Chapter 179 City Streets 79

Chapter 179: City Life 79

"Hey, hey, have you heard? The Qin family in our alley is celebrating a wedding today. Did you know?"

"Of course! Who doesn't! Gongs and drums have been clanging since early morning. My grandson even went to their door to pick up wedding candies! They're scattering red dates and longans as if they were free!"

"Say, what's the real connection between Brother Liu and the Qin family? How did he end up marrying someone from his own household? Could he be a child groom?"

"I once heard Chen Qiaoyun mention it... I heard Brother Liu was originally the husband of the Qin family's eldest son. After the eldest son passed away, Brother Liu became a widower!"

"Ah??! So he's remarrying his younger brother-in-law?! But... isn't the Qin family a scholarly household? Do scholars act so improperly?"

"Pah! What nonsense are you spouting! You just took your child to pick up wedding candies at the Qin family's door, and now you're badmouthing them! Brother Liu has had a hard life. He and the Qin family's eldest son had no marital fate—they never even met! The eldest son was conscripted and later died on the battlefield!"

"Oh my, that does sound pitiful... becoming a widower so young."

"...But isn't it still the younger brother-in-law marrying his elder brother's spouse?"

"Oh, why are you so talkative! Our Dayong has open customs—it's common for widowers and widows to remarry! I've heard even wealthy families have those who continue two family lines! If both parties are willing, what's the problem! Even the emperor has married a concubine!"

"Goodness! You're the one with too much to say! How dare you speak of such dangerous matters! How can we common folk discuss matters of the emperor?! Aren't you afraid of being arrested and beheaded?!"

"...Just whispering among ourselves, the emperor is far away and the mountains are high. He won't know."

"Enough, enough, stop talking. The bridal sedan is coming! They'll definitely scatter more wedding candies later. Hurry and call the children out! Get ready to grab them!"

...

The usually quiet alley was now packed with people, all chatting noisily about everything under the sun, their conversations drifting far and wide. Only when the red wedding procession entered the alley did they stop and return to the main topic. Some hurriedly turned to call out to the children playing inside:

"Erwa! Come out and pick up wedding candies!"

"Goudan, come out quickly!"

"Huaya, hurry, hurry, or you'll cry again if you can't grab any!"

Soon, a group of children scampered out. The youngest were three or four years old, the oldest nine or ten, all eagerly watching the approaching wedding procession.

Since they were already family, this wedding was unusual to arrange, but Cui Lanfang didn’t want either child to feel slighted, especially Liu Guyu. She hired people, rented a white horse and a bridal sedan, and had the couple take a procession through the city before returning. Though it was unique for the bride to leave from and return to the same household.

From afar, the sounds of gongs, drums, and suonas grew louder. The first to be seen was Qin Rongshi riding a tall horse.

The groom wore vibrant red wedding robes and a tall hat, his face radiating joy. His usually stern expression was now full of happiness, a smile he couldn’t suppress curling at his lips.

Beside him was Banban, also dressed in festive attire in bright colors. She wore a red and green dress: a light green inner robe, dark green sleeves, a plum-red skirt with floral motifs, and a gold-threaded red shawl, as brilliant as a sunset.

She carried a bamboo basket tied with red ribbons and scattered wedding candies among the children. Beautiful and generous, she seemed like a benevolent fairy to the kids.

The children, having received the candies, stood in a neat row and called out in sweet, high-pitched voices:

"A hundred years of white hair!"

Qin Banban burst into laughter. "It's 'a hundred years of harmony, together till old age'! Not a hundred years as white-haired elders! Here, you have to say it toward the white horse and bridal sedan! Go on, shout it and come back, and elder sister will give you more wedding candies!"

The children nodded obediently, clutching their candies, and ran over to shout:

"A hundred years of lilies, together till old age!"

"It's 'a hundred years of harmony'!"

"It's lilies!"

"Lilies are flowers!"

The children started arguing among themselves, eliciting more laughter from the crowd. Even Qin Rongshi's smile deepened.

Just then, the bridal sedan shifted. Liu Guyu, also in wedding robes, leaned out from the small window, lifted his bridal veil, and called out, "Hey, you little rascals, come argue over here! Elder brother will judge your argument!"

His sudden appearance startled Qin Banban, who hurried over to push him back inside. "Brother Liu! You can’t do that! Get back in! Lower your bridal veil!"

Qin Rongshi, riding ahead, turned at the sound and saw Liu Guyu pouting reluctantly as he lowered the veil and ducked back into the sedan, muttering something lost to the loud suonas.

He shook his head with a smile, knowing Liu Guyu’s fidgety temperament made the cramped sedan chair unbearable.

Qin Banban, standing close, heard Liu Guyu clearly:

"This sedan is jolting my butt sore! Do officials have iron rears? How do they like riding in these?"

Qin Banban: "..."

After a moment’s silence, she turned and called ahead, "Let’s move faster, we’re almost home!"

With that interlude, the procession continued smoothly to the doorstep.

Cui Lanfang was already waiting at the door, accompanied by Xie Baozhu and Li Anyuan, both beaming.

Xie Baozhu shouted to Qin Rongshi on the white horse, "Looking quite dashing and debonair!"

Qin Rongshi dismounted with a smile and went straight to the sedan.

One hand reached through the curtain, then another joined it.

Qin Rongshi helped Liu Guyu out, then, to everyone’s surprise, swept him up into his arms and strode briskly across the threshold, prompting Xie Baozhu to let out celebratory shouts.

Qin Banban scattered the remaining wedding candies and followed them into the courtyard.

The couple entered the main hall where Cui Lanfang sat in the place of honor, her husband’s tablet beside her, waiting for the couple to bow to their elders.

Overjoyed, Cui Lanfang had tears of happiness at the corners of her eyes.

After the bows, the marriage was solemnized.

*

The courtyard had been beautifully decorated with red cloths, drapes, and lanterns. Double-happiness symbols adorned the doors and windows. Even Lucky had a red ribbon around his neck, with a slightly crooked flower pinned by Qin Banban.

The three cats weren’t left out—each sported a small red flower, sitting in a row on the threshold.

There weren’t many guests: Xie Baozhu, Li Anyuan, neighbor Fang Liuyin, Banban’s fiancé Chen Sanxi—who had no parents, so his master served as his guardian—and the He couple with their daughter.

Xie Baozhu was even more excited than the groom, insisting on toasting and determined to make Qin Rongshi drink heavily.

Li Anyuan tried to intervene but gave up, urging, "Drink less, drink less! It’s Rongshi’s wedding day. What if he gets too drunk?"

Xie Baozhu wouldn’t listen, even pulling Li Anyuan into the drinking. "What are you afraid of? Worried he’ll be kicked out by Brother Liu if he’s drunk?! Come, let’s toast the groom together."

They drank light rice wine, each carrying a faint scent of alcohol. Qin Banban had just brought warm food to Liu Guyu indoors when she saw her brother surrounded.

She glanced at Chen Sanxi and shot him a stern look.

Banban was beautifully dressed today, with light makeup and an elaborate hairstyle, looking like a celestial beauty in Chen Sanxi’s eyes.

His gaze never wavered; he felt more intoxicated than Qin Rongshi, who had drunk far more—even a single glance left him feeling utterly drunk.

It was a joyous day, and everything in sight was bright red. He thought Qin Banban looked beautiful in plum red, which made her lips red and teeth white, but on their own wedding day, she’d probably look just as stunning in bright red.

Seeing Chen Sanxi unresponsive, Qin Banban’s expression grew even sterner. She hurried over, tugged hard on his sleeve, and shot a look toward her brother.

Only then did Chen Sanxi snap out of it and quickly went to help his future brother-in-law ward off drinks.

Cui Lanfang was also chatting with Fang Liuyin and the He couple, her face beaming with joy, her eyes glistening with happy tears.

As dusk deepened, the moon and stars grew brighter in the sky, and households lit their lamps and candles, lighting up the night.

After several rounds of drinks, the guests gradually took their leave, and Cui Lanfang urged Qin Rongshi to return to his room.

Worried that Liu Guyu might dislike the smell of alcohol on him, Qin Rongshi cleaned up a bit before heading back.

As he entered the room, he saw Liu Guyu sitting in a chair by the table, where an empty bowl lay—the meal finished. Liu Guyu had grabbed a handful of red dates, peanuts, longans, and lotus seeds from the bed and was now peeling peanuts and longans, occasionally popping a dried red date into his mouth.

"Hey, you're here... want some? These longans are pretty sweet."

He waved generously at Qin Rongshi.

Qin Rongshi stared at him silently for a long moment.

Noticing the silence, Liu Guyu finally realized that today was different—it was his wedding day with Qin Rongshi.

"Uh... right, you haven’t lifted the veil yet."

He recalled slowly, then hurriedly reached underneath himself.

Yes, underneath himself.

He had found the chair too cold, so he’d pulled off the veil and used it as a cushion.

Liu Guyu fumbled to grab it and hastily tossed it over his head, not bothering to check if it was on straight or even facing the right way.

Qin Rongshi took a closer look—hm, it was on upside down.

His eyes held a smile as he reached out to lift the crooked veil and asked gently, "Are you still hungry?"

Liu Guyu shook his head blankly. "I’m full, just bored and needed something to nibble on."

Qin Rongshi guessed he’d been waiting idly, snacking on peanuts and longans to pass the time. Smiling, he walked over, scooped Liu Guyu up from the chair, and carried him straight to the bed.

"In that case, let’s get to the wedding night."

Liu Guyu: "???"

By the time Liu Guyu snapped out of it, he was already sitting on the bed, the soft, warm bedding far more comfortable than the cold chair.

Qin Rongshi reached out, slowly removing the red headband from Liu Guyu’s forehead. For the wedding, even the headband had been replaced with a bright red one, about two fingers wide, covering that bright red mole completely.

Qin Rongshi pulled off the headband, leaned down to kiss the red mole, then pressed his hand against the back of Liu Guyu’s neck, pulling him into an embrace.

The night was tender, the moonlight intimate, and their affection even more so.