4 Marriage

On the day of the wedding, the sky was clear and bright, and the Qin family rose early to begin their preparations. According to the customs of the Great Jin Dynasty, the bridegroom would welcome the spouse in the morning, and the wedding ceremony would be held at dusk. Renting a bridal sedan chair cost two taels of silver, a sum the Qin family could not afford, so they borrowed an ox cart from the village head instead. This was a common practice for impoverished families.

They adorned the ox with large, festive red ribbons, and a crowd of village boys gathered around Qin Jin, who led the ox cart with great excitement from the Qin residence to Ye Miao’s home. The distance was short, and they arrived in no time.

Ye Miao had already severed ties with his uncle, Zhao Dafu, and had no other kin left. The village head’s daughters-in-law came over to help him with his makeup and playfully demanded that the wedding party outside offer red envelopes before they would allow the groom to take his spouse away.

Covered by a red veil, Ye Miao clutched his hands tightly. It was only when he heard Qin Jin’s laughter outside that he finally exhaled. The traditions had kept him on edge; he feared that if Qin Jin grew impatient, he might decide not to go through with the marriage at all.

Once the red envelopes were handed over, the women opened the door. Huang Chunlan, the eldest daughter-in-law of the village head, took Ye Miao’s hand and led him out slowly. As soon as he stepped outside, the sound of firecrackers and cheers erupted. He took a deep breath, struggling to calm his racing heart.

As Huang Chunlan placed Ye Miao’s hand into Qin Jin’s, she said, "You are truly a lucky man; be sure to treat Miao well in the future."

Having just applied his makeup, she knew how delicate and fair his skin was. When the women had gathered earlier to chat, they had brought out the handkerchief Ye Miao was embroidering. The craftsmanship was exquisite, truly worthy of someone from the county town. It was no wonder he had been able to support both himself and his father with his needlework. Such a fine, handsome young man would surely have had many suitors if not for the incident where he fell into the water—even with a heartless uncle like Zhao Dafu. Now that he was married to Qin Jin, and hearing rumors that Qin Jin was somewhat reluctant, she felt compelled to speak up for him.

Huang Chunlan meant well, but her words made Ye Miao stiffen; he prayed Qin Jin would not take offense.

Qin Jin, having just taken Ye Miao’s hand, sensed his tension and smiled. "I understand, Sister-in-law Chunlan. Rest assured, I will never mistreat Miao."

"Good, good lad!" Huang Chunlan beamed and urged, "Hurry, let Miao get on the ox cart."

Qin Jin agreed and led Ye Miao toward the gate. Ye Miao let out a long breath, his steps becoming lighter. However, once he sat on the ox cart, his body tensed up again, his back held straight as a rod for fear of being mocked for poor posture. Because one cannot retrace their steps on a wedding day, the ox cart circled the village before finally arriving at the Qin residence. The journey was short, yet when the cart stopped, Ye Miao’s back and waist were truly aching.

Then, a large, warm hand grasped his. "Miao, it’s time to get down." The voice was gentle and carried a clear note of amusement.

Ye Miao was instantly captivated, his lips curling into a soft smile as he forgot his physical discomfort. Led by Qin Jin into the bridal chamber, he sat on the bed to await the evening ceremony. Once the others left, the room fell silent, and he was finally able to relax his stiff back.

In the courtyard, the villagers who had come to watch the spectacle departed, while those close to the family stayed behind to prepare the wedding feast. The pre-arranged tables, chairs, and tableware had already arrived. The butcher from the neighboring Lu Village delivered the half-pig reserved the day before, and the cook hired for the feast began chopping meat for the stew. Tofu and other seasonal vegetables were also delivered, but since the summer heat would cause them to spoil, the women merely sorted the greens, leaving the cooking for later in the afternoon. By midday, most of the helpers had eaten and returned home, planning to return for the ceremony in the evening, though some stayed behind to chat.

Smelling the aroma of food from outside, Ye Miao couldn't help but cover his stomach; he was starving. But according to custom, it was best not to eat on one's wedding day.

He raised a hand to rub his shoulder, trying to find a more comfortable posture. Suddenly, footsteps approached, followed by two soft knocks on the door and Qin Jin’s voice: "Miao?"

Ye Miao instantly pulled his hands back into a formal position and straightened his spine. Qin Jin entered, closing the door behind him. Seeing the rigid figure, he stepped forward and handed over a piece of pea cake. "Eat something to settle your stomach."

Ye Miao was pleasantly surprised; he had not expected the man to bring him food voluntarily. After a few seconds of hesitation, he shook his head. "I’m not hungry."

No sooner had the words left his lips than his stomach let out a loud rumble. His face turned a deep shade of crimson, and he wished he could disappear into the floor. Just as he was panicking, a soft chuckle sounded, and his right hand was caught by a warm, firm grip. A piece of pea cake was pressed into his palm.

"Eat. We still have the ceremony later; you won't have the strength if you don't eat."

The large hand pulled away as soon as it touched him. Ye Miao instinctively clutched the pea cake, his embarrassment slowly fading. But remembering that eating might ruin his makeup or necessitate a trip to the latrine, he shook his head again. "No, I can endure it."

Qin Jin looked at his stomach. How could he refuse when he was this hungry? Seeing that Qin Jin remained silent, Ye Miao thought he was angry and quickly explained, "Eating will smudge my lip tint."

"Let it smudge." Qin Jin took his hand and lifted it toward the veil. Regardless, with his looks, even without makeup, he was the most beautiful person in Wuli Gully. Qin Jin, however, would never say that aloud. He added, "A wife should follow her husband; listen to me."

At these words, a surge of overwhelming joy welled up in Ye Miao’s heart, flushing his cheeks a deeper red. *Wife.* *Husband.* He let out a soft sound of agreement, used his left hand to lift the red veil slightly, and brought the pea cake to his lips. He took a small bite; it was sweet, soft, and delicious.

Qin Jin, however, felt a sudden awkwardness. Why had he said that so naturally?

Ye Miao swallowed the cake and couldn't help but say, "It’s delicious. Brother Jin, you are so clever to be able to make such a new snack."

"It’s a treat from elsewhere, not something I invented," Qin Jin explained. "I was wandering through the county town before and heard a traveling merchant mention the recipe while passing a tea stall. I didn't pay it much mind then, but since I was short on silver, I remembered it, bought some peas, and tinkered with it until I got it right."

This explanation was logical. The original owner of his body had loved wandering to the county town, and Dongyang County was full of traveling merchants, so when Qin Jin had borrowed money from Qin Bing, no one had suspected a thing.

"I see," Ye Miao’s admiration deepened. To be able to recreate something just by hearing a few words—that was not something an ordinary person could do.

The room fell quiet. Ye Miao wanted to praise him more, but feared Qin Jin would think him tedious for harping on the same point. Qin Jin was also searching for a topic; it was only noon, and the ceremony was still two hours away. He couldn't just leave Ye Miao sitting there alone. Although he didn't have feelings for Ye Miao, he had already married him. At twenty-four, he was seven years older than Ye Miao, and he felt it wouldn't be right to bully the lad.

As he racked his brains for something to say, Wang Xiuqin’s voice drifted in from outside: "Jin? Come over and give us a hand with the tables."

"Ah, coming." Qin Jin breathed a sigh of relief. "I’m going out for a moment," he told Ye Miao.

Ye Miao quickly agreed. Once the sound of the door closing reached his ears, he could no longer hold back and a smile bloomed on his face.

Qin Jin was unexpectedly considerate. However, his thoughts soon turned to his dowry chest, and the smile faded. Weddings cost a lot of silver, and the Qin family was poor. He wondered what Qin Jin’s attitude would be.

In the courtyard, Wang Xiuqin saw Qin Jin emerge and immediately pulled him toward the kitchen. "I know you’ve taken a fancy to Miao, but take it easy. You still have the ceremony tonight. You’ve been in the bridal chamber for so long—if word gets out, people will laugh at you."

Qin Jin’s eyes widened. *What?* Since when had he taken a fancy to Ye Miao? And he hadn’t done anything at all!

"Alright, alright. Take these pea cakes out and share them. You’re married now, you’re a grown man, you can’t keep hiding from people like you used to." Wang Xiuqin handed him the plate.

Qin Jin sighed. *Forget it.* Since they were already married, explaining would only embarrass Ye Miao. He carried the plate out.

Huang Chunlan was sitting under the tree at the gate, fanning herself and praising Ye Miao’s embroidery to a group of women. The Qin family hadn't actually seen his work yet, as the marriage had been too rushed, and Ye Miao had only had time to make his own wedding clothes. Qin Jin’s new clothes and shoes had been made by Wang Xiuqin.

Listening to the praise, Qin Jin pictured Ye Miao at his needlework. Embroidery was not easy; it was hard on the neck and eyes. He smiled and interrupted Huang Chunlan, inviting everyone to try the pea cakes. He had only been selling them for a short time, and with the busy farming season, most villagers didn't know he had started a small business. Even those who did had only heard of the cakes, not tasted them.

When he offered the cakes, the crowd’s attention was instantly captured. Once they tasted them, Huang Chunlan shifted her praise to him. That morning, she had thought Qin Jin was the one getting the better deal, but seeing him so industrious, she felt he was a perfect match for Ye Miao.

They chatted and laughed, and time passed quickly. By the hour of Shen (3:00 PM), the guests began to arrive. The meat in the large pot was stewed to perfection, and the cook began preparing the feast so that the guests could eat as soon as the ceremony ended.

In the blink of an eye, dusk arrived. It was time for the ceremony. The courtyard was packed with villagers eager to watch. Qin Jin entered the bridal chamber and led Ye Miao out. Amidst the well-wishes and the sound of firecrackers, the two completed the most important ritual, becoming true spouses.

After the ceremony, Qin Jin led Ye Miao back into the bridal chamber, which was now crowded with onlookers. Next came the lifting of the veil and the sharing of the nuptial wine. Grabbing the wedding scale, Qin Jin lifted the red veil amidst the cheers and laughter of the crowd. Ye Miao’s delicate face was revealed—a fair, oval visage with cheeks flushed a soft pink. He cast a shy, fleeting glance at Qin Jin before lowering his head, his eyelashes fluttering.

"Wow!" the crowd exclaimed in unison. "How beautiful!"

Qin Jin gripped the wedding scale tightly. His little spouse was, indeed, strikingly beautiful.

Soon, the moon rose, and the noisy courtyard gradually quieted down. The guests left, and the family members helped clean up. Qin Jin took a tray of food and entered the bridal chamber.