Chapter 50: Marriage

Liu Yueryue said with a smile, "No matter how good your luck is, it can't compare to your destiny. That is something given by the heavens. Just wait and slowly enjoy your happiness. I just want to hold onto my dreams, to have him read the poems I like, to have him write lyrics for me, to enjoy the scenery of a small bridge over flowing water, and at night, I can read to him."

Liu Qian then said, "Yueryue, love is sweet, but life is realistic. I have the same dreams as you, but unfortunately, the heavens have arranged for me to be with Zhang Xiaolong. I can only choose the life of a village woman. Different people have different lifestyles. I hope we will both have our own happy lives."

Liu Yueryue said, "Sister, I also believe we will be happy. But, sister, have you really made up your mind? I still want to ask you one last time. Have you decided to hastily marry a farmer who can barely read? Decades from now, when you look back, won't you regret today's decision?"

Liu Qian, hearing this, held Liu Yueryue's hand and said, "Yueryue, some things can't be decided by reason. Even if I have to go against millions, I will still go. Perhaps today's decision will create a different life for me. Perhaps decades from now, I will regret today's decision, but right now, I do not regret it. When you hesitate and don't know how to move forward, you lose the right to choose. Life is a combination of many choices. Different choices lead to different lives. If you and I made the same choice, wouldn't life lose its diversity and joy? Although Zhang Xiaolong is a farmer, he is not illiterate, nor is he unteachable. I think our lives will be a process of mutual influence and change. He may not write lyrics or poems for me, but I can read books to him and teach him to write. We may not have a small bridge over flowing water, but we can have a life of farming and weaving. Although I can't give him the life of a scholar, the joys of life are not limited to just that. I can have him grind ink for me. In the end, we will gradually change and make our lives happier."

Liu Yueryue also said with a smile, "Sister, you've always been better at your studies than me, and you've read more books. I can't argue with you, but I still feel that marrying into the Zhang family will be very hard. Why make life difficult for yourself?"

Liu Qian replied, "Yueryue, you are still too attached. Happiness means the same for everyone. The happiness of the poor is no different from the happiness of the rich. Your happiness won't be better just because you have money. So, whether I choose poverty or wealth, I am choosing happiness. Hardship has its own happiness, and enjoyment has its own happiness. As long as you feel happy, why fear hardship? Even if others see it as hardship, how can they know the sweetness within? As the saying goes: 'You are not a fish, how can you know the joy of a fish?' The world's happiness is limited. If you have more happiness, others will have less. If you feel unhappy every day, others will be happier. Why not let others share in your happiness and instead be happy every day yourself?"

Liu Yueryue, hearing this, frowned slightly, feeling a bit enlightened. But she quickly relaxed and said, "Sister, I came to persuade you, but instead, you made me think. However, even if what you say is right, I have no feelings for Zhang Xiaohu."

Liu Qian said, "You little thing, I was just sharing my thoughts with you. I have no intention of playing matchmaker."

Without further ado, the two sisters were talking and joking in the room, while in the hall, the two families had already settled the specific details. By this time, it was already late, and if they returned to Guo Village, they would have to travel at night. Mr. Liu naturally did not want them to do that. They had dinner at Mr. Liu's house. After the engagement, they were now considered family, and the meal was enjoyed thoroughly by all.

The next morning, it was still dim when Zhang Cai and Guo Sufei bid farewell to Mr. Liu and hurried back to Guo Village. There were only a few days left until the end of the month, and they needed to hurry back to prepare for the wedding, which was a daunting task.

When the two elders returned to Guo Village and told the good news to the anxiously waiting Zhang Xiaolong, Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua, who were also waiting, were almost jumping with joy. They had a very good impression of their future sister-in-law and were surprised to see her in just a few days. The grandmother, hearing that Liu Qian had insisted on setting the date for a few days later, kept muttering, "Good child, good daughter-in-law." If there were ancestral tablets, she would have burned incense to thank the ancestors for finding such a good granddaughter-in-law.

The Zhang family had a good reputation in Guo Village, and there were no major events in the family. This time, for the eldest son's wedding, the villagers naturally gave their full support. Many people had seen Liu Qian before, and although the Zhang family had not acknowledged their relationship with Liu Qian, there was no shortage of gossip behind their backs. Now, being able to marry Liu Qian officially was something everyone expected, but the speed of the wedding was surprising. Some even speculated about the reasons, but when someone mentioned the grandmother, everyone immediately understood and praised Liu Qian.

Rural weddings are simple. A large tent was set up in the courtyard, tables were arranged, a chef was hired, and meat and vegetables were prepared. When the villagers came to congratulate, they would be entertained in the tent. The bridal chamber was also prepared, temporarily using the room where the three brothers lived. Zhang Xiaohu was moved to share a bed with Zhang Xiaohua. The houses in the courtyard also needed some repairs, but with everyone's help, everything was completed on schedule. On the day of the wedding, the Zhang family courtyard was brand new and filled with a festive atmosphere.

Before dawn, the courtyard of the Zhang family was already bustling with people, each busy with their tasks. Village women came to help set up tables and chairs and prepare vegetables. The chef started a large fire to prepare the food. Zhang Xiaolong was also woken up early, dressed, and prepared to ride a horse, lead a flower sedan chair, and a band to Baoli Gou to fetch Liu Qian.

The route for the wedding procession was not the usual small path, and it would take longer than usual. They had to return before noon, so they set off at dawn. After everything was ready, they were about to leave when Guo Sufei noticed that Zhang Xiaohua, who was supposed to be the best man, was nowhere to be seen. She quickly asked Zhang Xiaohu, who was also puzzled. He had heard someone in the courtyard in the middle of the night and had woken up early to help. He had also woken Zhang Xiaohua, but it seemed he hadn't gotten up. Zhang Xiaohu quickly went back to the room and found Zhang Xiaohua still sound asleep. No matter how much Zhang Xiaohu tried to wake him, he wouldn't get up. Finally, Zhang Xiaohu used water to try to wake him, but Zhang Xiaohua just turned over and continued sleeping, leaving everyone at a loss. However, the best man's role had been assigned to him the day before, and there was no one else available. Fortunately, there was a flower sedan chair, and everyone knew that Zhang Xiaohua usually slept until the sun was up. They decided to carry Zhang Xiaohua into the sedan chair and let him sleep, which was quite amusing, as the bride's sedan chair hadn't even been used yet, and his younger brother was already sleeping in it.

The wedding procession, carrying the sleeping Zhang Xiaohua, set off in the dark towards Baoli Gou. By the time they had traveled halfway, the sky was just beginning to lighten. When the first rays of sunlight touched the sedan chair, Zhang Xiaohua finally opened his eyes. He rubbed his eyes and, realizing he was in a strange place, lifted the curtain of the sedan chair and was suddenly enlightened. He quickly greeted the bearers, stopped the sedan chair, and jumped out, running to Zhang Xiaolong's horse to apologize. Zhang Xiaolong pulled him up onto the horse and hugged him, saying, "Xiaohua, it's okay. You're growing, and it's good to sleep. You didn't delay anything, so there's no need to apologize. But I was surprised to see how much you can sleep. Even water couldn't wake you up."

Zhang Xiaohua, blushing, said, "I don't know either. Maybe I've always been like this, but I've never gotten up so early before."

Zhang Xiaolong thought about it and realized that he and his brother had always slept together, and he had never noticed anything unusual. They had never gotten up so early before, so perhaps Zhang Xiaohua had always been a heavy sleeper. Since it wasn't a problem, he didn't ask any more questions.

The remaining journey was not far, and it was quickly completed in the conversation between the two brothers and Zhang Xiaolong's excitement.

From a distance, they could see the entrance to Baoli Gou. Zhang Xiaolong stopped his horse and let the wedding procession rest for a moment. A specialist then arranged for fireworks to be set off and the band to play music, leading the procession into the village. Zhang Xiaohua quickly and obediently jumped off the horse, took the reins from his brother, and led the horse forward.

The Liu family was already waiting at the village entrance. When they saw the wedding procession, someone quickly went back to inform Mr. Liu. The wedding band broke the early morning silence, and the villagers of Baoli Gou were woken up by the festive sounds. Before the wedding procession entered the village, many children and villagers stopped them to ask for candy and other treats. The Zhang family was well-prepared and distributed the prepared items to the crowd. After receiving the candy, the crowd dispersed, allowing the wedding procession to proceed. From the village entrance to the Liu family, the wedding procession was stopped several times, but everyone was happy and not annoyed. In the countryside, when one family has a happy event, everyone wants to share in the joy. The more joy shared, the greater the event. The wedding procession was happy to be stopped as often as possible.

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