Chapter 712: Chapter 674: Farewell to Parents (Part 3)

Song Jiao laughed and scolded, "Little rascal, what nonsense are you spouting?"

"I read it in a storybook," Song Qi giggled, "It was written so well, a poor scholar falls in love at first sight with a rich family’s daughter by chance. But the girl’s family doesn’t agree, so they lock her up. The girl secretly sends messages to the scholar and asks her maid to sneak out money to support him for his exams. Later, the scholar succeeds, and after many hardships, they finally get a happy ending. When they get married, there’s a saying about the scholar lifting the bride’s veil and being more intoxicated by her peerless beauty than by drinking several jars of wine. You, sister, were raised by our third aunt, just like that rich lady, and your husband is like that scholar. Although you two didn’t go through as many hardships, to me, it’s all the same."

Song Jiao was speechless. She actually used to read such storybooks too, but after Wen Wan said something about it once, she stopped. Wen Wan said that the storybooks in the market nowadays mostly tell tales of rich daughters and poor scholars. In reality, rich daughters seldom marry poor scholars. It’s usually those who have failed in exams or unsuccessful in their careers who write such books to fulfill their fantasy of being powerful and having beauties at their side.

Wen Wan also said that these books are worthless. Reading them too much only poisons the mind. It’s better to read books of wisdom and understand a few principles seriously.

Song Jiao thought about it and recounted to Song Qi how her third aunt had scolded her.

Song Qi didn’t agree, "It’s just a pastime when idle, what’s the harm in reading them? I would be that rich lady, yet I simply don’t love the poor scholar."

"If you don’t love them, why read them? There’s no girl who holds such books all day, aren’t you embarrassed?" Song Jiao felt embarrassed herself as she said this. This girl was becoming more and more unruly, taking advantage of her parents being illiterate, she probably hid lots of unsightly books in her room.

The two sisters stayed in the room for a while, the aroma of food and wine from the dining courtyard next door wafted over. Song Jiao had eaten nothing since getting up in the morning and was drooling with hunger, and she instinctively touched her belly.

Song Qi looked around, "Sister, should I get you something to eat?"

Just as she said that, Song Duobao came in from outside munching a soy-braised duck foot.

This only made Song Jiao’s stomach even hungrier.

Song Qi twitched her mouth speechlessly and asked him, "What did you come here for?"

Song Duobao looked at Song Jiao sitting on the edge of the bed, trying to say something, but he forgot all the words his dad asked him to relay.

Song Jiao originally liked eating soy-braised duck feet; now she was unbearably tempted and urged Song Qi, "You quickly get this little guy out, or I’ll seriously be starved to death by him."

Song Qi had no choice but to take Song Duobao to the banquet to eat.

The Liang family wouldn’t come to pick up the bride until late afternoon, and Song Jiao couldn’t stand her hunger. She glanced at the preserves on the table, wanting to grab one and pop it into her mouth, but seeing the four dowry maids still standing beside her, she dismissed the idea and asked someone to find her a book to pass the time.

About an hour later, the feast outside finally ended, and Wen Wan, Second Lang’s wife, Xie Tao’s wife, Yang, and Song Fang came rushing over, with Song Qi following after delivering Song Duobao to her dad.

After they entered the room, they sat down to discuss how to block the groom when he arrives, so he couldn’t easily take the bride away and such.

Song Qi said, "If only Brother Yuanbao were here, he usually has the most tricks, and he’s so eloquent. If he went to block them, it wouldn’t be easy for brother-in-law to get in."

Xie Tao’s wife teased her, "The ceremony isn’t even over yet, and you’re already calling him brother-in-law. Isn’t that embarrassing?"

"Isn’t it going to happen sooner or later?" Song Qi snorted lightly.

Wen Wan noticed Song Jiao didn’t look well, and asked if she wasn’t feeling well.

Song Jiao, both shy and embarrassed, whispered, "Third Aunt, I’m so hungry."

She still couldn’t understand why on such a joyous day as a wedding, the bride had to suffer this way; enduring the pain of facial treatment in the morning was one thing, but not being able to eat all day was just inhuman!

What if by the time she arrived at the Liang family half-starved, she had no strength left for the ceremony?

Upon hearing she was hungry, Wen Wan casually picked up the plate of preserves on the table, took one, and asked her to open her mouth.

Song Jiao was overjoyed, opening her mouth wide to avoid smudging her lip balm, as Wen Wan fed the preserve to her.

Song Jiao savored it like a delicacy, wanting more after finishing one, but Wen Wan refused to give more, telling her to endure it a bit longer as the bridal sedan would be arriving soon.

Song Jiao lamented silently, not daring to complain, and could only endure. She didn’t know how long she endured until finally, the Liang family’s bridal sedan arrived.

This was the inner courtyard, far away, so they could only faintly hear the sounds of firecrackers and drums.

Before long, an elated elderly woman came in, reporting, "Second Lady, Madam, the Liang family’s bridal sedan is here."

"Quick, have someone go block it!" Wen Wan hurriedly said.

"Several young masters from the Xie family are already blocking it. The Hanging Flower Gate might have to be blocked by the girls."

Wen Wan had Song Qi bring Yun Cailong, "Gather some more people, keep an eye on the second gate. Since the proposal, everything has gone smoothly. Now that the groom is here to fetch the bride, we can’t let him enter so easily. Our Song family girls are not so simple to marry."

Song Qi acknowledged and quickly selected a few maids to accompany her to the Hanging Flower Gate, successfully blocking the groom outside the gate.

Wen Wan fetched the phoenix crown and personally placed it on Song Jiao, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She had been raised by her side for so long, it felt like her own daughter. Now she was leaving, and the thought was difficult to bear.

Song Jiao sensed Wen Wan’s pause, lifted her head, her eyes red, and suddenly threw herself into Wen Wan’s arms, crying out hoarsely, "Third Auntie."

Tears fell uncontrollably.

Second Lang’s wife also wiped her tears, "You child, how can you cry just like that on such a happy day, making others feel bad along with you."

Song Jiao lifted her head from Wen Wan’s embrace, looking at Second Lang’s wife, and with tears in her eyes said, "Mother, after I leave, you and father must take care, don’t keep arguing. You’ve been together for so many years, how many more years do you have left for quarrels? Please, let each other more, live your days well, that’s what’s important."

Second Lang’s wife turned away to wipe her tears before turning back to her, "Alright, take a rest, the groom will be here soon. If you cry and ruin your makeup, when the veil is lifted, and he doesn’t want you, I won’t let you back in."

Song Jiao heard this and immediately smiled through her tears.

Meanwhile, over at the second gate, they were probably bribed by the groom’s red packets, as Liang Jun, dressed in bright red festive attire, came surrounded by a group of girls and boys towards Rong’an Hall.

"Mother—" Song Qi’s voice called out from afar outside, "The groom has arrived, why aren’t you going to the main hall yet?"

She called as she bounced into Song Jiao’s room, "Quickly, if we’re late, it’ll be embarrassing."

Second Lang’s wife was pushed a few steps forward but turned back to look at Song Jiao.

Wen Wan laughed, "Second sister-in-law, don’t worry, we’re here. We’ll escort the bride to Rong’an Hall for farewells to the father, mother, grandpa, and grandma."

Second Lang’s wife was finally at ease and went ahead.

Wen Wan bent down and carefully wiped Song Jiao’s tear marks and refreshed her makeup, then placed the veil of dragon and phoenix auspice over her, and supported her out the door, heading towards Rong’an Hall.

Granny Song and Old Song sat at the high seat, with Song Erlang and Second Lang’s wife seated lower down.

Liang Jun stood in the hall, his handsome face softening upon seeing the bride being escorted inside.

Yun Xia quickly handed over the prayer mats to the couple.

The two accompanying maids supported Song Jiao to kneel down.

Song Jiao kept her head down, only hearing Liang Jun’s gentle voice, first acknowledging the grandparents and her parents, and then reassuring them to entrust their daughter to him.

Song Jiao was no stranger to Liang Jun; he was always an honest person. At this moment in front of their parents and elders, he spoke straightforwardly, without any frills—those seemingly clumsy words brought an inexplicable sense of peace to the heart.

In the daze, Liang Jun had already finished his farewell words, and Granny Song and Old Song each gave a few pieces of advice. Song Erlang rarely became serious and sternly told Liang Jun not to bully his daughter.

Second Lang’s wife only cried, uttering not a word.

After bowing, Song Jiao was helped up and walked to the doorstep. Xie Feng had been waiting for quite some time, and smilingly called out to Liang Jun as brother-in-law. Liang Jun softly instructed him, "Be careful, don’t bump against anything."

Xie Feng responded with a simple acknowledgment and half-squatted down.

Covered with the veil, Song Jiao couldn’t see clearly, only feeling herself being supported onto the back of the young boy.

She was fifteen, Xie Feng fourteen.

Upon rising, Xie Feng nearly lost his balance.

Song Jiao felt both embarrassed and amused, fearing that Xie Feng might suddenly complain she was heavy.

Fortunately, the young boy had learned some lessons at school and knew to mind the occasion; aside from telling her to hold steady, he didn’t say anything else.

Thus, Song Jiao was carried by him to the front door.