The wedding day arrived swiftly, on the sixth day of May, and the people of the old Yang Family were up before dawn, preparing for the bridal procession.
The Han Family’s procession had already reached Shanshi County the previous day, and they would come to fetch the bride early this morning, for the journey to Lin County was far, and they needed to arrive before sunset to avoid missing the hour of the wedding ceremony. Naturally, due to special circumstances, the palanquin originally planned for was replaced with a caravan of horse-drawn carriages.
At that moment, Wang Xiangxiang sat in the room, having her hair combed by Yang Ming’s mother.
As she combed, Yang Ming’s mother recited, "With the first comb, comb till the end; with the second, may my daughter’s white hair reach her brows; with the third, may my daughter’s children and grandchildren fill the earth; with the fourth, may the lord have good fortune, and when out, may he meet nobles; with the fifth..."
Xiaoxiao muttered to herself, "When did Mother become so articulate?"
The second daughter-in-law laughed and said, "Hehe, Mother specially learned this set when she went to visit the girl’s family. It’s pretty proper, isn’t it?"
"..." It was indeed pretty proper.
Soon, the hair-combing was completed, and the next step, applying the makeup, began. Originally, a professional makeup artist was to do this, but Wang Xiangxiang said there was no need for such trouble, that Xiaoxiao could do her makeup, and so Xiaoxiao took on this role.
Wang Xiangxiang’s features were very well-defined; even without makeup, she was strikingly beautiful, and heavy makeup would have marred her beauty, so Xiaoxiao only applied light makeup on her.
"Youngest daughter-in-law, the makeup is too light; add a bit more red," Yang Ming’s mother instructed.
"Mother, it’s fine ; any redder and it would be frightening," Xiaoxiao replied. Wang Xiangxiang was naturally beautiful; there was no need to paint her face as red as a monkey’s bottom. Doing so would only hide her beauty.
"Alright, this will do." Wang Xiangxiang, looking at her reflection in the mirror, also felt it was just right.
Seeing that Wang Xiangxiang herself approved, Yang Ming’s mother no longer insisted, but rather instructed, "Then quickly put on the wedding dress; the bridal procession will arrive soon."
"Yes." Wang Xiangxiang nodded and put on the bright red wedding dress that her family had prepared for her.
Outside, Yang Dong called out joyfully, "Mother, the bridal procession has arrived!"
"Eldest daughter-in-law, quickly bring the ’seat the bride’ meal," Yang Ming’s mother ordered.
"Ai." The eldest daughter-in-law left the room and soon brought the ’seat the bride’ meal.
"My girl, sit on your mother’s lap, let your grandmother feed you the meal."
"Yes." Wang Xiangxiang complied, sitting on Yang Ming’s mother’s lap and was fed by Yang Ming’s grandmother.
The old lady, also doing this for the first time, said as she fed her, "My girl, after eating this meal, may you have abundance every year, and may your life be prosperous."
While Wang Xiangxiang was fed the ’seat the bride’ meal, Yang Ming’s mother and the others busied themselves packing Wang Xiangxiang’s dowry.
After everything was prepared, Yang Ming’s mother took the red bridal veil, covered Wang Xiangxiang’s head with it, and said, "My girl, once you reach your husband’s home, only he should lift the veil in the bridal chamber; don’t you lift it halfway there, do you hear me?"
"Yes, Mother, I understand," she replied.
"Good, now before you leave, cry a little, as a formality."
Wang Xiangxiang cried out softly, "Wuu wuu."
Although she was asked to pretend to cry, Wang Xiangxiang, veiled, was indeed crying for real.
"Alright, that’s enough crying," Yang Ming’s mother halted Wang Xiangxiang’s cries and called to her son, "Boss, carry your sister to the carriage."
Boss Yang Chun carried Wang Xiangxiang to the front of the carriage and placed her into the red-decorated carriage.
And just like that, the entire Yang Family watched as the bridal procession departed.