The eighth day of the first lunar month dawned bright and sunny. At precisely seven thirty-eight in the morning, the groom, astride a modified, large off-road motorcycle, led a convoy of wedding vehicles adorned with large red "囍" (double happiness) characters, all making their way grandly into Zhengyi Village.
After a series of gate-crashing games and boisterous banter, Leng Kui successfully entered the front hall of Su Minghui's home.
The hall was filled with villagers and those who had come to celebrate and witness the occasion upon hearing the news. As the groom, clad in a red wedding robe, entered, everyone offered their congratulations with clasped hands. For a moment, the entire room echoed with continuous well wishes.
"Congratulations, strongman Kui, on gaining a beautiful bride."
"Congratulations, congratulations! Now that he's become a son-in-law of Zhengyi Village, we are all family."
"Thank you all for gracing us with your presence, thank you very much..."
"Congratulations, congratulations, congratulations to Village Chief Su for finding a fine son-in-law!"
"Indeed! Strongman Kui is a capable man."
As everyone was joyfully congratulating them, Su Muqing, dressed simply, emerged from an inner room. To avoid overshadowing the bride, she had dressed very understatedly for the occasion.
She wore a simple, light gold robe, her hair tied back in a casual ponytail, with no other adornments. Even her face was clean, without any makeup. Yet, even in her simple, unadorned appearance, her beauty captivated everyone present.
Su Muqing's status was now quite different. Upon her appearance, Su Minghui led her to the VIP seating area. To prevent undue attention from others, their table was separated by a screen.
"Here comes the bride..."
As whispers circulated, Su Cuiping, dressed in her bridal attire, was helped into the hall by a matchmaker. The Xiufu she wore was personally chosen and gifted by Leng Kui, and, naturally, it was produced from Su Muqing's spatial dimension.
On the bright red satin, exquisite patterns were embroidered with gold thread. The garment's cut was excellent, accentuating her slender and graceful figure. As the skirt swayed, it emitted varying halos of light.
Unlike other brides who made their entrance with veiled heads, Su Cuiping held a round fan with a gold-trimmed edge. The fan's surface depicted a vibrant landscape of blooming flowers.
She wore a complete set of gold-inlaid ruby jewelry. Tassels hung from just above her forehead, partially obscuring her face, and onlookers craned their necks to admire her subtly revealed beauty from the side.
Over her high-necked wedding robe, she wore an exquisitely designed gold necklace, a wedding gift from Su Muqing during the pre-wedding banquet on the sixth day. The pair of golden mandarin duck bracelets on her wrists were also a wedding gift from Su Muqing.
"Wow! So beautiful..."
"I never imagined Village Chief Su's daughter was this beautiful."
Village chiefs and leaders from other resettlement areas, upon seeing Su Cuiping, the dazzling gold jewelry she wore, and her substantial dowry, were filled with regret.
"If I had known she was this beautiful, I would have had my son propose to her."
"Your son has already been married once and has a child over two years old; why would she even consider him? My brother would have been more suitable..."
"What do you mean your brother is suitable? He's twenty-seven or twenty-eight and still unmarried. Is that something to be praised?"
Seeing the two village chiefs about to argue, someone quickly intervened to stop them, saying, "You two, please be quieter! There are important people here today."
"Honestly, you two are really dreaming. Did you see the gold jewelry on the Su family daughter's neck and hands? That was all given by the City Lord, and I heard it's all pure gold."
"Didn't you all see the eighteen loads of betrothal gifts displayed in the courtyard? I heard the new version of paper currency alone amounted to one hundred taels, and there were another hundred taels in silver ingots. Not to mention the other rare and precious items. Just those two hundred taels of betrothal silver, could you afford it?"
A group of people, some envious and some resentful, could not, however, hinder the smooth progression of the wedding.
Looking at Su Cuiping, so different from her usual self, Leng Kui was momentarily stunned. It wasn't until the matchmaker led her over and placed the red silk ribbon into his hand that he suddenly came to his senses and tightly gripped the ribbon.
The matchmaker, her wrinkled face beaming like a radiant chrysanthemum, looked at the eager Leng Kui and couldn't help but tease, "New groom, why do you look so unhurried? Shall I escort the bride back for a touch-up?"
"I'm eager, I'm eager! Who says I'm not eager? Look, I'm so eager I'm sweating..." As soon as the matchmaker finished speaking, Leng Kui, his face flushed, quickly replied.
After speaking, he wiped his forehead as if afraid Su Cuiping wouldn't see his eagerness. Seeing the glistening moisture on his palm, the surrounding crowd erupted in laughter.
"Then why are you standing there? Hurry and take your bride to pay respects!" His awkwardness amused the matchmaker greatly, and Su Cuiping, hiding behind her fan, couldn't stop her shoulders from shaking.
After the laughter and playful teasing, the matchmaker placed the other end of the red silk ribbon into Su Cuiping's hand and then, supporting her, walked with Leng Kui to the center of the hall.
Leng Kui had been an orphan since he was a child. Therefore, on the left side of the main hall sat Xu Fu and Madam Zhou. They had watched him grow up and were worthy of his bow. On the right sat the bride's parents, Su Minghui and his wife, Madam Su Wang.
Once they were in position, the auspicious time arrived from outside. After the firecrackers ceased, the matchmaker began to announce the rituals in a loud voice.
"Man and woman stand side by side before the hall, a heavenly gifted fairy matched with a good fate. Bowing left and right, starting with heaven and earth."
"Groom and bride bow to heaven and earth, for eternal love. The matchmaking deities descend to the mortal world, with the three matchmakers and six witnesses as their testimony. The matchmaking deities return to the heavenly court, leaving the six witnesses for mortals."
"Second bow to the elders, for prosperity in all seasons. With a black and lustrous ancestral ring, received from the groom's side and passed to the bride. Once received by the master of the house, may prosperity flourish for thousands of autumns."
"Third, husband and wife bow to each other, for a century of love. The bridal hall is gloriously set, with five-colored clouds signifying auspiciousness. May phoenixes dance in a thousand-year union, and may their love harmonize for a hundred generations."
"Escorted into the bridal chamber! Husband in front, wife behind, a pair, entering the bridal chamber with mutual affection. May they be the wealthiest, bearing noble sons, and producing a top scholar next year."
"Excellent! Well said!"
"Excellent! This matchmaker speaks so well. When my son gets married, I must hire her to announce the rituals!"
Hearing the matchmaker's splendid blessings, the onlookers applauded and praised her continuously.
"We still need to do the parade. Let's set off! If the bride can't enter the bridal chamber soon, the groom will be anxious."
"Hahahaha, look how red Brother San's face has become! I'm dying of laughter!"
Originally, the ceremony was planned to be held in the city. However, a new approach was taken: the ceremony would be held at the bride's home, followed by a parade through the city, and then the wedding banquet at the groom's residence.
After the ceremonies, amidst the teasing and urging of the crowd, Su Cuiping was helped by the matchmaker into the wedding car.
Seeing their daughter, whom they had doted on for over a decade, about to be married, even though they knew she would live a better life and that the groom would treat her well and cherish her, Su Minghui and Madam Wang couldn't help but shed tears of joy.
Before leaving, Su Cuiping couldn't help but want to turn back and look at her parents several times. The matchmaker, noticing her intention, quickly stopped her and whispered a reminder in her ear.
"A bride leaving home should cry; this shows you are a filial daughter who knows gratitude, acknowledging your reluctance to leave your parents and remembering their upbringing. But you must not turn back while crying. Once you step out of this door, your life will only get better from now on. Look forward with happiness. Turning back with tears is a serious taboo of the wedding ceremony, and your parents would worry if they saw it."
Heeding the matchmaker's words, Su Cuiping finally desisted from looking back. Her shoulders trembled, tears fell on her bright red wedding robe, and sobs escaped her lips.
She walked slowly, step by step. She felt that as long as she didn't step through that door, she would still be a daughter of the Su family, her parents' daughter.
But no matter how slowly she walked, she still reached the front hall. Leng Kui, with a foolish smile, approached Su Cuiping. Amidst the teasing of his brothers, he scooped up the tearful bride in his arms.
Looking at the sobbing Su Cuiping, Leng Kui's honest and handsome face showed a look of concern. "Wife, please don't cry anymore. I will definitely treat you well from now on."
The matchmaker covered her mouth with a handkerchief, concealing her smile. "The new groom pities you, but crying is part of a wedding; people will gossip if you don't cry."
"Who dares to laugh at her? I don't like to see my wife cry. Be good, don't cry anymore. When we return for the post-wedding visit, we'll come back to see your parents and stay for a few days." Leng Kui cradled her, comforting her as he spoke.
Hearing his words, Su Cuiping playfully glared at him, then said with a thick nasal tone, "What nonsense are you talking? How can we stay at my parents' home after the post-wedding visit? What would people think of you then?"
Seeing that Su Cuiping had finally stopped crying and was even joking with him, Leng Kui's smile returned. "Hehehe, let them think whatever they want. I have thick skin and I'm not afraid. As long as my wife is happy, I don't care about anything else."
Having picked up the bride, Leng Kui no longer rode his motorcycle. The newlyweds got into the lead car, and Su Muqing, along with the other members of the welcoming party, also boarded their respective vehicles. The bride's immediate family members were all seated in the cars as well.
At eight thirty-eight, the convoy slowly and steadily drove out of Zhengyi Village and onto the roads. They reached the urban area a little after nine.
The wedding cars slowly paraded around several main streets in the city. People lined the roadsides, all witnessing such a wedding for the first time.
When they reached areas with many onlookers, the convoy slowed down. Leng Ren and others rolled down their car windows, tossing out wedding candies and lucky money as they drove. The crowds rushed forward to snatch them, and those who caught something would offer a few words of blessing.
After the cars had circled the city twice, they arrived at Leng Kui's courtyard in the urban area. As soon as they alighted, the groom was pulled away by guests for drinking games. The matchmaker escorted the bride to the room.
Su Muqing initially wanted to accompany Su Cuiping, but after consideration, she decided to join the banquet instead, as this would lend prestige to Leng Kui.
Amidst clinking glasses, everyone who could manage to do so came to toast the groom, with each person starting with four, six, or eight cups. If not for the support of the other brothers from the Leng Zi team, Leng Kui would likely have been completely intoxicated by the end of the day.
Apart from Leng Kui's own people, Su Muqing was likely the busiest person at the banquet. After toasting the groom, everyone invariably came to toast her. However, all the drinks offered to her were intercepted by Lu Yuzhi, who stood beside her.
After several rounds of drinks, a completely inebriated Leng Kui was helped to the bridal chamber. With the groom so drunk, let alone a wedding night game, he couldn't even drink the ceremonial "Hejin" wine. Seeing this scene, those who still wanted to join the revelry chuckled and withdrew from the room.
After a while, Su Cuiping, who had been waiting by the bedside, gradually lost her patience. She stood up and prepared to help Leng Kui take off his shoes so he could rest properly on the bed.
However, as soon as she reached out her hand, it was grasped. Su Cuiping jumped in surprise and turned to look at the person on the bed. The man, who had appeared drunk just moments ago, now looked at her with clear eyes and a smile.
Su Cuiping pulled her hand away and said, somewhat annoyed, "You, you weren't drunk, were you? Then why were you not moving for so long? I thought you were drunk..."
Leng Kui reached out to hold her hand again and brought it to his lips for a kiss. "I was pretending to be drunk. If I hadn't pretended to be drunk, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to return to be with you tonight."
After lying down for a while, Leng Kui got up and walked to the table. He poured two cups of wine and brought them to the bedside. Su Cuiping took a cup, and they shared a sweet gaze as they drank the cross-cupped wine.
Leng Kui placed the empty wine cups aside, then returned to stare intently at Su Cuiping. "Wife, you look so beautiful today."
"Are you saying I didn't look good yesterday or in the past?" Su Cuiping frowned and looked at the man before her.
Leng Kui, realizing he had misspoke, quickly explained, "Of course not. I misspoke, please don't be angry. You always look beautiful in my heart."
"You're smart. I won't be angry this time." Su Cuiping pouted proudly, fiddling with the hem of her clothes.
Seeing that she was not angry, Leng Kui slowly moved closer to Su Cuiping until they were pressed tightly together. He then gently embraced the person he loved.
Su Cuiping lowered her head, a mix of shyness and nervousness. She didn't know where to put her hands, so she aimlessly picked at the embroidery on her clothes.
Leng Kui removed her hair crown and ornaments one by one. As the hairpin securing her hair fell, a strand of her intricately coiled hair cascaded down her back. Besides their headwear, the couple removed their outer garments and slowly lay down.
Leng Kui waved his hand, unfastening the bridal bed curtains, and the gauzy drapes slowly descended. On their wedding night, under the glow of the flickering red candles, the room was bathed in a hazy, romantic, warm, and sweet atmosphere.
The crescent moon, which had been hanging high in the night sky, seemed to shy away from the beautiful scene indoors and hid behind the clouds.