Wedding Candles in the Bridal Chamber, Double Happiness at the Door

Time flew by; spring went and autumn came.

Ever since Jiang Tu and Big Household Zhou had entered into a marriage agreement, the wedding preparations had begun in full swing. Big Household Zhou repeatedly urged Jiang Tu to move into the Zhou Household's grand residence, saying that once the two families became one, it would save them trouble.

Yet Jiang Tu shook his head and refused every time, insisting that the wedding be held at the Jiang Family Courtyard and that not a single item from the agreed-upon bride price could be missing.

"I, Jiang Tu, am taking a wife, not marrying into her family."

Those words made quite a few people who had been green with envy look at him in a higher light.

When the news reached the Zhou Household, a young lady who had not seen her husband-to-be even once during their engagement could not help growing more curious and admiring toward this unseen husband of hers.

These days, marriage had always been arranged by parents and matchmakers. Daughters had no room to put in a word.

Zhou Ning'e was no exception.

But Jiang Tu's story... over the years, she had heard it far too many times from her father. An orphan who had grown up eating from a hundred households, he had built himself up from nothing, worked diligently and honestly, and throughout the villages for ten miles around, not a single person had ever spoken ill of him.

She knew that she had been born unable to conceive or bear children, that she was considered flawed. Yet she did not think herself beneath anyone else. Her husband did not need to be especially outstanding, nor did he need heaven-reaching abilities. As long as he was dependable, that was enough.

And Jiang Tu's refusal to marry into her family, his insistence that she marry into the Jiang Family Courtyard, gave her a few more measures of peace in her heart.

She also had two personal maidservants by her side, one named Xianggua and the other Xueli. Both had grown up with her since childhood. Upon learning that their young lady was getting married, they had initially been unwilling and indignant on her behalf. They heard that the groom was a farmhand in his thirties, completely unworthy of their young lady.

But curiosity got the better of them. They secretly wandered around the Jiang Family Courtyard several times and asked the nearby farmers about him.

After returning a few times, their attitude gradually took a sharp turn!

"Young Lady, Young Lady, our master is truly not bad!"

"Auntie Wang next door said... every festival, he gives rice and meat to the village elders!"

"That boy from the Qian family said that when he worked for Master, Master never withheld his wages!"

"And, and! Back then, he kept trying to persuade Master not to go to Dajiang County. So many people went to Dajiang County only to die, but he alone held steady..."

Surrounded by the two little maids' endless chatter, Zhou Ning'e could neither laugh nor cry. "Which side are you two on, exactly? Don't tell me Master fed you some bewitching soup?"

"Young Lady will find out once she marries over!"

In the twenty-ninth year of the Jingtai Era, autumn, White Dew.

It was another harvest season. The clear sky stretched for thousands of miles, blue as if freshly washed.

The almanac said that today was auspicious for marriage.

Early that morning, the Jiang Family Courtyard had already come alive. Red silk ribbons hung everywhere inside and out, wrapping around the courtyard walls in great loops. Firecrackers sounded from the village entrance all the way to the courtyard gate, and shredded red paper carpeted the ground.

Nearly every prominent household in Xiaopei County had come. The county magistrate personally delivered a congratulatory gift, and three Daoist masters stationed in the county had even arrived to hold down the scene and sit at the head table.

Guests filled the doorway, worthy friends gathered like clouds, and honored visitors filled every seat.

In the distance, the wedding procession drew closer and closer, a great red bridal sedan carried by sixteen men.

Jiang Tu wore a bright red wedding robe, with a large red flower pinned to his chest. Riding atop a tall horse, his face glowed with joy. He looked nothing like a rough farmhand in his thirties. Joy made the spirit shine, and clothes made the man just as a saddle made the horse. Coupled with his naturally handsome features, he looked like the red-lipped, white-toothed youth he had once been.

"Brother Tu has finally suffered enough in this life!"

"Exactly! Who would have thought that the child who once ate from a hundred households would now have such fortune?"

"The bride is Ning E from Big Household Zhou's family. That girl is the finest beauty in all of Xiaopei County!"

"Tsk, tsk. Who would have thought Big Household Zhou would marry his pearl in the palm of his hand to him?"

"Heh, Brother Tu has ability, that's why!"

Within the crowd, several loafers who had always been jealous gathered together and muttered sourly.

"This Jiang Tu really knows how to play his hand. He refused to marry for so many years because he had been aiming for Ning E of the Zhou Household all along."

"Isn't that so? A man in his thirties taking an eighteen-year-old beauty for a wife, and he isn't ashamed at all."

"He makes it sound nice, saying he won't marry into their family and will have her come to this ruined little courtyard. Obviously, he's after the Zhou Household's property. This move is called retreating in order to advance."

"Tsk. Shameless..."

Before the words had even faded, two petite figures sprang out from nowhere and fixed the loafers with their eyes from either side.

"Who are you calling shameless?!"

"You think you're worthy of insulting our master?"

Xianggua grabbed the broom in her hand and smashed it toward one loafer's head, while Xueli was even more direct, lifting her foot to kick him.

"Scram far away! Don't dirty my young lady's wedding joy here!"

Others stepped forward to drive them away as well. The loafers fled in a miserable state, clutching their heads, not even daring to leave behind a tough word.

"Well hit! Trash with no virtue in their mouths should be driven out!"

The auspicious hour had arrived!

Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!

A burst of firecrackers exploded as the wedding procession arrived before the courtyard gate.

Jiang Tu swung down from his horse, walked to the bridal sedan, and lifted its curtain.

The bride wore a bright red wedding gown, phoenix crown, and embroidered bridal robes. Two wedding matrons helped her out. Her petite frame was wrapped in the broad wedding gown, yet it only made her outstanding figure more apparent. A section of snow-white wrist showed beneath her sleeve, tender and pale as jade against the red silk.

She stepped over the brazier, crossed the saddle, and entered the main hall.

Big Household Zhou sat in the seat of honor within the main hall, dressed in a brand-new brocade robe, his smile blooming like a flower... But Jiang Tu's seat of honor stood empty.

His parents had died long ago. There was no one to sit there.

Jiang Tu looked around, then pulled a dark-skinned, somewhat timid man from the crowd. It was Uncle Tao.

"Uncle Tao, please sit here."

Uncle Tao froze. "Brother Tu, this..."

"My fate, Jiang Tu's fate, was poor. I was an orphan, and my honored parents passed away long ago." Jiang Tu swept his gaze over the guests filling the hall. "But my fate, Jiang Tu's fate, was good as well! I have countless parents. Every villager of Locust Tree Village is my honored parent!"

"Uncle Tao is only everyone's representative! I believe that every villager who once gave me a mouthful of food or a piece of clothing would be willing to sit here and witness the day of my great joy."

The moment he said this, many villagers seated in the front rows immediately reddened around the eyes.

Several aunties pulled out handkerchiefs to wipe away tears. Even Uncle Tao, a sturdy man standing seven feet tall, could not help rubbing his eyes.

"This child... this child..."

The guests throughout the hall shouted their approval.

The auspicious hour had come, and the master of ceremonies shouted—

"First bow to Heaven and Earth!"

"Second bow to the honored parents!"

"Husband and wife bow to each other!"

"The rites are complete—send them into the bridal chamber!"

At the bridal chamber door, Xianggua and Xueli stood guard like two door gods, blocking the young men who wanted to make a ruckus in the bridal chamber.

"No, no! My young lady is shy around strangers!"

"Don't go in! You can make a ruckus another day!"

"If anyone takes one more step forward, I'll call for people!"

Everyone could only laugh and curse as they dispersed, turning instead to the feast and wine.

Jiang Tu made round after round of toasts in the courtyard. It was not until the latter half of the night that he saw off the final guest—Big Household Zhou, who was sobbing uncontrollably, clutching Jiang Tu's hand and endlessly giving him instructions—onto his carriage.

Creak—

He pushed open the door to the bridal chamber. Red candles burned high inside, and the bed curtains hung low.

The bride sat properly at the edge of the bed. Her veil hung down, covering her pretty face and revealing only a stretch of fair neck and half a collarbone. Her little hands rested obediently and properly on her knees, her fingertips pale. She was clearly somewhat nervous.

Xianggua poked her head through the door crack and winked mischievously. "Master, do you want us to stay with you?"

"Pah!" An embarrassed, angry rebuke came from beneath the veil. "You little sluts, I haven't even taken Master's first prize yet, and you two already want to stir up trouble? Go on, go on, get out!"

The two little maids giggled as they shut the door, their footsteps gradually fading away.

Jiang Tu could not help smiling. He had not expected this pretty young lady from a great household to have such a spirited and fierce side.

He walked to the bed and sat down, picking up the jade ruyi.

"My wife, it is time to lift the veil."

"...Mm."

Her voice was very soft. After a nervous intake of breath, her previous fierceness vanished again, becoming as faint as a mosquito's buzz.

Swish.

Jiang Tu used the jade ruyi to lift the red veil. Candlelight shone upon a face with features like a painting and skin fairer than snow.

Zhou Ning'e had a pretty, youthful face. Her features had only just begun to bloom, carrying a maiden's tender delicacy, but her figure was already exceptionally striking. The red wedding gown cinched her waist, lifting her full breasts and making her whole body look exquisitely curving. The bead strings hanging from her phoenix crown swayed lightly, reflecting brightly in her glittering eyes.

She raised her eyes to examine Jiang Tu once, then pursed her lips in a smile.

When a beauty smiled, a hundred charms came to life.

Her husband was much like she had imagined, even considerably better than she had imagined. His face looked younger than his actual age, his brows and eyes upright and clear. He lacked the coarse vulgarity of an ordinary farmhand; instead, he gave off a steady, dependable feeling.

"Husband."

She called softly, her voice sweet and soft.

Looking at her, Jiang Tu felt that this little girl was rather endearing.

He had only intended to put on an act, but after lifting the veil, his heart truly gave a fierce thump... Man was neither grass nor wood, and he was no sage. He had been single since birth, full of vigorous blood—how could he possibly be without feeling?

He took the girl's slender, delicate hand. Hand in hand, the two whispered private words for a while and drank their nuptial wine.

Zhou Ning'e pulled out a square of white cloth from the head of the bed. Blushing, she spread it over the mattress, then bit her lip and leaned close to Jiang Tu's ear. "Husband... later, can I be on top?"

Jiang Tu paused. "Hm? My wife possesses such skills? Have you secretly practiced?"

"Pah!" Zhou Ning'e's little face instantly flushed all the way to her ears. "What filthy skills are those? I've never practiced them...! I heard Father say that after entering the household, I must listen to Husband in all matters outside... So, for the pleasures between the sheets inside, could Husband... listen to this servant?"

Looking at the little girl before him, who was clearly embarrassed to death yet stubbornly trying to act tough, the amusement in Jiang Tu's heart deepened.

He reached out and wrapped an arm around her slender waist, fine enough to encircle in one hand, and softly said, "I'll listen to my wife in everything."

Swish.

The bed curtains fell, and the lamplight swayed.

A night of fierce wind and torrential rain, flutes and pipes without rest, zithers and lutes in harmony, dragon and phoenix joined in bliss, yin and yang harmonized, the Dao profound and deep. Then the clouds dispersed and the rain cleared, bright colors filled the sky—and there was no need to say more.

Late at night, dots of fallen red stained the white cloth.

Many scratch marks now covered Jiang Tu's back, and sweat streamed down him. Ning E in his arms was limp as well, fragrant sweat dripping from her body as she lay atop him, breathing softly. Even in sleep, her brows and eyes carried the flushed, alluring charm of a new bride.

He gently stroked her smooth back. The girl's skin was delicate as rich jade.

Just as he was about to fall asleep with her, the Sequence Golden Codex deep within his consciousness suddenly shook violently—

Event triggered

(New) At Qingshan Lakeside, Qin Xian successfully gave birth to a daughter after eighteen months of pregnancy. She named her Qin Tuo Yun, meaning that her daughter would remember the three benefactors. (Causality Value +60)

(New) Eighth Grade "Field Steward" Qin Tuo Yun was born. (Causality Value +120)

(New) An anomaly arose at Qingshan Lakeside: harvests flourished, abundance prospered, favorable weather prevailed, and agriculture thrived. (Causality Value +150) (Agricultural Dao Fortune +1) (Dao Foundation +1)

Jiang Tu's pupils abruptly constricted.

Holy shit! Double happiness had actually arrived tonight!

Qin Niangzi had given birth! It was a daughter! Was this some demon pill or spirit pearl? Eighteen months... no wonder there had been no movement for so long!

He could understand the rise in Agricultural Dao Fortune. It should signify that the Agricultural Path would no longer be the small-scale affair it had been before.

What caught his attention most was—

Dao Foundation +1.

Dao Foundation?

What was that supposed to be?