Just past noon, the sound of music and fanfare reached the village entrance—the Shen family’s wedding procession had arrived.

As they passed the village gate, someone from the procession lit a string of firecrackers by the roadside. The crackling and popping created quite a commotion, drawing all the village children out to watch.

Leading the pack was a chubby little boy with a round face. A string of other little ones followed behind him, running while glancing back to make sure they hadn’t been left behind. “The groom who’s coming to marry Brother Lin Yue is here! Come see!”

“He’s so tall! Taller than everyone here!”

“I want to be as tall as him, too.”

One chubby little boy, still sucking his thumb and speaking with a lisp, asked, “Grandma said the groom will give us candy. Is that true?”

Beside him, another plump little boy, this one a boy, replied slowly, “My sister said they’ll only give candy when we get to Brother Lin Yue’s doorstep.”

“Why? I want some now, ouch!”

The greedy little chubby boy got a whack on the head from his sister. “Dummy, Brother Lin Yang just said we have to block the door and not let them in. We only move aside after they give us candy.”

“But he’s so tall, and I’m so short! He could just pick me up in one go! What should I do?”

“Hahaha, these kids are quite amusing. Huaizhi, have you got enough candy ready? If you can’t get through the gate later, you absolutely can’t pick anyone up.”

The children didn’t actually block the path. They ran alongside the procession, darting ahead and then back again as they walked, almost as if guiding them. So the wedding party kept moving forward, though they kept a watchful eye on the kids as they went.

The one in charge of handing out candy was Shen Huaizhi’s cousin, Shen Yanzhi. He had a mischievous streak and, hearing the children’s playful banter, decided to tease his cousin.

Shen Huaizhi, however, was usually reserved. When teased, he typically ignored it. Today, though, he unexpectedly responded, “All the candy is with my cousin. If it’s not enough, he’ll just have to carry the kids away.”

“Ha! Yanzhi, you’re such a show-off! You’re not nearly as tall as Huaizhi. The kids can’t even see you!”

“Get lost! I can do it just fine. Unlike you.”

Amidst the laughter and banter, the group had already reached the corner outside the Lin family’s gate. Spotting the red cloth hanging on the door, Shen Yanzhi hurriedly called out to the two carrying firecrackers behind him, “Maozhi, Jingshan, quick, quick! Time to set off the firecrackers! Keep the kids out of the way—don’t scare them!”

“Coming, bro! Should we set them off right here?”

Shen Yanzhi glanced at the distance and waved his hand. “Move forward a few more steps. This spot’s too far.”

“Got it.”

The others also spotted the crowd gathered at the Lin family’s gate. They immediately stood up straight, falling silent. The drummers, gong players, and suona musicians all redoubled their efforts, radiating energy and spirit.

Shen Huaizhi led the procession, flanked by the hired officiant and matchmaker, uncles and cousins. Close behind were young men carrying the wedding sedan chair—mostly peers and Shen Huaizhi’s close friends—while the musicians flanked the sedan in front and back.

The matchmaker present today was none other than Matchmaker Li, who had arranged the match. Stepping forward with a beaming smile, she proclaimed loudly: “This auspicious day brings a joyous union! Your noble household is adorned with festive lanterns and decorations, radiating joy. The groom arrives with heartfelt sincerity and delight to welcome his bride. We eagerly await your family’s arrival to usher in prosperity and blessings!”

The Lin family courtyard gate swung wide open. The children who had been waiting had already crowded the entrance. Behind the gate stood the Lin parents and the matron in charge of household affairs. As soon as the matchmaker finished speaking, the matron chimed in: “The children are joyfully welcoming the groom, but no candy, no opening the door!”

The children, already bursting with impatience, erupted at these words. “Candy! Candy!”

They had overheard earlier that Shen Yanzhi was holding the sweets. Standing right beside Shen Huaizhi, the two were instantly surrounded, drowning in a sea of raised hands.

Shen Yanzhi quickly handed the cloth bag of sweets to Shen Huaizhi, calling out to the children, “Don’t rush, don’t rush! The groom will hand out sweets right away.”

“Brother, give me a piece of candy!”

“We’ll only let you in if you give us candy!”

Shen Huaizhi tried to reason with them, “I’ll give everyone some! If I give you candy, will you clear the way?”

He was about to say more when he saw the children growing impatient. He quickly opened the bag, starting by handing out pieces one by one, then eventually scattering handfuls. Not only the children, but even the adults watching the commotion snatched quite a few. Laughter and joy filled the air.

The children, once they received their candy, obediently stepped aside. Munching on their treats, they sweetly called him “Brother” and recited auspicious phrases like “May you enjoy a hundred years of harmony” and “May your hearts be forever united,” words they’d learned from their elders.

Shen Huaizhi smiled and nodded, addressing them as he would adults: “Thank you for your blessings.” Only then did he bow respectfully to the Lin parents before stepping into the courtyard.

As soon as he entered, the helpers in the courtyard came forward, guiding the wedding party to the central seating area. Steam rose from the freshly poured tea on the table, and bowls of melon seeds and fruit platters were arranged abundantly.

Lin Yue’s great-uncle and several other uncles sat at the adjacent table. Both sides sat perfectly upright, silently striving to present their best selves.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the kitchen helpers began calling the young men to serve the dishes. The aroma of savory braised pork, creamy white fish soup, and fragrant free-range chicken filled the air. The blend of different scents didn’t feel chaotic; instead, it only heightened the appetite.

Each bowl and plate was heaped high with food, carefully placed onto red-rimmed serving trays. Young men, both tall and short, hoisted the trays onto their shoulders with steady strength, striding purposefully to deliver the dishes while calling out, “Dinner’s served!”

At some tables, only children sat, their eyes glued to the moving trays until they could barely move. The bolder ones shouted, “Bring it to our table first!”

Alas, the servers paid them no mind. The matron in charge had made it clear: the first table to be served was that of the village elders and the betrothed’s senior relatives. Next came the other wedding party members, and only then were the dishes served to the rest of the guests, starting from the innermost tables and working outward.

Coincidentally, the second server was the bride’s younger brother. Not only did the boy miss out on the food, but he also earned a stern glare from his sibling—a moment that made everyone else at the table burst into laughter.

Though young, Lin Yang was already quite tall. He’d been bustling about helping the elders all day, naturally including serving dishes. But he hadn’t even glanced at the next table’s order; instead, he carried his tray straight to Lin Yue’s room.

“Brother, hurry up and open the door! I’ve brought you food!”

Lin Yue was alone in the room at that moment, everyone else having gone out to eat. Hearing Lin Yang’s voice, Lin Yue didn’t pause to wonder why; he hurried to open the door and shut it immediately after Lin Yang entered.

“Why are you carrying the tray? Mother said she’d bring it to me later.”

Lin Yang set down the tray and realized he hadn’t served rice. “Wait a moment, Brother,” he hurriedly replied. “I’ll get the rice and chopsticks. Mother’s busy right now. How long would it take her to bring it all in? And how much can she carry at once? I’m much faster.”

The table in Lin Yue’s room wasn’t large, and the eight dishes were crammed together. He stared blankly for a moment, but his hands moved swiftly. Grabbing Lin Yang’s arm, he said, “You didn’t have to bring everything in! This is enough for a whole table of people. How am I supposed to finish all this? Wait, did you tell Mother? Who brings a tray of food to the new room?”

“I did, I did. Mother agreed, Don’t worry. I even asked the head chef, and he said one plate would be enough. Brother, I’ll go get you some bowls and chopsticks. We can talk about whatever it is later.” With that, he dashed out.

Lin Yang moved swiftly. Moments later, he returned carrying a huge bowl of rice, handing it over with chopsticks attached. “Brother, eat up.”

Lin Yue stared at the enormous bowl, unsure whether to feel touched or not. It was easily three times the size of the bowls they used at home, and it was heaped full of rice. This time, he was genuinely puzzled. “Why so much? I can’t possibly finish all this.”

Lin Yang replied with righteous indignation, “You need to eat more for breakfast. I heard some families don’t feed their new grooms on the first day. If you eat more now, you won’t be hungry tonight. If they really don’t give you food tomorrow, just come back home. I’ll go settle the score with them.”

Lin Yue nearly shed tears. After a long pause, he finally said, “What nonsense! That’s not how it works. I can’t eat too much this morning—I’ll be riding in a palanquin later. It’s bumpy, and eating too much will make me sick.”

Lin Yang looked unconvinced. “Last time, the second son from the Zhou family was playing with me, and he said his mother didn’t give his wife any food on her wedding day. I heard it clearly.”

“You said it yourself—it was the Zhou family. Nothing they do is surprising. Other families wouldn’t do that.”

Lin Yang still found it hard to believe, but he didn’t want to argue with his brother today. Reluctantly, he changed his tone: “Then pick some of your favorite dishes and eat your fill. We still have an hour before boarding the sedan chair. Eating your fill and then digesting will be just right.”

Lin Yue rarely ate alone. He always felt meals tasted bland by himself. He looked at Lin Yang and asked, ”Go see if Mother is done with her chores. If she is, have her come eat with me. Or you can keep me company.“

Lin Yang nodded. ”I’ll go check. I still have some work to finish. They were just teasing me about slacking off. I’ll have Mother come keep you company.”

”Then hurry off. I’ll start eating. Finish your work and join me soon.“

”Got it, Brother. I’m off.“

Before long, Zhou Wenlan entered. ”Can’t you even eat in peace? You’re so grown up yet still need someone to keep you company. Aren’t you afraid of what people will say?”

Lin Yue shrugged it off. “Let them laugh. Who cares? I just wanted Mother to eat with me.”

Zhou Wenlan eyed the large table spread with surprise. “I told Lin Yang to bring in small bowls for each of us. Why did he bring the whole thing? No wonder Aunt Zhong was chatting with me earlier and told me to check on Lin Yang.”

“But it’s fine. If you missed your own banquet, that would be terrible. The cook made enough for two extra tables anyway—this extra doesn’t matter. Oh, and when I came in, I heard someone praising the food. How does it taste to you?”

“Delicious.”

Lin Yue had been complaining that Lin Yang’s praise was exaggerated, but upon hearing this, he lost all desire to complain. Eating was more important.

After eating, Lin Yue went to rinse his mouth and reapply lip balm. Zhou Wenlan cleared the table, then had Lin Yang come in to carry the dishes away.

“Sit for a bit. It should be almost time. Ran and the others will come in to keep you company shortly.”

Lin Yue changed out of the old clothes he’d deliberately worn for the meal and nodded in agreement.

Outside, Shen Huaizhi and the others had already finished lunch and were sipping tea. The wedding party, which had come to the Lin household for assistance, drew special attention from the villagers. Servants refilled their rice and dishes multiple times, and nearly everyone experienced what it meant to eat until they needed support to stand.

Fortunately, the auspicious hour was set for the first hour of the afternoon. Carrying the bridal sedan chair from Yushui Village to the Shen family in Linshui Village would take no more than three-quarters of an hour, allowing for a brief rest.

Once the villagers had cleared the dishes, wiped everything clean, and moved tables and chairs aside to make space, the wedding party sounded the suona again. Shen Huaizhi and the others rose and walked slowly to Lin Yue’s door.

Children blocked the courtyard gate, while Lin Yue’s playmates, siblings of the same generation, and married cousins blocked the room door. Shen Huaizhi grew gentler and more patient, answering every question, scattering wedding money, and passing each test before finally entering the room.

The room was filled with people, laughter, and chatter filling the air. Yet Shen Huaizhi seemed oblivious to it all, his eyes fixed solely on Lin Yue. He sat upright on the bed, dressed in red, a round fan shielding his face.

The moment their gazes met, Shen Huaizhi felt as though Lin Yue’s eyes were a clear spring, their shimmering light flowing like water, creating ripples within his heart.

He didn’t know how long he stared before he heard someone beside him urge, “Hurry up and carry your new husband into the bridal sedan chair!”

Shen Huaizhi nodded blankly, his limbs feeling as though they weren’t his own. Only after a long while, amidst the good-natured laughter of those around him, did he manage to hoist Lin Yue onto his back.

The moment the warm body settled against his back, Shen Huaizhi’s entire body tensed, his breathing becoming ragged. When Lin Yue’s hand, holding the round fan, pressed against his shoulder, the skin behind Shen Huaizhi’s ears flushed crimson.

Unfortunately, Lin Yue was completely oblivious. His hand holding the fan trembled slightly, his lashes quivering as he tried to force back the moisture welling in his eyes. Yet his mind was filled with the looks his parents had given him earlier, and the peripheral vision that caught Lin Yang following behind him. In a moment of self-abandonment, he raised the fan higher to shield his eyes.

Shen Huaizhi suddenly felt a droplet land on the back of his neck. Realizing what it was, he abruptly slowed his pace, moving almost step by step toward the exit.

Yet no matter how slowly he went, the distance from the house to the courtyard entrance was merely a few dozen steps. Finally, Shen Huaizhi stopped before the flower sedan chair.

He gently lifted Lin Yue into the palanquin, keeping his head down without looking at him. In a low voice, he murmured, “Don’t worry,” before closing the palanquin door.

Only then did Lin Yue pull out a handkerchief to cover his face, dabbing away the tears that rolled down.

“Lift the palanquin!”

As the palanquin rose, it swayed slightly, nearly bumping Lin Yue’s head. Turning his head in that instant, he caught a familiar voice outside, mingled with several responses and teasing remarks.

“Everyone, please steady your steps. There’s plenty of time.”

“Don’t worry, Brother Huai. We’ll carry the groom steadily and safely.”

“Who knew Brother Huai was so thoughtful?”

“Haha, a groom who isn’t thoughtful? That wouldn’t do…”

A burst of laughter followed, but Lin Yue didn’t catch the rest. Sitting up straight, he drifted into a daze.

He was about to go to an unfamiliar place. Aside from Shen Huaizhi, whom he’d met a few times, everyone else was a stranger. Lin Yue’s heart was filled with trepidation.

Only when crisp, childish voices echoed from outside did Lin Yue snap back to reality. As he made out their words, he froze entirely.

“The new groom has arrived! Everyone, come see!”

“Brother Huaizhi has brought his husband home!”

Hadn’t they just boarded the palanquin? How could they have reached the Shen residence so quickly? They’d clearly been told to proceed slowly. Could it be that he’d been so lost in thought earlier that he’d forgotten the time…

Lin Yue hastily raised his fan to shield his face. Having just wept, he had no idea what his face looked like now. What if his makeup was ruined? Better to cover up thoroughly.

Sure enough, shortly after hearing the children’s voices, the palanquin came to a halt.

Lin Yue lowered his eyes, silently burrowing onto Shen Huaizhi’s back. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw strangers all around, every pair of eyes fixed on him. He instinctively ducked his head lower, not even glancing at the Shen family courtyard.

Upon entering the main hall, Shen Huaizhi bent down to set Lin Yue on the ground. Pine needles carpeted the floor—a gesture ensuring the new groom’s feet never touched earth, while also symbolizing the auspicious meaning of evergreen pine needles throughout the seasons.

The Shen parents stood elevated before the hall, with the officiant positioned to the side. As the couple took their places, the officiant raised a hand, and those waiting outside began setting off firecrackers.

The moment the crackling ceased, the officiant proclaimed loudly: “On this auspicious day and hour, two families unite in marriage, sealing their bond before this assembly…”

After delivering these words of blessing, the ceremony commenced.

“First bow to Heaven and Earth!”

Lin Yue and Shen Huaizhi knelt and bowed as instructed, continuing until the officiant proclaimed, “The ceremony is complete. Proceed to the bridal chamber.”

Shen Huaizhi lifted Lin Yue onto his back once more and carried him toward the new bridal chamber.

Only after they entered the room and everyone else had withdrawn did Lin Yue breathe a sigh of relief. He silently marveled to himself: How had he never realized before that he was this afraid of strangers?

It was still daylight, and sunlight streamed through the windows, filling the room with brightness. Lin Yue sat on the bed, surveying the furnishings around him.