NFBE Chapter 236 Grand Wedding
Chapter 236 Grand Wedding
Because both parties were interested, and with the matchmaker Jia mediating, the matchmaking process went very smoothly and the atmosphere was very good.
So much so that when Zhao Wu was about to leave, he asked when Wang Shi could marry into the family, as he was in a hurry to return to the prefectural city to do business and hoped that the wedding could be held as soon as possible in the next couple of days.
Wang pretended to be reserved and didn't speak, but Jia the matchmaker knew what she was thinking. Both sides were quite anxious, and in the end, they set the date for the day after tomorrow through Jia the matchmaker's words.
"I wonder how many more relatives you have going to Yunzhong County for the ceremony? I'll arrange for a carriage to pick them up the day after tomorrow. Of course, it's quite a distance, so if the relatives don't want to make the trip, I can pay for the banquet. Please ask my two brothers to take care of the relatives here."
Upon hearing this, the second son immediately chimed in.
“It’s too far from Yunzhong County. If we all go, it will be too much trouble for you to arrange food and lodging. How about this, I’ll host our relatives here at a restaurant in our county town. You don’t need to worry about it. But my second brother and I will be going with them the day after tomorrow.”
Because Zhao Wu was older than both him and his eldest brother, Wang's second son voluntarily stepped down to become the third son, calling Zhao Wu the eldest brother and his eldest brother the second brother.
"Actually, it would be good for relatives to go and have some fun, but since my third brother is so considerate of me, then I, as the eldest brother, will respectfully accept your offer." After saying this, he immediately took out twenty taels of silver from his pocket and handed it to him.
"Here are twenty taels of silver. Is that enough?"
"That's enough, that's enough. I'll return the extra money to my elder brother later." The second brother held the two silver ingots in his hands, his eyes shining with joy.
“Hey, what are you saying, Third Brother? If you have extra, just take it and spend it. We’re all family now, so there’s no need to talk about ‘repaying.’” Zhao Wu said with a generous wave of his hand.
After seeing Zhao Wu off, Wang and her second son were overjoyed.
"Second son, give half of those twenty taels of silver to your eldest brother," Wang said to her second son after her initial excitement.
"Mother, this is for entertaining guests. If we distribute it now and it's not enough, I'll have to ask my second brother for more. Why bother?"
"What nonsense are you talking about? Do we still have relatives to stay with? Even if you wanted to stay, would anyone be willing to come?" She could only manage to appease Zhao Wu when she married Old Man Liu. She had already fallen out with both her own family and her husband's family when she first married Old Man Liu, let alone after this third marriage!
"Mother, let my second brother hold it, wait..." But before he could finish speaking, his wife, who had rushed over, pinched his arm and interrupted him.
Wang noticed her subtle actions, but she remained silent.
"Second brother, split the money in half with your brother. If you really don't want to split it, then don't come to Yunzhong County the day after tomorrow."
"Mother, look at what you're saying. Fine, we'll split it in half. Even if all the money goes to my brother, I still want to see you off at your wedding. I won't feel at ease until I see you arrive safely." With that, she generously handed over a silver ingot.
The eldest son didn't want to accept it; he felt that if he took the money, it would be as if he had sold his mother. But after his wife pinched him on the back several times, he still reached out and took the money.
In the following days, Wang began preparing for her remarriage. Knowing she wouldn't be back for a while, she packed up several new outfits she had made. The silver hairpins and earrings she wore, borrowed from her eldest daughter-in-law, had already been returned. All her jewelry had been confiscated by Madam Mei during her last search, so she was now completely empty-handed.
She didn't take any of the silk and fabrics Zhao Wu brought with her; she distributed them all to her two sons' families. Of course, her eldest son's family, with two children, received a larger share. In her mind, the Zhao family wouldn't have much good material anyway, so it was better to leave it for her children and save herself the trouble of reselling it from the Zhao family.
On the third day, Wang dressed up and sat in the house waiting for someone to come and pick her up. Several women who were on good terms with her were also in the house to watch the excitement.
At the stroke of midnight, the sound of suona horns and cymbals could be heard from afar. Those sitting inside the house, upon hearing the sound, naturally showered Wang with flattery and praise. Wang was also quite satisfied with the Zhao family, feeling that her marriage this time had been quite grand.
Soon the wedding procession arrived at the door, followed by many servants carrying boxes, totaling as many as twelve.
The boxes were carried out one by one into the courtyard and opened. Gasps of astonishment rose from the crowd of onlookers. Was this the pomp and circumstance of a wealthy family's wedding?
"Three boxes of silk and satin, four boxes of antique calligraphy and paintings, four boxes of porcelain, two boxes of furs, and the last one was a small box. When opened, it contained fifty neatly stacked one-tael silver ingots, all brand new and gleaming with a cold white light."
With those eleven boxes of gifts, the final fifty taels of silver seemed insignificant. Wang didn't come out to see, but the women who had been accompanying her inside did. After looking at the betrothal gifts, they went back and told Wang what they had given, their voices filled with barely suppressed envy.
Soon, Matchmaker Jia came in to greet them, and beaming with joy, she addressed Wang Shi and everyone else.
"Uncle Zhao said that these are all betrothal gifts for you. You don't need to take them back. When you get to the Zhao family, there will be plenty of good things waiting for you. Just leave these at home for your two brothers."
After hearing what Jia the matchmaker said, another uproar broke out in the courtyard, with everyone envying the two brothers' good fortune.
After displaying all the betrothal gifts, the servants who came with them helped carry all the boxes into the house, filling the rooms to the brim.
At this moment, Wang Shi, supported by Jia the matchmaker, walked out in a dignified and luxurious manner.
Although she had been married three times, Wang walked with her head held high and chest out, and in a daze, she felt that she was already a lady of a wealthy family.
As soon as Wang came out, the sound of suona horns immediately rang out, and someone set off a string of firecrackers, making the scene even more lively. Supported by the matchmaker, Jia, Wang boarded a mule cart adorned with red silk, while her two sons boarded the cart behind it. The commotion continued for a while, with music and fanfare filling the air. The suona horns only gradually ceased after they had traveled four or five li (approximately 2.5-2.5 kilometers) from the village.
Knowing that the journey to Yunzhong County was long and it was impossible to travel there by blowing all the way, Wang did not suspect anything and quietly sat in the carriage with Jia the matchmaker.
The suona band dispersed when they reached the county town, leaving only two mule carts that drove straight to the dock.
“Sister, let’s get off the bus. The journey to Yunzhong County is long. Uncle Zhao has arranged for us to take a big boat, which will save you the trouble,” Jia the matchmaker said to Wang.
Wang naturally had no objections. And so, the family got off the mule cart and onto the boat, finally arriving in Yunzhong County early the next morning.
When the ship docked, the sounds of suona horns and firecrackers were already ringing out at the pier, instantly calming Wang, who had been feeling somewhat uneasy.
Accompanied by Matchmaker Jia, the group boarded the sedan chair again, and amidst the joyful sounds of suona horns, the Wang family was carried into a three-courtyard house. Upon disembarking, Wang was immediately taken to the bridal chamber, while her two sons and Matchmaker Jia were invited to a banquet.
"Greetings, Madam," two cleverly dressed young maids bowed to Madam Wang.
"Madam, our master has difficulty walking and does not wish to perform the ceremony in front of guests and be ridiculed. Therefore, the wedding ceremony will be held at night when no one is around. Please do not take it to heart."
"Madam, you must be tired. Master has instructed us to prepare hot soup. Please move to the bath room for a bath."
Madam Wang was already stunned by the decorations in the bridal chamber. Now, with the two maids bowing and scraping before her, addressing her as "Madam" repeatedly, even her usually shrewd mind was momentarily confused. Following the maids' directions, she went to the bathhouse and, with their help, enjoyed a wonderful bath.
After taking a bath and eating some food, Wang, who hadn't slept well the night before due to seasickness, felt even more tired. Lying on the new bed, she actually fell asleep under the gentle massage of two maids.