village entrance.

There are two very noteworthy things about this wedding.

One is my cousin's parents, my second cousin and his wife. When we arrived in the morning, my second cousin had gone to the town to buy food for the evening reunion with his wife's family. When his wife called to urge him, her voice was so loud that I thought she was arguing with him on the phone. I kept advising her to speak nicely on such a joyous day. When my second cousin returned, his wife still scolded him for taking too long. After she went off to do something else, my cousin told me he had fallen off his electric bike on the way. I saw a long cut on his arm, and his shoulder movement was unnatural. When I asked him, he pulled up his shirt to reveal a large bruise on his shoulder. My dad and I advised him to apply some medicine, but he said he was fine and just needed to rest for a night. He asked us not to let his wife know, fearing she would scold him again. I said his wife had a bad temper, and my cousin replied that she just had a loud voice, showing his understanding of her. This left a deep impression on me, and his wife's concern about him not returning home quickly also reflected her dependence on him. On such an important day, she felt she couldn't handle it alone.

I suddenly realized my parents were similar. In the past, I always thought my dad had a bad temper and my mom was very wronged. But since I became aware of my personality traits, I found that my mom and I are of the same type, especially during this time at home. I deeply felt that my mom and I belong to a type that is not easy to get along with, too self-centered, while my dad is the one who is tolerant of my mom, and the same goes for me. I immediately expressed my views to my dad, who felt that his efforts were being recognized and gently replied that this is how a family can be maintained.

The other noteworthy thing was that when welcoming the newlyweds, we had to strike the gong from time to time, especially during the tea ceremony. When the host called out to bow to a certain elder, the gong had to be struck a few times in response. I noticed this and specifically looked to see who was striking the gong, only to find it was my fourth cousin and another uncle. My fourth cousin was especially enthusiastic; I watched him for a while and felt he resembled a little boy playing a game, even knocking the gong to the ground at one point!

My third cousin was also busy organizing and handling the "logistics," while uncles, aunts, and my fourth cousin's wife were helping out. This made me see the powerful force rooted in familial bonds, and I am grateful that this force continues to play a role, making us aware that our existence is not solitary. Each relative is part of the root system, and when we connect with people and things in the outside world, the interaction between these roots can also transmit nutrients. As long as we have trust, we can receive support.

We returned home smoothly, grateful that on this hottest day of the summer, everything went so smoothly. Life is long, and the newlyweds' life has just begun. They will surely encounter ups and downs, but that is the beauty of life. I hope this scene will be as beautiful as the play of my own life unfolding!