Chapter 337: Becoming Husband and Wife

Chapter 337: Chapter 337: Becoming Husband and Wife

Hu Liang was the first to snap back to his senses. He rushed to the courtyard entrance to set off another string of firecrackers.

The tremendous noise jolted the courtyard full of people, who had been frozen in a stupor.

Aunt Gao and Aunt Wang slapped their thighs and hurried after them—it was time for the Union Wine!

Hu Liang and his father, Ji Liansong, stayed behind to show the guests to their seats. Preparations had been underway in the backyard for a while, and the banquet could begin shortly.

As for those who hadn’t been invited and were purely there to watch the excitement, they cornered Ji Xuelan, who hadn’t managed to leave in time, and tried to pry for some information.

Seeing this, Widow Xie came over to help her out.

She didn’t mention anything about Ji Huan and Guan Shan developing feelings over time. Instead, whenever someone asked, she would sigh with a troubled expression—

The old Ji Family was forcing Wuan to marry before she turned seventeen. If she didn’t, they were going to report her to the government office, which would then pair her with an old, ugly, alcoholic widower who beat his wives. What else could Ji Huan do?

This was the first time they’d heard this explanation. No wonder no one from the Ji Family had come! How could they possibly show their faces!

Ji Xuelan took this opportunity to bring out a tray of pre-prepared roasted nuts and seeds for everyone to snack on.

As the saying goes, you can’t bite the hand that feeds you. With their pockets and hands full of snacks, it was hard for them to keep making cutting remarks.

One by one, they all started to agree: Ji Huan must have been forced into a corner to have found someone like...

They wanted to see the bridal chamber, too, but the thought of the groom’s terrifying appearance made them shrink back. In the end, after a few polite words, they all took their leave.

East Room.

Guan Shan led Ji Huan to the edge of the kang bed. Before she even sat down, she wanted to yank off her bridal veil.

Before she could even move, her intention was seen through and suppressed.

"It’s not time yet."

Ji Huan was completely exasperated.

’Guan Shan had clearly disapproved of my idea to find a fake husband at first, but after reluctantly agreeing, he’d thrown himself into it with one hundred and twenty percent professionalism. He was giving a top-tier performance for a bargain-bin price, so realistic it was almost touching.’

’But...’

"The main event is over. There’s no need for all this pointless ceremony. You have no idea how uncomfortable it is to have my eyes covered. I’m just going to..."

Ji Huan’s hand had just touched a corner of the veil when Guan Shan grabbed it. It was the same four words again: "It’s not time yet."

Aunt Wang and Aunt Gao pushed the door open to the sight of the two of them standing before the kang bed, holding hands.

They exchanged glances, their old faces turning a little... AHEM!

’Still, they’d never expected the couple’s relationship to be so good.’

Hearing the noise, Ji Huan turned and asked, "Can the veil be lifted now?"

Just then, Hu Dacheng, having finished picking up the firecracker remnants, burst in with a group of children. They surrounded Ji Huan, jumping and shouting in unison, "Lift the veil! Lift the veil! Lift the veil!"

"Go on, get out of here!" Aunt Wang shooed at them playfully. "Stop making such a racket."

Aunt Gao walked over, pulled Ji Huan down to sit on the edge of the kang bed, and had Guan Shan sit to Ji Huan’s left. Then she handed him a steelyard rod.

"Groom, may your heart’s desire be fulfilled. Unveil your happiness."

Guan Shan took the steelyard rod, his eyes lowered. He paused for a moment, his thoughts unreadable.

Aunt Gao, suppressing her fear, prompted him again.

Only then did he raise his eyes. He took a deep breath, and holding the steelyard rod, he moved to lift the veil from Ji Huan’s head.

Hu Dacheng and Hu Ximei led the ruckus, clapping their hands and chanting a rhyme they had been taught beforehand.

"With a scale in his hand, lifts the veil from the land! The veil is round and fair, a Champion Scholar for an heir!"

As the last word was spoken, the veil fell, and the bride’s true face was finally revealed.

Her wedding dress was the color of fire. Ji Huan lifted her eyes and met Guan Shan’s gaze directly.

Her eyes were exceptionally clear and beautiful, sparkling with life. Her face was like the morning dew, radiant and luminous.

When still, she was like a new moon haloed in light, or a blossoming tree laden with snow. But when her gaze shifted, it brought to mind lovely eyes meant for smiling and graceful, slender brows.

Guan Shan was slightly stunned, and it took him a moment longer than usual to look away.

’I was going to crack a joke,’ Ji Huan thought, ’but looking at the room full of people... I’d better be serious, so as not to startle anyone.’

"Sister Wan, you’re so beautiful today! You’re the most, most, most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen!"

Hu Ximei was a complete fangirl, showering her with praise as if her life depended on it.

Hu Dacheng nodded enthusiastically along with her. "Pretty, so pretty!"

Even Daya and Erya came forward, tilting their heads back to say their little aunt was pretty.

’It’s nice to be praised,’ Ji Huan thought, ’but I can’t be the only one feeling good.’

Ji Huan glanced at Guan Shan, worried he might feel bad, and shot Hu Dacheng a meaningful look.

Hu Dacheng wasn’t a complete idiot. He scratched his head and said to Guan Shan, "If you don’t look at your face, you’re pretty good-looking too."

Ji Huan: "..."

Aunt Wang and Aunt Gao: "..."

Thankfully, Ji Xuelan appeared just in time to salvage the situation.

She was carrying a tray with two small, slender-stemmed wine cups, their bases tied together with a red thread.

Aunt Wang took one cup, handed it to Guan Shan, and had him take a sip. Aunt Gao took the other cup, handed it to Ji Huan, and had her do the same.

Then, the wine from both cups was mixed together and poured back into two, symbolizing "you are in me, and I am in you," before being handed back to the pair.

"The groom and bride will now drink the Union Wine!"

Ji Huan, not nearly as composed as Guan Shan, felt her face flush. Steeling herself, she met Guan Shan’s gaze, linked arms with him, and, urged on by the crowd’s cheers, drank the wine in one go.

A round of applause broke out in the room.

Aunt Gao then took a pair of scissors and snipped a lock of hair from each of them. She tied the locks together in a knot and placed them in a wooden box lined with red silk.

"Alright, you’ve bowed to heaven and earth, you’ve drunk the Union Wine, and you’ve tied your hair together. From now on, you are a proper husband and wife. You must live in harmony and love each other for a hundred years."

’Oh, heavens... how touching... if I didn’t know the truth, that is.’

Ji Huan felt a little ashamed and didn’t dare to respond.

Guan Shan, on the other hand, showed not a hint of guilt. He nodded at Aunt Gao and said, "Thank you for your auspicious words. We certainly will."

Ji Huan: "..."

After the bride and groom finished the Union Wine, it was time for the liveliest parts of the celebration—tossing wedding candy and teasing the newlyweds in their bridal chamber.

The men were all talking in the side rooms or in the main courtyard; it wasn’t their custom to participate in the teasing. Here in the Northern Pass, teasing the newlyweds was the exclusive privilege of the women and children.

Right now, however, the room was filled with only a group of children and very few adults. A small crowd had gathered at the doorway—family members of the hot and spicy soup franchisees—but though they were packed tightly together, none of them came inside.

Naturally, there would be no teasing in the bridal chamber today.

Ji Xuelan and Aunt Wang carried out baskets and tossed candy balls and peanuts outside, causing a scramble. After that, the crowd gradually dispersed.

Aunt Gao patted Ji Huan’s hand. "Don’t you take it to heart. A bunch of adults, and they’re not even as brave as the children."

Before the wedding ceremony, when Ji Huan was alone in the East Room, it had been so crowded there was hardly room to stand.

After the ceremony, once Guan Shan showed his face, the room immediately emptied out. The few who remained were all huddled at the door, not daring to enter.

Of course, Ji Huan wouldn’t take it to heart. When she first saw Guan Shan’s true face in the cave, she had been quite shocked herself.

The guests who came for the banquet today were all people she had some relationship with; they wouldn’t intentionally embarrass Ji Huan. But it was only human nature for them to be afraid, seeing Guan Shan for the first time.

Ji Huan turned her head and saw Guan Shan’s calm expression, realizing he didn’t need anyone’s comfort either.

Before long, Hu Liang’s shout came from outside, calling all the wedding guests to take their seats at the banquet.

Aunt Gao, Aunt Wang, and Ji Xuelan were temporarily called away to help, and the children were also led out to be seated.

Once again, only the two of them were left in the room.

Ji Huan stood up. "I’ll go out and greet everyone."

She hesitated for a moment, then added, "You shouldn’t feel like your pride is hurt. You know this is all fake, anyway. You’re not really marrying into my family, so you don’t need to..."

Before she could finish her sentence, Guan Shan stood up.

"We’ll go together."