In Qinzhou City, there was a custom that after marriage, the bride would return to her family home on the third day.
The man would take his wife along with gifts to visit her father’s home, to thank the parents-in-law for raising their daughter.
The more gifts brought, and the heavier they were, the more it showed that the husband’s family valued the bride.
Ning Yuchan did not even dare to think about bringing gifts.
As for returning to Dayang Village, she was caught in a dilemma.
If she did not go back, Old Man Ning had raised her for eighteen years. She had just married, and she could not be so heartless.
But if she went back, she would certainly have to face her elder sister and Scholar Liang.
She would be all alone, already appearing lonely, and she did not know how to face Scholar Liang.
Moreover, Huojia Village and Dayang Village were close. Taking the shortcut, it would only take the time of one incense stick to arrive.
Returning in the morning was considered auspicious. If she delayed until the afternoon, she would surely be pointed at and criticized.
After breakfast, Ning Yuchan followed Tian Fengying in doing chores while thinking about returning home the next day.
Before she got married, she and her elder sister had made an agreement.
With the bride suddenly changed, they would certainly need to give an explanation to the husband’s family.
On her side, she firmly insisted to the Huo family that she admired Brother Huo and was willing to keep her faith on him.
On her elder sister’s side, it was the same explanation. Her elder sister liked Scholar Liang and was willing to marry him.
Because Huo Changsheng’s life or death was unknown, the Huo family easily accepted her.
She did not know what the situation was on Scholar Liang’s side.
If Scholar Liang did not like being deceived, he would probably make a scene with her elder sister.
But until now, no news had been heard. The whole village was calm. It seemed that the Liang family had also accepted it.
“Sister-in-law,” Ning Yuchan was lost in thought when Taohua came over and pulled her.
She acted sneaky, as if trying to hide something from the Huo family.
Ning Yuchan remembered that while making breakfast, Taohua had secretly put an egg into the pot.
After washing the rice, she went out to feed the chickens and did not see what Taohua did with the egg.
She assumed Taohua had eaten it herself.
“Taohua,” Ning Yuchan wiped her hands, “what is it?”
Taohua made a shushing sound and pulled her into the bridal room.
In broad daylight, she even deliberately closed the door. Then she took an egg out from her bosom and placed it in front of her.
“Sister-in-law, I saved this for you. You eat it.”
Ning Yuchan fell silent.
Taohua probably feared she would refuse, so she scratched her head. “Well, it’s not like I especially took it for you. I just thought that I didn’t know when my elder brother would come back. I was afraid you wouldn’t have the patience to wait for him. You eat this egg. In the future, I’ll get you one every day. Be a bit more patient. My elder brother will definitely come back.”
Taohua was only twelve years old, a young girl who was thin and small, somewhat malnourished.
Her clothes were clean, but it was obvious they were old clothes from the year before last, tightly stretched over her body, with one button almost bursting open.
Ning Yuchan looked at her, and her eyes inexplicably reddened.
She pushed the egg back. “I won’t eat it. You eat it.”
Taohua said nervously, “Do you think I’m lying to you? My elder brother will definitely come back.”
Ning Yuchan choked with emotion. “I’m not leaving. I’ve already married into this family. Where would I go? I don’t like eating eggs. You keep it and eat it.”
Old Man Ning’s life had been passable. The family raised several hens, so eggs were not scarce.
Old Man Ning would cook eggs for her and her elder sister every now and then.
She actually liked them very much and could never get enough.
But this egg from Taohua, she would definitely not eat.
She steadied her emotions and forced a slight smile. “I’m really not leaving. I like Brother Huo. Whether he comes back or not, I will keep my faith in him.”
Taohua did not seem to fully believe her. Suddenly, she stuffed the egg into Ning Yuchan’s arms, then ran out of the bridal room like a rabbit.
Ning Yuchan felt as if she was holding a burning hot potato.
The Huo family’s life was difficult, and there were not many eggs.
No one else ate them, so what would it mean for her to eat one alone?
After hesitating for a moment, she found Tian Fengying and stuffed the egg into her hands.
“Mother, Taohua secretly boiled this for me this morning. She said she was afraid I would leave and not wait for Brother Huo. You should have this egg instead.”
Tian Fengying felt somewhat helpless. “This Taohua!”
She handed the egg back to Ning Yuchan. “She treats you like her elder sister. If she gives it to you, then you take it. Our family has several hens. At noon today, we’ll boil a few more so everyone can have one.”
Ning Yuchan smiled. “Then let’s save this one for lunch as well.”
Tian Fengying still remembered the matter of returning home.
“Our family hasn’t prepared much. There are still thirty eggs in the basket. We’ll boil a few for lunch later, and you can take the rest to your parents’ home as your return gift.”
Ning Yuchan did not refuse. “Thank you, Mother.”
Her daughter-in-law was as delicate as a flower. The more Tian Fengying looked at her, the more she liked her. “If only Changsheng could come back.”
The next day, after breakfast, Tian Fengying prepared twenty eggs and a packet of pastries.
She had just rummaged through boxes and cabinets to find a few copper coins and bought the pastries on the spot.
She had Taohua carry everything.
“Accompany your sister-in-law to Old Man Ning’s house, take these things with you, and don’t let your sister-in-law carry them.”
Taohua happily took the bundle. “Mother, don’t worry, I’ll definitely do it well.”
Before they left, Tian Fengying gave many instructions, mostly worrying that Taohua would not speak properly or understand etiquette, so she reminded her repeatedly.
Ning Yuchan reassured her, “Mother, my father doesn’t have that many rules. As long as he sees me, he’ll be happy.”
Tian Fengying thought for a moment, then said, “Taohua, from now on, don’t call Yuchan ‘sister-in-law.’ Call her ‘Sister Yuchan.’”
Ning Yuchan understood Tian Fengying’s thoughts.
If Huo Changsheng did not return within three years, she would let her choose whether to stay or leave.
Calling her “Sister” meant raising her like a daughter.
Taohua was unwilling. “Sister-in-law has already married Elder Brother, so why call her Sister?”
Tian Fengying gave her a stern look. “Call her whatever I tell you to call her. Why do you have so much to say?”
She urged the two of them out and kept watching until they walked past the end of the street and disappeared from sight.
After leaving the village entrance, Ning Yuchan reached out to take the bundle from Taohua. “Give it to me.”
Taohua refused. “Mother told me to carry it.”
Ning Yuchan smiled. “Then let’s each carry one. Otherwise, if others see us, they’ll think I’m bullying my younger sister-in-law.”
Taohua felt she was right. After a brief hesitation, she handed over the lighter basket of eggs.
Just as Ning Yuchan was about to take it, Taohua changed it to the pastries instead.
The egg basket was large and not easy to carry, while the pastries were easier to handle.
In any case, neither item was very heavy.
Ning Yuchan sighed at Taohua’s thoughtfulness.
In this marriage, aside from not having a husband, the family treated her well.
After everything she had gone through, what more could she ask for?
If Huo Changsheng returned, she would be happy. If he did not return, she would live like this for the rest of her life.
From the west end of the village, it was closer to Dayang Village. Ning Yuqiao and Scholar Liang arrived at the Ning household slightly earlier than she did.
The Liang family’s ancestors had once worked as long-term laborers for a high official and had rendered great service. When the official resigned and retired, he asked the Liang family’s ancestor what he wanted.
The Liang ancestor only asked for a few books.
The official, grateful for his service, rewarded him with one thousand taels of silver and also sent a cart of books.
Having witnessed the authority of officials, the Liang family always hoped their descendants would achieve success. From a young age, they studied and learned to read, and when they came of age, they took the examinations for tongsheng[1]“tongsheng” refers to candidates who have passed the initial local-level qualifying exams jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_1949185_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_1949185_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); and xiucai.
But the Liang family lacked the aptitude and had always stopped at the level of tongsheng.
By the time of Scholar Liang’s generation, he finally passed and became a xiucai.
Thus, Scholar Liang was the pride of the Liang family.
He himself took a liking to Old Man Ning’s daughter and asked his parents to arrange the marriage. On the same day, they betrothed Old Man Ning’s second daughter, Ning Yuchan.
On the wedding night, when the bridal veil was lifted, Scholar Liang saw clearly that the bride was not his fiancée. He immediately lost his temper and told his parents to exchange Ning Yuchan back at once.
Ning Yuqiao cried like pear blossoms in the rain, holding onto Scholar Liang as she spoke of her grievances.
Scholar Liang was not an unreasonable man. First, he had already performed the wedding ceremony with Ning Yuqiao, and their status as husband and wife was established.
Second, Ning Yuchan actually liked Huo Jingye and would rather wait for him than enter the Liang household.
Scholar Liang was deeply disappointed, but having studied the teachings of the sages, how could he not fulfill the wishes of the woman he liked?
This autumn was the provincial examination, and he had heavy study tasks.
Originally, he planned to return to the academy on the second day after marriage.
However, Ning Yuqiao would not let him go, insisting that he stay and accompany her to return home.
With his parents also persuading him, he could only grit his teeth and delay for another day.
He actually did not want to see Ning Yuchan. She would rather marry a dead man, so where did that leave him, her former fiancé?
Yet he could not help but want to see her.
The two had been betrothed five years ago, and Huo Jingye had also left five years ago. When did she begin to take a liking to Huo Jingye?
As soon as Ning Yuchan stepped into the courtyard, she felt Scholar Liang’s gaze.
She lowered her head and tried her best to avoid any eye contact with him.
When Old Man Ning saw his second daughter return, he was so happy that the wrinkles on his face seemed to deepen. As he walked out of the house, he greeted her, “Yuchan is back. Come in quickly. Father bought preserved fruits and saved them specially for you.”
Noticing that Taohua was carrying things, he smiled. “Taohua came too. Since you’re here, that’s enough. Why bring things? I can’t finish them alone. You can take them back later.”
Ning Yuchan first greeted Old Man Ning, then brought Taohua into the house.
“Father, I didn’t bring much. Please don’t mind it. When I earn silver in the future, I’ll show you filial respect.”
Old Man Ning laughed. “You’re just a girl. What silver can you earn? You’re joking.”
Ning Yuqiao was wearing a bright red jacket and sat at the edge of the kang. When she saw Ning Yuchan enter, she did not move.
With a smile that did not reach her eyes, she said, “Yuchan is back. You look a bit plumper. It seems your life in the Huo family is quite good.”
Scholar Liang sat on a wooden chair on the ground, which Old Man Ning had made himself.
He was neither too close nor too far from Ning Yuqiao, within reach if he extended his hand.
Since Ning Yuchan entered the courtyard, his gaze had not left her.
Naturally, Ning Yuqiao did not like this.
She deliberately said that her younger sister was living well to make Scholar Liang give up and think less about her.
Ning Yuchan pulled Taohua to sit down and replied with a smile, “It’s good. Father-in-law and Mother-in-law, Taohua and Changshou all treat me well.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at Scholar Liang, her expression somewhat unnatural.
She stood up and went out of the room to help Old Man Ning prepare lunch.
On the third-day return, one was supposed to eat at the natal home.
Although she did not have a husband and the return ceremony was incomplete, she felt uncomfortable inside, but she could not let Old Man Ning see it.
Ning Yuqiao had said one thing correctly. Old Man Ning had raised her for eighteen years. She had to acknowledge and repay this upbringing.
Now, she did not have the ability to repay Old Man Ning with anything.
But she could at least appear cheerful and reassure him.
Old Man Ning had already chatted with Scholar Liang for a while earlier and was now preparing lunch.
“I slaughtered a hen. At noon, I’ll stew it for you and Yuqiao to eat. There are still a few left. When you sisters are doing your confinement…”
Old Man Ning paused here.
He had forgotten that Huo Jingye was dead, and his second daughter could no longer have children.
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