Qi Zhenzhen heard the people around her whispering—
"It's four strong men carrying the sedan chair, how can they be so tired they're bending over?"
"How heavy can the new bride be?"
"People say a thousand catties, a thousand catties, could she really weigh a thousand catties?"
"Don't be ridiculous. If she really weighed a thousand catties, they wouldn't be able to carry her. She's just a bit plump, a bit sturdy."
"The village head's eldest grandson is the handsome young man of our village, and he's educated. Marrying a sturdy wife, doesn't she seem mismatched in every way?"
"No wonder that young man looks so miserable and thin. Perhaps he doesn't want this marriage?"
People are naturally curious, have a desire for novelty, and enjoy a spectacle. Thus, they all stared intently at the sedan chair, eager to see what kind of bride would emerge from it.
The sedan curtain was lifted, and a wedding attendant stepped forward, ready to help the new bride.
The new bride, of course, was covered by a red veil, so no one expected to see her face yet.
First, a foot clad in a red embroidered shoe emerged.
Although foot-binding was no longer fashionable, girls' feet were generally small and delicate. This foot, however…
The surrounding men unconsciously looked at their own feet. The size seemed quite similar. This was truly a natural foot.
Even though the wedding attendant was a stout woman, the new bride, now fully revealed, was at least twice as broad as the attendant. What was even more surprising was that the new bride wasn't wearing a veil. Her left arm was supported by the attendant, while her right hand held a glistening, oily roast chicken, which she was gnawing on. Thick makeup on her face was smudged in places by the chicken, creating a stark contrast of black and white.
A common thought flashed through everyone's minds: this new bride of the Song family was truly… unique!
Faced with this scene, Song Mingze wished he could disappear into the ground. His dream bride was not like this. At the very least, their appearances should match to be pleasing to the eye.
"Song Mingze, what are you spacing out for? My mother said that after the new bride alights from the sedan, the husband must carry her into the house." The new bride's voice, like a rusty gong, was deafening. She glared unhappily at Song Mingze.
Song Mingze's small frame, if three Song Mingzes were combined, they still wouldn't be as sturdy as this new bride. If Song Mingze were to carry her, he would surely be crushed.
Villagers spoke without much refinement. Upon hearing the new bride's words, someone immediately shouted, "Song Mingze's wife, don't you look at your man's scrawny physique? Carrying you would break his back! In our opinion, it would be more fitting for you to carry Song Mingze inside."
The new bride paused, then grinned, "You're absolutely right."
With that, she handed the roast chicken in her hand to the wedding attendant, bent down, scooped up Song Mingze in her arms, and entered the Song family gate amidst the crowd's cheers.
To be carried into one's home by their bride was something that would be talked about with great relish for years to come.
Song Mingze struggled, but his strength was no match for his wife's.
Inside the house, the elders of the Song family saw the new bride carrying Song Mingze in, their faces flushing crimson. What was all this?
The village head, Song, glared fiercely at his eldest daughter-in-law, Chen Shi. With such a daughter-in-law entering the family, the Song family had become the laughingstock of the entire village.
"Wan Niang, quickly put your man down. Don't, don't tire yourself," Chen Shi said awkwardly. "The wedding ceremony still needs to be performed. How can you do that while carrying him?"
Xun Wan Niang grinned, "Oh, right. Then I shouldn't be carrying him."
Song Mingze, now free, had a face as red as a pig's liver. His chest heaved, and he glared fiercely at Xun Wan Niang.
The wedding attendant quickly placed the veil back on Xun Wan Niang. The officiant beside them began reciting auspicious phrases, commencing the wedding ceremony. (In ancient times, there were specialized officiants.)
First, they bowed to heaven and earth, then to the elders, and finally, to each other.
Song Mingze was very unwilling, but he was forced by Xun Wan Niang.
After the ceremony, it was time to escort them to the bridal chamber. Xun Wan Niang directly picked up Song Mingze again and followed the wedding attendant. Seeing this, the crowd lost all desire to tease the newlyweds. The new bride was a bit too formidable, and it would be difficult to handle if they provoked her.
The wedding pranks in the countryside were always lively, but the crowd, as if by prior agreement, skipped this step.
The village head, Song, forced a smile from beginning to end. Chen Shi was also unable to feel happy now. She had initially thought that Xun Wan Niang was just not very attractive, but now it seemed there were many more problems.
The village head, Song, along with his sons Song Zhishu and Song Zhili, greeted the guests. Song Mingze, who was supposed to come out to toast them, never appeared. The guests, with a tacit understanding, did not call for Song Mingze to come out.
In the bridal chamber, the wedding attendant withdrew after the couple drank the nuptial wine. Xun Wan Niang's maidservant helped her change her clothes and then also withdrew, leaving the bride and groom alone in the room.
By this time, Xun Wan Niang had washed off her heavy makeup. Her dark complexion formed a stark contrast with Song Mingze's fair skin.
"Husband, I'm hungry. Have someone send food in, and let's eat together," Xun Wan Niang said, plopping down beside the table and tilting her head.
A delicate little girl tilting her head is very cute. But this dark, imposing Xun Wan Niang tilting her head made Song Mingze feel nauseous.
"Looking at you, I can't eat," Song Mingze said through gritted teeth, his face dark.
Xun Wan Niang called her maidservant in. Soon, the maidservant brought in a lot of food from outside, mostly meat.
"Come over and eat with me." After dismissing the maidservant, Xun Wan Niang looked at Song Mingze and repeated herself.
"Are your ears deaf or is your brain not working properly? Don't you understand what I'm saying?" Song Mingze sat on the kang, refusing to move. "Looking at you, I can't eat!"
Xun Wan Niang stood up, walked over to Song Mingze, and, like picking up a chick, lifted him to the table. "With your scrawny body, how are you going to serve me if you don't eat more? My mother said that during the wedding night, both people should do 'shameful things' together. 'Shameful things' are very enjoyable, and they can also produce babies."
Song Mingze's face turned a purplish-red. How could this woman be so immodest, saying such things so casually?
Thinking that she would always be by his side from now on, Song Mingze felt like vomiting. What bad karma had he committed to be tormented by such a woman?
Xun Wan Niang held Song Mingze with one hand and grabbed a chicken leg with the other, devouring it.
Song Mingze hadn't eaten much these past few days, and his stomach rumbled.
Xun Wan Niang tore off a chicken leg and offered it to Song Mingze. "People who go against food are all mentally challenged. My mother said you are very good at studying and will have great achievements in the future. Why do I think you're a bit foolish?"
Eating meant being smart, and not eating meant being foolish. Song Mingze didn't know how to refute this. Although he didn't take the chicken leg offered by Xun Wan Niang, he still picked up his chopsticks.
In the afternoon, the guests dispersed. Qi Zhenzhen chatted with Song Mingyue for a while and was about to leave.
Just as Song Mingyue was about to see her off, a beast-like roar came from Song Mingze's room, like a dying cry. The sound was sharp and piercing, startling everyone in the Song family.