Xing'an Mountains 1984: Starting from climbing mountains to support the family

Chapter 160 What? You want to be a bride at such a young age

The six little girls were having a great time. They loved being in a lively environment and followed Chen Weidong and their mother Liu Xueting around everywhere. Sometimes they could even get delicious food from their third aunt.

Soon it was the day before Bingzi's wedding. The weather was not very good, and a cold wind blew in the morning.

Today is the day to go to the bride's house to present gifts. In Northeast China, there is no uniform and absolute rule on whether the man should send gifts one day in advance.

It mainly depends on local customs and the negotiated arrangements between the two families.

It is the same in Heisong County, but what the third aunt and the bride's side agreed to is to give the gift one day in advance. The day before the wedding, the man goes to the bride's house to present the gift (also called giving a betrothal gift), usually led by the man's father.

However, since my third uncle Chen Guangkun had difficulty walking, the gift-giving team was led by my father Chen Guangtian. Chen Weihai, Chen Weidong, Chen Weibing, and some relatives from my third aunt's family formed a gift-giving team of eighteen people.

In the Northeast, there are many rules for weddings and wedding ceremonies. When getting married, you go in singles and return in pairs. This is called "adding people to the door" in the local area, which means couples.
Pregnant women, divorced women, widows, or women in mourning cannot go. When the man presents his gift, he must bring four pieces of rib meat, which is called "Li Niang Rou". It represents that the woman is still the apple of her parents' eye after she gets married.
Moreover, the li niang meat must be "cut with one knife, about six pounds, four ribs, five belly and three layers, and it must be with skin and meat.

Of course, this also depends on the family situation. For example, when Chen Weidong married Liu Xueting, it was not that complicated.

But Bingzi is different. He is already 25 or 26 years old, which is considered an old bachelor in this era. It is not easy to marry a wife at such an old age. If the gift is not enough, the wife will not be willing.
Third Aunt also spent a lot of money. In order to show respect to the woman and to demonstrate her family's financial strength, Third Aunt directly prepared eight kinds of things.

Before leaving, the little girls wanted to follow Chen Weidong to see the bride, but were stopped by Liu Xueting.

Then a group of more than a dozen people, carrying loads and accompanied by soldiers, marched towards Liushu Village in a mighty manner.

The elders of the bride's family had already known that today was the day Chen Guangtian would come to pay his respects, and they had made preparations early in the morning.

The girl's family also bought a lot of melon seeds, peanuts, cigarettes, alcohol and other things to entertain the guests.

The house is filled with happy characters and couplets, and it looks very festive!

"Here they come! Here they come! The bride's receptionist is here!"

"more than ten!"

"They all carry red baskets! Such a long bunch!"

Suddenly, someone in the village shouted loudly, and the whole village was in an uproar.

Marriage is a big happy event. There are not many entertainment activities these days. When one person gets married, the whole village becomes very lively.

When the man comes to the woman's house to give gifts, it is actually the day when the woman entertains guests. It is also the most lively day in the woman's home.

When the bride is welcomed tomorrow, the man’s house will be bustling with activity.

Therefore, when the people in Liushu Village heard that the man had arrived, they all ran to the village entrance to watch the fun.

Seeing Chen Weibing wearing new clothes and a big red flower, followed by Chen Weidong and a long line of men carrying red baskets,

The villagers of Liushutun were immediately amazed.

Chen Weidong and his group presented Badan, and many villagers were very envious.

"It seems that the third daughter of the old Zheng family is going to live a good life. She actually gave a gift for the eighth day."

"In the past, it was considered good if we could send four or six loads of gifts for a wedding in our village!"

"I heard that the man Hei Niu married is quite capable. He has beaten two or three blind bears!"

"It's so awesome, is it true?"

"You're kidding! Anyone can beat a blind bear? And you can beat two or three of them!"

"How could it be false? Don't you know his father Chen Guangkun? Have you heard of him? He was the one who was paralyzed by a wild boar a few years ago.

If the man's son wasn't capable, would Old Zheng have married his daughter to him? I heard that the man is already 25 or 26 years old and still can't find a wife."

"You don't know! His brother Chen Weidong is the capable one. It is said that he led people to kill the blind bear. He also went to Hajiang and even has a tape recorder at home!"

"A tape recorder, what a fortune!"

Just as the villagers were talking about it, Chen Guangtian brought Chen Weidong and his party to the village entrance.

Chen Weibing took out cigarettes from his pocket with a smile on his face and gave them to the woman's elders and relatives.

Chen Guangtian said: "Bingzi, you don't have to worry about these things. Just go forward and we will take care of it."

The elders of the girl's family came out to greet them. They were greeted by Zheng Xiaofang's father Zheng Changyou and the respected elders in the village! The father Chen Guangtian greeted them with a smile and went all the way to the girl's house.

The stove had been prepared long ago, but the woman's family was poor and the house was small. However, at this point, the man had done what he had to do, and all Chen Weidong had to do next was wait for dinner.

Of course the busiest people were Dad Chen Guangtian and his two uncles Chen Weibing, who kept talking to avoid awkward silences.

More than an hour later, lunch was finally ready and everyone started eating and drinking.

When having a banquet in Northeast China, wine is indispensable, and the woman's family even arranged for someone to drink with them. However, Chen Weidong and the others had to rush back in the afternoon, so they didn't drink too much, but they were all a little tipsy.

In the afternoon, led by his father Chen Guangtian, Chen Weidong and others returned home and agreed with the girl's family on the time to pick up the bride the next day.

~

"You're back and drank a lot of wine again!" Liu Xueting saw Chen Weidong coming back, poured a cup of hot water and brought it over.

"I didn't drink much!"

Chen Weidong smiled.

"Dad, have you seen the bride?" At this time Si Ni ran over and asked in a baby voice.

"I saw it! What's wrong?"

“Isn’t the bride the most beautiful person?”

"Yes."

"Dad, when can I become a bride?"

"Ah? It's too early for you!" Chen Weidong scratched her nose and asked inexplicably, "What's the matter? You want to be a bride at such a young age!"

"Well, Uncle Bingzi is getting married, so there are lots of food at home! There are candies and meat! Lots and lots of food!"

The little girl said enviously.

"Uh...it seems like you want to be a bride just to eat!"

Chen Weidong's face was filled with black lines.

"It's fun to be a bride!" Si Ni said in a baby voice.

"You are a girl, and you don't know how to be shy! You are only a few years old, and you want to be a bride just for food!"

Liu Xueting didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Wu Ni took the opportunity to complain, "Mom, Fourth Sister often plays house and becomes a bride! I want to be one, but they won't let me!"

It seems that you are complaining because you didn't become the bride?
Chen Weidong couldn't help laughing after hearing this.

Liu Xueting also laughed, "What a mess! We can never play games like this again!"

Wu Ni complained again, "She is still someone else's mother. I want to be one but she won't let me. She said I can only be a daughter! Humph, I want to be a mother too!"

As girls grow up, they seem to like playing house, being a mother, a bride, a daughter...

Si Ni snorted, "A snitch!"

Then ran away.

Xiao Wu felt aggrieved, but when she saw Si Ni running away, she quickly shouted again: "Si Jie, wait for me, I want to play with you!"

Wu Ni followed behind.

Xiaoliu also called her sister and chased after her with her short legs. Xiaoliu had grown a little bigger now, visibly.

"Liuni!"

Liu Xueting was worried, so she asked Si Ni to take care of Xiao Liu, and she held Liu Ni in her arms.

Woof woof woof... Seeing the two little masters running out, Dalong and the other four followed them out.

In the evening, Chen Weidong ate a little and went to sleep.

I am tired today, and I will be tired tomorrow. Getting married is not easy.

Getting married is both a happy event and a tiring one.

Of course, the most tired one is Bingzi!

The next day, before daybreak, Chen Weidong came with his donkey, which had been washed very clean by his aunt.

The donkey was used by Bingzi to pick up his bride. Although the big donkey was still raised in Bingzi's home, it was not so easy to tame. It had escaped several times when he was hunting in the mountains.

When we arrived at Third Aunt's house, she greeted us and immediately put a red artificial flower around the donkey's neck.

Bingzi woke up now, with dark circles under his eyes. He put on new wedding clothes and the big red flower again.

There was no hairspray, gel, mousse or the like at that time. Chen Weibing didn't know what he used, he applied it on his hair, and then combed his hair into a hairstyle that he thought was very handsome.

Chen Weidong took a look and saw that Bingzi's head was really shiny.

Soon, other people who helped with the wedding reception also arrived.

There were a lot more people than yesterday, including matchmakers and gong and drum troupes.

Chen Weidong followed and was responsible for setting off firecrackers!

After all the personnel were in place and everything was ready, everyone set off.

The family is presided over by the elder Uncle Shuigen. Uncle Shuigen has a high seniority and is quite prestigious in the village. He was invited by Aunt San to be the "manager", which is also called "Laotoumang" in Northeast China.
This position must be held by someone with some prestige in the village, who will be responsible for the entire wedding scene.

The so-called "branding busy",

He is responsible for arranging all matters concerning the wedding, including who cooks, who serves the dishes, who runs errands, who sets off the firecrackers, who collects the money, etc. He has the final say on everything.

As Grandpa and Auntie, Third Uncle and Third Aunt don't have to worry about these complicated matters. Of course, Uncle Third wants to worry about them, but he is powerless.

"These days, being a 'brander' is like being the master of ceremonies, the witness, and the logistics supervisor all in one person.
Around nine o'clock in the morning, relatives and friends gathered from all directions.

Those who are rich use money to gain favors.

Most of them are just a few cents.

Those who had no money took a gift.

The village invited a person with some education to be the gift-giver. No matter how rich or poor the gift was, no matter how much it was, as long as it was a gift from someone, the name of the gift had to be clearly written.

Although Liu Xueting is educated, she is not qualified.

More and more relatives and friends came, and the atmosphere became more and more lively.

Peanuts, melon seeds, pine nuts, all were brought out, plate after plate.

Many people not only eat the food themselves, but also stuff it into their pockets. Every pocket is stuffed full, and they even roll up their trouser legs and sleeves to continue stuffing more food.

Chen Weidong and others soon arrived at Liushutun.

At the entrance of a village, the sound of a gong and drum team rang out! Upon hearing the sound, the villagers of Liushu Village all ran over to watch the fun, and the children followed them all the way.

All the way to the woman's home, it was Zheng Changyou and the respected old man who greeted Chen Weidong and his party.

The old man walked out of the gate and waved his hands to signal everyone to be quiet.

Not a moment.

Chen Weidong and others received the bride smoothly. It was not popular to block the door and ask for red envelopes, and there was no vulgar prank. Everything was very elegant and festive.

Soon, Bingzi came out with Zheng Xiaofang and sat on the donkey. Bingzi led the donkey, beating gongs and drums all the way, and drove back!

The woman’s dowry was also simple, just a few quilts!

When they returned to Jiuqu Village, everyone in the village knew that Bingzi had carried his wife back, so they all ran to the village entrance to watch the fun.

Si Ni waved her hand and said, "Let's go see the bride!"

Liji, Wuni, Goudan, and several other children under the age of four followed her and ran to the village entrance.

"Si Ni, come back!" San Ni shouted.

Si Ni didn't listen to her at all, and a group of people ran to see the bride.

Not only the little one, but all the villagers in front gathered around and were looking at the bride.

After entering the door, it’s time to get married and eat!

Chen Weidong and others are responsible for helping, and they can only eat after the people who came have almost finished eating.

When Uncle Shuigen saw that there were eight people gathered at the table, he immediately called Chen Weidong and others, and asked them to serve the food, wine and cigarettes.

Long trays were brought up, and plates of delicious dishes were taken off the trays and placed on the table.

People in that era were not as wealthy as later generations, so there was naturally no seafood.

Pork stewed with vermicelli, mixed vegetables, braised pork slices, four-happiness meatballs... stewed bear meat and roe deer meat, no chicken, duck or fish.

There are eight dishes on the table.

The table is full of various aromas, which makes people very hungry.

Plus a bottle of "Dongbei Shaodaozi" and two packs of cigarettes at 20 cents a pack.

"Dad, Mom asked me to give you the eggs to eat!"

Soon Si Ni came over with her mouth full of food.
"Finish your mouth before you talk!"

"Woo woo~ Si Ni needs to go eat! If you don't hurry up, others will grab all of it."

After saying that, Si Ni ran over to eat again, panting!
Chen Weidong looked at the eggs in his hand, speechless.

~

When we were almost done, Third Aunt came over wearing a bright red cotton-padded jacket.

"Aunt San, you look so beautiful today!" Chen Weidong smiled and joked as he saw Liu Guifang coming over.

"Come on, you little brat, you're making fun of me?" Auntie San said with a smile, "Weidong, you've been busy until now, go and have your meal, and we'll talk after dinner."

When Chen Weidong came to the west room of his third aunt's yard, he found that his eldest brother Chen Weihai was also there. The other people in the room were also relatives that Chen Weidong knew.

Seeing Chen Weidong coming, they greeted him enthusiastically.

Chen Weidong is now considered to be well-off in the village. Even some relatives who used to have a bad relationship with him have become attentive to him.

No one talks about his wife and six daughters. At least no one says anything bad about his wife and children in front of him!

Human nature has always been like this. If someone becomes successful, relatives and friends will smile at him more often. No matter how much they belittle and criticize him, this is a fact that cannot be changed.

Especially when they saw Shitou and Bingzi making money by following Chen Weidong into the mountains to hunt, some relatives came to him and also wanted to follow Chen Weidong into the mountains to hunt.

Chen Weidong naturally would not agree, and his elder brother Chen Weihai was there, so it was much easier for Chen Weidong to refuse, and no one would find fault with him.

The atmosphere at the dinner table was also very harmonious. Everyone ate, drank and chatted. The atmosphere at the table was not very warm, but it was barely acceptable.

Soon.

Bingzi and his wife came over to toast. The newlyweds went to the east room first, which was home to Bingzi's eldest uncle, second uncle, and his father and other elders.

"After they finish toasting in that room, they will come to our side."

After the eldest brother Chen Weihai said something, the curtain was quickly lifted and Bingzi and his wife walked in.

(End of this chapter)