“Wanwan, wake up!”
Qiao Wan was shaken awake by Qiao Qing. She had been lost in thought until midnight and didn’t know when she had fallen asleep.
When she opened her eyes, she saw Qiao Qing accompanied by an elderly woman.
“This is Granny Zhou. Father invited her to be the blessed elder to comb your hair.”
When Qiao Fugeng went to the Zhou family to explain his request last night, Granny Zhou was quite startled.
Farmers like them usually didn’t bother with such formalities for weddings. The groom would simply come to pick up the bride, they’d bow to heaven and earth, and that would complete the marriage.
Many didn’t even hold wedding banquets. Although people weren’t starving these days, no family had much to spare.
The Qiao family was famously poor in the village, yet they could afford to hire her for hair combing—clear evidence of their doting on Qiao Wan.
While Granny Zhou combed Qiao Wan’s hair and smoothed her face, Qiao Qing helped her into the wedding dress. Once the red veil was placed over her head, they waited for Huo Yan to arrive and fetch his bride.
After Carpenter Feng’s attempted extortion at the Qiao household two days earlier, news of Qiao Wan’s impending marriage had spread throughout the village.
This morning, when villagers saw Qiao Fugeng inviting a blessed elder, many gathered near the Qiao residence to see which unfortunate soul would actually dare marry this troublemaker Qiao Wan.
Amid the crowd’s eager anticipation, Huo Yan drove an ox cart through the Qiao family’s gate.
The watching villagers were stunned, doubting their own eyes. Only after hearing weeping from the Qiao courtyard did someone finally ask:
“Was that Huo Yan who just entered? What’s he doing at the Qiao house?”
“Fetching his bride, of course. Didn’t you see the red decoration on the ox’s head?”
“So Qiao Wan is marrying Huo Yan?” A village woman slapped her forehead. “Heavens! The Living King of Hell marrying this troublemaker—their household will be turned upside down!”
“But didn’t Qiao Wan like Huo Yan’s cousin Huo Yaoxian? Why is she marrying Huo Yan now?” asked a pregnant young woman in confusion.
Her family’s fields bordered the Huo property. She remembered how Qiao Wan had plowed the Huo family’s land through wind and rain when she was newly pregnant. How could she marry someone else within two months?
“You don’t know the story,” said a slightly plump woman, glancing sideways toward the Qiao house with a knowing expression. “Huo Yaoxian wants nothing to do with Qiao Wan. Since she can’t marry the younger cousin, she’ll marry the older one—that way she can still get close to Huo Yaoxian!”
The pregnant woman suddenly understood: “I see! It’s that saying about getting close to the platform to… catch the moon first!”
“Exactly! Just wait—Huo Yan will have enough green hats to open a hat shop.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” scoffed a dark-skinned, thin woman. “That’s Huo Yan we’re talking about. Qiao Wan will be lucky if he doesn’t beat her to death. You think she’d dare stray?”
The plump woman who had made the earlier analysis immediately retorted: “You never know! What madness hasn’t that Qiao Wan girl committed for Huo Yaoxian before? Now she’s even willing to marry the Living King of Hell just to get close to her beloved—is there anything she wouldn’t dare?” The plump woman spoke with flying spittle, as if she had witnessed it herself.
Someone nearby muttered quietly: “But still, Huo Yan actually agreed to marry her… The Qiao family is dirt poor, and Qiao Wan has a terrible reputation. What’s in it for him?”
“I heard it’s to ward off bad luck by arranging a wedding,” the dark-skinned woman lowered her voice mysteriously. “My sister-in-law’s maternal uncle’s wife’s sister works in the county town. She says Huo Yan’s mother is gravely ill, and they’re desperate to arrange a wedding to ward off misfortune. They call it warding off bad luck, but I think it’s more like transferring fates.”
“So that’s why the He family’s eldest daughter refused to marry him.” A pregnant woman exclaimed in surprise: “Who would dare marry their daughter to that scourge Huo Yan? His hands are stained with blood… Tsk tsk, every matchmaker who came before was scared off by his cold face and murderous aura. Qiao Wan delivered herself to his doorstep seeking death—who knows how many days she’ll last.”
Her words sparked a wave of murmurs among the crowd, with many showing expressions of sudden understanding mixed with pity.
Just then, Granny Zhou’s high-pitched, auspicious wedding chants drifted from the Qiao family’s courtyard, accompanied by Qiao Qing’s barely suppressed sobs.
Clearly, the bride was about to depart.
The villagers watching immediately craned their necks. As the courtyard gate opened, Qiao Wan, dressed in red wedding robes, emerged supported on either side by Qiao Qing and Qiao Dahe.
A red veil covered her head, obscuring her face, and her figure appeared even more frail than usual.
Walking at the forefront was Huo Yan.
He still wore dark, coarse cloth short attire, though it appeared cleaner than usual, with a red cloth strip hastily tied around his waist. Tall and straight-backed, he stood a full head taller than the Qiao brothers around him. His face showed little expression, but when his gaze swept over the crowd outside the courtyard, his innate sternness and imposing aura instantly quieted the previously chattering discussions.
Several aunties who had been gossiping enthusiastically moments earlier instinctively shrank back and took a few steps away.
Huo Yan seemed completely indifferent to the stares. He deftly placed Qiao Wan’s small bundle on the oxcart, then turned and gave a simple, clasped-fist salute to Qiao Fugeng, who had come out to see them off. His voice was low:
“Father-in-law, I’ll take her now.”
Qiao Fugeng’s eyes were red and swollen. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he only heaved a heavy sigh and waved his hand.
Huo Yan said nothing more and gestured for Qiao Wan to board the cart.
Supported by her elder brother and sister, Qiao Wan silently climbed onto the oxcart.
The cart slowly started moving, leaving the Qiao family’s small courtyard behind.
Watching the oxcart gradually disappear into the distance, the onlookers seemed to collectively exhale in relief, the atmosphere becoming lively again.
“She’s gone, she’s finally gone…”
“Oh, at least the village will be peaceful now.”
The women’s chatter faded into the distance. After an unknown length of time, the oxcart suddenly came to a halt.
“We’re here.”
Huo Yan’s deep voice came from above her.
Qiao Wan took a deep breath and, supported by Granny Zhou, stepped down from the oxcart.
The red veil blocked her vision, allowing her to see only the rough dirt path beneath her feet and Huo Yan’s worn straw shoes caked with mud.
He led them forward a few steps and pushed open a creaking wooden door.
“This is my home.” His voice was flat, devoid of emotion. “You’ll live here from now on.”
Granny Zhou surveyed the desolate courtyard, momentarily at a loss for words, then heard Huo Yan say, “I’m returning the oxcart.”
“Wait!” Granny Zhou hurriedly stopped him. “The marriage isn’t official until you’ve bowed to heaven and earth and lifted the veil.”
Huo Yan paused at her words, strode into the main room, and placed his father’s memorial tablet on the table. Turning to Granny Zhou, he said:
“Let’s proceed.”
Granny Zhou was taken aback by his brisk, almost impatient manner but steeled herself, cleared her throat, and guided the two through the wedding bows.
“The ceremony is complete! Groom, quickly lift the veil now!”
Granny Zhou tried to inject some cheer into the atmosphere and gave Huo Yan a slight push.
Huo Yan’s brows furrowed almost imperceptibly as he reached out, pinched a corner of the bridal veil, and somewhat roughly lifted it away.
The sudden light made Qiao Wan instinctively narrow her eyes before she raised her gaze.
Their eyes met.