On the day of the wedding, Bai Shibao woke up Bai Shihai and Deng Min at four in the morning to start fussing.
Because Li Shuxian was in the logistics department, he even got Bai Shibao a new military uniform. Wearing the new uniform with a big red flower on his chest, he drove a large tractor in front of him, followed by a line of bicycles, to pick up his bride in the county town.
The agreed-upon bride price was one hundred yuan, but Deng Min also gave Guan Xinyan a pair of silver cloves and a pair of silver bracelets.
Another bicycle had already been delivered to the Guan family. It was for the Guan family, so Guan Xinyan didn't need to take it back. Bai Shibao also bought a bicycle and a sewing machine, which were temporarily placed at Bai Jiaojiao's house. After he got married and Guan Xinyan's application to join the army was approved, the army would allocate housing for her, and then they would renovate it together.
Bai Jiaojiao and Shen Heng delivered a television as they had agreed. Bai Shiqing and Li Shuxian went back and discussed it, and decided to buy an appliance as well. So they went to the department store and picked out an electric fan. All of these were in Yancheng and they didn't bring them back.
Including the bride price and the wedding gifts from the Bai family, it was quite a prestigious affair in the county.
Although Guan Xinyan married from the city to the countryside, it was a marriage of convenience for her. After the wedding, she would be able to work in Yancheng. The army would definitely arrange a job for her, and she could sell her current position to someone else.
Guan's relatives all praised Guan Xinyan for being successful, which made Guan's father proud.
The Bai family held a lavish banquet in the village, which stretched almost from one end of the village to the other. Bai Shibao, the groom, didn't stop smiling all day.
They only tease the groom when he goes to the bride's house; they don't have the custom of teasing him in the bridal chamber. When guests come for lunch, they leave after the couple returns to their room.
The couple's bridal chamber was the same side room that Bai Shibao had previously lived in. Although it was somewhat simple, Deng Min had cleaned the room spotlessly, wiping away all the dust from the windows and coffins. She had laid out two layers of cotton mattresses, and the sheets and quilt covers were all new. The quilt cover even featured mandarin ducks playing in the water, which was very festive.
Guan Xinyan had only been here twice before her marriage, but Bai Shibao and Bai Shiman slept together at night, and she slept in this room.
But this place was still somewhat unfamiliar to her. She sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and heard the door creak open. Bai Shibao came in carrying an enamel basin.
"Go ahead and wash up. This basin is the one you brought. The towels and soap are new ones my sister-in-law bought, so please don't mind them."
Bai Shibao's skin was dark, but now it's a deep, purplish red.
"Thank you."
Although Guan Xinyan and Bai Shibao had been dating for two years, they actually didn't see each other often, usually just writing letters and talking on the phone for a few minutes.
Guan Xinyan felt a little awkward becoming someone's new daughter-in-law.
Bai Shibao was a man of few words. After he came in, he stood to one side, staring at Guan Xinyan washing her face without moving.
The room was eerily quiet, save for the splashing water she was stirring. Guan Xinyan felt even more embarrassed, but since it was her wedding day and she had applied a lot of powder and rouge, she had to wash her face properly.
After washing, the water looked very cloudy because of the soap. Guan Xinyan was a little embarrassed and wanted to pour it herself, but Bai Shibao beat her to it.
"Let me do it. You've had a long day. Take off your shoes and get on the kang to rest. I'll fetch you a basin of water to wash your feet."
Bai Shibao took the water and went out again. Guan Xinyan stood in front of the kang (a heated brick bed), shyly clenching her fingers.
There was only a kang (a heated brick bed) in this room before. The table and chairs were moved in by Deng Min today, so it feels very crowded.
Guan Xinyan didn't get on the kang (heated brick bed), but stood awkwardly by the table.
Bai Shibao came in with water again. Seeing that she was still on the floor, he put the basin in front of the chair and said, "Then you can wash."
Guan Xinyan saw Bai Shibao walk towards that building again, as if he was going to watch her wash her feet, just like before.
"Shi Bo, you..."
"What's wrong? Is there anything you need me to do?" Bai Shibao asked very solicitously.
"It's nothing, it's just that could you please stop staring at me like that?"
After saying that, Guan Xinyan lowered her head shyly.
Bai Shibao said, "But I haven't seen you in so long, I want to see you more often."
Bai Shibao's straightforward and simple reply left Guan Xinyan speechless.
He kept staring at her, and Guan Xinyan was too embarrassed to take off her shoes in front of Bai Shibao.
Bai Shibao felt that perhaps Guan Xinyan was waiting for him to make a good impression: "Let me help you take it off!"
"No! No need!"
Guan Xinyan then bent down, took off her shoes and socks, and soaked her feet in hot water.
Bai Shibao scratched his head: "Your feet are so small and beautiful."
Guan Xinyan blushed instantly: "Why...why are you saying this?"
"We're husband and wife now, can't I even say that?"
Bai Shibao remained straightforward and blunt, leaving Guan Xinyan speechless.
She just splashed some water on it and considered it done.
After Guan Xinyan finished washing up, Bai Shibao went to the yard and casually splashed some cool water on himself. It was hot now, and he was used to taking showers like this in the army.
The courtyard was eerily quiet. Deng Min had put Bai Manlin to sleep early on, ensuring that they wouldn't disturb their wedding night.
When Bai Shibao returned, he was shirtless. Guan Xinyan instinctively turned her head away, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw the scars on Bai Shibao's body and couldn't help but turn back.
Why do you have so many injuries?
"I was injured accidentally while on a mission, it's nothing serious."
"When did you get injured? Why didn't you ever tell me?"
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