Chapter 71: Daily Life + Raising a Child (Part 1)
The morning light illuminated the brand-new red paper on the window and gently spilled onto the pillow.
Yun Sheng woke up from her dream and looked at the red silk curtain hanging above her head, still not fully awake.
"Princess Consort, it's time to get up and do your hair!"
Cui Zhu's cheerful voice rang out with a knock on the door, and she came in carrying hot water.
She had changed into a brand-new lotus-root colored dress, with a small red flower in her hair, and her face was beaming with joy.
Yun Sheng sat up, rubbed her temples, and looked a little dazed.
Seeing her like this, Cuizhu asked with concern, "Princess Consort, what's wrong? Did you not sleep well last night?"
Yun Sheng took the warm handkerchief and applied it to her face, and the dazed feeling subsided slightly.
She put down the handkerchief, shook her head, and said in a soft, waking voice, "It's nothing, maybe... I had a dream."
"Today is a joyous day, your dreams must be wonderful." Cuizhu asked with a smile as she deftly made the bed for her, "What did the Princess Consort dream about?"
"I dreamt that..."
Yun Sheng paused, but didn't finish her sentence.
She dreamed that she married Xiao Xu.
In the dream, they had known each other since childhood, and their feelings for each other grew secretly. They secretly fell in love without telling their elders, and after many twists and turns, they finally got their parents' approval and were able to get married openly.
Yun Sheng pursed her lips and smiled secretly.
Is it because I'm getting married to Xiao Xu in the countryside today that I had this dream?
Yun Sheng didn't say it aloud, but instead lightly changed the subject: "Cuizhu, today I'm getting married, you have to call me Miss, don't call me the wrong one again."
Cuizhu immediately understood: "Miss is right. I was just confused because I was so happy. Come, Miss, let's hurry up and wash up. Aunt Wang and the others have almost filled the kitchen. They're just waiting to do your makeup."
The small courtyard was already packed with people, and their laughter almost lifted the roof off.
Yunzhi, who had rushed here from the capital after receiving the news, was dressed in a brightly colored dress today.
She was busy with Yun Sheng in the east wing, which was temporarily serving as her boudoir, with her sleeves rolled up and together with Aunt Wang and Aunt Li from the village.
In the courtyard, Gu Qingci, dressed in an elegant blue robe, came with Yun Zhi.
Although he wasn't particularly familiar with Yun Sheng, he consciously considered himself part of her family and was exchanging pleasantries with several elderly villagers who had some education.
As the auspicious hour approached, a deafening sound of gongs and drums and the loud suona horns suddenly came from outside, growing louder as they approached, accompanied by the excited shouts of the boys.
"Here he comes! The groom is here!" someone shouted, and the courtyard became even more lively.
The door to the east wing was slammed shut from the inside.
Led by Yunzhi, several women, including Aunt Wang, Aunt Li, Cuizhu, and Xing'er who had been brought along to bolster their presence, blocked the doorway, their faces adorned with mischievous yet excited smiles.
"Getting the bride isn't that easy!" Yun Zhi shouted outside. "You'll have to get past us first!"
Outside the gate, a wedding procession of about a dozen strong and enthusiastic young men from the village was already surrounded by layers of villagers.
Xiao Xu was also wearing a brand-new red cotton robe today, which made his face look like jade. His usual cold and aloofness was softened by the smile in his eyes, making him look even more handsome and imposing.
Mu Shan followed beside him, carrying a large tray filled with copper coins and wedding candies wrapped in red paper. He was laughing as he scattered them around, causing the children to cheer and scramble for them.
Hearing the shouts from inside, Xiao Xu gave Mu Shan a look.
Mu Shan sprinkled handfuls of red seal into the courtyard gate.
A joyous commotion erupted inside the courtyard as people frantically looted the food.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Xiao Xu stepped forward and slipped three small silver ingots tied with red ropes under the door: "Please, aunties, do me a favor and open the gate."
A soft rustling sound and low laughter came from inside. After a moment, Yunzhi's voice rang out: "A red seal alone is not enough; there is also a question and answer session."
"Groom, which shop makes the bride's favorite pastries?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Xu smiled confidently: "They are pastries from Wuweipu."
Several women in the courtyard looked at each other, wondering where this Wuweipu pastry shop came from.
But Yunzhi had to declare that the answer was correct.
Then he asked, "What is the bride's birthday?"
"On the third day of the fifth month of the year Yihai, at the third quarter of the hour of Mao."
Yun Zhi was stunned for a moment, then remembered that the two must have had their birth dates and times checked when they got married in the capital.
Xiao Xu answered quickly and accurately, drawing cheers from both inside and outside the door.
Yun Zhi raised an eyebrow: "One last question, what is the bride's best needlework technique?"
There was a moment of silence after these words were spoken.
Xiao Xu frowned, his expression gradually becoming troubled.
Outside the door, Ah Niu's mother came forward and quietly told Xiao Xu the name of acupuncture technique.
Xiao Xu had no clue what to say, but he just said it out loud.
"Wrong answer!" came cheers from inside.
"Gu Qingci, bring the wine over!" Yun Zhi ordered without any politeness.
Gu Qingci, who had been waiting quietly by the side, twitched his brow upon hearing this, but still awkwardly picked up a wine jar that was almost as big as his upper body and walked toward the door.
The door opened a crack, and my aunt handed out three large bowls of clear, cool rice wine.
That bowl was huge, and the aroma of the wine was irresistible.
Without the slightest hesitation, Xiao Xu took the first bowl, tilted his head back and drank it down in one gulp, his Adam's apple bobbing.
A louder cheer erupted from the surrounding crowd.
For the second bowl, Xiao Xu remained unfazed, his movements as clean and efficient as ever.
As he was about to drink the third bowl, Ah Niu, who was standing to the side, looked at the thick door panel and then at the wine in Xiao Xu's hand.
He suddenly scratched his head and said in a simple voice, "Brother Xiao, I'll drink this wine for you, this door..."
Before he finished speaking, he took two steps back, then with a push and a shout of "Hey!", his tall and sturdy body slammed into the door.
"Ouch!"
"Ah Niu, you big dummy!"
"The door is about to fall apart!"
"You scared the bride!"
Amidst gasps of surprise, the already not-so-thick wooden door was smashed open by Ah Niu's ramming, the latch clattering open.
Ah Niu himself staggered before regaining his balance due to exerting too much force.
He looked up at the stunned crowd in the courtyard, especially Xing'er, whose face was flushed, and grinned.
Xiao Xu stepped forward, patted A Niu's strong shoulder, and praised, "A Niu, well done."
Having said that, he straightened his back, raised his head, and strode into the courtyard.
Inside the side room, Yun Sheng had already anxiously peeked out because of the commotion in the courtyard.
As soon as Xiao Xu entered the room, his gaze immediately met that of Yun Sheng, who was sitting dignifiedly by the bed.
Today, her black hair was all tied up, adorned with a pair of sandalwood hairpins he had carved himself, along with a few fresh pink wildflowers. Her face was lightly powdered, her lips were painted vermilion, and she wore a red wedding dress that she had sewn herself stitch by stitch. The fabric was not luxurious, but it made her look incredibly beautiful, with a unique and lively charm.
Their eyes met, and a thousand words were spoken in their gaze.
Xiao Xu walked up to her, extended his hand, and said in a gentler, deeper voice than usual, "Sheng Sheng, I've come to marry you."
Yun Sheng placed her hand in his warm palm, which he held firmly.
As soon as he grasped her hand, Xiao Xu was supposed to squat down and carry his bride on his back, but he only bent down halfway.
While Yun Sheng was puzzled and stunned, Xiao Xu quickly kissed her cheek, which was stained with rouge, in front of the crowd gathered in front of the door.
"oh--!"
"The groom can't wait any longer!"
"The bride is blushing!"
The villagers in front of the house immediately cheered and shouted, their shouts almost lifting the roof off.
Amidst the jubilation, Xiao Xu turned around and squatted down in front of Yun Sheng: "Sheng Sheng, I'll carry you home."
Yun Sheng leaned against his broad, sturdy back and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Amidst the sounds of gongs, drums, and suonas, and the cheers and blessings of the villagers, Xiao Xu strode out of the courtyard gate.
He carried Yun Sheng on his back, circled around Xitou Village, walked along the dew-covered ridges of the fields, crossed the babbling brook, and passed the ancient camphor tree that had witnessed their marriage proposal.
Along the way, almost the entire village came out, standing at their doorsteps, by the fields and roadsides, laughing and shouting auspicious words. Children chased after them, leaving behind a trail of laughter and joy.
Yun Sheng lay on his back, feeling his steady steps and slightly warm body temperature.
She leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Are you tired? Am I heavy?"
Xiao Xu laughed, a joyful and cheerful laugh that clearly reached Yun Sheng's ears: "Not tired, and not heavy at all."
He suddenly raised his voice: "Wife, hold me tight—"
Before he finished speaking, Xiao Xu took long strides, turning his steady walk into a jog.
The wind blew in her face, lifting a corner of Yun Sheng's wedding dress, and also bringing with it the increasingly loud laughter and chasing sounds behind her.
"The groom is running!"
"Eager to get into the bridal chamber!"
"The groom can't wait any longer!"
Xiao Xu carried his bride on his back, running under the bright spring sunshine, across the last stretch of grassy dirt road, towards their small house adorned with red ribbons and large red "double happiness" characters.
The small courtyard had already been decorated in a festive and lively style.
An incense table was set up in the main hall. They bowed to heaven and earth in front of the red candles, and then the couple bowed to each other.
The two stood facing each other, bowed simultaneously, and touched their foreheads together, completing this most solemn bow amidst cheers from the crowd.
The wedding banquet began immediately. On the dozen or so long tables set up outdoors, large basins of stewed meat, whole steamed fish, and homemade rice wine filled the air with their aromas, simple yet abundant.
After several rounds of drinks and as the sun began to set, most of the villagers, still tipsy and satisfied, dispersed, chatting and laughing, leaving only a few close relatives and friends and the women who helped clean up.
Inside the new house, red candles burned brightly.
After seeing off the last group of guests, Xiao Xu returned to his room, closed the door, and temporarily shut out the noise and bustle of the room.
He walked to the bedside and gently lifted Yun Sheng's veil with a ceremonial scale.
In the candlelight, Yun Sheng's eyes were as clear as water, bright and beautiful, as if she had returned to the day of their wedding.
No, today is also our wedding day.
Xiao Xu handed the Heqin wine to Yun Sheng.
Yun Sheng reached out to take it, but Xiao Xu dodged it.
"Aren't you coming into my arms this time?"
Yun Sheng was taken aback, recalling their awkwardness during their first wedding, and glared at him reproachfully.
But then she still moved closer to him.
This time, she didn't fall in; instead, she walked towards him on her own initiative.
Outside the window, the night in Xitou Village has quieted down, with the occasional chirping of insects and barking of dogs.
Inside the window, there was a warm glow from the flickering red candlelight, a space that belonged only to the two of them.
That night in Xitou Village, the stars and moon shone exceptionally bright.
The red curtain quietly fell, finally concealing the peeping starlight.
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There will be a baby in the next chapter!
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