Lu Zhen sat on the donkey's back, pouting as if about to cry. Xu Jiang, seeing this, tried to hold back her laughter and said, "Your legs haven't fully healed yet. You can't stand or walk for long. Sit down first. I'll let you down when we get to your uncle Xu's house."
Lu Zhen lowered his mouth and tried to pull the red flower on the donkey's head, but the donkey shook its head left and right to prevent him from pulling it.
Xu Jiang was afraid he would fall, so she quickly held him down. "It's nice to wear, it's festive." Seeing that he still had a tense face, she stepped forward, took the reins in her hand, and said, "Hold on tight, I'll lead the donkey for you."
The Cao family members also came over to coax him and finally made him laugh.
The group followed Xu San's wedding procession and headed towards Xu San's home.
The house that Xu San rented was also by the inner river. Before Xu Jiang and the others got close, they heard the sound of gongs and cheers coming from the river bank. The people at the end of the team all leaned over to look, and it turned out that the bride was getting out of the sedan chair.
The bride stepped from the sedan chair and was personally ushered into the house by the groom. Xu Jiang no longer needed to hold an umbrella, but simply watched the excitement from behind with a smile. As the procession mostly entered the courtyard, they finally reached the gate. Xu Jiang lifted Lu Zhen off the donkey. Xu San's relatives and friends stepped forward to help her lead and tie the donkey, then invited them into the courtyard, showing great kindness and consideration.
Xu Jiang led Lu Zhen into the courtyard and looked around. The courtyard was about the same size as her bookstore, but squarer than hers. It was filled with tables and chairs arranged in an orderly manner, creating a festive and pleasant atmosphere.
Xu San and Wang Chan had already entered the main hall. Uncle Cao brought a few people to watch the ceremony. The newlyweds were about to get married.
Xu San's parents lived far away in his hometown, so they paid their respects to the master and his wife who had brought him to Beijing to make a living. They seemed very kind elders. The newlyweds, guided by the master of ceremonies, paid their respects to heaven and earth, their parents, and their spouses, and only then was the marriage considered a marriage.
Xu San's face was flushed and his smile was filled with tears.
He also has a home in this capital city.
After the wedding ceremony, it was time for the bridal chamber to be filled with noise. Everyone pushed the newlyweds into the bridal chamber, with Alai being the most noisy. Only after the matchmaker had finished her rituals and rules did Wang Chan finally have some peace and quiet.
Everyone escorted Xu San back to the courtyard and invited the guests to the banquet. Xu Jiang naturally sat at the same table with the Cao family, and with A Lai, they felt quite comfortable.
Although the banquet was not as elaborate as that of a wealthy family, it still included chicken, duck, fish, and meat, filling the table perfectly. Furthermore, the chef they had hired was an acquaintance of Xu San's, and his cooking was excellent, and the food was delicious, making everyone enjoy the meal.
At the end of the meal, Xu San, his face flushed, came over to offer a toast. He'd drunk quite a bit, but his eyes remained clear. He toasted Uncle Cao and Aunt Cao first, then Xu Jiang. A Lai also clamored to drink with him, and was rubbed.
"Thank you so much for coming." Xu San wiped away his tears and raised his glass, saying, "I wish our lives will get better and better."
Only those who have wandered in a foreign land can understand his joy and sorrow today.
A Lai also wiped his tears and congratulated: "I wish that Third Brother and Sister Zhiliao will be together forever and grow old together."
The guests also sincerely congratulated them: "I wish you a long-lasting marriage and a long life together."
After the feast, it was dusk.
Because they lived in the same neighborhood, the Cao family wanted to stay and join in the fun. Xu Jiang saw that it was getting late and there were still people waiting in the shop, so she didn't stay for long.
She said goodbye to Xu San and the others, and rode back on her donkey. The donkey had a red flower tied on its body and carried her away from the noise of people in the yard.
The noisy heart gradually calmed down. Xu Jiang looked at the people passing by on the street and thought: I wonder if there is someone waiting for them at home.
She patted the stubborn donkey's butt, making it speed up.
When she returned to the bookstore, it was already dark. The door was half-open, letting in a warm light. She first went to the backyard to tie up the donkey, then quietly entered through the small door.
Inside the shop, the fire was dim and the aroma of tea was wafting in the air.
Lou Yunchun leaned against the bookshelf next to the stove, holding a book in his hand, and fell asleep with his head tilted.
Yue Nu nestled in his arms, opened her eyes when she heard the voice, and when she saw it was her, she closed her eyes lazily again.
Xu Jiang watched quietly for a long time, stepped forward and tried to take the book from his hand, but failed.
She sneered.
Lou Yunchun opened his eyes, his eyes full of smiles.
"I'm back."
"Um."
Lou Yunchun held her hand and pulled her to sit next to him.
Xu Jiang took the book and looked at it. It was a handwritten copy of "Qingzhai Shiyu". Shiyu refers to a collection of long and short sentences, the rest of poetry, and it originated from Li Bai.
"Why did you think of reading it?"
"When I saw your handwriting, I took it out and looked through it."
Xu Jiang closed it and put it aside. "How come your eyes are so sharp that you can find it even if it's hidden in a remote place."
She had copied it when she was young. The handwriting was clumsy and floating. To use her master's words, it was unsightly.
Lou Yunchun just smiled and said nothing.
Xu Jiang spread his hands open and poured a few fruits from her purse to him, "I brought them for you."
Xiguo is the size of a walnut, made of gorgon fruit flour and filled with preserved fish, which makes it dense, fragrant and sweet.
Xu Jiang packed five in total, and Lou Yunchun ate them all. Seeing that he was about to choke, she quickly brought him tea.
"Hungry?"
"Not hungry anymore."
Xu Jiang was speechless, and then said that she was hungry just now, no wonder she ate so quickly, "Don't wait hungry next time."
"Yes." Lou Yunchun nodded and said softly, "The pears and fish have been delivered."
Xu Jiang put down the teacup and said with a smile, "Let's go and take a look."
Lou Yunchun glanced at her with a half-smile, and said meaningfully, "Then don't be scared."
What? Could it be that these fish and pears have become spirits? Could she still be frightened?
Lou Yunchun stood up and pulled her up again, and the two of them went to the kitchen with a lamp.
As soon as Xu Jiang entered the kitchen, she was stunned.
In her small kitchen, the floor was piled high with pears, lotus roots, pumpkins, radishes, and other fruits and vegetables, while the walls were cluttered with dried goods like ham and braised pork. Suddenly, I heard a clucking noise and, looking in the direction of the sound, I saw a few chickens, ducks, and geese huddled in a corner.
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