The tenth day of the tenth month is a good day for marriage.
As the morning light of the day passed over the old locust tree at the village entrance, the duck shed of Yang Xu's family became bustling with activity. The drakes flapped their wings, making the bamboo fence creak, as if congratulating the happy event.
Yang Tao was squatting by the shed feeding the ducklings. He was wearing new clothes today, looking radiant. His younger brother was getting married, and he was certainly happy. Yang Tao's son, Liu Rui, was following closely behind him. Suddenly, he grabbed a handful of duck food from Yang Tao's hand, startling him. He quickly pried Liu Rui's hand open and hurriedly scooped up some water to clean it for him.
Freshly tied red silk hung from the eaves of the family's green-tiled roof, and festive red wedding characters were pasted everywhere, tinging the steam rising from the pot with a festive air. Yang Xu's father was adding firewood to the stove, and the copper spoon stirred the broth, making a bubbling sound. Several ducks floated in the pot, and the duck fat, mingling with the rich aroma of the duck meat, filled the room early in the morning.
Yang Xu got up after a good sleep and washed up. He looked energetic, but a little nervous upon closer inspection. He took out the wedding dress embroidered by Yuger, stroked the embroidery on the lapel, and a hint of tenderness appeared in his eyes.
After several years of training and a stint as a clerk in an embroidery shop, Yu'er's embroidery skills had become somewhat renowned. This time, she put even more effort into her wedding attire: Yang Xu's wedding gown was embroidered with rows of mandarin ducks playing in the water in gold thread along the lapels, the stitching as fine as the spring grass beside a duck shed; her own red wedding dress was embroidered with a lotus pattern stretching from the neckline to the hem. A phoenix holding a peony shimmered in the morning light, and even Feng Xiu Niang marveled at it, saying it was the most vibrant wedding dress she had ever seen.
*
At three o'clock in the morning, Yang Xu arrived with his wedding procession. He sat on a donkey, his bright red wedding gown framing his radiant eyes, making him look exceptionally handsome.
The surrounding villagers were spouting auspicious words like they were free. Zhao Shiyun and Lin Yan were scattering wedding candy and money at the door, grinning from ear to ear. Zhao Yian, dressed like a New Year's picture doll, was running around trying to join in the fun.
Yu Ge'er, supported by Yang Xu, sat in the carriage. Through the door curtain, he could almost smell the faint aroma of braised duck mixed with the scent of soap nuts on him, and he couldn't help but curl his lips. Just now, when Yang Xu's hand was holding his, he quietly pressed a red handkerchief embroidered with lotus flowers into his palm and felt his fingertips tremble slightly.
During the ceremony, Yang Xu's ducks, as if on a whim, quacked loudly in the shed, almost as if they were singing a wedding song. Wedding cakes were placed on the altar, their plump white cakes dotted with red plums, creating a striking contrast with the freshly braised duck.
There are both duck and tofu at home, and today's banquet is simply a paradise for duck and tofu. The guests sit around on the long benches in the yard, gnawing on the greasy duck legs, chewing on the tender tofu, and listening to the wedding tune played by the blind grandpa from the neighboring village. The laughter makes the red silk on the roof sway.
As night fell, the guests gradually dispersed. Yang Xu walked into the bridal chamber carrying a bowl of warm duck soup. She saw Yu Ge'er untying her hair in front of a bronze mirror, the gold thread on her red wedding gown flickering in the candlelight.
"You must be tired," he handed over the bowl of soup, "My grandma said drinking it will warm your body." Yu Ge'er took the bowl, took a sip, scooped up a piece of duck meat with a spoon and put it into his mouth, chewing it slowly, "Delicious~" He looked up at Yang Xu and smiled.
Yang Xu scratched his head and suddenly pulled out a handkerchief from his bosom. "Guess what this is?" He unfolded it, revealing a jade plaque tied with a red string. The plaque resembled a pool of stagnant spring water, made of the finest Hetian blue-white jade. Yu Ge'er took it, feeling warm to the touch. When he held it up to the light, he saw a few wisps of pale blue clouds swirling within the jade, almost imperceptible, as if the hazy March sky had been kneaded into the stone's veins. Yang Xu chuckled, "I bought it in town a few days ago and thought I'd give it to you today."
Yu Ge'er chuckled and opened his red lips slightly: "Help me put it on." Yang Xu picked up the jade pendant, unfolded the red string with trembling hands, and slowly approached Yu Ge'er. When he smelled the fragrance on his body, he felt as if he was drunk. It took him a long time to put the jade pendant on Yu Ge'er.
Yu Ge'er put down the bowl of soup he had finished drinking and said with a blushing face, "It's getting late. It's time to wash up and rest."
Outside the window, a few lazy murmurs occasionally came from the duck shed, mixing with the fragmented words in the house, weaving the most simple and warmest picture of joy in this rural night.
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