In Guangcheng, the local wedding custom is basically to fetch the bride before noon and have the banquet in the evening. If both parties are locals, the bride is brought to the groom’s ho, serves tea, and then returns to her parents’ ho, which is considered a visit back ho. In the evening, they jointly invite relatives and friends to celebrate.
As the saying goes, when in Ro, do as the Romans do. Since Ying Xiaoya is getting married in Guangcheng, the groom naturally cos to fetch the bride close to noon.
Cheng Su is the adoptive daughter of the Cheng family, so she should be part of Cheng Yaozu’s team to fetch the bride. However, she is also Ying Xiaoya’s best friend, and now the two are becoming sisters-in-law. Ying Xiaoya repeatedly requested and appealed, so Cheng Su joined the wedding procession.
The Ying family’s ho was almost packed with people, including relatives who ca to support Ying Xiaoya, as well as sisters she knows here, so old classmates, and the like, all bustling and lively.
Cheng Su was in Ying Xiaoya’s boudoir. She had already been made up by the makeup artist, having exquisite makeup, and the white wedding dress was already on her.
It was winter, and her wedding dress was the trendy small-sleeve conservative design, but the craftsmanship was very exquisite, with embroidered orchids on the skirt, adorned with pearls scattered roundly on the bed, extrely beautiful.
As for the makeup, it was styled to suit her complexion, with her long hair pinned up, and a pearl headband atop her head. At the back of her chignon, two pearl hairpins were fixed, the design simple yet elegant, making her look dignified and generous, yet not lacking in charm.
At this mont, Ying Xiaoya was wringing her hands, occasionally lightly biting her lip, a sign of nervousness.
"Don’t bite," Cheng Su stopped Ying Xiaoya when she tried again, "My dear, you’ve touched up your lip color five tis now, bite again and you’ll need more, with lipstick on your teeth."
Ying Xiaoya’s cheeks were flushed, "Susu, I’m so nervous."
"Deep breaths, deep breaths," Cheng Su laughed.
"I..."
"The groom is here to fetch the bride!"
Ying Xiaoya just opened her mouth, when soone outside shouted; then soone walked in—it was Xiao Ya’s bridesmaid, also an employee at Joy Soon Loy’s branch, a young girl nad Tong Li.
"Sisters, let’s go out and intercept him for red envelopes. We’re the second checkpoint here. Have the shoes been hidden well?" Tong Li said, smiling.
With the bride-fetching custom, the groom must pass checkpoints to reach the bride, but he can’t completely take her away yet. At this mont, the bride only has one shoe on and needs to locate and put it on to proceed. Tong Li loved fun and mischievously spun around the room with Ying Xiaoya’s red shoe, finally stuffing it into the bag she carried.
Cheng Su watched with narrowed eyes, smiling.
She helped Ying Xiaoya check over everything once again, making sure all the required items were ready for departure without any hasty omission.
Outside, as the groom, Cheng Yaozu, crossed five obstacles and distributed a pile of red envelopes, he also staged a whole night of sleeplessness, dizzily claiming headache at Ying Xiaoya’s private room door, enough to induce distress in Xiao Ya. With no delay, she opened the door.
Tong Li exclaid with playful accusations, but she had another trick: "Unless you find the bride’s shoe, you can’t leave. Bring a token offering of longevity, and I’ll reveal it to you."
Cheng Yaozu waved his hand, and the Brotherhood imdiately began rummaging, while Tong Li watched smilingly, observing their futile effort.
A mont later, when Cheng Yaozu couldn’t find it, he complained about missing the auspicious ti and turned his gaze to Cheng Su.
Cheng Su smiled and glanced at Tong Li; Cheng Yaozu followed the gaze toward her bag, and soon retrieved the shoe, putting it on Ying Xiaoya, "Thanks to little sister for acting as the inside helper."
Tong Li and the others shouted in mock anger, calling Cheng Su a traitor, demanding a pile of red envelopes before letting go.
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