eurekapd Chapter 119 Family Recognition Ceremony
Chapter 119 Family Recognition Ceremony
Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye it was June 1937, 6.
The fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar is the Dragon Boat Festival, which is a good time to get married, pray for blessings, seek children, and adopt children.
As the saying goes, during the rainy season, every household has rain, and green grass ponds are full of frogs.
Shanghai has already entered the rainy season, but today's weather is cloudless and sunny.
The Du Mansion located in the French Concession is now decorated with lights and colorful decorations, with the sound of gongs and drums, welcoming guests and hosting a grand family recognition ceremony.
Du Sheng, nicknamed "Master Du", is a well-known Green Gang leader in Shanghai. He is also the honorary Chinese detective of the French Concession Police Station. He is well-connected in both the black and white worlds and has enormous influence.
Today he was going to formally acknowledge Jiang Shiyuan as his adopted daughter, and invited celebrities from all walks of life to attend the ceremony, which caused a sensation in the entire city of Shanghai.
"Oh, Master Du is so lucky to have such a talented and beautiful adopted daughter!"
"That's right. I heard that Miss Jiang is a top student who studied abroad. She has superb medical skills, is good at making medicine, and is proficient in multiple languages!"
The guests were talking about it, and their words were full of envy and blessings.
The family recognition ceremony was held in the garden of Du Mansion, and the scene was decorated magnificently and beautifully.
Old Madam Du sat in the center of the podium, looking energetic. Du Sheng and his wife sat on either side of her, their faces flushed.
Jiang Shiyuan was wearing a vermilion brocade cheongsam, with her black hair tied up high. She stood aside with an elegant posture and a decent smile on her face.
Since Jiang Shiyuan's father and brother were not in Shanghai, she specially invited Gu Fangxun and Lao Huang as her elders, and Chen Qingyan's siblings and Fang Lansheng as friends to attend the ceremony.
At this time, the master of ceremonies shouted loudly: "The auspicious time has arrived, the recognition ceremony officially begins--"
"A tea of recognition—"
"I wish that father and daughter will be together, and sons will be filial to their parents—"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Shiyuan took the teacup from the waiter's tray, knelt on the futon, and served tea to Madam Du, Mr. Du and his wife respectively.
After taking a sip of tea, Mrs. Du immediately smiled with joy.
After Mr. Du and Mrs. Du took the teacups, they also smiled amiably.
"Second toast to recognize the relationship——"
"The hall is full of flowers and three thousand guests are drunk. From now on, they change their words and call him foster father——"
Jiang Shiyuan toasted Master Du with a glass of wine alone, smiled sweetly, and changed his words affectionately, calling Master Du "godfather".
Master Du raised his head, drank the wine in the glass, then patted Jiang Shiyuan on the shoulder and agreed loudly: "Hey, my good girl!"
Then he asked Madam Du to hand over the red envelope that he had prepared in advance, and put it in Jiang Shiyuan's hand, saying with a loving face: "Xiaoyuan, your godfather wishes you a peaceful and happy life, and a bright future!"
Jiang Shiyuan quickly took it with both hands and bowed to Master Du, "Thank you, foster father!"
Then, she handed the heavy red envelope to Aunt Fang for safekeeping.
"Three gifts for recognition of relatives——"
"I wish you a prosperous family, and a worry-free life—"
Jiang Shiyuan turned around, picked up the three pairs of new shoes wrapped in red paper from the waiter's tray, and respectfully presented them to Madam Du, Mr. Du and his wife one by one, symbolizing the joy of having a new baby in the family.
Mrs. Du prepared a new set of clothes for Jiang Shiyuan, symbolizing Jiang Shiyuan's new life from head to toe after being recognized as a relative of the Du family.
Mr. Du and his wife gave Jiang Shiyuan a complete set of pure gold bowls and chopsticks, implying that Jiang Shiyuan would have a golden bowl in his hands and would never have to worry about food and clothing for the rest of his life.
"Four greeting cards——"
"I wish Su Cai and Guo Fu, Ji Zi and Peng Nian——"
Upon hearing this, Mr. Du unfolded a large piece of red paper that he had written in advance, and then read out the contents of the visiting card in public.
After the red paper was unfolded, four big characters "Su Cai Guo Fu" were written vertically from top to bottom on the far right side, hoping that Jiang Shiyuan could be as talented as Su Shi, and as blessed as Guo Ziyi.
On the far left side of the red paper, four large characters "Ji Zi Peng Nian" are written vertically from top to bottom, expressing the hope that the Du family can have many descendants like King Wen Ji Chang, and that family members can live long and healthy lives like Peng Zu.
In the center of the red paper was written, "The daughter of your family has come to visit my humble home and has been given the name Du Ruyuan, on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Dingchou year."
This name used when recognizing relatives is generally not used in normal times, it is just a form of recognition.
After Master Du finished reciting, he handed the name card to Jiang Shiyuan. The master of ceremonies said loudly: "Today's family recognition ceremony is over--"
There was thunderous applause at the scene, which lasted for a long time.
After the recognition ceremony, the guests rushed forward, surrounded Du Sheng and Jiang Shiyuan, and vied with each other to toast and congratulate them.
"Congratulations, Master Du! Congratulations, Master Du! The birth of your daughter is like adding wings to a tiger!"
Du Sheng accepted all the drinks and drank one cup after another, with a happy smile on his face all the time.
"Haha, let's celebrate! Everyone must eat and drink well today, and don't go home until you are drunk!"
Jiang Shiyuan was extremely popular for a while. With her identity as Du Ye's adopted daughter, she made the front page headlines of major newspapers in Shanghai.
In the crowd, Du Sheng’s two sons, Du Yunfeng and Du Yunlei, also squeezed in front of Jiang Shiyuan and toasted her with a smile.
"Little sister, we are a family from now on. I'd like to toast you!" Du Yunfeng said, raising his glass and drinking it all.
"Little sister, from now on in Shanghai, if anyone dares to bully you, just tell me my name, Du Yunlei!" Du Yunlei patted his chest, looking like a man of great righteousness.
Jiang Shiyuan looked at these two brothers who were seven or eight years older than him, and thought of his own brother, with his eyes slightly red.
"Thank you, brothers. I'll drink first to show my respect." After saying that, she raised her glass and drank it all in one gulp, showing the generous spirit of a woman of the world.
The two young ladies of the Du family, one is a Shanghai socialite and the other is the daughter of a wealthy businessman.
At this moment, they also held Jiang Shiyuan's hands affectionately, asked about his well-being, and talked about some intimate girlish words.
"Sister Ruyuan, your skin is so good. What skin care products do you usually use?"
"Sister Ruyuan, with your figure and temperament, any clothes will look good on you!"
The two sisters-in-law chatted with each other and did not forget to put the gifts they brought into Jiang Shiyuan's hands.
"This is the latest perfume I brought back from the Romantic Country. Try it, sister, and see if you like it."
"This is a set of jade jewelry from my collection. It suits your skin tone the best!"
Jiang Shiyuan was surrounded by their enthusiasm and was a little overwhelmed. He could only say "Thank you, sister-in-law" while handing the gifts to his relatives and friends for safekeeping.
The family reunion banquet lasted until late at night, and the guests went home happily after eating and drinking to their heart's content.
Du Sheng called Jiang Shiyuan to the study, took out a title deed and an exquisite wooden box from the safe, and handed them to her solemnly.
"Xiaoyuan, this is the recognition gift your foster father gave you!"
Jiang Shiyuan opened the title deed and saw that it was actually a large dance hall on Xiafei Road, located in a prosperous area and doing a booming business.
She was shocked and quickly declined, "Godfather, this gift is too expensive, I can't accept it!"
Master Du waved his hands, "You are my daughter, Du Sheng, and you deserve all this!"
He paused, and then warned earnestly: "The dance halls on Xiafei Road are full of all kinds of people. You are a girl, so you should avoid such smoky and foul places in the future."
"But if you really want to take your friends out to play, just go to our house!"
Jiang Shiyuan understood that her adoptive father was hinting to her that from now on this nightclub named "New World" would be her own territory.
She did not refuse and took the deed respectfully, "Thank you, foster father!"
Then she opened the wooden box and saw an exquisitely carved jade ring inside, which was obviously worth a lot of money.
"Please keep this jade ring. It will represent your status in all branches of the Du family!"
Du Sheng said earnestly: "Xiaoyuan, I know you are busy with work and not interested in this, but we are born in troubled times and there are some things that we cannot control."
Jiang Shiyuan clenched the jade ring and nodded solemnly, "Godfather, I understand."
Du Sheng smiled with satisfaction, and said lovingly: "Your father has decided to set up a hall for you. You will be the head of the hall. You can recruit soldiers and develop your own power!"