Farming for Three Meals a Day [Farming Life] 52

Chapter 52

On the day they were to prepare the bridal chamber, Ye Xi specially wore the new clothes he had made for his wedding, the silver bracelet on his wrist, and took ten eggs covered in red paper and a package of red dates from the kitchen cupboard, gifts to bring good luck to the newlyweds.

Before Ye Xi’s wedding, others had also come to prepare his bridal chamber, and the red dates and peanuts they received were then scattered among the guests at the feast.

Li Ran was also invited to help prepare the bridal chamber. Today, she wore a pink padded jacket with a silk flower in her hair and a silver hairpin with a cloud pattern.

Ye Xi, seeing her, teased, “Sister-in-law, you look so beautiful, like a young girl even after getting married.”

Li Ran pushed him playfully and scolded, “Don’t tease me, Xi-ge’er, you should cover the red marks on your neck!”

Ye Xi blushed and quickly pulled his collar higher.

Li Ran laughed. “I was just teasing you, and you actually believed me. It seems you and your husband had a passionate night.”

Ye Xi, embarrassed and annoyed, walked ahead, pretending to ignore her. Li Ran caught up and linked arms with him. “Hey, is there anything we should avoid when preparing a bridal chamber for the first time?”

Ye Xi didn’t know much, having only heard a few things from his mother. “We just go to the bride’s room, eat fruits, drink tea, and chat, to liven up the atmosphere. But we have to avoid saying anything inauspicious or crying. We put the eggs and red dates we brought on the bed and let the bride arrange them as she pleases.”

Li Ran nodded. “Alright, I’ll remember that.”

They walked to Mrs. Wang’s house, chatting and laughing. The house and courtyard were already filled with people, the women hired to help with the cooking setting up the stove.

Seeing Ye Xi and Li Ran, Mrs. Wang hurried over with a smile. “Xi-ge’er and Ye Shan’s wife, it’s an honor that you could come. Please, go to the bridal chamber and have some tea and fruits.”

Ye Xi and Li Ran exchanged polite words and entered the house, where the other women invited to prepare the bridal chamber were already gathered.

After entering, they greeted everyone and then sat down.

The women who came today were all dressed up, wearing their best jewelry, so as not to be seen as poor or shabby, especially the village chief’s wife, whose hairpin was even made of silver gilt, attracting envious glances from the other women.

Mrs. Wang’s daughter brought out a plate of soft and sweet peach blossom cakes, giving each person a few pieces. This was a treat from the shop in town, and villagers rarely had the chance to eat them. The women took the cakes and discreetly hid them in their sleeves, planning to take them home for their children.

Ye Xi and Li Ran didn’t have children, so they ate theirs.

The women asked Mrs. Wang’s daughter about her future husband: where he was from, what he did for a living, and how many people were in his family.

The daughter, Wang Fengling, blushed as she answered their questions. “He’s from Lizhuang, two towns away from Shanxiu Village. His family raises goats, a whole herd, and they slaughter and sell them in town during festivals. It’s just his parents and him, three people in the family.”

Hearing this, the women all said she was fortunate. Such a family was well-off, with a simple family structure, no siblings to fight over inheritance, and no sisters-in-law to deal with, a truly good match.

Mrs. Wang, beaming with joy, said, “I only have this one daughter, and I’ve been wanting to find a good husband for her, so she can have a good life. It’s just a pity that he lives a bit far away.”

Ye Xi and Li Ran listened, and Li Ran, resting her chin on her hand, said with a sigh, “It’s true, once a daughter marries, she’s far away from her parents’ home. If it’s close by, it’s still alright, but if it’s separated by mountains and rivers, it’s difficult to visit even once in a few years. Although Wang-guniang is marrying into a good family, it will be hard for her to see her parents.”

Ye Xi nodded, grateful that he had married Lin Jiangshan, who lived so close to his parents’ home, only a short walk away.

“Yes, whether life after marriage is good or bad depends entirely on the in-laws.”

They chatted for a while longer, and then it was time to prepare the bed for the newlyweds. Mrs. Wang took out the quilt covers from the cabinet.

“Oh, these quilt covers are beautifully embroidered! Look at the colorful threads, like a painting!”

“Yes, the mandarin ducks look like they’re swimming in water, and the flowers look so real, such exquisite craftsmanship!”

“Mrs. Wang, these quilt covers are truly impressive!”

The women praised the quilt covers.

Mrs. Wang, beaming with pride, said, “This isn’t my daughter’s handiwork, her hands are clumsy, she can’t embroider so well. I specially asked Xi-ge’er to embroider them for me.”

Hearing this, the women all looked at Ye Xi.

Ye Xi smiled. “Mrs. Wang is generous, I did it for the money.”

His words gave Mrs. Wang face, a polite and appropriate response.

Those with unmarried daughters or sons at home all asked Ye Xi, “Xi-ge’er, can you embroider a couple of quilt covers for my family too? We’ll pay you well, of course.”

Seeing Mrs. Wang’s quilt covers, they were all envious and wanted Ye Xi to embroider some for their children’s dowry.

Ye Xi remembered Lin Jiangshan’s warning not to strain his eyes and smiled. “Aunties, you honor me by liking my embroidery. But my health isn’t good, my vision blurs at night, and I have to drink chrysanthemum and senna seed tea to nourish my eyes. My husband won’t even let me embroider handkerchiefs anymore, he scolds me whenever I use my eyes too much. I’m afraid of him. If my health improves later, I’ll let you know, and I can take on a few more jobs then.”

His words were polite and reasonable, and the women couldn’t say anything more, only reminding him to take care of his health.

“Xi-ge’er is so lucky, no wonder Mrs. Wang invited you to prepare the bridal chamber. Not only did you marry close to your parents’ home, but your husband is also caring and considerate.”

“Isn’t he? Xi-ge’er’s husband is hardworking and capable. My eldest son worked with him on the official road construction and said that Lin lad never missed a day of work, earning two hundred wen more than my son.”

“I bought fish from Xi-ge’er’s husband last time, many people in the village did, his fishing skills are rare.”

“He also chops good firewood. I’ve seen him at the market several times, the firewood he sells is thick and sturdy, many women in town buy firewood from him.”

“If he weren’t capable, would our Xi-ge’er be wearing a silver bracelet at such a young age? I’m already a middle-aged woman and only got a copper bracelet two years ago.”

The women’s praises made Ye Xi blush slightly in embarrassment.

Li Ran covered her mouth and chuckled. “Aunties are all praising your good fortune.”

After drinking tea and eating dried fruits and nuts, it was time to prepare the bed.

They scattered the peanuts and red dates they brought on the quilt covers, symbolizing good luck and blessings from everyone.

Ye Xi and Li Ran also scattered their gifts on the bed, and Mrs. Zhao said, “We’re preparing Wang-guniang’s bed today, we’ll have to do it for the Lin family next time.”

“The Lin family? Which Lin family?” Some of the women didn’t understand.

Mrs. Zhao sighed and reminded them, “How many Lin families are there in our village? The one in the east end of the village, of course. Mother Lin came to my house a few days ago and asked me to help prepare the bridal chamber for Yao-ge’er.”

“Yao-ge’er?! He’s getting married?” The woman’s voice was filled with surprise.

“He was caught having a secret affair with a man at night, his reputation is ruined, and he can still get married?!”

“Which family is so desperate to marry him?”

The women started gossiping, and Ye Xi had a hunch.

As expected, Mrs. Zhao whispered, winking, “Which family? None other than the Cao family from the next village!”

Everyone gasped in disbelief.

“That Cao family is really tolerant, willing to take him! Even in our village, people wouldn’t accept Yao-ge’er’s reputation, what is the Cao family thinking?”

“The Lin family had been bragging about their engagement with the Cao family for a while, but there was no news. Now, even though Yao-ge’er’s reputation is ruined, they’re willing to marry him, it’s truly puzzling.”

“I’m afraid there’s more to this than meets the eye. Does the Lin family have something on the Cao family? They’re a scholarly family after all, and Cao Bin is taking the Xiucai exam next month. If he passes, marrying Yao-ge’er from our village would be a huge loss!”

“Who knows, one willing to beat, one willing to be beaten, it’s none of our business. If they invite us to prepare the bridal chamber, we’ll just go.”

After making the bed and scattering the peanuts and red dates, the task was complete.

Mrs. Wang gave each of them ten wen as a thank-you gift, and Ye Xi and Li Ran took the money and left.

Outside Mrs. Wang’s house, Li Ran pulled Ye Xi aside and whispered, “Yao-ge’er is really marrying into the Cao family, that’s truly unexpected. Father and Mother told me about the Cao family breaking off the engagement with you before, you had a burn on your face, and they were eager to break it off. Now, Yao-ge’er’s reputation is ruined, worse than a burn on the face, and they don’t mind?”

Ye Xi pursed his lips and, seeing that no one was around, shared his suspicion. “I think the person Yao-ge’er had an affair with is probably Cao Bin.”

Li Ran’s jaw dropped, she had never heard of such a thing, and she pulled Ye Xi closer. “How do you know?”

“Otherwise, why would the Cao family be willing to lose face and marry a disgraced young man? Didn’t we see Cao Bin coming out of a brothel last time? He’s a lecherous man, and Yao-ge’er is good-looking, they probably had an affair long ago. After being caught, the two families fell out, and Yao-ge’er is using this to threaten the Cao family. The most important thing for the Cao family now is the imperial exam next month, whether Cao Bin can become a Xiucai. If Yao-ge’er causes a scene and ruins things, then their family’s reputation and future will be ruined, that’s why they’re willing to marry Yao-ge’er.”

Li Ran thought Ye Xi’s reasoning made perfect sense. “Those two families, truly birds of a feather. Just wait and see, their life after marriage will be full of drama.”

Ye Xi smiled, not wanting to get involved in their affairs. “Let them be, let’s just live our own good life.”

His and Lin Jiangshan’s life was peaceful and happy.