A reborn mother longs for her daughter's happiness.

Chapter 275 Xiaoxuan and Jack's Wedding

Chapter 275 Xiaoxuan and Jack's Wedding

On a sunny day in Xia Country, single mother Xiao Liu was experiencing another strange and tense moment in her life. Her beloved daughter, Xiao Xuan, had brought home a British boyfriend, Jack. Today, Jack's parents were flying in from England, and the two families were preparing to sit down together to discuss Xiao Xuan and Jack's marriage.

Standing in front of her own mirror, Xiao Liu looked at herself from left to right, picking out several outfits while muttering to herself, "Oh dear, it's my first time meeting my foreign in-laws, what should I wear? If I dress too casually, will they think I don't take it seriously? If I dress too formally, I'm afraid it will seem too deliberate."

Xiao Xuan, who was standing next to her, couldn't help but laugh: "Mom, you can just wear whatever you like. Jack's parents are very easygoing."

Xiao Liu glared at her: "What do you know? This is a big deal. First impressions are very important!"

Finally, Xiao Liu chose a suitable outfit and headed to the restaurant with Xiao Xuan and Jack. On the way, Xiao Liu kept asking Jack, "What do your parents like to eat? Will the restaurant we picked suit their tastes? We don't want them to not like the food."

Jack smiled and replied in broken Chinese, "Auntie, don't worry, I told them that the food in Xia Country is great, and they're really looking forward to it."

Upon arriving at the restaurant, Xiao Liu had already ordered a table full of dishes, all of which were specialties of China. Looking at the menu, she thought, "Foreigners will definitely love this Peking duck; and this Mapo Tofu, although a bit spicy, will let them taste authentic Chinese cuisine." A short while later, Jack's parents, David and Lucy, arrived.

Upon meeting, the two exchanged a warm hug and greetings. Although David and Lucy spoke English, their smiles made them seem exceptionally friendly.

(Note: The two families communicated in English.)

Xiao Liu nervously greeted everyone in her broken English: "Hello, it's nice to meet you!"

David smiled and replied, "It's a pleasure to meet you too! We've heard a lot about you and Xiaoxuan."

After everyone sat down, Xiao Liu quickly called the waiter to serve the dishes. When the roast duck was brought out, Xiao Liu enthusiastically introduced it: "This is Peking duck, a very famous dish in our country. You can wrap the meat in these pancakes and vegetables, like this." She demonstrated as she spoke.

David and Lucy followed Xiao Liu's example, wrapped up the roast duck, put it in their mouths to taste, and showed expressions of surprise: "Wow, it's amazing! It's so delicious!"

Xiao Liu smiled happily: "If it's delicious, eat more. There are still many dishes to go."

Just then, the Mapo Tofu was served. Jack looked at the bright red tofu and said to his parents with some concern, "This might be a little spicy."

Lucy, however, said curiously, "Spicy is good! I like spicy food." Saying this, she scooped up a spoonful and put it in her mouth. As soon as she swallowed, her face turned red, and she kept shouting, "Water, water!"

Everyone couldn't help laughing.

Xiao Liu quickly handed over a glass of water, smiling as he said, "This Mapo Tofu is very spicy. If you can't handle it, don't eat it."

David took a sip of water and said with a smile, "It's okay, it's a new experience. But I think I'll have to be more careful next time."

Amidst laughter and cheerful conversation, the atmosphere gradually relaxed. Feeling the time was right, Xiao Liu got down to business: "So, what are your thoughts on Jack and Xiao Xuan's marriage?"

David put down his chopsticks and said seriously, "We are so glad that Jack found such a wonderful girl as Xiaoxuan. We think they are a perfect match."

Lucy nodded in agreement: "Yes, we respect their decision. We just hope they can be happy together."

Hearing this, Xiao Liu felt a huge weight lifted from his shoulders: "That's great! That's what I was thinking too. But there are some things we need to discuss, like the wedding."

Once the topic of weddings came up, everyone started talking non-stop. Xiao Liu said enthusiastically, "In our Xia Kingdom, weddings are very elaborate. They're usually a grand affair, with many relatives and friends invited. There's a wedding procession, and the groom has to find a way to pass the bridesmaids' tests before he can pick up the bride." She gestured as she spoke.

Jack was completely confused: "A test? What kind of test?"

Xiaoxuan explained with a smile: "It means I'll give you some difficult questions to answer, or ask you to do some interesting things, like singing or dancing. If you can't pass, I won't let you pick me up."

Jack's eyes widened: "Oh, that sounds like a big challenge!"

Everyone was amused by his expression.

David asked curiously, "Are there any other special customs at the wedding?"

Xiao Liu thought for a moment and said, "There's also the tea ceremony, where the newlyweds serve tea to both sets of parents, which represents respect and gratitude to their elders. Then there's the wedding banquet, where there will be lots of delicious food."

Lucy's eyes lit up: "That sounds interesting! In England, our weddings also have many traditions. Usually, the ceremony is held in a church, and the couple exchanges vows in the presence of a pastor. Afterwards, there's a big reception where everyone dances, drinks, and celebrates."

As Xiao Liu listened to Lucy's description, images of British weddings from movies flashed through his mind. He said with a touch of envy, "Holding a wedding in a church sounds so romantic."

Xiao Xuan held Xiao Liu's hand and said, "Mom, how about we combine Chinese and Western traditions and integrate both?" Everyone thought it was a good idea.

Next, they talked about married life. Xiao Liu said with some concern, "Xiao Xuan has been spoiled by me since she was little. Please don't be offended if she does anything wrong."

David quickly said, "Don't worry, Xiaoxuan is a very kind and lovely girl. We believe they will take care of each other."

Lucy smiled and said, "Besides, transportation and communication are so convenient now. Even if they live in England in the future, we can still video chat often. If you want to visit them, you can do so anytime." Xiao Liu felt a warmth in his heart upon hearing this: "That's good. I was just worried that Xiao Xuan would suffer if she married someone from far away."

At this moment, the waiter brought out another dish—sweet and sour carp.

Xiao Liu explained, "This dish symbolizes abundance year after year, and we hope that the newlyweds will have a prosperous and happy life in the future."

Looking at the beautifully crafted carp, David couldn't help but exclaim, "Your country's food is not only delicious, but it also carries such a beautiful meaning."

After discussing the wedding and married life, everyone talked about the young couple's future plans. Jack said he hoped to develop his career in China and also wanted Xiaoxuan to learn more about British culture. Xiaoxuan also expressed her support for Jack's ideas and said she was full of anticipation for the future.

Before they knew it, the meal had lasted for several hours, and everyone had a very pleasant conversation. Although there are many cultural differences between China and the UK, both sets of parents were willing to understand and tolerate each other for the sake of the two young people's happiness.

Finally, Xiao Liu said with emotion, "I'm so happy today to have met such a wonderful family. Although the children have a long road ahead of them, I believe they will be happy."

David and Lucy agreed: "Yes, this is a wonderful start. We look forward to the wedding."

By the time everyone left the restaurant, it was already dark. The streets were brightly lit, reflecting the hopeful mood everyone was in. Watching Xiao Xuan and Jack walk hand-in-hand, Xiao Liu silently wished the cross-cultural couple well, hoping their love would be as rich, varied, and unforgettable as the cuisine of Xia Country.

On the way home, Xiao Liu continued discussing wedding details with Xiao Xuan, who listened with a blissful expression. This wonderful "negotiation" before their cross-cultural marriage ended successfully amidst laughter and joy, opening a hopeful door to the future for the two young people.