Butcher Fulang’s Noodle Shop - Chapter 19
When Xu Zhongyue arrived to greet the bride on a tall horse, Song Shi’an couldn’t see him with the veil covering his face.
Xu Zhongyue looked magnificent in his red attire, his long hair neatly tied up, and a radiant smile on his face. His striking appearance turned many heads along the way.
Since Song Shi’an didn’t have a family to accompany him during the wedding, Xu Zhongyue made arrangements for the fisherman Old Man Liu’s and his family, who had previously saved his life, to attend. This thoughtful gesture added more joy to the wedding. They played a crucial role in the procession, showering copper coins into the crowd.
As the wedding procession advanced, people followed, shouting auspicious words and receiving wedding money. The atmosphere was extremely festive, with lots of people chasing the procession.
At Xu Zhongyue’s house, the courtyard door was adorned with red confetti, while red Double Happiness lanterns hung under the eaves. Cold dishes were arranged on a long table, and neighbors from afar came to offer their congratulations. They gathered in groups, enjoyed melon seeds and peanuts, and eagerly anticipated a grand feast.
Song Shi’an, sitting nervously in the sedan chair, was sweating. The veil over his face trembled with his tension. When the procession came to a halt, the curtain of the sedan chair was drawn back, and a fair hand reached inside.
Still bewildered, Song Shi’an suddenly felt himself being lifted. The hand slipped under his armpit and securely embraced his back. The other hand cradled his legs, effortlessly lifting him out of the sedan chair.
Song Shi’an might be slender but was rather tall, and as he was supported by Xu Zhongyue, his feet didn’t touch the ground. Xu Zhongyue carried him from the alley into the courtyard and then into the main house with ease.
The woman in charge of marriage ceremony, taking note of the auspicious moment, declared, “It’s time for the newlyweds to pay their respects!”
The wives of the Zhou and Yang families assisted Song Shi’an as he faced the high hall. Since Xu Zhongyue had no parents, only a blank tablet was present. Aunt Liu had prepared a tablet with the name Liu, representing Song Shi’an’s mother’s family. His father’s tablet remained empty. They bowed to the heaven and the earth, and to the high hall, then they turned to face each other, bowing deeply to each other.
“Let the husband and wife bow to each other -” The woman in charge’s voice resonated with joy as Song Shi’an bowed deeply. His red veil fluttered slightly, revealing his delicate chin and two rouged lips, small and enchanting.
With the completion of the ceremony and the blessing from the elder, it was time for the newlyweds to be led into the bridal chamber. After a banquet and much merrymaking, the climax of the wedding day was about to unfold.
As the wedding continued, the hem of Song Shi’an’s wedding dress was quite long, much more intricate than the robes he typically wore, and the surroundings were abuzz with noise. With his ears ringing, he accidentally tripped on the hem of the dress, causing his lips to touch Xu Zhongyue’s back.
Xu Zhongyue turned around, squatted down, and offered to carry Song Shi’an on his back.
There was a young boy in the crowd who had a big red date in his mouth and started teasing the newlyweds. He called out, “Carry your wife on your back, carry your wife on your back, the butcher is carrying his wife on his back!”
As Song Shi’an’s legs dangled in Xu Zhongyue’s arms, the man stood up, and for a moment, Song Shi’an tried to straighten his back to create some distance. However, Xu Zhongyue frowned slightly, using one hand to grab Song Shi’an’s wrist and guide him to sit more securely on his back, eventually wrapping his arms around the man’s neck. It was a heartwarming sight, and Aunt Liu was pleased to see the young couple so much in love.
Upon entering the new house, the noise of the outside world receded temporarily. When Xu Zhongyue gently placed Song Shi’an on the ground, the bride sat nervously with his legs together. His hands trembled slightly beneath the wide red sleeves, clenched so tightly that the tendons bulged.
Seeing his wife’s unease, Xu Zhongyue, hidden from the veil, comforted him softly, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here with you, and I’ll take good care of you. Are you hungry? How about I ask Aunt Lin to bring you some noodles as a snack? Don’t be shy, you’re in your new family now.”
Unbeknownst to Xu Zhongyue, Song Shi’an’s greatest fear at that moment was not the hunger in his stomach, but something else.
As they held hands, Xu Zhongyue’s deep and melodic voice whispered reassurances in Song Shi’an’s ear, helping to dispel some of the fear that had taken hold. Their wedding day marked the beginning of their life together as husband and wife.
The wedding celebration continued with a sumptuous feast. Old Man Liu’s three daughters-in-law had helped prepare the dishes, and the menu was both hearty and full of symbolism for good luck.
Dishes like “Congratulations to All Dragons,” “Flying Together Mandarin Ducks,” and “Good Luck and Longevity Tofu Balls” created a joyful and festive atmosphere.
Among the guests, there were two unexpected attendees: Lin Zhihang, the young master of the North and South Trading Company, and Miss Zhao from the prestigious Zhao family. Their presence added an interesting twist to the wedding celebration.
Lin Zhihang and Miss Zhao watched the festivities from a distance, their hearts filled with a bittersweet feeling. They sent their congratulations to the newlyweds and joined the crowd, enjoying the delicious dishes and the lively atmosphere.
While savoring the food, Lin Zhihang’s mind kept drifting back to the moment when the couple had paid their respects at the wedding ceremony. He recalled how Song Shi’an’s delicate lips was showed a little bit because of the wind, a sigh escaping him. He quickly resumed eating, but the two meat loafs on his plate disappeared in an instant, as if someone had swiftly taken them away.
He marveled at the flavor of the meatloaf, noticing a milky aroma that made it incredibly delicious.
Miss Zhao, on the other hand, sat at her own table, served by her maid who placed a braised pork knuckle on her plate. The hot weather made her sweat as she ate, and she couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness. She couldn’t cry, as her tears had transformed into beads of sweat.
“Hey, that meatloaf…”
“Alright, Miss!” The clever maid, if she knew what Miss Zhao was really thinking, would probably think that her tears had turned into saliva.
As the night wore on, the guests continued to drink and celebrate. The festivities didn’t end until the late hours, with Butcher Xu becoming quite drunk and unaware of what was going on.
A group of neighborly men helped Butcher Xu and carried him into the bridal chamber, their foreheads covered in sweat. Butcher Xu was quite tall and thin, yet he had a robust body that felt heavy on their shoulders.
Once the last guest had left and the door was closed, everything fell quiet. Only the moonlight shone through the window. Song Shi’an was about to lift his veil to look at Xu Zhongyue when his hand was held again.
Xu Zhongyue’s large hand enveloped Song Shi’an’s hand, gently pulling off the bright red veil bit by bit. Their eyes met, and Xu Zhongyue couldn’t help but smile.
“Are you not drunk?”
Xu Zhongyue’s smile deepened, and he said, “Of course I pretended to be drunk for them.”
As Song Shi’an lowered his head, his chin was cupped in Xu Zhongyue’s hand. Xu Zhongyue had been waiting for this moment, savoring the chance to hold his wife’s exquisite face like this.
Their lips drew near, but Song Shi’an turned his head away at the last moment. Xu Zhongyue’s nose grazed his temple, capturing the scent of his fragrant hair.
“Tired… you must be tired. Rest now.” Song Shi’an was so nervous that he could barely speak as he stammered out a request, “Let’s… let’s take a shower,” he mumbled, his cheeks flushed.
Xu Zhongyue gave a soft smile, appreciating the beauty of his beloved wife. The wedding dress accentuated Song Shi’an’s delicate and pleasing features. A red diamond-shaped mark adorned his forehead, matching the wedding dress, and his eyes sparkled with a hint of desire beneath.
The pressure of Xu Zhongyue’s strong and sturdy body overcame Song Shi’an, and when he tried to voice a protest, it transformed into a passionate kiss.
Once the kiss ended, Song Shi’an was left breathless, his cheeks flushed, and his vision blurred with excitement.
He weakly pushed Xu Zhongyue away, “It’s hot, and I’m sweaty. Let’s… let’s take a shower.”
Xu Zhongyue released him and left the room to prepare a bath. He secured the door bolts to ensure their privacy.
In the kitchen, he boiled two large pots of hot water to fill the high-quality bathtub they had recently purchased. The steaming water made it easy to move into the bathroom. Song Shi’an hesitated for a moment, then asked, “Aren’t you… going out?”
But Xu Zhongyue turned his back and gazed out at the moonlight beyond the latticed windows and the dark rooftops that stretched like the backs of countless carp.
Song Shi’an hesitated for a moment but ultimately couldn’t resist the allure of a bath. The heat of the day, combined with the layers of wedding attire, had left him sweaty. As he stripped off his clothes and stepped into the bath, the sound of rushing water filled the room.
Xu Zhongyue maintained his restraint and didn’t turn around, allowing Song Shi’an to acclimate himself at his own pace.