Needs a Wash Too
Although Lin Chuan had left, his mind was occupied. He realized that Su Su had washed her hair, and judging by her collar, it seemed like she had washed more than just her hair. A warmth surged in his heart as he thought he wasn’t being hygienic enough. What if his wife found out tomorrow?
From what his friends in the army had said, women were very particular about cleanliness. Although he maintained good personal hygiene, he knew he couldn’t compare to her, and this was something he needed to reflect on.
A clean and delicate girl like Su Su marrying someone as rough as him was already a compromise. If he ended up lying next to her tomorrow with a smell on him, it would be a crime just to think about it.
He had to bathe—no question about it.
However, the house was full of men, and they were all preparing to sleep soon. Where could he bathe? Bathing openly would certainly invite ridicule, so he had no choice but to fetch water and bathe outside.
It was freezing, but for someone who had spent days scouting in the snow, it wasn’t a big deal. He even changed his inner clothes while he was at it since tomorrow was his wedding day.
As he was finishing up in the makeshift bathroom, just putting on his clothes, someone approached with a flashlight. Since there were no women around, he opened the branch-woven door of the bathroom and was seen by the uncle’s son while still wiping his upper body with a towel.
The uncle’s son burst into laughter and said, “What’s this? Washing up to avoid being disliked by your wife?”
“Mind your own business.”
“No, no, I’m just saying—you’re really thorough, huh? Washed everything, didn’t you?”
“…” Lin Chuan poured the water into the toilet, dressed, and walked out.
“Let me give you a piece of advice: if nothing else, make sure what you’re using tomorrow is cleaned properly. That’s crucial.”
“…” Lin Chuan frowned and ignored him.
“That little lady…” The uncle’s son continued, but before he could finish, Lin Chuan punched him in the chest.
The man coughed lightly, feeling as if he could barely breathe for a moment. Did Lin Chuan have to be so shy? Wasn’t it normal for men to talk about such things? But Lin Chuan, carrying the basin with a dark expression, walked away.
To him, it was fine for men to joke about other things, but talking about Su Su was unacceptable. He couldn’t stand the thought of other men entertaining improper ideas about her, which made him detest such comments.
He knew that Su Su’s excellence would inevitably attract admiration from other men, just as it had once drawn him in. But now she was his wife. His possessiveness had grown so intense that even he was surprised by it. He tried to suppress it, afraid of scaring his future wife.
Feeling much more at ease after bathing, he went to the main room, picked up a small mirror, and trimmed his stubble under the light of an oil lamp. Only when he was sure it wouldn’t prick anyone did he stop.
The aunt’s son remarked, “A man about to get married sure likes to primp.”
“Go to sleep.” Lin Chuan put the mirror down and climbed onto the heated brick bed. The bed was crowded with the group of young men, but tomorrow he wouldn’t have to share it anymore. He’d be able to sleep holding his fragrant wife. The thought filled him with pride.
Still, when a group of young men gathered, it was impossible to sleep quietly. The conversation started with career aspirations, then moved on to love, and finally to marriage.
The aunt’s son asked Lin Chuan, “Did you and your fiancée fall in love before getting married?”
“…” Not really. They hadn’t even dated before the wedding was arranged.
“I’ve heard that marriages after two or three years of dating are the most stable,” the aunt’s son said, lying on the brick bed.
The uncle’s son, who wasn’t very tactful, sat up and retorted, “Nonsense! Look at Big Brother and that former educated youth—wasn’t that a ‘stable’ relationship? But she went off to college and got a wandering heart.”
“But there were feelings there,” the aunt’s son said, hoping to stir up trouble, maybe even ruin the wedding and get Lin Chuan to marry the educated youth instead. If not, he might have a chance with the college-educated bride himself.
Unfortunately, Lin Chuan remained silent. By the time the others were parched from talking, they realized he had already fallen asleep. Why was he sleeping so early, at just 9 p.m.?
They figured it out quickly—he wanted to wake up early for his wedding.
With no other choice, they quieted down too.
Morning arrived in the blink of an eye. Su Su heard the commotion outside and got up herself. Today was her wedding day, but with no one to help her, she had to dress, put on shoes, and do her makeup by herself.
Fortunately, her college years had made her accustomed to independence. She chose a brand-new, never-worn fitted sweater and an over-the-knee skirt from her suitcase, paired with leather boots. Over that, she wore a khaki down jacket, which had originally been beige but looked more yellowish after she arrived here. Still, it was quite fashionable.
Once everything was ready, she braided her hair into two plaits and applied light makeup, including a thin layer of lipstick in a trendy bitten-lip style.
Looking at herself in the mirror, she felt her appearance had levelled up again. Youth was wonderful, and being rejuvenated even more so. Her skin was so soft and supple it seemed water could be squeezed out of it. With just a layer of foundation, her pores were nearly invisible. She wondered if he would be satisfied with how she looked.
After finishing her preparations, she opened the door to find Lin Chuan’s mother waiting outside. Her mother-in-law’s eyes lit up at the sight of her. She had always thought Su Su was pretty, but with some makeup, she looked like a completely different person.
“Oh my, you’re stunning. Everyone, come look! My daughter-in-law is a real beauty!” Her praise made Su Su’s face flush as she shyly played with her braids, feeling a little awkward.
“She is beautiful, so lovely,” said the younger aunt.
“What’s the point of us saying she’s pretty? What matters is whether Chuanzi thinks so,” said the older aunt.
After that, they left Su Su to wait, heading eagerly to the front yard.
Su Su, fully ready, sat quietly in the room. Guests would first sit in the front yard before coming here for the wedding meal.
The wedding ceremony itself would be held here. As a bride without family to represent her, she didn’t need to move much. Lin Chuan would come to carry her to the front yard, where they would bow to heaven and earth before returning for the village official to conduct the wedding ceremony.
Today, her feet weren’t allowed to touch the ground freely; it was considered unlucky. The spots she stepped on had to be covered with red cloth, and only after the ceremony and getting onto the heated brick bed could she step down.
She waited and waited until she heard the sound of firecrackers. The lively noise outside grew louder as a crowd approached.
The first to rush in were Lin Jiang and a group of unfamiliar children. They locked the door behind them as they entered. Lin Jiang glanced at his sister-in-law and froze, his face turning bright red. “S-sister-in-law.”
“Yes?” Su Su replied. Were they here to block the door? This task was usually done by the bride’s younger brother, but since she didn’t have one here, it seemed Lin Chuan’s mother had arranged for Lin Jiang to take on the role.
Judging by the mischievous look on the children’s faces, they wouldn’t make things easy for Lin Chuan. At that moment, Lin Chuan’s deep voice rang out from outside, “Open the door.”
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