Chapter 4: Welcoming the Bride

Li Xi had someone pick an auspicious date. There were two good days before the New Year—the twelfth and the eighteenth of the twelfth lunar month. He figured the first was too rushed, so he set the latter and began preparations for everything.

Time flew by, and before anyone knew it, the wedding day arrived.

Over the past few days, Li Xi hadn’t let Shen Mulin lift a finger. Since Shen Mulin was a wanderer with no family of his own, Li Xi simply had him stay at Gu Xiaoli’s house the night before, so the wedding procession could set out from there.

The next day, Gu Xiangzhu rose early and changed into his newly made outer robe. Li Xi pulled him aside for a long round of instructions, and when the chosen auspicious hour arrived, they set off.

Most of the villagers were idlers who had come to watch the bride-taking. They stood with arms crossed, unbothered by the cold, gathered in groups of seven or eight along the roadside, waiting to see.

The walk from their home to Gu Xiaoli’s took over half an hour—after all, it was at the foot of the mountain, and the path grew more uneven the further they went.

Gu Xiaoli had her two sons accompany the wedding procession to look after Gu Xiangzhu on the way, and had her daughter help with the bride’s send-off.

Shen Mulin had originally thought it could just be a formality—there was no need to make Gu Xiangzhu make the trip in the cold over bad roads.

Since it was his aunt’s family’s boy coming to fetch the bride, why go back and forth? He could simply go back from his aunt’s house.

But Uncle Li wouldn’t agree, Aunt Gu wouldn’t allow it, and Gu Xiangzhu pulled him aside, saying in so many words that he “didn’t want Shen Mulin to feel wronged or be looked down on by others.”

Shen Mulin still hadn’t figured out why they all thought he was the one being wronged. Was it because, since they were both men, he was the one “marrying in”?

This matter was clearly to his advantage.

Gu Xiaoli had specially boiled two eggs for Shen Mulin that morning. After he finished eating, he was hustled off to change into new clothes. The fabric felt smooth to the touch, and one look was enough to tell it had cost quite a few copper coins.

Shen Mulin felt both happy and worried. He could feel the Gu family’s kindness toward him, but he was also afraid that the knowledge in his head might not be useful and that he would waste the silver they had worked so hard to save.

Changing into new clothes wasn’t enough—Aunt Xiaoli and her daughter Xu Niannian pressed him down by the bed and applied a layer of lip color.

Xu Niannian was eleven or twelve, just at the age where she loved to dress up.

She reached out and touched Shen Mulin’s face, exclaiming, “Wow, Mom, Sister-in-law’s face feels so smooth! No wonder he’s so white he looks like he’s glowing.”

Gu Xiaoli laughed and swatted her hand away. “Don’t smear Lin-ge’er’s makeup.”

Xu Niannian tugged at Gu Xiaoli’s sleeve. “Mom, can I put on a little lip color today too?”

She had been eyeing it for a long time. It was said that her eldest uncle had brought it back from the prefectural city, and a box cost quite a bit. Her mother hadn’t been willing to use it for two or three years, only taking it out on big occasions.

“You little girl, so vain at this age—what kind of family will we find for you in the future?” Gu Xiaoli pinched her cheek. “Today, for your sister-in-law’s happy occasion, just a little. Not too much, or you’ll be red as a ghost.”

Shen Mulin wasn’t used to wearing makeup and felt awkward, but seeing the mother-daughter interaction made him laugh too.

Oh well, it was a big day for the family. If it had to be applied, then so be it—it wasn’t going to cost him a pound of flesh.

“Lin-ge’er, now that you and Zhuzi are married, you should call me Aunt. I’ll take that as my place and say a few words to you—don’t be annoyed,” Gu Xiaoli patted Xu Niannian. “Go, guard the door. If Zhuzi doesn’t give you candy, don’t let him in.”

Xu Niannian answered sweetly and skipped off happily.

Shen Mulin quickly sat up straight. Seeing him like this, Gu Xiaoli felt happy too. “I heard from Xi-ge’er that your family was well-off before—you must never have known hardship. But my nephew is a pitiful one. Now that you’re with him, there will surely be people wagging their tongues. You’ll have to manage all the household affairs too—it’ll be hard work…”

“Aunt, don’t say that,” Shen Mulin said. “My family was well-off, but that’s all in the past. Xiangzhu still has his scholarly honors, while I don’t even have a household registration yet. That I have today is all thanks to you all. I sincerely want to build a life with Xiangzhu.”

Only then did Gu Xiaoli relax. She wiped her tears and accepted the title of aunt. “Good child. If you ever feel wronged in the future, your aunt and your stepfather are reasonable people—we won’t take sides. Rest assured.”

Shen Mulin felt warmth fill his heart. He had come to this place alone and nearly lost his life to the wind and snow. Fortunately, he had met kind people—he naturally couldn’t fail to repay their kindness.

“Mom! Mom! Brother Zhuzi is here!” Xu Niannian ran in excitedly. Gu Xiaoli grabbed her. “You little minx, I told you to guard the door!”

Xu Niannian grinned. “Oh my, Brother Zhuzi looks so handsome today! He and Sister-in-law look like they’re made for each other!”

Gu Xiaoli covered her mouth. “No filter on that mouth of yours. Go on, get your candy.”

Xu Niannian grabbed Shen Mulin’s hand. “Sister-in-law, I’ll give you one of my candies. When you have a little niece in the future, I’ll save one for her too.”

Gu Xiaoli was both amused and exasperated.

“No filter on that mouth—this child.”

She instinctively glanced at Shen Mulin and saw that the ge’er who always had smiling eyes was now frowning. Her heart tightened.

Shen Mulin carefully thought it through—she was right to say little niece, but how could he have that ability? Surely Gu Xiangzhu couldn’t either?

Then he remembered Xu Niannian had two older brothers and relaxed. She probably meant her brothers’ future children.

Gu Xiaoli broke out in a cold sweat. Of course she hoped Zhuzi would have children—it would give him something to look forward to. But seeing Lin-ge’er’s earlier expression, it seemed he had never thought about it, or perhaps didn’t want to. She couldn’t help wanting to ask.

Before she could open her mouth, Xu Niannian had already let the people in, and the room was packed full. Outside, a crowd of curious villagers had gathered—none of them minding the difficult road.

“Brother Zhuzi, Sister-in-law is so beautiful today,” Xu Niannian said, circling Gu Xiangzhu. “You look especially handsome too.”

Shen Mulin looked at Gu Xiangzhu standing especially straight in the outer hall and smiled again. What a proper young man.

If this were modern times, at this age he’d have just started university. With that refined face, that otherworldly air, and just the right touch of frailty, who knew how many people he’d have charmed over four years.

Gu Xiaoli looked at them and slowly felt reassured. The two children should have feelings for each other, and with feelings, children would come in time.

She smiled. “Zhuzi, what did you come here for today? You’re not saying anything—do you want me to deliver him to you myself?”

Everyone burst out laughing. Someone said, “He’s probably shy about marrying a husband!”

Gu Xiangzhu’s ears turned completely red again, though his face didn’t show it. “Please let us through, Aunt.”

Gu Xiaoli deliberately asked, “Let who through? If you don’t say clearly, I won’t know.”

Village weddings weren’t particularly elaborate. No one specially made a wedding dress that couldn’t be worn a second time—usually they just bought a piece of red cloth and made an outer robe that could be worn later.

But the bridal veil was essential, and it had to be embroidered with patterns by a fortunate neighbor for good luck.

Shen Mulin was covered with the veil. Before his sight was blocked, he caught a glimpse of Gu Xiangzhu’s flushed face.

No matter how proper he acted, he still blushed at the slightest tease.

Shen Mulin thought that if Gu Xiangzhu heard a few more teasing remarks from the crowd, he’d be too embarrassed to even find his way home. So he said to Gu Xiangzhu, “Aren’t you coming in? Hurry and take me home.”

Gu Xiaoli, who had been standing guard at the door directing the blocking, hadn’t expected the new husband to defect. She laughed and swatted Shen Mulin. “So I’ve become the one separating the lovebirds. Fine, fine—let’s go drink the wedding wine!”

The people outside, like water on hot oil, burst into laughter and commotion.

“Zhuzi, look at your ge’er—he can’t wait!”

“Xiaoli, let them go! Don’t delay the two of them getting to the bridal chamber!”

“This ge’er is really beautiful—Zhuzi is so lucky!”

Then someone with a nasty mouth said, “He can even say such shameless things—who knows what kind of person he was before. Tsk tsk, probably picked up someone else’s castoff and treats him like treasure! I’d better watch my two boys, don’t let them get seduced by a fox spirit.”

Xu Niannian was close to her and got upset. “My sister-in-law is like a fairy from heaven—who’d want your bald drunkard!”

“Hey, you little girl, how do you talk! Lianniang, aren’t you going to discipline her?” The speaker had been hit where it hurt and immediately started shouting.

Gu Xiaoli pretended not to hear. Running your mouth at someone else’s happy occasion—getting scolded was only fair.

Shen Mulin led Gu Xiangzhu out by the hand. He had noticed on the way here that the road was hard to walk. This man, always afraid of breaking propriety, had probably felt his way here alone.

But since he was here now, he couldn’t let Gu Xiangzhu walk by himself. They were married now—being close was fine.

He thought so, but others didn’t necessarily agree. That person spat again, “The ceremony isn’t even done and they’re already holding hands—just proves he’s shameless!”

Shen Mulin heard it clearly and was about to retort.

But Gu Xiangzhu had already spoken, his voice cold. “Auntie, every word from your mouth is an insult to someone’s reputation. Do you truly think no one dares respond in broad daylight? Please choose your words carefully—everyone here is a witness, everyone has ears and a mouth. If you continue spouting nonsense, I will take you to the authorities.”

Old Lady Liu had lost face and stuck out her neck. “Did I say anything wrong? Who knows what he’s been through on that bumpy road here, or what temper he has. Listen to what he just said—even couples married two or three years wouldn’t dare say such things. He won’t be easy to deal with in the future. We’ve been neighbors for years—would I harm you?”

Shen Mulin knew Gu Xiangzhu had a scholar’s temper, but some people couldn’t be reasoned with. He squeezed Gu Xiangzhu’s hand, gently pulled him back, and stood in front of him.

“Auntie is truly impressive—you have the ability to know the future! The whole village should cling to you tightly. In the future, how much silver each family will earn in a year, how big the harvest will be, whether a wife will bear a boy or a girl—just knock on your door and ask, and you’ll know. Even when it’ll rain or shine, Auntie knows—no need to worry about drought or overwatering. Whatever you say to plant, we’ll plant. We’ll rely on your enlightened mouth to keep us fed and clothed!”

Old Lady Liu quickly said, “What nonsense are you talking? Who has the ability of the heavens?”

“Exactly,” Shen Mulin smiled. “Since Auntie doesn’t have the ability of the heavens, how can you open your mouth and say I’ll do those things in the future?”

He nodded knowingly and pretended to wipe his eyes. “I’m afraid you’re bullying me because I’m an outsider. It’s one thing for Auntie to look down on me, but Zhuzi is the most stubborn about principles. Saying these things—are you deliberately trying to make sure we can’t live well?”

“You!” Old Lady Liu was furious. “What kind of ge’er acts like you—pulling and tugging, with a dirty mouth!”

Shen Mulin said, “I can’t even hold my own husband’s hand? What did I say that was dirty? Auntie, you’re wronging me to death. Everyone in the village knows how I came to the Gu family. The Gu family is deeply indebted to me—since I woke up, I’ve considered myself part of the Gu family.”

“I didn’t want to spend much money—just serve tea and pay respects to Stepfather would have been enough. It’s all just daily life. But my stepfather is kind-hearted and my aunt is compassionate—they insisted on holding a ceremony because they were afraid others would look down on me. I didn’t believe it at first—I thought the villagers were all soft-hearted and kind. But I never expected Auntie to see me this way…”

He sighed deeply, his voice taking on a tearful tone, and gripped Gu Xiangzhu’s hand tightly. “The road is long—we were just supporting each other along the way. I don’t know the customs here. If I’ve done something improper, I’ll stay home from now on and never dare come out again.”

Gu Xiaoli was already furious. Old Lady Liu thought highly of herself and, relying on her age, loved to boss people around. Now she had caused trouble at her nephew’s wedding and was pressing his new spouse—she absolutely wouldn’t allow it.

“A perfectly good wedding, and you’ve ruined it for us! The young couple is doing fine—what business is it of yours? My Lin-ge’er is such a good person. He cares about my Zhuzi, whose eyes are bad, having to walk such a long road, so he wanted to go home earlier. What did you turn that into?”

Quite a few others had caught on too. They were one family—Old Lady Liu made it sound like an affair.

“Exactly. When there’s no money, the two families discuss it, someone fetches the new spouse, they move in together, and the next day they’re recognized as family. Xi-ge’er was willing to hold a ceremony for the children—what a good thing.”

“It really is generous. But this Lin-ge’er is so handsome—he and Zhuzi make a good match.”

“Didn’t I say so? The ge’er doesn’t mind Zhuzi’s eyes and knows to repay kindness. Look what a good match the Gu family got.”

“Ah, even though Zhuzi’s eyes are bad, he still has his scholarly honors. The family’s land doesn’t need to pay taxes—Lin-ge’er will have endless good fortune in the future!”

“He just happened to collapse at the Gu family’s doorstep. If you ask me, it’s a match made in heaven—a beautiful story.”

“Old Lady Liu just loves to gossip and ruin people’s reputations. Tsk, really can’t associate with her. One day she’ll come to my house spouting nonsense and I won’t have anywhere to argue.”

“Poor Lin-ge’er and Zhuzi.”

Old Lady Liu was shamed by every word. She was angry for a long while, clutching her chest, unable to say a word.

Gu Xiangzhu felt Shen Mulin scratch the back of his hand, and before he could react, he was protected behind him. He felt guilty—Lin-ge’er had to face this too. The usually carefree, laughing person had been driven to tears.

His heart ached. His words carried a chill. “Your family’s land lease with us expires next year and will not be renewed. Your grandson need not come to study either.”

Old Lady Liu immediately protested. She had just saved corn seeds a few days ago, waiting to harvest this batch of wheat and plant them.

Her family had many mouths, but they were all small children. The Great Yan law stipulated five mu of dry land and two mu of fertile land for a man, and two mu of dry land and one mu of fertile land for a woman or ge’er.

Any more required studying and earning scholarly honors, and one had to be over ten years old to apply to the village chief. So they had no choice but to rent the Gu family’s land—at least they could keep food on the table and occasionally save a little.

The Gu family’s terms were the best—one-tenth of the grain harvested per mu, the rent wasn’t high, and no taxes. The rest was their own.

Fertile land was 230 wen per mu, dry land 100 wen, contracted yearly, settled every half year, and paid all at once after the harvest—no need to pay upfront. Just a signature and a public notice, and it was done. Where else could you find such favorable terms?

She had planned to haggle with Xi-ge’er again after next year’s expiry to save some money for her youngest son’s wife.

And her eldest grandson—school was too expensive and she couldn’t bear the cost, so she thought he could listen in at Gu Xiangzhu’s lessons. Later, he could go to the county and use a few cultured phrases to get a good job.

“Zhuzi, that’s not right of you…”

Gu Xiangzhu cut her off, his voice growing colder. “Auntie’s words haven’t been right either. From now on, all our family’s affairs are managed by Lin-ge’er. Auntie need not say more. Everything depends on the right time, place, and people. If you delay the auspicious hour for me and Lin-ge’er, and our future days go badly, I wonder if you can bear the responsibility?”

The usually refined man, when angry, spoke with particular persuasiveness. Gu Xiangzhu didn’t want to say more. He could ignore whatever others said about him, but they shouldn’t talk about Lin-ge’er.

Old Lady Liu didn’t dare speak further. She still wanted to farm the Gu family’s land, but she also worried the blind man would hold a grudge.

She didn’t care about education or integrity. She only knew a blind man wouldn’t have it easy—if he couldn’t even eat his fill, what use was lofty character?

Nearby in the village there were poor scholars who beat their wives and wouldn’t work. Besides, though the Gu family collected quite a bit of rent each year, it all went to eye treatments.

If you asked her, they should have stopped treating long ago. Now the eyes weren’t cured and the money was gone—their life couldn’t be good. The more she thought, the more afraid she became of being held accountable, so she slunk away resentfully.

Gu Xiaoli started rallying everyone again, and soon the crowd was laughing and joking once more, heading back in a joyous procession.

Author’s Note:
Thanks for the collections! Heart～
I adjusted the land rent—what I wrote before was too high.