Madam Ma and Ma Xiuniang, who had come to see off the bride, quickly pulled Chen Shi aside.

Ma Xiuniang handed a handkerchief to Chen Shi, while Madam Ma quietly persuaded her, “The young lady isn’t marrying far away, and the Pei family is a charitable household. Whether on ordinary days or during festivals, if she wants to come back, can’t she just come back? If you act like this, what will the young lady think? On such a joyous day, if you cry and ruin your makeup later, it won’t look good. Besides, if you’re going to cry, this isn’t the time—when the young lady gets into the sedan chair, it won’t be too late to cry then!”

Chen Shi took Ma Xiuniang’s handkerchief to wipe her tears, choking as she said, “I know, but I just can’t help it! She was such a small, plump little bundle. I held her in my arms, cupped her in my palms, and finally she’s grown this big, only to marry into someone else’s family. Not only will she bear children, but she’ll also have to manage the daily needs of an entire household. I don’t know if anyone will cherish her hard work, or if things will go smoothly when she becomes a mother…”

Having both raised daughters, Madam Ma could relate to Chen Shi’s feelings. Hearing this, she sighed and put her arm around Chen Shi’s shoulders, saying, “When Xiuniang left home to marry, wasn’t I just like you? But look—our Xiuniang is doing just fine, isn’t she? You have to trust your A’Tang. She’ll make a good life for herself.”

As they spoke, they ran into Yu Yuan, who was covered in sweat.

Seeing Chen Shi, Yu Yuan’s eyes immediately lit up with delight. He rushed over eagerly, saying, “Auntie, have you seen Uncle? Old Master Wei’s family has arrived, but Uncle has disappeared. I’ve searched everywhere inside and out!”

Chen Shi couldn’t bother with her sadness and quickly asked, “Did you check the study? The accounting room? Could he be in the garden out back?”

Yu Yuan shook his head, “Nowhere.”

Chen Shi grew anxious too, quickly arranged for the Ma mother and daughter, and went with Yu Yuan to look everywhere for Yu Wen.

The two finally found Yu Wen in the alley behind the Yu family’s back gate, only to discover he was squatting on the back doorstep wiping away tears.

Chen Shi and Yu Yuan stopped in their tracks.

Yu Wen, hearing the commotion, didn’t raise his head but only said, “Let me be alone for a while.”

His voice still carried traces of sobbing.

Chen Shi’s tears couldn’t help but fall again.

The husband and wife embraced and cried together.

Although Yu Yuan found it somewhat amusing, he too shed tears.

Fortunately, Yu Bo also came looking and, seeing this scene, frowned directly, saying, “What are you doing? Quickly, stop thinking about all this nonsense. Not only has Old Master Wei’s family arrived, but Old Master Jiang has come too. If not for Old Master Wu holding things together, our family would have lost face today.”

Yu Wen, being a man after all, quickly collected himself and followed Yu Bo to receive the guests.

Chen Shi, however, quietly grieved for a while longer before forcing a smile and entering the house.

Over at the Pei family, they were already preparing to fetch the bride.

The woman of complete blessings the Pei family invited was Pei Chan’s mother.

Although she was from a collateral branch of the Pei family, not only were her parents-in-law and biological parents all living, but after marrying into the Pei family, she had borne five sons and two daughters. Her natal family was even more prosperous with over twenty male cousins—so many that Pei Chan couldn’t recognize them all.

When someone in the Pei family married, they usually invited her to serve as the woman of complete blessings.

It was rare for her to see Pei Yan wearing a bright red robe, so when he came over accompanied by the Second Madam, she couldn’t help but tease him, “Third Uncle looks so spirited in this outfit. You should wear more bright-colored clothes in the future.”

In all his years, Pei Yan had only worn bright red clothing when he was small and had no choice in the matter. Hearing this, he couldn’t help feeling somewhat annoyed and uncomfortably tugged at his collar.

Pei Chan’s mother quickly stopped him, saying, “You can’t do that—be careful not to mess up the clothes.”

Pei Yan coldly grunted in acknowledgment and indeed stopped tugging at his clothes.

Pei Chan’s mother wanted to laugh again watching him.

Usually such a cold and proud person—she and her sisters-in-law had discussed more than once in private, wondering if he would be like this when he married.

Today they finally got to see it.

His face was still as cold as usual, but his eyes seemed to have light in them, sparkling brightly. Even though he was suppressing it, he couldn’t suppress the joy in his heart.

For three days, there are no hierarchies.

Pei Chan’s mother wanted to tease Pei Yan, but her son, who had come along, tugged at her sleeve, saying, “Mother, shouldn’t you go greet Great Grandmother? I don’t know if she has any instructions to give you.”

Pei Chan’s mother exclaimed, “Oh my!” remembering this matter. She handed seven-year-old Pei Jiang over to Pei Chan, saying, “You keep him here and wait. I’ll be right back.”

Pei Jiang was Pei Bo’s younger brother. Like Pei Chan’s family, not only were his grandparents and great-grandparents all living, but he had been clever and quick-witted since childhood. Old Madam Pei had selected him to be the child who would ride in the sedan chair.

Holding a precious vase in his hands with an apple placed on top, he watched Pei Chan’s mother leave and then acted coquettishly toward Pei Chan, “Brother Chan, my hands hurt. Help me hold it for a bit.”

Pei Chan scared him, “You go tell Third Uncle.”

Pei Jiang fell silent.

Pei Yan didn’t know if the precious vase, once in the sedan-riding child’s hands, could be handled by others. But hearing Pei Jiang say this, he really was afraid the boy’s hands hurt and he might hand the vase to someone else. So he stuffed a candy into Pei Jiang’s mouth and said, “Hold it properly and don’t put it down carelessly. Once I’ve brought your aunt home, I’ll give you an She inkstone.”

Pei Jiang’s eyes rolled around as he said, “Third Uncle, I don’t want an She inkstone. I want that inkstone on your desk carved with cranes.”

Pei Yan was stunned.

People in the family were all afraid of him, and few spoke to him this way.

He smiled and said, “You little rascal, you have quite an eye. That’s a Chengni inkstone. However, since I’m going to give you an inkstone, it certainly won’t be inferior to that one. Think it over carefully. A Chengni inkstone isn’t necessarily better than an She inkstone.”

Pei Jiang’s eyes rolled even faster, his little bun-shaped face full of calculations as he said, “But I heard someone say that the inkstone on Third Uncle’s desk is the one that accompanied Third Uncle to the examinations.”

Pei Bo would be taking the examinations in two years.

Pei Yan laughed heartily and said, “You’re asking for things on behalf of A’Bo, aren’t you?”

Pei Jiang didn’t dare admit it.

However, Pei Yan found children quite interesting. If he had a son in the future, it would be best if he could be like Pei Jiang.

He bent down and picked up Pei Jiang, saying, “Fine! When the time comes, I’ll have the inkstone from my desk brought home for you.”

Pei Jiang smiled so happily his eyes disappeared.

Pei Yan then said, “Then shouldn’t you also hold the apple in your arms?”

According to custom, the sedan-riding child should hold the precious vase in one hand and the apple in the other.

Pei Jiang quickly agreed and struggled to get down from Pei Yan’s embrace.

Pei Chan, afraid the child might drop the vase or the apple on the vase, stepped forward to protect Pei Jiang as he reached the ground.

Pei Yan then asked Pei Chan, “How are your preparations going?”

The children in the clan all studied under Old Master Yi, who constantly praised how intelligent Pei Yan was. Pei Chan had never dealt directly with Pei Yan before, so when Pei Yan asked this, he smiled and told him about his recent studies.

Pei Yan offered him a few pointers.

Through this back and forth exchange, the bit of nervousness in Pei Yan’s heart gradually dissipated.

By the time he mounted his horse to go to the Yu family, he began worrying about the wedding night.

He believed in the Dao and practiced Daoist cultivation of self-discipline and the path to longevity.

The primary requirement of the path to longevity was abstinence.

Although there were many Daoist classics, he had previously disdained such books. Now that he was getting married, Old Madam Pei naturally couldn’t discuss these matters with him, but Old Master Pei was no longer alive and Pei Xuan had gone to the capital. Old Madam Pei had no choice but to ask Old Master Yi to speak with him about it.

Old Master Yi felt that Pei Yan was already a grown man who had loved reading miscellaneous books since childhood. If he said too much, it would inevitably damage Pei Yan’s dignity. So he simply threw him a few books and let Pei Yan read them himself.

Pei Yan did indeed study them carefully.

He didn’t know if the illustrations in those books were poorly done or if he simply didn’t like such things, but it would have been better not to look at them. After reading, his face turned iron-blue and whatever slight romantic notions he’d had completely vanished.

If the wedding night was like this, what would he do…

As a result, throughout the entire process of fetching the bride, he kept a stern face.

Pei Chan, who accompanied him to fetch the bride, had no choice but to constantly tug at Pei Yan’s sleeve, repeatedly whispering, “Third Uncle, smile! Everyone is watching you!”

Pei Yan really couldn’t smile. Even when he occasionally did smile, it was very forced. This actually made Yu Wen laugh, thinking: So what if he’s Pei Xiaguang? When getting married, isn’t he just as nervous and unable to speak?

This son-in-law is good enough!

He didn’t make things difficult for Pei Yan and readily had Yu Yuan carry Yu Tang out the door.

After the flower sedan chair departed amid the crackling sound of firecrackers, Yu Wen still stood there laughing and shaking his head. As for Jiang Chao, he was even more moved by Pei Yan’s proposal.

Pei Yan acting this way meant he wanted to help the Yu family, but since the Yu family didn’t have that capability, he needed Jiang Chao to stand at the front so the Yu family could easily earn some comfortable money, right?

In business, the worst thing is when there’s no mutual benefit. If one could find a mutually beneficial line of interest, the business could be conducted openly and for a long time.

Jiang Chao suddenly found his purpose in relation to Pei Yan, and his confidence instantly multiplied.

He decided to think more carefully about cooperating with the Pei family and to meet with Pei Yan before leaving to discuss his plans thoroughly.

Jiang Chao somewhat absentmindedly drank at the Yu family’s wedding feast.

On Pei Yan’s side, they had already performed the wedding ceremony and entered the bridal chamber.

Being able to tease Pei Yan without regard to hierarchy was something the Pei family members were quite looking forward to. Therefore, an exceptionally large number of people came to see the new bride.

Everyone immediately started clamoring for Pei Yan to lift the veil.

Pei Yan’s head was spinning, unable to understand why the bridal chamber was packed with people.

He really wanted to drive everyone out but also knew that doing so would be too much of a mood killer and would surely make Yu Tang sad.

Pei Yan forcibly suppressed his displeasure and lifted Yu Tang’s veil.

Yu Tang couldn’t help but raise her head and smile at Pei Yan with pursed lips.

Made up, Yu Tang was even more radiant than usual. Her gentle smile was like a spring breeze blowing across a barren plain, making Pei Yan feel as if a grassland had sprouted in his heart, with much verdant grass emerging.

“A’Tang!” Pei Yan murmured softly. The clamor around him seemed to disappear, leaving only his heart thumping loudly.

Yu Tang looked at Pei Yan and for a moment also found it difficult to look away.

Pei Yan in bright red was truly handsome.

His jade-like face, raven-wing sideburns, and bright spirited gaze containing unmistakable joy… all made Yu Tang’s heart feel as if it were soaking in warm currents, melting.

“Oh my, the new bride is truly beautiful!” someone in the bridal chamber exclaimed in admiration, breaking the tension between the two.

The clamor flooded back into their ears.

Pei Yan and Yu Tang turned their faces away in unison and didn’t dare look at each other again.