Chapter 129 Growing Old Together
As dusk fell, young men from the street would come to the clinic draped with red ribbons and shout loudly, "The groom is here! The groom is here!"
It turned out that Tuva, dressed in bright red clothes to conform to local customs, and several friends who looked like they came from the Western Regions, rode tall horses, followed by carriages decorated with red silk, and entered the street where the Li family lived.
It's important to know that riding horses and riding carriages were not things that ordinary people were qualified to use, especially in Chang'an City where there were strict regulations prohibiting horses from galloping at high speeds, and even the carriages of high-ranking officials and nobles could not travel at high speeds.
The only exception is for urgent military intelligence reports, which can be delivered directly within Chang'an City, especially via Zhuque Avenue, which leads directly to the imperial palace.
However, there is also human sentiment beyond the law. For major life events such as weddings, ordinary people are also allowed to ride in carriages or on horseback on the day of the event.
However, speeding is still not allowed, to prevent people from being injured by the speeding.
Upon closer inspection, it became clear that Tuva and his group must have scattered copper coins on their way here; otherwise, this kid wouldn't have been so kind as to deliver a message to the Li family's doorstep.
Li's father directed his eldest brother to light a long string of firecrackers, which crackled and popped, attracting a large crowd to the street, creating a lively atmosphere.
This is because when people hold happy events at this time, well-to-do and wealthy families will scatter some copper coins and candies by the roadside. This is not only to sweeten their mouths, but also to share in the joy.
Therefore, a large number of people, both acquaintances and strangers, gathered at the entrance of the Li family's house, all watching this scene with smiles.
"Wow, this is a fine steed from the Western Regions! And these men are really tall."
“Look, it’s not just this tall horse. Didn’t you notice the groom’s full head of braids, the knife hanging at his waist, his high nose and deep-set eyes? He’s definitely from the Western Regions.”
"Not all of them, look at the man riding the black horse next to the groom, his face looks like a Han Chinese."
"Oh my, the Li family has a young lady who is getting married?"
"No, it's a girl the Li family saved. I heard she was remarried."
Sister-in-law Li carried a plate of celebratory fruit and distributed it to the people gathered around. The few people who had been chatting and exchanging information just moments before stopped talking and rushed forward to grab a piece to eat.
When Tuva and his party arrived at the Li family's gate, Tuva, who was taller than everyone around him even after dismounting, laughed so hard his eyes almost disappeared.
A friend of Tuva's, who looked clearly Han Chinese, elbowed the seemingly clueless Tuva, who then snapped out of his daze and shouted loudly towards the Li family's door, "Bride, I've arrived!"
The musicians, who had been hired in advance, quickly started playing their instruments.
At this moment, Brother Li stepped forward, his face dignified yet joyful, and said to Tuva, "If you want to marry my daughter, it's not enough to just have a loud voice."
With a glance from Brother Li, Li Dalang came out carrying a stone lock weighing fifty jin in both hands, followed by Li Erlang and Li Sanlang carrying another stone lock.
As soon as Li Dalang and the others put down the stone lock, Brother Li stepped forward and effortlessly picked up a fifty-pound stone lock with one hand. And that wasn't all; he even lifted it up.
"You are also a fine young man from the Western Regions, nearly seven feet tall. Come, practice. Only those who pass the test can enter my house."
After saying this, Brother Li casually put down the stone lock and looked at Tuva with a provocative gaze.
Before Tuva could make a move, a tall man with a full beard, nearly eight feet tall, behind him spoke in a booming voice to a shorter man beside him: "Hey, the Han people have so many tricks up their sleeves. If this were where we were, we'd just snatch the girl and run away."
Nearby in Tuva, the Han-looking man who had just elbowed him turned around and scolded the bearded man: "Kesong, don't be rude!"
Upon hearing the rebuke, the bearded man, Kesong, quickly shrank back, trying to have the much shorter man beside him block the gaze of the Han-looking man.
The crowd gathered around, however, paid no heed to what the burly man said. They knew that the Tang Dynasty's territory was vast, and the people of Chang'an, the economic and cultural center of the Tang Dynasty, were extremely proud.
So what if he's eight feet tall, broad-shouldered, thick-waisted, and strong?
Didn't they still manage to get to Chang'an?
These Western Region barbarians didn't dare utter a single word when they saw the Imperial Guards dressed in black brocade.
So what if he carries a knife at his waist? Are the longswords of the Imperial Guards no less powerful than theirs?
Besides, the people of Chang'an are quite knowledgeable. Take the West Market, which is closest to Changshoufang, for example. There are all kinds of Hu people there. Although it is not common for Hu people to be eight feet tall, it does not mean that they have never seen them.
Not to mention those who are eight feet tall, there are fair-skinned people with blond hair, dark-skinned people with curly hair, and so on. The people of Chang'an have long been used to it.
Someone in the crowd said, "Groom, quickly raise it up so your brother-in-law can see that you're really strong. You'll make sure your new bride doesn't have to sleep alone tonight."
Upon hearing this, the onlookers burst into laughter. This was just a commoner's joke; a wealthy and powerful family would never make such a joke.
Tuva couldn't just stand there dumbly. He stepped forward, lowered his body, and with a burst of strength, picked up the two stone weights, one on each side.
The same voice said, "Good, the groom is energetic, he will surely make the bride happy every night."
The moment those suggestive words were uttered, the crowd erupted in laughter again. Tuva almost lost his strength, his face turning bright red from the ridicule.
As Tuva was straining to lift the stone weight, he heard a woman's voice, full of laughter, say, "Oh my, the groom is in good shape! A bride likes men like him."
Another burst of laughter erupted. Li San Niang, who was hiding inside the door watching the commotion, was quite surprised. Had the local customs become so fierce at this time?
"Sister-in-law, how can you say such a thing?"
"Haha, it's just a joke in the marketplace, just for fun, what's wrong with saying it?"
Although Li Ersao blushed, she still spoke up: "When there are weddings in our village, those words are even more outrageous. When I was little, my mother wouldn't let me go to the front to listen to the older women and young wives talking."
Brother Li watched as Tuva lifted the stone weight more than twenty times, then told him to put it down, praising him for being strong and a good man.
Brother Li said a few more polite words to thank everyone who had come to join in the fun. At this time, Li San Niang also came out with Sister-in-law Li. Everyone was carrying a plate containing roasted "Xi Guo Er" (a type of pasta), which had been ordered in advance and delivered that morning. It was freshly roasted and still had the aroma of oil.
The three walked back and forth in the crowd, distributing the celebratory fruit to those who came to show their support and create a lively atmosphere.
At this moment, the man who looked like a Han Chinese and had come with the Tuvans, along with the remaining men who looked like Western Region people, took out the prepared copper coins and wrapped candies and scattered them into the crowd, which caused people to scramble for them.
Once Tuva and his family entered the courtyard, Li's parents were already seated at the head of the main hall, waiting for them.
The Hu people do not have the custom of kowtowing to their parents at weddings, but the Tuva people, reminded by a Han-looking man, did kneel before Li's father and mother.
Mr. and Mrs. Li said a few words to treat Shen Qiuniang well. Although Shen Qiuniang had lost her blood relatives, the Li family would be her maternal family from now on. If Tuva treated Shen Qiuniang badly, the Li family would stand up for her.
It was supposed to be Brother Li carrying Chen Qiuniang out of the Li family home, but Chen Qiuniang and Tuwa wanted to leave hand in hand, and since it was her second marriage, they agreed to let them go.
Originally, only the men who accompanied the bride were allowed to go with her; the bride was not allowed to go.
But considering that neither Tuva nor Shen Qiuniang has any female elders, since one rule has already been broken, what's wrong with breaking another one?
So, in the end, Li's father and mother stayed at home, while Li's eldest brother, second brother, and four children accompanied the bride. Apart from Chen Qiu Niang, Li's eldest sister-in-law, second sister-in-law, and third sister-in-law also went with them in the carriage.
Previously, Lu Zhu'er also wanted to go, but Li San Niang was afraid that there would be too many people and she wouldn't be able to take care of her, so she didn't want to take her. But all four little ones in the family went, leaving only her as the only child. She was so aggrieved, her big eyes were red, and she looked like she was about to cry, which was very pitiful.
Finally, it was Shen Qiuniang who spoke up, telling Li Sanniang to take Luzhu'er with her, and to just focus on holding her hand and put everything else aside.
With music playing and merriment, they walked slowly for a long time, finally arriving at the house that Tuva and his people had bought in the outer three roads just as it was getting dark.
Bringing the dewdrops did come in handy; Li San Niang gave her a small cloth bag filled with rice and told her to follow Tuva and Shen Qiu Niang and scatter the rice, signifying that everything was ready and the auspicious time had arrived.
Tuva's friends lit a brazier, and Tuva led Chen Qiuniang across it, signifying good fortune and warding off evil, wishing for a prosperous and thriving life.
Then, Shen Qiuniang steps over the rice bag, symbolizing abundant food and a happy life.
Upon reaching the main hall of the house, the two performed three kowtows and nine bows: first to Heaven and Earth, second to their parents (facing an empty chair), third to each other, and finally to express their gratitude to the Li family and Tuvan friends present.
Holding Lu Zhu'er, Li San Niang watched Tuva and Shen Qiu Niang drink the nuptial wine and eat raw dumplings in the bridal chamber adorned with red silk. Only after Shen Qiu Niang shyly uttered the word "raw" was the wedding ceremony considered complete.
Because Li San Niang brought Lu Zhu'er with her, Li San Niang and Lu Zhu'er stayed in the bridal chamber to chat and eat with Shen Qiu Niang.
The rest of the Li family, Tuvan friends, and neighbors of the house ate and drank at tables set up in the courtyard and passageway.
That day, when Li San Niang and her group returned to the Li family, they arrived just before curfew. They thanked Emperor Wu, who, for some unknown reason, had postponed the curfew by an hour since his ascension to the throne, allowing the people of Chang'an to still walk around the city after dark and return home before curfew.
Mr. and Mrs. Li sat in the main hall, listening to their eldest brother Li and the others talk about what happened after the Tuva family. Finally, Mrs. Li concluded, "I only hope that Qiu Niang will be pitied this time and give birth to a son or daughter so that she can live a good life with the Tuva and grow old together."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com