The husband I snatched halfway through his life is strange.

Chapter 46 Worship
The firecrackers were still going off, and the crowd was too far away to hear what she said.

Uncle Wei saw this and nodded in satisfaction.

He thought that Yu Tingwan must be giving him some instructions.

There are few rules in the countryside, and Wei Zhao is in such poor health. Yu Tingwan was worried that he would get cold, which shows that he is a thoughtful child.

Wei Zhao did hear it; he had never seen anyone as outspoken as Yu Tingwan.

The girl has clear eyes, and her thoughts are written all over her face, even when she's just spouting sweet nothings for free.

But apart from the time she applied the medicine, she never laid a hand on him.

Having heard it so many times, Wei Zhao had long since gotten used to it and didn't take it seriously.

The girls from the capital are indeed well-educated and polite, and speak with restraint. But those from high-ranking families are all adept at scheming. They wear a thin veneer, and who knows what they are really thinking behind the scenes?

In contrast, Yu Tingwan is genuine and true to herself.

Yu Tingwan straightened his clothes and smoothed out the wrinkles.

Li Lian stuffed the red silk into Wei Zhao's arms. Even if she didn't approve of the marriage, she could only hope that the two of them would be happy together.

"Ah Lang, don't keep your parents waiting. Take your wife and go next door for the wedding ceremony."

Wei Zhao glanced at it.

The red silk was also old, even older than the wedding dress he was wearing.

His hand slipped, and he fell straight to the ground.

Li Lian: ...

You did that on purpose, didn't you?!
She was seething with resentment, feeling sorry for Yu Tingwan! Marrying such a wonderful girl was your good fortune! How could you not appreciate it?
If it weren't for... if it weren't for Yu Tingwan's eagerness to settle down with you and her introduction of the young man she was with, what would you, Wei Shen, have to do with this?
All the elders remained silent, feeling they couldn't bear to watch.

Yu Tingwan straightened her lips and stared straight at him.

"Husband, you'd better give me some instructions?"

Wei Zhao's eyelids twitched at the mention of that title.

He said in a flat tone, "I'll say it one last time, I am not Wei Shen."

But still, no one believed him.

Li Lian picked up the hot red silk and stuffed it all into Wei Zhao's hands: "Okay, okay, no, no."

She urged, "Hurry up, don't miss the auspicious time."

Yu Tingwan smiled: "My husband will be able to handle this one, right?"

She hits people hard, but when she calls out "husband," her voice is soft.

Wei Zhao, however, sensed a threat in the words, and his eyes were lowered, his thoughts unreadable.

He was tired, so he compromised and reluctantly responded with a nasal sound.

"Ah."

Yu Tingwan nudged him again: "One of them is mine."

Wei Zhao hesitated for a moment before handing her the red silk.

Li Lian: ...That feels better.

Seeing this, Aunt Wu behind them breathed a sigh of relief: "Good things come to those who wait! Alright, it's time to go."

Suddenly everything went dark; Yu Tingwan's vision was obscured as the veil fell.

She clutched the red silk tightly; at the other end was the man she was to share a bed with.

Yu Tingwan had mixed feelings.

There was anticipation, joy, and also a sense of bewilderment.

She had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

While living with the Hu family, she often thought that once she got married and had her own family, she would be loved and wouldn't have to suffer the humiliation inflicted by Wang Shi anymore.

But Hu Dazhu always said...

"Mother, your uncle secretly wants to keep you a few more years. Once Erlang passes the imperial examination and becomes a scholar, the whole family will benefit. There will be many more families proposing marriage in the future, and your uncle will choose the best for you so that he can face your mother after his death."

And what about Hu Yaozu?

He secretly stopped her, avoiding Wang's presence.

"Wanmei, I love you, and I will marry you someday. Wait for me to pass the imperial examination."

Hu Yaozu always wore his student robes when he returned from the academy. He had never done farm work, and he had a scholarly air about him and a handsome appearance.

If it were any other girl, being looked at by such affectionate eyes would have made her fall head over heels for them long ago.

It is possible that Yu heard nothing that evening.

She looked down on Hu Yaozu's delicate skin, saying he couldn't even lift a bucket of water properly.

Wei Zhao walked out listlessly. Yu Tingwan couldn't see the road clearly and was worried that Wei Zhao might stumble and fall, so she followed closely behind him. The two houses were close by; they were just around the corner from the courtyard to the Wei family's residence.

"The new bride enters the home, bringing joy and happiness!"

The shouts of Uncle Wei could be heard in my ears.

After entering the Wei family's house, they walked a few more steps.

"When a new bride is in labor, may she ward off evil and have good fortune."

The Wei family wouldn't give their new bride a hard time, and fearing she might catch fire with her clothes, the fire wasn't very big. Yu Tingwan slightly lifted her skirt and stepped over it.

The Wei couple had changed into clean clothes early in the morning and sat on either side of each other. In the middle was a wooden table covered with red paper.

Inside the house were Hui Niang's brother and sister-in-law from her maternal family, all craning their necks to wait.

The footsteps outside grew closer.

Yu Tingwan accepted the evergreen plant, a symbol of a happy marriage and a long and harmonious union, from Aunt Wu. This was one she had brought back to the old house earlier.

According to local custom, both the man and woman need to prepare one set, and the bride has to bring her set from her parents' home to her husband's home.

Hui Niang then prepared two portions.

Yu Tingwan entered the main room and, guided by Li Lian, stepped forward, placing the evergreen plant she was carrying on the wooden table in front of the Wei couple.

There was already another potted evergreen plant on the wooden table. Now the two pots were placed side by side, and the peanuts hanging on the leaves swayed gently with Yu Tingwan's movements.

"May good fortune and happiness come in pairs."

Yu Tingwan was helped back to Wei Zhao's side.

"The newlyweds bow, kneel!"

Yu Tingwan knelt down, while Wei Zhao remained in a daze, unresponsive.

"It can't be done."

Seeing this, Hui Niang quickly said, "Uncle, I'm afraid Ah Lang will tear at his wound."

Didn't you see Wei Zhao was tired from walking?
But he was a stubborn man and refused to use a cane.

Uncle Wei quickly corrected himself: "I was confused. Husband and wife are one, so it's the same if Alang's wife kneels and bows."

"I bow to Heaven and Earth, with Heaven as my witness and Earth as my testimonies."

Yu Tingwan bent down towards the door.

Wei Zhao did not move.
Uncle Wei frowned.

Forget it.

"I bow twice to my parents, for their kindness in raising me is as heavy as a mountain."

Yu Tingwan knelt down with great reverence, deeply grateful to Hui Niang and Wei Shouzhong.

Wei Zhao kept his eyelids half-closed and didn't move.

Since his father died, he has never knelt before anyone except for the ancestral tablets in the ancestral hall of the Duke of Shunguo's mansion.

Uncle Wei saw this: ...

You could at least bow slightly as a gesture, or at the very least nod your head!
Forget it.

"Husband and wife bow to each other, a perfect match for all under heaven."

The little girl was facing Wei Zhao.

Wei Zhao said slowly, "I..."

His voice was neither too loud nor too soft, yet he was the center of attention.

Everyone looked over at the same time.

Hui Niang stood up abruptly: "What's wrong? What's wrong? Is something bothering you?"

Li Lian didn't want the happy occasion to turn into a tragedy: "You just went out and have been standing for a long time now. Do you want me to bring you a stool so you can sit down and rest for a while?"

Wei Zhao's eyes were vacant as he slowly said, "I'm sleepy."

Everyone:…

Yu Tingwan said gently, "Just bear with it."

Wei Zhao opened his mouth: "But..."

Yu Tingwan didn't want to listen. As she leaned down, she controlled her strength and didn't forget to stand on tiptoe and press down on the back of Wei Zhao's head.

Uncle Wei exclaimed excitedly, "The ceremony is complete!"

Wei Zhao was so angry he almost laughed: ...

But then Yu Tingwan muttered under her breath, "What a troublemaker!"

(End of this chapter)