116. Chapter 116: Xiuli Gets Married

Early on the sixth day of the sixth lunar month, the Gu household was a flurry of activity. Madam Wu and Madam Feng led the efforts in wrapping dumplings, while Gu Chengzhong and Gu Chengyong busied themselves preparing the carriages for the journey to the county seat.

The distance from Qingshan Village to the county seat was some seventy or eighty li, a journey far too long to make on foot. The Gu family possessed two carriages—the ones Gu Chengyong had brought back with him. Now that they were settled in the countryside, Gu Chengyong deemed the enclosed carriage bodies unnecessary and had long since removed them, converting the vehicles into flatbeds, which allowed them to carry a significantly larger number of people.

Even so, they still needed more, so they arranged to borrow additional carts from neighbors. Second Uncle Gu’s household had a large black mule and a carriage, which they were happy to lend. Then there was Erwa—Zhang Deming—from behind the Gu house, who also had a cart. The village head, Qi Changwen, and the sons of Great-Granduncle Qi all owned carriages as well. Having made arrangements in advance, they prepared these vehicles to transport all the neighborhood friends and family who were invited to celebrate in the county seat.

In the northern countryside, while people referred to them as "carriages," they were typically pulled by mules rather than horses. Mules were prized for their impressive load-bearing capacity and their far more docile temperament, making them ideal for transportation and farm labor. True horses, like the ones Gu Chengyong had brought home, were a rare sight in the village.

With so many carriages to manage, they had to be carefully watched and fed with fodder. Gu Chengyong instructed Wenxiu, Wenqi, Wensheng, and Wenjie to keep a close eye on everything to ensure no mishaps occurred.

Today was a joyous occasion for the Gu family. Originally, Gu Chengyong had intended for Wentao and the others to stay home and join the festivities, but Wentao insisted on attending his studies. Wenping and Wenzhi, though initially tempted to stay, were so moved by Wentao’s dedication that they decided to head to the schoolhouse as well. Thus, the three boys left early for the town to study, just as they did on any other day.

Great Madam Li arrived with her daughters-in-law and grandchildren. While the children ran wild in the courtyard, Madam Wang and Madam Huang went to assist with the dumpling wrapping. Second Aunt Gu also brought her daughters-in-law; as close relatives, they were expected to attend the wedding feast. With several other neighborhood women joining in to help, the dumplings were prepared quickly, and before long, seven or eight bamboo trays were filled.

Since the county seat was far away and the auspicious time for the bride-fetching was set for mid-morning, the children couldn't wait and gathered outside long before the time arrived. They were determined to block the gate; although there was no formal custom in the countryside of demanding red envelopes, the wedding party was expected to bring plenty of fruit and treats. Country children rarely saw such delicacies, so they eagerly anticipated these joyous events.

By mid-morning, the sound of music and drums echoed from afar. The children grew excited, rolling up their sleeves in preparation, while many villagers ran over to watch the spectacle.

In the distance, a procession approached the Gu residence. The musicians in the lead wore brand-new red garments, and their suonas and gongs were adorned with red silk ribbons. Behind them sat the groom, Jiang Binghao, atop a tall, date-red horse. Dressed in a new, royal-blue robe with a red silk cross draped across his chest, he looked quite dashing with a beaming smile on his face.

It was not customary for every groom to wear bright red; in the north, men rarely donned red clothes. Even for weddings, families of modest means were reluctant to spend money on a new outfit that would only be worn once. Jiang Binghao’s royal-blue silk robe was considered quite an impressive choice.

Following the groom was the bride’s carriage. Because the journey was so long, a sedan chair was impractical, so a carriage was used instead. Decorated with red silk and lined with bright red cushions, it served perfectly as the bridal carriage. In most cases, these were simply rented from specialized providers.

Behind the bride’s carriage trailed several more, carrying friends and relatives. The passengers looked elegant and cheerful, waving to the crowd from afar.

As the procession reached the Gu gate, firecrackers were lit. Jiang Binghao dismounted and, amidst the crackling explosions and falling red paper, stepped toward the house, only to be blocked by the rowdy group of children demanding treats. A young man behind Jiang quickly reached into a basket and tossed handfuls of fruit toward the children. Distracted by the scramble for the treats, the children scattered, allowing the groom to enter the courtyard. Gu Chengzhong and the others hurried to greet them, ushering the guests into the east wing for the banquet.

Three tables were set in the east wing, with the Jiang family members seated separately by gender. The musicians and carriage drivers were given their own table, hosted by members of the Gu family. Meanwhile, the Gu family members began to eat their own dumplings, as it was customary not to leave the bridal party hungry. Of course, nobody ate to excess; it was merely a symbolic gesture.

Before long, the meal concluded, and Jiang Binghao entered the main room. The matchmaker and the attendant women helped Gu Xiuli out from the east room. The young couple bowed three times to the elder Master and Madam Gu. Then, Gu Chengzhong carried Gu Xiuli on his back and placed her into the carriage. Two children—a boy and a girl arranged by the Jiang family—accompanied the bride. The carriage was spacious enough that they fit comfortably.

Once the bride was seated, the musicians turned back toward the village exit, and Jiang Binghao mounted his horse, leading the procession away.

The Gu family had already loaded the dowry onto the carts while the groom was dining. Gu Xiuli’s dowry was generous, consisting of four large chests and four small ones, all tied with red silk and looking very festive. For a rural family, having any dowry at all was a blessing, and most brides only brought a few bundles of bedding. For Gu Xiuli to have eight chests of belongings was considered comparable to a young lady from the city.

With the dowry loaded and the friends and relatives boarded, the procession headed toward the county seat.

Madam Zhao was unable to make the trip due to her health, and Wenfang and Wenfei, worried about their mother, stayed behind to care for her. Consequently, Gu Chengyi took only Wenying and Wenqian to the county. Jiaoyan had no interest in the wedding, especially Gu Xiuli’s, so she stayed home and went to the Miao family’s house after breakfast.

The Gu family favored boys and paid little attention to the girls, so Madam Li could not have cared less whether Jiaoyan and the others attended the feast. Great Madam Li, however, brought her entire household along; Zhang Yuanming would never miss a chance for a free meal. As relatives of the Gu family, their presence was seen as giving face to the Jiangs.

Watching the carriage carrying their daughter grow smaller in the distance, Master Gu and Madam Li felt a pang of sadness. "Ah, we raise a daughter only for her to become someone else’s," Madam Li sighed.

"Come now, which daughter stays home forever? It has always been this way. Weren't you a daughter of the Li family once? Didn't you marry into the Gu family? This is the rule passed down through generations. Don't worry; we still have our fifth son to marry off. Once he takes a wife, our family will grow," Master Gu comforted his wife gently.

"Is a daughter-in-law the same as a daughter? Look at our daughters-in-law; they act as if they have a grudge against me. Even the fourth daughter-in-law, whom I’ve treated so well, is not of one heart with me," Madam Li lamented. "I wonder what kind of wife our fifth son will find. If only he could find a girl from a good family—someone with a kind temperament who can manage both the household and the fields—then I could rest easy."

Master Gu shook his head. "Are you dreaming? Where would you find such a wife? If a family is well-off, they spoil their daughters; why would they let her do all the work? Those who are capable and hardworking come from poor families, and nobody wants to work harder than they have to unless they are forced."

"You shouldn't demand so much," he continued. "The key is whether our fifth son likes her. His standards are too high. I fear he won't be satisfied with an ordinary girl, and we aren't in a position to climb into a wealthy, prestigious family."

"What’s the rush?" Madam Li said, brightening up. "Just wait until our fifth son passes the scholar examination. Even those wealthy families will be desperate to marry into our home! I’m in no hurry. I’m waiting for him to bring honor to our family and earn me a noble title." Thinking of her youngest son, she beamed with pride. In her eyes, his success was inevitable, and once he was a scholar, she would be free to pick the perfect bride.

Master Gu chuckled at his wife’s words. She had a point; once their son became a scholar, the Gu family’s status would change, and people would be lining up to form ties with them. "Well, that’s enough talk for now. Hurry and clear away the leftovers from the feast and the dumplings. It’s hot today; we don't want them to spoil. Send some to the third daughter-in-law’s place for lunch."

The Gu family had prepared plenty of food, and since the wedding guests hadn't eaten much, there was a great deal remaining. Being thrifty country folk, they wouldn't let such good food go to waste. They began to pack it away to enjoy themselves, mindful that in the summer heat, they would need to eat it quickly before it turned.