At this moment, the sound of firecrackers had yet to cease, and the crowd was standing far away, so they did not clearly hear what she said.
Old Uncle Wei saw it with his own eyes and nodded in satisfaction.
He thought, Yu Tingwan must be giving some instructions.
In the countryside, there were fewer rules, and Wei Zhao had this kind of body, so Yu Tingwan was afraid he would catch cold—this showed she was a considerate child.
But Wei Zhao did hear it. He had never seen someone as brazen in speech as Yu Tingwan.
The girl’s eyes were clean, whatever she thought in her heart was all written on her face—even if she was speaking shameless sweet talk just to satisfy her mouth.
But aside from that one time applying medicine, she hadn’t laid hands on him again.
He had heard too much, and had long since gotten used to it. Wei Zhao didn’t take it to heart.
The girls from the capital indeed knew books and etiquette, spoke with restraint, but those from high noble households were all skilled in scheming, wearing a layer of skin—who knew what kind of thoughts were hiding behind it.
In comparison, Yu Tingwan was truly genuine in nature.
Yu Tingwan again helped straighten his robe, smoothing out the creases.
Li Lian stuffed the red silk into Wei Zhao’s arms. Even if she disapproved of this marriage, at this point, she could only hope the two of them would be well.
“A’Lang, don’t let your parents wait in anxiety. Take your wife by the hand—it’s time to go next door and bow at the hall.”
Wei Zhao glanced at it.
The red silk was also old—older even than the wedding robes on his body.
He loosened his hand, and it fell directly to the ground.
Li Lian: …..
You little brat, you did that on purpose, didn’t you!
She held in a mouthful of anger, feeling it wasn’t worth it for Yu Tingwan! Marrying such a good girl was your blessing! How come you still don’t know to cherish her!
If not for… if not for Yu Tingwan rushing to set things with you, the young man she had on hand—if she introduced him, what would it have to do with you or Wei Shen!
All the elders remained silent, just feeling they couldn’t bear to watch.
Yu Tingwan pulled her lips into a flat line, staring straight at him.
“Husband had best give an explanation?”
That form of address made Wei Zhao’s eyelid twitch.
He spoke in a flat tone: “Saying this for the last time—I am not Wei Shen.”
But still, no one believed him.
Li Lian picked up the scalding-hot red silk and shoved it all into Wei Zhao’s hands: “Alright, alright, not, not, not.”
She urged, “Hurry up, don’t miss the lucky hour.”
Yu Tingwan smiled: “This time husband can hold it steady, right?”
When she hits people, her strength is big, but when she calls him husband, her voice is soft.
Wei Zhao, however, heard a threat in it, eyes drooping, not knowing what he was thinking.
He was tired, chose to compromise, and responded with a nasal sound full of reluctance.
“Mn.”
Yu Tingwan poked him again: “One end is mine.”
Wei Zhao hesitated for a moment, then handed her half of the red silk.
Li Lian: …Finally comfortable now.
Aunt Wu behind them also let out a breath: “A good thing takes time, a good thing takes time! Alright, time to go.”
Her vision suddenly went dark—Yu Tingwan’s sight was blocked, the bridal veil had been placed over her head.
She held tightly onto the red silk—the other end was held by the man she would sleep under the same quilt with.
Yu Tingwan’s feelings were a bit complicated.
There was anticipation, there was joy, and there was also not knowing what to do.
She had waited for this moment for a long time.
When she was in the Hu family, she often thought: once she got married and had her own household, she would have someone to cherish her. No longer would she have to endure Wang-shi’s suffocating temper.
But Hu Dazhu would always say:
[“Wan-niang, your uncle selfishly wants to keep you a few more years. Once Erlang passes the county exam and becomes a xiucai, the whole family will benefit. In the future, there’ll be no shortage of people coming to propose marriage. Uncle must choose a good one for you, so he can face your mother when the time comes.”]
And as for Hu Yaozu—
He would secretly stop her away from Wang-shi.
[“Wan-mei, I’m fond of you. I’ll marry you in the future. Wait for me to place high in the imperial exam.”]
Every time Hu Yaozu came back from the academy, he was wearing a scholar’s robe.
He had never gone down to the fields to do labor, full of bookish air, and his appearance was delicate and fair.
If it were another girl, being looked at with those affectionate eyes, she’d have long since fallen head over heels.
But not Yu Tingwan.
She looked down on Hu Yaozu’s tender skin and soft flesh—he couldn’t even lift a full bucket of water without effort.
Wei Zhao weakly walked forward. Yu Tingwan couldn’t see the road clearly and still had to worry that Wei Zhao might walk unsteadily and fall, so she followed right behind him, step for step.
The two families were close. Out the courtyard and around a corner, and they arrived at the Wei household.
“New bride enters the house, joy fills the door!”
In her ear came the shout of Old Uncle Wei.
After entering the Wei household, they walked a few more steps.
“New bride crosses the basin, wards off evil and ensures smoothness!”
The Wei family wouldn’t make things hard for the new bride, and fearing she might burn her skirt, the fire wasn’t strong.
Yu Tingwan slightly lifted the hem of her skirt and stepped over.
The Wei household couple had already changed into clean clothes early on. They sat left and right, with a wooden table covered in red paper placed in the center.
Inside the room were also Hui-niang’s elder brothers and sisters-in-law from her maiden family, all craning their necks to look.
The footsteps outside grew closer and closer.
Yu Tingwan received from Aunt Wu the evergreen plant, which symbolized joyful union and everlasting harmony. It was the one she had brought back to the old house earlier.
According to local custom, both the man and woman must prepare one each, and the bride must bring hers from her maternal home to the groom’s family.
So Hui-niang had prepared two pots.
Yu Tingwan entered the main hall. Under Li Lian’s guidance, she stepped forward and placed the evergreen plant in her arms onto the wooden table before the Wei couple.
There was already one pot of evergreen on the wooden table. Now, the two pots sat close together, and with Yu Tingwan’s movement, the peanuts hanging from the leaves swayed gently. [Note: Hanging peanuts from the leaves is a symbolic gesture—peanuts represent fertility and prosperity.]
“Blessings and wealth, mandarin ducks in pair, good things come in twos.”
Yu Tingwan was helped back to stand beside Wei Zhao.
“New couple, offer your respects—kneel!”
Yu Tingwan knelt, but Wei Zhao didn’t react, staring off in a daze.
“This won’t do, this won’t do.”
Hui-niang quickly spoke up: “Uncle, I’m afraid A’Lang will pull at his wound.”
Didn’t you see even just walking tires Wei Zhao out!
And yet he was such a stubborn seed, just wouldn’t use a crutch.
Old Uncle Wei quickly changed his words: “I was muddle-headed. Husband and wife are one body—if A’Lang’s wife kneels in offering, it’s the same.”
“One bow to Heaven and Earth, with Heaven as witness and Earth as proof.”
Yu Tingwan bowed forward toward the doorway.
Wei Zhao did not move.
Old Uncle Wei furrowed his brows.
Forget it, forget it.
“Second bow to the high hall, the grace of raising one is as heavy as a mountain.”
Yu Tingwan knelt with deep sincerity—she was extremely grateful to Hui-niang and Wei Shouzhong.
Wei Zhao’s eyelids were half-lowered, still unmoving.
Ever since his father died of illness, aside from the ancestral tablets in the ancestral hall of the Shun Guo Duke’s manor, he hadn’t knelt for anyone.
Old Uncle Wei saw it all: …
Couldn’t you at least bow your head a little as a gesture? Or if nothing else, at least nod?!
Forget it, forget it.
“Husband and wife bow to each other—a perfect couple under Heaven.”
The young girl faced Wei Zhao.
Wei Zhao slowly drawled, “I…”
His voice was neither loud nor soft, yet he was the center of attention.
Everyone turned to look all at once.
Hui-niang immediately stood up: “What is it, what is it—are you feeling unwell somewhere?”
Li Lian didn’t want a joyful event to turn into a white affair [白事, báishì, refers to funerals, which are associated with the color white in Chinese culture]: “We just stepped out the door, and now you’ve been standing for so long—should Aunty move a stool over for you to sit and rest for a bit?”
Wei Zhao’s gaze was vacant, and he slowly said, “Sleepy.”
Everyone: …
Yu Tingwan coaxed in a gentle tone: “Just bear with it a bit.”
Wei Zhao opened his mouth: “But—”
Yu Tingwan didn’t want to hear it. As her body lowered, she controlled her strength, and even tiptoed to press down on the back of Wei Zhao’s head.
Old Uncle Wei, excited: “Rite complete!”
Wei Zhao almost laughed from anger: …..
But then heard Yu Tingwan mutter in a low voice: “Truly a drama king!”