At the end of March, in Huojia Village, where all living things were reviving, a huge commotion broke out.
It was as if the earth, which had slept through the entire winter, had begun to tremble along with it.
From morning to night, the sounds of gongs, drums, and firecrackers never stopped, and the noises of shouting, cursing, and scuffling were mixed among them.
This made the already lively village even more lively.
Today in Huojia Village, two households were holding weddings at the same time.
One was the family of Second Brother Huo, who lived at the eastern end of the village.
The other was the family of Scholar Liang, who lived at the western end of the village.
Both families were marrying daughters of Old Man Ning from neighboring Dayang Village.
Originally, Second Brother Huo’s family had been betrothed to Old Man Ning’s eldest daughter, while Scholar Liang had been betrothed to Old Man Ning’s second daughter.
Who would have expected that after the brides were escorted into the households, after they had bowed to Heaven and Earth, and after the nuptial wine had been drunk, once the bridal veil was lifted, they discovered that the brides had been brought to the wrong houses.
This was no small matter. Both families hurriedly began arranging to exchange the brides back.
Fortunately, the bridal chamber had not yet been entered. Otherwise, it would truly have become a great joke.
…
Old Man Ning’s second daughter, Ning Yuchan, was at this moment sitting in the newly prepared bridal room of the Huo family, holding a big rooster in her arms.
The rooster had beautiful feathers, and its comb stood tall like a blazing flame.
It was large and plump.
It looked like a proud great general.
When she had stepped down from the sedan chair, the wedding matron had stuffed the rooster into her arms. Worried that the rooster might not behave, the matron repeatedly told her to hold it tightly.
This was the husband who would bow in the wedding ceremony with her, so she must not let it fly away.
Strangely enough, the rooster that had been struggling and refusing to yield earlier became extremely docile the moment it fell into her arms.
After that, the wedding ceremony and the entry into the bridal chamber all went smoothly.
At this moment, her bridal veil had not yet been lifted.
In her heart, she felt somewhat uneasy.
Originally, she had been betrothed to Scholar Liang of the western end of the village. At this moment, she should have been sitting in Scholar Liang’s house, the two of them happily drinking the cross-cupped nuptial wine together.
The two had been betrothed five years ago.
At that time, she had only been thirteen years old.
Scholar Liang had only been eighteen or nineteen.
In the year of their betrothal, he passed the county-level imperial examination. His first attempt at the provincial level examination ended in failure.
This autumn, he was expected to participate for the second time.
The teachers at the academy all said that he would certainly pass this examination.
Scholar Liang was the most talented young man within ten li of the surrounding villages, and he was also refined and handsome in appearance.
Who knew how many families with daughters had invited matchmakers to come to his door.
Unfortunately, Ning Yuchan had been one step ahead and had already been betrothed to Scholar Liang.
People within ten li of the surrounding villages were extremely envious. Once Scholar Liang passed the examination and became a provincial graduate, she would enter the household as the wife of a provincial graduate. It could truly be said that she would rise to the heavens in a single step.
…
Ning Yuchan had grown up in Dayang Village. Huojia Village was separated from it by only one river.
Old Man Ning made a living selling wheat foods, and Ning Yuchan and her elder sister helped him set up his stall every day.
Scholar Liang would stop by the stall every few days to take a look. From time to time, he would slip a few copper coins to Ning Yuchan, and each time Ning Yuchan would wrap a few pastries for him.
It was clear that Scholar Liang was very satisfied with this little fiancée of his.
Two years ago, he had already asked his parents to begin arranging their marriage. However, Ning Yuchan’s elder sister was still unmarried. It was improper for the younger sister to marry before the elder.
Thus, the matter had been delayed until this spring. Old Man Ning truly could not hold out any longer, so he decided that both daughters would marry at the same time.
That was how today’s wedding came to be.
The reason Ning Yuchan’s elder sister, Ning Yuqiao, had not yet married was very simple. Her fiancé, Huo Jingye (childhood name Changsheng), had gone to join the army shortly after their betrothal.
Two years ago, news arrived that he had died on the battlefield.
Old Man Ning naturally wanted to withdraw from the marriage agreement, but the Huo family refused, no matter what.
Without seeing their son’s corpse with their own eyes, they could not possibly believe such rumors.
The husband and wife knelt in front of Old Man Ning and begged him to give them another two years.
Old Man Ning could not bring himself to refuse. Seeing that the Huo couple were truly pitiful, he could only suppress the idea of withdrawing from the engagement.
After the Liang family came to propose marriage, Ning Yuqiao set her heart on the future provincial graduate and insisted that she must marry him.
At first, Ning Yuchan thought that her elder sister was joking with her. Their mother had died early, and the two sisters had relied on Old Man Ning for survival. Their relationship was not especially close, but it was certainly not bad.
The marriage arrangements had long been settled. How could brides be switched right before the wedding?
However, Ning Yuqiao cried, made scenes, and threatened to die. The noise left Old Man Ning helpless, so he could only swallow his pride and discuss the matter with Ning Yuchan.
Naturally, Ning Yuchan refused.
It was at that time that Ning Yuchan learned that she was not Old Man Ning’s biological daughter.
Ning Yuqiao told her to repay the Ning family’s years of raising her by giving up Scholar Liang.
Facing Old Man Ning’s wrinkled face and the hand that had been left crippled while saving her, what could she do?
Ning Yuchan had no other choice. Between the Ning family’s kindness and Scholar Liang, after struggling repeatedly, she chose the Ning family.
Even so, she was unwilling to marry into the Huo family, bow in marriage with a big rooster, and live her entire life as a widow.
But Ning Yuqiao threatened her, saying that she was the descendant of rebels whose entire clan should have been executed. As soon as someone discovered it, she would be seized by the imperial court and sent to the execution ground.
It would be better for her to marry a dead man and live a quiet and obedient life.
Ning Yuchan was utterly disheartened. If the truth were ever exposed one day and implicated her future husband and children, it would be better for her to live as a widow for the rest of her life.
This way, she could comfort Old Man Ning and prevent him from breaking the marriage agreement.
She could also console the parents of the Huo family.
As compensation for the pain of losing their son.
And she herself could live out the rest of her life in peace.
She could also be said to gain several benefits at once.
Therefore, she resolutely boarded the Huo family’s bridal sedan chair.
…
“Sister-in-law,” the quiet bridal room suddenly heard a particularly shy child’s voice.
It was Huo Jingye’s twelve-year-old younger sister. She had come in to help her sister-in-law lift the bridal veil.
When the veil was lifted, the face she had expected did not appear.
For a moment, she thought she was seeing things. She rubbed her eyes hard and murmured in shock and fear, “Sister Yuchan?”
As if she had seen a ghost, she suddenly turned and ran outside. “Mother, Father, it’s wrong, it’s wrong! Sister-in-law isn’t sister-in-law. Something’s wrong…”
She rushed out and happened to run straight into Mother Huo.
Mother Huo had just heard some gossip and was already feeling uncomfortable. Seeing her rushing about recklessly, she said displeasedly, “On such a joyous day, why are you running? What do you mean wrong, wrong? Has your sister-in-law’s veil been lifted? Did she eat the dumplings you brought her?”
Huo Jingye’s younger sister’s childhood name was Taohua.
As if she had not heard Mother Huo scolding her at all, she kept repeating, “Wrong, wrong, sister-in-law isn’t sister-in-law.”
Mother Huo frowned. “What do you mean sister-in-law isn’t sister-in-law?”
Taohua did not know how to explain. She raised her hand and pointed toward the bridal room. “You see for yourself.”
Mother Huo would have been better off not looking. Once she looked, she was even more frightened than Huo Jingye’s younger sister.
“How is it Yuchan?”
She raised her voice and shouted behind her, “Changsheng’s father, come over here quickly! Something strange has happened. Hurry and come!”
Changsheng was Huo Jingye’s childhood name.
Father Huo was entertaining guests. Hearing his wife call him, he set down his wine cup and hurried toward the eastern wing room.
His leg had been injured years ago, so he walked with a limp. Still, he hurried as quickly as he could to Mother Huo’s side.
“What’s wrong? What do you mean something strange has happened? On such a happy day, can you say something more auspicious?”
Mother Huo pointed toward the bridal room. “Quick, look at the bride.”
Father Huo felt somewhat awkward. “Changsheng’s mother, what are you doing? What father-in-law stands at the bridal chamber door on the wedding night peeking inside? If this spreads out, people will laugh us to death.”
Mother Huo glared fiercely at him. “If I tell you to look, then look.”
Father Huo was a big, rough man, yet at this moment, he seemed somewhat embarrassed.
He first glanced at his wife. Seeing that she was not joking, he finally looked into the bridal room.
As soon as he looked, he was shocked. “Why is it Yuchan? Wasn’t Changsheng betrothed to Yuqiao?”
By now, night had already fallen, and the kerosene lamp was not bright enough. He squinted and examined carefully for a long time, making sure he had not seen wrong.
“Changsheng’s mother, what exactly is going on?”
Ning Yuchan had been even more nervous than the people outside.
Although news of Huo Jingye’s death had been sent back, the one betrothed to him had been her elder sister Ning Yuqiao.
Now that she herself had entered the household in the bridal sedan chair, she could not help feeling as though she had deceived the Huo family.
Even though someone marrying into the family was already something.
At this moment, she wore a red wedding dress and sat at the edge of the kang bed, holding the docile big rooster in her arms, while the Huo family members at the door looked at her as if they were observing some strange creature.
Her arms tightened involuntarily. She straightened her back and tried to conceal her heart that was beating like a drum, looking toward the doorway openly and calmly.
The big rooster, constrained in her arms, shifted its head and settled back down in her embrace.
Mother Huo’s legs seemed not to obey her at all. Awkwardly, she moved along the wall and entered the room.
Ning Yuchan bit her lip and slowly stood up, holding the big rooster while bowing in greeting to Mother Huo.
“Mother, I have liked Brother Huo since I was young. This time, I took matters into my own hands and discussed with my elder sister to exchange the bridal sedan chairs. I ask Mother to be tolerant and fulfill your daughter-in-law’s wish.”
For a moment, Mother Huo did not know what to say. She opened her mouth. “Changsheng… Changsheng…”
Ning Yuchan knew what Mother Huo was thinking.
“Mother, if Brother Huo can return, that will be my blessing. If Brother Changsheng cannot return, then I will keep watch over him for the rest of my life. Please rest assured, I will never change my heart.”
Mother Huo was not a child. How could she possibly believe it?
“Yuchan, your words sound nice, but with Changsheng in this situation, we should not make things difficult for you. Still, I want an honest answer from you. Do you truly like Changsheng, or is it that Yuqiao refused to marry into our family?”
Scholar Liang was the first young man from Huojia Village to pass the county-level imperial examination.
Whether he could pass the provincial examination in autumn or not, just the status of a licentiate already made countless families within ten li eager to form a marriage alliance.
Ning Yuchan was not foolish. Why would she abandon a fine licentiate scholar and choose a dead man instead?
Moreover, they had been betrothed for over five years, yet they had never heard that Ning Yuchan had feelings for their son.
Mother Huo was perceptive and clear-minded. What could she not guess?
Ning Yuchan could not tell the truth.
No one knew whether Huo Jingye was dead or alive.
The Huo parents were already deeply distressed. If they were further rejected by their son’s fiancée, it would be like stabbing a knife straight into their hearts.
“Mother, do you think I am not as good as my elder sister?
Not as pretty as my elder sister, not as sensible as my elder sister, not as capable as my elder sister?
Are you already disliking me and unwilling to let me keep watch over Brother Huo…”
Ning Yuchan lowered her head, and several clear tears fell down.
Holding the big rooster with one arm, she pressed a handkerchief to her eyes with the other and choked with emotion. “If Mother does not like me, then please send me back now. Today I already bowed in the wedding ceremony with the big rooster before all the elders and villagers. If I am sent back, no one will want me anymore…”
Old Man Ning’s two daughters were as slender and fresh as scallions. Not only were they beautiful, but they were also capable.
Since childhood, matchmakers had never stopped coming.
Everyone said that daughters like them must either marry into official families or wealthy households. Otherwise, it would be a waste.
The Huo family in the village was not even considered a middle-level household and could barely maintain food and clothing.
Back then, Mother Huo had thrown away her pride, personally going to find Old Man Ning. After much persuasion, and by sending chickens and ducks as gifts, she finally arranged the marriage.
During that time, she had been extremely proud.
Whenever she walked around the village, she held her chin high.
Now that the eldest daughter had been replaced with the second daughter, she was still an excellent girl whom many people could only dream of obtaining.
Naturally, she would not be picky.
However, ever since the betrothal five years ago, the person she had always imagined had been Ning Yuqiao.
Even the scenes she imagined of the future mother-in-law and daughter-in-law getting along involved Ning Yuqiao.
Suddenly, it had changed to Ning Yuchan, and no matter what, it felt uncomfortable.
Seeing the beautiful girl crying like a blooming flower, her heart seemed to be tightly gripped by someone.
“Yuchan,” she quickly reached out to help her sit back on the kang bed. Then she suddenly realized she had just finished working and her hands were dirty, so she wiped them vigorously on her clothes.
Only then did she pull Ning Yuchan back to sit beside the kang.
“This matter… came a little suddenly. How could I not like you? Actually, I have always thought you were more capable, smarter, and more sensible than your elder sister. It is just that…”
She scratched her head and looked toward the doorway. “Changsheng’s father, what do you think? Say something quickly.”
Father Huo wanted to leave but did not dare to. With difficulty, he said, “The wedding ceremony has already been completed, so what else can we do? If Yuchan is willing, she can stay. If she is unwilling, we will send her back.”
Turning his back toward the bridal room, he muttered, “I said long ago this marriage would not work. Our son hasn’t even returned, yet we are still delaying someone else’s daughter…”
Mother Huo had sharp ears and an even louder voice. “Old man, what are you muttering about?”
Father Huo quickly said, “I will listen to you.”
Mother Huo clenched her teeth and soon made a decision.
She patted Ning Yuchan’s hand and said, “Since this is what you want, then stay. After all, the wedding ceremony has already been done.
From now on, you are a member of our Huo family.
Mother will also say something from the bottom of my heart.
If after three years Changsheng still does not return, then if you want to leave, we will absolutely not stop you.”