Chapter 20: Unable to control oneself at the wedding banquet.

Liu Yiyi's wedding day was incredibly lively. The entire village was filled with the sounds of gongs and drums. Yu Man, following Deng San Niang and leading the cheerfully dressed Xiu Xiu, went to Liu the carpenter's house. The Liu family courtyard was already bustling with people. Red silk was hung high, and the character for "double happiness" was pasted on the windows. It was clear that Liu the carpenter truly loved his daughter, making this village wedding extremely grand and lively. It was also said that the groom's family attached great importance to it, planning to first hold a grand celebration in the bride's village, and then take the bride to their home in the county town in a grand ceremony.

As soon as Deng San Niang entered the courtyard, she spotted a familiar woman and went over to chat. Xiu Xiu, though young, was very curious. Seeing the figures moving around in the bride's room and hearing the laughter inside, she tugged at Yu Man's sleeve and shook it, saying, "Sister, I want to see the bride!"

Unable to resist her persistent pestering, Yu Man led her towards the crowded bridal chamber. After finally squeezing through the crowd, they found Liu Yiyi sitting gracefully before her dressing table, already dressed in her bright red wedding gown, wearing a ceremonial crown, and her face made up, making her even more radiant than usual. The matchmaker was holding a delicate wooden comb, chanting auspicious words as she combed the last strand of Liu Yiyi's hair, saying, "One comb to the end, two combs to white hair and eyebrows."

Several unmarried girls surrounded Liu Yiyi, offering their blessings. Liu Yiyi listened with a smile, her face showing the shyness and joy unique to a new bride, occasionally responding with a playful remark.

Her gaze swept across the crowd and met Yu Man's, who was standing by the door. Liu Yiyi's smile faltered slightly, then she smiled at her friends and said, "Alright, alright, you guys go out and check how things are going outside. I have the matchmaker here, that'll do."

The girls left laughing and joking, and the room became much quieter. Liu Yiyi first waved to Xiuxiu with a gentle smile. Xiuxiu looked up at her sister, and seeing Yu Man nod, she timidly walked over.

Liu Yiyi took out a delicate and lovely beaded flower made of small red beads from her makeup box and put it on Xiuxiu's hair bun by hand, saying softly, "Xiuxiu looks so beautiful today, and you look even more beautiful with this on."

Xiuxiu touched the sparkling beaded flower on her head, her little face flushed with excitement, and she jumped up and down with joy.

Yu Man said softly, "Xiuxiu, go find your mother and let her see your new beaded hairpin."

Xiu Xiu exclaimed "Hey!" and ran off.

Only Yu Man, Liu Yiyi, and the busy matchmaker remained in the room. Liu Yiyi looked at Yu Man, her face still smiling, but there was a hint of something indescribable in that smile. She said, "There's only one pearl flower; it's for the little girl." The implication was clear: it wouldn't be given to her.

Yu Man knew that Liu Yiyi was just trying to start a conversation and didn't really care about the pearl flower. She didn't mind, and meeting Liu Yiyi's gaze, she smiled sincerely and said, "You look beautiful today. May you and your husband live in harmony and happiness for a hundred years."

Liu Yiyi suddenly pressed on with a question, her eyes carrying a hint of probing and self-mockery: "What if...the music doesn't match?"

Yu Man blinked, not answering the question directly, but instead glancing over the boudoir meticulously decorated by Liu the carpenter, and said in a calm tone, "Your father loves you very much." She believed that Liu Yiyi would understand what she meant—even if she was unhappy in her husband's family in the future, she would still have a loving family she could return to at any time as a fallback and support.

Liu Yiyi paused for a moment, then seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and smiled, a smile tinged with a mixture of relief and helplessness. She herself found it strange that being comforted by Yu Man, her former nemesis, had actually made much of the anxiety and confusion she felt about getting married dissipate.

She looked at Yu Man and suddenly said, "Last time outside the village school, I looked for Pei Ji... to ask him to write my betrothal letter." She paused, noticing that Yu Man's expression wasn't surprised. "Did he tell you that?"

Yu Man shook his head, his tone casual: "I guessed."

Looking at her knowing and nonchalant expression, Liu Yiyi felt a strange tightness in her chest, a mix of unease and amusement. She feigned anger and said, "Hmph! I knew it! That's why I've arranged for you two to sit far apart today! Separately! Out of sight, out of mind!"

Upon hearing this, Yu Man was not annoyed at all. Instead, she pretended to think about it and then looked at Liu Yiyi with a serious expression, a hint of teasing in her eyes: "Oh? Do you know that there is a saying... 'Distance makes the heart grow fonder'?"

Liu Yiyi was taken aback by her words, then felt both annoyed and amused, and couldn't help but wave her away: "Get out! Get out of here right now! Just seeing you makes me angry!" However, just as Yu Man turned to leave, she hurriedly called out: "Wait!"

Liu Yiyi raised her hand, took a small, exquisite silver hairpin from her hair—not the finest in craftsmanship—and placed it in Yu Man's hand. Her gaze was complex, her voice lowered, yet she spoke clearly:

"Here, take this. But... Yu Man, I won't congratulate you and Pei Ji."

Yu Man held the silver hairpin that still carried the scent of Liu Yiyi's hair. Looking at her, who had clearly let go but still wanted to maintain the last bit of pride, he felt that this Liu Yiyi was much more real and adorable than the Liu Yiyi who was obsessed with illusory images before.

She nodded, without saying thank you or anything else, simply putting away the silver hairpin and saying softly, "I'm going out now. Take care."

Emerging from Liu Yiyi's room, Yu Man followed Aunt Xiang's directions and found her seat amidst the bustling banquet. Deng Sanniang leaned close to her ear and whispered with a hint of amusement, "See? There are so many people. The Pei family has been relegated to that corner over there, quite a distance away."

Yu Man glanced in the direction she indicated and saw Pei's parents sitting at the other end of the table. She smiled indifferently, wondering which dish to pick first when it was served, when suddenly a very faint, familiar scent of ink lingered around her nose. She subconsciously turned around and saw that Pei Ji had somehow appeared beside her, speaking gently to an aunt next to her. The aunt smiled and nodded repeatedly, readily getting up to switch seats with him.

Seeing this, Deng San Niang's smile deepened. She naturally moved the long bench she was sitting on to the side, making more room for the two people sitting side by side to talk in hushed tones.

The auspicious hour for the bride to leave her home arrived, firecrackers crackled and popped, and red paper scraps flew like rain. Liu Yiyi, dressed in a bright red wedding gown and covered with a red veil, was carried on the back of her brothers, slowly making her way through the tightly packed crowd of onlookers amidst the reluctant farewells of her female relatives and the excited chases of children. Although her face was not visible, her straight back and slightly clenched hands revealed the nervousness and anticipation unique to a bride.

Beside the tall horse waiting outside the courtyard gate stood the groom. He was dressed in the same festive attire, not particularly tall, and his appearance was merely average—the kind that wouldn't stand out in a crowd. But when he saw Liu Yiyi being carried out, his eyes instantly lit up on his otherwise plain face, his gaze following the red-clad figure intently, brimming with undisguised, almost overflowing tenderness and joy. He quickly stepped forward, carefully taking the bride's hand from Liu Yiyi's brothers, and helped her steadily sit into the festively decorated wedding carriage.

Cheers and blessings erupted from all around. Deng Sanniang also got up and watched the whole thing with the crowd. As she returned to her seat, she couldn't help but whisper to Yu Man, "Did you see that? The groom's appearance was a bit ordinary, but his eyes were genuine. He's someone who knows how to care for someone. This girl's future is going to be bright."

The banquet officially began, with bowls and plates clattering and a cacophony of voices filling the air. Deng San Niang, with her sharp eyes, noticed a plate of glistening, braised pork knuckle that had just been served, positioned far away. Knowing it was Yu Man's favorite flavor, she reached for her chopsticks, but as soon as she raised her arm, her gaze shifted, and she stopped.

Pei Ji, sitting next to Yu Man, had already subtly moved the plate of braised pork knuckle closer to himself. Then, using serving chopsticks, he precisely picked up a piece of the tender, juicy pork knuckle, carefully skimming off the fatty parts and placing the lean meat and collagen-rich skin into the dish in front of Yu Man. His movements were fluid and natural, as if he had done it a thousand times before.

Yu Man didn't feel anything was wrong at all, as if it was only natural for Pei Ji to serve her like this.

Deng San Niang silently put down her chopsticks and exchanged a knowing look with another woman she knew next to her. The woman covered her mouth and chuckled.

Whenever Yu Man glanced at a dish, or if it required effort to reach, Pei Ji would always be the first to silently place it in her bowl. He removed fish bones, peeled shrimp shells, and broke up bone-in chicken into small, easy-to-eat pieces... He did these things with focus and composure, yet his own bowl remained sparsely piled with food.

Yu Man ate with a clear conscience, occasionally turning her head to whisper to Pei Ji which dish was delicious, or pushing the snacks she thought were tasty toward him. The intimacy between the two was something no one else could easily intrude upon.

Throughout the entire banquet, whenever Yu Man's gaze lingered on a dish for even a moment, or when she was too busy talking to others to pick it up, Pei Ji would always manage to place it perfectly into her bowl, while barely touching the dishes in front of him. Even Deng San Niang was astonished, and during a break, she whispered to Yu Man, "That child Pei Ji... I haven't seen him eat more than a few bites; he's just been busy putting food on your plate."

After the banquet, Deng San Niang led Xiu Xiu, who was full and yawning, home first. Yu Man and Pei Ji walked side by side along the village path.

Pei Ji was silent for a moment before speaking first, his voice particularly clear in the twilight: "Xiaoman, I will be returning to the academy in a couple of days."

Yu Man nodded, knowing the time was right: "Yes, it's about time. This year... it's time to prepare for the autumn imperial examinations, isn't it?" She turned her head to look at his handsome profile, reached out and patted his shoulder, her tone encouraging with a hint of feigned ease, "Do your best on the exam, don't be nervous."

Pei Ji stopped and turned to face her. The afterglow of the setting sun bathed him in a soft light. He looked down at her, his eyes filled with deep emotion: "Is this all?"

Yu Man was taken aback by his question. Looking at his face so close to hers and his overly focused eyes, in broad daylight, some inappropriate images flashed through her mind for some reason. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she subconsciously raised her hand to cover her mouth, only revealing her slightly widened eyes as she looked at him.

Pei Ji watched her defensive movements, a faint smile flickering in his eyes. He didn't pull her hand away from her mouth, but instead leaned down slightly, lowered his head, and gently placed his warm lips, carrying his unique scent, on her forehead.

The touch wasn't hot; it was even slightly cool. The lips were soft and pressed against her skin, lingering for a moment before slowly moving away.

Yu Man's heart pounded like a drum, and he forgot to put his hand down from his mouth. After a while, he realized what he had done and coughed a few times, throwing back his words: "A gentleman should be cautious and moderate in his actions."

Pei Ji straightened up, looking at her unusually shy expression, his smile deepened, and he whispered in her ear: "I am not a gentleman, and I cannot control my desires."

Yu Man: ...Damn beauty!

A note from the author:

----------------------

I'll revise the text tomorrow, and update on Tuesday! [pat on the head]