Published: March 12, 2025
Chapter 180: Toasting
Although Zhao Hai's gifts today were quite astonishing, for the slaves, it was merely a moment of shock before they returned to normal. After all, such shocking events were not new for Zhao Hai.
Zhao Hai helped the two stand up, then took out the marriage certificate he had written himself, handing it to them. "Today is your big day. As the first newlyweds of our Black Soil Territory, I personally wrote this marriage certificate for you. Although it may not be recognized elsewhere, here in the Black Soil Territory, it is valid. As long as you hold this certificate, you are a legitimate couple. Consider it a congratulatory gift from me."
This was the first time such a thing appeared on the continent, and even Galen and the others had never heard of it, let alone the slaves. Qi and Xi took the piece of paper, puzzled.
Though they had learned to read a bit during this time, they didn’t recognize all the words on the paper, and both stared at it blankly.
Zhao Hai smiled faintly and looked at everyone. "Our Black Soil Territory is different from other places. This paper, though unremarkable, can prove that you are a legitimate couple. If a wife is bullied by her husband, she can come to me for justice. If a husband dares to abandon his wife without reason, she can bring this paper to me, and I will punish him. The same applies to the wife. Qi and Xi are the first newlyweds of our Black Soil Territory, and I didn't have time to prepare anything else, so this paper will serve as their marriage certificate. Now, let’s invite our grand chief Galen to officiate the wedding and read the marriage certificate."
This type of wedding was similar to those Zhao Hai attended back on Earth, but it was very different from those on this continent. On this continent, slaves did not have weddings. Typically, if two slaves wanted to be together, they would report to the overseer, and if the overseer agreed, they could be together. Some slave owners or overseers would even demand a bride price.
In contrast, commoner weddings were a bit more lively, involving a matchmaker, a meet-up between the couple, and then the groom providing a bride price while the bride offered dowry, culminating in a wedding ceremony. On the wedding day, relatives and friends would come to congratulate them. However, the specifics of bride prices and dowries were not strictly defined, and on the Ark Continent, women held a relatively high status, so on the wedding day, the newlyweds would also partake in a toasting ceremony.
For nobles and royals, weddings were even more elaborate with stricter customs, but what Zhao Hai was doing had never been seen before.
This was also the first time Galen witnessed such a thing, but having seen grand occasions before, he took the marriage certificate from Qi's hand and declared loudly, "Today, we have Qi and Xi, commoners of the Aksu Empire, who are in love and have united as one, officially becoming husband and wife. This is the certificate, issued by the lord of the Black Soil Territory, Zhao Hai Budah."
The words on the paper were few, but their meaning was clear. There were no marriage laws on the Ark Continent, so Zhao Hai did not write anything about legal compliance; he simply stated their love and union.
Most importantly, the paper also bore the designation of "commoners," which in a sense served as ID for these slaves, proving they were now commoners.
After Galen finished reading, he handed the marriage certificate to Qi and Xi. Qi received the paper with excitement, as if it weighed a thousand pounds, then carefully passed it to Xi. Xi took it carefully, folded it neatly, and placed it in her bosom.
Seeing their actions, Zhao Hai said nothing but smiled. "Alright, now that the ceremony is complete, Qi, Xi, you two are officially husband and wife starting today. Don’t forget to come toast to me, and also remember to toast to Grandpa Galen, your officiant."
Qi and Xi responded excitedly, and at that moment, Merlin smiled as he lifted a wine cup, pouring two glasses of wine. Qi and Xi took the glasses, knelt down, and raised them before Zhao Hai.