By the time the ox-cart finished its loop around the village and returned, the sun had fully risen.
A crowd of curious onlookers had gathered outside the Xiao family courtyard. Inside, the temporary wooden tables were neatly set up, and people were already taking their seats on the long benches. It wasn’t a full house yet, but it was starting to look like a proper banquet.
Over by the kitchen, the fire was roaring. Steam rolled out of the pots, sending waves of savory meat and oil aromas drifting into the air. The women helping out were chatting and laughing, but their hands didn’t slow down for a second. The sounds of chopping, stir-frying, and wood being thrown into the fire filled the small yard, making it feel lively and bustling.
Xiao Zheng brought the ox-cart to a steady stop outside the gate and held onto the side to support her.
“Careful,” he whispered.
Su He tucked in her skirt and stepped down onto a stool, her movements quick and nimble. Her bright red dress instantly caught everyone’s attention the moment she landed at the gate.
Someone recognized her and called out with a laugh, “The bride is home!”
The crowd immediately started cheering and teasing.
“The bride is so pretty!”
“Wow, that red wedding dress is gorgeous. It really brings out her beauty.”
“Well, Xiao Zheng’s wife was always good-looking.”
“Hey, look at the wooden hairpin in her hair. It’s so unique, I’ve never seen one like it before.”
“Her face has a lovely rosy glow. She looks so sweet.”
…
Hearing the chatter, Su He didn’t look flustered at all. Keeping a steady smile on her face, she walked into the courtyard next to Xiao Zheng with total poise. Seeing how calm and confident the bride was, the crowd actually toned down their rowdy teasing.
The people sitting in the yard quickly stood up when they saw the newlyweds enter. Su He smiled and nodded to greet them, then headed straight into the bridal chamber to sit down and rest. Today she was the bride, the guest of honor, so she didn’t have to lift a finger. All she had to do was sit tight and wait for the feast to start.
The first guests to arrive were the two platoon leaders under Xiao Zheng.
One was Zhao Tieshan, a sturdy, rugged-looking man in his early thirties. He stood straight as a board, and his wife stood beside him holding a cloth bundle containing their wedding gift.
The other was Sun Lian, who was taller and leaner than Zhao Tieshan. He had a sharp look about him and was a smooth talker. His wife was younger and sat properly, occasionally glancing toward the bridal chamber, clearly curious about the new bride.
Both men were platoon leaders under Xiao Zheng, helping him manage a hundred soldiers. They were thrilled to be assigned to his unit. Since Xiao Zheng had just distinguished himself in battle, having him as their captain meant their future would be a lot smoother.
Since they lived close by in the military village, they arrived early. They also brought their wives along, thinking the new bride might need some female company to help her adjust. However, since both families had a lot of kids, they were too polite to bring the whole family along just to crash the feast.
“Captain Xiao! Congratulations, congratulations!” Zhao Tieshan roared the moment he stepped inside.
Sun Lian also stepped up with his wife to offer his blessings, joking with a grin, “Our Captain Xiao is practically glowing today!”
“Thank you. No need to stand on ceremony today, please take a seat,” Xiao Zheng nodded, his voice steady and commanding, showing the true presence of a captain.
Just then, Wang Guixiang stepped out of her room, having changed into her new clothes. Though the outfit was made of freshly tailored coarse cloth, it was clean and neat, making her look much more spirited. She recognized the two wives immediately and walked over with a big smile.
“Oh, you’re here!” she welcomed them. “Come on in and sit down. I’ll take you to see the new bride!”
The two wives’ eyes lit up.
“I was just hoping to take a look!”
“I heard she’s very pretty!”
Chatting and laughing, the group headed toward the bridal chamber. Right at that moment, more footsteps echoed from the courtyard gate.
The guests hadn’t even arrived, but their voices came first.
“Hahaha! I’m not late, am I?”
The speaker had a bright, loud voice and a wide smile. It was Lu Dachuan, a captain from the same battalion. He was a big, tall man who walked like the wind and always spoke his mind.
He walked over and slapped Xiao Zheng on the shoulder. “I turned down the other feast just to come straight to yours!”
Following behind him was another captain, Xu Chengyi. Unlike Lu Dachuan, he was leaner, calm, and a man of few words, though his eyes were sharp.
He cupped his hands. “Congratulations, Old Xiao!”
Xu Chengyi brought a woman with him—the wife the government had assigned him. They had become husband and wife the very night he brought her back, without any ceremony. His family wasn’t at the border to arrange things, so they just made do.
Lu Dachuan and Xu Chengyi had earned their promotions by fighting alongside Xiao Zheng. Their families lived in the countryside near the border town. Since they were drafted locals rather than hereditary military families, they were assigned to the quarters right next to the military village.
Even though they lived close by, they belonged to different social circles. Now that he had a place in the quarters, Lu Dachuan had already written home, expecting his family to join him soon.
A battalion had ten captains, and not everyone got along. They were naturally competitive and had their own small cliques. The only ones truly close to Xiao Zheng were these four: two fellow captains and his two platoon leaders.
The moment these two arrived, the atmosphere in the courtyard kicked up a notch. Their presence wasn’t just about eating a meal; it was a show of support, making their allegiance clear.
Xiao Zheng replied solemnly, “Thank you.”
Lu Dachuan laughed and sat on a bench. “Your place is pretty lively. The Shens’ side is looking a bit deserted.”
He didn’t care who heard him, and his voice wasn’t quiet. A few people in the yard couldn’t help but chuckle.
Xu Chengyi shot him a look. “Keep it down.”
Lu Dachuan shrugged. “Alright, alright, I’ll stop.”
Meanwhile, at the other end of the village.
The village chief, Chen Yougen, and his wife were worrying at home.
“What should we do?” His wife frowned, looking torn. “Both sides are newly promoted captains, and our eldest son is still a platoon leader in a different battalion. We can’t afford to offend either of them.”
Chen Yougen paced around the room with his hands behind his back. Finally, he made up his mind.
“Here’s the plan. I’ll drop by the Xiaos’ house first to show my face and sit for a bit. Then I’ll head over to the Shens’ for the actual feast. That way, both sides are covered, and no one can complain.”
Even though he wasn’t staying for the meal, visiting the Xiaos first was still a sign of respect.
On the other hand, Shen Youcai, the village clerk, didn’t have any of the chief’s dilemma. He just walked straight toward the Shens’ house with his hands behind his back. After all, he shared a clan name with old man Shen, so he had to show his support today. Besides, Shen Feng was a promising young man, and giving him face now would make things easier down the road.
Over at the battalion headquarters, Commander Li was also having a hard time deciding.
Xiao Zheng and Shen Feng were both capable men he had trained, and he expected them to work hard for him. Just recently, he had caught wind of a rumor that the General wanted to choose a Vice Commander from among the five battalion commanders. At a critical time like this, he didn’t want any internal friction; he needed their full backing.
But attending both feasts wouldn’t look right. After weighing his options, he decided not to go to either. Instead, he had his wife prepare two wedding gifts and sent his personal guards to deliver them on his behalf. As the commander, staying away was perfectly reasonable, and nobody could fault him for it.