It was exactly ten o'clock. Besides her midwifery skills, Tang Guihua was also skilled in makeup. After she had finished applying makeup for Zhen Meini and Du Xiaojuan, the sound of lively suona music, gongs, drums, and firecrackers echoed from the entrance.
The Feng family lived on the south side of the creek, while Du Xiaojuan lived on the north side.
This was the Feng family coming from the north to pick up the bride.
"Wives, brides, we've come to welcome the bride!" Indeed, cheerful shouts from the Feng father and son could be heard from outside the door.
A group of children followed, jeering and shouting, "Bride, old bride, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law marry the second bride together, laughing and smiling as young wives!"
"Father groom, son groom, father and son marry as two grooms, beaming with smiles to welcome the bride!"
An eight-bearer sedan chair was parked at the entrance, exclusively for Du Xiaojuan and Zhao Meini.
Father and son marrying together, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law marrying together, this was the first time such a thing had happened in Zhuxi Village's history, and every household had given a gift.
Today was destined to be another grand celebration!
Today, Tang Guihua acted as the matchmaker, placing the red veils on this mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, and calling out in a loud voice, "A pair of brides are getting married!"
According to local custom, before the bride gets into the sedan chair, she must be carried out by her maternal uncle or brother.
Zhao Meini had no one from her maternal family, so Cheng Fugui stood in for her brother and carried her. Du Xiaobao, as Du Xiaojuan's younger brother, carried his elder sister, following closely behind Cheng Fugui as they walked towards the door.
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law got into the sedan chair, with Feng Xigua and his father guarding each side.
At this moment, Tang Guihua shouted again in a loud voice, "Lift the sedan chair—"
Amidst the sound of gongs, suona, and firecrackers, Tang Guihua lengthened her voice and sang melodiously, "The grand sedan chair, carried by eight, lanterns hung on both sides, drums and sheng leading the way, a pair of gongs clearing the path."
"Through small alleys, down main streets, the bride is carried to the mansion, a timely arrival, a most auspicious moment."
In the blink of an eye, they arrived at the Feng family's door.
A long red carpet was spread out at the entrance of the Feng family's home.
Tang Guihua continued to sing, "The red carpet arrives, arrives at the red carpet, the red carpet is spread to the front of the hall, the bride alights and is helped by noble guests, the noble guests help—"
At this moment, Luo Changsheng, who was waiting at the door, immediately called out to Cheng Xiaofan, "Xiaofan, President Bai, you two quicky come over. The noble guests are referring to you!"
Cheng Xiaofan was taken aback by the suddenness.
Bai Yiling was also bewildered!
"I'm sorry!"
Tang Guihua said apologetically, "I forgot to mention this procedure to Xiaofan and President Bai beforehand!"
Hearing her say this, Cheng Xiaofan had no choice but to take Bai Yiling's hand and walk to the front of the grand red sedan chair, lifting its curtain.
As Zhao Meini and Du Xiaojuan alighted from the sedan chair, they each helped one, stepping onto the red carpet.
As the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law entered the house, Tang Guihua continued to sing, "A weighing scale, a bushel, a warp, a steelyard are placed in the hall, a pair of red candles are placed on both sides, first bow to heaven, then bow to earth, then bow to the noble guests for great joy, having bowed to heaven, earth, and the noble guests, the newlyweds bow to each other and become husband and wife!"
The procedures for this wedding had been discussed and agreed upon beforehand, aiming for simplicity. Even the celebratory songs sung by Tang Guihua had been significantly shortened.
Feng Tianniu's parents had passed away long ago, so the "high elders" to be bowed to during the wedding were temporarily replaced by the noble guests.
These noble guests were naturally Cheng Xiaofan and Bai Yiling. The meaning was simple: without their appearance, Zhuxi Village would not have undergone such earth-shattering changes.
Cheng Xiaofan and Bai Yiling were universally recognized as the noble guests of the entire Zhuxi Village!
Originally, according to the old customs, the bride would be escorted to the bridal chamber. This had been changed here; the noble guests were directly asked to lift the red veil for the brides and join them at the banquet.
"Noble guests, come forward, lift the red veils!" Tang Guihua, the village's women's director, was truly putting in her best effort and immediately called out in a loud voice.
Cheng Xiaofan and Bai Yiling had no choice but to wear smiles on their faces, each holding a weighing rod, and walk forward to lift the red veils from the heads of the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.
"Thank you, noble guests!"
Following Tang Guihua's shouts, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law bowed deeply again to Cheng Xiaofan and Bai Yiling.
Cheng Xiaofan was accustomed to such rural customs. Bai Yiling, however, had never experienced anything like it and, flustered, quickly held back the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, repeatedly saying, "This is not right, this is not right!"
"It is right, it is right!"
Tang Guihua stepped forward, placed a red envelope in each of their hands, and said with a smile, "These are red envelopes from the bride and groom's families to the noble guests. The gifts are modest but the sentiment is profound. We hope both noble guests will accept them with a smile!"
Cheng Xiaofan and Bai Yiling knew that these red envelopes held significant meaning in the countryside, so they accepted them on the spot.
At this moment, to add to the liveliness of the wedding, Tang Guihua sang again to Du Xiaojuan and her mother-in-law: "What fine brides, so beautiful, like celestial maidens descending from heaven, with willow brows, apricot eyes, and melon seed faces, surpassing even Xi Shi and Diao Chan, broad shoulders, slender waists, and good figures, hard to find even with a lantern, skilled and cultured, bringing great joy with little ones next year!"
"Bravo!"
Everyone present applauded and cheered!
Bai Yiling smiled at Cheng Xiaofan and said, "I never imagined Sister Guihua had such a good voice. Although she's singing cliché wedding lyrics, they sound particularly nice and down-to-earth!"
"Haha, Sister Guihua knows many things. She's also very popular with the women in the village. Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to handle the position of women's director!"
Cheng Xiaofan replied.
Bai Yiling nodded and said, "I can see that Sister Guihua is a capable woman. Although her education level isn't high, if given the opportunity, she could still achieve great things!"
As they were chatting, Luo Changsheng walked over and said with a smile, "Xiaofan, President Bai, you are the noble guests at today's wedding. Please take your seats at the head table!"
Bai Yiling quickly replied, "Grandpa Luo, this is not appropriate. You are an elder; it's not our place to sit at the head table!"
Luo Changsheng said, "No, this must be done according to our village customs. The seat of the noble guests is not determined by seniority. If you two take your seats at the head table first, then everyone else can be seated!"
At this point, Miao Xiuhua walked over and said to Bai Yiling, "What your Grandpa Luo said is right. This is also a custom of us Zhuxi people. If you and Xiaofan sit at the head table, everyone else can then be seated!"
"Xiaofan, is this true?" Bai Yiling dared not be presumptuous and asked Cheng Xiaofan.
Cheng Xiaofan nodded and smiled, "Zhuxi Village does have such a custom. You don't need to be polite. Let's go and sit down!"
In Cheng Xiaofan's opinion, there was no need to be overly polite.
Since everyone had arranged it this way, what was there to hesitate about!
"Yiling, let's sit down. If we don't sit, others will also find it difficult to be seated!" Cheng Xiaofan said to Bai Yiling.
The head table was arranged in the Feng family's living room.
Those who could sit at the same table as the noble guests were naturally the village leaders.
In the living room, besides the head table, there were two other tables, referred to as secondary tables. Those who could sit at the secondary tables were the bride and groom, as well as some village elders.
The rest of the villagers could only sit at the separate tables outside.
In the countryside, seating arrangements were very important. The order of seating could not be mistaken, as it represented respect for people of different statuses.
The only equal treatment was for the dishes on the table.
Whether it was the head table, the secondary tables, or the separate tables, the dishes served at each table were treated equally; there would be no less or more.
Not long after everyone was seated, the dishes were served.
Just as the feast was about to begin, a noisy argument erupted from outside the door.
A gruff, hoarse voice could be heard shouting angrily, "Are you looking down on Guangtou Li? I must sit at the secondary table inside. If you don't give me a seat, this wedding shouldn't proceed!"