Wedding ceremony tomorrow

Chapter 2 Welcoming the Bride

The next day, the sky was bright.

Luo Qingfeng got up early and, with Zi'er's help, put on his brand-new wedding robe.

Breakfast was eaten in the courtyard.

A dish of pickled vegetables, a bowl of porridge, and a steamed bun.

For the rest of the town, this breakfast was a luxury.

My cousin's family is in the cloth business, and they are able to support their family.

Moreover, he vaguely remembered that after his grandmother passed away, she left behind a sum of money, which should have been kept by his cousin to support his studies and marriage.

"cousin."

Just after breakfast, a gentle and pleasant voice suddenly rang out at the entrance of the courtyard.

Luo Qingfeng turned his head to look.

A girl dressed in a pink ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) walked into the courtyard with a smile on her face and said, "Father asked me to wake you up, but I didn't expect you to be up so early."

The girl had a beautiful face and a slender figure. She possessed a gentle and refined temperament, and her smile and voice were exceptionally tender.

Her information immediately appeared in Luo Qingfeng's mind.

Song Wan'er, the eldest daughter of the Song family, is the daughter of her maternal uncle and his cousin.

Zi'er chuckled softly, covering her mouth, "It's not even dawn yet, and the young master is already awake. He must be too excited to sleep because he's going to fetch the bride today."

Luo Qingfeng said, "I had a dream, so I woke up."

Song Wan'er smiled and said, "It must be about Sister Zhao'er's dream, right?"

Yes, it was just a nightmare.

Luo Qingfeng thought to himself, but didn't say anything more.

The two talked for a while longer when a man's impatient voice suddenly came from outside the door: "What are you dawdling for? It'll be late if you keep dawdling!"

A tall young man in a blue robe walked in through the door, his face grim. "Linshan Village is dozens of miles away. Going there will only delay things. By the time we return from the wedding, it will be night. What if we encounter bandits after dark? You're getting married yourself; don't let this get us into trouble!"

He then scoffed and complained, "If Father hadn't forced me to go, who would want to travel so far and waste my cultivation time!"

Luo Qingfeng looked at him, and memories of him immediately surfaced in her mind.

Song Chuan, Song Wan'er's older brother, the eldest son of the Song family.

His older cousin had always been unhappy about him staying at the Song family's house, and every time they met, he would mutter a few sarcastic remarks, saying that it was disturbing his cultivation.

But Luo Qingfeng remembered that he had only been at the Song family for less than half a month, and had been quietly studying at home.

Song Wan'er quickly advised, "Brother, stop talking, let's go."

Song Chuan snorted coldly, turned around and left the courtyard.

At Song Wan'er's prompting, Luo Qingfeng quickly followed behind.

The wedding procession was already waiting outside the gate.

In addition to a horse-drawn carriage and a bridal sedan chair, a drum and gong troupe was hired, along with seven or eight guards.

The journey involves traversing a long wilderness, and encountering bandits would be troublesome.

Therefore, guards are definitely indispensable.

Luo Qingfeng was a scholar, physically weak, and unable to ride a horse, so he could only ride in a carriage with Song Wan'er.

As he climbed onto the carriage, Song Chuan, riding on the horse, glanced at him disdainfully and muttered, "What use is a scholar? He's so weak he can't even ride a horse."

The group left amidst the sounds of gongs and drums.

Once outside the town, the group quieted down.

Everyone put in their best effort and hurried on their way, since it was nearly a hundred miles round trip and they needed to conserve their energy.

The morning sun gradually rose over the mountain.

Before I knew it, I had climbed to the top of the sky.

It was midday.

Finally, the group saw the village not far ahead.

In the distance, rolling green hills stretch out.

At the foot of the mountain, a small village with scattered houses is faintly visible in the thin mist.

A river meanders in front of the village, flowing around it.

Although the group was exhausted, they immediately perked up and quickened their pace at the matchmaker's urging.

"Keep pushing, everyone, we'll be there soon."

"We'll rest in the village for a bit, have some water, and then leave after we pick up the bride. We can't afford to delay."

"The road is difficult to travel, and it will be even more troublesome after dark."

The matchmaker, dressed in bright red and heavily made up, swayed her hips and walked briskly while wiping away sweat with a handkerchief and muttering to herself.

Luo Qingfeng looked out the window at the village ahead, feeling a sense of unease.

We're almost at the village, but I still have no memory of the bride.

There is not even a memory of this village.

Could it be that the memories he inherited were fragmented, not complete?

"what……"

Just then, the carriage suddenly lurched, and Song Wan'er swayed and fell into his arms.

Luo Qingfeng quickly helped her up.

The old coachman's voice came from outside: "Young Master, the road ahead is narrow and full of potholes; the carriage simply can't go any further. Why don't we stop here and let Young Master Luo and Second Miss get out and walk a few steps?"

Song Chuan wiped the sweat from his forehead and said irritably, "Let them come down. It's not far anyway, we'll be there after we cross the bridge."

Song Wan'er quickly stood up from Luo Qingfeng's embrace, a faint blush rising on her fair face, and said softly, "Cousin, go down."

Luo Qingfeng got up and got off the carriage with her.

Ahead lay a river about five meters wide, spanned by a simple wooden bridge.

Fortunately, the wooden bridge was made of three large trees placed side by side, making it wide enough.

The sedan chair can pass.

According to custom, when picking up the bride, the sedan chair must enter the house and remain there until it arrives at the husband's home before it can be unloaded.

Therefore, the strong men who carried the sedan chair were carefully selected, and they had to be strong enough.

The group carefully crossed the wooden bridge.

After crossing the wooden bridge, it only took a few steps to reach the entrance of the village.

"Time to pick up the bride!"

The sound of gongs and drums rang out.

Firecrackers also went off.

Immediately, the village was filled with the sounds of dogs barking, geese honking, and children playing excitedly.

The group stopped at the entrance of the village.

An elderly man with a cane, accompanied by several villagers, came up to greet them with a big smile. "It's Afeng back! We've been waiting for you for so long. Zhao'er is already dressed in new clothes and waiting inside. Go on your way."

Looking at the old man in front of him, Luo Qingfeng was reminded of some memories.

Grandpa Wang, the village chief, is highly respected in the village and has always been loved and respected by the villagers.

He steeled himself and went up to greet them.

The old man was followed by several villagers, who all spoke to him with great enthusiasm.

Embarrassingly, Luo Qingfeng didn't remember them.

Fortunately, the matchmaker spoke up at this moment: "Old village chief, a few of us and the groom can go in. The rest of you can wait here. You don't need to trouble yourselves. The road is too far. We have to leave as soon as we pick up the bride, otherwise we won't get home before dark."

The village chief nodded in understanding: "Qingquan Town is indeed quite far. I've been there a few times myself, and it always gets dark by the time I come and go. Afeng still needs to take Zhao'er back for her wedding ceremony, so we certainly wouldn't dare to delay you. Please leave after you've picked her up, and come visit us again when you have time."

He then turned to the villagers behind him and said, "Quickly, fetch some well water for everyone to quench their thirst, and bring all the food we prepared."

Everyone quickly declined.

Without saying a word, the villagers immediately went to fetch water or food.

The old village chief, leaning on his cane, led Luo Qingfeng and the others into the village, heading towards the bride's house.

Following Luo Qingfeng and the matchmaker into the village were four burly men carrying the sedan chair, and Song Wan'er.

As Luo Qingfeng walked, he looked at the dilapidated houses in front of him, but it only vaguely stirred up some fragmented memories.

It seems that he did not inherit the complete memories.

Some memories seem to have disappeared.

That would be troublesome.

If even his memories of the bride have disappeared, then he will definitely give himself away.

"Ah Feng, you're the only scholar in our village. All the girls in the village like you, and your aunts and uncles all like you and want to marry their daughters to you. But in the end, you still chose Xiao Zhao'er..."

"Hehe, Xiao Zhao'er and her mother, although they aren't native to our Linshan Village, are kind-hearted and a good family. Xiao Zhao'er is beautiful and sensible, so if you choose her, no one will have any objections..."

"As long as you're doing well, the villagers will be happy for you..."

The old village chief chattered on and on, his face full of satisfaction.

Luo Qingfeng glanced at him, and was about to subtly inquire about some matters when someone suddenly called out from the doorway of the house ahead, "They're here! The groom is here!"

"We're here, Ah Feng! Come on in, Xiao Zhao'er's probably been waiting anxiously; she's asked you several times this morning if you're here yet!"

The old village chief said with a smile.

Matchmaker Wang, accompanied by the sedan chair bearers, went inside first and stopped in the center of the courtyard.

Led by a woman, Luo Qingfeng entered the house and headed towards the innermost room.

The sound of crying came from the room.

The woman leading the way smiled and said, "The mother and daughter are reluctant to part."

He then pushed open the door and went in, saying, "Alright, alright, the groom is here. Let them take the bride away quickly, or it will get dark."

Luo Qingfeng was a little nervous, but he followed her inside.

The room fell silent.

A young woman sat on the edge of the bed, her head bowed, wiping away tears with a handkerchief.

The bride, wearing a red veil, sat on the edge of the bed, her face hidden from view.

"Groom, hurry! Carry the bride out and put her in the sedan chair. Remember, she must not get out of the sedan chair on the way, and she must not open the red veil, otherwise it will be bad luck."

Pushed and shoved by the group, Luo Qingfeng walked to the bedside, turned around, and squatted down.

Soon, a soft, light body lay on his back.

"Let's go!"

Several women escorted him out of the room.

Luo Qingfeng carried the bride on his back to the courtyard, then turned around and carefully placed her into the bridal sedan chair.

"Lift the sedan chair!"

With a loud shout from Wang the matchmaker, the sedan chair was lifted up.

The group of people escorted the bride out the door almost without pausing.

Luo Qingfeng turned his head and asked, "Shouldn't we offer tea to my mother-in-law?"

The women all looked at the bridal sedan chair with smiles on their faces, seemingly ignoring him as if they hadn't heard him.

Luo Qingfeng glanced around the room and felt something was off.

Urged on by Wang the matchmaker, the group escorted the bridal sedan chair out of the village.

The people waiting at the village entrance quickly stood up and bid farewell to the villagers.

The village chief, leaning on his cane, also came over and waved to them along with the villagers, his face full of kind smiles.

"Everyone, quicken your pace and try to get to town before dark."

Matchmaker Wang swayed her hips and walked briskly ahead.

The crowd escorted the bridal sedan chair across the bridge, where it met up with the waiting carriages, and then they traveled at a brisk pace.

They had only walked five miles when several horses suddenly galloped out of the woods ahead.

A man dressed in tight-fitting clothes with swords at his waist rode on horseback, followed by seven or eight other men armed with weapons.

Everyone was shocked, thinking they had encountered robbers.

Just as the guards drew their weapons, Song Chuan, mounted on his horse, exclaimed in surprise, "Hey, it's Constable Zhang and his men from our town!"

Only then did everyone realize that behind the riders were several men dressed as government officials, who were the constables from their Qingquan Town.

The other party immediately recognized them.

Song Chuan quickly dismounted, his face full of confusion.

One of the tall, thin officers quickly approached, his face equally surprised, and asked, "Matchmaker Wang, young man from the Song family, are you... getting married?"

The matchmaker, Wang, was startled. Recognizing him, she glared at him and clutched her chest, saying, "Officer Zhang, you scared me to death! I thought we'd run into some bandits. What are you doing in this desolate wilderness?"

Zhang Zhu opened his mouth, wanting to answer, but immediately held back, asking instead, "Where did you come from to get married? Why did you travel so far?"

Matchmaker Wang gave a bitter look. She wanted to say something, but fearing the host's wrath, she could only smile and say, "Master Song's nephew is getting married, and he's a scholar! The bride is from that mountain village over there, and the groom is also from there. They grew up together as childhood sweethearts, and today they are happily married. Congratulations!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhu's expression immediately changed.

The men on horseback also changed their expressions and gripped the hilts of their swords at their waists.

The matchmaker, Wang, sensed something was amiss and asked疑惑地问道：“Constable Zhang, what's wrong?”

Zhang Zhu's face stiffened, and his voice suddenly became hoarse: "You...you just went to Linshan Village?"

Matchmaker Wang nodded and said, "Yes, that's where we brought the bride back. The villagers were so hospitable. Why?"

Zhang Zhu's face was pale. He swallowed hard and said in a trembling voice, "You saw the villagers? And...and you even picked up the bride?"

Granny Wang asked, even more puzzled, "Yes, what happened? Officer Zhang, just tell me what's wrong."

At this moment, a dark-skinned man behind Zhang Zhu suddenly said in a trembling voice, "Impossible! The entire village of Linshan has been murdered! We saw it with our own eyes yesterday; the village was full of dead bodies. How could there possibly be any survivors?"

(End of this chapter)