Best friends should marry into the same family.
"Red Bean? Red Bean? Are you home? Why didn't you come out to greet me today? Are you shy because Li Zeli came to propose marriage?"
Before she was seen, her voice was heard. Wu Linglong's voice reached An Hongdou's ears even before she entered the courtyard.
An Hongdou quickly ran out of the room and whispered, "Linglong, stop shouting! They're still in the front hall!"
"Oh! I was right, so our Red Bean is shy!" Wu Linglong teased as soon as they met.
"Aren't you annoying? What's wrong with being shy? This is my first time getting married!" An Hongdou retorted.
"What? You don't expect to get used to it after just one time, do it twice? I'll have to talk to Zeli later and tell him to behave himself. This bride isn't even married yet and he's already thinking about cheating!" Wu Linglong retorted.
An Hongdou reached out and slapped Wu Linglong's arm, then grabbed the arm and shook it while pleading, "Okay, little darling, please forgive me! If you say that again, I won't talk to you anymore!"
"Okay, let's change the subject." Knowing it would be difficult to soothe someone who cried, Wu Linglong decided to stop while she was ahead and explained her purpose: "Li Zeren told me that the sixth day of next month is an auspicious day. I came today to ask you whether you want to marry into the family with me, or if you'd like to have a separate wedding?"
“Of course I’ll marry you, so we can look after each other. Besides, double happiness is a good omen, and it saves us the trouble of contacting relatives and friends and the cost of decorations,” An Hongdou answered without hesitation.
"Li Zeli is so lucky to have married such a good girl as our Hongdou. She's already helping her husband's family save money even before the wedding."
"You're talking again! If you ask me, you're the lucky one to be my sister-in-law!"
"Yes, yes, it's my honor! My dear Hongdou, would you like to call me 'sister-in-law' first?"
"Fine, I'll call you that. But since it's my first time addressing you like that, as your sister-in-law, you should give me something. I think the new storybook you bought the other day is quite nice; why don't you give it to me as a gift?"
Even a rabbit will bite when cornered. Wu Linglong sighed inwardly after hearing An Hongdou's words.
"You stood me up that day to go with Li Zeli. Those stories are in high demand; the shopkeeper only sells one copy each. I can't help you with that! I'll bring them to you after I've finished reading them, okay?"
An Hongdou smiled ingratiatingly, "Hehe, I knew Linglong was the best to me! It's my blessing to be your sister-in-law!"
"By the way, the wedding is on the sixth of next month. Will your family be able to make it? If not, I'll talk to Zeren and choose another auspicious day," Wu Linglong asked.
“There’s still time! My mother has been getting stricter with me lately, and she’s been wanting me to get married and take charge of the household as soon as possible,” An Hongdou said with a naive look on her face.
"Don't be too optimistic. Although we can help each other since we're married into the same family, every family has its own problems. The Li family seems to be doing well now, but they haven't separated yet. I don't know how well the new mother-in-law and her sisters-in-law will get along with her," Wu Linglong reminded the optimistic and lively An Hongdou.
The Li family were wealthy farmers in the area, owning most of the village's farmland. The current head of the family was their future father-in-law, Li Haikuo. Li Haikuo had two sons and two daughters with his first wife, Cheng Le. Their eldest daughter, Li Zehan, was already married; their second son, Li Zeren, was Wu Linglong's fiancé; their third son, Li Zeli, was An Hongdou's fiancé; and their youngest daughter, Li Zeying, was in her prime.
They were once the envy of the surrounding villages, but unfortunately, the first wife died young, and Li Haikuo remarried a few years later. His second wife, Chen Zaoting, brought with her two daughters from her previous marriage, Li Pan'er and Li Lai'er. Two years ago, she gave birth to her youngest son, Li Zexin, thus establishing herself in the Li family.
Wu Linglong's family had inquired around and learned that her future mother-in-law, Chen Zaoting, was extremely sexist, which made her somewhat worried.
“Don’t worry! We can keep each other company and ignore their whole family!” An Hongdou said firmly.
"That's right! If the two of us team up, what are we afraid of? We can just go to another store together!"
"You're talking nonsense again. If you say it again, I'll kick you out!"
"No need for you to rush me, I'm heading back anyway. I'll bring my wedding dress over this afternoon, and we can embroider it together." Wu Linglong said goodbye to An Hongdou and prepared to leave.
An Hongdou escorted her to the back gate of the courtyard and said before parting, "Then come and bring me some silver thread this afternoon. I've run out, and I was just thinking of asking you to go buy some together sometime."
"Sure, you go back now, see you this afternoon. We'll both be busy with the wedding."
According to current custom, the groom is not allowed to meet his fiancée after the marriage proposal.
An Hongdou and Wu Linglong were busy preparing for the wedding and didn't think about missing the two of them. However, the brothers Li Zeren and Li Zeli each sent letters to express their longing for each other.
Just then, An Hongdou and Wu Linglong got together. They read each other's letters, compared them, and joked around. They both felt that their husbands were more to their liking.
Time flies, and it's already the sixth day of the seventh lunar month.
Before dawn, An Hongdou was pulled out of bed by the wedding attendant who had been invited to wash and dress up.
Sitting in front of the bronze mirror, her sleepiness gradually disappeared, and she realized that she was really going to get married.
Perhaps because Linglong was by his side, the days of preparing for the wedding went as usual, peaceful and fulfilling.
At this moment, she truly felt the reality of leaving the home she had lived in for 16 years, and a sense of reluctance and bewilderment arose in her heart.
Suddenly, there was a knocking sound on the window.
The maidservant rushed to look, and when the window was opened, she saw Wu Linglong dressed in casual clothes.
"Why are you here?" An Hongdou quickly got up and went over. "Want to come inside and wait a while?"
The An and Wu families were neighbors, and the two girls had grown up together, seeing each other almost every day. Hongdou just hadn't expected Linglong to come looking for her on such an important day.
"I'm not going in. I have to leave soon, or my mother will be furious if she can't find me." Wu Linglong waved her hand from outside the window.
"You knew you'd come at this time? Is there something important?" An Hongdou asked.
"Ask the matchmaker what kind of makeup she wants to give us," Wu Linglong said, looking at An Hongdou's matchmaker.
The matchmaker hurriedly said, "Although the makeup is the same, the two young ladies have different appearances. One is glamorous, and the other is delicate. They will definitely have their own unique features after the makeup is done, so there is no need to worry."
"No, that's not it. Your makeup is too heavy. Hongdou and I prefer natural beauty. Let's just go with the normal look," Wu Linglong said.
“But the room is dimly lit, so the makeup won’t be visible unless it stands out,” the matchmaker explained.
"It's alright. Your outfits look like you've smeared plaster on your faces. I think we don't need to go to the bridal chamber tonight. It would be more appropriate for us to dress up as ghosts and scare people."
Hearing Wu Linglong's words, An Hongdou understood her purpose and chimed in, "Granny, just listen to Linglong. We both prefer a more elegant makeup look. They say that a beautiful woman looks more beautiful under the lamplight, so a dimmer light doesn't matter."
Seeing that the two were adamant, the matchmaker had no choice but to agree.
"Is this what you came for?"
"You have no idea how scary that makeup was. I quickly washed it off to tell you."
"Good Linglong, you've been a great help. You should go back and get ready quickly, so you don't miss the auspicious time."
"By the way, will your brother be able to carry you when we go out? If not, let my older brother do it?" Wu Linglong remembered something else before leaving.
“Although An Shunyuan is only 13, he is quite strong, like a little bull. Carrying me on his back is a piece of cake for him,” An Hongdou told her to rest assured.
Seeing this, Wu Linglong nodded and quickly ran home.
This series of events interrupted An Hongdou's sadness. Thinking about having her close friend Wu Linglong by her side after marriage, it didn't seem so scary anymore.
The veil fell off, and the sound of gongs and drums could be heard outside the window.
An Hongdou was helped out of the house by the matchmaker and stepped into the lively and festive atmosphere.
As she stepped over the threshold, her younger brother was already beside her. She heard her mother's tearful instructions.
She bid farewell to her parents and to the home she had lived in for 16 years. She left on her younger brother's back.
Li Zeli waited at the door. When she came out, he took a wad of handkerchief from his sleeve and put it in her hand. After helping her into the sedan chair, Li Zeli respectfully bid farewell to his parents-in-law.
After picking up the two brides, the wedding procession began its return journey.
On the way, An Hongdou was a little bored and suddenly had a whimsical idea. She should have asked to ride in the same sedan chair as Wu Linglong back then, so she could have company and pass the time.
After thinking about all these random thoughts, she took out the handkerchief that Li Zeli had given her before she got into the sedan chair. She guessed that it contained food, probably because he was worried that she would go hungry.
An Hongdou opened the handkerchief, inside which was a piece of oiled paper tied up. She blinked, untied the oiled paper, and saw a roasted chicken leg cut into small pieces.
An Hongdou couldn't help but laugh. Li Zeli was so thoughtful; he even wiped her mouth with a handkerchief after she finished eating. She then became curious about what food Wu Linglong had received and thought she must ask her tomorrow.
After an unknown amount of time, the bridal sedan chair stopped.
The Li family was celebrating two happy events, and being a well-known wealthy household in the surrounding area, they put on a grand and lively celebration.
An Hongdou and Wu Linglong were each introduced to a different courtyard.
The two brothers, Li Zeli and Li Zeren, stayed in the front yard to greet the guests.
On their wedding night, neither of them wanted to be plied with drinks, so they subtly nudged each other to avoid them. After a brief exchange of polite gestures, neither of them could escape and were pulled into drinking quite a bit by the guests.
After An Hongdou was settled, she sat on the wedding bed and waited for Li Zeli to lift her veil.
Bored while waiting, she sent Dongxue to inquire about Wu Linglong's whereabouts and ask if she was bored or nervous about the night ahead.
Dongxue was a maidservant bought by the An family to accompany Hongdou in her dowry. Wu Linglong also had one, named Qiuyu. The An and Wu families were relatively wealthy, but common families couldn't afford to have servants for everyone, and the Li family was no exception. They usually had a few nannies and maidservants responsible for cleaning, cooking, and other chores. Because they were worried that the two women wouldn't adapt well to their husbands' homes, their families specially bought maidservants for them.
After a while, Dongxue returned and relayed a message: "Miss Linglong asked me to tell you that if you can't stand it, you should try to recall the picture album that Madam showed you a couple of days ago; you'll need it tonight."
An Hongdou blushed upon hearing this: "Linglong comes from a scholarly family, how can she speak so boldly? Aren't you ashamed!"
After saying that, she went from being bored to feeling uneasy, unsure whether she should look forward to Li Zeli's arrival.
"The son-in-law is back." Dongxue's voice rang out as she was lost in thought.
Li Zeli staggered, but insisted on not needing anyone's help. He lifted the veil and handed An Hongdou the nuptial wine.
After the ceremony, Li Zeli dismissed everyone and went to a room alone with An Hongdou.
"Hongdou, I am so happy today." Li Zeli held An Hongdou's hand and poured out his heart.
Li Zeli was usually dignified and polite, so it was rare to see him so flushed from being drunk. An Hongdou reached out and poked his face.
"I'm very happy too. Shall we settle in first? We can talk more tomorrow?"
Li Zeli was clearly taken aback, and opened his mouth to speak several times but then closed it again.
An Hongdou had never seen Li Zeli so flustered before, and asked, "What's wrong?"
Li Zeli closed his eyes, looking like he was ready to go all out. He hugged An Hongdou, rested his chin on her shoulder, and complained softly, "Li Zeren, as my older brother, not only doesn't protect me, but also pushes me to drink on his behalf."
An Hongdou comforted him, "You've worked hard. Let's not hold it against him for the sake of his marriage to Linglong today."
“But, but…” Li Zeli stammered in her ear, “But a drunk person can’t consummate the marriage.”
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
