Chapter 6 Before the Wedding

Chapter 6: Prelude to Marriage

Jian Ru's house was leaking. The building had been through a fire, with its collapsed walls rebuilt and the roof repaired using money scraped together from relatives—all of which he had repaid over the years.

Back then, funds were tight, so the repairs were only enough to block the wind; it still struggled to keep the rain out. Every summer, it would spring a leak once or twice.

In the past, whenever it rained, Jian Ru would wait for the rain to stop, climb onto the roof with a ladder, and re-thatch it with the thatch he had stored during autumn.

This task used to be done by his father. Jian Ru was afraid of heights, and his father never allowed him on the roof. But fear aside, when pushed to the limit, he had no choice. Now, Jian Ru handled the job with ease.

This time, however, he didn’t climb up to fix it as before. Instead, he simply placed a basin under the leak to make do.

Over the past few days, Jian Ru began sorting through his things.

Most of his parents' possessions had been burned in the fire, leaving him with no mementos left.

As he sorted through his things, aside from a few old clothes, some small trinkets he liked, and a dozen strings of cash, the scattered items filled only a single wooden box.

Young Master Li Er had even asked Granny Jin to give him some silver for emergencies, but Jian Ru flatly refused. He also left behind the new clothes he had been given, leaving them in the room he had stayed in.

Although he was poor, he didn’t want Young Master Li Er to think he was after his money, even though he really could have used it.

With his packing done, Jian Ru had little else to do, so he wandered around the village, visiting places he often played in as a child.

Around this time, a situation came up: Zhang Jiao’s older brother came to his home, asking him to help look after his mother.

It was unclear whether Zhang Jiao had told his mother the truth before leaving. But regardless, whether she believed her son was dead or had run away, it was too much for her to bear. Already in poor health, she fell seriously ill because of this.

Zhang Jiao’s brother was not a filial son. After getting married, he mostly lived with his wealthier in-laws and rarely returned home. This time, with no one else to care for his mother, he had to come back.

Zhang Jiao’s mother had always treated Jian Ru kindly. Whenever he visited, she welcomed him warmly, and he had even eaten meals she prepared. But these gestures weren’t any great kindness, especially since what Jian Ru had done for their family far outweighed any kindness shown to him.

When Zhang Jiao’s brother explained why he had come, Jian Ru didn’t bother with niceties and directly refused.

Zhang Jiao’s brother immediately grew angry and said, "My brother just came to harm, and you’re already abandoning old bonds?"

Unwilling to argue, Jian Ru nodded and said, "Yes."

Furious, Zhang Jiao’s brother retorted, "You were always the one taking care of things before. Why refuse now?"

Jian Ru replied, "Am I her son, or are you? You’re too spineless to stand up to your wife and take care of your own mother—why should it be my responsibility?"

Zhang Jiao’s brother turned pale with anger but still refused to leave, trying to persuade Jian Ru.

Jian Ru said bluntly, "If you insist on staying, let’s settle accounts. Calculate exactly how much I’ve helped your family over the years and how much I’ve spent on you. Pay me back in full, and then we’ll talk!"

Hearing this, his brother didn’t dare linger any longer and left, grumbling and cursing as he left.

Jian Ru had no interest in arguing with him.

That evening, after dinner, he took out a small porcelain jar from his packed luggage, sat on the edge of the *kang*, rolled up his pants, and applied the light yellow ointment inside to his knees.

After applying it, a warm sensation spread across the skin of his knees, soothing the pain in his legs and making them feel much more comfortable.

This ointment was given to him by Granny Jin on the day he left the estate.

She told him that Young Master Li Er had specifically had it prepared the night before, saying that old bone injuries often acted up in rainy or damp weather, and applying it nightly could provide some relief.

She also mentioned that, due to time constraints, this ointment would have to do for now, but there would be a better treatment later.

At that moment, Jian Ru felt a mix of sour and numb feelings in his heart.

He had long grown accustomed to the pain and didn't think much of it himself, but he never expected someone else to remember it for him.

That night, Jian Ru slept well.

The next morning, after breakfast, Jian Ru went to the Village Head’s house to tell him that he had found work in town and would be away from home for some time.

It was not unusual for villagers who couldn't put food on the table to seek opportunities in town.

The Village Head went through the motions of advising him, and that was the end of it.

Jian Ru had no intention of telling the villagers the truth. Although some had mocked and gossiped about him behind his back in the past, he held no grudges. After all, this was where his parents and he had lived, and the old neighbors would chat and visit from time to time.

But when it came to the River God sacrifice, almost no one had opposed it, nor did they feel any guilt. Instead, for the sake of houses and farmland, they had helped the Village Head force families to throw their children into the river.

After going through this, Jian Ru had no feelings left for the village. He only saw the villagers as disgusting and never wanted to see them again.

He was getting married, and to such a good family in town. If the villagers found out, they would surely have things to say. Jian Ru didn’t want to become the subject of their gossip, nor did he want the Li family to be talked about because of him.

Moreover, there was another thing Jian Ru feared. He was afraid that the marriage might not work out in the end, and he'd become a joke.

Although Young Master Li Er had shown great sincerity, Jian Ru was still afraid. His past experiences had taught him that his luck was truly bad. He worried that something might go wrong, that it would all turn out to be a wonderful dream, leaving him with nothing.

Not long after returning from the Village Head’s house, a donkey cart arrived at his doorstep. Granny Jin was helped down by the driver and walked through Jian Ru’s home, looking around, her heart feeling uncomfortable.

Jian Ru followed behind her, also carefully taking in every detail, looking one last time at the place he had lived in for so many years.

Granny Jin patted his shoulder and said, “Let’s go.”

Jian Ru put his things onto the cart, helped Granny Jin up, and climbed aboard himself. The driver snapped the whip, and with a crack, the donkey began moving toward the village exit.

It was still raining, and the road was wet and muddy. There were few people around. The cart wheels splashed through puddles, stirring up mud and the earthy smell of wet soil.

Jian Ru lifted the curtain and looked outside until the last village house disappeared from view. He then let the curtain fall, feeling little nostalgia, but still anxious about leaving the place he had grown up in and facing an unfamiliar future.

Granny Jin took his hand and patted the back of it, saying, “Every boy or girl must leave home at some point. I’ve been with the Li family for many years, and they are good-hearted people. There’s no need for you to worry too much, Jian Ru.”

Though Jian Ru was stubborn by nature, he was still just an eighteen-year-old youth.

The carriage was cramped, and Jian Ru and Granny Jin were sitting close together. When Granny Jin wrapped an arm around his shoulders, Jian Ru couldn’t help but turn and embrace the thin yet straight-backed elderly woman, his shoulders trembling slightly.

Granny Jin held him, patting his back, and thought of her own daughter who had married far away. Her heart filled with pity, feeling how thin and frail the young man was, with hardly any meat on his bones. She thought to herself that once he arrived at the Li family, he would need to be well taken care of.

…

This time, Jian Ru was heading back to Squire Li’s horse estate.

Granny Jin had already explained to him on the cart that before the wedding, Jian Ru would continue to stay there.

This was Madam Li’s idea.

One reason was that Jian Ru had lived there before and was somewhat familiar with the place. Another reason was that since Jian Ru’s parents were no longer around and he had no close relatives, and he had no intention of marrying from the village, it was arranged for him to marry from there.

Madam Li had already discussed it with Squire Li, suggesting that Jian Ru recognize him as his foster father, so that the marriage would be proper.

Granny Jin asked Jian Ru for his opinion, saying that if he had any objections, there was still time to discuss alternatives.

Jian Ru had seen village weddings before, but they were much simpler, with fewer formalities. He didn’t know much about these customs, but he understood that the Li family meant well, so he said, “I’ll follow Madam Li’s arrangements. I have no objections.”

Granny Jin asked further, "The Madam also wanted me to ask you—the wedding date is set three months from now. Do you have any thoughts about that?"

Jian Ru, already worried about potential changes to the marriage, instinctively asked upon hearing the timeline, "Why's it so far out?"

Granny Jin teased him with a click of her tongue, "In a hurry to get married already?"

Jian Ru’s face flushed bright red. "No, it’s not that…"

Granny Jin counted on her fingers as she explained, "A wedding isn’t something simple. According to tradition, there should be nacai (betrothal gifts), wenming (name matching), naji (divination for auspiciousness), and qingqi (date selection)—just these steps alone take months. We’ve skipped the earlier steps, but some things simply can’t be omitted, and this is for your own good."

Jian Ru didn’t quite understand. Granny Jin smiled and said, "You gotta give the Second Young Master some time to prepare the betrothal gifts for you!"

Jian Ru let out an "Ah," stammering, "I don’t need betrothal gifts…"

Granny Jin couldn’t help laughing and patted his head. "Silly child, that won’t do. You may have no parents, but these things can’t be skipped. What’s due to you, you should firmly hold onto—this is all for your security later on."

Jian Ru understood and nodded.

Granny Jin continued, "During this time, your wedding outfits need to be tailored, several sets of wedding quilts must be made, and the Second Young Master’s room needs to be tidied and redecorated. There’s even more to handle for the wedding banquet." She looked Jian Ru over. "The jewelry for your hair and attire also needs to be prepared quickly, and you’ll need several sets of inner and outer garments. Three months may sound like a lot, but it’s actually quite tight. We’ll have to hustle to get it all done."

After saying all this in one breath, Granny Jin noticed Jian Ru listening quietly without a word for a long while. She nudged him with her shoulder and asked, "What’re you thinking?"

Jian Ru didn’t speak but looked at Granny Jin, a slow smile spreading across his lips, his eyes sparkling brightly.

He said happily, "I haven’t had new clothes in years."

Granny Jin was taken aback at first, then felt both amused and tender-hearted. "You, really…"

Faced with such an innocent child, all the prepared formalities she had in mind became unnecessary. She simply tapped Jian Ru’s forehead and laughed, "Look at you, all happy!"

As they approached the estate, Granny Jin took Jian Ru’s hand and advised him, "I’ve watched the Second Young Master grow up. Treat him well, and things will work out for you."

Jian Ru nodded, his eyes firm. "I’ll treat him right."

When they arrived at the estate, Jian Ru moved back into his old room.

Granny Jin brought a servant boy, around twelve or thirteen, to Jian Ru and introduced him, "This is Xiao Ning, who serves the Second Young Master at the Li family. For the next few months, he’ll stay here with you. If you need anything, just ask him."

Jian Ru looked the boy over—he seemed clever and alert. Noticing Jian Ru’s gaze, the boy bowed respectfully and said brightly, "Hello, Brother Jian."

Jian Ru returned the greeting.

Granny Jin sent Xiao Ning to the kitchen to boil water and make tea.

Jian Ru watched Xiao Ning’s retreating figure until he left the room, then couldn’t resist asking, "Is Er-gongzi busy right now?" His tone hinted that he wanted to see him.

Hearing this, Granny Jin glared at him. "Since when do engaged couples meet before the wedding? Er-gongzi follows the rules—he returned to town yesterday to avoid just this. You must follow the rules too!"

Jian Ru, used to losing face in front of Granny Jin, wasn’t too bothered, but he felt a pang of disappointment. He didn’t quite understand where it came from and simply smiled awkwardly before letting it go.

That evening, Xiao Ning helped Jian Ru unpack his things. Jian Ru wasn’t accustomed to being served, and his things were rather shabby—he worried others would look down on him.

But Xiao Ning eagerly took over the task without showing any disdain, so Jian Ru let him handle it.

The next day, after getting Jian Ru settled, Granny Jin had to return. The Madam still needed her and couldn’t spare her for long.

Jian Ru was closest to Granny Jin here, and once she left, he felt like a lone bird abandoned in its nest. He saw her off to the carriage and watched as she waved for him to go back inside, but he waited until the carriage was out of sight before returning.

After that, as Granny Jin had said, Jian Ru had little time to rest.

Day after day, fabric merchants, tailors, and jewelers came by in succession. Jian Ru was kept as busy as a spinning top, pulled along by Xiao Ning.

Fortunately, Xiao Ning was innocent, cheerful, and loved to chat, so the two got along well.

The Second Young Master’s betrothal gifts also arrived—a whole cartload—and the estate staff made several trips to move everything inside.

In the meantime, Squire Li and his wife came by specifically to see him.

That day, Jian Ru was so nervous he could barely eat. Luckily, Granny Jin arrived early and coached him on how to behave. The elderly couple were easygoing, and after a busy half-day, the family acknowledgment rites were completed.

Jian Ru kowtowed to Squire Li and his wife, thereafter addressing them as foster father and foster mother.

The couple had prepared gifts for Jian Ru, further adding to his possessions.

However, Sun Yushuang also came along that day, putting on a passably polite front.

When they were alone in the room, Sun Yushuang’s expression shifted abruptly, and he sneered, "Don’t think marrying into the Li family will turn you into a phoenix. The Li Madam wasn’t willing to agree to this match—that old lady’s tough. You’ll suffer later!"

Jian Ru replied, puzzled, "I don’t understand why you’re always so concerned about me. Whether I suffer or not is my business. I’m the one marrying the Second Young Master, not you."

Something in his words must have struck a nerve. Sun Yushuang’s face suddenly changed, his eyes flashing with something like hatred. His face paled, then reddened, then paled again, until he looked as if he’d been wronged. With red-rimmed eyes, he stamped his foot and ran out of the room.

Jian Ru was baffled but didn’t dwell on it.

In the days that followed, Jian Ru had been filled with pre-wedding anticipation. Sun Yushuang’s outburst was like a bucket of cold water, leaving him upset for days and worrying that the wedding might fall through at the last moment.

He went through his gift trunks again, thinking that even if the marriage fell through, given the Second Young Master’s character, these things wouldn’t be taken back. That thought comforted him somewhat, though an achy, bitter feeling lingered.

Summer had long passed, and the weather grew cooler. Before he knew it, the three months were up.

Fortunately, none of the expected problems occurred.

Jian Ru was finally getting married.