Wedding: Rarer things are more valuable
Su Xiaoman helped the Zhou family wash the dishes. She had always been very interested in the hand pump well in the farmyard. Usually, there would be a bowl of water beside the hand pump. If there was no water in the well, pouring water into it and then pumping it would result in a continuous flow of water.
Even though some households already had tap water, they still chose to use well water.
Under the cool moonlight, drifting clouds occasionally obscured the bright moon, scattered stars twinkled around, and the faint scent of osmanthus wafted in the breeze.
Standing by the window on the second floor, Su Xiaoman felt unusually relaxed. With today’s lotus root dishes finished, they were all preparing to return. Thinking of returning to Qiao Xin Village inevitably reminded her of the Xie family.
The malicious and mean mother-in-law Sun Mei, the difficult second sister-in-law and Xie Yaozu, as well as the eldest sister-in-law and the third sister-in-law, and the obedient and well-behaved daughter-in-law.
… Sun Mei should know that Xie Mingtu is not her own son, but… Does she know that Jiang Yantang is her biological son?
Su Xiaoman recalled Sun Mei’s expression when she mentioned Jiang Yantang. Obviously, she didn’t know her relationship with Jiang Yantang.
And… would the original plot affect things? Would the main characters have a halo effect?
This was one of Su Xiaoman’s concerns.
At this moment, there was a slight sound outside the door. A tall young man pushed open the door and walked in. Su Xiaoman turned her head to look—it was Xie Mingtu. He had obviously just taken a shower, with a hint of moisture clinging to his body, emitting a fresh scent.
His fine black hair was wet, some sticking together or clinging to his slender cheeks, making his facial features even sharper.
When Xie Mingtu looked up at her, crystal-clear water droplets rolled down his chin, and his black, gem-like eyes were as damp as his hair.
Su Xiaoman swallowed, wondering if she had added a few layers of filters to her eyes recently. She felt that Xie Mingtu seemed to be getting more and more handsome.
She almost forgot his rough appearance from before.
Thinking about how the person she shares a bed with every day was changing, she realized that when they returned this time, the people in the village probably wouldn’t recognize him.
Her mother, Liu Shufeng, would definitely point at Xie Mingtu and smile proudly at her, saying, “Didn’t I tell you? This child is so handsome!”
Su Xiaoman smiled and picked up a white towel, tossing it to Xie Mingtu’s face and pointing to his hair. “Wipe it.”
Speaking of which, she really envied Xie Mingtu’s short hair. A simple wipe would dry it. It’s said that most men don’t bother to wash their hair separately. Just rubbing it during a shower is almost equivalent to washing their hair.
Xie Mingtu took the towel obediently and sat down at the bedside, rubbing his hair. His originally obedient hair exploded into a hedgehog after rubbing.
It turned out that even if a good-looking person became a hedgehog, they wouldn’t be ugly.
Xie Mingtu put on his old clothes again, very loose, similar to refugee-style pyjamas, making him look skinny. But Su Xiaoman knew that despite his thinness, his body was still tough and muscular.
That night when she slept in his arms, Su Xiaoman faintly felt the contours of his muscles.
Perhaps it was trained from catching rabbits on weekdays.
I heard he runs faster than a rabbit. Before, when Lin Zhidong startled the grass, almost letting the escaping Wang Tongqian slip away, it was Xie Mingtu who caught up and kicked him to the ground. Unfortunately, Su Xiaoman didn’t see his heroic figure at that time.
Just thinking about it was quite exciting.
It is said that Wang Tongqian is the fastest runner within a radius of ten miles. He usually steals chickens and dogs. When discovered, he runs away. Not to mention people, even the three big black dogs guarding the house couldn’t catch him.
When others heard that it was Xie Mingtu who caught him, they looked incredulous. How could such a slender and handsome young man catch Wang Tongqian, the fast runner who loved money?
“Let me help you.” Seeing Xie Mingtu grooming his hair by himself, Su Xiaoman couldn’t help feeling itchy and wanted to help. She knew that his short hair felt great to the touch and was very smooth.
She took the towel and gently wiped his black hair. Xie Mingtu sat stiffly on the stool, like a puppet.
His cheeks felt a little hot, although he couldn’t see her face, her beautiful and bright face appeared unscrupulously in his mind.
The soft and cool skin brushed against his cheek inadvertently, as if matches were striking fiercely, sparking intense sparks.
“Xiaoman, I’ll do it myself.” Xie Mingtu took the towel from Su Xiaoman’s hand and stood up, walking out of the room and closing the door behind him.
The autumn wind swept over his body, and the cold in the air couldn’t diminish the heat in his body.
Back in the room, Su Xiaoman had already fallen asleep, breathing steadily, deeply asleep. Xie Mingtu lay down on the other side of the pillow, staring at her face in the dark. Her sleeping face was peaceful, with her pink lips slightly parted.
He couldn’t help but lean closer, his eyes deep. A different kind of impulse surged through his body, almost uncontrollable, making him want to do something. In the end, Xie Mingtu just raised his right hand and lightly touched her cheek with his index finger.
The soft touch, the cool skin—even just the light touch filled him with joy, making his heart almost jump out of his throat.
Xie Mingtu didn’t know when the change started.
But now he just wanted to make her his own.
…
Auspicious day for marriage.
On the day of Zhou Xiaofeng and Yang Changgui’s wedding, even before dawn, both the Zhou and Yang families were already busy. Xie Mingtu went to the Yang family early to help with preparations and later joined the group to pick up the bride.
Su Xiaoman, on the other hand, went to the bride’s room to help with her makeup and dressing.
The room was filled with a festive red, decorated with bright red “double happiness” symbols, and two red candles were lit by the window. The red wedding dress was spread out on the bed, and two brand new red silk quilts were neatly folded beside it.
Zhou Xiaofeng had seen brides before, even in rural areas. On their wedding day, even the girls with the darkest skin would have their faces painted white like a wall, with bright red circles on their cheeks and lips to give them the appearance of a bride.
Even though this kind of makeup could look a bit frightening, and the bride’s real appearance would become unrecognizable, it was a long-standing tradition.
Zhou Xiaofeng had expected she would be made up like one of those “festive” brides, but when she saw the two large red circles on her face in the mirror, she couldn’t accept it.
“Take it off, I’m not doing this! Wipe these two circles off!” She would rather go out bare-faced than with this kind of makeup.
The village’s well-known old lady frowned and pointed at the mirror, “Look in the mirror, aren’t those two circles red and round? If you want a loving marriage, these circles must be drawn round.”
“Everyone comes to me because I make the best circles.”
“I don’t care! I’m not going out like this!”
Su Xiaoman walked in and took a look, immediately feeling it was hard to describe. The blush on Zhou Xiaofeng’s face was indeed round, but it looked as if someone had stamped it on with a round seal—there was nothing beautiful about it. No wonder Zhou Xiaofeng was refusing to accept it.
Zhou Xiaofeng glanced at the wedding dress on the bed and could not bear to face wearing such makeup with that outfit.
“What’s wrong with this? Brides have to look like this to be festive.”
“It’s not pretty, I don’t want to look like this!”
Zhou Xiaofeng’s mother tried to persuade her, “This is just how it’s done, Xiaofeng. Look, isn’t it lovely?”
“Look at those round cheeks. Changgui will definitely like them.”
Zhou Xiaofeng was on the verge of tears, thinking that if Yang Changgui saw her like this, he would probably shout, “Monkey butt!”
“I’m not going out like this!”
“Get me some water. I’ll fix it myself.”
Seeing this, Su Xiaoman brought some water and helped her wipe off the exaggerated and scary bridal makeup. She then reapplied foundation, shaped her brows, applied some lipstick, and gently blended blush onto her cheeks, creating a natural and beautiful look.
With her new makeup, Zhou Xiaofeng’s appearance went from just three or four out of ten to seven or eight out of ten. Even her mother, who had been trying to convince her earlier, was now very pleased.
“Xiaoman, you young girls are so clever and skilled with your hands.”
“You made our Xiaofeng look so beautiful.”
Zhou Xiaofeng was now satisfied, checking herself in the mirror repeatedly and thanking Su Xiaoman profusely, “Sister Xiaoman, thank you so much. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you!”
“No need to thank me, Xiaofeng. Congratulations on your wedding!”
Zhou Xiaofeng beamed, “Sister Xiaoman, since you made me look so pretty today, you’ll definitely look even more beautiful on your wedding day!”
Su Xiaoman smiled and shook her head, saying nothing. She thought to herself that she had never been married and probably wouldn’t have a wedding day or banquet in the future either.
Outside, the Zhou family courtyard was filled with lively sounds of celebration, the noise carrying far and wide. Even from the Yang family’s side, Xie Mingtu could hear the hustle and bustle from the Zhou family.
The constant crackle of firecrackers echoed from the Yang family’s side as well. Here, the tradition was that each elder who came to offer congratulations would be greeted with a round of firecrackers.
Xie Mingtu frowned slightly, occasionally raising his hand to rub his ears.
“Young man, the firecrackers are loud, aren’t they?” Seeing him rubbing his ears, an elder surnamed Yang teased.
Xie Mingtu nodded.
“These are the big firecrackers for the back door, of course, they’re loud! The louder, the more festive!”
Zhou Xiaohong had gotten up early, carefully doing her makeup in front of the mirror and dressing in a beautiful red skirt. She followed the crowd to the Zhou family’s house.
Her appearance was striking. It wasn’t common for girls to wear such bright red clothes on a regular day, and with her natural beauty, many men couldn’t help but let their eyes linger on her.
Their wives, however, were not pleased, muttering to themselves about how inappropriate Zhou Xiaohong’s behaviour was.
“This shameless girl, people who know it’s Xiaofeng’s wedding today might understand, but those who don’t would think it’s Zhou Xiaohong’s wedding instead.”
“How could she feel good about wearing that?”
But the men didn’t seem to mind. “What’s wrong with it? Xiaohong looks beautiful.”
“Zhou Xiaohong is really pretty. How is she still not married?”
“She might get married next year.”
“Seeing her in that red skirt, she might look even better than the bride.”
“Men always like beautiful women.”
Zhou Xiaohong tugged at her red skirt, her smile alluring. Her face was powdered white, and her bright red skirt made her so beautiful that people couldn’t take their eyes off her.
Noticing the wandering eyes of the men around her, Zhou Xiaohong didn’t feel offended at all. Instead, she felt proud.
She was definitely more beautiful than the bride today.
“Zhou Xiaohong, it’s not your wedding today. Why are you dressed like that?” someone questioned her.
Zhou Xiaohong smiled gently, “On a festive day, it’s only right to wear festive clothes. I’m doing it for Xiaofeng.”
“The groom is here! The groom is here to pick up the bride!!”
The Yang family arrived in a mule cart, followed by a car rented from the city. Since the narrow roads couldn’t accommodate the car, the mule cart was used to pick up the bride.
As soon as Yang Changgui arrived at the Zhou family’s gate, his smile grew uncontrollably. It was a joyous day, and he was about to meet the girl he loved—how could he not be happy?
However, when he saw Zhou Xiaohong in the crowd, dressed in her conspicuous red skirt, his smile faltered. The faces of a few of the Yang and Zhou family elders also darkened.
After all, who shows up at someone else’s wedding wearing such a bright red outfit?
Some of the onlookers’ gazes fell on Yang Changgui, while others were on Zhou Xiaohong. To those who didn’t know better, it seemed as if Zhou Xiaohong was the bride today.
Some distant relatives, who had come to attend the wedding but didn’t know the people well, whispered in the crowd, “Hey, has the bride already come out? So early?”
“Has the wedding tradition changed here?”
“No, it hasn’t. The bride hasn’t come out yet.”
“Who’s that?”
“That’s her cousin.”
“Why is she dressed like that?”
“No idea.”
“If the cousin is this beautiful, the bride must be even more stunning, right?”
Zhou Xiaohong heard the murmurs around her and became even more pleased with herself. She waved her hand, “Brother Changgui, come quickly and pick up the bride!”
Her smile was brilliant, more eager than anyone else to see the bride, Zhou Xiaofeng, make her entrance.
She wondered what Zhou Xiaofeng’s face would look like when she saw her.
Yang Changgui’s gaze wandered through the crowd, catching snippets of the whispers. His eyes were drawn to the striking figure dressed in deep red. At first, he was puzzled and wondered if the bride had come out early.
But before his confusion could clear, he saw the face in that bright red outfit—it was Zhou Xiaohong.
Yang Changgui’s expression immediately darkened. How could she show up to his wedding dressed like that?
“What’s going on?”
The members of the Yang family who had come to help pick up the bride also looked displeased. A well-organized wedding, and yet here was a beautiful girl in a red dress, stealing the spotlight from the bride and groom.
Some people even mistook her for the bride!
This was outrageous!
Yang Changgui’s face grew cold, and he was about to ask someone from the Zhou family to get Zhou Xiaohong out of there, so she wouldn’t make things uncomfortable for his beloved bride.
Just as he was about to speak, someone called out, “The bride is coming out, the bride is coming out…”
The large crowd immediately shifted focus, leaving the excitement of watching the groom and turning toward the bride’s entrance. In the countryside, there were no red veils involved. The bride, dressed in a bright red outfit, confidently walked out to greet and thank the guests and relatives.
Zhou Xiaofeng, wearing her new wedding dress, heard the commotion outside. As she stepped out, her face showed a mix of hesitation and nervousness. She was still young, and it was natural to feel a bit timid in such a situation.
But today was her wedding day, and she had to step out. Taking a deep breath, Zhou Xiaofeng, wearing her red embroidered shoes, walked out. Her heart raced at the thought that Yang Changgui was already here, making her even more nervous.
“The bride is out!”
“Come and see the bride!”
The crowd cheered, and Zhou Xiaohong, in her bright red skirt, deliberately pushed her way to the front, her face radiating with a dazzling smile. Her beauty caught the eyes of many men around her.
But in the next moment, Zhou Xiaohong’s smile froze.
The bride had come out.
Unlike typical brides, Zhou Xiaofeng wore an exquisite silk dress. As she walked, the hem of her dress fluttered like a peony swaying in the wind. The finely woven silk shimmered in the light, and the intricate embroidery on the collar and sleeves was breath-taking.
Not only was the dress stunning, but so was the bride. Her face was pale and smooth like glazed porcelain, her black eyes sparkling like wild grapes in the forest, and her red lips resembled delicate flower petals, making anyone want to steal a kiss.
It was said that a beautiful face shines brightest against a background of peach blossoms. The radiant bride and her vibrant red dress complemented each other perfectly, leaving the guests in awe.
“Oh my! The bride is absolutely gorgeous!”
“Mommy, the bride is wearing flowers on her head!”
“The bride is the prettiest!”
…
Standing next to the bride, the other red dress immediately lost its lustre. Seeing the two side by side, there was only one phrase that could describe the scene: “pale in comparison.”
Zhou Xiaohong couldn’t smile anymore. She had thought that the one feeling ashamed would be Zhou Xiaofeng, but instead, it was her.
“Is Xiaofeng the one getting married today?”
“Yes, it’s Heqiang’s daughter, Xiaofeng. Isn’t she beautiful? She’s dressed so well today. Oh no, now all the girls in the village will want weddings like this.”
“Didn’t they say Zhou Xiaohong was the most beautiful girl in your village? Which one is Zhou Xiaohong? I can’t tell—she doesn’t seem as pretty as the bride.”
“Her dress doesn’t look well-made. Is she supposed to complement the bride? What a good sister.”
…
As Zhou Xiaofeng stepped out, her eyes hadn’t yet found Yang Changgui. Instead, they were drawn to Zhou Xiaohong’s flashy attire, and she felt a sense of discomfort.
However, upon hearing the whispers around her, Zhou Xiaofeng couldn’t help but smile slightly, all her discomfort melting away.
She no longer cared about Zhou Xiaohong and instead turned her attention to the groom, who was being surrounded by people. Her gaze was full of love.
Today was just about the two of them and their wedding.
With the sounds of cheerful music and celebrations, the bride stepped out. The crowd moved like a school of fish, with children gleefully asking for wedding candy. At the Yang family’s house, the banquet tables were already set up, filling the courtyard.
The dishes had been served, and the Yang family had been particularly generous today. Each table had ten dishes, including several meat dishes. The children, who had just been excited about the wedding candy, were now mesmerized by the glistening pork belly, swallowing their saliva in anticipation.
The men, on the other hand, were drawn to the cigarettes and alcohol on the tables. As they handed out cigarettes, one man exclaimed, “This is the good stuff! Have one, let’s pour some drinks.”
Su Xiaoman, Zhao Qingqing, and the rest of their group sat at a big table with some of the villagers. The cigarettes didn’t reach the women, but Xie Mingtu was handed one. Since he didn’t smoke, he gave it to Tang Jianqiang.
“Thanks.”
Tang Jianqiang grinned as he lit the cigarette. Cigarettes with filters were quite a rare luxury.
Zhao Qingqing stood up with her bowl and chopsticks and walked over to Su Xiaoman. “I heard you helped make the bride’s wedding dress? You’re so talented!”
“When I get married, can you make a set for me too?”
Su Xiaoman smiled, “If you ask me, I definitely won’t refuse.”
Jiang Yantang lit the cigarette in his hand. He rarely smoked, but today he indulged without hesitation, feeling a bit heavy-hearted as he smoked.
He overheard the conversation between Su Xiaoman and Zhao Qingqing and thought about the beautiful red wedding dress he had seen earlier. Such a gorgeous outfit, and it had been made by Su Xiaoman’s skilful hands.
In the past, he always thought Su Xiaoman was bold, vulgar, and uncultured. But now, he was beginning to see her in a new light—she was beautiful, had a sweet voice, was a skilled cook, and could even craft such beautiful clothes. While she might not be highly educated, she was diligent and eager to learn.
Remembering her absurd and hastily arranged marriage to Xie Mingtu, he couldn’t help but feel sad for her.
She had the ability to make such a beautiful wedding dress, yet she hadn’t had a proper wedding herself. Forced into marriage with another man because of so-called “purity” and the ignorance of rural traditions, she seemed to have accepted her fate and was determined to continue her life with Xie Mingtu.
After the midday banquet, Su Xiaoman returned to the Zhou family’s house for a nap, knowing she could enjoy another delicious meal in the evening. The Zhou family treated her with great hospitality, as today’s wedding had brought them honour, and they were grateful for all her help.
Su Xiaoman had also received two red envelopes today. One from the Zhou family, containing thirty-six yuan, and another from the Yang family, containing sixty-six yuan. These were tokens of thanks for her help with the wedding dress and makeup.
At first, the red envelopes probably weren’t meant to be so generous, but Zhou Xiaohong’s unexpected appearance had changed things. While Su Xiaoman had done an excellent job with the dress, the comparison made her work stand out even more.
With that comparison, the Zhou and Yang families felt even more satisfied, and their gratitude toward Su Xiaoman grew, resulting in larger red envelopes.
In this regard, Su Xiaoman felt like she owed Zhou Xiaohong a thank-you.
Lying in bed, Su Xiaoman happily counted her money. Thanks to her hard work, she had not only had a good time but also made some money.
Altogether, she had one hundred twenty-two yuan and eighty-three cents—a small fortune in this era. More importantly, the joy of earning money filled her little savings.
She hugged the silk quilt and rolled around on the bed, unable to contain her excitement. As she lay on her side, her eyes drifted toward Xie Mingtu, who was standing by the window.
Xie Mingtu, seemingly preoccupied with his thoughts, appeared troubled. Perhaps the noise from the day’s celebrations had made his ears uncomfortable.
Today, he wore a somber black outfit, his neat black hair and tall figure catching the eyes of many women.
It was said that when the bridegroom, Yang Changgui, and the other members of the Yang family came to pick up the bride, they had all instructed Xie Mingtu to stay as far away from the groom as possible. They even gave him a red envelope for complying.
Poor guy…
Thinking about this, Su Xiaoman couldn’t help but give him a “sympathetic” glance. Being chased away just for being too handsome—it was a bit tragic when you thought about it.
Of course, there were also many people inquiring about Xie Mingtu. In this day and age, it wasn’t uncommon to find pretty girls, but handsome and tall men were a rare sight indeed.
Scarcity breeds value.
“Manman…” The usually pensive Xie Mingtu seemed to have made a decision. He picked up a package and walked over to Su Xiaoman.
“What is it?”
“I have something to give you.”
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