Chapter 149 Getting Married is So Amazing
Song Jin wanted to bring someone as a dowry, so naturally it would be better to bring someone familiar to her. She chose Dujuan and Chunyun, as these were the only two options for women.
Du Juan used to be a close maidservant to the eldest lady of the Bai family. She knew a lot about the rules and regulations here and had a lot of experience. She would be a good helper to have around. The only problem was that she was separated from Arong.
Song Jin thought that after he got there, he would buy a few maids and servants and ask Dujuan to help teach them. After they became familiar with each other, he would reunite them as a couple.
As for Chunyun, Song Jin didn't want her to stay in the kitchen like himself until she got married. Besides, she was getting old, so it would be safer to take her away to avoid her father. The reason was also appropriate.
The next one is the servant. Song Jin wants to do business, but it is not convenient for her to go out in person. The officials in the yamen are not convenient for her to ask them to do private errands. It is particularly important to bring a servant who knows the people well and can run around outside.
She chose Zhang Hongan. Fortunately, A Rong had taught him some accounting skills, so he could be her comprador and do some accounting for her in the future.
If the food shop is short of staff, she can just hire a few more to fill the gap. By then, she won't be short of those few taels of silver.
As for Arong, she had to stay in the Lu's restaurant and keep an eye on her father. Based on her father's temper, he would most likely not treat them well, so it would be much easier for her to control him.
Song Jin arranged everything and was just waiting for the wedding day.
A few days before the wedding, Song Jin returned to the shop. The shop had not been doing business for the past two days as everything was being prepared for her wedding.
The whole family made new clothes, and every room was cleared out to put in the gifts and dowry. The biggest item among them was the step-out bed given by Mrs. Chai.
A step-out bed made of mahogany and beech wood almost embodies the aesthetics of architecture and furniture of this era. The carefully polished paint surface and intricate hollow carvings all demonstrate the craftsmanship of the craftsman.
Mrs. Chen had already found a wealthy mother-in-law for her, who was going to do her hair and make-up that day, but Song Jin wanted to refuse.
She didn't care about the meaning of having both a son and a daughter and growing old together, and intended to ask Mrs. Chen to do her makeup. However, Mrs. Chen had been a cook all her life, and there was no way she could do a bun for Song Jin's wedding. What's more, there were many jewelry and head ornaments, which she didn't know how to wear. Song Jin had no choice but to comply.
The wedding dress was delivered a few days in advance. It was a bright red robe with Qilin patterns on the sleeves, a plain silver belt, and a bright red veil with the pattern of King Wen's Hundred Sons. Also delivered was the golden phoenix crown to be used on the wedding day.
A pair of golden phoenix hairpins with pearl pendants hanging below, as well as a colorful pearl flower crown that Song Jin couldn't understand. No wonder Mrs. Chen said she couldn't comb her hair like that.
Song Jin reached out and touched the pearl crown. The gold and white pearls and the green emerald clouds all sparkled brightly and pierced her eyes.
When it comes to really becoming a man's wife, she seems not to be ready yet, or perhaps she will never be ready for this in her lifetime.
After everything was ready, Dujuan gave her something wrapped in cloth. Song Jin opened it and saw that it was an embroidered pattern of two butterflies playing with peonies.
The single yarn base is almost transparent. A pair of green butterflies are playing with red peonies, which is very festive.
"This was sent by Hong Xing. She wanted to embroider a large screen for you, but unfortunately she couldn't make it in time, so she could only embroider a small one. She didn't have the money to buy the base, so when we get there, she'll find a carpenter to carve a sandalwood base. It will look nice on the couch."
Song Jin smiled: "It is indeed beautiful."
It bears some resemblance to the Suzhou embroidery she had seen in the Suzhou Pavilion that year.
The day before the wedding, Song Jin arranged for someone to make the bed. Mrs. Chen brought Dujuan and Chunyun and directed the people arranged by Ji Shubai to carry the prepared dowries to the old house of the Ji family, set up the bed and make the bed. A set of beautiful huanghuali wooden tables and chairs were placed in the hall, and the slightly shabby hall instantly became luxurious.
The palace lanterns on the ceiling were replaced with new ones, the courtyard was covered with red brocade screens, the corridors were decorated with flowers, and even four maids were prepared for her. Everything was festive, just waiting for the hostess Song Jin to move in.
Early the next morning, Song Jin was called up to wash and bathe before dawn. When she was sitting in front of the dressing table, Mrs. Chen brought in a wealthy old lady with a chubby face and a festive expression.
The mother-in-law came in, bowed and said "Bye", then took out some dough and started praising Song Jin.
"Oh, the girl is really pretty. I heard that Lord Ji was planning to get married, and I was wondering whose girl it was. It turns out she is a neighbor. Today, I am honored to be here and I am here to comb the hair for the wife of the Tongzhi."
The mother-in-law was a pretty girl, with fair face and round cheeks. She also had a skillful pair of hands. When she applied powder on her face, Song Jin closed his eyes and could not see how the woman's hands moved. He only felt a burning pain on his face, one after another. When he opened his eyes again, a pair of willow-leaf eyebrows appeared above his eyes. He reached out and touched it, and it was smooth and delicate.
The mother-in-law held up a bronze mirror and asked her to look at it: "Many girls have asked me to do their facials, I guarantee that I won't make any mistakes."
After the face was ready, she had to comb her hair. All her long hair was combed up, and her head was filled with colorful flower ornaments and emerald cloud pearl hairpins. Song Jin felt that her neck seemed to be shorter before she finished.
With eyebrows drawn on, eyes painted, rosy cheeks and red lips, Song Jin looked in the bronze mirror and vaguely saw the shadow of a little beauty.
It was already noon when everything was cleaned up. Song Jin was so hungry that she wanted to go downstairs to eat, but Du Juan stopped her and brought her some food from downstairs.
Song Jin didn't dare to eat too much. She kept the belief of a modern bride that she should at least maintain her figure on the wedding night and not eat so much that her stomach became bloated.
Mrs. Chen was eating with her upstairs. Seeing that she didn't eat much, she said, "It will take a while for Master Ji to come and greet you. Don't go out this afternoon. There are many people visiting in the streets today, and we are too busy downstairs."
"Do you have enough manpower?"
"Don't worry, Master Ji has sent someone to help."
Mrs. Chen was really happy that Song Jin could marry Ji Shubai. After watching it so many times, she could see the affection between the two clearly. Now, just as the storyteller said, the lovers finally got married.
Watching Song Jin go from tattered clothes to phoenix hairpins, Mrs. Chen could not help but feel emotional. After so long, she could no longer tell the difference between her daughter and the person in front of her. Seeing her get married was like seeing a grass getting married, and her eyes were red.
How wonderful it would be if it was her Mancao who got married today, in rich and luxurious life, with a loving family. After entering the Ji family, she would never be bullied again, and every day would be a good day for her.
When she thought of this, her nose felt sore, so she lowered her head to eat and stopped talking.
Song Jin was more happy about getting married than sad about separation. The only thing that worried her was her "mother". She was too honest and obedient. If her "father" had any intention of taking a concubine in the future, she would have no choice but to endure it.
Song Jin had no way to stop Old Lu, just like modern parents who try to force their children to get married but fail. The only thing she could do was to pave a way out for Mrs. Chen.
The house, money, and people were all prepared for her. Even if she lost her man, at least she would have no worries for the rest of her life.
The wedding procession arrived near dusk. Song Jin identified them by the sound of drums and firecrackers outside, followed by the thumping of footsteps on the stairs.
"Here it comes—here it comes—"
Dujuan and Chunyun were obviously more excited than her. At the same time, Song Jin heard a commotion downstairs. Just as she was about to stick her head out of the window to look down, she was hugged back by Dujuan.
"You are a girl, so you have to be reserved. The wedding procession is at the door. Master Ji is here."
"Did you see anyone?"
Dujuan shook her head, but Chunyun had nothing to do, so she stood outside and looked around, and saw Ji Shubai from afar.
"I saw it, I saw it, riding a big white horse, wearing a bright red dress, so majestic."
Song Jin laughed immediately. Ji Shubai must be very handsome in red clothes and white horse.
Today's wedding procession is very lively.
Soldiers led the way in front, followed by drums and music at the back, a colorful sedan chair with flowers fluttering in the wind, the groom in red with a gold flower on his hat, riding a tall white horse that stood out from the crowd, and his colleagues followed on black horses.
There was loud drums and music, firecrackers blasted, and everyone's face was filled with joy. No matter what gossip there was about this marriage, it was suppressed quietly today.
Only a pair of old geese suffered. They were carried over staggeringly. Along the way, there were firecrackers, drums and music, as well as busy pedestrians, which frightened them quite a bit.
Song Jin sat upstairs and was not allowed to come down, so he could only rely on his ears to listen to the noise downstairs.
There were chaotic footsteps, and occasionally a woman with a deep voice could be heard speaking among the crowd of men. Song Jin recognized it was Mrs. Wang, who was helping to direct the preparations for welcoming her son-in-law.
After a long period of bustle, Song Jin heard the three women gather together to guess, but in the front hall they were preparing. Then he heard a clear voice: "Ji has received the order from heaven, and I will respectfully follow your order."
It was Ji Shubai, and he had already reached the inner courtyard.
Song Jin suddenly became excited and could not hear the reply from the host. She stood up hurriedly. Chunyun and Dujuan helped her adjust her clothes and headdress.
Not sure if it was because of excitement or something, but Song Jin's movements became more aggressive, so much so that the two strands of cards were swinging back and forth and almost got tangled. Fortunately, when the matchmaker came up to pick them up, they were able to clean up smoothly.
Song Jin helped the person downstairs, very carefully, fearing that the two people picking cards would reveal her thoughts.
When they arrived at the hall, they saw Ji Shubai already kneeling there, his face flushed and he was overjoyed. Song Jin's face also turned red, and the corners of his mouth rose unconsciously. With the help of the matchmaker, they knelt down together to listen to the ceremony.
These were the rules that had been taught before, and they were familiar. Song Jin suppressed his curiosity, not allowing himself to turn his head to look at Ji Shubai, and concentrated on listening to the best man's words until a red handkerchief covered his head.
Ji Shubai went out first on horseback and turned the wedding procession around. A colorful sedan chair decorated with flowers was carried to the door of Lu's restaurant. Song Jin was holding a white jade vase in his hand and was helped out of the door by someone.
After a shout of "get down from the sedan chair", Song Jin was helped into a sedan chair. She smelled a sweet fragrance, but before she could think about where the fragrance came from, the sedan chair was lifted up steadily. Suddenly, there were sounds of flutes, drums, and firecrackers. She could no longer think of anything else.
There was only one sentence in her mind: She was going to become Ji Shubai's wife.
I don't know what she was thinking, but her first reaction at that moment was to lift her veil and take a look at the scene of her wedding day, but she was discovered by Dujuan who was traveling with the sedan chair.
"Don't move, hold on to the Aquarius, this is a wedding."
Song Jin did not move anymore and sat there obediently. Through the gap in the veil, she could see his feet slapping the bottom of the sedan chair in excitement.
The bright red embroidered shoes are really beautiful.
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