Chapter 52 Before the Wedding

Chapter 52: Before the Wedding

In the morning, Meng Wan stayed in bed, and Chang Jinhua also got up late. The courtyard gate was left ajar. Chang Jinhua pushed open the small room door to look—Song Tingzhou must have gone out before dawn and still hadn’t returned.

“You’re about to get married, and you’re still lazing in bed. Get up and eat. It’s time to take out the wedding clothes and do some embroidery.”

Meng Wan sat up abruptly in bed. “Wedding clothes?”

Chang Jinhua said, “Isn’t it the fabric I cut before the New Year? I’ll teach you how to sew. Today, no matter what, I’m going to make sure you learn.”

Meng Wan: ...There’s no escaping it, is there?

When Song Tingzhou returned, Meng Wan was sitting on the kang with a needle, scratching his head over a large piece of red cloth.

“Where’s Mother?”

His voice had regained its usual steadiness.

Meng Wan felt a bit awkward. “She went with Sixth Aunt to pick wild vegetables in the fields. There’s some porridge left in the pot. Go and serve yourself.”

Song Tingzhou acted as if he hadn’t heard. He sat down next to Meng Wan and said, “I’ll help you.”

Meng Wan turned his face away. “I can do it myself.”

“Then I’ll teach you. Sew the sleeve like this.” Song Tingzhou picked up the needle and thread and sewed a few neat stitches—he actually knew how.

The clothes were already cut, and Chang Jinhua had sewn the finer details. What remained were simple stitches.

Song Tingzhou embroidered one sleeve for him, and Meng Wan sewed a few stitches himself to get the hang of it. He managed to sew passably, though the stitches weren’t as neat as Chang Jinhua’s.

Song Tingzhou watched him for a while, then said, “I need to go to town later to visit Tongsheng He. Do you want to come with me?”

Since he had called Tongsheng He his teacher, now that he had passed the county exam, it was proper to pay a visit.

Meng Wan frowned. “I won’t go. But if you run into Zhang Jizu at the He residence, ignore him. Focus on your studies for now. Sooner or later, there will be a chance to deal with scoundrels like him.”

People like that were the most disgusting—hard to find evidence against, so for now, the only option was to ignore him. Just seeing Song Tingzhou rise while he himself failed to pass the exam would be enough to infuriate him.

“Mm, I know.”

After a moment of silence, Song Tingzhou suddenly said, “Wan’er... today is the twenty-ninth of the fourth month.”

“Oh.” Meng Wan didn’t even look up, continuing his work.

Song Tingzhou’s voice grew a bit more urgent. “On the fifth of next month, we’ll...”

“Ah, I remember.” Meng Wan couldn’t stand his impatience. He wasn’t going to run away from the wedding. They lived under the same roof—what was he so anxious about?

Hearing his reply, Song Tingzhou’s brows relaxed, his eyes filled with a smile.

“Good that you remember. I’m off now. If you get bored at home alone, go to the small room and find a book to read.”

With him there, Meng Wan felt restless. Now that he was gone and Chang Jinhua wasn’t home either, Meng Wan surprisingly felt a bit lonely.

He shook his head, got off the kang, and went to knead dough. The past couple of days had been slapdash meals—on the road even more so, nothing but steamed buns and dry cakes. Today he had time, so he decided to make dumplings.

“Sister-in-law? Are you home, sister-in-law?”

Was that Second Uncle’s wife?

Meng Wan covered the kneaded dough with a basin, washed his hands, and went out.

“Second Aunt, my aunt has gone to pick wild vegetables. Please come in and sit.”

Zhang Xiaoyu came carrying a basket, placed it on the kitchen floor, and said awkwardly, “Since your aunt isn’t home, I won’t stay long. There are ten eggs and a basket of mountain goods inside. Keep them for yourselves.”

“Thank you, Second Uncle and Second Aunt. I’ll tell my aunt when she gets back.”

Meng Wan accepted the gifts. This was social courtesy, and the items weren’t valuable—nothing to fuss about among family.

“Wan Ge’er, what I said before wasn’t nice. That was foolish of me. Don’t take it to heart.” Zhang Xiaoyu rarely spoke so sincerely, her manner stiff and unnatural.

Meng Wan was a bit surprised. He smiled wryly. “I was also immature back then and talked back to you. You’re my elder, and if you didn’t bother arguing with me, why would I hold a grudge?”

Zhang Xiaoyu could never produce such graceful words as Meng Wan. She left beaming.

She happened to run into Chang Jinhua at the gate and chattered a long string of flattery, rambling on.

Chang Jinhua came back with a basket of wild vegetables and said helplessly, “That Second Uncle’s wife is really one for moods—either friendly or prickly. Well, at least she has no ill intentions, just a sharp tongue that offends people.”

Meng Wan showed her what Zhang Xiaoyu had brought.

Chang Jinhua sat in the yard picking the wild vegetables. “Now we have enough eggs for a while.”

“Then when we make wild vegetable dumplings tonight, let’s crack two eggs into the filling.” Meng Wan also pulled up a small stool to help her pick.

“All right, let’s use three!”

In the afternoon, Song Tingzhou returned. He had bought fruits and tea in town and taken them to the He residence. The He family accepted the gifts and offered him a meal, which he declined—it was all just a matter of courtesy. They kept a proper distance, understanding each other well.

Moreover, the He family’s private school had produced a top scholar, which was already a great honor. From now on, wouldn’t scholars from all around flock to Quanshui Town?

So now, Scholar He was cordial to Song Tingzhou—warm enough without being overbearing. In scholarship, he was no longer at his peak, but in social graces, he far surpassed others.

That evening, Meng Wan and Chang Jinhua made dumplings with wild vegetables and eggs. Meng Wan had been craving them and ate eight large steamed dumplings in one go. Chang Jinhua ate about the same. As for Song Tingzhou, he ate all the remaining dumplings—not a single one left.

That night, lying on the kang, Chang Jinhua suddenly asked Meng Wan, “Did you and Da Lang go to the Chang family before the New Year?”

Meng Wan hesitated, then said, “We did. The aunt-in-law seemed like a tough one.”

Chang Jinhua understood immediately. She propped herself up and asked, “Did she make things difficult for you?”

Meng Wan let out a soft laugh. “How could she? Could she outtalk me?”

Chang Jinhua relaxed and lay back under the covers. But after a moment, she said, “Still, Da Lang’s grandmother has to live under her roof...”

“Aunt, don’t worry. I understand.” Even in ancient times, filial piety was important, but if a son indulged his shrewish wife, people would just gossip. In a small town like this, would the county magistrate really send men to arrest you over such a small matter?

Meng Wan turned over under the covers to face her. “In a few days, you should go to town yourself to visit. Let Cousin go with you. On such an important occasion, your maternal family can’t stay away, right?”

Chang Jinhua sighed. “I’ll go check on them when I go to town.”

Quanshui Town was small. News that a scholar from Sanquan Village had passed the county exam spread through the whole town in a few days. Chang Jinhua kept the gifts from the Song clan—mostly eggs, rice, or flour—knowing she would have to reciprocate later.

Other villagers also inquired, but most were just being polite. Even if Song Tingzhou had passed, they wouldn’t benefit from it. They couldn’t even spare eggs for their own children, so they certainly wouldn’t give them away.

When Song Tingzhou took Chang Jinhua to the Chang family’s door again, they received unprecedented warm hospitality. Chang Jinhua felt as if she had returned to the days when her husband was still alive.

“Big Sister, come up quickly and try this cake. Your second brother just bought it from the shop—it’s still warm.” The aunt-in-law stood by, inviting Chang Jinhua to sit on the kang, where a long kang table was set with two plates of rice cakes and a dish of fried peanuts.

Song Tingzhou sat on a wooden chair talking with his uncle, and Second Uncle Chang also urged, "Da Lang, go and have a taste. You two mother and son stay for lunch, and have a good few drinks with your second uncle."

Chang Jinhua grasped her mother's rough, wrinkled hand, "We won't stay long. Keep the fruits for Yu Geer to eat. The reason we came this time is first to see Mother and inform you that Da Lang passed the xiucai exam; second, on the fifth day he will marry Wan Geer. Wan Geer's family has no one, so we have invited you to act as his family."

Aunt Chang was somewhat unhappy, "But we are Da Lang's real uncle and aunt on his mother's side. How did we end up on Wan Geer's side?"

Chang Jinhua put on a stern face, "Da Lang has been in town for so many years. When did he ever say you were his close uncle and aunt? If you don't want to, then none of you need to come, and we'll have peace and quiet."

The Chang family actually had some property. In earlier years when Song Tingzhou ate and drank at their home, Song Youmin had sent them no small amount of silver. Second Uncle Chang also worked odd jobs in town all year round. Their family was simple with little expenditure, and they had ten mu of fields at the edge of town. So they could be considered well-off.

But no one dislikes having more money. A Linseng had a tax‑exemption quota for land under his name. If the Chang family's ten mu of fields were placed under Song Tingzhou's name, the grain saved in one year could all be turned into silver.

Second Uncle Chang's eyes darted, "Big Sister, what are you saying? Once the two children marry, they'll be one family. Won't they both call us uncle and aunt? We accept this matter. On the fourth day, let his aunt go over to help you out."

Aunt Chang glared, and Second Uncle Chang quickly whispered a few words to her. No one knew what the two of them discussed, but in any case, they agreed happily.

Chang Jinhua had long seen through her younger brother and his wife. Seeing their mercenary attitude, she was not particularly saddened. "I have never managed a wedding before. There are many things I need to ask Mother about. Let her come stay with me for a few days."

This small matter was not difficult. Aunt Chang even took the initiative to pack a bundle for her mother-in-law.

Today Chang Jinhua had bought many things in town, so she rented the village head's ox cart. Song Tingzhou helped his grandmother onto the cart and said goodbye to his uncle and aunt who came out to see them off.

Back at the Song house, the old lady hugged her daughter and cried, but she didn't say anything bad about her daughter-in-law. She only spoke of the good things, saying that her daughter-in-law's temper was a bit hasty, but she never shorted her food and drink. She also said that Yu Geer was adorable, raised by her, and very close to her.

Chang Jinhua looked at her mother's thin, bony frame and stooped back. How could she not know that her mother had suffered at the hands of her daughter-in-law in the Chang family? But she was a married daughter, and she had already fallen out with her brother. If not for Song Tingzhou's success, it would have been hard even to see her mother. Now at least she could bring her over to stay for a few days.

"Aunt, since Grandmother is here, why don't we steam a pot of meat buns in the evening and cook some millet porridge."

Meng Wan opened the cabinet and scooped out a basin of white flour. Elderly people digest wheat‑based foods better.

Old Mrs. Chang quickly waved her hand, "No need, no need. Just cook some porridge and cut some pickles. No need to trouble." Her daughter's family was about to hold a wedding and had just returned from the prefectural city. Their expenses must be very high, so they should save.

Chang Jinhua grabbed her arm, "Mother, you don't need to worry about these things. Wan Geer's cooking is good, and we have enough silver at home."

Actually, not really. The expenses on the way back plus the money for the wedding – pork was the biggest cost. She had already ordered half a fat pig from the butcher for the banquet on the fifth day, plus various other things like wine, cotton, peanuts, and melon seeds. She now had only eight taels of silver left.

But she also thought that after going to the prefectural city with her son and daughter-in-law, she would follow Meng Wan to make breakfast food to sell in the prefectural city. Prices in the prefectural city were higher, so she could earn more than in town.

In the evening, the Song house was filled with the fragrance of meat again. Meng Wan's steamed buns were soft and fluffy. They were slightly yellow in color but had a sweet flavor when chewed. The meat filling was mixed with soaked and chopped dried mushrooms, and the flowing juice was glossy with oil.

Old Mrs. Chang had a small appetite and only ate one meat bun and half a bowl of porridge. Meng Wan said, "Grandmother, if you like them, we can make them again another day."

"Good, good."

Old Mrs. Chang smiled kindly and whispered to her daughter, "Although he is a poor child without parents, he has a handsome appearance, is adept at housework, and is filial to you. He is a good child. He is quite a match for Da Lang."

No one was more satisfied with Meng Wan than Chang Jinhua. When others praised him, she was only happy.

"Who says otherwise? Marrying Wan Geer is the Song family's blessing."

According to the customs of Changping Prefecture, unmarried men, women, and xiaoge could not meet before the wedding. Previously, Chang Jinhua had thought to let Meng Wan leave from Zhang Xiaoyu's house, but now that relations with her brother's family were repaired, the Chang family was clearly more suitable. After all, Chang Jinhua had always claimed to outsiders that Meng Wan was a distant relative of her family.

On the fourth day, the butcher from Hongmiao Village directly delivered a fat pig to Song Tingzhou's house. Zhang Xiaoyu and Sixth Aunt Song stayed at the Song house to help. They pasted new window paper, put red paper-cut happy characters on the courtyard door and house door, and even changed the door curtain to red coarse cloth.

Chang Jinhua was wearing a coarse cloth short jacket and bustling around inside and out when she suddenly saw a pregnant woman standing at the door looking into her yard. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly went out to greet her.

"Xiao Mei? Is it because the noise in our yard is too loud and disturbed you?" Chang Jinhua stood at the door talking to her. Li Changxiang was longing for a grandson like the stars and moon. With so many people at home, if they bumped into Xiao Mei, Li Changxiang would surely fight her.

Therefore, Chang Jinhua was leery of Xiao Mei visiting. Not only her family, but the villagers nowadays looked down on Tian Lao Da's family. Many people said behind their backs that they had done too many immoral things and got retribution. Tian Xing, such a strong man, died just like that.

Xiao Mei also knew that she was not welcome now. The young wives and xiaoge in the village kept their distance when they saw her. She came to the Song house just to congratulate Meng Wan. "Not disturbing, Aunt. It's Wan Geer's happy day. I want to wish him well. Is he home?"

This was quite pleasant to hear. Chang Jinhua returned a smile, "Tomorrow is the wedding. Today he is staying at his maternal grandmother's house. Tomorrow Da Lang will go to bring him back. Auntie thanks you on his behalf. Xiao Mei, our house is a mess these days, so I won't invite you in. When you give birth, you can invite Wan Geer to come see you."

Xiao Mei understood Chang Jinhua's meaning. She wasn't surprised to hear that Meng Wan was not home. "Alright, okay."

Turning around, she couldn't help wiping away tears. Wan Geer was the first friend she made in her husband's family. Their houses were right next to each other, but now even meeting him was disliked.

Entering her own yard, she faced her mother-in-law's cold face.

"I'm here washing clothes and cooking, and you, instead of staying at home properly, go wandering around next door? Not one of you is worry-free."

Li Changxiang was originally about the same age as Chang Jinhua, but now her hair was shot through with more than half white strands.

She was laboriously scrubbing the dirty pants that the old master had taken off. Her hands were red from the icy well water. "Raised him for so many years, and he ran away just like that. Better if he had gone to the underworld to keep my eldest son company. Ungrateful little slut, if she runs away, she'll probably be sold into a brothel."

She kept her head down and muttered curses while scrubbing the clothes. Xiao Mei listened for a while before realizing she was cursing Zhu Geer.

Xiao Mei looked at the east wing room, which was piled with sundries, and touched her round, protruding belly.

It was better that he left. Better than staying in a home like this.