bookrebus Chapter 289 Wedding Night
Chapter 289 Wedding Night
In the innocent days of the early 80s, wedding scenes still carried a touch of simplicity and warmth. Tricycles and bicycles slowly weaved through the streets and alleys, their backs adorned with bright red silk flowers, the jingling bells carrying the happiness and dreams of the newlyweds. These simple yet emotionally charged modes of transportation became an indispensable part of weddings in that era.
Li Ju'an, the groom, pedaled his bicycle, his face covered in sweat but beaming with a bright smile. His bride, sitting on the back, held a bouquet of flowers, shy yet excited. Their silhouettes stretched long in the morning light, creating a series of touching scenes. As time passed and the 80s dawned, social customs subtly changed, and wedding extravagance gradually increased.
Later, large buses and minivans began to emerge, becoming the representatives of modern wedding cars. Their spaciousness, comfort, and impressive appearance quickly won people's favor. The design of marriage certificates also quietly changed. In that era, the image on marriage certificates bid farewell to the former flags and five-pointed stars, replacing them with the elegant and luxurious peony. Turning the certificate over, the back was a vibrant bright red, like the passion and fervor of newlywed life.
In an era when information dissemination was not as advanced, the wedding industry did not rely on advertising and marketing as it does today. Everything depended on the most basic trust and word-of-mouth between people. Brother Li was such a wedding recorder who was well-known in the countryside.
He always says, "Weddings and funerals are major events in life, with weddings being the most important. Such important events should not only be held in a lively and respectable manner, but also be carefully recorded to become eternal memories. What I carry on my shoulders is not just a camera, but countless happy moments of families, a witness to time, and a legacy of love."
Every day at sunset, Brother Li would shoulder his heavy camera bag and set off along country lanes to visit each household, capturing those ordinary yet precious moments with his lens.
From tricycles to vans, from old-fashioned marriage certificates to new trends, Brother Li's lens records the changes of an era.
Li Ju'an was going to pick up his bride, Lin Mei, to take her home. For this day, he had carefully prepared a special gift: two plump and juicy pork ribs, two shimmering silver fish, four vibrant green scallions, and four bundles of crystal-clear vermicelli.
These seemingly ordinary ingredients, in an era of scarcity, carried a profound meaning. They had a name full of "historical significance"—"Leaving Mother's Meat." In local customs, daughters were considered the apple of their mothers' eyes. When the groom took this "apple of his eye" away from his wife, he had to make up for this loss in a special way to express his gratitude and respect to his wife's family.
The "farewell meat" was not only a material compensation for the bride's mother, but also a bond connecting the two families, symbolizing that even after starting their own families, the newlyweds would not forget their roots and would remain grateful. Li Ju'an carried this weighty gift, his steps light as he walked towards Lin Mei's house, his heart filled with both boundless anticipation for the future and deep感慨 (gǎnkǎi, deep feelings) for the past. He knew that every step he took was upon himself the blessings of the villagers.
Li Ju'an, dressed in a crisp Chinese-style suit, strode confidently into the Lin family compound, a gentle smile on his face. He first bowed deeply in respect. Upon seeing this, Lin's mother's eyes involuntarily reddened, and glistening tears welled up in her eyes, as if a thousand words were stuck in her throat, yet she didn't know where to begin.
Just as the atmosphere became subtle and sentimental, Mr. Lin, a middle-aged man with a resolute face and eyes that revealed the wisdom accumulated over the years, glanced at the camera lens of the photographer who was busy recording the scene. He gently tugged at Mrs. Lin's sleeve, with a tenderness and firmness that only she could understand, signaling her not to lose her composure and to quickly hand over the prepared red envelope.
The red envelope, embroidered with golden double happiness characters, was heavy. Lin's mother, suddenly realizing what was happening, handed the envelope to Li Ju'an with tears in her eyes and a smile on her face, hoping the newlyweds could set off as soon as possible. Meanwhile, Lin Mei's cousin, Wang Cheng, a twelve-year-old boy already showing signs of manhood, followed closely behind, carrying a special mission on his shoulders.
Although he was still young, his eyes shone with a sense of responsibility and excitement beyond his years. Wang Cheng's mission was to participate in and complete an ancient and sacred wedding custom—hanging a clock. In the local area, this custom has profound meaning, symbolizing that as time flows by, the newlyweds will spend every dawn and dusk together, in peace and tranquility, and that time will not age them.
The process of hanging a clock involves many intricacies. Wang Cheng carefully tiptoed and solemnly completed the task. At that moment, everyone's eyes were focused on him, and an indescribable warmth and anticipation filled the air, as if time itself stood still, just to witness this promise and vow that transcended time and space.
Brother Li's camera captured the wedding ceremony, an ancient and sacred tradition, showing whether it was a close bond between two hearts or a heartfelt farewell between the bride and her family.
Lin Mei, dressed in her wedding gown, conveyed a deep longing and reluctance for her past life through her eyes. That complex and subtle emotion added a touch of sophistication to her smile in front of the camera. It was a complex mix of reluctance to part, and anticipation and trepidation for the future.
Brother Li filmed every frame of the wedding video, which Li Ju'an and Lin Mei consider priceless treasures and carefully preserve.
After the wedding pranks, the wedding banquet will begin.
That day, the restaurant was always bustling with activity, filled with laughter and blessings. Back then, wedding banquets were about expressing friendship and enjoying the lively atmosphere.
……
Newlyweds Li Ju'an and Lin Mei lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), gazing intently at each other with passionate eyes.
Two hearts, parched by drought and now blessed with rain, clung to each other, inseparable, their worlds no longer able to accommodate a third. Moonlight streamed through the window, bathing the room, which was draped in red silk, in a soft and mysterious glow upon the perfect couple.
Lin Mei sat up, her face still flushed with a shy blush, her eyes sparkling with anticipation and joy for her new life. She gently tugged at Li Ju'an's sleeve, a mischievous smile playing on her lips, and began to tease him about the funny things that had happened at home: "You know, my naughty younger brother secretly hid my cousin's sugar figurine yesterday, saying he would wait until he finished reciting a poem before giving it to him as a reward."
"As a result, my little nephew was so upset that he had tears in his eyes. In the end, I had to step in to mediate and calm the dispute over the candy figurine. Don't you think they were both funny and adorable?"
Li Ju'an laughed heartily, his eyes filled with doting affection and tenderness. He gently held Lin Mei's hand, nodding and agreeing with each word she spoke, as if every word she uttered was the most beautiful melody in the world.
He said, "When we go to town later, let's buy some more sugar figurines so those two kids won't snatch them."
"That's right. Jia Dong is so old. He's shameless. He even tried to steal the candy from A Cheng. I'll have to teach him a lesson later."
He noticed that when his newlywed wife spoke these words, her eyes held both the shyness of a young girl and the determination of a married woman. This blend of innocence and maturity warmed his heart.