NOVPUB
Chapter 261: Chapter 261 Wedding 1
While wedding expenditures are less these days, the celebration was no less boisterous than those of the twenty-first century. Even people from the neighboring village came to join in the revelry, awaiting the bridal sedan chair and ready to pick up thrown candies.
About a hundred or two men, women, and children joined the procession around the village. By the time the sedan chair arrived at Si Family’s house, the small dwelling was so packed that there wasn’t room for anyone more. Amid the uproarious laughter, Si Boyi red-facedly carried Zhang Lijuan from the bridal sedan chair into the house. It was only after the youngsters made a spectacle of themselves, and were sent away under Lin Fengying’s insistence, that things quieted down.
The newly married couple’s room was still crammed with people. Adults and children were clamoring to see the new wife. Zhang Lijuan, dressed up for the day in a big red flower on her head, looked as vulgar as a television drama matchmaker, but emanated an atmosphere of joyous festivity.
Aside from rubberneckers, everyone else was busy providing a helping hand. Tong Yao happened to be the only one free from duties.
Luckily, it was swiftly time to start the banquet. Tong Yao hadn’t planned to sit at the tables, as they were all nearly packed full. Who’d expect busy-as-a-top Si Chen to remember her, arranging for her to dine at the same table as Zhang Lijuan.
Throughout the whole banquet, aside from the father of the bride’s table, the bride’s table was the most peaceful. Apart from the bride herself, everyone else was of similar age, young women and wives, specially invited to accompany the bride. no𝚟𝚙u𝚋.c𝚘m
Si Chen, on the other hand, was seated at the table behind her, dining with Uncle Zhang, their backs against each other. It may be Zhang Lijuan’s wedding, but Tong Yao felt as if honey had been smeared all over her heart, her lips were uncontrollably curling upwards in delight.
"Sister-in-law, I propose a toast to you," Zhang Lijuan suddenly raised her small liquor cup towards Tong Yao.
Before Tong Yao could utter a word, a junior wife quickly poured liquor into the cup in front of her and egged her on, "It’s the newly married couple’s toast, you can’t refuse!"
The smell of liquor wafted over, and Tong Yao pursed her lips. It was Si Boyi’s wedding day today and she didn’t want to kill the joyful vibes. But she didn’t drink and didn’t like the smell of alcohol. Just as she was about to suggest substituting tea for liquor, a large hand suddenly reached out from behind her.
"She can’t drink. She’s allergic to alcohol. Her body will break out in a rash. Let her substitute tea for liquor!"
Tong Yao received the cup handed to her by Si Chen with a happy smile, raised it to Zhang Lijuan for a toast, and then drank off a cup of warm water. "I’ve drunk it all."
If Si Chen hadn’t reminded her just now, she would have completely forgotten this. Tong Yaohui had once secretly drunk alcohol while still a child and ended up having an alcohol allergy and was sent to the hospital because of it, almost losing her life.
Looking at the situation, Si Chen also knew about this matter. Tong Yaohui must have informed him. Otherwise, he would have no idea about it.
Zhang Lijuan held the cup in her hand, not knowing if she should drink or not. She was the one who had initiated the toast. Not drinking would be inappropriate now, but she had never drunk alcohol either. After Tong Yao drank a glass of warm water, according to tradition, she should drink all the liquor in her hand.
She felt that Tong Yao was deliberately making her uncomfortable.
With so many people watching, Zhang Lijuan had no choice but to grit her teeth and down the liquor in one go, causing her face to turn red from the spiciness.
After this incident, Zhang Lijuan was not in a good mood, her face was tight and her stomach was burning. Before she could even get a few bites of food, she was commanded to toast with Si Boyi.
Si Boyi was confused too, even forgetting to switch her drinks from liquor to water. Although at each table she only symbolically sipped a bit, by the end of the round, she had consumed an entire cup of liquor. Zhang Lijuan, who had never drunk before, flushed red as fire.
Before the guests were gone, she couldn’t hold on and fell asleep on the bed.
Upon finding out Zhang Lijuan had had too much to drink, Lin Fengying pulled Si Boyi into the room and scolded him. "Didn’t I tell you closely? How could you be so thoughtless? Who gets the bride drunk on her wedding day? If this gets out, won’t people laugh at us?"
Today’s banquet was a success. The villagers were all in praise, but she didn’t expect such an incident to occur. If Chen Jinlan found out, she’d surely reprimand her again.
Imagine, on the day of a family’s wedding, the guests are still there, and the new bride already gets drunk and falls asleep in the house. Who does that?
Even though life is tough these days, everyone still cares about keeping up appearances.
No matter how great the banquet is, incidents like these will inevitably lead to mockery.
Seeing Zhang Lijuan sleep with a flushed face, Si Boyi felt a pang of remorse, and stuttered, "I...I didn’t think this through."
Lin Fengying sighed heavily and helplessly, "Forget it, close the door and let Lijuan rest. You should go and attend to the guests."
Si Boyi reluctantly glanced at Zhang Lijuan, who was lying on the bed, and then followed Lin Fengying out of the room.
After keeping busy all day, the guests finally left. Some close neighbors began helping to clean the tables. In those days, finishing a banquet was like a gust of wind sweeping away the clouds. Each table was cleaned thoroughly, leaving no leftovers behind, making the cleanup easy. They just had to remove the tableware and wipe the tables clean.
Tong Yao helped clean up a table before Si Chen called her back inside, "You’ll start your period in a few days, you can’t catch a cold, stay in the house where it’s warm. I’ll finish cleaning up these, and then I’ll come to accompany you."
As it was already winter, although the sun warmed up the afternoon a bit, the temperature dropped quite significantly in the afternoon. Seeing the number of people that were helping, Tong Yao obediently retreated to the house.
When you’re spoiled by your husband, why not enjoy it? She didn’t want to play the "hardworking girl" to get others’ attention.
What’s the point of being praised as diligent by the villagers?
That’s just synonym for enduring hardship and exhaustion.
Tong Yao stated: She didn’t want this kind of honor. Whoever wanted it could take it.
Just as she stepped into the room, Lin Fengying came in behind her, "Xiaochen, where’s Yaoyao?"
Si Chen continued clearing the table, saying, "It’s too cold outside, so I had her go inside."
Lin Fengying wanted to say something but hesitated and remained silent. But the older woman next to her, Wang Da, couldn’t help but comment, "Oh! Xiaochen really knows how to love his wife. However, loving your wife isn’t enough. Your mother didn’t easily raise the three of you. You both should be more filial and care more for your mother."
Perhaps because they’re of the same age, seeing him care so much about his wife made her relate, and she couldn’t help but feel a little bitter.
Si Chen just nodded without expression, "It wasn’t easy for my mother to raise me. I should care for her. Mom, you should rest too!"
Lin Fengying: "..."
There’s still so much to do, how could she afford to rest?
Seeing that they were still persistent, the older woman, taking advantage of her seniority, stepped in, "Xiaochen, you should call your wife to help out. She’s young, what’s wrong with doing some work? The more you spoil her, the lazier she’ll get. You’re all married, and there are many people in the family, how could everything be done just by your mother? It will exhaust her! It wasn’t easy for your mother to raise you, you should care more for her."
