FH Chapter 62: 洞房花烛明
[The bright bridal room and ornamented candles]
Xiao Lingchuan’s handiwork is good, what’s to be done, only by himself, one person could cook a large table of dishes, the family’s two stoves take turns, so that this sumptuous dinner, they could eat it before dinner.
“Brother-in-law, in a few days I’ll be going to Deer City’s Lu Shan Academy, in the future, I will ask you to take care of my big sister.”
Li Jin Hu stood up and raised his wine glass high in a toast, to him, Big Brother Xiao was not just a brother-in-law, but also a benefactor, he was grateful, admired, and hoped that he could one day be like his brother-in-law, a dauntless man.
Xiao Lingchuan also stood up, lifted the wine cup and drank it all in one go, he was never good with words, he didn’t know how to reply, he just nodded solemnly.
He did not easily promise, since the promise, it means from beginning to end, always the same.
About the marriage, he did not want to be so hasty, early notify the brothers, but the plan did not change quickly, horoscope card’s post event, so that the wedding night would be a few days in advance.
He thought, his wife in full mourning, it’s not good to make a big deal, and after the filial period is done, he would give good compensation for her.
For the first time in two lifetimes, Li Haitang as the bride, there was still some embarrassment, she drank a large mouthful of plum wine to strengthen her courage, her cheeks flushed.
“Little brother, I’ve heard that the Foothill Academy can bring a page boy, I think we might as well buy you one.”
Li Haitang ate a half-full meal and started worrying about Li Jin Hu’s studies again. Before entering the government office, she still had some modern concepts and advocated equality, but when she really faced the County Magistrate Fan, she found her own thinking ridiculous again.
If she kept being bound by such concepts, she would get herself killed.
The Lu Shan academy is strict with its students, and they are allowed to go down the mountain once every three months. These days, most of the scholars’ families are able to get by, or else ink, paper and ink stones are a big expense that ordinary people can’t afford.
Li Jin Hu alone in the mountains, Li Haitang can not rest assured that his little brother is still small, in case of bullying, what if there is no one to send a message?
The Lushan Academy does not allow maids to be brought along, for fear that the scholars will have bad thoughts, become addicted to women’s beauty, and stop studying, so the young masters of rich families will most likely bring a page boy.
“Jie, bring page boy for what ah!”
Li Jin Hu laughed out loud, realizing that his big sister had gone to the city, seen the world, and opened up her mind quite a bit.
“Following you around, running errands and buying things for you.”
Li Haitang used her hand to point at her own little brother’s forehead, angrily said, “How, you still laugh at your sister, I at least have read books, know no less than you.”
Not only quite a lot, but also quite knowledgeable, knowing about airplanes, cars, trains; she didn’t know how many years more advanced than the old antiques of this era, Li Haitang silently spat in her heart, but these secrets can only rot in her stomach.
“Let’s use empty gloves to make a thousand taels by selling the private room given by Little Peach Red, as well as the one we stole from the Counselor Qin, the latter is ill-gotten wealth, it’s best to spend it.”
Li Haitang has a small account book, the savage husband is an invisible local tycoon, the treasury is littered with gold, silver and jewels, buying a page boy is not a problem.
She has her own considerations, my little brother will have to take the imperial examinations in the future, students, Xiucai (a person who has passed the county level imperial exam), layer by layer, there is always a need for someone to help look at the list, there must also be someone to accompany the examination, it is best to find a simple and honest, strong and capable of taking care of people’s page boy, doubling up as a young male servant, his own little brother will certainly be treated kindly.
“Jie, or still you consider it the long term way.”
Li Jin Hu lowered his eyes and thought about it, wanting to say something, he probed, “Jie, does the family need to find an underling?”
Their mother, Ruan, before she married, was an official’s daughter, even when she arrived in the north, married a village man and became a village woman, she raised her hands and feet in a very elegant manner, this is also the reason why Old Madam Li did not like Ruan, in front of Ruan, there is always a sense of unworthy.
“Looking for an underling?”
Li Haitang shook her head. She liked the world of two people, no constraints, and didn’t want to have raw faces wandering around the house, it looked strange and awkward.
Furthermore, it will soon be winter, the sky is cold, in addition to making fire and cooking, there is no work in the house, they live in the mountains, there will be no one to disturb.
During the meeting, Li Haitang siblings were happy, cup after cup of wine, Xiao Lingchuan wanted to persuade them, and then she thought that Jin Hu wanted to go to school. After this, only after a long time, they could see each other, so he doesn’t feel disappointed.
Wine over three rounds, food over five flavors, Li Jin Hu’s body small, could not hold the alcohol, was carried to the bed by Xiao Lingchuan, hooting and hollering.
Li Haitang wanted to clean up the dishes, only to feel the sky spinning (felt dizzy).
Xiao Lingchuan just entered the door, saw his own mother spinning, hurriedly stepped forward.
“I won’t serve anyone if I drink too much, just hold up to the wall!”
Li Haitang held the wall with one hand, sniffed the strong smell of alcohol on her body, and with a look of disgust, she turned her head to go to the purification room to wash up.
The water in the pool was moderately warm, with a few pieces of colorful dried flowers sprinkled on top, Li Haitang let out a cry of joy, quickly resolved the bonds on her body and sat in the pool water.
White mist filled the air, the warm water massaging her body, and after a few moments, she sobered up a bit.
Tonight was a wedding night, the savages wouldn’t make a move, right? Li Haitang blushed and found that she didn’t seem to be very repulsed, on the contrary, there was actually that little bit of anticipation.
After washing up, she dawdled and changed into a set of soft fine cotton lingerie, strung her hair dry, and returned to the bridal chamber.
Inside the room, Xiao Lingchuan cleaned up properly, and Li Haitang formally drank the nuptial cup—go through the marriage ceremony, representing that husband and wife from now on as one, never to be separated.
By the window sill, the red candle reflected the gorgonzola paper, open the window, the distant pale mountains, all shrouded in the heavy night color, Li Haitang took a deep breath, what she should face, she still has to face it in the end.
She was nervous, but she found a small detail. The savage husband seems to be even more, his body stiff, walking spine as straight as a board.
“You sleep on the bed, I’ll sleep on the floor.”
Xiao Lingchuan fulfills his promise, takes out the bedding from the cabinet, and spreads a thick linoleum cloth on the floor first to prevent moisture.
Now the day is not cold yet, when the snow falls, you have to sleep on the big kang bed in front of the west window. As long as the stove has a fire, the kang bed can be hot all night.
“It’s not good to live in separate beds when you’re in a bridal chamber, isn’t it?”
Li Haitang visually estimated that the bed was about two meters wide, enough to sleep for two people, the big deal was to cover their respective quilts.
“Okay.”
Xiao Lingchuan lowered his head, not daring to look at Li Haitang, afraid that he would lose control and do beastly things.
Both of them were a little nervous, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
“Husband, will you miss your parents?”
Li Haitang held Xiao Lingchuan’s big hand, a thick layer of calluses on his hand, but it was fiery, making people feel safe.
When she first arrived in the other world and encountered so many troublesome things, she really wanted to find shoulders to lean on, so that she would not have to live a boastful life.
“I thought about it before, but then I
didn’t want it to.”
Xiao Lingchuan had never met his parents, but Master said that no parents don’t love their children, so perhaps his parents loved him as well.
“Yes, they definitely love you.” Li Haitang realized that she had made the atmosphere depressing,so she racked her brain to try to lighten the atmosphere; they shared the same life and wedding so left something beautiful and worth remembering.