Chapter 10 In Xinjiang weddings, how can the bride run out to block the groom's advances...?

A few days later, in the morning, Yu Xiaoyue was preparing to take Chen Mian to attend Batur's wedding. Before leaving, she noticed Chen's rather plain everyday attire and specially took her to get dressed up again.

“Weddings in Xinjiang are a bit different from those in other parts of China. The more beautifully the guests dress, the happier the hosts are…” Yu Xiaoyue explained.

Chen Mian was taken away in a daze and had her clothes changed from head to toe. She was dressed in a light blue dress and small leather shoes, and even her hair was styled.

If time hadn't been running out, Yu Xiaoyue would have liked to do her makeup again.

On the way there, Chen Mian learned that weddings in Xinjiang are held over two days. The first day is the wedding ceremony at the bride's home, and the second day is the veil-lifting ceremony at the groom's home.

As guests of the groom's family, they need to go to Ayili's house first, and then go to the bride's house with the groom's wedding party to pick up the bride.

At this moment, Ayili's house was bustling with people, all rushing in and out, preparing things needed for the wedding ceremony.

The road from the gate to the new house was covered with felt, the yard was filled with wildflowers, and even the pergola covered with grapevines had been specially decorated and maintained.

It's clear that the groom's family is doing their best to prepare a perfect wedding ceremony for the bride. The guests are also dressed up, some beautifully, some handsomely, and everyone's face is filled with anticipation and blessings.

Inside the new house, Batur, dressed in a white shirt and black suit, paced anxiously around the room, asking, "Ana, where did my colorful dopa go?"

They were about to set off when his floral hat went missing. It was a hat he had specially commissioned for his wedding.

Ayili, who was tidying up her dress, couldn't care less about herself at this moment and quickly joined in to help her son look for it.

Chen Mian, who had just entered the house from the door, was holding a handkerchief in her hand and asked, "Is this your flower hat? Someone outside asked me to give it to the groom."

"Yes, it's me, I'm the groom." Batur nodded excitedly, finally found him.

Yu Xiaoyue was also exchanging pleasantries and congratulating Ayili. Ayili had been extremely busy lately; it wasn't an easy thing for an ordinary family to get a wife.

After the engagement, their family had already sent the prepared betrothal gifts to the bride's family. In addition to some common jewelry and clothing, the gifts included a sewing machine and a bicycle.

After that, they were busy preparing all the utensils and dishes needed for the wedding banquet. Weddings in Xinjiang usually last for two days. The first day is the wedding ceremony held at the bride's home, and the second day is the unveiling ceremony held at the groom's home.

"Ouch! My brain has been eaten like a goat!" Ayili suddenly stood up, grabbed Yu Xiaoyue's hand, and looked at her expectantly.

"Tajiguli is too sick to move. There are as many guests as there are grass on the grassland. Good Ayue, please save me..."

Ayili looked somewhat troubled. She knew that asking for help at the last minute was a bit unreasonable, but in such a rush, she really didn't have a better candidate.

Just as he was feeling uneasy, he saw Yu Xiaoyue nod in agreement and say with a smile, "Of course you can, what's the big deal? We've been friends for so many years, do you think I would refuse?"

"It's just that my cooking skills are so-so, I can only help you out..."

Chen Mian, who was standing nearby, offered to help, as it was her first time attending a wedding of an ethnic minority.

Ayili finally breathed a sigh of relief. She had been so busy lately that she was constantly being asked to make decisions about everything, big and small. One minute she was missing a dried fruit, the next she was missing something else.

She hadn't slept well for several nights in a row. Her mind wanted to rest, but her body dared not relax, afraid that sleeping too long would delay some arrangement. She didn't even know who was getting married; the groom was drinking and singing with his brothers every day, while she, as a mother, was exhausted.

Before long, the wedding procession was finally ready. One of the groomsmen led over a tall, white horse. Batur mounted it and, surrounded by his equally handsome young groomsmen, they made their way to the bride's house with music playing all the way.

Chen Mian and her companions followed at the back of the wedding procession, walking slowly. She listened with some curiosity to the music around her, which was somewhat similar to the wedding music in her hometown, but not exactly the same. Along the way, passersby cheered and applauded.

She was a little embarrassed at first, but she gradually relaxed. She was just a person picking up the bride, not the bride herself, so what was there to be nervous about?

The bride's family home is actually only a ten-minute walk from the groom's family home. The two grew up together since childhood, and their families even joked about arranging a marriage between them when they were little.

However, as they grew up, the two began to avoid each other and their interactions decreased. Their parents also assumed that they could no longer be in-laws, so they gradually stopped mentioning it and gave up on the idea.

Unexpectedly, after a certain dance, Batur suddenly returned and confessed to his mother that he had a girl he loved. When pressed for details, it turned out to be the girl he was going to marry that day.

“Young people these days are so cunning—like sesame seeds on a naan bread. They even try to hide from us. Dating is like the moon over the grassland; it can’t be hidden anywhere.” Ayili smiled smugly. Dilidar was a girl she had watched grow up. She had been as beautiful as a porcelain doll since she was little, lovely and adorable.

She had waited so many years, and finally her son married her.

Not far away, on the grass near the bride's house, a huge white tent had already been set up. Various exquisite decorations and ornaments were hung around the tent, and the inside was filled with brightly colored carpets and cushions.

Two bridesmaids were braiding the bride's hair, one on each side. The bride's attire also featured ethnic minority characteristics, with a hand-embroidered vest adorning her white wedding dress.

The bride, sitting gracefully in front of the dressing mirror, blinked her long, thick, curled eyelashes. A slightly playful smile appeared on her bright and elegant face. She had finally waited for her wedding day. She had already thought of several little games to tease the wedding party.

Joyful wedding music drifted in from outside the window. "Quick, the groom is coming! Sisters!" Upon hearing this, Dilidar hurriedly put on her flower hat and veil, and while the others weren't paying attention, she lifted her skirt and ran out.

A long line of girls followed behind her, trying to stop her. What kind of bride runs out to block her husband's way? They chased her all the way, panting heavily, but seeing the bright smile on the girl's face, they finally let her go.

Dilidar had already spread her arms and stood in front of the groom, revealing her problem.

The groom and his groomsmen were required to do 100 push-ups on the spot, and for each push-up the groom did, he had to name one of her good qualities.

Delidar: smug.jpg

Batur was initially speechless, stunned by his fiancée's pristine white wedding dress. After a moment, under her glare, he lowered his tall frame.

He dutifully completed the tasks assigned by his young wife, talking until his throat was dry and he was almost at his wit's end, unable to come up with even a hundred words.

Chen Mian, standing in the crowd, watched the slightly disheveled groom with a smile. Sure enough, although the regions were different, the custom of making things difficult for the groom during the wedding procession was still quite similar. The guests were all happy to see this, and who wouldn't like to watch the excitement for free?

Suddenly, the groom jumped up and scooped up the bride around the waist, while the groomsmen each blocked one of the bridesmaids, allowing him to run away with the bride in his arms.

This time, the guests were dumbfounded and, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, chased after the two of them.

During the ceremony, the male and female guests sat on opposite sides, with an elderly imam presiding over the wedding in the center. He was dressed in traditional clothing, had a kind face, and was chanting incantations.

Yu Xiaoyue, who was standing nearby, whispered to Chen Mian that the imam was reciting the Quran to bless the newlyweds.

After the recitation was finished, the elder asked the bride and groom separately if they were willing to get married. Both of them nodded shyly to indicate that they were willing.

He then took a piece of naan from the plate behind him, broke it in half, dipped it in the salt water in the bowl, and handed it to the bride and groom.

The two looked at each other, smiled, and ate the naan together, a symbol of sharing joys and sorrows and growing old together.

At this point, the most sacred part of the wedding ceremony had been completed, and the melodious sounds of music and singing began to rise again. Guests on both sides, following custom, offered their sincerest blessings to the newlyweds.

The young people present began to sing and dance, beaming with joy. Chen Mian was still hesitating when she saw the lively scene, but Yu Xiaoyue couldn't wait to pull her up.

“Come on, let’s dance together!” Yu Xiaoyue called out to her.

“I can’t dance…” Chen Mian replied loudly in return.

"It's okay, you'll get it after a little twist! Hahahaha!"

Unable to refuse the warm invitation, Chen Mianmian could only awkwardly enter the venue with stiff dance moves. Her eyes were unusually unfocused as she watched the other people's movements and clumsily imitated them.

The bride had changed into a light dress and came to dance. After the dance, everyone, guided by the bride's elders, took their seats for dinner.

The carpet was decorated not only with various fruits such as grapes, but also with all sorts of Xinjiang delicacies: baked buns, naan bread, pilaf...

After the meal began, Chen Mian looked at the hand-grabbed rice in front of her, feeling a little lost. It was the first time she had ever eaten real hand-grabbed rice.

Last time, Yu Xiaoyue took care of her because she was Han Chinese and specially prepared a spoon, but this time there were no cutlery at all.

Seeing this, Yu Xiaoyue handed her a green vegetable leaf and smiled, indicating that she should wrap it up and eat it.

Unlike the Han-style modified version made by Yu Xiaoyue, the hand-grabbed rice prepared by the bride's family was obviously more ethnic in flavor, with a strong aroma of cumin wafting through the air.

One bite reveals fresh, non-gamey lamb with a natural grassy aroma, while the rice is fluffy yet chewy, each grain distinct. Carrots and raisins add a unique sweetness to the dish.

In particular, she wrapped the rice in vegetable leaves, which made the taste and texture even richer.

Chen Mian took several bites before picking up the delicate cup beside her and drinking it all in one gulp. As the translucent liquid slid down her throat, her eyes brightened.

The contents of the glass tasted like milk, but with a hint of alcohol, making it surprisingly delicious.

Yu Xiaoyue, who was standing next to her, explained, "This is a famous local mare's milk wine, specially used to entertain distinguished guests."

"It has a sweet and smooth taste, and it doesn't have much alcohol content, so you can drink it without worry."

Upon hearing this, Chen Mian immediately picked up the wine pot not far away and poured herself another cup. Since it had little alcohol content, she was going to have a few more cups.

In the afternoon, the bride changed into a traditional Kazakh wedding dress. The red wedding dress was embroidered with patterns that had special meanings, and the hat on her head was decorated with animal feathers and connected with red tulle.

The groom also changed into the corresponding ethnic costume, picked up the bride and put her on the horse's back, while he led the horse from below.

The group returned to the groom's house with great fanfare, but this time, in addition to bringing back the bride, they also brought her large dowry. The bride's family owned a large ranch and were well-known wealthy families in the area. The dowry filled several large chests, which were carried away together.

Ayili had already lit a fire at the door of her house early in the morning. Legend has it that this is a divine fire that can drive away demons and evil spirits. When the bride arrives, a guest will take a pair of fire tongs, pick up a spark, and circle it around the bride's head three times.

The bride then had to walk around the bonfire before she could enter the groom's house.

Chen Mianmian, who was in the crowd, never expected that this task would fall to her, and repeatedly refused, saying that she could not do it.

However, she couldn't resist the cheers and encouragement from the surrounding guests, so she had no choice but to step forward and do as she was told, a little afraid that her movements were not skillful enough and that she might burn the bride.

But then she saw that Delidar also gave her an encouraging look. With the end of the ceremony, the bride was finally able to go into the bridal chamber to rest.

The first day of the wedding has come to a temporary end. However, the newlyweds cannot meet that night; they can only share a room after the unveiling ceremony on the second day.

A note from the author:

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1. Ana is the Uyghur term for mother, while father is called Dada.

2. Ahong is a religious title in Chinese Christianity, similar to a pastor or senior monk, who is responsible for presiding over wedding ceremonies.

A note: The wedding scene in today's chapter was created by the author after doing some research; please don't take it too seriously.