Farm Tough Girl-Chapter 178 - 179 Marrying a Bride_1
Chapter 178: Chapter 179 Marrying a Bride_1
Chapter 178 -179 Marrying a Bride_1
After the New Year had passed, spring had finally arrived, and Li Cheng’s big day was fast approaching. Li Cheng, a grown man who had no experience with marriage, naturally didn’t know much about it. Thus, Qinghe and Muniang were busy with the preparations.
Li Cheng felt a bit embarrassed, “I owe it to you for meeting Wanwan in the first place, and now you’re helping me with the wedding.”
Muniang teased him with a laugh, “Who says I’m the one who played matchmaker? It was clearly someone who saved the beauty on the road all by himself.”
Li Cheng’s face turned red, and he didn’t speak another word.
Qinghe giggled, “Muniang, stop teasing my brother. His skin is thin, and only his sister-in-law can cure this habit of his.”
“I heard Mrs. Du say the other day that Wanwan has been cooped up indoors since New Year in preparation for the wedding. She must be bored to death. Once she’s married, you’ll have to take her out for some fun.”
Li Cheng was stunned for a moment and then said, “Why shouldn’t she go out? What if she gets sick from boredom? Staying at home all the time is so dull.”
Qinghe made a funny face, “It’s tradition, brother. Can your brain hold onto anything at all?”
Muniang laughed, “Your brother is just concerned about his wife. His brain can’t quite catch up in such a short span of time.”
Embarrassed by the two of them, Li Cheng found an excuse and fled in a hurry.
The room burst into laughter.
Finally, on the auspicious day, amidst a burst of firecrackers, Li Cheng mounted a tall horse, leading a grand procession towards Song Wanwan’s home. Since Wanwan wasn’t from the same village, the journey was expected to take up almost half an hour. Li Cheng was worried about missing the auspicious time for the wedding ceremony, so he set out early.
Li Cheng didn’t have many relatives on his side, so the wedding procession was mostly made up of villagers from Tupo Village and matchmakers. Muniang originally wanted to accompany them, out of concern that the simple-minded Li Cheng might be teased too mercilessly when fetching the bride. However, since there were still many guests at Li Cheng’s house and Qinghe was not in a condition to help, Muniang decided to stay behind.
But before leaving, she gave Li Cheng a few reminders, “People will definitely block your way with many barriers, but don’t be a fool and let them take advantage of you. The silver you give away is still yours, after all. Hand out a few red envelopes and rush straight in. If they tell you to stuff it through the crack of the door, just say it won’t fit and insist on an opening. Once the lock is off, squeeze inside with the bride.”
Li Cheng nodded earnestly, finding her advice very useful.
Qinghe laughed, “You don’t need to teach him anymore, Muniang. My brother knows but can’t do it. The matchmakers are good with their words; don’t worry, he won’t be taken advantage of.”
Muniang was slightly reassured, “I just don’t want him to be treated too harshly.”
This ritual of lifting the bride and bowing the groom is a tradition, especially during the wedding procession. It’s not just about red envelopes. Many people, eager to tease the groom, will make all kinds of nonsensical demands. Muniang was worried that Li Cheng’s inflexible mind would just go along with everything and end up being bullied too much.
Many guests had already arrived at the house. Li Cheng was well-liked in the village, and most of the villagers attended his wedding. Since they were all familiar faces, it was convenient to host them. In the hustle and bustle, time flew by quickly.
Suddenly, a voice came from outside the courtyard, “The groom has brought back the bride!”
Muniang snapped to attention and hurried out with everyone else to join in the excitement.
Li Cheng, his face glowing with joy, dismounted from his horse. Qinghe was already waiting there, handing him a bow without arrows.
Li Cheng took it and shot three arrows at the door of the sedan chair, prompting cheers from the crowd.
Only then did the bride step out of the sedan chair with the help of the matchmaker, who handed one end of a red silk ribbon to Wanwan and the other end to Li Cheng. He then led her by the silk ribbon into the house.
Stepping over the fire basin, bad luck was dispelled, and the clean and pure bride then entered the house.
The matchmaker loudly announced, “First bow to heaven and earth, second bow to the high hall, husband and wife bow to each other.”
Immediately following was the shout, “The ceremony is complete! Enter the bridal chamber!” And with that, they were considered husband and wife.
After sending Song Wanwan in, Li Cheng came out to drink with everyone. The men clearly had no intention of letting him off easy, each of them urging him to drink to death. Qinghe looked on, both angry and annoyed, and said to Muniang, “My brother is getting so drunk, yet he still has to consummate the marriage later!”
Muniang laughed and said, “What are you worried about? The emperor isn’t in a hurry, so why should the eunuch be? Don’t think of your brother as so weak—these few bowls of wine won’t knock him down. In fact, they might bolster his courage. Which man doesn’t drink like a dead man before entering the bridal chamber? The next day, isn’t there always a sign of consummation? Men naturally understand these matters; half-asleep or half-drunk, they still manage to get the job done.”
Qinghe’s cheeks turned crimson, “Muniang, how can you be so shameless to talk about such things!”
Muniang accidentally revealed the boldness of a twenty-first-century woman, and upon seeing Qinghe’s shy demeanor, she truly didn’t know what to say for a moment.
Annoyed, Qinghe said, “You can say these things to me if you like, but you mustn’t tell others. If word gets out, it could ruin my reputation.”
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Muniang winked at Qinghe and teased, “What do you mean saying these things only to you is fine? Does that mean you like hearing them too?”
Qinghe started scolding with a smile, “You little rascal, even now you don’t forget to tease me! I’ll show you trouble!”
The two were joking around when they saw a figure approaching.
Muniang turned her head and saw that it was Zeng Gang.
Zeng Gang had lived in Tupo Village for a while because he was building a house and an embroidery room for Muniang, during which time he had also become acquainted with Li Cheng. Now that Li Cheng was getting married, Zeng Gang was invited as well.
He had originally taken on a big job in the prefectural city and had been busy building houses there. Hearing the news, he hurried back overnight—not to mention he and Li Cheng were close, but he didn’t want to miss any opportunity to see her.
“Oh, Master Zeng is here? I heard you went to the prefectural city to make a fortune and thought you wouldn’t come today,” Muniang said with a smile.
Zeng Gang, aware that Muniang’s keen perception had caught on to everything, felt a bit sheepish, “I just happened to come back for this, and it coincided with Chengzi getting married, so I came to take a look.”
Muniang gave him a knowing wink and then said to Qinghe, “I’ve got some things to take care of over there, you two chat for a bit.”
Without waiting for Qinghe to speak, she slipped away on her own.
Qinghe was dumbfounded; what business could there be over there? Weren’t all the men here drinking? And the womenfolk had gone home. How strange of Muniang.
Smiling at Zeng Gang, Qinghe said, “That’s just the way she is, always full of surprises.”
Zeng Gang scratched his head, knowing in his heart that Muniang was creating an opportunity for him, “Heh, it’s fine. You’re pregnant; you should sit down instead of standing all the time—it’s tiring.”
With that, he moved a stool over for Qinghe.
