Liu Xiaoqiao was exceptionally beautiful today, perhaps due to her wedding gown and the rouge and face powder she had applied, which added a touch of feminine softness, making Wang Yongzhu’s gaze stick on her.
The onlookers who had followed them in to enjoy the spectacle couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
"Fourth Brother, are you so smitten with your bride that you’re stunned?"
It was Wang Yonggui who came to the rescue, shooing the crowd out to drink instead.
Wang Yongping didn’t even have time to speak before he was dragged out, with people saying that today they were going to make sure he drank his fill.
The room which had been so lively moments ago suddenly fell quiet.
Liu Xiaoqiao sat alone on the edge of the kang bed, looking at the unfamiliar room. She slowly stood up, stretching her limbs while surveying the setup of her new room.
Soon, the door was pushed open, and Wang Yongzhu walked in slowly with a tray: "Sister-in-law, you haven’t eaten since this morning, have you? I’ve brought you a bowl of chicken noodle soup; eat it while it’s hot."
Seeing Wang Yongzhu, Liu Xiaoqiao’s nervousness eased somewhat, and she immediately felt ravenous. She thanked Wang Yongzhu and took the bowl, burying her head in it as she began to eat.
A bowl of steaming noodles entered her stomach, and she felt revived.
Wang Yongzhu chatted idly with her for a few moments before rising to clear the dishes: "Sister-in-law, I’ll have Jinhua bring you a basin of hot water later. You can wash your face and rest a bit. They’ll probably make noise until dark outside, but rest assured, they’re all carrying on in the front courtyard and won’t disturb you here."
"If you’re bored, have Jinhua keep you company and feel free to ask her anything you don’t know. I need to go entertain the guests, so I’ll leave you for now."
Liu Xiaoqiao saw that Wang Yongzhu had everything arranged meticulously on her behalf, requiring no worry from her, and she felt even more grateful in her heart.
Indeed, not long after Wang Yongzhu had left, Jinhua came in with a full basin of hot water: "Auntie, I’m Jinhua, I’ve brought you hot water!"
Liu Xiaoqiao busily took the hot water to one side and adeptly gave Jinhua a small pouch.
This was the old custom where, when a new bride came to her husband’s family, they would arrange for the man’s sisters or nieces to bring her a basin of hot water to wash her hands and face.
This was called "bringing water for washing the face," and it was customary to give a red envelope.
Feeling the copper coins in the pouch, Jinhua’s face lit up with a smile, "Thank you, Auntie. If it’s not enough, there’s more under the stove."
"It’s enough, it’s enough!" Seeing the neatly stacked brand-new white face towel on the washstand, Liu Xiaoqiao also took the opportunity to wash off the makeup from her face, much to her relief.
Since it was still early, Liu Xiaoqiao felt bored being on her own, so she simply asked Jinhua to sit with her and inquired about the Wang family’s preferences and such.
Jinhua, having received prior instructions, answered every question dutifully, ensuring that the auntie familiarized herself with the Wang family quickly.
In the front courtyard, which had two main entrances, it was the liveliest time as Wang Yongping was being held by the village men, his usual acquaintances, who were zealously plying him with drink.
Wang Yongfu, Wang Yonggui, along with Song Chongjin, all stepped up to shield him from the drinks, but even then, they were struggling, and yet, Wang Yongping was gleefully accepting every drink offered to him.
Later on, Wang Yongfu and Wang Yonggui, the two brothers, laid themselves down directly.
Seeing that things were not going well, mainly because Wang Yongping turned out to be a pig-headed comrade who, unlike other grooms who tried to dodge the drink, was actively seeking it!
With such determination to court disaster, who would care about his wellbeing?
Song Chongjin decisively pretended to be drunk too, slumping onto the table without lifting his head again.
Without anyone to fend off the drinks for him, Wang Yongping, amidst a pack of wolf-like youths, as well as the Liu brothers, who also wanted to teach Wang Yongping a lesson, soon had a face flushed red, and could barely stand.
If it wasn’t for the Wang Family Patriarch noticing and scolding the group of youths plying the drinks, and having Wang Yongping taken away to rest, he very likely would have been carried into the bridal chamber in that state.
The lads pouring drinks chuckled as they helped Wang Yongping to the entrance of the bridal chamber before making a quick getaway.
In the bridal chamber, Liu Xiaoqiao, who was chatting warmly with Jinhua, heard the commotion outside and hurriedly opened the door, only for a boozy Wang Yongping to stumble in.
Fortunately, Liu Xiaoqiao was quick and strong enough to catch Wang Yongping and keep him from falling.
Wang Yongping, in a daze, saw Xiao Qiao—or rather, his bride—right in front of him and couldn’t help but embrace and kiss her, "Wife, I missed you so much——"
Liu Xiaoqiao was both embarrassed and annoyed; there was another child in the room, Jinhua.
She quickly turned her head to look, and sure enough, that little rascal Jinhua had slipped out the moment Fourth Brother entered the room and had cunningly closed the door behind her.
It was a rule set by Granny: as soon as Fourth Brother entered the bridal chamber, no one was allowed to disturb them.
Liu Xiaoqiao didn’t see Jinhua and felt the flush of embarrassment fade from her face. Seeing that Wang Yongping was already tipsy, she knew it was useless to argue with a drunk and resigned herself to tolerating it.
She helped him onto the bed, intending to let him lie down.
She then planned to go fetch some water to wipe Wang Yongping down, as the smell of alcohol on him was enough to suffocate someone.
But as she turned, a sudden force pulled her back, and she fell on top of Wang Yongping.
Liu Xiaoqiao was startled and tried to get up, only to find that Wang Yongping’s hands were firmly around her waist, preventing her from moving.
He muttered to himself, "Wife! Xiao Qiao sister, don’t go——"
After saying that, he fell back into a deep sleep.
Liu Xiaoqiao watched Wang Yongping with frustration, rolled her eyes, and gave up struggling...
The wedding feast in the courtyard continued into the evening, and all the Wang Family men, from Old Wang to Song Chongjin, got themselves sloshed.
Only Jindou and Jinhu managed to dodge the bullet and narrowly escaped by vehemently refusing.
When all the guests had gone, the family was completely worn out.
Thankfully, the hired women had already cleaned up the leftovers, washed and put away everything that was used in the kitchen, and then bid their farewells.
Old Granny Zhang, massaging her waist, had taken care of arranging accommodations for the visitors from Chongzi Gou, settling them all in the east and west wings of Wang Yongping’s courtyard, with Jindou and Jinhoo assisting each person in.
Looking at Old Wang and her own two sons, one was snoring in a corner while the other clung to a stool, refusing to let go. Especially Old Wang, despite his age, he had gotten so drunk he was blubbering, which was just embarrassing to watch.
Turning to look at her son-in-law, Song Chongjin, she saw that he too was out cold, face down on the table.
Rubbing at her temples, Old Granny Zhang simply instructed everyone to help their own man back home.
As for Old Wang, she, with her weak arms and legs, had Jindou drag him back.
Then she turned to Wang Yongzhu and ordered, "You take Chongjin back too."
Wang Yongzhu nodded, easily hoisting Song Chongjin up, half-supporting him against her.
As soon as she touched him, she felt his body tense up and then immediately relax.
Instantly, she figured out Song Chongjin was probably feigning drunkenness.
Her face didn’t show it, and she still greeted Old Granny Zhang, "Mother, I’ll take him over and be right back."