23 This Is Shanxiu Village (Bug Fixes)

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Li Ge’er went to the kitchen and asked the aunties who were helping with the cooking to prepare a bowl of brown sugar poached eggs, then brought it back inside for Ye Xi to eat. Ye Xi ate two, and seeing Li Ge’er looking at him expectantly, shared two more with him. The two of them took turns spooning the eggs, one scoop after another.

Outside, the banquet was in full swing, with people drinking and chatting all mixed together.

Li Ge’er took a sip of the sweet syrup and said, “Just now when I went out to get the poached eggs, guess who I saw?”

Ye Xi shook his head. “Who?”

Li Ge’er snorted, “Who else but the youngest son of the Lin family, your rival.”

Ye Xi raised an eyebrow. “What’s he doing here?” Given how much he disliked Ye Xi, he shouldn’t be attending his wedding banquet.

Li Ge’er replied, “He must have been dragged here by his mother. She’s not one to let things slide—since she already paid the bride price, she figured might as well eat her fill and brought the youngest son along.”

Ye Xi hummed in acknowledgment but didn’t think much of it. His mind was preoccupied with Lin Jiangshan outside; tonight, the village men were sure to ply him with plenty of wine. He wondered if he would get drunk.

Outside, at the banquet table, the youngest son sat with a sullen face beside his mother, ears filled with the village women’s praise for the feast.

“The Ye family is really generous—four meat dishes, four cold dishes, plus a hot soup. This banquet is quite extravagant,” said a woman from the Wang family, with some oil dripping from her mouth.

Mrs. Zhao, feeding her child meat, replied, “Exactly. I thought we’d only give ten wen and bring the child for a taste of meat, didn’t expect the dishes to be so decent.”

The Ye family’s banquet today was arranged by Liu Xiufeng, using the half pig’s meat Lin Jiangshan had sent, along with several chickens and ducks raised at home.

They served braised pork, potato stewed ribs, red-braised pig’s trotters, and Four Happiness meatballs as the main meats. Cold dishes included cucumbers tossed in sesame oil, pickled chicken gizzards, coriander mixed with pig’s ears, and broad beans with crunchy tripe. The hot soup was an old duck soup simmered with pickled radish.

No matter how you looked at it, this feast was impressive, giving the guests a hearty meat feast.

Though the plates were already half empty, the diners still vigorously waved their chopsticks, eating as if afraid to eat less than others.

This time, the cook was Sun Fatty, who was famous in the surrounding villages for his banquets. The flavor did not disappoint; this was one of the rare chances to enjoy a good feast.

Mrs. Zhao broke two steamed buns, wiped the leftover oil from the plate clean, then stuffed the buns into her child’s pocket, reminding, “Take this home to eat later, so you won’t be hungry at night.”

Nearby, Lin Yao looked down on these people’s ways—stingy and petty, their eating manners lacking any refinement. He shifted away, not wanting to sit near them.

Lin’s mother nudged him with her elbow, whispering angrily, “Are you stupid or what? Hurry up and eat. I paid the bride price, you better eat well.”

He really did not want to come to Ye Xi’s wedding banquet. Who wanted to eat their rice here? But his mother had dragged him along.

Once here, seeing the lively wedding scene, his eyes reddened with a mix of envy and jealousy. How could that ugly Ye Xi, whose face was scarred by burns, still find someone to marry him—and have such a decent wedding feast?

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Now, looking at the banquet, his anger swelled further. All he heard around him were praises for the Ye family, how splendid their feast was, and how lucky young master Ye Xi was.

So what was he, the youngest son, supposed to be? Since Ye Xi’s burns, many had come to propose at the Lin family, all saying he was the most handsome young man in the neighboring villages. He had been quite the star lately, so why now did the spotlight shift back to Ye Xi?

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. He slammed his chopsticks onto the bowl with a loud smack. “I’m done. I can’t eat anymore.”

Lin’s mother scolded him softly, “What’s your problem?! Why the tantrum? People are watching, don’t make a fool of yourself.”

Lin Yao complained, “I told you I didn’t want to come. You insisted. What am I doing here? Looking at Ye Xi’s glory? It just makes me feel suffocated.”

Lin’s mother glared. “You’re here to eat well at the Ye family’s expense. And now you barely touch your chopsticks? That ten wen was wasted!”

Lin Yao snapped, “What’s so tasty about their food? When it’s our youngest son’s feast, it better be hundreds of times better, so those blind villagers can see what a real feast looks like!”

Hearing this, Lin’s mother’s anger flared. “You’ve been seeing that Cao Bin from the Cao family for a long time, but there’s still no sign of engagement. Before, their proposal to the Ye family was swift—within a month, things were set. Now it’s our turn, but they’re holding back.”

Lin Yao bit his lip, silent. He was frustrated too. Cao Bin always said he’d inform his parents to arrange things quickly, but never actually came through. Now Ye Xi had married first. The words he used to mock Ye Xi now slapped him in the face.

“I’ll push him again,” Lin Yao said.

Lin’s mother was furious. “Your father can’t keep his mouth shut. He’s been bragging all over Mountain Show Village that we’re engaged to the Cao family, and everyone knows. But still no results. Someone’s waiting to see us fail. The district exam is coming up soon. If Cao Bin passes and becomes a scholar official, just wait. He won’t want you anymore.”

Lin Yao was anxious. They said men’s ambitions change their tastes. If Cao Bin really became a scholar, his family would marry him off to a wealthy lady. How could they still want him? He had to plan ahead.

“Also, the other night you sneaked out at midnight. Don’t think I didn’t see. I’ll pretend I don’t know. You’re restless now, and I can’t stop you. But if anyone sees, your reputation will be ruined. So stay home these few days and pester that Cao fellow.”

Lin Yao nodded. “I understand, Mother.”

The banquet ended, and Lin Jiangshan prepared to carry Ye Xi back to their new home halfway up the mountain.

Though the village men had forced him to drink round after round, Lin Jiangshan still walked steadily when he entered the house, though he reeked strongly of alcohol. Many others in the courtyard had already passed out.

At first, Ye Shan confidently shouted he would shield his brother-in-law from the drinks, but after a few bowls, he grew dizzy and unsteady. Lin Jiangshan alone took all the wine cups, drinking a full jar without changing expression.

The wine tonight was the fiery, sharp Shaodaozi brewed at the village’s eastern distillery. Those with weak tolerance would collapse after one or two bowls, sleeping for hours. Farmers loved using this wine at feasts—it saved on the amount guests drank and cut costs.

Ye Xi sat on the bed, Li Ge’er beside him already asleep. When Lin Jiangshan pushed open the door, a heavy scent of alcohol hit them. Ye Xi could smell it through his veil.

“How much did you drink?” Ye Xi asked through the veil.

Lin Jiangshan’s voice was low and rough. “Quite a bit, probably one or two jars.”

Ye Xi gasped. “And you’re still walking steady?”

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Lin Jiangshan chuckled softly, his voice hoarse. “Don’t worry. I still have the strength to carry you home.”

Ye Xi blushed, lowering his voice. “If you get drunk, I can walk halfway myself.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Lin Jiangshan bent, slipping through his knees to wrap his slender waist and effortlessly lifted him up, gently weighing him in his arms. He laughed, “So light. You’ll have to eat more from now on.”

Ye Xi, still covered by the veil, hooked his arms around Lin Jiangshan’s neck. “No way, I’m not raising a pig.”

Lin Jiangshan held him steadily and strode out of the room. The banquet in the courtyard had ended. Liu Xiufeng and Ye’s father stood at the door, lighting a string of firecrackers.

“The groom is setting off!”

The firecrackers exploded loudly as the guests gathered. Everyone knew the groom’s departure was the time to scatter gifts.

Liu Xiufeng brought a plate of peanuts, lotus seeds, and red dates, pulling Ye Xi’s hand to grab some. Ye Xi reached out and grabbed a handful, then scattered them on the path ahead, symbolizing that the groom’s marriage would soon bring children and great fortune.

The children and women all scrambled to pick up the scattered peanuts, red dates, and lotus seeds, which were great dry snacks to take home and sell at the market for a few copper coins.

As Ye Xi scattered the offerings, the silver bracelet on his wrist caught the light, gleaming bright against his slender, fair wrist—strikingly beautiful.

Sharp-eyed women and boys all lit up at the sight, envy shining in their eyes as they exclaimed.

“Oh, look! Groom Ye even has a silver bracelet hidden away.”

“That bracelet must be worth a few taels of silver. Groom Ye’s so lucky—there aren’t many in our village with such fine things!”

“Lin Hanzi really dotes on him, giving his husband a silver bracelet.”

One after another, the villagers voiced their envy and admiration for Ye Xi’s good fortune. Usually, the bridegroom’s family withheld the bride price from the bride’s family. Many families kept all the bride price money to themselves, sending the daughter off empty-handed. At best, generous parents might return half as a keepsake. But Ye Xi was different—his entire bride price was kept safe for him, and his husband even gave him a fine silver bracelet to wear. Few had such prominence.

Nearby, Lin Yao glared fiercely, eyes fixed on the silver bracelet on Ye Xi’s wrist.

Lin’s mother also looked enviously, her voice tinged with bitterness. “The Ye family really is lucky, meeting a man willing to spend silver on a bracelet. I’ve lived half my life without even a copper bracelet. I guess I won’t be so fortunate. Youngest son, you better make something of yourself and wear a gold bracelet someday—shine bright.”

Lin Yao clenched his fingers tightly, nails digging into his palm, leaving crescent-shaped marks. He bit his lip, pushed through the crowd, and walked straight toward Ye Xi.