French Concession, Pétain Road, International Chapel.
This is one of the largest churches in Shanghai. It was completed three years ago and the lobby can accommodate 700 people.
Sitting under the stage were Xu Zhimo, Hu Shi, Liang Shiqiu, Xu Beihong, Zhang Jiazhu, Shen Congwen, Lu Xiaoman and other young friends, as well as Zhang Leyi's relatives and friends, as well as her classmates when she was in middle school in Shanghai.
None of the older or more distinguished guests came to the church to watch the ceremony.
Because after a Western-style Christian wedding, a Chinese-style wedding must be held in a hotel. This is a characteristic of the Republic of China, which pursues Western affairs while retaining traditional customs. For example, when Chang Kaishen and Miss Song San got married last year, they had a Western-style wedding first, and then Chinese style, everything is covered.
Zhou Hexuan, dressed in a suit and leather shoes, took an oath under the guidance of a priest: "I want Miss Zhang Leyi to be my wife. From now on, we will have each other, support each other, and love each other no matter whether we are good or bad, rich or poor, sick or healthy," Cherish each other until death do us part."
Zhang Leyi lowered her head and smiled sweetly, and then swore: "I want Mr. Zhou Hexuan to be my husband. From now on... we will not be separated until death."
"Under the witness of the Lord, I declare that the newlyweds in front of me are legally married." The pastor was more forceful and did not want to be as complicated as the engagement. He smiled and said, "Now, the groom can kiss your bride!"
"Kiss me, kiss me!"
"Kiss, kiss!"
"..."
The young people in the audience kept cheering, and Zhang Jiazhu shouted the loudest.
Zhou Hexuan held Zhang Leyi in his arms, leaned over and kissed her red lips, ending the Western-style wedding with screams and applause.
Afterwards, everyone collectively headed to the Dahua Hotel, where there was another show waiting for them.
Zhou Hexuan put on a bright red mandarin jacket and a men's undershirt, while Zhang Leyi wore a red cheongsam and a red jacket, sitting quietly in the lounge waiting to appear.
As evening approached, guests from all walks of life began to arrive one after another.
Zhang Mouzhi personally stood at the gate to greet them. He brought his old servant Chen Han from Jiujiang to be responsible for registering the names of the guests and accepting gifts.
I saw a shabby-looking old man coming with his little-footed wife.
Zhang Mouzhi didn't take it seriously at first, but he heard Lin Zedong, a reporter from the Shanghai branch of Ta Kung Pao, whisper: "These are the famous Mr. Zhang Taiyan and his wife, Ms. Tang Guoli."
Zhang Mouzhi was in awe and hurriedly clasped his fists and said: "Thank you Mr. Taiyan and his wife for coming to attend the wedding of my son-in-law and daughter."
"Easy!" Zhang Taiyan threw a gift box on the red silk table.
Chen Han, an old servant of the Zhang family, immediately wrote a note with the words "Zhang Taiyan" on it with a brush and pasted it on the gift box.
After Zhang Taiyan and his wife entered, several young people came over soon. Lin Zedong introduced: "These are the famous painters Xu Beihong, Wang Yachen, Liu Haisu, and the famous dramatist Mr. Tang Huaiqiu."
Zhang Mouzhi had only heard of Xu Beihong. He clasped his fists and said with a smile: "Thank you gentlemen for coming to attend the wedding of my son-in-law and daughter."
Several people quickly clasped their fists and saluted, leaving their gifts and going in together.
Suddenly, a middle-aged young man came, still shaking his fan in the middle of winter. He threw the fan directly on the wedding table and said, "I've run out of money, so this fan should be a wedding gift."
Zhang Mouzhi was filled with contempt in his heart. He was just here to eat and drink in the autumn wind.
Just listen to Lin Zedong's introduction: "This is Yuan Shikai's son, Yuan Kewen, a big figure in the Qinggang."
Yuan Shikai's son?
Zhang Mouzhi was so surprised that he hurriedly paid his respects: "Thank you Mr. Yuan for coming!"
Yuan Kewen didn't even bother to look at Zhang Mou and walked in with a swagger.
Zhang Mouzhi was feeling depressed when he heard Lin Zedong say: "These two are Mr. Yi Peiji, Minister of Agriculture and Mines of the Nanjing Government, and his wife."
"Hello, Minister Yi, thank you for your visit, Minister Yi!" Zhang Mouzhi's attitude was even lower.
"These two are Mr. Wang Qianming, the son of Chinese scholar Wang Guowei, and his wife."
"This is Mr. Yu Qiaqing, president of the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce."
"This is Mr. Xia Peng, the major shareholder and general manager of the Commercial Press."
"This is Mr. Ye Shengtao, the editor-in-chief of "Novel Monthly"."
"This is Mr. Shi Liangcai, the boss of Shenbao."
"This is Mr. Liang Desuo, the editor-in-chief of "Liangyou Pictorial"."
"This is the famous military strategist Mr. Jiang Baili."
"This is the famous student Mr. Zhang Junmai."
"Who is this……"
Zhang Mouzhi's head was already dizzy. He realized that he had greatly underestimated his son-in-law's connections. Among the guests, the worst ones were famous scholars, famous painters, and famous poets.
As for Yuan Shikai's son, the owner of Shenbao, the owner of the Commercial Press, as well as Yi Peiji, Yu Qiaqing and other political and business figures, the appearance was completely beyond Zhang Mouzhi's expectations.
My son-in-law really has a wide circle of friends!
However, the shock was not over yet. Lin Zedong continued to introduce: "These three are the British Minister to China, Mr. Harrison, the Director of the Royal Institute of International Studies, Mr. Toynbee, and his assistant, Ms. Veronica."
Zhang Mouzhi had never heard of the Royal Institute of International Studies. But he knew that the British Minister to China was a big shot. He actually came to attend his daughter's wedding in person, which made Zhang Mouzhi feel very proud.
Not only is it a matter of face, Zhang Mouzhi is a comprador and he is already thinking about how to establish a relationship with the British Minister in China.
However, what completely confused Zhang Mouzhi was that the French Minister to China and the American Minister to China also arrived one after another. My son-in-law is going to heaven!
In fact, for many of today's guests, Zhou Hexuan only sent out invitations symbolically, and whether they would come or not would simply depend on their mood.
The British minister came with Toynbee, the American minister came because Zhou Hexuan was very famous in the United States, and the French minister was influenced by the French consul in Tianjin and was very interested in Zhou Hexuan.
In fact, Zhou Hexuan and these three people have never even met.
But others didn't know it. When they saw the ministers from the three countries gathered at the wedding, they were all shocked by Zhou Hexuan's influence.
Big figures and celebrities he knew or didn't know appeared one after another, and by the end Zhang Mouzhi felt numb. He felt that even if Chang Kaishen showed up with his wife, he would not be too excited.
But
Lin Zedong suddenly said: "These two are Mr. Yan Xishan, Minister of the Interior of the Nanjing Government, and his wife, Ms. Xu Zhuqing."
Damn!
Zhang Mouzhi trembled all over and said with a stiff smile: "Thank you, Minister Yan and Mrs. Yan, for coming!"
Lin Yi held a pen in his hand and asked: "May I ask your distinguished guest's name?"
""
The two of them were holding big red flowers connected by silk ribbons, upright.