Li Xuemiao's home was in the village next to Fang Yao's. Just as Fang Jiao had said, he was also going back to Li Xuemiao's family home today.
Similar to their situation, Xu Manjiang was also responsible for the incident in the Bridal Chamber. Wang Cuilian and Xu Jianshu had gotten up early in the morning to prepare gifts. Afraid of being laughed at by the neighbors, the four of them left home before dawn.
As far as Fang Yao knew, Li Xuemiao was the only child in her family and had been doted on by her parents since childhood. When arranging a marriage for her and Xu Qingzhou, they had carefully selected him from many potential sons-in-law.
Now, not only had she been swapped in marriage to Xu Manjiang, whose conditions were far inferior, but the bride price hadn't even been received. The Li family would definitely not accept this easily.
Fang Yao suddenly became very curious about what would happen at the Li family's home.
Noon.
Xu Qingzhou, Fang Tong, Fang Zhen, and Fang Bin returned from the fields pulling firewood. Four strong young men had plenty of energy for the work, loading the cart full and stacking it nearly three meters high.
Fang Jianguo and Fang Jianyè helped them unload the firewood, while Liu Bailan brought all the dishes to the table, calling out that it was time to eat.
Fang Yao and Fang Jiao had prepared water in advance and waited in the yard for them to wash their hands and faces, handing them towels one by one.
Xu Qingzhou had always been particular about cleanliness, so Fang Yao didn't make do for him. She specially prepared a new towel. After he wiped his face and took off the outer clothes he wore for work, she used the towel in her hand to dust off his military uniform.
After cleaning the front, she moved to the back, and Xu Qingzhou cooperated by turning around. Under the sunlight, his handsome face was covered with a smile, clearly enjoying the special treatment from his wife.
Fang Bin was the last in line to wash his face. Seeing the towels used by Fang Zhen and the others were black and covered in mud, he curled his lips in disgust. Then, noticing Fang Yao fussing over Xu Qingzhou and attending to him alone, he suddenly felt a pang of jealousy.
"Getting married really changes a person. My brother-in-law is already clean enough, but don't you see your brother here freezing? Hurry up!"
Fang Yao stood up and glared at him, pointing to another towel. "Use that one."
"Can't you see how dirty it is? Even my foot towel isn't this filthy!" Fang Bin gritted his teeth in anger.
Fang Yao ignored him and directly handed the towel to Xu Qingzhou. "If it's dirty, can't you wash it? You usually make do, but now you're being picky!"
With that, she turned and walked into the house without looking back.
Fang Bin stood there, still with water on his face and hands, fuming. To keep peace between the siblings, Xu Qingzhou took the initiative to hand him the towel.
"Second Brother, she can't see you now. Use this one, and I'll wash it afterward."
Fang Bin hesitated for two seconds before taking the towel. As he wiped his face, he shouted toward the house, "Little ungrateful one, you're not even as good as my brother-in-law!"
Fang Yao heard Fang Bin's shout but couldn't be bothered to respond. Soon, the whole family gathered in the main hall, with men and women sitting at two separate tables.
Fang Bin had taken a liking to the liquor Xu Qingzhou brought as soon as he arrived. Eager to taste it, he opened two bottles directly. He first filled Old Master Fang's cup, then distributed it according to seniority. When it was Xu Qingzhou's turn, he squinted his eyes and smiled ingratiatingly. "Brother-in-law, have a drink today?"
"I can have a little." Seeing everyone else drinking, Xu Qingzhou didn't want to spoil the mood.
After Fang Bin refilled his cup, Old Master Fang proposed a toast. Xu Qingzhou matched him by drinking his cup dry. The fifty-two-proof aged liquor burned fiercely down his throat. By the second cup, his face was already slightly flushed, yet he remained fully alert, answering everyone's questions earnestly.
At the men's table, as they drank, the conversation roamed far and wide.
At Fang Yao's table, the women sipped sweet drinks and chatted about domestic affairs, filling the entire house with lively laughter.
After the meal, the Fang family began preparing for the next day's Return-to-the-bride's-family banquet. Wang Hua's task of meeting the in-laws was complete. Knowing that if she stayed, the Fang family would feel obliged to entertain her specially, she took the initiative to say her goodbyes. Xu Qingzhou, worried about her returning alone, offered to see her off.
Seeing his slightly tipsy, flushed face, Wang Hua was even more concerned. "You drank so much just now. You should rest here and help with some work."
As the new son-in-law meeting the Fang family for the first time, it was inevitable that everyone at the table would enthusiastically toast him. Wang Hua knew her son's alcohol tolerance well; she understood that if he was still standing, he was forcing himself. She hadn't exposed him, wanting to save his face.
"Fang Yao, find him a place to sleep for a while later. I'll head back first."
After Wang Hua left, the villagers who had come to help with the banquet gradually arrived, bustling about as they made arrangements to go to the production team to catch pigs.
Xu Qingzhou also wanted to go along. Remembering her mother-in-law's instructions, Fang Yao grabbed his sleeve and pulled him into the house.
"You should sleep. There are enough people to catch the pigs. It'll be chaotic anyway, and you won't be much help."
A smile lingered at the corner of Xu Qingzhou's lips. To leave a good impression on the Fang family, he was almost entirely obedient to her. "Alright, I'll rest for a bit then."
He took off his shoes and lay on the bed. As soon as Fang Yao covered him with the quilt, he closed his eyes and fell asleep.
Fang Yao went to the kitchen and brewed half a pot of sobering tea, serving a bowl to everyone who had been drinking to ensure the afternoon's work wouldn't be hindered.
Through everyone's efforts, a large canopy was set up on the main path of the Fang family home. Tables, chairs, and benches were gathered from neighboring households, gradually filling the space under the canopy.
Soon after, Fang Jianguo and the others returned with the pig they had caught. The sow, raised on pure grain, was large and plump, with over three hundred pounds of fat wobbling on its body. It took five or six people working together to carry it into the courtyard.
"The pig is here, so why hasn't Wang Daye arrived yet?" someone in the courtyard asked.
The Wang Daye he referred to was the village's famous pig butcher, whom every household would invite when holding a feast.
Fang Jianguo scanned the courtyard and barked at Fang Bin, "Didn't I tell you to notify Wang Daye in advance? Where is he?"
Fang Bin spread his hands innocently. "I did call him. Wang Daye told me to come back first and said he'd be right over."
"Go call him again! Can't you do anything without dragging your feet?"
Fang Bin had no choice but to go invite Wang Daye once more. While waiting, Old Master Fang came out with his tobacco box, rolling cigarettes for everyone. They smoked as they waited.
Over ten minutes later, Fang Bin ran back into the yard, panting and wearing a crestfallen expression. "Wang Daye can't come. He says he has diarrhea so bad he can't even straighten his back."
Hearing this, Fang Jianguo's eyes widened as he sprang to his feet. "The feast starts tomorrow. This pig must be slaughtered today—we can't delay!"
"Isn't there a pig butcher named Liu in the neighboring village? I'll go invite him!" Fang Tong said, then dashed out the door.
In the courtyard, the bound live pig squealed incessantly. As time slowly passed, everyone grew increasingly anxious.
Finally, when Fang Tong came running back, the result was: "The party branch secretary of the neighboring village is also holding a feast, and the pig butcher has been called over by them. I pleaded and argued, but it was no use—they just wouldn’t come!"
As time dragged on, it was getting dark. Fang Jianguo was so worried that his furrowed brow could have crushed a fly, especially when Fang Bin reminded him that the party branch secretary of the neighboring village was Xu Manjiang’s current father-in-law. Anxious and furious, his hands trembled.
"We’ll do it ourselves! I don’t believe with so many of us, we can’t handle slaughtering a pig!"