Finally, on the first day of the wedding, there was a sound of "dong dong dong" chopping minced meat in the kitchen, boiling water was boiling in the stove, a few chickens and ducks were tied behind the door, which were the protagonists of the wedding banquet, and a bunch of greens, mushrooms, potatoes, and carrots were placed on the stove.

A few middle-aged women were talking about the short family of the east and the west, and the selection of vegetables in their hands, the diced dices, the atmosphere of talking and laughing was very joyful, they were the neighbors of the Mei family, and they came to help. Chen Yuqin was on the side and face-to-face, and she was doing a homely meal with the women.

"Sister-in-law Mei, your family is really blessed. Climbing the Zhou family's family business, it will really be worry-free in the future. ”

"Yes, Ruojun's appearance, at first glance, is the life of a young grandmother, and we people from small families don't dare to come to propose marriage."

"Yes, last year, Aunt Wang's dog fell in love with Ruojun and said that he wanted to find a matchmaker to propose marriage, I told her on the spot, dispel the idea of this year as soon as possible, the two girls of the Mei family look like they are not rich or expensive, how can they marry her dog? She also had an argument with me......"

"Sister-in-law Mei, you have decided on this family business."

Chen Yuqin listened to everyone's compliments, and her heart was much more steady, although she tried her best to promote this marriage, but she always had a little uneasiness in her heart, after all, the eldest young master of the Zhou family was a little crippled, and Ruojun was not her own, she was afraid that others would say that she was not kind, and now when she heard everyone say this, she felt much more relieved and comfortable.

In the bedroom, Mei Xuefei carefully took out a yellowed pearl necklace that had been treasured for a long time from a small jewelry box and brought it to her daughter, and said, "This is what your mother left for you." Daddy is useless, there is no decent dowry for you......" he coughed and gasped.

Ruojun worriedly smoothed his father's back a few times, and said uncomfortably: "Dad, don't say that, you are a good father, you must take care of your health." She looked at her father's pale and emaciated face, her heart was sour, and she shed tears, she knew that her father's tuberculosis had reached an advanced stage and would pass away at any time, which was one of the reasons why her father had to agree to this family business, if it was a few years earlier, Mei Xuefei would never let her daughter marry so aggrieved, but now, he knows that his time is short, and his family is so difficult that he has to bow to reality, and he has no strength to argue with his wife.

Ruojun, who put on makeup and wore the bride's wedding dress, was dizzy, but her face was full of sorrow, Mei Xuefei couldn't help but shed tears and said: "Ruojun, it's all because your father is not angry, and you have been wronged." ”

Mei Ruojun shook her head with sadness and said, "Dad, don't worry, I will take care of myself and be a good daughter-in-law." ”

Chen Yuqin walked in, her face was full of joy on the side, and she said: "Oh, the Zhou family is a scholarly family with rich property, if you don't suffer, you can rest assured." ”

Mei Ruojun also knew in her heart that Chen Yuqin was a stepmother after all, although she didn't embarrass her much for so many years, but she must be different from Ruoli, just like Ruoli can go to high school and go to college in the future, and she is just studying with her father at home. Now that he has been married to the Zhou family and received a rich dowry, it is naturally a great joy in Chen Yuqin's eyes.

Mei Ruojun doesn't mind her stepmother's favoritism, she loves her sister Ruoli and loves this family, if her marriage can help the family get through the difficulties and let Ruoli complete her studies, then she is willing.

After a while, my sister Mei Ruoli was wearing a new pink dress, and she ran and jumped in happily, and when she saw her sister wearing makeup and wearing a wedding dress, she clapped her hands in amazement: "Sister, do you know, if in ancient times, you were elected to the palace, the emperor would definitely take a fancy to you and let you be a mother." At that time, you must be more favored than Yang Guifei, looking back and smiling, the six palaces have no color, which is to describe you. ”

"Poof" Mei Ruojun was amused by her exaggerated statement: "When you get married in the future, see how you describe yourself." ”

At noon, the Mei family invited some neighbors around to have a meal, and at dusk there was the sound of ticking music and firecrackers outside the door, and the Zhou family's welcoming team had come, and Chen Yuqin was busy putting the big red Xipa on Ruojun's head.

The neighbors came out to see the excitement and discussed:

"Hey, this week's family is a famous family."

"Yes, I heard that the ancestor was a big official."

"Yes, I didn't expect the Mei family to be able to climb such a good family."

"Hey, hey, you see, the groom on the horse is really a talent, and the eldest girl of the Mei family is indeed a natural pair."

"No, you're mistaken, that's the groom's younger brother."

"Ah, why is the little brother-in-law marrying the sister-in-law?"

"Ahem, you really think that pies will fall from the sky, today's groom official is Zhou Ruian, the eldest young master of the Zhou family, who is a lame man, half of his body can't move, and he can't ride a horse, so he asked the second young master Zhou Ruikang to marry his brother."

"Ouch, it's a cripple, this is a loss to the big girl of the Mei family."

"Alas, this is fate, you tell me, the appearance and character of this Mei family girl are one in a hundred."

"A cripple is a cripple, one has wealth and the other is good-looking, and it is a match."

Along the way, everyone pointed and discussed, and after a while, the welcoming team arrived at the door of Mei's house, and Mrs. Zhang happily led Zhou Ruikang into the courtyard of Mei's house.

Mei Ruojun sat nervously on the edge of the bed, Mei Ruoli ran back and forth excitedly, saw Zhou Ruikang walk in the door, and hurriedly ran in and said in Mei Ruojun's ear: "Sister, Zhou Ruikang is here to pick you up." He's so handsome. ”

Mei Ruojun smiled bitterly behind Xipa, no matter how handsome Zhou Ruikang is, it has nothing to do with her, she needs to muster up the courage to face her husband Zhou Ruian, whom she has never met.

Mrs. Zhang walked in with a smile and helped Mei Ruojun out of the room with Ruoli, kowtowed to her parents, and Zhou Ruikang also saluted Mei Xuefei and his wife for his brother.

Xi Niang carried Ruojun slowly to the sedan chair, walked to the yard, behind her came the sound of her father Mei Xuefei's rapid coughing and breathing, her father's breathless coughing and wheezing sound reached Ruojun's ears, it was a solid knock on her heart, she remembered her father's coughing up blood the night before, and suddenly she was very scared, afraid that she would never see her father again when she got married, she shed tears, she also wanted to see her father again, although Xi Niang took care of her and couldn't go to the ground, couldn't turn back, but heard her father's cough, She still couldn't help but turn her head suddenly, at this time, a gust of wind blew from nowhere, with the force of her turning her head, the whole piece of Xipa was blown up and flew to Zhou Ruikang's face on the side, everyone was taken aback, Zhou Ruikang subconsciously caught Xipa, saw her, she put on makeup, her bright eyes were full of tears, her small and full lips were ruddy and attractive, her skin was better than snow, her hair was hairpin, and there was a big bright red silk flower next to her ear, she was so beautiful, so beautiful that Zhou Ruikang's heart was beating wildly, and for a moment he only had her face in his mindand completely forgot what he was here for.

Mei Ruojun was also stunned, glanced at him, struggled to get off the back of Xi Niang, turned around and quickly fell into the arms of his father Mei Xuefei and cried: "Dad, do you want it?" I don't feel at ease with you. ”

Xi Niang hurriedly helped her up, and said in her mouth: "Oh, it's unlucky for the bride to land on the ground, hurry up and get on the sedan chair, it's not good if you miss the auspicious time." ”

Mei Xuefei trembled and helped her daughter up, the corners of her wrinkled eyes were full of reluctance, but he still squeezed out a smile and said, "Don't worry, Dad will take care of himself, go quickly, don't miss the auspicious time." ”

Chen Yuqin hurriedly took Xipa from Zhou Ruikang's hand and stepped forward, covered her for her, hurriedly pulled her away, and helped Ruojun onto Xiniang's back with a chatter.

Along the way, there was a lively sound of joy, I don't know how long, the sedan chair slowly stopped, Zhou Ruikang turned over from the horse, kicked the sedan door three times, in the deafening sound of firecrackers, Xi Niang carried Ruojun into Zhou's house, crossed the brazier, and entered the lobby of Zhou's house.

The lobby was full of guests, but the host was the only one in the house, Mr. Zhou, pacing back and forth irritably, and there was no trace of the groom or Mrs. Zhou, and the guests in the lobby began to whisper.

Zhou Ruikang saw this situation, and hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "What about my mother and eldest brother?" ”

Master Zhou looked anxious, but in front of many guests, he couldn't speak, while comforting the guests, he hurriedly pulled the corner of Ruikang Road and said, "Go and persuade your brother to come out to worship." ”

Zhou Ruikang hurriedly said: "Brother still doesn't want to visit the church?" It turned out that from early in the morning, Zhou Ruian didn't know for what reason, and suddenly shouted that he wanted to withdraw from the marriage, and he refused to get married.

"Yes, I'm dying, your mother is persuading him inside, you go quickly. Come on! As he spoke, he urged Ruikang to go to the inner courtyard.

Zhou Ruikang frowned and stomped his feet, hurriedly ran to the inner courtyard, and when he arrived at the "Chrysanthemum Garden" where the eldest brother Zhou Ruian lived, he heard his mother's voice at the door: "Ruian, mother please, the bride has arrived, if you don't go to the church, how can this be cleaned up?" Mrs. Zhou pleaded helplessly, shedding tears as she spoke.

"Mother!" Zhou Ruikang hurriedly strode in and said, "The bride has arrived, why hasn't the eldest brother gone yet?" ”

"Oh, what can I do, Ryan, you can't do it over and over again, how do you want your father to gain a foothold?" Mrs. Zhou wiped her tears and pleaded.

On the stool sat a young man of twenty-five or sixteen years old, the left half of his body was constantly trembling, especially his left hand was constantly spasming, looking very hesitant and painful, sitting there without saying a word.

Zhou Ruikang stepped forward and said: "Brother, if you had opposed this family affair earlier, it would have been fine, but now, the bride has arrived, if you don't go, how can your father and mother see people, and how can you let that girl see people?" ”

Zhou Ruian looked up at his younger brother, and when he saw that he was handsome, he felt inferior, lowered his head and said dejectedly: "You go." ”

As soon as he said this, Mrs. Zhou and Zhou Ruikang were stunned for a moment, and Ruikang frowned and lowered his head.

Mrs. Zhou said, "How can this be done? The letter of appointment and the letter of honor are all issued for you, your brother has already brought someone for you, and now even the chapel wants him to replace you, and the outside are all relatives and friends, isn't it a joke? Child, mother, please don't be too bad at this juncture, otherwise it will be difficult for other girls. ”

At this time, in the front yard, Master Zhou sent two more family members to urge, and said, "Madam, the master said that if the eldest young master refuses to worship the church, let us carry it." ”

Mrs. Zhou frowned and said, "Oh, the master is really in a hurry, what does it look like to carry him to the church?" ”

At this time, the sound of ceremonial music outside the courtyard sounded again, and Zhou Ruikang suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Zhou Rui'an's arm, bypassed his back, and put him up hard, and said in a deep voice: "She is a good girl, you can't treat her like this." Ignoring the surprise of Mrs. Zhou and the family, he dragged Zhou Ruian to the lobby of the front yard half-dragging and half-clipping, Zhou Ruian struggled, but after all, his younger brother Zhou Ruikang was strong, and he was a disabled person, so he couldn't resist at all.

When the two brothers arrived in the lobby, Zhou Ruikang stuffed the red ribbon into the hands of his brother and Ruojun, and silently walked to the corner to watch the ceremony.

Zhou Ruian saw that the matter had come to this, sighed, reluctantly bowed to Ruojun, saluted, and was sent into the cave room, finally Master Zhou and Mrs. Zhou were relieved.

The second Zhou family is always pleased, the guests are happy, and the banquet is also sumptuous, compared with the lively scene outside, the situation in the new house is too cold and awkward.

In the new room, the red candles were reflected, and there were all kinds of fruits and a pot of wine on the table. ”

Zhou Ruian hesitantly took the wedding scale, limped to the bedside, held the wedding scale tightly, his palms were sweaty, and he turned to the maid and the bride and shouted: "You go out, go out!" ”

Xi Niang couldn't help but be a little embarrassed and said: "Young Master, this is not in accordance with the rules, you lifted the Xipa, let's serve you to drink Hejia wine......."

"Get out!" Zhou Ruian shouted loudly, waved the crutch in his hand, and rushed towards the bride and the maids, who saw that he was so angry, and they didn't say anything, so they were so frightened that they had to quickly exit the room.

Zhou Rui'an's roar startled Mei Ruojun, who was sitting on the bed, and grabbed the corner of his clothes tightly.

There was silence in the room, and the quiet Ruojun wondered if he was the only one left in the room. After a long time, she heard the sound of someone pouring wine, and knew that Zhou Ruian was still in the room, and her heart was nervous, thinking that Zhou Ruian was coming to drink wine with her. Who knew that after waiting for a long time, he only heard the sound of the wine glass smashing on the table, and it turned out that Zhou Ruian had already drunk it himself.

She didn't know whether to take off the Xipa by herself, or to continue to sit there and wait for the groom to unveil her future, she pinched the corners of her clothes tightly with both hands, and the palms of her hands were sweaty, Ryan's roar just now made her very scared, Zhou Ruikang once told her that Ryan was a gentle person, but how could he not connect with the words gentle temperament when he yelled at his subordinates just now.

Zhou Ruian glanced sideways at his slightly trembling bride, and said with a wry smile: "You...... You...... Harm...... Fear? "He was slurred and had a severe stutter and spoke intermittently.

Mei Ruojun hid behind Xipa and shook her head gently.

Zhou Ruian drank another glass, and then slowly walked towards Mei Ruojun step by step with a cane and a joy scale.