Chapter 335: The Auspicious Time Has Arrived

Chapter 335: Chapter 335: The Auspicious Time Has Arrived

Hu Liang carried a string of firecrackers outside the courtyard gate and lit it. Ji Liansong and Ji Mingfang helped set up the incense table, while Second Sister-in-law Xu, Sixth Sister-in-law Feng, and the others had been busy since early morning.

Originally, Ji Huan had only planned to hold a banquet for those who came to help, so two or three tables would have been enough.

But the situation had changed.

First, the village chief had publicly acknowledged his role as matchmaker in front of the villagers, shielding Ji Huan from a great deal of unnecessary gossip. Ji Huan appreciated this kindness and certainly couldn’t leave out such an important figure.

When Hu Liang went to invite him yesterday afternoon, Village Chief Meng had hesitated for a moment but ultimately nodded and agreed to come.

Then, the other families who had joined the Golden Partners venture also came by to offer their congratulations, so of course, seats had to be saved for them.

Besides, at a village banquet, a family rarely sent just one person. It wasn’t uncommon for the entire family to show up.

As a result, the guest list was getting quite long.

This time, Widow Xie wasn’t worried about the expense in the slightest; in fact, she hoped for as many guests as possible.

If no one came, what kind of wedding would it be?

Her only worry was that there wouldn’t be enough space.

Two of the four side rooms in the back courtyard were locked, and in the front courtyard, only the east wing was available. Though one of its rooms was being used as a temporary resting place for Guan Shan, it would be free after the ceremony and wouldn’t delay the banquet.

Another two or three tables could be set up in the open space of the front courtyard. The two reverse-facing rooms on either side of the main gate weren’t large, but each could also fit one table.

A stove had been built in the back courtyard, and a few old door panels were pieced together to serve as a countertop, leaving limited space. Fortunately, the main hall could still accommodate one table, though this one was reserved for the guests of honor.

Adding it all up, it would be a tight squeeze, but manageable.

The tables and stools they had originally borrowed were not enough, so they had to borrow more. They set them up in the empty side rooms first.

After the head cook and his apprentice arrived, the back courtyard filled with the CLANG of pots and pans.

Ji Huan could only hear the hurried footsteps of people coming and going. Everyone seemed incredibly busy; even Aunt Wang and Aunt Gao had temporarily gone out to help. Only she and Dabao were left, staring blankly at each other, bored out of their minds.

Just then, Hu Ximei arrived, pulling Xiao’an and Hua along with her.

It was her big sister Wan’s special day, and she wouldn’t have missed it for anything, so she had asked a neighbor to look after Granny Xie for the morning.

When she saw Ji Huan in her bridal attire, Hu Ximei’s jaw dropped.

It took Ji Huan some effort to get her to close her mouth. Turning to see Xiao’an and Hua perched on a stool peeling and eating fruit, she was reminded to ask Ji Xuelan why Daya and Erya hadn’t come.

"It’s too crowded. If they came, I wouldn’t have the time to watch them. They’d just be in the way."

Ji Xuelan paused, then added guiltily, "Wan, my mother has to stay home and look after Sanyang, so she couldn’t... Please don’t take it to heart."

Ji Huan winked at her. "It’s understandable that Auntie can’t come if she has to watch Sanyang. But Daya and Erya must be here. I’m their aunt, after all. When their aunt gets married, they have to get some wedding candy."

As she spoke, she shot a look at Hu Ximei.

Ignoring Ji Xuelan’s calls from behind, Hu Ximei darted out and brought Daya and Erya back in no time.

Daya and Erya were still shy and refused to speak in front of others.

But they had grown much more familiar with Ji Huan. When she handed them candy and dried fruit, they accepted them shyly, no longer needing to ask their mother or uncle for permission.

Strings of firecrackers popped one after another as guests began to arrive.

Hu Liang had dragged Ji Mingfang to the gate to greet guests and accept gifts.

Ji Mingfang was very uncomfortable at first, thinking, ’I’d be better off back in the kitchen, tending the fire.’

But Hu Liang refused to let him go, so he had to brace himself and stay. By copying how Hu Liang received people, he eventually adapted and began to look the part.

The male guests were led directly into the empty side rooms to wait, while the young women and new wives clamored to see the bride first.

The room was packed. Some guests were teasing, others were laughing and joking, and still others were showering Ji Huan with praise. In short, it was incredibly lively.

Dabao, unused to such commotion, looked displeased. It was only after Ji Huan comforted him for a while that he returned to the west room.

The guests who had arrived so far were the families of Aunt Wang, Aunt Gao, Second Sister-in-law Xu, and Sixth Sister-in-law Feng, along with the other families who had joined the Golden Partners venture.

As the sun rose higher, uninvited guests began to arrive as well.

It was unavoidable.

You couldn’t just close your doors on a joyous occasion like a wedding.

People coming to watch the spectacle added to the lively atmosphere, and there was no reason to turn them away.

Ji Huan’s reputation was no longer so dreadful. As long as she wasn’t marrying into one’s own family, what did it matter if she was a jinx? She wasn’t bringing misfortune to others. Just look at Widow Xie, Aunt Wang, and even the main branch of the Ji family—all of their households were prospering.

Quite a few people shared this sentiment. As a result, even though Ji Huan lived in such a remote location, the crowd of onlookers was even larger than on the day Ji Liantang got married.

The villagers were all craning their necks, eager to see what kind of man Ji Huan was marrying into her family.

Everyone knew he was the beggar from the village entrance. Many had seen him, but no one had seen his face.

Strangely, on a day like this, not a single person from the main Ji Family residence had shown up.

It was one thing for other relatives, but for their granddaughter to be taking a husband into the family was a major event. How could her own grandparents not even make an appearance?

Little did they know, the people at the main residence were sitting comfortably at home, waiting for the whole affair to become a laughingstock.

The back courtyard was blocked off by a wooden fence, so everyone was crammed into the front courtyard.

The door to the east room where Ji Huan was staying had been bolted from the inside early on, and she wouldn’t be allowed out until the auspicious time arrived.

Ji Huan was worried about Guan Shan’s side of things, but Ji Xuelan quietly told her that his door was also bolted and that Hu Dacheng was with him.

This sounded rather strange, and the people outside found it even more bizarre.

It was the first time they had ever seen a wedding where neither the bride nor the groom showed their faces on the big day.

A loud barrage of firecrackers erupted outside. From the sound of Hu Liang’s voice, it seemed Xin Ziqi had arrived.

Just a moment later, Village Chief Meng arrived as well.

The two were welcomed into the main hall, drank a cup of tea, and spoke for a while. Before they knew it, it was half past nine.

The auspicious time had come. Village Chief Meng, Xin Ziqi, and all the guests waiting in the side rooms rose and went out into the courtyard.

The incense table was set in the center of the front courtyard, where the ground was covered with newly woven mats. Fifth Grandpa had woven them by hand; he had come for the banquet today, bringing Sixth Ancestor Grandma with him.

Neither the bride nor the groom had parents or elders present. With no one from the main Ji Family residence showing up, and the only other relative, Ji Liansong, being unfamiliar with the ceremony, the role of master of ceremonies fell to Village Chief Meng, the matchmaker.

Village Chief Meng had already come to terms with it. ’Since the word is already out,’ he thought, ’I might as well see it through. Let people say what they will.’

He cleared his throat and called toward the east room, "Is the bride ready?!"

A loud voice from inside the room replied, "Ready, ready! Make way, make way!"

This was a signal for any widows or pregnant women to quickly step aside.

Hearing this, the other guests also quickly moved to either side.

In an instant, the space in front of the main hall, the east wing, and the area around the incense table was cleared.

Inside the room, Ji Huan had just been urged to eat a few mouthfuls of noodles and take a bite of a poached egg.

This was the "pre-sedan meal." Even though she wasn’t riding in a sedan chair, the custom was observed for good luck.

Aunt Gao frantically placed the bridal veil over her head. Then, with Aunt Wang on the other side, they prepared to escort her out.

Aunt Wang suddenly stopped and asked, "Shouldn’t you cry a little?"

Ji Huan: "..."

It was a custom in the Northern Pass that a bride must cry as she left for her wedding. The more she cried, the more prosperous her maiden family would become.

It was said that if a bride couldn’t cry, or if her sobs were too quiet, someone would pinch her hard to make her wail.

Ji Huan truly couldn’t bring herself to cry, and she had no desire to be pinched. Seizing a moment when no one was looking, she lifted her skirts and strode quickly out of the east room.

’This is my own home,’ she thought. ’Even with a veil on, I can walk without any trouble.’

"Hey!"

"That girl!"

Aunt Wang and Aunt Gao hurried out after her.

Sixth Sister-in-law Feng and Second Sister-in-law Xu were waiting at the entrance to the main hall, each holding a shallow basket filled with grains and beans.

Seeing Ji Huan emerge on her own, they were stunned for a moment before remembering to scatter the contents.

The grains and beans were said to ward off evil, and as seeds, they also symbolized the hope for the early birth of a son.

Ji Huan stopped a few steps past the doorway of the main hall, just as Aunt Wang and Aunt Gao caught up to her.

According to procedure, Guan Shan was now supposed to walk over, take her hand, and lead her to the incense table to bow to Heaven and Earth, and then to their elders.

Ji Huan turned slightly to face the direction of the east wing, though she could see nothing through her red veil.

At that moment, everyone present did the same, their countless gazes fixed on the door, as if they could burn a hole right through the wood.

Amidst a collective held breath, the door to the side room finally CREAKED open.