Aunt Zheng and her daughter Zheng Huier had just arrived at the Pei family's residence the previous day, so they hadn't met Qi Jiao yet.
Aunt Zheng didn't have a favorable impression of Qi Jiao, who was described by Tang Guiniang as the most extraordinary woman under the sky. Instead, she felt a bit of indescribable envy.
She had known that her elder sister's eldest son was capable. She should have betrothed Huier to him.
Her Huier had grown into a graceful and gentle young lady. In Aunt Zheng's eyes, she was the best young woman in the world.
After exchanging greetings with Tang Guiniang, Aunt Zheng could only sigh inwardly.
Now, with the Pei family in such good circumstances, it was a pity that all these advantages had gone to that girl from the Qi family.
A young woman should stay at home to be filial to her mother - in - law and serve her husband. How could she show herself in public all day long, working as a cook and doing business? What a disgrace!
Aunt Zheng didn't dare to voice these thoughts to Tang Guiniang. Tang Guiniang was her only elder sister, and it was too late to say anything now. She didn't want to cause any unpleasantness between them.
When Aunt Zheng and Zheng Huier came, Tang Guiniang cleaned up Pei Jin's room for them to stay in.
Pei Jin and Tang Guiniang lived in the east room of the main house.
At night, Zheng Huier pushed the door open and came in. She saw her mother sitting silently in front of the table. The jewelry box on the table was open, and her mother was holding a silver - inlaid jade ring in her hand.
Zheng Huier said softly, "Mother, why aren't you sleeping yet?"
She had just finished decorating the wedding room with Pei Jin and Jiang Yuniang, hanging the bed curtains and pasting the wedding characters. She had been busy for a long time and had just come back.
Aunt Zheng rubbed her temples and said, "I'm choosing a meeting gift for your cousin's new wife."
Zheng Huier walked over and helped her mother massage her shoulders. "I've heard that this cousin - in - law is extremely smart and capable. She even made money on her own and bought a house in the county all at once. Aunt and A Jin all like her very much. Mother, this gift can't be too shabby."
Aunt Zheng smiled and said, "My Huier is the most kind - hearted. You haven't even met her yet, but you're already speaking well of her. Why does a woman need to be so ambitious? Does she want to ride on your cousin's head in the future?"
Zheng Huier thought her mother's words were inappropriate, but she didn't dare to refute. She lowered her head and said nothing.
Seeing that her daughter was silent, Aunt Zheng coaxed her, "Don't worry. I know how to handle it."
A country girl from a fishing family who had never seen the world, no matter how capable she was, was destined to a life of hard work.
The silver - inlaid jade ring in her hand was a bit old, and there were black spots in the green jade. But it was good enough for Pei Xia's new wife.
If she really gave something precious, she probably wouldn't be able to enjoy it.
Having made up her mind, Aunt Zheng wrapped the ring in a handkerchief and put it in a prominent place.
On the other side, Pei Xia was having his hair trimmed and his appearance tidied up in Pei Li's room.
He looked at himself in the mirror from various angles but still wasn't satisfied.
Huanghuang, Dada, and Lianlian, the three dogs, were lying on the window - sill, watching Pei Xia. Even the three dogs got bored, not to mention Pei Li, who had already fallen asleep snoring.
Pei Xia sighed. On the eve of the wedding, no one (or dog) could understand him.
He was really too excited to fall asleep.
Tomorrow he would be able to see Jiao Niang!
Early on the eighth day, before dawn, Qi Jiao was pulled up by Aunt Ye with all her might.
Pei Xia and Qi Jiao's acquaintance had started as a farce.
The beginning was absurd, but the ending was happy.
Pei Xia had followed the etiquette and invited a matchmaker. It was none other than Zuo Lide, the village head of Biwu Village.
Zuo Lide asked his son and daughter - in - law to come and help. Several of his grandchildren also came to join the fun. Even Zuo Yi, who was studying in the county school, was dragged back.
Zuo Yi and his father went to the Pei family, while several aunts from the Zuo family stayed at the Ye family.
Aunt Cai lived nearby. She also came early with her son and daughter - in - law to help. Her grandson, Ah Hu, rushed into the room to see Qi Jiao.
He saw the open and moist rouge on the table. The fragrance was so alluring that he couldn't help dipping his finger in it and sucking it.
This made Aunt Cai angry. She rolled up her sleeves and grabbed his ear. "You good - for - nothing! You put everything in your mouth. Is this rouge something you can eat?"
Qi Jiao quickly stopped her and smiled as she handed over a shiny pine - nut candy. "Ah Hu, eat this."
She then took out a large plate of snow - flake cakes, nougat, some dried red dates, and apricot preserves. "Here, go and share these with everyone."
Ah Hu was extremely happy. He took the wedding candies and ran out happily, distributing them as he went.
For a moment, the yard of the Ye family was filled with the laughter and cheers of children. There were also two or three slightly older little girls, who were well - behaved and shy. They were in the room, watching Qi Jiao put on makeup.
Qi Jiao thought they were cute and gave each of them a beaded hairpin.
The little girls were so happy that their eyes were almost closed. When they smiled, two missing front teeth were exposed. They kept saying auspicious words.
The Ye family had invited the best hair - dressing woman in the town. Aunt Ye was afraid that Qi Jiao would be hungry, so she first cooked a bowl of hot glutinous rice balls and fed them to her. "Eat some first to fill your stomach, or you won't have time to eat later."
The hair - dressing woman had dressed the hair of many new brides in Yinwan, but it was the first time she had seen such a beautiful and charming young lady. She couldn't help but praise, "There's actually such a perfect person in the world. The eldest son of the Pei family is really lucky!"
Aunt from the Zuo family also smiled and praised, "That's right! In our Yinwan, there's no second Jiao Niang. The Pei family has really married a treasure."
The women were discussing enthusiastically, but Qi Jiao was a bit uncomfortable.
The hair - dressing woman used a thin string to remove the fine hair on her face. Her face burned with pain, and Qi Jiao almost cried out.
After washing her face again and applying floral face cream, she finally calmed down.
Then came powdering, eyebrow - drawing, applying rouge, and pasting pearl facial moles. Even the back of her neck was smeared with expensive, light - white, and smooth fragrant powder - these were all from the batch that Pei Xia had bought and there was still some left.
Aunt Cai carried a large wooden tray over. There were all kinds of hairpins and head ornaments on it for Qi Jiao to choose from.
Qi Jiao chose a gilded and beaded head ornament with a step - shaking crown as the main piece.
The hair - dressing woman immediately understood. She rubbed her hands to warm them up, then spread sweet - osmanthus hair oil on Qi Jiao's hair. Then she piled up her hair high like clouds and fixed it with a double - petal hibiscus gold hairpin. After the hair bun was shaped, she inserted small and large pearl hairpins and gilded combs behind her ears.
Finally, she put on that flower - tree step - shaking crown.
Qi Jiao's temples were like black clouds, her cheeks were as white as new snow, her eyes were captivating, and her face was as red as the setting sun.
The hair - dressing woman looked at her from both sides, then chose pomegranate - red rouge and swept it obliquely across the corners of Qi Jiao's eyes, making it spread on her face to create a peach - blossom makeup. She was truly a peach - blossom - like beauty.
She applied a small amount of red on her lips. Her crescent - shaped green eyebrows were drawn long and curved. A bone - eroding charm emerged from the corners of her eyes and eyebrows. It was the unique charm of a young and beautiful woman after getting rid of her childishness.
Qi Jiao was already good - looking. After being carefully groomed by the hair - dressing woman, she was even more incredibly beautiful. The gold and jade jewelry added an air of dignity and nobility.
Especially the pearl facial moles on her forehead and the corner of her lips, which made Qi Jiao look like a fairy. Even in silence, she was charming.
Finally, Qi Jiao put on that red wedding dress with intricate embroidery. Her amazing beauty instantly illuminated the entire Ye family courtyard.
Soon it was time for the groom to come and fetch the bride.
Qi Jiao was helped out of the door. A crimson gauze screen was placed in front of her.
Aunt Ye pulled her to sit down. Aunt Cai stuffed a lucky fan into her hand. "Hold this to cover the lower half of your face. This is a custom of the wealthy families, the fan - removing ceremony. Although we in Yinwan don't usually follow this, the eldest son specifically instructed it. Firstly, it's convenient for you to move around, and secondly, it shows his respect for you."
Qi Jiao held the delicate round fan. Her heart warmed, and she showed a bright smile.