Chapter 58 Wedding
Cheng Xin sat in front of the eight-immortal table in the main hall while Xu Fengxia used a wooden comb dipped in camellia oil to comb her hair. The red hairband was wrapped around her mother's fingers twice, and her black hair was tied into a bun with two camellia flowers tied with red silk.
The red wool coat in the mirror was a little bit too tight around her neck. Cheng Xin touched her rouge-covered face and felt like a different person.
Before daybreak, the Cheng family's yard was already bustling with activity. Cheng Lei and his two cousins loaded the last piece of furniture onto the ox cart. The camphorwood wardrobe was pasted with a paper-cut of the Chinese character "囍", the four corners of the dressing table were polished to be rounded, the two chairs with backrests were covered with red cloth cushions sewn by Cheng Xin, the carved legs of the double bed were wrapped with red silk, the four chairs that accompanied the dining table were neatly stacked, and two camphorwood boxes with copper locks were stacked on top.
"Have you counted everything?" Father Cheng walked around the ox cart twice, "Don't leave anything behind."
"Dad, don't worry." Cheng Lei patted his chest and wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead: "A double bed, a dining table, four chairs, two boxes, large and small wardrobes, and even a small coffee table are all here, exactly forty-eight legs!" He stretched out his hand and pointed at the furniture in the car one by one and counted them.
Wang Xiuping, who was helping to tie the dowry, sighed, "This dowry is quite decent. When my eldest son gets married, I will be satisfied if the woman can bring back two quilts."
Last year, selling popcorn in the brigade helped many families save money. Cheng Xin's uncle's family was finally able to arrange a marriage for their eldest son, otherwise her grandparents would have found fault with her marriage again.
Seeing the yard gradually becoming empty, Cheng Xin felt a lump in her throat. These pieces of furniture were all made by her father during his free time by hammering and banging in the yard.
The furniture with a wooden scent in the yard and the sewing machine and bicycle sent by Geng Yunye were loaded onto the ox cart.
Cheng Lei hung red silk on the door and the car, and his nose turned red from the cold.
From outside the yard came the cheerful sound of suona, mixed with the crisp sound of bicycle bells.
Geng Yunye was walking in the front wearing a neat navy blue suit with a big red flower on his chest. The eight bicycles behind him were all wrapped in red silk, with bamboo gift boxes tied to the back seats, filled with wild honey and dried bamboo shoots, and two baskets of kumquats tied into small lanterns with red ropes.
Cheng Lei dropped the red silk and rushed back to the main room to report: "Sister! My brother-in-law is at the door!"
The sound of the suona was getting closer and closer. Xu Fengxia quickly pinned the last red silk flower on her daughter's temple. She smiled and joked, "I'm afraid the suona band in the county has been invited to come because of this noise!"
In the yard, Geng Yunye was stopped by Cheng's cousin in front of the red silk rope. Geng Jiankang took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and distributed them to the men. Geng Weiguo grabbed a handful of fruit candies and stuffed them into the children's hands: "Come and have some candy!"
Cheng Cunzhi pushed through the crowd and patted Geng Yunye on the shoulder: "Go into the house quickly, don't let the bride wait anxiously."
Geng Yunye entered the main room, took out a red cloth bag from his arms, opened it and took out a silver bracelet: "Try it on to see if it fits."
Cheng Xin sat upright in front of the eight-immortals table. Her slender figure was wrapped in a woolen coat, which made her face look as delicate and beautiful as peach blossoms in spring. The red camellia on her temples could not compare to the blush that naturally spread on her cheeks.
She stretched out her hand, revealing a piece of skin as white and delicate as mutton-fat jade. The bracelet was slightly wobbling on her wrist.
After Geng Yunye offered tea to the elders, he solemnly assured them: "Uncle and aunt, please rest assured to leave Cheng Xin to me. From now on, all my salary will be given to her, and she will never suffer any grievances."
Cheng's mother's eyes instantly turned red, and she quickly stuffed a rough porcelain bowl of brown sugar water into his hand: "It's so cold, drink something hot to warm you up."
Cheng Cunzhi happily stuffed a red envelope into his pocket and said, "It's time to change your way of speaking. We are still family and call each other uncle and aunt."
Geng Yunye accepted the red envelope and shouted with great energy: "Thank you, Mom and Dad!"
The wedding procession set out, with eight bicycles leading the way. Cheng Xin sat on a bullock cart decorated with red silk, and several little girls with pigtails leaned on the cart to watch her.
Cheng Lei caught up with the ox cart breathlessly and stuffed a roasted sweet potato into her hand. "Sister, it's still hot! Use it to warm your hands."
Geng Yunye, who was riding a bicycle in front, looked back from time to time: "Go slowly, don't bump around!"
The little boys running after the bullock cart laughed joyfully, "Here comes the bride! Look at the bride!"
Cheng Lei opened the tin box of wedding candies in his arms and distributed the candies to them: "Say more nice things, and you can have as much as you want!"
Geng Aiguo escorted them on his bicycle, the bell of which rang every once in a while: "Sit tight, aunt, the mountain road is icy, let's go slower!"
As soon as the ox cart turned into Gengjia Bay, the young men of the brigade lit firecrackers, and the word "囍" could be seen everywhere from the intersection to Gengjia.
Geng Mancang and his men were waiting in the threshing ground. "The weather is so cold, hurry up and bring the bride into the house!"
Two large iron pots had already been set up in the Geng family's yard. Aunt Zhao and Aunt Zhang were adding firewood to the stove, and the flames were rising high.
As soon as Cheng Xin stepped into the main room, Geng Fang handed her a copper hand warmer. A faint scent of mugwort wafted out from the hollow pattern on the cover.
"Aunt, hold the hand warmers."
"Quiet down!" Geng Mancang slapped the table. "Yun Ye's parents passed away early. As the team leader, I have to speak for them today!"
He looked around at the crowd that was gradually quieting down, and finally his eyes fell on the young couple, "Cheng Xin, Yun Ye is a very honest kid. If he does anything naughty in the future, just come find me and I'll beat him with a cane!"
Amidst the laughter, Cheng Xin glanced at Geng Yunye beside her with a smile on her face and scratched his palm.
"Yun Ye!" Geng Mancang suddenly raised his voice, "Your wife came into the family with a dowry of forty-eight legs, so don't be so foolish in the future! The rice, flour, grain, oil and salary should be handed over to your wife, don't learn those old feudal customs!"
The people around nodded one after another. Geng Rengui, peeling fried peanuts in his hand, responded: "Mancang is right!"
Geng Mancang took out a red paper package from his arms, inside of which was a big unity note: "This is the money that everyone has collected, you two can keep it to buy some belongings."
He turned to Cheng Xin's parents and said, "Don't worry, my dear relatives. We in Gengjiawan will never let our family members suffer any injustice!"
Father Cheng held Geng Mancang's hand and said, "Cheng Xin has been sensible since she was young. If the couple has a quarrel, you will have to take care of them."
Geng Mancang patted the back of his hand heavily: "What are you talking about! We are a family from now on!"
Aunt Zhang came over with freshly cooked glutinous rice balls in her hand. "The glutinous rice balls are here."
Geng Mancang called out to the newlyweds in the main hall: "Eat it while it's hot. I hope your future life will be like the glutinous rice dumplings, sweet and happy!"
Geng Yunye and Cheng Xin shared a bowl of glutinous rice balls, their heads close together, the heat from the bowl lingering between them.
Geng Fang leaned her head in through the door frame and said, "Oh, I came at a bad time. Uncle and aunt, please come out quickly. The meal is about to start. If you delay any longer, the braised pork will be snatched up!" Outside, there was the sound of tables and chairs being moved, mixed with the noise of children playing.
The tables and chairs in the courtyard were neatly arranged according to seniority. Cheng's father, Cheng's mother and Geng Mancang sat at the main table, with Geng Rengui and Geng Guohua, who were proposing marriage, on their left and right.
Aunt Zhao and Aunt Zhang, wearing blue cloth aprons, served dishes from the kitchen. The bowls and plates were collected from different families, with chipped coarse porcelain bowls filled with cold shredded radish and blue-rimmed porcelain plates piled with stir-fried vegetables.
"Let the new daughter-in-law try this." Aunt Zhao put the pottery bowl on the table, and the aroma of old hen stewed with wild yam filled her nose. "Aunt Zhang stewed it all morning, and she skimmed off all the chicken fat."
Aunt Zhang brought an aluminum basin with egg drops floating in the kelp and shrimp soup.
"I can't compare to Aunt Zhao's skill in making soup."
Before the guests even sat down, Geng Dazhuang brought out a large plate of braised pork. The fat and lean pieces of meat were neatly arranged, and the wrinkles on the skin had absorbed the soy sauce, giving it an attractive caramel color.
A group of children crowded around the table and stood on tiptoe to look. A chubby boy pointed at Cheng Xin's red coat and shouted, "The bride's dress is so beautiful!"
As soon as Cheng Xin sat down, Geng Yunye put the chicken leg into her bowl: "Eat it quickly, it won't taste good if it gets cold."
"Wow, you're starting to love your wife!" Team leader Geng Mancang cheered while holding up a bowl of rice wine, and the people around him laughed.
Cheng Xin's eldest cousin Cheng Zhe came over with a coarse porcelain wine bowl in his hand. He put his arm on Geng Yunye's shoulder and said, "Brother-in-law, my sister has been spoiled by her family since she was a child. She has a stubborn temper like a calf. If there is a conflict, please bear with me."
Geng Yunye raised his head and drank half a bowl of rice wine: "Brother, we are family, so we should not talk behind each other's backs. If she bullies me in the future, she will have to look to you for support."
Cheng Zhe grinned and drank the wine in one gulp. "Okay! After I finish this bowl, I will break the bones and tendons of my relatives!"
When it was completely dark, the wedding banquet was over. Several children chased Geng Yunye for wedding candies, and he smiled and took out the last few candies from his pocket and gave them to them.
After the children jumped and ran away, Geng Yunye took Cheng Xin's hand and said, "I'll take you to a place."
The two walked along the path, the sea breeze blew in with a salty smell. Cheng Xin's red coat was blown up, and she stamped her feet in coldness.
Geng Yunye took off his scarf and put it on her: "It's just ahead."
The moonlight spread over the white sand, and the endless beach was covered with a layer of white frost. The sand was frozen hard and made a squeaking sound when shoes stepped on it.
Geng Yunye took out two pieces of wedding candy from his pocket: "I wanted to keep them as a souvenir, you can eat them."
Cheng Xin took the wedding candy with a smile on her face. She peeled off the candy wrapper and the sweet orange flavor spread on her tongue.
Geng Yunye stood beside her, his tall figure outlined by the moonlight. He tilted his head to look at Cheng Xin: "A group of educated youths have left the brigade, and the primary school is short of teachers. If you want to go to university, you can go to school after the spring and learn while teaching."
Cheng Xin kicked the sand and whispered with drooping eyelashes: "Shouldn't I go to night school? Can I still take the college entrance examination? I heard that the college entrance examination only accepts freshmen."
"You are a fresh graduate. You didn't go to work after graduating from junior high school, so you have been a fresh graduate since high school." Geng Yunye stared at the red camellia in her hair and his voice softened unconsciously.
Cheng Xin's eyes widened instantly, her face full of anticipation. She hugged Geng Yunye's arm and shook it non-stop: "Really? I'm willing to go to school!" She showed her two fangs, "I want to be the best teacher and get into the best university! From now on, you have to call me Teacher Cheng!"
She suddenly stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the cheek, then turned around and jumped up and down on the beach under the moonlight, her tweed coat puffed up into a round little lantern in the wind.
The camellia in her hair tilted to one side, but she was unaware of it: "I can take the college entrance examination!" The tail tone was blown high and low by the sea breeze, but it couldn't hide her excitement.
Geng Yunye looked at her jumping figure with a smile in his eyes. He quickly stepped forward and held her in his arms to block the sea breeze from blowing in his face.
Cheng Xin raised her little face, her eyes wet: "I still can't believe it, it feels like a dream." She suddenly stuffed her red, frozen hands into his sleeves, "Pinch me quickly, if it hurts, it proves this is real!"
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