6kv Chapter 1327: Wedding [7] Happy New Year’s Day
Chapter 1327: Wedding [7] Happy New Year’s Day
"Hahaha, we made it through, so we can go greet the sister-in-law now!" Guo Qiang, with an arrow bag on his back and a bow in hand, was laughing uproariously.
"Oh, oh, oh, welcome the Company Commander’s Wife!!" The soldiers of the Military Office were ecstatic. At last, they could bring back the Company Commander’s Wife. If, because of their foolishness, Company Commander Qin couldn’t marry his bride, they’d be in deep trouble.
Brother Cheng glared at them, thinking to himself: What’s there to be so happy about?!
He pondered a bit, then hurriedly grabbed his elder brother’s arm and asked, "Big Brother, are these the people Brother San Lang is taking to the Northwest? They don’t look very bright. What if they become a burden in the Northwest?"
That could endanger Brother San Lang and Second Sister!
Gu Jin’an withdrew his arm and replied, "Stop talking nonsense. The people are here, hurry up and welcome them."
Qin San Lang, led by the Zong matchmaker, had already arrived in front of Gu Dashan, bowing and saying, "Greetings, father-in-law. Your son-in-law has come to fetch his bride."
Qin San Lang had long been the son-in-law chosen by Gu Dashan and Mrs. Cui. They had known him for many years, and seeing him go through so many challenges, they felt sorry for him and quickly helped him up, saying, "Good, good, it’s great that you’re here. Come in quickly."
Brother Cheng was shocked. What, just like that he’s let in? Dad, aren’t you going to say a few harsh words?
Gu Dashan was exceedingly pleased with his son-in-law, Qin San Lang. How could he possibly speak harsh words to him? He just held his hand and led him inside.
Brother Cheng ran to block him, looking at Qin San Lang, warning, "Brother San Lang, even though we’ve known each other since we were kids, I still need to warn you. You must treat my second sister well and promise to bring her back safe and sound to the South, or... or she won’t marry you!"
Gu Dashan looked at Brother Cheng somewhat helplessly, thinking, what silly things are you saying, kid? He’s already here, how could she not marry him?
Qin San Lang, however, took Brother Cheng’s words seriously. He looked down at him and assured him, "Brother Cheng, rest assured, I will not let your second sister suffer. I will definitely bring her back safe and sound... I also won’t let anything happen to myself; we will all return safely."
He further promised, "Once things are stable in the Northwest, I will occasionally send someone to bring you to the Northwest to visit your second sister."
"Really!" Brother Cheng was overjoyed. This way, he wouldn’t have to save money to visit his second sister; alright, he agreed, quickly go inside to fetch the bride.
Brother Cheng immediately stepped aside, only to receive a sidelong glance from Gu Jin’an, "You’re too easy to fool."
Waiting for stability in the Northwest, and occasionally, these are all uncertain timelines, yet this little fool agreed so readily; how stupid.
He questioned himself inwardly: Why is he still so stupid after being taught for so many years? Could it be that I’m not a good teacher?
Brother Cheng furrowed his brows, glanced at his big brother, and saw that the Zong matchmaker was already singing the welcoming song to head to the second entrance to fetch the second sister. He hurried off again.
The Zong matchmaker, along with Qin San Lang and his maids, followed the traditions and sang the welcoming song, taking three quarters of an hour to reach Gu Jinli’s door.
After scattering golden rice and Copper Coins, they knocked on the door. After knocking and singing thrice, Gu Jinli’s door finally opened.
The Zong matchmaker entered with a smile, walked up to Gu Jinli, took out a red silk ribbon, and placed it in Gu Jinli’s hand, smiling, "Bride, the groom is here to fetch you, hurry and go home with him."
Gu Jinli stood up and followed the Zong matchmaker’s instructions step by step. When she stepped out of the room, she sensed someone standing ahead, knowing it must be Qin San Lang.
Indeed, Qin San Lang’s voice soon came, greeting her, "My lady, I’ve come to take you home."
While speaking, the Zong matchmaker began to sing again. Fortunately, they had a good voice, or else Gu Jinli might have burst out laughing.
When the Zong matchmaker finished singing, a red silk ribbon was placed in Qin San Lang’s hand.
The Zong matchmaker advised, "Let’s go, we need to say goodbye to your parents and family."
The Zong matchmaker led the couple ahead, and the Gu Family had already laid out a path of red cloth on the ground for Gu Jinli to walk on all the way.
Seizing the moment while the Zong matchmaker sang again, Qin San Lang softly said to Gu Jinli, "Xiao Yu, don’t worry. After we bid farewell to your parents, we’ll take a walk in town before returning for the ceremony. Once we lift the veil, you can rest."
Because the two families lived so close, to let everyone in the ten miles and eight villages know about their marriage, the joyous wedding carriage had to make a circuit through town, scattering joy money before returning to the village.
Gu Jinli felt a bit nervous, but hearing his voice calmed her down. With a smile, she said, "Mm, I’m not afraid."
Qin San Lang smiled, squeezed her hand gently, and released it before anyone noticed.
Before long, the group arrived at the front courtyard’s guest hall, where Gu Dashan, Mrs. Cui, Third Grandpa, and Third Grandma were already seated as hosts. After the Zong matchmaker led them to the guest hall, they announced, "The bride is to thank her parents and family and go forth."
Qin San Lang and Gu Jinli knelt and kowtowed three times to Gu Dashan and Mrs. Cui, and again to Third Grandpa and Third Grandma.
Third Grandma was crying uncontrollably and wanted to lift Gu Jinli up, but the Zong matchmaker stopped her.
Third Grandpa usually didn’t shed tears, but seeing Gu Jinli’s marriage reminded him of Gu Fuya’s wedding, and he couldn’t help tearing up.
Mrs. Cui had been holding back, but when Gu Jinli was about to be led away by the Zong matchmaker, she rushed over, hugged Gu Jinli, and cried, "Xiao Yu, be well, you must be well... If something happens, don’t try to resolve it alone, talk it over with San Lang... Write home often, and don’t just share the good without the bad. Your dad and I are old enough, we’ve seen much, we can handle anything you say."
She then looked at Qin San Lang and said, "San Lang, treat her well, don’t let her suffer... She has a temper, but her heart is good. If she’s angry with you, don’t take it to heart, say a few soft words, and her temper will subside..."
At the end, Mrs. Cui was left with only two words, one to Gu Jinli: "I’m sorry, it’s my fault as a mother..."
And to Qin San Lang: "Treat her well."
Gu Jinli understood what Mrs. Cui meant. Mrs. Cui always felt guilty towards them, believing her and her husband’s incompetence led their four children to suffer.
She didn’t want to cry; she hadn’t cried in a long time, but at this moment, she let the tears fall. Ignoring the Zong matchmaker’s attempt to stop her, she hugged Mrs. Cui and choked out, "Mother, you also take care and wait for us to return."
The Zong matchmaker reminded, "Let’s go, otherwise we’ll miss the auspicious time."
The sobbing was so intense; she had only reminded them to cry as per custom, but she didn’t mean for them to wail loudly. What if the makeup smudges, how unsightly would it be when they lift the veil later?
However, Gu Jinli’s rouge was very good, it wouldn’t smudge even after crying.
Gu Dashan came over to persuade, "Dear, let Xiao Yu leave; they still need to go to town, we can’t miss the auspicious time."
With much coaxing, they finally managed to convince Mrs. Cui. The family, along with the guests, escorted Gu Jinli out the door, onto the carriage bedecked with red silk, with her dowry and servants, they journeyed to the town with the sound of drums and gongs, scattering joy money along the way.
This commotion, everyone within the ten miles and eight villages knew they were getting married.
The folks exchanged congratulations while fighting for the joy money and commented strongly on Gu Jinli’s dowry.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, the Gu Family is truly wealthy, gifting sixty-six dowry chests. In our Tianfu County, no daughter’s dowry comes close to this amount, not even the young ladies in the Prefecture have this much."
Nowadays, for a girl to bring a suitcase to her husband’s family is considered good. Even daughters from wealthy families don’t have more than 36 dowry chests, yet the Gu Family arranged for 66. Truly, what generosity.