At the Fang family.
There weren’t many people at the Fang family, just two tables of guests. Father Fang moved through the crowd with his arm in a sling. Though he didn’t speak much, his relaxed brows and eyes were full of overflowing joy.
“Everyone, don’t be shy, eat to your heart’s content. Later, I’ll need your help with the wedding procession!” Father Fang said with a smile.
“Of course, of course!”
The speaker was a distant relative of the Fang family. The Fang family had specially invited her to help with the wedding procession, so they had to do a good job.
“Why are you handling the wedding procession? Isn’t it usually the other side?” someone curiously asked. Typically, the wedding procession is handled by close family members, and only if the family relations are harmonious.
The distant relative replied, “How would I know? Anyway, the host asked me to do it. Besides, I’ve watched Yue Ge’er grow up, so why not?”
Outside, it was lively and bustling, while inside, Fang Chuyue leaned back in a chair, looking up.
A woman held a thread in her mouth, pulling it into a figure-eight shape, manipulating the fine thread back and forth across Fang Chuyue’s face.
The woman looked at Fang Chuyue’s face, thinking it was no wonder he wanted to marry into the county. If she had looked like this ten years ago, she wouldn’t have wanted to toil in the fields either.
No matter how much the village’s brothers and sisters tried to squeeze into the city, they would eventually marry a farmer and toil for a lifetime.
What a pity for such a lotus-like face.
The woman thought to herself but didn’t show it.
She praised, “Yue Ge’er is truly good-looking. This face doesn’t need much threading at all.”
Fang’s mother, standing nearby, modestly said, “Oh, not at all. I think your daughter looks quite nice too. Has she been proposed to yet?”
“Hahaha, she takes after me,” the woman laughed, “She has, but her in-laws are a bit far. I think Yue Ge’er is better off, marrying nearby so he can visit his family whenever he wants, and they can help him.”
The two exchanged compliments, while Fang Chuyue focused solely on his face, the burning pain making him want to cry out.
After the threading, they started on his eyebrows and makeup, though only a light layer of powder was applied.
His face was as smooth and fair as a peeled egg, with a touch of rouge making it even more radiant.
“Wow!”
Qing Jie’er held her cheeks, smiling, “Big brother looks so good today! Right, second brother?”
Yang Ge’er nodded, “Yes.”
Outside, the noise was deafening, with faint cheers audible. Fang Chuyue took a good look at the room he had lived in for over a decade, then at his siblings circling around him. What was once calm suddenly turned into anxiety and nervousness, with a strong sense of reluctance.
Yang Ge’er, seeing his big brother’s reddened eyes, couldn’t hold back his emotions any longer and threw himself into his brother’s arms, sobbing, “Big brother, I don’t want you to go, boohoo…”
He didn’t want his big brother to get married, so he could always be his big brother.
Seeing her second brother cry, Qing Jie’er also threw herself into her big brother’s arms, wailing.
“Alright, alright,” Fang’s mother quickly intervened, “You two, today is a happy day. Big brother getting married is a good thing. Why are you crying so much? Stop crying.”
The woman clicked her tongue in wonder, thinking the younger siblings were too attached to their big brother.
Fang Chuyue patted their heads, letting them cry it out, and softly said, “Alright, don’t cry. Big brother will still be in the village. You can come find me anytime. Do you remember what I taught you?”
Qing Jie’er: “I remember…” If there’s trouble at home, go find him. If bullied, fight back first.
“Good, don’t cry anymore. If you keep crying, your eyes will swell.” Fang Chuyue used a handkerchief to wipe their tears.
Qing Jie’er patted her chest, “I’ll take good care of brother and our parents.”
“No, I’ll take care of you!” Yang Ge’er, flustered, spoke with a red nose, his voice breaking.
Everyone laughed at the two, and seeing his siblings smile through their tears, Fang Chuyue calmed down again.
Fang’s mother reminded, “It’s almost time, Yue Ge’er. Get ready. Your father will come to lead you out soon.”
“Okay.”
A brother getting married doesn’t need to cover his head with a red veil. Fang Chuyue was led out by Father Fang. Looking at his father’s not-so-broad shoulders, he couldn’t help but shed two tears, which he quickly wiped away.
Qiao Yue, after overcoming many obstacles, finally stood at the Fang family’s door.
Father Fang placed Fang Chuyue’s hand into Qiao Yue’s, “Yue boy, I’m entrusting my brother to you. We’ve wronged him since he was young. If he does anything wrong, please be patient…”
Qiao Yue tightened his grip, “Dad, don’t worry. Yue Ge’er has no faults. We’ll live well together. If I do anything wrong, please guide me.”
His words were sincere, easing Father Fang’s expression considerably, “Good, good, live well together!”
Yang Ge’er and the others stood by, their tears starting to flow again, “Big brother…”
With trumpets and firecrackers blaring, Qiao Yue carried Fang Chuyue through the door. They first bowed to heaven and earth in the courtyard, then to their parents, and finally to each other as husband and wife. Afterward, Fang Chuyue was sent to the bridal chamber.
The bedding in the bridal chamber was all new, with some red dates, peanuts, and lotus seeds scattered on top. Fang Chuyue picked up a few red dates, wiped them, and started eating.
As he ate, he recalled the matchmaker’s words during the bed-rolling and wine-drinking ceremony, wishing for many children, which made him blush.
Fortunately, everyone had left, leaving him alone in the bridal chamber. Fang Chuyue stopped eating the red dates and began to examine the room where he would live from now on.
The room was spacious and bright, divided by a wooden partition. Inside were a wardrobe, a dressing table, and a bed. Outside were tables, chairs, and some miscellaneous items, with a few baskets hanging from the beams.
The walls seemed to have been recently repaired, with a noticeable mark.
After surveying his future “territory,” Fang Chuyue sat back on the bed, feeling bored.
How long would they drink?
Once the banquet started, Qiao Yue hadn’t stopped drinking. Fortunately, the wine was heavily diluted with water, so he wasn’t worried about getting drunk like before.
Halfway through, Qiao Yue quietly told Qiao Lei and the others, “Stone, I need to go to the restroom. Cover for me.”
Qiao Lei nodded, “Alright.”
Seeing him nod, Qiao Yue ignored the crowd’s attempts to stop him and sneaked away, with Qiao Lei and the others covering for him.
Qiao Yue quickly ran off, slowing down as he approached the door. He quietly opened it a crack and slipped inside, moving as stealthily as a thief.
Qiao Yue instinctively held his breath. His heart pounded in his chest, the sound as loud as thunder, making his eardrums ache.
He slowly moved past the table, seeing Fang Chuyue sitting on the bed with his head down, his long eyelashes like feathers, his neck slender, and his goose-yellow clothes making him look even fairer.
Sensing his footsteps, Fang Chuyue suddenly looked up.
Their eyes met.
In their eyes, there was only each other.
“You…” They spoke in unison after a moment.
Then, they both looked away, one looking up at the beams, the other down at the flowers on his sleeves.
Qiao Yue touched his nose, feeling a bit embarrassed. He looked down and saw the date pits on the bedside table, immediately standing up, “I’ll be right back.”
Fang Chuyue thought he was going back to entertain guests and didn’t pay much attention.
He stood up and moved around. After a while, the door opened a crack. A bowl was the first to squeeze through, followed by Qiao Yue, who squeezed his large frame sideways through the door.
Fang Chuyue: “…”
Qiao Yue smiled and handed the bowl over, “Eat up, two chicken legs and an egg.” He didn’t realize how sneaky his actions seemed.
Fang Chuyue looked at the bowl in front of him, “You went out to get this?”
“Yeah,” Qiao Yue pointed at the date pits, “You were hungry, right? I went to get you something to eat.” He explained that when he went to the kitchen, his little uncle was about to bring the bowl over, and he happened to catch him.
Fang Chuyue wiped his hands and picked up a chicken leg, handing one to Qiao Yue, “You eat too.”
“No, no, you eat them all.”
“I can’t finish two, and there’s an egg too.”
Seeing him insist, Qiao Yue took the big, plump chicken leg, holding back his craving, “You’re not eating? Then I’ll eat it?”
“Go ahead.” Fang Chuyue took a bite of the chicken leg in his hand. The meat was firm and tender, with juices flowing out, very fragrant!
Facing each other, they finished the chicken legs and egg. Qiao Yue brought in water, and they washed up together.
Qiao Yue watched the brother wiping water droplets off the table, unable to help but smile.
Fang Chuyue asked, “What are you smiling about?”
“I just thought about how we used to argue whenever we met, and now…”
They used to meet and immediately pick on each other’s faults, exposing each other’s weaknesses and stepping on each other’s sore spots.
In less than two months, they had become a family.
They would even share a bed.
Thinking about this, Qiao Yue felt an indescribable joy bubbling up like boiling water.
Fang Chuyue also found it unpredictable, and just as he was about to speak, he heard Qiao Yue laughing and saying.
“You used to say I was too lazy, no wonder no one liked me, and now, hahaha, you’re my husband.” Qiao Yue couldn’t help but laugh, holding his stomach.
“And you said I was always dreaming of becoming a phoenix.”
Fang Chuyue rolled his eyes, this fool… too lazy to bother with him.
Fang Chuyue tossed the handkerchief aside, reminding him, “They’re still drinking outside, aren’t you going out?”
Qiao Yue clapped his hands, “I’ll go out right now.”
With that, he headed for the door, but then turned back towards Fang Chuyue.
“What are you doing?”
Before the words were out, Qiao Yue cupped his face, planting a gentle, warm kiss, “Don’t be mad, I’m really happy…” to be married to you.
Fang Chuyue had never experienced such a tender attack, his cheeks turning as red as if they were about to bleed.
“I’m happy too…” It seemed like he said it just to not be outdone, but the blush spreading to his neck clearly wasn’t lying.
Even as he walked into the courtyard, Qiao Yue still felt a bit dazed, as if a feather was gently tickling his heart, making it itch.
Tian Zhuzi saw him disappear in the middle and now come out looking absent-minded, “Shanzi, come on, I can’t hold on much longer.”
Qiao Yue had to suppress his excitement and drink another round. Seeing most of the guests had left, he waved his sleeve, ready to make a quick escape.
Tian Zhuzi grabbed him, “Don’t go, we haven’t drunk enough yet! Why are you in such a hurry?”
Qiao Yue rolled his eyes, “You don’t understand, you’ll know when you get married.” With that, he shook off Tian Zhuzi and ran back to the room.
Fang Chuyue, feeling a bit sleepy from waiting, quickly sat up, “Is it over?”
“Yes.”
After washing up, Qiao Yue casually moved to the bed, softly saying, “It’s late, let’s… rest.”
The corner of the quilt was lifted, and Qiao Yue lay down beside him.
Fang Chuyue suddenly felt nervous, his fingers trembling as he clutched the quilt, his heart pounding as if it would leap out.
Their arms touched, sharing each other’s warmth, making his heart tremble, his breathing quicken.
Qiao Yue decisively turned over, pressing down, “Here I come.”
His eyes were deep, gazing at his new husband with a dark gleam. Fang Chuyue, being looked at like this, felt his ears burning, hurriedly closing his eyes.
Then came the rustling sound of clothes being removed, the candlelight flickering, shadows entwined, the bed curtains gently swaying…
“…Ouch, it hurts.” A cry of pain shattered the romantic atmosphere.
Qiao Yue, at a loss, said, “I… I…”
Fang Chuyue, hugging himself in the corner, accused, “I don’t know how, but how come you don’t know either!”
He seemed so confident, but it was all fake.
“It’s my first time too!”
It was the first time for both of them. He hadn’t done this before, so why was he expected to know how!