Farming for Three Meals a Day [Farming Life] 22

Chapter 22

On the day of Beginning of Autumn, the maple leaves in the valley of Shanxiu Village turned red, creating a tapestry of vibrant colors like a beautiful painting, bringing joy to everyone’s hearts.

Early in the morning, villagers came to the Ye family’s house to offer congratulatory gifts. Liu Xiufeng and Father Ye stood at the door, barely able to greet all the guests.

“Master Ye, congratulations, congratulations!”

“Congratulations to you too, please come in, have some tea and fruits!”

“Alright, alright, please excuse us.”

Happiness brings renewed vigor. Father Ye and Liu Xiufeng were full of energy, their joy uncontainable. Most of the villagers who came to offer gifts gave ten copper coins or a packet of white sugar.

Closer relatives brought a home-raised chicken; rural folks valued sincerity over the price of gifts.

After offering gifts, each family brought their members to the feast. This was a rare opportunity for everyone in the family to enjoy a meaty meal and eat their fill. Therefore, hosting a feast in the village was a loss-making endeavor. The dishes served depended entirely on the host’s generosity. Well-off and generous families would serve two more meat dishes, while more frugal families might only serve one or two.

The outer courtyard was already filled with guests, bustling with noise. As the groom, Ye Xi couldn’t go out to greet the guests.

He sat in the room decorated with red wedding cloths and “double happiness” characters, the village chief’s wife styling his hair and face. This task had to be performed by someone locally considered to be blessed with good fortune: someone with both sons and daughters, a loving marriage, and a prosperous life. Only then would they be invited to style the groom’s hair and face.

The person in the mirror had fair skin, beautiful eyes, a delicate and high-bridged nose, and plump, pink lips, exquisite and lovely, even before the application of rouge.

Li-ge’er also came and watched Ye Xi intently, his eyes filled with envy. “Xi-ge’er, you’re the most beautiful groom I’ve ever seen!”

Ye Xi, letting the village chief’s wife style his hair and face, only dared to move his eyes, glancing at Li-ge’er and smiling. “You’ll be just as beautiful when you get married.”

The village chief’s wife was skillful with her hands and also a smooth talker. She praised Ye Xi, “Don’t mention it, I’ve seen many brides and grooms in the village, and Xi-ge’er’s appearance is truly outstanding. People were saying you burned your face and ruined your looks, but you look perfectly fine today.”

After applying the ointment, the skin on Ye Xi’s left face had peeled a few days ago and remained red for a while. After finishing the jar, it had almost completely healed, leaving only a very faint pink mark, slightly different from the surrounding fair skin, but after applying makeup and rouge, it unexpectedly made his cheeks look even more delicate and rosy.

“Fortunately, the scar on my face has almost healed after treatment.”

The village chief’s wife said, “That’s wonderful! Let the Cao family from the next village regret their decision. They rushed to break off the engagement just because your face was burned. Now you’ve fully recovered and found a good husband, it’s double happiness!”

The noise outside subsided for a moment, then came the sound of firecrackers echoing through the valley.

Li-ge’er opened the door, poked his head out to look, and returned excitedly. “Xi-ge’er, the groom is here to pick you up!”

Ye Xi lowered his eyes and pursed his lips, feeling nervous. He tugged on his wedding clothes, embroidered with beautiful mandarin ducks.

The village chief’s wife quickly pinned a silk flower to the right side of Ye Xi’s hair, symbolizing harmony and beauty, then brought the wedding veil and covered his head.

With his vision obscured, his hearing became sharper. Ye Xi listened to the commotion outside, a lively scene.

It seemed some men from the village were blocking the door, forcing Lin Jiangshan to drink.

“Come, come, finish this large bowl, like a real man,” A-Hu, a man from the village, said, holding an earthenware bowl and blocking the door to Ye Xi’s room.

Lin Jiangshan wore the new clothes Ye Xi made for him, looking tall and imposing, full of energy. Anyone who saw him would praise him as a handsome groom.

He was overjoyed today, a faint smile always on his lips. Even when faced with A-Hu blocking the door, he wasn’t annoyed. He took the bowl and drank it all in one gulp.

His straightforwardness and boldness drew applause and cheers from everyone.

“Good! So straightforward!”

“A real man, worthy of marrying a young man from our village!”

This wasn’t the end. After drinking, he had to be tested by his brother-in-law. Ye Shan stood in front and asked Lin Jiangshan to say some sweet words to the groom inside, to make his brother happy.

Lin Jiangshan wasn’t good at saying such things, but the villagers were all cheering, creating a joyous and lively atmosphere, and the laughter and cheers from the Ye family could be heard from afar.

A bold man shouted, “Hey, since you’ll be sharing a bed later, what’s there to be shy about saying a few sweet words? We’re not asking you to recite love poems. Who here hasn’t heard such words in bed? Brother Lin, just say it.”

“Yes, yes, don’t let us hold you up and delay the auspicious time. If you can’t consummate the marriage, don’t blame us!”

“You’ll have to say it tonight anyway, so say it now and let us all hear. If it’s not good, we can teach you.”

The men’s words made the women and young men blush, covering their faces and wanting to hide under the eaves, yet they also wanted to hear more. Life in the village was mundane, and such boisterous occasions were rare. Everyone wanted to watch, listen, and join in the fun. But the men’s words became increasingly suggestive, making even the married women feel embarrassed.

The younger children and unmarried young men and women had their ears covered by their elders, their eyes wide open, looking at their parents’ increasingly red faces with confusion.

“Mother, why is your face so red?”

“Shut up, just eat your fill when the feast starts.”

Ye Xi inside the room naturally heard all of this, his face under the veil even redder. He was also eavesdropping.

Li-ge’er, as an unmarried young man, was thick-skinned and bold, sitting beside Ye Xi, covering his mouth and laughing.

Ye Xi heard his laughter and nudged him with his elbow. “Be quiet, stop laughing. If others hear you, they’ll say you’re shameless.”

Li-ge’er pouted, not afraid at all. “Anyway, these things are part of getting married. It’s fine for me to listen now, I’m not a child anymore.”

Lin Jiangshan was at a loss. Even though he was a tall and composed man, his dark cheeks were now flushed. He opened his mouth several times but couldn’t speak.

“Hurry up, groom, if you keep stalling, the bride will be impatient and might come out to find you.”

Lin Jiangshan had no choice but to clench his fists and shout in his deep voice, “Husband, your husband is here, open the door, let me see you, let me take you home. It’s getting late, don’t let’s miss the auspicious time tonight.”

The people in the courtyard burst into laughter, making the women and young men even more embarrassed.

Ye Xi’s neck turned red from his words. Li-ge’er beside him was laughing so hard he couldn’t straighten up, tears almost coming out of his eyes, gasping for air. “Xi-ge’er, your husband is so sweet-talking! Hahaha, he’ll definitely whisper sweet nothings to you and melt your heart!”

Ye Shan couldn’t tease his brother-in-law any longer. He cleared his throat, put on his brother-in-law’s airs, and said sternly, “You must treat Xi-ge’er well in the future and not let him suffer any grievances. If he comes back crying, I’ll take my cleaver and come to your house.”

Lin Jiangshan said obediently, “Brother Ye, please rest assured, I’m marrying a husband, not to mistreat him, but to live a good life with him.”

Ye Shan nodded with satisfaction. He trusted Lin Jiangshan’s character, and his Xi-ge’er wouldn’t suffer any grievances after marrying him.

“Alright, I trust you.” Ye Shan then stepped aside, opening the door.

Ye Xi sat quietly on the bed, wearing his wedding veil. Liu Xiufeng stood beside him, tears in her eyes. Lin Jiangshan stepped forward and bowed. “Mother.”

Liu Xiufeng wiped her tears and nodded. “Son-in-law, please rise.”

Seeing her son getting married, she felt reluctant, and tears flowed down her cheeks uncontrollably.

Father Ye chided, “Xi-ge’er is getting married, it’s a joyous occasion, why are you crying like this? Wipe your tears, don’t ruin the good luck.”

Liu Xiufeng finally stopped crying. “Yes, yes, yes, today is a happy day.”

Liu Xiufeng and Father Ye gave the couple some words of advice according to custom. Lin Jiangshan then stepped forward and put the red wedding shoes on Ye Xi’s feet.

When his rough and warm fingers touched Ye Xi’s ankle, Ye Xi trembled slightly, his foot twitching.

Lin Jiangshan smiled and bent down to put on the wedding shoes, then squatted down to carry Ye Xi on his back to the main room.

The moment the soft body leaned against him, Lin Jiangshan’s body stiffened, then he steadily carried him and strode out of the room.

Before leaving the house, the groom had to bid farewell to his parents and ancestors. Lin Jiangshan and Ye Xi stood in the main room, surrounded by guests. Father Ye and Liu Xiufeng sat at the head of the room, a pair of dragon and phoenix candles lit on the table, with the ancestral tablets of the Ye family placed above.

“First bow to heaven and earth,” the matchmaker announced loudly, waving her handkerchief.

Lin Jiangshan and Ye Xi bowed towards the door, and the guests applauded.

“Second bow to parents.”

“Third bow to each other.”

When it was their turn to bow to each other, just as Lin Jiangshan was about to bow, a mischievous man from behind pushed him forward.

Lin Jiangshan stumbled forward, his head bumping against Ye Xi’s, almost knocking him over.

This made everyone laugh, and Lin Jiangshan quickly steadied his husband.

“Hey, the groom is so eager, he can’t even wait until nightfall, already pouncing on his bride.”

“Oh dear, don’t be so hasty, you have to eat the feast and drink the wedding wine before going to the bridal chamber.”

The people around teased Lin Jiangshan, and Lin Jiangshan steadied Ye Xi, smiling. “I’ll drink all the wine today and make sure everyone has a good time and goes home drunk.”

Ye Xi was escorted back to his room, and the feast outside began.