The twenty-third of the twelfth lunar month, a clear day.
Early in the morning, the house was already lively. Some were preparing food, others arranging tables and benches, and some were setting up wedding decorations. The atmosphere was busy yet orderly, a controlled chaos.
As the groom-to-be, Huang Gousheng was so excited that he hadn't slept all night, yet not a trace of fatigue showed on his face. He seemed to have consumed a thousand-year-old ginseng, brimming with energy.
He'd dash off to the kitchen to ask Tian Guihua if the wedding feast ingredients were all prepared, then to Zhao Dazhuang to confirm if all guests had been notified, and then to Yang Ming about whether there were enough tables and benches.
Ma San, seeing him hop around like a flea, yet not hitting any crucial points and instead hindering everyone's work, pushed him onto a chair. He told Gousheng to rest well and conserve his strength, as he'd be tired enough later in the bridal chamber.
The people around burst into laughter.
Gousheng's old face flushed red, but he still couldn't sit still. The moment Ma San turned around, he bounced up again, ready to attend to his own wedding.
Fearing that Gousheng's excessive excitement would exhaust him during the day, leaving him with no energy for the night, Ma San raised his arm and delivered a chop to the back of Gousheng's neck. Gousheng's head tilted, and he lost consciousness.
It was still early before the evening. It was the perfect time for him to get a good sleep. Ma San carried him and placed him on the long bench under the bamboo pavilion.
People passing by, catching a glimpse of Gousheng sleeping under the bamboo pavilion, snoring thunderously, all felt reassured.
According to Yang Ming, Gousheng had been so excited that he had barely slept for three consecutive days. Everyone worried that he might falter at a crucial moment. Now, with a good sleep, even if he faltered at night, it wouldn't be too severe.
On the other side, the bride-to-be, Lu Hao, wasn't faring any better.
Last night, she had bathed for a full hour, wishing she could rub off a layer of her skin. She wanted to present a clean self to Gousheng.
The bride and groom were not allowed to see each other before the wedding, so Lu Hao could only stay in her room. All the news from outside was brought to her by Manman, who scurried in and out with her short legs.
Manman said, "Mom, Daddy is sleeping under the bamboo pavilion because Uncle Ma wants him to rest well, otherwise he won't have energy for work tonight."
Lu Hao's face instantly turned red up to her ears. Brother Ma really... how could he say such things.
Manman, puzzled, furrowed her small brows and asked, "Mom, Daddy is getting married to you today. Why does he still have to work tonight? Didn't Auntie give everyone the day off?"
Lu Hao immediately covered Manman's mouth and quickly glanced around. She leaned in and whispered into Manman's ear, "Manman, you mustn't mention Daddy working tonight again. Children shouldn't... shouldn't talk about adults working. Do you remember?"
Manman's brows furrowed even deeper. Although she was very confused, she obediently said, "Mom, I understand."
Just as the mother and daughter finished speaking, Tian Guihua arrived with breakfast. "Sister Hao, eat your breakfast quickly. Sister Du and the others said they'll come over to help you with your makeup and hair."
Lu Hao smiled shyly, "Thank you, Sister Guihua."
Tian Guihua chided, "We're family, what's with the politeness. Alright, eat it while it's hot. I'm going back to the kitchen to get busy."
"Okay!" Lu Hao responded affectionately with a smile.
At this moment, in front of Bai Sheng and Lu Ye's room, Lu Yin stood anxiously outside. She needed to help Bai Sheng get ready, as she was to be the officiant and needed to be well-dressed.
However, after knocking for a long time, there was no response from inside. Every night, after the two masters entered their room, they would lock the door tightly from the inside. Outsiders absolutely couldn't get in without forcefully banging on the door.
Seeing her rubbing her hands and pacing back and forth at the door, Du Min said gently, "Yin, go do something else first. Just let the young madam sleep. There's still plenty of time, no need to rush."
Only then did Lu Yin heave a sigh of relief and go to help with the banquet setup.
Du Min looked at the tightly closed door, curved her lips into a smile, and thought, "Young people together, the novelty hasn't worn off yet. A little indulgence is normal." When she was in her teens and with her Old Feng, she was the same, non-stop, day and night.
In the spatial realm, Bai Sheng was indeed sleeping soundly.
Last night, while discussing Gousheng and Lu Hao's wedding, Lu Ye felt guilty. He said that when the children were a bit older, he would hold a grand wedding ceremony for Bai Sheng.
Bai Sheng smiled and said that she didn't particularly care about the formalities, as long as he truly loved her and only her, every day would feel like a wedding.
Lu Ye immediately swore to the heavens, pledging to love only her for all eternity, and that no other woman would ever enter his heart.
When their emotions ran high and words couldn't express the feelings in their hearts, they could only use intense actions to prove it.
Therefore, Bai Sheng was tossed and turned by Lu Ye countless times, each time almost costing her her life.
The beastly man's energy was truly terrifying, his expression of passion so wild, it was practically... inhuman!
After it was over, Bai Sheng felt like a puddle of mud, unable to even lie down.
At that moment, with only her brain able to move, she secretly resolved to increase her fitness routine. She couldn't always be defeated by Lu Ye; at the very least, she wanted to be on par with him.
Lu Ye, as usual, got up early to exercise, full of vigor, showing no sign of how long he had been doing push-ups and arm raises last night.
He knew Bai Sheng was exhausted last night, so he didn't wake her. Gousheng's wedding was not as important as his dear Bao's sleep, so there was no need to rush.
He went alone to the wooden house behind the horse farm to pick up the four little ones.
The little ones were crawling everywhere.
The eldest, Huahua, lay in the flower bushes outside the wooden house, surrounded by Lightning and Heavy Rain, as well as a circle of toads, scorpions, spiders, and countless other crawling creatures. These creatures encircled her like stars around the moon, as if protecting her.
The second child lay on the wooden floor, still holding the comic book Bai Sheng had drawn for them. Although the little animals in the comic book had peculiar appearances – the horses looked like sheep but weren't sheep, and the sheep looked like donkeys but weren't donkeys – it didn't matter, the second child loved looking at them.
The third child was the most adept at enjoying himself, lying sprawled out in the rocking chair, crystal-clear saliva dripping down his rosy lips onto his cheek.
The fourth child dangled halfway from the edge of the bed, his feet not touching the ground, his little face still flushed red from sleep.
Lu Ye looked at his four little ones and couldn't help but laugh.
It seemed the little ones who slept separately from their parents had played very wildly last night. Lu Ye couldn't bear to wake them, so he quietly retreated from the room and, after walking a good distance away, began practicing martial arts.
For Lu Ye, besides Bai Sheng, the children, and his family, the most important thing was martial arts. His comprehension and internalization of martial arts even astonished himself.
It was as if he was born for martial arts.
At the age of eight, he accompanied his parents to town and unexpectedly witnessed a duel between two masked masters.
What puzzled him was that after watching it only once, he firmly remembered every move and stance of both fighters. Upon returning home, he hid in a secluded corner and, to his surprise, learned all their moves flawlessly.