Marriage Part Two

 

Today, Wangjia village is just as lively.

 

Around ten in the morning, people gather in small groups on the streets and alleys, eagerly awaiting the grand procession of Jing and Lin’s family marriage. The main reason for this keen interest is the deep impression left by last year’s dowry presentation, which is still fresh in everyone’s minds.

 

In typical rural weddings, the dowry usually starts from three to five taels of silver and can go up to a maximum of twenty taels. Then, additional dowry gifts and clothing for the groom are added. Last year in June, when Jing Yi from the Jing family came to deliver the dowry, the spectacle was extraordinary. Some people even thought they were marrying the son of a wealthy townsperson.

 

It was said that the list of dowry items was complete with all kinds of auspicious items, seafood, three sacrifices, fish, wine, dried fruits, fresh fruits, sugar, tea leaves, and more. It filled four donkey carts. According to the estimates of the onlookers at the time, the Jing family’s dowry was generous and high-quality, and the total cost must have been close to fifty taels of silver. So, the bride price must be at least twenty taels! Lin’s family did exceptionally well in finding this groom!

 

But then they heard the matchmaker’s announcement, “The bride price is one hundred and one taels! The groom is truly exceptional!”

 

“Wow!!!” This caused an uproar instantly. A hundred taels! Many people wouldn’t earn that much in their entire lifetime! Is the Jing family really this wealthy?!

 

Even the unmarried girls and young men couldn’t hold back their tears, not to mention some of the older folks who had seen more of the world. They began discussing the matter animatedly.

 

Some more curious souls started asking about Yuan Village, inquiring about the Jing family.

 

So today, many people came to witness the spectacle with the attitude of “let’s see what kind of show they put on today.”

 

Jing Yi led the procession into Wangjia village, and they encountered many acquaintances along the way. Sweet pastries and candies were distributed generously, especially to the children who would come running from afar to get some.

 

Today, he was dressed in a red robe, already tall and handsome, and his good mood on this joyous day was evident on his face. It made him look even more gentle and refined.

 

This drew the admiration of the young girls and boys around. “Wow, the Jing family is truly something to behold,” some villagers couldn’t help but exclaim.

 

“Ah, I wonder where Lin’s family found such a good match. I heard that he even gave suggestions to Lin’s family regarding their business in town,” someone who was more familiar with the situation shared excitedly.

 

“Hey! Let me tell you, it’s all thanks to Chuxia’s skills. I heard this young man from Jing is quite fond of him,” said a man who had a close relationship with Lin’s father, showing off.

 

“I heard that they met in town. Chuxia, a ger, often went to town for him, just to meet a wealthy man. Anyway, our daughters can’t do the same,” a woman said.

 

“Mother, don’t say that. Chuxia didn’t have a choice back then. Lin’s family had a bad reputation, so he had to do everything himself. I wonder if Brother Jing  minds,” another young woman chimed in.

 

This conversation caught the attention of many. They suddenly realized that the three-eyed woman, who was making such comments, was one who had an altercation with Lin’s mother. Furthermore, her daughter was present, and her face turned red.

 

When the mother and daughter saw that no one agreed with them, they felt a bit embarrassed and angrily returned home. Others with ulterior motives also refrained from making comments.

 

After entering the village, the welcoming procession slowed down and finally arrived at the decorated Lin family’s doorstep.

 

At this moment, the deafening sound of firecrackers rang out, and inside the house, Chu Xia heard it. He blushed even more, and when his mother saw it, he thought his daughter looked better without the rouge.

 

After finishing the preparations, the joyous relatives all left, leaving only Lin’s mother and Chuxia in the room for some personal words.

 

“Let your mother take a look. Our little ger is really beautiful, and Jing Yi is really lucky!” Lin’s mother exclaimed, as if he was talking about his son when he was a child.

 

“Mother…” Chuxia called Lin’s mother with a shy yet reluctant tone.

 

“Alright, mother won’t tease you anymore, and I won’t give you any more advice. You were clever and independent from a young age. Jing Yi also cares for you. Mother and father are not worried.” As he spoke, Lin’s mother’s eyes reddened, and he choked up, saying, “Just don’t let yourself be wronged.”

 

In fact, the feeling of marrying Chuxia was different from marrying Qiuying. When Qiuying got married, she was going far away, and they weren’t very familiar with her husband’s family. According to customs, a married daughter couldn’t return to her parents’ home often, so it might be a long time before they saw each other again.

 

Now that Chuxia was getting married, it was different. Not to mention the close relationship between the Jing family and the Lin family, even the town’s shops were only a short walk away. So Lin’s father and Lin’s Mother didn’t feel very sad.

 

However, when marrying a ger, he would become someone else’s husband in the future. He couldn’t be spoiled and coddled by his parents every day, which made Lin’s father extremely reluctant.

 

“Mother, Jing Yi and the others are about to enter the backyard.” The door was pulled open from outside, and Lin’s elder sister walked in with a smile.

 

Since last spring when she obtained the divorce certificate from Dongkuan Village, she had a heart-to-heart talk with her father and mother. Now, she had come to terms with it. She wasn’t in a hurry to get married; living a good life was the most important thing.

 

She followed Mother Lin, busying herself with household chores and the town’s business. Day by day, she felt fulfilled, and her spirits had brightened considerably.

 

“So soon? Didn’t your two brothers detain them in the front yard for long? They aren’t thinking of letting things slide just because they received red envelopes, are they?” Mother Lin teased.

 

Earlier this year, the Lin family, on Jing Yi’s suggestion, also renovated their two-compound courtyard, which was similar in size to the Jing family’s. Combined, they had about fourteen or fifteen rooms, making it unique in Wangjia Village.

 

While they were talking, the groom and his entourage entered the backyard. If the front yard was the battleground for the men, the younger men who had accompanied them here became more reserved from this point onwards.

 

Facing Father Lin, Mother Lin, Lin’s elder sister, and the relatives from Wangjia Village, Jing Yi naturally spoke with assurance, and the village women and men, including Matchmaker Hua and several other women from Xiwan Village, heaped praises on him.

 

Father Lin didn’t make things difficult either. In no time, he raised his hand, indicating that Jing Yi could go inside to see his new spouse.

 

The lovely groom sat on the bed, his eyelids lowered as he pondered something. He was in a red robe, which was likely making him a bit nervous. He kept clutching a handkerchief tightly.

 

As he heard some commotion at the door, he looked up.

 

In his red bridal attire, he appeared enchanting. His eyes sparkled with a brilliant light, and his smile revealed pearly white teeth. His full lips were incredibly enticing.

 

With fair skin, a slender waist, and long, jet-black hair flowing behind him, every move he made was captivating to Jing Yi.

 

“Xiaxia… You look so beautiful,” Jing Yi was absolutely captivated. Usually, Chuxia preferred simple and plain clothing, avoiding extravagant accessories.

 

If he were usually like the elegant bamboo, today he was like a fresh peach blossom, exuding a unique charm that left Jing Yi sighing in admiration. He wished he could have a camera, a camcorder, or even just a smartphone from the modern world to capture this moment.

 

Since Xiaxia was a groom, there was no need to cover his head with a red veil, so both Jing Yi and Chuxia instinctively ignored it.

 

Following tradition, Jing Yi handed one end of a red silk ribbon to Chuxia. Holding the other end himself, there was a beautifully tied red flower in the middle.

 

Jing Yi held Xiaxia’s hand and started walking out, but he felt it was still too distant and unsatisfactory. He stopped, turned to Chuxia, raised an eyebrow, and directly used the hand holding the ribbon to pull Chuxia’s hand. They drew closer, and the large red flower swung back and forth between their legs, creating a lively atmosphere.

 

“This… isn’t following the proper etiquette,” a voice said softly, tinged with a hint of amusement. Despite these words, Chuxia didn’t appear uncomfortable or unwilling.

 

“I’m holding my spouse’s hand; it’s only natural!” Jing Yi declared righteously, adding a touch of humor to his statement. After that, Jing Yi and Chuxia continued to the back courtyard, accompanied by the playful banter and teasing from the guests.

 

The group of well-wishers headed to Xiwan Village, with six donkey-drawn carriages provided by Jing Yi and another six prepared by the Lin family. They carried the betrothal gifts along with relatives and friends to witness the ceremony.

 

Xiwan Village

 

Jing’s father was standing at the entrance, welcoming the guests who came to offer their congratulations. He looked at the continuous stream of people with great joy. The Jing family was finally flourishing.

 

In the past two years, although the Jing family had a gap with the villagers, their interactions remained unchanged. Everyone felt a sense of familiarity and closeness, so most of the villagers came to join in the celebration. They congratulated the Jing family on their joyous occasion.

 

“The groom has entered the village!”

 

Children shouted and ran around, their pockets and little hands filled with sweets. They excitedly informed everyone.

 

The sound of firecrackers and gongs and drums filled the air, which hadn’t stopped since the newlyweds entered the village. This attracted the attention of the guests from Wangjia village, prompting them to open the curtains and take a look.

 

Even the Lin family, who sat in the first carriage behind Chuxia, couldn’t resist opening the curtains. They saw firecrackers exploding and drums being beaten at intervals of about a hundred meters along the way. It was a lively and festive atmosphere, showing the effort the Jing family had put into this procession.

 

At the home’s entrance, the couple found themselves surrounded by people, both family members and guests. Everyone waited for the auspicious moment to arrive.

 

“It’s an auspicious time! Get ready for the ceremony!”

 

This moment of the ceremony was the most crucial in ancient weddings. When Matchmaker Hua made the announcement, everything fell silent. The drumming, the horn, and all the chatter ceased. Whether it was people offering blessings, teasing, scolding their children, or muttering to themselves, everyone stopped when the newlyweds knelt at the altar.

 

Matchmaker Hua, with a radiant smile, declared loudly, “First, bow to heaven and earth! Kneel.”

 

Jing Yi held Chuxia’s hand, turned outward, and knelt down to perform three bows towards the outside.

 

When they stood up again, Matchmaker Hua continued, “Second, bow to the ancestral hall! Kneel.”

 

Both of them faced Jing’s father and Jing’s mother and knelt down, bowing three times with a resounding thud.

 

Jing’s mother was all smiles, saying, “Good children, please get up quickly.”

 

Even Jing’s father, who usually maintained a serious and dignified image in front of his son-in-law, couldn’t help but smile at this moment.

 

Matchmaker Hua then went on, “Now, bow to each other as husband and wife! Kneel!”

 

Jing Yi and Chuxia turned to face each other, standing in front of each other with tender gazes. They knelt down sincerely, bowing carefully to each other three times.

 

The ceremony was complete.