Chapter 136 The Grand Wedding
"Madam, three months have passed. The fermentation you mentioned should be complete by now."
Not only Feng Feng and others, but Qin Shaozong also kept the composting matter in mind.
He said this while Dai Li was having breakfast.
The steaming soup noodles rose in a misty haze, which clung to the woman's long, dark eyelashes, as if adding a layer of water. As she slowly raised her eyes, that bright color seemed to fall into her dark, lacquered eyes, accompanied by a radiant smile that spread across her lips.
“You only asked about the composting date once before, so I thought you weren’t in a hurry,” Dai Li laughed at him.
“It involves granaries and concerns the livelihood of the people. As the official in charge of the northern region, I am naturally anxious.” Qin Shaozong said “anxious” but his expression was very calm. He picked up the teapot and refilled Dai Li’s half-finished teacup. “But I have full confidence in Madam, so I usually don’t ask too many questions.”
When he poured her tea, Dai Li subconsciously tapped the table twice with her index and middle fingers together.
Qin Shaozong paused, put down the teapot, and mimicked her earlier action, tapping twice. "What does this mean?"
Dai Li: "...Thank you for your kind words."
Qin Shaozong knocked again, "Is this popular where you're from?"
“It’s an extension of a story that’s been passed down from the past.” Seeing his keen interest, Dai Li knew without guessing that he would ask, so she simply continued, “There was once an emperor whose code name was Qianlong who went on an incognito tour. While chatting with his ministers in a teahouse, he casually poured tea for one of them. Because there were many people coming and going in the teahouse at the time, the ministers couldn’t kneel down to express their gratitude. In their haste, they used two fingers as legs to express their thanks. Later, this story spread, and over time, it evolved from the bent fingers into the simple finger-pointing gesture, meaning to express gratitude silently.”
Qin Shaozong exclaimed, "That's quite interesting. If I had the chance, I would really like to go to Peach Blossom Spring with my wife."
"Come on, you won't get used to it," Dai Li said without thinking.
Qin Shaozong frowned, puzzled. "Why? I have always had a deep affection for Madam's hometown."
"You now control several states in the North. Do you know what this behavior is called in Peach Blossom Spring?" Dai Li asked solemnly. "Holding up troops and acting like a warlord! In a place where the people are the masters, you would be overthrown and executed immediately."
Qin Shaozong: "..."
It was rare to see such a complicated expression on this person's face, which pleased Dai Li. She picked up her chopsticks, scooped the noodles into the bowl, and quickly finished the rest of the noodles.
Today they were indeed going out to the fields. After having breakfast, Dai Li and Qin Shaozong led their men out of the city on horseback.
A heavy snow fell last night, and the road leading to the farmland is covered in deep snow. Under normal circumstances, riding a horse across would easily result in a broken leg.
However, before the two arrived, Mo Yanyun and the others had already cleared the roads, so Dai Li and Qin Shaozong were able to travel without any obstacles.
Three months later, the two round mounds of fertilizer that were there before turned into two rabbits that had been giving birth to babies in a frenzy. In the blink of an eye, they filled the fields with bulging mounds.
Dai Li arrived at the original farmland—Field No. 1.
"Mother." Qin Yanzhou had also arrived early.
Not only him, but also Qin Qinian and Shi Rongyue were there.
Qin Hongying was already married into the Shi family and had more than one child, Shi Rongyue. Shortly after her nephew's coming-of-age ceremony, she returned to Nanyu County, leaving only her daughter in Yuyang. Before leaving, she had a special talk with Dai Li, asking her to take good care of Shi Rongyue.
Dai Li had never raised a daughter. Apart from calling Shi Rongyue over to chat with the little girl, she mostly let her play with the three young men in the manor.
A sixteen-year-old child, who would be in the first year of high school in modern times, is bound to be playful, and can't be restrained.
Later, the composting project gradually unfolded, and Shi Rongyue often accompanied him to the suburbs.
The young girl was born into a prominent family, but she was not spoiled. At this moment, she was wearing a pair of brown deerskin boots, and she followed behind Qin Yanzhou, her feet sinking into small mud puddles. After Qin Yanzhou called out to everyone, she also greeted Dai Li, "Madam Dai."
Dai Li dismounted. "How long have you been here?"
Qin Yanzhou knew she usually slept until she naturally woke up, so he said, "It's only been a quarter of an hour. Mother, what should we do next?"
Dai Li: "Spread out the fat bag and take a look."
Upon receiving the order, the military officers took up their large shovels and began to work with great effort.
In the early stages of composting, Dai Li would have people add bone meal and other materials to the compost pile every time it was turned over. Later, when these materials were used up, several empty sacks remained there.
It's fortunate that it's the off-season for farming, otherwise the sacks would definitely have been picked up.
The nine-foot-high mound was quickly leveled. Dark brown, sandy-like fertile soil poured out and spread over a large area.
"It's amazing! It smelled terrible before, but now it doesn't smell so bad at all," Qin Qinian exclaimed in surprise.
He and Qin Yanzhou had previously taken the initiative to turn over the manure pile several times; the mixed smell of cow and pig dung was enough to blow one's skull off, but now it had almost no smell.
Dai Li smiled and said, "They won't smell bad once fermentation is complete. Let them dry a little more during the day today, and then we can bag them when the sun is about to set."
“Bag it? Madam, why not leave this fertile soil directly in the ground?” Qin Shaozong asked.
Whether it's "fire cultivation" or "slash-and-burn agriculture," the "fertilizer" is left in place, and there's never a step of "taking" it.
“Before sowing, a maximum of one shi (a unit of dry measure) of manure should be used per mu (a unit of land area).” Dai Li looked at the manure sacks that had been pushed aside. There were four large manure sacks piled up on this mu of land, and each manure sack weighed at least several tons.
“Only one stone is needed before sowing, but subsequent topdressing requires diluting the fertilizer in the soil. From any perspective, it’s impossible to leave it directly in the ground,” Dai Li explained.
Qin Shaozong's pupils narrowed slightly. "Only one stone?"
A single fertile burial plot is worth about several dozen bushels, which is equivalent to several dozen acres of land.
He looked out over the field, where mounds stood one after another, seemingly ordinary at first glance, but many of them were still fermenting and emitting a stench that was unbearable for most people.
But Qin Shaozong knew that these clods of manure, which ordinary people would despise, would turn into soft gold in the ground after the spring of next year, and would do their best to support the growth of crops.
Barring severe drought or insect infestations, this boundless farmland will turn a brilliant golden hue next autumn. Whenever the wind blows, the fragrance of wheat wafts through the air, and golden waves surge and roll, seemingly without end.
Qin Shaozong seemed to hear the swaying of wheat ears and smell the rich aroma of wheat.
One after another, the scrolls of paintings unfolded without being seen.
Farmers harvesting wheat in the fields couldn't stop smiling; oxcarts traveled back and forth across the fields, each with a high mountain of wheat piled behind it.
Several large granaries in the prefecture were completely full, and the Agricultural Commandant and the Field Protector reported that there was not enough space in the granaries and requested that more granaries be built.
"Next spring, we'll distribute this organic fertilizer to the farmers. 'Sow a seed in spring, reap a thousandfold in autumn.' Next autumn will surely be a bountiful golden harvest." Dai Li saw her son pick up a shovel and join in the bagging.
"The wind blows through the fields, and the carts are laden with ripe grain. If that day truly comes, the people of Yuyang, the northern lands, and indeed the entire world, should all pay homage to the Lady," Qin Shaozong solemnly declared.
"It's just organic fertilizer; its ability to improve seeds is what's truly remarkable..." Dai Li looked at the distant sky, her tone nostalgic.
It seemed as if vast fields of rice stalks, taller than a person, appeared in the sky, and an old man wearing a straw hat leaned against the rice stalks, smiling as he enjoyed the cool shade under the rice.
"Qin Yanzhou, come and compete with me to see who can carry the most!" The boy's spirited voice rang out.
The young man's voice wasn't as loud as his. He said something, and soon the two of them went to different places, each holding a shovel, and then they put all their strength into filling the soil with fertilizer.
Dai Li couldn't help but smile.
*
As winter fades and spring arrives, the frozen rivers flow slowly, and the earth gradually reveals its original colors; the tail end of winter has finally slipped away.
Spring begins.
The Beginning of Spring (Lichun) is the first of the twenty-four solar terms and marks the start of spring. All things revive in spring, and no farmer doesn't eagerly anticipate its arrival.
This year's Spring Equinox is undoubtedly special. In the vast city of Yuyang, who among the elderly, weak, women, and children doesn't know that their Marquis of Wu'an is getting married?
As early as seven days prior, at the two mealtimes of Chenshi (7-9 AM) and Bushi (9-11 PM), all the large restaurants in Yuyang County opened their banquet halls.
Whether they were commoners, merchants, or nobles, as long as they dined at the restaurant, they would not have to spend any money; all expenses would be borne by the Marquis's mansion.
Besides the banquet, there were also sweet treats such as rice cakes distributed to children under ten years old at a side gate of the Junhou Mansion. As long as the children sang festive doggerel while strolling around the city, they could receive a handful of snacks when they returned.
Furthermore, there was another piece of news that the farmers of Yuyang found hard to believe: it was said that the Lady Dai, whom their lord was to marry, had developed a fertilizer that could significantly increase crop yields, by up to 50%. Each household could go to the official temple to collect a free bag of fertilizer.
This fertilizer was considered a lucky charm she gave to the farmers of Yuyang for her wedding.
Needless to say, the farmers' astonishment, elation, and skepticism all went on. In short, this incident further amplified the level of discussion surrounding Dai Li in Yuyang County.
Seven days before the start of spring, cartloads of betrothal gifts and dowries were simultaneously brought into the Qin residence by horse-drawn carriages.
Dai Li's background was no secret; she was not from a prominent family, and even her parents had passed away. Anyone with discerning eyes could see that those conspicuous and impressive boxes of treasures were not something Dai Li had prepared herself.
The carriages, like dragons, snaked their way through the city daily. The onlookers went from initial surprise and awe to numbness, then to taking it for granted, and finally only sighs and envy remained.
As for the prominent families in Yuyang, those with keen insight who noticed a car entering the Qin residence on the first day immediately ordered their families to prepare a generous gift and send it over.
The name used was to congratulate Dai Li, without mentioning Qin Shaozong.
The Qin family, who usually didn't accept gifts, happily accepted them this time. Other prominent families, seeing this, sprang into action, and in no time, brocade boxes and chests of treasures flowed into the Qin family, all becoming part of Dai Li's dowry.
In the Great Yan Dynasty, the bride and groom were not allowed to meet for seven days before the wedding. During these seven days, Dai Li was not used to having no one to warm her at night, but she got used to it after two days.
A rare moment of peace and quiet.
It is obvious that this tranquility will not last long, because the beginning of spring will arrive in the blink of an eye.
The auspicious time for the wedding was late noon. The Qin family and the Marquis's family were both located in Yuyang County and were not far apart. Therefore, Dai Li only got up a little earlier than usual today, so she wouldn't have to be asked to get up before dawn to do her makeup.
Similar to the Qin and Han dynasties, the Great Yan Dynasty emphasized solemnity and solemnity on important occasions, and therefore favored the colors black and red.
Dai Li's wedding dress was black and red, with the shoulders and sleeves meticulously outlined with beautiful auspicious cloud patterns in gold and silver thread. Within the auspicious clouds, a dark golden phoenix spread its wings, soaring through the clouds, lifelike.
The wide-sleeved robe was adorned with a new style of ornamentation at the waist: multiple jade pendants were pieced together to form a long jade pendant to weigh down the hem of the skirt.
After changing clothes, you still need to style your hair and apply makeup.
In this era, there was no custom of wearing a phoenix crown at weddings; brides mostly wore hairpins with dangling ornaments. But the hairpin on Dai Li's head today is made of gold with a mountain design, strung with white pearls, and decorated with intertwined cassia branches—it is made to the highest standards.
Sunlight streamed in through the window, illuminating the entire room. The young woman, already made up, sat before her dressing table. Her complexion was radiant, her hair was thick and lustrous, and her black and red wedding dress was both fiery and imposing.
As she lowered her head slightly, the back of her neck, as white and smooth as solidified cream, seemed to be shrouded in a hazy, soft light, perfectly complementing the white jade on her hair ornament, making her exceptionally beautiful.
Dai Li looked at herself in the mirror and felt utterly unfamiliar. She frowned, and the beautiful woman in the mirror, dressed in Chinese attire, also frowned; she turned her head, and the person in the mirror followed suit.
The old woman doing her hair was alarmed when she saw Dai Li frowning, thinking that something was wrong with her. "Madam is a beauty of unparalleled grace. She should smile more. Looking across the entire North, and even the whole world, there is no woman more beautiful or more enviable than you."
Another old woman who was dressing up also chimed in, "Yes, a few days ago, cart after cart of large boxes came into your mansion like a flowing stream. Who in the world doesn't know that Your Excellency cherishes you like the apple of your eye?"
Marrying someone of equal social standing is never a joke.
Even in a powerful marriage alliance between prominent families, none would have the grand spectacle of Qin Shaozong, who seemed determined to announce his marriage to the entire world.
Dai Li sighed, "Let's see."
The old woman who was dressing up was astonished, not understanding where her melancholy came from, but she knew that it was not her place to comment on the affairs of such an important person.
Since Dai Li had no elders, she skipped the step of bidding farewell to her parents before getting married.
She sat quietly indoors with a round fan in her hand. The cold, golden handle of the fan, after being held for a long time, had warmed up a bit. Listening to the approaching noise outside, Dai Li's mood, which had been calm since the wedding preparations began and even for the first seven days, suddenly changed at this moment.
The noise was like tiny pebbles thrown into the lake, creating ripples that then receded into the distance.
"Mother, he's almost here." Qin Yanzhou entered from outside. Today, he was wearing a royal blue robe, his dark hair tied high inside a jade crown, and his handsome features were less aloof than usual.
Prior to today, Qin Yanzhou addressed Qin Shaozong as "Marquis Wu'an," directly referring to his title. But today, he used the word "he."
Dai Li keenly sensed something was off about her son's tone, so she patted the seat next to her and said, "Zhouzhou, sit down."
Only Nianxia and Bipo were in the room, so they weren't exactly outsiders. But Qin Yanzhou looked at Dai Li's spread-out skirt, shook his head, and simply knelt down at Dai Li's feet.
Nianxia and Bibo exchanged a glance and quietly left the room.
Only the mother and son remained in the room. Qin Yanzhou said awkwardly, "Mom, I'm not used to being part of his family from now on."
Dai Li guessed that her son had been keeping these words to himself for a long time, and now he couldn't hold back any longer. She raised her hand and touched the jade crown on the young man's head. "Qin Changgeng is not exactly easy to get along with, but he is definitely not a petty person. Zhouzhou can treat him as an ordinary elder."
*
On the road to Yuyang City.
Qin Shaozong rode the Crimson Dragon with great spirit. He was dressed in a black and red robe as usual, and his hat and turban were new. The Crimson Dragon beneath him had been specially washed yesterday, and every hair on its mane shone brightly in the sunlight.
He led the way, followed by a group of robust cavalrymen in new uniforms and a carriage decorated with red silk.
Qin Shaozong's lips curled up as he walked forward into the bright, warm sunlight. Although he had clearly removed all his weapons, he still exuded an invincible and high-spirited aura.
"The Marquis of Wu'an looks quite energetic today!" The commoners in the crowd craned their necks to watch.
"Ha, this is a wedding! You'd be just as excited. By the way, I heard the Marquis's mansion is having auspicious powder later, we can't miss it."
"That's quite a sum. Counting today, it's been eight days. The expenses in these eight days could probably bankrupt a small noble family. It's rumored that Lady Dai has the Snow Soul Flower Spirit and the appearance of a moon goddess. I guess that rumor is probably true."
"You've heard about the fertilizer, haven't you? If those things can really increase grain production significantly, I don't think these dowry gifts are anything special. A bountiful harvest and surplus grain in every household—that's the merit that will allow us to build temples for you after you die!"
"That's true."
...
Whispers drifted over, and Qin Shaozong looked over and met the person's eyes.
Their eye contact lasted only a moment, exceptionally brief, before they looked away in the blink of an eye, unnoticed by anyone else. Qin Shaozong continued riding forward, while the man from before continued talking about fertilizer in the dense crowd.
Soon after, the wedding procession arrived at the main gate of the Qin residence.
Dai Li had no other relatives. The main gate of the mansion was surrounded by crowds of people, but they just watched and no one dared to stop Qin Shaozong.
His black and red robes billowed in a clean arc as the man nimbly dismounted. He led his men straight in, unimpeded, until—
I ran into a wall in front of the room.
The tall, handsome young man stood at the door, exuding an aura of "one man guarding the pass, ten thousand cannot pass".
Qin Shaozong raised an eyebrow, but before he could speak, Qin Qinian, who had come with him, excitedly stepped forward and quickly said:
"Father, let me handle this. I'll deal with him!"
As soon as the boy finished speaking, Qin Yanzhou said, "Write a poem to invite my mother out."
Qin Qinian slammed on the brakes, reversing his previous actions. "I'm sorry, Father, I'm not good at poetry, I can't come. Please ask me to come instead."
Qin Shaozong: "..."
-----------------------
Author's note: Big peeked out, and Werwer quickly retreated.
There should be an update tomorrow. I'll try my best to finish writing about the wedding (clenched fist).
The custom of presenting a fan as a wedding gift originated in the Jin Dynasty, but Dengdeng loves fans so much that she just used a butterfly. ^_^
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