Chapter 76: Marrying in the Heavy Rain
Mister remembered that a month ago, villagers from Hua Jia Wa had used homemade explosives to blast rocks.
There was an old man in the village named San Tuo, who was skilled at making such things.
He had a small workshop and made a living from it. It was said that every Spring Festival, mountain folk from villages near Hua Jia Wa would come to him to buy firecrackers and fireworks.
Mister ran until he was out of breath, his old burns seeming to ache again, sometimes like ants crawling, sometimes like needle tips pricking.
Ever since the great fire at Peach Blossom Nunnery, this itchy, painful sensation had never left him, flaring up at the slightest provocation. Each flare-up reminded him that he could never be the same as before. Even if he could endure and do something, in the end, it was just a half-life clinging to existence.
Arriving at old man San Tuo’s house, he knocked on the door.
Old man San Tuo opened the door, wearing his robe, and seeing it was him, he quickly invited him in.
Everyone in Hua Jia Wa treated Mister with great respect and trust.
Mister spoke with difficulty, asking for some gunpowder. Old man San Tuo did not hesitate at all, nor did he doubt, but led Mister to the small workshop and let him take whatever he wanted, as much as he desired.
Mister took out the little bit of silver he had in his arms and gave it to old man San Tuo.
Old man San Tuo quickly waved his hand and said, “Mister, please keep it. This old man doesn’t know how to read, and though I’ve lived this long, I do know some principles. My little grandson has learned to read many texts thanks to Mister’s education. Mister is a Bodhisattva, and taking a Bodhisattva’s money would be a sin, a sin.”
Mister took the gunpowder, placed the silver on the table, and turned to run into the vast night.
By tomorrow, whether his prediction was accurate would have an answer.
He had to prepare in advance.
“The power of civilian gunpowder is far inferior to military gunpowder. If we want to blast open the floodgates in one go, there must be a foolproof method…” As Mister thought, he looked up at the sky.
In the pitch-black night sky, there wasn’t a single star.
The sixth day of the sixth lunar month.
Zhu Residence.
The night before, my father and Zhu Xifeng had directed the servants in the manor to hang red silk everywhere within the residence.
In the morning, when I opened my eyes, everything was festive.
Even the copper basin for washing my face was wrapped in a layer of red cloth.
Xiao Yin attended to my washing and dressing.
Hua Lian was organizing the dowry of various colors prepared by my father.
Xiao Yin’s eyebrows and eyes were full of smiles, saying, “Miss’s wedding this time is much grander than the last. I still remember that year, when Miss and I went out by boat, we only brought half a bag of old clothes and half a bag of cold steamed buns. Miss didn’t even have a decent silk dress. When we arrived at the Cheng Residence gate, I didn’t even dare to breathe loudly, afraid they would laugh…”
Hua Lian, fearing I would be sad hearing this, quickly changed the subject by pretending to look for the pearl crown.
Suddenly, a servant boy from outside announced, “Old Madam Cheng, Third Young Miss Cheng, and Boss Lu have arrived.”
I stood up and went to greet them.
Old Madam had specially changed into new clothes today, wearing her favorite hairpin and ornaments. Third Young Miss and Lu Gui supported her on either side. Third Young Miss was already five months pregnant, her belly protruding, her hair styled into a round bun. Lu Gui was radiant, carefully attending to her, reminding her to watch her step. Behind them followed about ten Servant Women, each holding a gift box.
“Sang Yu—” Old Madam called out.
“Mother.” I bowed and stepped forward.
Third Young Miss smiled and said, “Elder Sister Sang Yu, congratulations. Mother couldn’t sleep when she first heard the news, saying that Elder Sister Sang Yu is also part of our Cheng Family, and for this wedding, she must prepare a dowry no matter what. Mother also said that she received the news late, otherwise, she would have personally sewn a wedding handkerchief for Elder Sister Sang Yu to show her care.”
“Mother has taken great care, child is grateful.”
I beckoned Hua Lian to accept the items.
Old Madam held my hand and looked at me closely, her eyes reddening, “Sang Yu, at the fourth watch yesterday, I dreamed I saw Huai’er…”
She realized it was inappropriate to mention this on such a day, swallowed her words, and gently patted my hand, tears falling onto my hand.
Third Young Miss quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears, playfully saying, “I’ve heard there’s a custom in the Sichuan region for mothers to cry at their daughters’ send-offs. Mother’s tears are a good omen for Elder Sister Sang Yu, and from now on, Elder Sister Sang Yu will have smooth sailing in all matters.”
Old Madam sighed for a while.
My father came over and warmly invited them to the front hall for tea.
Lu Gui and Third Young Miss helped Old Madam go.
Old Madam walked to the corridor and turned back three times. In her eyes, there was sorrow, regret, helplessness, and also relief.
I knew that seeing me in my wedding dress made her think more of my days in the Cheng Residence, and of Cheng Huaishi.
Even though I still called her Mother, and even when she suffered from her winter illness, I still went to massage her legs as I always did, but we both knew that everything was different from before. It could never go back to how it was.
She and I were no longer mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.
No matter how affectionate we were, there was always a thin, sad mist between us when we met.
“Sang Yu, be well…” Old Madam said.
I nodded.
The June snow in front of the courtyard had budded, its branches and leaves lush.
I returned to the dressing table and sat down. Xiao Yin applied rouge to my face, then meticulously drew the distant mountains.
Distant mountains like dark eyebrows, nearby waters holding mist, a light fog gently brushing the pale morning sun.
After a moment, another person appeared in the mirror.
I smiled slightly, “You, you always walk so silently. Are you a cat?”
Feng Gao walked over, leaned against the dressing table, and looked at me intently, “I’ve never seen Elder Sister wear such vibrant makeup.”
“Is the color of the rouge a bit too heavy? My face is naturally plain, it doesn’t match this color. Xiao Yin, come here, wipe it off.”
He stopped her, saying, “If Elder Sister doesn’t suit it, then no woman in the world would.”
Today he was wearing a crimson brocade robe, which made his skin appear as white as snow and his features as picturesque as a painting.
I smoothed his collar and said, “Dou Ya’s clothing today looks very nice.”
He said earnestly, “Elder Sister’s wedding is a grand occasion, I must escort you.”
He had specially made new clothes.
He also led a fine horse, completely dark red.
The purpose was for today, to ride beside my sedan chair and escort me to the Qin Family.
Xiao Yin brought the pearl crown.
Feng Gao took it from her hand and placed it on my head. The mirror instantly became full of joy.
Outside the door, the sound of suona music and firecrackers began.
Zhu Xifeng ran over shouting, “They’re here, they’re here! The Qin Family’s wedding procession has arrived!”
Feng Gao grabbed the red veil from the side and placed it on my head.
The moment that red covered my eyes, I saw his eyes moisten. Like rain sprinkled on flower petals during their most vibrant bloom. Bustle and desolation coexisted, joy and melancholy intertwined.
Wind entered the sparse bamboo, and after the wind passed, the bamboo made no sound. Geese crossed the cold pond, and after the geese left, the pond held no trace. Soon, he said to me in a very relaxed tone, “Elder Sister, I’ll help you out. We mustn’t delay Elder Sister’s auspicious wedding day.”
His hands were still as cold as ever, even in the summer heat of June.
He supported me as I stepped over the threshold. Xiao Yin and Hua Lian followed behind me.
Outside the door, a Servant Woman wearing a red flower shouted, “The bride is leaving, an auspicious time, one step a ritual, one inch of joy.”
Another Master of Ceremonies chanted, “From now on, we shall have wings to fly together, and branches to intertwine. Our hearts will beat as one, like mandarin ducks nesting, and our love will be eternally bound.”
As we walked out of the manor, the sounds of music and celebration were extremely lively.
Qin Mingxu had hired the best musical ensemble in Yangzhou City.
Sound after sound, filling the ears.
The sedan chair was lifted.
After less than fifteen minutes.
Suddenly, the sound of thunder rumbled towards us.
A sedan bearer said, “There was morning glow this morning, clear and cloudless, how is it thundering now? Strange, strange.”
Feng Gao said, “It looks like it’s going to rain, hurry up, let’s get to the Qin Family early.”
The sedan bearers quickly agreed.
The thunder did not stop.
A flash of lightning, a crisp clap of thunder, and a torrential downpour began.
The wind was so strong it made the sedan chair sway.
The sedan curtain blew open.
The red veil on my head flew out from the sedan curtain.
Feng Gao leaped down to retrieve it.
I looked out from the sedan curtain. The rain was falling densely, the raindrops like drumbeats, hitting the ground with a dull thud.
Since coming to Yangzhou, I had never seen such heavy rain.
A sedan bearer said, “Let’s turn back, it looks like the rain will get heavier and heavier.”
A Master of Ceremonies said, “No, no, once the sedan chair is lifted, it cannot be set down midway. This is the rule, setting it down is inauspicious!”
Xiao Yin supported the sedan chair and complained, “Still talking about auspiciousness! What kind of Master of Ceremonies predicted this auspicious day, auspicious for what, with such heavy rain!”
The Master of Ceremonies insisted.
Xiao Yin started arguing with him.
The Master of Ceremonies said, “If the sedan chair turns back, the marital fate will be unfavorable. Since ancient times, it has been said so…”
Xiao Yin fell silent.
Feng Gao, who had finally retrieved the red veil, walked to the side of the sedan chair and, upon hearing this, said, “Keep going! Don’t stop!”
He said to the sedan bearers, “If you can reach the Qin Family, everyone will receive a generous reward!”
Hearing this, the sedan bearers stopped complaining, steadied themselves, and continued forward.
Feng Gao rode on his horse, the heavy rain drenching him. He looked at me and said, “Elder Sister’s auspicious day must be an auspicious day. It’s just a little rain. Elder Sister can consider it as the heavens adding to the excitement.”
Later, whenever I remembered the torrential rain of this day, it felt like ten thousand arrows piercing my heart.
In the southern regions, there is a custom that if it rains on the wedding day, it signifies that the couple will need an umbrella, and “umbrella” in the southern dialect sounds like “scatter.” I had made all preparations for this remarriage, like fireworks blooming brilliantly in the sky, released, ignited, soaring, and dazzling. In the end, I could not escape scattering.
However, just as I had no regrets about taking a boat from Dongchang Prefecture to Yangzhou to fulfill the engagement, I also had no regrets about today’s wedding.
In a person’s life, all encounters and farewells are predetermined.
The sedan chair passed Aozi Ridge and crossed Dongguan Street. A huge explosion suddenly shook Yangzhou City in the torrential rain.
