Chapter 17: The Wedding

Chapter 17: The Wedding

The room was dark, and the moonlight shone through the window, illuminating Lin Yufan's pale hand, giving it an eerie, ghostly pallor.

Lin Yufan reached out to close the heavy curtains but then remembered she had to wake up early the next day, so she opened them again.

Turning back to look at the room filled with boxes and chests, she pulled out a chair and sat down. After a long day, she finally got to rest.

Compared to the anxiety and reluctance to leave her mother during her first marriage, she felt very calm this time, even with a hint of joy—the joy of escaping a bitter life.

Although marrying Zhao Zhiao came with many uncertainties, at least material security was guaranteed.

This was especially precious in such turbulent times.

Moreover, someone like Zhao Zhiao didn’t seem like the type to resort to violence, at most, it would be emotional coldness.

She wasn’t afraid of emotional coldness; only those who cared would fear it. Since she didn’t care, she had nothing to fear.

If he treated her poorly, fate would deal with him in 1950.

Thinking of this, any fear or dissatisfaction was tempered.

She thought of Zhao Yunjie again, recalling his stooped figure. In this aspect, Zhao Zhiao was much better.

In terms of height, appearance, and face, when compared, he indeed looked better than anyone around her.

The room was filled with the smell of mosquito repellent coils. Summer nights always required them. Lin Yufan got up and kicked the coil under the table.

Without a mosquito net set up, she lay down in her clothes, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

The shadows of Zhao Yunjie and the Second Branch family kept flashing before her eyes.

Lin Yufan just got up and turned on the light, then found an envelope containing photos from her suitcase.

She took out all the photos she had taken with the Second Branch over the years, including those of Zhao Yunjie, then struck a match and began burning them one by one on the iron tray where the mosquito coil had been.

The smell of burning photo paper quickly filled the room, and the flames illuminated her face.

After burning them all, only one photo remained in her hand—a group photo of her, Zhao Yunjie, and Zhao Lixiang in the park.

This photo was taken during Zhao Yunjie’s healthiest period. It was rare for him to want to go out, so everyone happily accompanied him to the park. Many photos were taken that day, but this one turned out the best.

The sunlight filtered through the grapevines, casting a slanting light on his face, making him look like dried fungus briefly rejuvenated after being soaked in warm water.

At that time, she was truly happy, brightening up alongside Zhao Yunjie.

She decided to keep this photo as a reminder of her faded, shadowed past.

Strangely, after burning the photos, she lay down and fell asleep almost immediately.

When she woke up, it was already daylight outside.

After washing up and packing her things, she had a light snack and began changing into her wedding attire.

The wedding attire was prepared by her family. Since there wasn’t enough time to have a new one made, and her relatives considered her previous wedding dress unlucky, she ended up wearing the bridal gown of her seventh sister-in-law.

Children were the most excited during family celebrations.

The Lin family was a large clan. Although they weren’t hosting a banquet, just gathering the descendants of Lin Yufan’s grandparents could fill five or six tables.

The children alone filled three tables.

The kids were running around, playing noisily, making the place lively.

"Auntie Six, your eyebrows look amazing," a little niece said, leaning on the low table next to Lin Yufan as she was drawing her eyebrows.

Lin Yufan glanced at her niece and smiled, "Even if they’re not perfect, you can always make them look good."

"Really?"

"Really," Lin Yufan handed an eyebrow pencil to her niece, "You can learn on your own or ask your mom to teach you—she’s great at it too."

The little niece clutched the eyebrow pencil, pouting slightly, "My mom’s too busy for me—my little brother’s such a handful."

Lin Yufan stroked her hair, "When your mom has time, she’ll show you. You’re still young—no hurry."

Lin Yuwu, Fifth Brother, slipped in while the crowd was thin.

"He got beaten so bad he ended up in the hospital."

Good riddance!

Lin Yufan asked softly, "Is everything taken care of?"

"With Fifth Brother on it, you’ve got nothing to worry about. He’s stuck in the hospital, can’t even move—probably won’t be out for at least ten days. You can let your friend know, and today, just focus on being the bride."

"Thank you, Fifth Brother."

Lin Yuwu’s eyebrows danced, "We’re family—no need to stand on ceremony."

Around eight o’clock, Second Aunt from the Second Branch and Third Madam Jian Suzhen came together to send Lin Yufan off for her wedding.

The eldest madam claimed illness and stayed away—she was no match for Third Madam’s social savvy.

At least Jian Suzhen played the part, complimenting Lin Yufan’s makeup and wedding outfit the moment she walked in.

At nine, the Lin family set up eight tables, and Lin Yufan ate in her room with a few aunts.

At ten, firecrackers sounded outside, and a few children ran in excitedly, "Auntie Six, the groom’s here!"

The Fifth Branch sent five cars and over a dozen rickshaws to fetch the bride, led by the groom, with Zhao’s brothers and his old army buddies in tow.

Since this was her second marriage, Lin Yufan skipped the red veil and was escorted downstairs by her sister-in-law and Xi Gu.

Zhao Zhiao was already in the hall, chatting with an elder he didn’t know.

Hearing the commotion, he glanced up at her, a polite smile lingering from his chat.

The groom looked pretty pleased with himself today.

After all, with her as his wife, she wouldn’t dare report him again.

He was safe, and so was Liang Yue.

Lin Yufan got her wish—a ‘carefree life.’ It was a win-win: both got exactly what they wanted.

Zhao Zhiao noticed the faint smile on Lin Yufan’s face, realizing her joy came from escaping hardship, not from marrying him.

After the last time he thought she liked him, only to catch her giving Zhao Lixiang the same look, he wasn’t about to jump to conclusions again.

But it's better to be happy than unhappy. There are already enough troubles outside. If he had to face a sour face when he got home, then this marriage would be a self-inflicted hardship.

This is better now.

The content bride and groom bowed together before the ancestral tablets of the Lin family, and then everyone stood in the yard to take photos.

Zhao Lixiang's role today was not the best man, but the photographer.

After the group photo, the bride and groom took a separate photo as a keepsake.

Zhao Lixiang looked at the two in the lens, a perfect match standing together like a pair of jade figurines, and felt a pang of jealousy in his heart.

He subtly shifted the lens to the right, and finally, only the bride remained in the frame. Only then did he snap the photo with satisfaction.

He took three photos of the couple in different settings, but only captured the bride.

He could picture his brother's rage and helplessness upon seeing the photos.

Compared to the bitterness of losing his wife, this was nothing!

If he weren't afraid of getting beaten, he would have pulled out the entire film and exposed it to ruin it.

At eleven, the wedding procession departed from the Lin family. Lin Yufan and Zhao Zhiao sat in the back seat, this time, it was just the two of them, no need to squeeze together like before.

Their moods were quite different. Lin Yufan was thinking that the property deeds in the betrothal gifts were given to her, but the owner's name was still Zhao Zhiao's. She had to clarify with him and transfer the ownership once they arrived in Hong Kong.

She glanced at him. He appeared deep in thought, his brows furrowed. Noticing her gaze, he glanced back, his eyes questioning, then opened his palm to reveal a toffee.

"Want some?"

This was given to the new son-in-law by Lin Yufan's young nephew.

Lin Yufan didn't want to eat it, but she accepted it to save face.

Suddenly, firecrackers went off, and the car ahead braked sharply. Lin Yufan was thrown forward unexpectedly, but luckily, he caught her in time.

His suit had a faint scent, not of perfume, but likely from a sachet in the wardrobe.

The driver kept apologizing, but Zhao Zhiao stayed silent. After he released her, Lin Yufan quickly smoothed her hair, worried about looking disheveled when she exited the car.

Amid the deafening noise of firecrackers, they arrived at Jinghua Garden.

This garden villa was bought by Zhao Zhiao two years ago, and Lin Yufan had never visited it before.

After exiting the car, amidst the crowd, they paid respects to the ancestors and served tea to Wang Junyao and the elders, all familiar to Lin Yufan.

But to others, it might just be old wine in a new bottle, half envious of Lin Yufan's extraordinary luck, and half curious why such a capable man like Zhao Zhiao would marry a widow from the same clan.

The gazes from the ladies and aunts were mostly envious, after all, a withered tree meeting a warm spring is not an opportunity everyone gets.

After the grand ceremony, the bride changed into her wedding dress, and at noon, a Western-style wedding was held in the garden.

This Western-style wedding was originally decided by Wang Junyao and the clan members who helped with the arrangements, thinking that Zhao Zhiao's friends were all modern people, so they didn't want to make it too serious and old-fashioned. Since they didn't believe in religion, a Western-style wedding could be more relaxed.

Originally, Wang Junyao wanted to follow others by inviting a foreign pastor and a choir to liven things up, but Zhao Zhiao vetoed it, saying, "Since we don't believe in religion, let's not make a fuss about it."

After simplifying the process, only the exchange of rings between the bride and groom and the speech of the officiant remained.

The officiant was Commissioner Bai, a prominent figure in the government. Even though he held a high position, his speech was relatable and funny, making the guests burst into laughter.

Following the wedding, a traditional Chinese banquet was held.

The front and back gardens led into the first-floor living room, where more than thirty tables of guests were seated. Lin Yufan ate with the Lin family women in a first-floor room, with guests coming and going, and the constant sound of firecrackers.

A dance party was originally planned for the afternoon at the Chang'an Grand Hotel, but since Commander Ji's funeral was also set for that afternoon, Zhao Zhiao had to attend the funeral, so the dance party was canceled.

Lin Yufan only learned that Zhao Zhiao had attended the memorial service after seeing off her family's guests. Wang Junyao was equally at a loss and muttered under her breath.

"Kids these days, they’re all the same. We’re celebrating a happy occasion, and they’re mourning, without any thought for propriety."

Lin Yufan thought that Zhao Zhiao must have his reasons for doing so.

Commander Ji was no saint. Lin Yufan had previously noticed Zhao Zhiao’s closeness to Commander Ji and thought he was no good either. Now it seems you can’t judge people and situations at face value.

That afternoon, Lin Yufan and Gui Xiang were organizing the bridal suite, which featured a private bathroom, much to Lin Yufan’s delight.

That evening, dinner was set up at home with five tables, but Zhao Zhiao didn’t come back, and neither did Zhao Lixiang, whom he had taken with him. The dinner was for the relatives who had come to help.

Everything was unlike what Lin Yufan had imagined—chaotic but real.

Her new mother-in-law was easygoing, arranging everything to her liking.

Wang Junyao wasn’t Zhao Zhiao’s real mother. She would depend on Zhao Zhiao for her living, and this household would eventually pass to Zhao Zhiao’s wife. Naturally, she wanted to stay on good terms with Lin Yufan.

After her evening bath, Lin Yufan was alone in the bedroom, finally feeling at ease.

Gui Xiang had removed the peanuts, longans, and dates from the bed. Lin Yufan lay on the soft mattress, sinking into the fragrant and cozy bedding. She’d only slept three hours the night before and was now too exhausted to keep her eyes open.

A second marriage has its perks—no wedding night jitters and no fretting over trivial matters.

Since she and Zhao Zhiao were now husband and wife, the next step was to let things take their natural course.

After all, she had no expectations. Having experienced two years of married life, she had some experience. That matter was uninteresting and uncomfortable, but fortunately, there would be three concubines to share the burden, so she wouldn’t have to endure too much.

What Lin Yufan thought about the most was when the property transfer would take place.

She knew she was being pragmatic, but in these turbulent times, if she wasn’t pragmatic, she would be letting down her reborn self.

Although it was a new environment, the room was cool, and she fell asleep in no time.

She didn’t know how long she had been sleeping when she heard a soft sound at the door and immediately opened her eyes alertly.

Zhao Zhiao had returned.

Lin Yufan hesitated whether to get up and prepare bathwater for him, lest he call a maid in, which wouldn’t sound good if it got out.

After some thought, she decided against it; she didn’t want to get up.

She quickly closed her eyes and pretended to sleep.

At that moment, she heard a "click," and even with her eyes closed, Lin Yufan sensed that the light had been turned off.

Then she heard the sound of the bathroom door closing. Judging by the noise, he didn’t call for a servant to assist him but was drawing his own bath.

The surroundings were silent. She opened her eyes; the curtains were only half-drawn, and the light from the garden outside filtered through the tree shadows, casting a faint glow. The wind blew the curtains, making them billow.

After a few minutes without hearing any sound from the bathroom, Lin Yufan wondered if he had fallen asleep in the bathtub. She turned over and sat up, only to see a shadow standing at the bathroom door, startling her almost out of her wits.

The light suddenly came on.

Zhao Zhiao stood there, still in his formal wear, not having showered yet.

So, what had he been doing in the room this whole time?

Had he been staring at her in the dark?

"Were you waiting long?" he asked.

What did he mean?

Lin Yufan's eyes were still heavy with sleep, but her mind was sharp. Did he think she had been waiting?

She hadn’t been waiting.

But on their wedding night, she’d dozed off without waiting for him. If she told the truth, it would seem like she was disrespecting the groom.

She pursed her lips and tactfully replied, "I dozed off for a bit."

Zhao Zhiao looked at his wife's slightly tousled hair, her fair and smooth skin, and her glistening red lips that she had just licked...

A spark of desire flared up inside him.

He quickly averted his gaze and said, "Go ahead and rest a bit longer. I’ll take a shower first."

Lin Yufan was speechless.

His meaning was clear—on their wedding night, they would face the challenges together.