DCFRP Extra 37

TL: Hua

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Qi Fengjian’s health took a turn for the better, and the happiest people, besides the members of the opera troupe, were Xun Qian.

On the day of the winter solstice, after eating dumplings and singing songs, while everyone else was busy with their own things, Qi Xiaoyu went to the kitchen to keep Qi Wanrou company. Xun Qian immediately found Qi Fengjian and brought up the matter again.

As early as three years ago, Qi Fengjian had met Xun Qian’s family, and they had discussed their marriage.

Three years later, Xun Qian and Qi Xiaoyu’s relationship had grown even deeper.

Adding to this, Qi Fengjian had also spoken to his little apprentice about it the day before, so Qi Fengjian naturally agreed to Xun Qian’s request.

However, Qi Fengjian’s health was far worse than it had been three years ago, and he could no longer handle everything personally.

So, he called Gu Zizhen over to help with the arrangement.

Upon hearing this, Gu Zizhen lowered his head and said, “I recently consulted the almanac, and there are quite a few auspicious days at the end of the year. Would Commander Xun like to choose one?”

As Gu Zizhen spoke, he turned and picked up a calendar from the side, showing Xun Qian the days he had selected.

From December to February of the following year, Gu Zizhen had picked one or two days each month.

When Xun Qian saw the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, his eyes lit up, and he immediately asked, “How about holding the wedding banquet on the sixteenth day of the first lunar month?”

The sixteenth day of the first lunar month was Qi Xiaoyu’s birthday. Although it was the Qi Xiaoyu of another world, Xun Qian still felt this day held special significance.

Moreover, his father, Xun Shaoyou; older brother, Xun Mo; and older sister, Xun Ran, would all be coming to Shanghai for the New Year before then.

Their original plan was to stay until the fifteenth day after the Lantern Festival before leaving, so staying one more day to attend his wedding would be just right.

****

It was just that a wedding between two men was truly unconventional.

Qi Xiaoyu didn’t want to hold a big ceremony, only wanting to have a meal with relatives and friends from both sides, and at most having a small announcement of their marriage in a corner of the newspaper would suffice.

But Xun Qian seemed to have a deep obsession with it.

Regarding other wedding matters, he mostly listened to Qi Xiaoyu, but on this matter, he refused to budge, insisting on bowing to heaven and earth, paying respects to the ancestors, and offering tea to the elders—going through the entire traditional process.

“We can just invite relatives and friends to the wedding banquet, but how can we skip the procedures and etiquette? This is what I discussed with Master when I proposed marriage.”

“Master never said any of that.”

“He did. Master said there should be three matchmakers and six rites; nothing could be omitted.” Xun Qian coaxed and pleaded, even resorting to acting spoiled: “Besides, we’re only getting married once; how can we not make it a grand affair?”

Qi Xiaoyu actually wanted to get married too, but he felt a bit awkward about it publicly. “But… the two of us… getting married is already strange enough, and to make such a big show…”

Xun Qian nuzzled Qi Xiaoyu’s shoulder. “Why should we care what others think? The most important thing is, do you like it?”

Qi Xiaoyu was hesitant, but he couldn’t bring himself to say he didn’t like the idea. Seeing Xun Qian’s persistence, he braced himself and agreed.

****

After finalizing the decision to hold a formal wedding, many things suddenly needed to be done.

Preparing the venue, hiring a master of ceremonies, inviting guests, preparing wine and beverages, rehearsing the procedures, and also taking wedding photos and buying new clothes…

There seemed to be so many things that two months wouldn’t be enough time to complete them all.

Fortunately, both Xun Qian and Qi Xiaoyu were decisive people, and Gu Zizhen, who came to help, was also very efficient.

Everything proceeded in an orderly manner.

The wedding venue was set in the commander’s mansion. The master of ceremonies hired was the most famous and experienced in Shanghai. Qi Xiaoyu and Xun Qian each determined their own guest lists, but there were two people whom Xun Qian specifically insisted on adding: Rong Qing and the reporter Chu He.

Xun Qian’s casual mention of inviting them made Qi Xiaoyu laugh non-stop.

Then, regarding the ceremony, because both were men, some modifications were made to the original procedures.

For example, the groom arriving in a sedan chair to greet the bride was changed to Xun Qian driving a car to the Red Moon Troupe and then using the car to bring Qi Xiaoyu to the Commander’s mansion.

Also, the various steps of the groom welcoming the bride were all shortened, becoming Xun Qian and Qi Xiaoyu walking hand-in-hand to the flower hall to offer incense and candles and bow to heaven and earth.

Once the ceremony was decided, it was time to make the clothes and take the wedding photos.

Xun Qian had booked an appointment with the tailor shop two days in advance, reserving the entire afternoon.

This was because the clothes weren’t just for him and Qi Xiaoyu, but also for his three relatives, as well as Qi Xiaoyu’s master and senior sister.

The tailor shop was near the Red Moon Troupe, just down the street.

After lunch, Qi Xiaoyu and Qi Wanrou pushed their master over. It was only a ten-minute walk.

They arrived early; Xun Qian’s family hadn’t come yet.

This tailor shop combined Chinese and Western styles, with a very luxurious decoration. At first glance, it didn’t look like a tailor shop but more like the lobby of a Western hotel.

Inside, to the right, was a reception area with a few leather sofas for guests to rest on.

Then, separated by a silk screen, were high-end fabrics, ranging from wedding dresses to mandarin jackets; everything was available.

Qi Xiaoyu pushed his master to sit on the sofa and waited for the others. He said to Qi Wanrou, “Senior Sister, you choose first.”

Just as he finished speaking, he saw Qi Wanrou look ahead with a slight daze.

Following her gaze, he saw a handsome man and a stylish girl wearing gold earrings walking towards them.

Qi Xiaoyu was also slightly stunned.

Although the young man had taken off his Zhongshan suit and put on a long robe and mandarin jacket, Qi Xiaoyu recognized him at a glance. This person was Zhou Sinian.

Qi Xiaoyu still remembered that three years ago, on Aitang Road, after Zhou Sinian was repeatedly blocked and rejected by him, he gradually came less and less. Later, he heard that the Zhou family had moved their factory to the Zhejiang area, and this person had completely disappeared.

He didn’t expect to encounter him here today.

Qi Wanrou was stunned for a moment, and the same goes for Qi Xiaoyu and Zhou Sinian.

Immediately after, they heard the woman turn her head and say to the tailor shop owner,

“Boss Qiu, isn’t your shop supposed to only serve respectable people? How is a female opera singer also your customer?”

Qi Wanrou took a breath.

Upon hearing these words, Qi Fengjian’s face also turned very unpleasant as he looked up at the woman.

In front of so many people, her words were openly humiliating Qi Wanrou.

Qi Xiaoyu placed his hand on his master’s shoulder and said loudly to the tailor shop owner, “Boss Qiu, we’ve booked the entire place for the afternoon. Why are there still other irrelevant people here?”

Upon hearing this, the woman’s eyes widened. “Now even opera singers can book the entire place?”

Boss Qiu, whose surname was Qiu, ignored them and stepped forward, looking at Qi Xiaoyu, and tentatively asked, “Was this reservation made by Commander Xun?”

Qi Xiaoyu nodded.

Hearing the implication in Boss Qiu’s words, the woman sneered disdainfully, “Sure enough, all relying on men, lowly scum.”

Qi Xiaoyu curled his lips into a mocking smile and said to Boss Qiu, “When he made the reservation, did he prepay any tailoring fees?”

Boss Qiu didn’t understand the meaning behind Qi Xiaoyu’s words and simply replied, “How could that be? The clothes haven’t even been made yet; how could there be a prepayment? Generally, a 50% deposit is paid after the fabric is chosen.”

Qi Xiaoyu asked, “We have seven people making clothes. What would a 50% deposit be approximately?”

Boss Qiu replied, “This varies depending on the fabric, so it’s hard to estimate.”

“Just calculate based on the most expensive fabric, and we’ll settle the difference later.”

“Approximately… it would be a thousand yuan.”

“Alright.” Qi Xiaoyu took out a bunch of banknotes from his wallet and handed it over. “Then I’ll settle the payment first. Boss Qiu, please ask the irrelevant people to leave immediately.”

The woman’s expression immediately changed.

A thousand yuan was not a small amount. Even for their factory business, they might not be so generous. Yet, Qi Xiaoyu had taken it out so casually.

Zhou Sinian’s expression was also unpleasant.

They had brought their new daughter-in-law to have clothes made today, and being humiliated so directly with money in front of her was unbearable.

The woman’s face flushed red as she shouted, “Shameless thing! Just because you have some money and someone backing you up, you think you’re something!”

Just at that moment, Xun Qian and his family arrived.

Boss Qiu recognized Xun Qian and immediately went to greet him, “Commander Xun, you see…”

Xun Qian interrupted him, pointing at Qi Xiaoyu, “He makes the decisions in our family. Listen to him in everything.”

Then he said to the woman, “Having money and someone to rely on is indeed something remarkable. Do you have a problem with that?”

Xun Qian and his group were all wearing military uniforms, and their appearance made them look unapproachable.

Adding to that, from the conversation just now, she could guess their identities, so her expression was even worse than before, but in the end, she didn’t dare to retort.

Even when the tailor shop owner asked them to leave, she held her breath and didn’t dare to say another word.

And from beginning to end, Qi Wanrou, apart from glancing at Zhou Sinian at the very beginning, never gave him another look.

After this brief interlude, the seven of them together chose the fabric styles, took measurements, finalized the clothes, and then went to the photo studio to take pictures.

***

Amidst these busy preparations, in the blink of an eye, the wedding day arrived.

The sixteenth day of the first lunar month.

Early in the morning, before the wedding even began, everyone was bombarded by the newspapers.

First, in a corner of the “Shen Bao” newspaper, there was a wedding announcement for Xun Qian and Qi Xiaoyu: “Having obtained the consent of both parents, we, Xun Qian and Qi Xiaoyu, will hold our wedding ceremony on the sixteenth day of the first lunar month of the thirteenth year of the Republic. We hereby respectfully inform all relatives and friends.”

The “Youth Daily” published, “The affection of comradeship finally blossoms into the love of marriage. Congratulations to Xun Qian and Qi Xiaoyu on their happy wedding.”

The “Movie News” wrote, “Finally settling a debt of longing, wishing Xun Qian and Qi Xiaoyu a harmonious union.”

The “Pictorial of Common People” featured: “The melody of zither weaves into dreamlike words, the lamp flowers reflect bashful faces. Wishing Xun Qian and Qi Xiaoyu a match made in heaven.”

…

Perhaps it was out of apology for the siege of Qi Xiaoyu at the Laurel Stage before, or perhaps it was to thank Xun Qian for what he had done in Shanghai this year, or perhaps it was a sincere blessing for their unconventional marriage. Various major and minor newspapers unexpectedly sent their wedding wishes one after another.

When Gu Zizhen handed these newspapers to Qi Fengjian early in the morning, Qi Fengjian’s expression clearly froze. In that instant, his eyes held suspicion, surprise, and also relief.

The worries and anxieties he had for his little apprentice’s future seemed to finally settle on this day, everything put to rest.

On the other side, Qi Xiaoyu was nervously awaiting the beginning of this day.

He wasn’t a bride, thus not needing so much elaborate dressing up. He simply changed his clothes and tidied his hair to be neater than usual.

Then, he stayed in the living room, watching others busily preparing.

Later, at eight o’clock, he first heard the sound of a car horn outside, followed by a burst of barking.

After a while, the car honked twice, and a lively sound of string instruments erupted outside. A black dog with a red bow tied around its chest dashed in amidst this joyous noise.

Xun Qian, dressed in a long robe and mandarin jacket of the same color as Qi Xiaoyu’s, followed in.

Qi Xiaoyu held the dog leash, staying where he was, watching Xun Qian walk towards him.

Xun Qian usually wore white clothes or a military uniform and had never worn such vibrant colors. The long red robe and mandarin jacket, trimmed with delicate black edges, set off his snow-white skin, making him seem to glow.

Xun Qian was also looking at Qi Xiaoyu with affection, seeing Qi Xiaoyu standing at the other end, wearing the same festive attire as him.

The vicissitudes of life were nothing more than this.

Gu Zizhen stood shoulder to shoulder with Qi Xiaoyu, sending him off. He patted him on the shoulder, “It’s time; why are you standing here in a daze?”

Only then did Qi Xiaoyu react, leading the little black dog towards the entrance.

They met at the bottom of the front steps, exchanged a glance, and then returned to the car together.

Everything went according to the planned procedures, seeming much simpler than imagined, yet with a dreamlike quality.

The only difference from the plan was that from the entrance of the Red Moon Troupe all the way to outside the Commander’s mansion, there were many onlookers.

But this was not malicious or mocking. Everyone’s face carried a smile, one of blessing and joy.

The car stopped at the entrance of the commander’s mansion, and someone came forward to open the door.

Qi Xiaoyu and Xun Qian got out of the car from the left and right sides, meeting in front of the vehicle.

Then, they walked side by side along the red carpet up the steps, entered the mansion, passed through the courtyard, and walked all the way to the flower hall.

Qi Xiaoyu remembered that the first time he walked this path, his heart was filled with worry and fear. Walking it again now, his feelings were completely different.

They stopped at the incense table in front of the flower hall.

Another round of music and firecrackers sounded.

They knelt before the ancestral tablets at the incense table, burned incense, and kowtowed.

After three kowtows, they stood up and continued forward.

In the seats of honor, Xun Shaoyou and Qi Fengjian were already seated.

Other relatives and friends filled the hall: Xun Mo, Xun Ran, Qi Wanrou, Gu Zizhen, Xi Yun, Zhang Han, Butler Cheng…

Everyone brought their blessings with a smile.

Rong Qing and Chu He also cast their blessings upon them.

Following the master of ceremonies’ instructions, they first bowed to heaven and earth, then bowed to their elders.

“First bow to heaven and earth, second bow to the high hall.”

Each person held a cup of tea, offering one cup to Xun Shaoyou and one cup to Qi Fengjian, receiving the blessings and boundless expectations of their elders.

Then, the two bowed to each other.

Afterward, in the master of ceremonies’ loud voice and the cheers of everyone,

“The ceremony is complete; escort them to the bridal chamber!”

Xun Qian took Qi Xiaoyu’s hand, and Qi Xiaoyu returned his grip.

From the gazes of Xun Shaoyou and Qi Fengjian, Xun Mo, Xun Ran, and Qi Wanrou, from the cheers, firecrackers, and music, the two walked together, through the storms of this chaotic world, through the long years, and towards their own future.