Chapter 20

The Gu family banquet stretched from the bamboo pavilion courtyard all the way beyond the bamboo grove, totaling ten tables—a rare grand occasion in these parts.

After the groom was handed over, Gu Chengwu barely had time to rest before seven or eight men hooted and dragged him outside for drinks.

The villagers all harbored a certain fear of Gu Chengwu—he had come down from the battlefield, slain many enemies, was highly skilled, and stern by nature. No one dared to approach him to toast; it was only under the urging of their own wives that some reluctantly stepped forward to raise their glasses.

“You reckless fellow, even the county magistrate’s men have shown up at the Gu family wedding feast. You must seize this chance to mingle!” scolded Wang Niangzi, the tofu seller’s wife, giving her slow-witted husband a sharp nudge. She had barely paid attention to the Gu family before, but upon seeing so many acquaintances and such a splendid banquet, she quickly put on a friendly face. Nearby women curled their lips, looking down on Wang Niangzi’s slick demeanor.

Though Gu Chengwu was not one to smile much, he understood the necessary courtesies and responded to every toast made. The kitchen had yet to bring out the dishes, but the wine had already flowed through several rounds.

Li Si, who was on better terms with Gu Chengwu than most, shielded him from drinking too much, and when no one was looking, leaned in with a grin to whisper into Gu Chengwu’s ear:

“Brother, I’ll drink this round for you—don’t drink too much and mess up tonight’s wedding night.”

Gu Chengwu, rare to see smiling, let the coldness in his eyes soften and replied in a calm voice, “Thanks for that.”

Outside the commotion carried on noisily, but inside the bridal chamber, Jiang Yun sat upright, hands clenched tightly together until the palms were sweaty. Beneath the red veil, her eyes flickered with anxiety and unease.

Voices from outside filtered in, and she occasionally caught Gu Chengwu’s voice among the crowd. Unlike other men shouting loudly and boisterously, his tone was steady and penetrating.

Only now did Jiang Yun truly realize, somewhat belatedly, that she was married—and to Gu Chengwu.

Confusion and sorrow spread within her. She feared that Gu Chengwu might treat her as harshly as other men in the village did, having shown no mercy while clearing out the Jiang family. She worried her days ahead would be difficult.

Yet she clung to a sliver of hope, believing Gu Chengwu to be a reasonable man. If she worked diligently and showed respect, she might still carve out a place for herself at the Gu household.

Her eyelids lowered, her pupils a tangle of complex emotions.

The bridal chamber door creaked open.

Jiang Yun trembled with nervousness, still unsure how to face Gu Chengwu, when she saw a pair of small, delicate hands beneath the veil.

A child’s innocent voice sounded: “Brother Yun, Second Auntie asked me to bring you some fruit.”

Only the husband could lift the veil of the groom. Jiang Yun could not see clearly through it but recognized the voice as that of a six- or seven-year-old girl. She dared not ask who this Second Auntie was, only murmured a soft thanks.

The moment the preserved fruit touched her tongue, Jiang Yun’s expression brightened with delight. She did not know what kind of fruit it was, but it was undoubtedly a precious delicacy. Back at her own home, even Jiang Mo had to beg for such treats.

With sweetness in her mouth and comfort in her heart, Jiang Yun’s tension eased.

The little girl giggled and sat down beside Jiang Yun, kicking her feet up. “Second Auntie said this fruit isn’t for outsiders—it’s specially bought by Little Brother Wu just for you.”

Jiang Yun froze. Such a precious thing was really meant only for her?

Her eyes grew moist with unexplainable emotion. Gu Chengwu was not here, and she could find no one to thank. Holding the fruit carefully, she felt its weight immense, and she nibbled it with caution.

“You eat some too,” Jiang Yun whispered, offering the fruit to the girl.

The little girl leapt up joyfully. “Thank you, Brother Yun.”

With food in hand, their conversation opened, though mostly the girl spoke while Jiang Yun listened. Yet she finally learned the girl’s identity.

Gu Chengwu was the godson of Zhang Cuilan, who was now the girl’s godmother. Her own son had died on the battlefield, and her relatives lived in a distant village, leaving her poor and unable to care for the child. Seeing Gu Chengwu had no family, she treated him as her own son.

The little girl was Yuan Yuan, Zhang Cuilan’s youngest daughter. She had been invited over for the wedding.

In the kitchen, busy with preparations, Zhang Cuilan borrowed several wooden basins from the village carpenter to wash vegetables.

Her own elder sister, sorting vegetables nearby, glanced toward the bridal chamber and whispered with lowered voice, “I’ve heard the one your Little Wu married doesn’t have a good reputation, and her family isn’t respectable.”

Zhang Cuilan paused mid-wash, her smile dimming somewhat. “Their family’s reputation is their own affair. As long as the girl is good and willing to live well with Little Wu, that’s what matters most.”

Their relationship had never been close; in hard times, her sister had offered little help. Her presence today was more about maintaining appearances for family’s sake.

The sister’s ill-timed words soured Zhang Cuilan’s mood, so she turned away and busied herself at the stove.

Zhang Cuihua, who had looked down on this sister, thought a widow with no son was a pitiful figure. She didn’t know what luck Zhang Cuilan had gained by marrying a hunter’s son, but now her life was better than hers.

Poverty was bearable, but the bitterness of comparison was not. Seeing Zhang Cuilan prosper, Zhang Cuihua sought to gain some benefit, so she clung closely to the family.

“I’m just saying, everyone around here knows,” she muttered, careful not to speak too loudly.

No one paid her much mind. Zhang Cuilan, Madam Xu, and Zhang Xiulan sat together, all displeased with the troublemakers of the day.

“Enough of that, let’s talk about something happier. My husband just came back from town with good news,” Madam Xu said with a smile, drawing their curiosity.

Zhang Xiulan nudged her eagerly, “You’re killing me! What good news? Tell us!”

“My husband said the son of the Liu family across the river passed the examination on the first try. He’s now a scholar and official.”

“Oh wow, only in his teens and already a scholar! The future looks bright!”

“Not just our few villages—the whole county has few spots for scholars. If he rises to a high position, it’ll be a blessing for our village,” Zhang Xiulan said, beaming.

Her excitement was understandable. The Da Li era had stabilized in recent years, with fewer court intrigues. The imperial examinations had become more meritocratic, with fewer passing slots but better arrangements for those who succeeded. Scholars of recent years were more valuable than ever before.

Zhang Xiulan asked, “How did your husband hear the news so fast? The Liu family hasn’t even received a letter yet.”

“My husband came back the day the results were posted. These scholar-officials don’t leave immediately—they stay a few days for the county’s thank-you banquet, so there’s a delay. But it should be soon.”

News of the Liu family’s scholar had circulated through the village by now.

The Gu family wedding feast had lasted all day, from noon into night. Such a grand occasion was rare in the village.

There were chickens, ducks, fish, and rabbits—all in abundance. Everyone wished they had more mouths and stomachs to enjoy it all. Some sneaky ones tried to pocket meat when no one was watching, but were caught and made a great spectacle of.

After the feast, the drunken men were helped away one by one. Li Si, who lived in the county town, also left with his men.

The courtyard was left in disarray after the noise. Zhang Cuilan cleaned up bowls and counted the basins borrowed to wash and return them. Da Hei, the dog, was finally freed and gleefully devoured the scraps on the ground.

Though Li Si and his men helped shield Gu Chengwu from too much drinking during the day, the rounds took their toll. Gu Chengwu smelled strongly of alcohol, his steps unsteady but still able to walk and keep his wits.

Zhang Cuilan went to the kitchen and simmered a bowl of rice with chicken, duck, fish, and rabbit chunks over low heat.

“Your husband hasn’t eaten all day. I’ll bring this in shortly.” The dish was prepared ahead of time before serving. Some families imposed strict rules on the bride and groom, forbidding even a drop of water on their wedding day, starving them deliberately. Zhang Cuilan despised such cruelty.

Gu Chengwu nodded. Zhang Cuilan forbade him from doing chores in the courtyard. After a moment’s thought, he went straight into the bridal chamber.

Inside, red candles glowed brightly, their flickering light casting sparks on the lattice windows. The wedding bed was strewn with peanuts and red dates. Jiang Yun sat poised in the center. They were not strangers, yet neither spoke a word now.

Jiang Yun twisted her fingers nervously, hearing the door open and close. Such a tall man entering could not be silent.

A flash of red passed by as the groom lifted the veil.

Jiang Yun instinctively looked up, and their eyes unexpectedly met.

He was dressed in red, quite different from his usual black. The robe’s broad shoulders and narrow sleeves made his posture even more imposing. When he looked down at Jiang Yun, there was an undeniable pressure in his gaze.

Jiang Yun was stunned, realizing a young man staring so intently was something to be embarrassed about. Her cheeks flushed, and she lowered her head, avoiding Gu Chengwu’s eyes.

He only lifted the veil, making no other moves. Jiang Yun was stunned a long while and heard no words.

“Are you hungry?” Gu Chengwu finally spoke, breaking the silence.

As a groom on the wedding day, Jiang Yun couldn’t eat much—he had only had a few pieces of preserved fruit in the afternoon and was already quite hungry.

Being a new groom who just arrived at the Gu household and asking for food might bring disdain, so Jiang Yun shook his head, still not daring to look up.

But Gu Chengwu noticed Jiang Yun’s hand instinctively touching his stomach—he was clearly hungry but too timid to say so.

The door opened again. Gu Chengwu turned and left the bridal chamber.

Jiang Yun panicked and looked up, his eyes full of helplessness. He had heard that if the groom left the bridal chamber on the wedding day, it meant the husband was not pleased with the bride.

He bit his lip, too afraid to ask him to stay, tears brimming in his eyes.

Before a single tear fell, the man returned, carrying a bowl of rice. The aroma of meat and vegetables wafted over, making Jiang Yun’s stomach rumble softly.

“Since you agreed to marry here, you will never go hungry again.” The bowl was placed before Jiang Yun, chopsticks cleaned and ready—everything was arranged meticulously.

Back at the Jiang household, Jiang Yun had seen Liu Guihua serve Jiang Shunde. Not only did Liu Guihua neglect to serve when she was delirious with fever, but Jiang Shunde never cared.

Every family in the village was like that, which led Jiang Yun to believe all men were the same. Now, suddenly, Gu Chengwu was different.

“T-thank you,” Jiang Yun stammered, voice timid and low.

Gu Chengwu nodded, saying no more. He sat beside Jiang Yun, watching him eat. As he looked, he noticed Jiang Yun suppressing tears, looking utterly frightened.

It reminded him of a young soldier he once commanded—only ten years old, who refused to eat because he disliked the army food, nearly starving himself. Gu Chengwu had stood by with his great sword, frowning until the boy finished his meal.

That boy had cried as he ate.

Now, Jiang Yun seemed much the same. Gu Chengwu could not understand why Jiang Yun ate with tears in his eyes. Was this some tradition of the Da Li children?