The next day.
The sky had just begun to turn a faint white.
Movement had already started in the Xiao family courtyard.
Several aunties who had come to help arrived early, carrying their own spatulas, cutting boards, and coarse ceramic basins through the courtyard gate.
“Guixiang! What do you want me to handle?”
“I brought a big pot, perfect for stewing soup!”
With more voices joining in, the courtyard instantly became lively. Fires were quickly lit in the kitchen, and the clattering of pots and bowls, the sound of chopping wood, and chatter and laughter mingled together. The warmth of domestic life immediately grew vibrant.
Inside the room.
Su He was awakened by the commotion. She opened her eyes, paused for a moment, and her first clear thought surfaced in her mind.
Today, she was getting married!
It was a rather surreal feeling.
After taking a moment to collect herself, Su He got up briskly, tidied her clothes slightly, and walked out of the room.
She went to the kitchen first, and as expected, a basin of rice-washing water had been left in the corner. This was something she had specifically requested last night.
Su He scooped up a handful and washed her face thoroughly.
After washing, she picked out a luffa from the vegetable basket and extracted a little bit of luffa juice. Then, dipping her fingers into the luffa water, she patted it onto her face, pressing gently with her fingertips to let the moisture seep into her skin bit by bit.
Xiao Yue stood to the side, watching intently, her eyes full of novelty.
“Sister-in-law, luffa water can be used like this?”
Su He smiled. “This luffa water is good stuff. It moisturizes our skin. The wind and sand are harsh on the border, and skin dries and cracks easily, so it needs to replenish moisture.”
Although the effect couldn’t compare to refined skincare toners and lotions, given her current conditions, she just had to make do. As for anything else? The current circumstances wouldn’t allow it anyway, mostly because time was too tight.
As a wood-element ability user whose college major had also been related to skincare and beauty, she knew plenty of skincare formulas, but there just wasn’t enough time to make them right now. Still, it was better than nothing!
Looking at her clear, translucent face, Xiao Yue couldn’t help but marvel. No wonder her sister-in-law had such good skin; she was so particular about it.
After cleaning up, Su He returned to the room and began doing her makeup.
The tools were still very primitive.
She picked up a thin piece of charcoal and lightly traced her eyebrows a few times, making their shape instantly more defined. Then she took out the box of rouge, dabbed a bit on her fingertip, and gently blended it out at the outer corners of her eyes. She patted a bit more onto her cheeks to add some color, and finally applied a few light strokes to her lips, which was enough.
With her makeup done, she raised her hands and began to put up her hair.
She gathered her long hair at the back of her head, twisting it into a simple bun, and then took out the wooden hairpin Xiao Zheng had specially carved for her. The tiny red cloth flower on the head of the pin looked remarkably vivid and delicate in the morning light.
She inserted the hairpin securely into her hair. The contrast of the red against the wood tone wasn’t flashy, yet it carried a natural, gentle air of festivity.
“All done.” Su He turned around to face Xiao Yue. “Take a look. How is it? Does it look alright?”
The entire look was complete. It was fresh and natural without excessive ornamentation, yet it made her look much more spirited and bright.
“It looks great, so beautiful!” Xiao Yue nodded repeatedly, resisting the urge to step closer to examine Su He’s face carefully. “It’s clearly still you, Sister-in-law, but it just feels like something is different!”
It was truly magical—another day of broadening her horizons by following her sister-in-law!
Su He couldn’t help but smile. “This is nothing. Once we gather all the proper ingredients in the future, it can be even better.”
Xiao Yue nodded vigorously. Su He’s casual tone made one look forward to it.
Afterward, Su He changed into her red wedding dress. The fabric wasn’t top quality, and the style wasn’t intricate, but this touch of red suited her perfectly.
It was neither overly flashy nor cheap-looking. The color seemed to make her look all the more elegant and beautiful.
She walked over to the bed, smoothed out her skirt, and placed her hands gently on her lap, waiting quietly. Xiao Yue sat casually beside her to keep her company. Her only task today was to do absolutely nothing but stay by her sister-in-law’s side.
Although today’s wedding omitted the ritual of leaving the bride’s family home, the festive traditions were still observed. Shortly, she and Xiao Zheng would take a walk around the village to greet everyone before returning to the courtyard for the ceremony and the feast.
Customs were relatively open on the border, free of excessive formalities. Combined with the tough times, many steps were naturally omitted wherever possible. While the etiquette was simple, it remained respectable.
Outside, the courtyard was a hive of activity. Wang Guixiang and the other aunties were busy running around.
“Save the rabbit legs, those are for braising!”
“Give me the bones, I’ll stew the soup!”
“Wash those mushrooms cleaner!”
Wang Guixiang had committed Su He’s recipes to heart last night. As experienced cooks, the aunties only needed to think it over briefly to figure out the basics. Once the oil heated up in the wok, a rich aroma quickly drifted out of the small courtyard, making passersby turn their heads.
On the other side.
Xiao Zheng took Xiao Jun along to borrow tables and chairs from neighbors they knew well. Before long, they carried back a wooden table and several long benches. The brothers moved efficiently, setting them up and wiping them down until the courtyard quickly began to look the part.
Next, the two began pasting up the Double Happiness characters. Red paper went up on the main gate, the main room door, and the entrance to the bridal chamber, accented by paper window cuts. The slightly shabby little courtyard instantly took on a festive air.
By the time they finished all this, the sun had already come up. Only then did the two return to their room to change into their new clothes.
Once Xiao Jun changed, he couldn’t help spinning around the room.
“This outfit looks so good!” He was incredibly happy; he hadn’t expected to get a brand-new set of clothes on the day his eldest brother got married.
Xiao Zheng changed quickly as well. He wore a deep blue robe made of modest fabric, but it was tailored to fit him perfectly. Tall, broad-shouldered, and straight-backed, he instantly looked much more steady and composed the moment he put it on. He appeared far more proper and sharp compared to his usual rough look.
He looked down and adjusted his collar with careful, gentle movements, clearly treasuring the garment. This was the outfit his wife had chosen for him herself, and it was the first gift he had ever received.
When he walked out of the room, everyone busy in the yard couldn’t help but look over.
“Oh, Xiao Zheng looks quite handsome today.”
“This new outfit is really nice.”
“What do they call it? Joy puts a spring in a man’s step!”
“Exactly, exactly!” Everyone teased with a laugh.
Wang Guixiang also took a look and nodded silently to herself. The money for the clothes hadn’t gone to waste; it truly made her usually rough son look much more refined and pleasing to the eye—or at least less fierce and intimidating.
“…”
Xiao Zheng kept his mouth shut and didn’t reply, but his eyes instinctively drifted toward the bridal chamber. At this moment, he felt an indescribable nervousness.
He walked over to the door and knocked gently to signal his presence. “Are you ready?”
The room fell silent for a moment.
Right after, the door slowly opened, accompanied by a festive call: “All ready, the bride is coming out!”