Reborn in 1966

Chapter Ninety-Five: The Wedding

Peiyin understood. Peijing had smelled the food when they were cooking. All the children from the village who came to watch the fun would ask for some treats before leaving. No matter how much Peiyin tried to adapt to local customs, she couldn't do that. As soon as she saw that they were about to eat, she quickly took her sister and left.

Pei Yin thought for a moment and said to Pei Jing, "Pei Jing, those aren't our family's things, we can't just eat them."

Pei-ching said, "But Er-gou and the others are eating." Er-gou is a boy in the village who is about the same age as Pei-yin.

Pei-yin said, "We can't just take things from others. Grandpa and Grandma have told us that if we want to be good children, we have to listen to adults. Pei-jing did very well with her sister this time. When we get home, her sister will tell Grandma that Pei-jing did very well today and that Grandma will make her something delicious to reward her."

Pei-ching asked, "What good food do you have at home?"

Pei Yin thought that the only edible vegetables in the backyard were green beans; she really couldn't think of anything else that was delicious.

As Pei Yin continued walking home with Pei Jing, she was lost in thought. As soon as they entered the courtyard, Third Grandma saw Pei Yin's troubled face and asked, "What's wrong, Pei Yin? Why do you look so unhappy?"

Pei-ching said, "My sister said I did very well today, that I'm a good child, and that Grandma will make me something delicious."

Grandma San was very fond of her children, especially the girls, whom she thought were as beautiful as flowers.

Third Grandma picked up Peijing and said, "Tell Third Grandma what good deeds you did today?"

Pei-ching said, "My sister took me to see the cabinets. When people were about to eat, my sister took me away. My sister said that I didn't ask people for food like Er-gou did. She said I was a good child who listened to my grandparents and that I should go home and ask my grandma to cook something delicious for me."

Third Grandma said, "Oh, you're really good children. You don't need your grandma to cook you anything delicious. Third Grandma will reward you properly today."

Grandma San carried Peijing in one arm and led Peiyin by the hand in the other towards the backyard. Peiyin knew that Grandma San's daughter was stationed on the frontier and had not returned for many years. She regularly sent Grandma San some food and supplies. However, Grandma San instructed the children in the family not to ask Grandma San for food, as it was from their aunt.

Standing in front of the side gate leading to the backyard, Pei-yin said, "Third Grandma, those delicious things were given to you by Auntie, we can't eat them."

Grandma San put Peijing down on the ground, squatted down, and said to Peiyin, "Peiyin, you are all good children. Grandma San is giving you this because you did what good children should do. This is Grandma San's reward for you."

Grandma San led one child by the hand and led them into her room. She took out a box of pastries from a cupboard in the corner and said, “These are all sent to Grandma San by your aunt. They are specialties from the border region. Grandma San knows that your grandmother told you not to ask Grandma San for food, but what’s the point of Grandma San eating these here by herself?”

Actually, my aunt didn't send back many things. I heard that although my aunt and uncle held high positions, they had several children and my uncle also had relatives in the rural south who needed to be taken care of. So my aunt didn't have much money to buy many things for my third aunt. After receiving these things, my third aunt ate very little herself and secretly gave them to the children. That's why my grandmother told us not to ask my third aunt for anything to eat.

Grandma San opened the box, and neatly arranged the small cakes inside. She gave one to each person and said, "If you do any good deeds in the future, come and tell Grandma San, and Grandma San will save them for you. This is a reward for you."

It's a flaky pastry, layered with a hint of saltiness, and tastes incredibly delicious.

After taking a bite, Pei Yin smiled and said to Third Grandma, "Third Grandma, it's delicious!"

Grandma San said, "As long as it tastes good, you should be a good child in the future."

The next day was Sunday, which was also the day of Shen Guixiang and Tian Xiuwu's wedding. The children in the village went to Tian Xiuwu's house happily to wait. During the wedding, wedding candy would be scattered, and the children who missed out could ask the bride or groom for some candy.

Shen's mother and second aunt both had weekends off, so they went to help out at their fourth grandfather's house early in the morning. After having breakfast, Pei Yin and Pei Jing followed behind Pei Tian and Pei Zhi to their fourth grandfather's house.

As the bride's family, the fourth grandfather also had to hold a banquet at home to entertain the relatives who came to send off the bride. Early in the morning, people came to help. The fourth grandfather and fourth grandmother were busy entertaining them. There were many children running around in the alleys inside and outside the courtyard. Anyone who wasn't going to work in the fields came here to join in the fun. Since the two families lived in the same village, the children were even more excited. When the groom came to pick up the bride, there was candy to grab. Later, when they followed the groom to the groom's house, they could grab a few more pieces of candy.

In the side room where Guixiang was staying, Guixiang was already dressed, wearing a red long-sleeved cotton shirt and a pair of blue cotton trousers. This outfit was made by Guixiang after she cut the fabric and went to Shen's mother for help. On her feet were a pair of black cloth shoes with white socks underneath, which looked particularly refreshing.

Auntie Er and Chen Qiuping were with Guixiang in the house waiting for the wedding procession. Several children surrounded the bride with smiles, along with a few of Guixiang's close friends. They teased her from time to time, and Guixiang's face turned red, whether from happiness or shyness, it was hard to tell.

Pei Yin had already discussed it with Pei Tian, ​​Pei Zhi, and Pei Jing on the way. Pei Tian, ​​with his three younger sisters, stood in front of Gui Xiang and shouted, "Ready, go!" Then the four children shouted together, "Happy wedding to Aunt Gui Xiang!"

This trendy way of celebrating was absolutely unique in Shenjia Village. After a moment of stunned silence, everyone in the house burst into laughter. Guixiang blushed even more, grabbed her second aunt's arm, and said shyly, "Second sister-in-law, look at your child."

Auntie said with a smile, "Our children are so good. They've come to congratulate their Aunt Guixiang on her wedding. Guixiang, hurry up and do your part!"

Chen Qiuping chuckled and said, "Your children are so polite. Guixiang, hurry up and get the candy."

Seeing that her two sisters-in-law were saying so, Gui Xiang, amidst the cheers of her friends, grabbed a handful of candy for the children. Because of Gui Xiang's wedding, her older brother, Sheng Huai, and his wife had returned, bringing back some very precious milk candy. Among the candy Gui Xiang gave to the children was milk candy. Pei Zhi saw it and was about to exclaim in surprise, but Pei Yin pulled her back, and the exclamation in her throat was swallowed. Just kidding, if outsiders knew there was milk candy here, everyone would come and congratulate them like that, and her little group would offend Gui Xiang to death.

After receiving the reward, the four children hurried to the courtyard. When Grandma saw the four children, she waved to them and called them over.

Grandma Si led the four children into the inner room, where some gifts from relatives were placed. Grandma Si took out a few biscuits from a bag, gave each child two, and whispered, "Eat them secretly, but don't let anyone see you. Grandma doesn't have that many biscuits to share."

Peitian thanked his grandmother with his sisters, broke off a small piece of biscuit to taste, and put the rest in his pocket. Seeing their brother do this, the younger sisters followed suit and ate a little bit as well, putting the rest in their pockets.

Someone in the courtyard was shouting, "The new bride is here! The new bride is here!" Fourth Grandma quickly led her four children into the courtyard and saw that several bicycles decorated with red flowers were already parked there.

The red flower on the handlebars was made by hand using thin red and green paper, with a little bit of yellow paper in the middle as the flower's center. Pei Yin walked closer and gently touched it to see how the flower was made. From a distance, the flower looked layered and very lifelike.

Someone nearby whispered, "Don't touch it, what if you break it?"

Pei Yin looked up and saw a boy of about ten years old holding the handlebars, staring at her with wide eyes.

Pei Yin pouted and said, "I didn't touch anything, I just wanted to see how it was done."

The boy said proudly, "Isn't it pretty? My mom made it herself."

Pei Yin nodded and said, "Yes, your mother is very capable." Her tone was perfunctory; it's just making paper flowers, she could do that herself, and hers would definitely be even prettier.

At this moment, the bride came out of the house, and several young men from the village escorted Tian Xiuwu and Shen Guixiang into the courtyard. One of the young men said with a smile, "Xiuwu and Guixiang have to put on a show for us, what do you say?"

The courtyard was filled with onlookers. Upon hearing the cheers, everyone roared with approval. Tian Xiuwu grinned from ear to ear, while Guixiang kept her lips pursed, her face flushed, and her head bowed. Hearing the cheers, Guixiang shyly looked up at Tian Xiuwu, who cheerfully said, "Alright, let's sing a song for everyone."

The two of them discussed it for a while, sang "Sailing the Seas Depends on the Helmsman," and laughed and joked around for a while. Seeing that it was getting late, they took the wife and headed to Tian Xiuwen's house.

At this time, people would use bicycles to pick up their brides if they lived nearby, or oxcarts or donkey carts if they lived far away. Tian Xiuwu borrowed several bicycles from the village, tied big red flowers to the handlebars of each bicycle, and made a grand procession to Shen's house to pick up his new bride. Except for those who were still working in the fields, everyone in the village stood on the road to watch the excitement.

The bicycle team circled the small Shenjia Village before returning to Tian Xiuwu's home.

A large number of villagers had gathered in front of Tian Xiuwu's house. When they saw the new bride returning, they clapped and greeted her. Since they couldn't set off firecrackers, the noise and chatter made for a lively occasion.

Shen Guixiang sat on the back seat, keeping her head down shyly. She only got off the bicycle when it stopped in front of the Tian family's house.

The Tian family invited their team leader to be the officiant. The man, surnamed Tian, ​​was not known to Pei Yin. He was very quick-witted, around forty years old, and very talkative. He created a lively atmosphere by first organizing everyone to sing revolutionary songs and recite Chairman Mao's quotations. Then, the newlyweds sang another revolutionary song. Only after all these activities were completed did the bride enter the house.

After the new bride enters the house, someone takes a large wooden plate filled with candies and cigarettes and throws it at the onlookers. Everyone squats down to grab the items on the ground. This is how weddings are done here; everyone wants to grab these so they can share in the newlyweds' joy.