Chapter 62
The wind started to blow, and a rain fell overnight. Bei Bitang woke up early in the morning, carrying her schoolbag and catching the bus...
The wind started to blow and it rained all night.
Bei Bitang woke up early in the morning and went to take the bus with her schoolbag on her back. A slightly curled leaf fell over her head.
She looked up and the trees cast shadows of light on her face.
The weather was getting colder day by day. Bei Bitang was guessing in her mind, as if she was guessing a riddle, when Miao Xiuxiu and the others would find out that she was not going to work.
The day when Miao Xiuxiu realized something was wrong was much later than Bei Bitang had imagined.
Bei Bitang went to the city library and came back from the city library every day with a heavy heart.
If you stick your head out, you'll get a knife. If you hide your head, you'll get a knife too. Bei Bitang looked at Miao Xiuxiu and the others, who were completely clueless, and she really wanted to tell them loudly what she was planning.
In this way, after the storm, I can concentrate on reviewing and preparing for next year's college entrance examination.
That day, we had nothing to talk about while eating dinner.
Miao Xiuxiu shifted the topic to Bei Bitang.
As she blew the egg custard to cool the little boy's bowl, she casually said, "Your Aunt Yu told me why she hasn't seen you at the vegetable market lately?"
Bei Bitang hesitated for a second or two, then said calmly, "I've changed my job and don't sell fish anymore."
She said silently in her heart, forgive yourself for being cowardly.
Miao Xiuxiu said "Oh" calmly, and Lin Bilan and Huang Dashan next to her did not react at all.
The topic ended there. Bei Bitang's mental draft about which position he had been transferred to and why was of no use.
The little boy's belly was bulging with food, and his mouth was full. He resisted the rice that Miao Xiuxiu fed him, and shook his head to indicate that he was full.
Miao Xiuxiu had no choice but to put the bowl down. She looked up and met Bei Bitang's face, which seemed to be glowing in the dim sky.
Miao Xiuxiu couldn't help but mention Fei Linjun's son again and said, "Are you really not going to meet the Fei family's son? He's very popular."
Lin Bilan and Huang Dashan's ears pricked up and their eyes were fixed on Bei Bitang.
Bei Bitang was reciting a poem when she was suddenly interrupted. She said in a flat tone, "No."
Lin Bilan was a little angry at Bei Bitang's ignorance. Speaking as someone who had experienced it, she said, "If you had married Fei Litong, you wouldn't have to worry about anything in your life. Do you think that just having love is enough for life? The four necessities of life—food, clothing, housing, and transportation—all cost money! Does the person you like want you? You've just gotten yourself into trouble for nothing, and the neighbors are gossiping!"
Miao Xiuxiu also tried to persuade them, and her words were more calm.
"You know what our family situation is like. It's better for girls from poor families to get married as early as possible, because their only advantage is their youth. Even Kong Baoer, who comes from a wealthy family, has started dating. Can you compare to her conditions?"
Bei Bitang closed her eyes and said firmly, "I said I won't see him, and it's not like I have any problem with the Fei family's son or look down on him. Do you think I don't know myself? I'm still in the midst of the storm. What will others think if I see him right away? What will the Fei family think if they find out? Should I treat Fei Litong as my mistress? Let's talk about it after the matter between Xu Zeli and I is over."
Bei Bitang adopted the strategy of procrastination.
I have to say, this trick works very well, and Bei Bitang's ears are quiet for a while.
Firstly, Bei Bitang had been too forceful before, and after she finally let go, Miao Xiuxiu and the others were satisfied.
Secondly, they finally had a strong family that they could interact with, and they were afraid of offending Fei Linjun.
Although Kong Xueer's father and mother are low-key people, the car parked at the entrance of the alley every two or three days is not low-key.
The handsome young man, wearing a neat suit and shiny leather shoes, came to Kong Baoer's house with bags of valuable gifts. Then, the charming Kong Baoer came out holding the handsome young man's hand.
Kong Baoer, who wears a different skirt every day, sat in the passenger seat. Then the car started and the child ran away making a fuss.
At around seven o'clock in the evening, the car appeared at the entrance of the alley again. The young man gracefully sent Kong Baoer to her doorstep and then left.
Talented, handsome, wealthy, and a Hong Kong citizen, the young man's intrusion was like adding a touch of color to the black and white Shikumen.
This has stirred up a lot of trouble, and many people are worried. Even Feng Guangmei, who was immersed in her textbooks, was obsessed with the development of Kong Baoer's love life, just like a fan of Hong Kong and Taiwan stars.
Bei Bitang grabbed Feng Guangmei and asked her to read the textbook, and she calmed down a little.
Bei Bitang has already told Feng Guangmei that she is looking for a job and preparing for the college entrance examination.
Although Feng Guangmei was worried about Bei Bitang's desperate decision after hearing it, she still looked supportive of Bei Bitang.
On weekends, the two would go to the city library to review together, and discuss questions when they had free time on weekdays.
The most picky aunts and grandmas in Shikumen could not find any fault with the man Kong Baoer was dating, and this relationship was basically praised by everyone.
In addition to those young people who want to date but can't find one, they also said a lot of sour words. Every time Bei Bitang and Feng Guangmei heard them, they would retort.
Kong Baoer's love life went smoothly without any setbacks. Not long after, news came out that she was going to get married before National Day.
Kong Baoer was busy with her love life, while Bei Bitang and Feng Guangmei were busy preparing for the college entrance examination.
But the friendship between the three did not fade.
Bei Bitang and Feng Guangmei had known the date of Kong Baoer's wedding for a long time, and they were the first to receive the invitation.
Kong Baoer also invited them to be bridesmaids.
Feng Guangmei happily agreed to be a bridesmaid.
Bei Bitang was a little hesitant. She had been unlucky enough this year and didn't want to bring bad luck to Kong Baoer. After thinking about it, Bei Bitang refused.
Kong Baoer was a little unhappy. Feng Guangmei knew why Bei Bitang refused, so she changed the subject and soon Kong Baoer became happy again.
The days are shortened day by day.
Kong Baoer's wedding day is coming soon. Recently, the only thing people in Shikumen talk about is Kong Baoer's marriage.
Kong Baoer's parents were extremely satisfied with this marriage, and they no longer had to worry about their daughter's future.
When neighbors, colleagues and relatives asked about Kong Baoer's wedding, Kong Baoer's mother was modest and said her father had a rosy complexion, as if he had eaten a ginseng fruit and looked several years younger.
He praised his son-in-law, the wedding house, and the wedding banquet endlessly. He even took a long vacation, cleaning the alley every day and distributing wedding candy and cookies to adults and children.
Some close relatives even went with us to look at the wedding house.
Miao Xiuxiu and Lin Bilan also envied the lively scene, but they had always kept their distance from the wealthier families in the Shikumen. Bei Bitang was the same way; if it weren't for Feng Guangmei's guidance, she wouldn't have become friends with Kong Baoer.
Miao Xiuxiu knew that Bei Bitang and Kong Baoer were close, so she couldn't help but ask about her. "Have you ever been to the wedding house? I heard it's a small, single-family house on Wukang Road. It used to be a mansion with a name."
Bei Bitang flipped through the textbook and said vaguely, "The wedding house is indeed a small villa."
Miao Xiuxiu was reluctant to spend the electricity bill, so she only turned on the outside lights. She had no choice but to sit outside and read.
Lin Bilan pricked up her ears and listened, and was a little disappointed when she saw that Bei Bitang didn't seem to want to say more.
But the next second, she asked, "I heard that forty-eight legs and four large appliances are the basics, and there are also refrigerators, color TVs, and washing machines. How much did the man give as a betrothal gift?"
Before Bei Bitang could reply, Miao Xiuxiu scoffed and said in a loud voice, "What's the big deal about home appliances? They have cars. Forty-eight legs—I wouldn't have dared to bring it up before. Sixty tables at the Peace Hotel! How could they possibly be short of that little gift? If you marry your daughter off to a family like this, the smart ones wouldn't even ask for a gift, and still give her a generous dowry. They'd just have a Western wedding dress and a wedding video, which is a bit interesting. They're truly from a high-class family!"
Lin Bilan had no time to be angry and was once again stunned by the grandeur of Kong Baoer's wedding.
She covered her heart and exclaimed in amazement: "My dear, being a woman like Kong Baoer in this life is a blessing earned through eight lifetimes. Even if I have to be a pig or a dog in the next life, it's worth it."
Bei Bitang didn't like what she heard. She raised her head and retorted, "People can't always be happy and have a smooth life."
Lin Bilan glared at her, winked, and said sarcastically, "You're still speaking up for Kong Baoer?! Look at her, then look at yourself. You're prettier than her, so how come she's able to date a rich kid?!"
She paused, turned to look at Miao Xiuxiu, and said provocatively, "Kong Baoer even asked her father not to go to sea anymore, to retire early, and to enjoy a peaceful life at home. I wonder if Mom will ever have such a blessing in her life?"
Kong Baoer did say that, but her father said that what the son-in-law has is his business. Your father and your mother will work until retirement, leaving more money for you to rely on.
When Kong Baoer heard this, she immediately burst into tears. The joy of getting married disappeared instantly and she was depressed for several days.
Bei Bitang was so angry at Lin Bilan's words that her face turned red. Seeing that Lin Bilan looked like she was right, she wanted to say something harsh and fight back.
Miao Xiuxiu spoke up at this time. She said to Lin Bilan, "You only look at the man's generosity. Didn't you see the dowry his parents gave him? The new clothes filled nine large camphorwood boxes! This is the confidence given by her parents! Bitang's father passed away, and you, the eldest sister, had to take over. What can you give Bitang? Keep quiet and don't disturb Bitang from reading."
Lin Bilan curled her lips and said unconvincedly: "What's the point of reading? Can I still take the imperial examination and become the top female scholar?!"
She just couldn't stand the way Bei Bitang had been reading textbooks lately.
Bei Bitang stood up from the stool, walked into the dim inner room, and turned on the incandescent light inside.
Miao Xiuxiu sighed and blamed Lin Bilan, saying, "Why did you provoke her? Now you have to pay the electricity bill for next month!"
Miao Xiuxiu supports Bei Bitang's reading when she has nothing to do. It is always good to have more culture, but the prerequisite is that it does not increase the electricity bill at home by a lot.
Early in the morning, the rooster has not yet crowed.
Bei Bitang dressed quietly, washed up, and went downstairs to meet Feng Guangmei. Together they went to Kong Baoer's house to help. Today was Kong Baoer's wedding day.
When we arrived at Kong Baoer's house, it was her mother who opened the door.
Kong Baoer's mother pulled the two of them into the house affectionately and said with a smile: "Sit down and have some breakfast first, then get busy. There's no rush."
There were only Kong Baoer, her father, her mother and three others in the room at this time. All the relatives and friends from other places were arranged by the man to stay at the Peace Hotel.
This move gave the girl's family great face. Kong Baoer's parents were more happy than sad about marrying off their daughter.
The son-in-law also mentioned that if he were to return to Hong Kong for business, they could stay there to be with their daughter, or Kong Baoer could return home. This was incredibly thoughtful.
The table was filled with soy milk, fried dough sticks and other common breakfast items in Shanghai.
Bei Bitang and Feng Guangmei exchanged a few polite words with Kong Baoer's mother, sat down, and began to eat openly.
Feng Guangmei was tearing up fried dough sticks and soaking them in soy milk while asking, "Auntie, where's uncle? Why don't you see him?"
Kong Baoer's mother was using a spoon to cool down the boiling hot soy milk. She smiled and said, "Baoer's father is in the kitchen, making sweet soup for Baoer."
Sweet soup is actually a different version of eight-treasure porridge. The sweet soup contains red dates, longan, lotus seeds, red beans, and some glutinous rice. Add some rock sugar and a little water, put it on a coal stove, and simmer it slowly over low heat, while constantly stirring to prevent the pot from sticking.
Bei Bitang and Feng Guangmei were about to finish breakfast when Kong Baoer, wearing a long-sleeved lace nightgown, came out of the room rubbing her eyes.
She saw Bei Bitang and the others, yawned, and said, "So early?"
Bei Bitang said, "It's getting late, the makeup artist will be here soon."
Kong Baoer shrugged and complained, "Getting married is such a hassle."
Her mother was at a loss for words, and with a stern face, she said, "If you don't want to get married, you shouldn't have dated Xiao Li in the first place!"
After being scolded, Kong Baoer quickly begged for mercy and said, "Mom, I was wrong."
At this moment, Kong Baoer's father came in with a casserole. Kong Baoer's mother said, "Hurry up and brush your teeth and wash your face. Everything is ready for you, even the toothpaste is squeezed on you. Then sit down and have breakfast."
Kong Baoer looked at the fried dough sticks and steamed buns on the table with envy and said coquettishly, "Mom, I want to eat fried dough sticks and steamed buns."
Kong Baoer's mother shook her head and said, "No, you can only drink soy milk and sweet soup today."
Kong Baoer's father greeted him and said, "Bitang, Guangmei, would you like some more sweet soup?"
The two of them waved their hands and said, "No, uncle, we are full."
Kong Baoer was the only one left at the dinner table, while the others were working in the house. She was free now, as she had been tired today.
Kong Baoer's father went into his daughter's room and moved out the boxes inside. Bei Bitang and the others were pasting wedding characters, making tea, washing teacups, and packing fruit plates.
After a while, the makeup artist Kong Baoer had invited arrived and started working immediately to put makeup on Kong Baoer.
Bei Bitang and Feng Guangmei were curious and wanted to see, but they couldn't leave. They had to help serve tea and water, add wedding candies, and greet the guests.
It was almost time for the groom to pick up the bride when Feng Guangmei put on makeup and changed into a pink and purple long-sleeved dress with a stand-up collar, which was also the bridesmaid's dress.
Although Bei Bitang was not a bridesmaid, Kong Baoer generously gave her an identical dress.
Kong Baoer, wearing a lace wedding dress and a veil, sat upright in the room, holding a bouquet of red roses in her hand.
Bei Bitang temporarily kept the wedding package. She sighed and said, "Sister Baoer, you are so beautiful."
Through the hazy veil, Kong Baoer held Bei Bitang's hand and whispered softly, "You will also have such a happy and sweet day."
The veil was hazy and indistinct, but Bei Bitang knew that Kong Baoer was smiling the whole time.
Half an hour later, the alley was filled with the sound of continuous car horns, followed by the crackling sound of firecrackers.
Sky rockets blasted, and thick smoke rose above the Shikumen houses. The entire alley was covered with red firecracker paper scraps, like a long red carpet with rose petals scattered all over the ground.
Feng Guangmei's legs were shaking with nervousness. She stood on tiptoe to look at the door. A few more people were coming in and out, shouting, "The groom is at Building 4! At Building 6!"
Kong Baoer's whole body was very stiff. As the bride's party got closer, she suddenly burst into tears.
Bei Bitang's pounding heart immediately stopped, and she hurried to comfort Kong Baoer.
Feng Guangmei didn't care where the groom was. She quickly handed a handkerchief to Kong Baoer from under her veil.
Kong Baoer took it, wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes very carefully, sniffed and said, "I just felt a little sad suddenly, thinking of Dad and Mom."
Bei Bitang said softly, "Sister Baoer, just think of it as a three-day trip. You'll be home after three days. This will always be your home. You just have one more place to live."
Kong Baoer handed over the handkerchief, nodded, and said, "Bitang, you are right. Come back in three days. I will not leave. I will take my parents with me. Otherwise, I will stay here."
Bei Bitang held the handkerchief and thought to herself, Sister Baoer's words are very confident, and it is very likely that she will succeed. Since they started dating, the man has been very obedient to her.
Feng Guangmei asked professionally, "Do you want to touch up your makeup?"
Bei Bitang also said hurriedly: "Is there still time?"
Kong Baoer had cried once, and her emotions were calmer than the other two. She shook her head and said, "No need. I can't see clearly behind the veil anyway."
Although Bei Bitang was not a bridesmaid, she still received several big red envelopes.
Eighteen cars arrived to pick up the bride. Bei Bitang was initially worried about the lack of space for her dowry. The trunks of the cars were wide open, filled to the brim with furniture and daily necessities, adorned with double happiness characters and tied with red strings.
Bei Bitang looked at Li Jieqi, who was wearing a black suit and had a slicked-back hair, with a tender face. She considerately placed her hand above the car door and helped Kong Baoer sit on the back seat.
Feng Guangmei sat in the passenger seat. The best man who was driving the car leaned out of the car and gave the order: "Let's go!"
The sound of firecrackers rang out again, and the noise and duration were no worse than before.
Men, women, young and old stood in the alley, shrouded in pitch-black smoke, smelling the sulphur.
Bei Bitang watched the car drive away, feeling lost.
She shook her head and told herself not to think too much about it. She would be able to see Feng Guangmei and Kong Baoer at the Peace Hotel later.
At five o'clock in the afternoon, Bei Bitang followed the large group from the Shikumen and set off to the Peace Hotel for dinner.
Kong Baoer's parents invited everyone they could from the neighborhood, and they didn't accept any gifts, just to bring good luck to Kong Baoer's marriage. Of the sixty tables, more than forty were for the bride's guests. The groom's family was in Hong Kong, and he had many relatives abroad, so not many people came.
Although Bei Bitang acted with this family member and Kong Baoer did not accept gifts, she and Feng Guangmei presented wedding gifts shortly after receiving the invitation.
Bei Bitang gave a thin woolen shawl, and Feng Guangmei gave a pair of silk pillowcases.
At the entrance of the banquet hall, there was a pink carpet and a small flower awning corridor. The bride, groom, bridesmaids and groomsmen stood there, smiling and welcoming the guests.
People arrived one after another. Bei Bitang signed her name, smiled at Kong Baoer and Feng Guangmei, and said nothing more. She and her family entered the banquet hall, found their nameplates, and took their seats.
Bei Bitang sat quietly, but Miao Xiuxiu and the others couldn't sit still. They held their little one and walked around with the neighbors, looking at the famous Peace Hotel with curiosity.
Bei Bitang also wanted to look around, perhaps it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
But not far away sat the man's relatives and friends. They were all well-dressed and sat in their seats with calm expressions, chatting in low voices, drinking tea, and occasionally casting contemptuous glances at the woman.
Bei Bitang didn't want to embarrass Kong Baoer, and maybe Kong Baoer didn't need it, but she still did it, not walking around, touching things, or talking loudly.
Kong Baoer's wedding was grand, full of noise, laughter, and even the top leaders from her parents' workplace came to give a speech to support the bride.
On the huge round table, eight cold appetizers were served first.
Local smoked fish, yam with preserved plums, Shanghai braised duck, scallion chicken, cold jellyfish salad, assorted seasonal vegetables with sesame sauce, cured meat platter, and sauce-flavored chicken feet.
Then ten hot dishes were served, including steamed grouper, curry beef, sweet and sour pork with pineapple, braised pork, stir-fried swimming crab, dried shrimp and black sea cucumber, beef short ribs with green peppers, flower mushrooms and abalone, stir-fried prawns with squid, and whitebait wrapped in egg.
After the meal, each person will be served two bowls of soup, one is chicken stewed with fish maw, and the other is old duck soup with tangerine peel.
There is also a dessert of osmanthus, rock sugar and red dates, a fruit platter and a cucumber, kidney bean and lily soup.
Everyone was eating enthusiastically, their faces flushed. Even Huang Dashan didn't have time to drink, and kept picking up the food with his chopsticks.
Lin Bilan had just finished chewing an abalone and put down her chopsticks to take a breath. She was exhausted from the meal.
She looked at the endless chicken, duck, fish, sea cucumber, and abalone on the table and said, "If you ask Bili to come, she won't even come to the wedding banquet, and it doesn't cost any money. If Bili missed out on these dishes, she can still eat them in the future. It's a waste of her appetite."
Bei Bitang didn't want to listen to Lin Bilan's advice. She was a little anxious, so she said to Miao Xiuxiu, "Mom, I need to go to the bathroom."
Miao Xiuxiu kept putting food into the little boy's bowl, not paying any attention to Bei Bitang. She didn't even glance at Bei Bitang and casually replied, "Go ahead, come back soon and help the family eat more."
Bei Bitang smiled, stood up, and walked out of the banquet hall quickly.
Bei Bitang didn't know where the toilet was, she guessed it should be on either side of the corridor.
The banquet hall was filled with people, and even if you spoke softly, you couldn't hear anyone. But outside in the corridor, there was no one around. Sitting on the thick carpet, you couldn't even hear your own footsteps.
Bei Bitang lowered her head, looking for the toilet in a daze, and looked around curiously from time to time.
Suddenly, she bumped into a hard wall. Bei Bitang frowned and looked at the gray clothes in front of her. She quickly said, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
She apologized, bowing slightly.
Gu Wangxi said quickly: "It doesn't matter."
He was so busy walking that he didn't pay attention to anyone.
But looking at the other person's profile, it seems a little familiar?
Gu Wangxi frowned slightly and thought to himself.
When he wanted to find out and see the other person's face, the other person had walked to the bathroom door. Now, Gu Wangxi couldn't even see the side profile.
Gu Wangxi felt a slight itch in his heart. He knew that he had fallen into his old habit again. He had to know what he wanted to know, otherwise he would feel uncomfortable.
But now is not the time to ambush people, Gu Wangxi hurried to the Dragon and Phoenix Hall with an anxious look on his face.
Gu Wangxi walked into the inner box. Huo Shixun raised his eyebrows and said, "Gu Wangxi, you're late again."
Gu Wangxi calmly sat down, glanced at the newlyweds toasting, and said, "So what if I'm late? I'm not an important person. Look, I'm late, does it matter?"
Huo Shixun looked up at the ceiling and said speechlessly, "It's not important? It doesn't matter. Li Jieqi will ask you to be the best man."
You have to know that letting Gu Wangxi be the best man is a big risk, because the limelight will definitely be stolen by Gu Wangxi.
Asking Gu Wangxi to be his best man either means they are very close, or he doesn't care about his wedding, or he wants to get close to Gu Wangxi.
Li Jieqi was of course the last one, but Gu Wangxi had little friendship with him, having only met him a few times in social settings. Li Jieqi was more familiar with Huo Shixun, both coming from families with deep roots in Hong Kong.
But Huo Shixun has been staying in the United States for many years. Although their social circles overlap for a large part, they cannot be considered friends who can play together.
Huo Shixun came to attend his wedding on behalf of his family in Hong Kong, and Gu Wangxi simply came because he lived in the Peace Hotel for a long time and felt embarrassed not to show up.
Seeing that Gu Wangxi didn't know how to use chopsticks, Huo Shixun bit the lotus root slices and said, "You don't want to eat it, this dish is good."
Gu Wangxi shook his head and said softly, "I'll go home for dinner later."
Huo Shixun's eyes widened and he accused, "Why didn't you tell me earlier?!"
If he had known that Gu Wangxi was going home for dinner, why would he have attended the wedding banquet? He would have saved some space and gone home with him for dinner.
Gu Wangxi sneered and said, "If you don't change your habit of teasing my sister, don't even think about coming to my house for dinner again."
A young, unmarried man made his younger sister blush and laugh non-stop. Gu Wangxi found Huo Shixun annoying no matter how he looked at him.
Huo Shixun explained: "I did it unintentionally. I didn't mean to provoke your precious sister."
Gu Wangxi said coldly: "I don't care whether you mean it or not."
Huo Shixun was choked by these words. He was speechless. Suddenly, he seemed to think of something and whispered, "I found a quiet and graceful beauty in the banquet hall."
Gu Wangxi drank his tea without taking his words to heart at all, and said "oh" perfunctorily.
Huo Shixun sat back up in frustration, chewing his food angrily.
Gu Wangxi was not the first to leave, but he was one of the first five people to leave.
Huo Shixun said, "Let's go through the small door."
Gu Wangxi said for some reason: "Go through the main gate."
Huo Shixun looked at him doubtfully, but when he saw Gu Wangxi leaving, he hurried to follow him.
Gu Wangxi walked out of the door and glanced at the corridor for a long distance, but didn't see anyone. Gu Wangxi was a little disappointed.
He took the elevator to his suite, planning to change into casual clothes and then go home for dinner.
After using the restroom, Bei Bitang felt a little stuffy in her chest. There were many people in the banquet hall, and the smell of alcohol and cigarettes was very strong. She didn't want to go back, so she went straight to the door on the first floor and waited for Miao Xiuxiu and the others to finish eating and come out.
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