Sweet slice-of-life love story: Wife, Let's love again
Chapter 303 - 298: You’re Playing Tricks

Chapter 303: Chapter 298: You’re Playing Tricks

"How does it feel to get married for the first time?"

"It feels really exciting, what about you, first time as a best man?"

"I’m also really excited."

Xiao Yu and Qin Guanglin sat in the car, continuously opening and closing their hands, grasping them tight then releasing again.

"Wait a moment... What do you mean ’the first time’?"

"Uh..."

The procession of cars slowly made its way down the road, leisurely moving towards the suburbs, with Zhang Dongming occasionally throwing lit firecrackers out of the car window while laughing merrily at the crisp pops and bangs.

The geomancer, found by Mrs. Zhou, had not only chosen a good date but also a good time to set off. They were to pick up the bride at 7 a.m., and it would be good to reach the hotel by 9 a.m.

"This wedding is way more fun than yours was." Sun Wen tilted his head towards Yu Fei. "Back then, it was just eat and drink and then it was over, nothing left, no sense of participation whatsoever."

"Heh, if I’d put on such a show, my father-in-law would have killed me."

Yu Fei also liked these lively, down-to-earth weddings. When he got married it had felt like completing a mission, with everything arranged for him and a banquet that lasted just one day.

So dull.

"Make sure the lighting is good later; don’t waste your tall figure."

"Need you say? Just watch what ’Luo City’s number one lighting technician’ can do."

Sun Wen lit a cigarette and cracked the car window a sliver; the sound of firecrackers immediately poured in. He looked at the rearview mirror and smirked, "Actually, I’d rather be setting off fireworks myself. That’s a lot more fun."

"The number one lighting technician playing with damn firecrackers."

Within half an hour, the sky was already starting to brighten. They didn’t need the car’s headlights to see clearly anymore. Following the predefined route, the convoy slightly sped up. By about 6:30 a.m., the car leading the way could see the festive banners strung up on the road. The bright red banners, stretching like a long dragon, twisted and turned for several hundred meters, all the way to Zhou Nan’s house gate.

"Are the red envelopes ready?"

As they approached Zhou Nan’s house, Xiao Yu reminded Qin Guanglin for what seemed the nth time.

"Relax, you nag so much."

Qin Guanglin patted his pocket and then the seat beside him. Without waiting for another question, he preemptively added, "I’ve got cigarettes prepared too, nothing’s been left behind."

The red packets were small—some with five yuan, ten yuan, the biggest being eighty-eight yuan. They were to be handed out along the way to the bride’s relatives and her bridesmaids. As for the larger red packets, those were in Xiao Yu’s own keeping.

Xiao Yu took a deep breath, straightened his tie, and rummaged with his hair in the rearview mirror, preparing for this important moment.

Bringing the bride out of her home, from now on she’ll be part of his family, the two of them will become one household, together with the child in her belly—a family of three.

Whether it was Zhou Nan’s family or his own, they’d have to step back and become secondary from now on—Xiao Yu’s parents were often abroad, thus the relationship had always been quite detached. Though it seemed inappropriate to say, that was the reality, with the warmth or coldness of family ties being a subjective feeling.

The woman carrying the baby would henceforth become his closest confidante, both from a legal standpoint and a societal one.

The crackling of firecrackers echoed at Zhou Nan’s house entrance. Amidst the smoke and scattered red paper scraps, Sun Wen and Yu Fei rushed ahead with the photographer to run in and set up the wiring.

Everything was ready. Xiao Yu opened the car door and stepped out, taking in a deep breath of the strong scent of the firecrackers, instantly feeling invigorated as he moved towards the courtyard.

"Hard work."

"Hard work."

Qin Guanglin followed, continuously handing out packs of cigarettes. The bride’s side had plenty of friends and relatives helping out. Two packs of cigarettes were quickly distributed, and Yu Le immediately passed over another pack from his stash.

The firecrackers kept on popping. In the early spring of March, the chill hadn’t faded, yet the Zhou family’s elder brothers, wearing only short-sleeved shirts, stood at the door, not giving them a hard time, and graciously let them into the living room.

"Open up, we’re here to pick up the bride!"

Qin Guanglin glanced at the two elder brothers, then gently knocked on the door, calling through the gap.

"Where’s the ’open door’ red packet? Wait... block them, block them!"

Wu Yunyun opened a gap in the door, but before she finished speaking, the barging Qin Guanglin pushed the door open by a large margin, prompting her to quickly call for the help of the bridesmaids.

"Let him in, let him in!"

Qin Guanglin shouted as he squeezed into the space.

Red envelopes aren’t just handed out willy-nilly; it’s about saving where they can, which is their responsibility—the bridesmaids on the bride’s side will peel off as many red packets as they can, which is their own duty.

A stand-off, a battle of wits, part of the fun of the tradition... certainly not a bad custom.

Qin Guanglin, relying on his strength, held back several people at the door on his own, plunging into the dragon’s den. He hadn’t even seen clear who was inside when he was met with a barrage of streamers to the face, and pushed back out.

"Hey, hey, hey... don’t spray!"

"No red packet, no opening the door!"

He Fang placed a stool behind the door to prevent them from flooding in.

"Here, here..."

Qin Guanglin fished out two packets from his left pocket and stuffed them through the crack, "Hurry and open the door! The groom is getting anxious!"

"Not enough!"

"Hand over another one, is that enough? If not, I’m breaking down the door... Gao Xin, come over."

Feigning urgency, Qin Guanglin raised his voice, "Step aside, groom, let us break it down..."

"It’s open, it’s open!"

Wu Yunyun, fearing they might actually damage the door, hurriedly pulled it open, "Wait, wait, wait, you can’t come in so easily!"

"Marriage line! Step over the marriage line!"

"Come on, He Fang, pull it taut!"

Qin Guanglin scratched his head looking at the red line in front of him, then turned to look back at his buddies.

Although he had agreed with He Fang not to make it too hard for them... and He Fang had said she wouldn’t be rough as it was her first time being a bridesmaid, there’s no accounting for what others might do.

The marriage line was a red thread held across the doorway, about waist height or a little higher, which the groom and his men had to step over—meaning they had to bend backward at the waist.

This group was all tall and sturdy, except Gao Xin who was shorter...but while short, he was also chubby, and couldn’t manage to bend backwards enough to get under.

Yu Fei and Xiao Yu exchanged looks, then glanced at the others.

"I’m the lighting guy, I don’t have to do this, I don’t," the tallest Sun Wen quickly excused himself, fearing for his life.

"I don’t think I can manage," Gao Xin said, looking distressed.

"Can I try first?"

Qin Guanglin went first, attempting to backbend his way through, but failed miserably, "A bit higher, this really isn’t working."

He Fang raised her eyebrows mockingly.

"How high can it go?" Qin Guanglin drew another red envelope out, shaking it.

"Give it here!"

Wu Yunyun snatched it immediately, handing it off to one of the bridesmaids, and then raised the thread up to shoulder height.

"If we still can’t get through this..."

"We can!"

Qin Guanglin leaned back slightly and slowly rubbed his way through, waving to Xiao Yu, "Come on, everyone get in."

One by one, the brothers team passed the marriage line. Zhou Nan sat in the middle of the bed wearing her wedding dress, smilingly watching them come in one after the other, then watched as the sisters team continued to throw challenges, not feeling the least bit anxious.

Life is just this once, after all, they deserved to have a blast.

"Is that it now? You’ve thrown eighty-one challenges at us!"

Qin Guanglin asked with a twisted face.

They had just set out a bunch of water, and everyone in the brothers team had to pick a cup and drink it within fifteen seconds. He got lucky with lemon water, but Xiao Yu, the groom, picked vinegar and grimaced like he was about to spew it out.

Gao Xin was taking deep breaths on the side, "Lin, hurry up with the red envelope, I can’t take it, it’s killing me!"

"No good, giving up already?" Sun Wen was having a grand time egging them on from the side. He was handling the lighting, didn’t have to participate in all this, and found the misfortune of the others absolutely hilarious.

"It’s okay, that’s all there was, take her."

He Fang nudged Zhou Nan with her mouth, her eyes brimming with an unstoppable smirk.

"That’s it? I feel like there’s a scheme..." Qin Guanglin was dubious when he saw her smile. Although they’d gone through the eighty-one challenges...ending it like this seemed too simple.

"I have a feeling too."

Xiao Yu wanted to scratch his behind but held back, squatting beside the bed and looking at Zhou Nan, "Wife, shall we... go?"

"Let’s go."

Zhou Nan answered with a smile, yet sat still on the bed.

"So, let’s go... Need a kiss to get moving, right?" Xiao Yu was straightforward, stood up, leaned in, and planted a loud kiss, "Let’s go."

"Let’s go."

Zhou Nan still sat smiling, motionless.

"..."

"..."

"Where are the shoes?" Sun Wen couldn’t stand it anymore and shouted from behind.

"Right, where are the shoes?"

Qin Guanglin searched but only found a single shoe by the bed.

He looked at He Fang, widened his eyes, and locked gazes with her for a moment, "Where are the shoes?"

"Where are the shoes?" He Fang asked with a smile.

"Hey, brothers, search!"

Qin Guanglin knew what she was up to by the look of her and called out, starting to rummage through everything to find the bride’s high heels.

"Do you want a hint?" He Fang, watching him look under the bed, asked teasingly from the side.

"No need for red envelopes!"

Even though she was his girlfriend, Qin Guanglin had to do his duty and not let her swindle the red envelopes.

"Then you guys keep looking."

He Fang made eye contact with Wu Yunyun, both smiling, staying silent.

They wouldn’t open their mouths if there was no red envelope; finding the shoes would prove their own skills.

"Wen, you’re tall, check the top of the cabinet?"

"There’s nothing."

"Are there any in that shoebox? Why hasn’t anyone checked?"

"Shoes in a shoebox? That would be an insult to our intelligence."

"The most dangerous place is the safest place. You know nothing; it’s called darkness under the lamp... Tsk, not here either."

Qin Guanglin surveyed the room, stealthily eying the sisters team, and gave Xiao Yu a signal.

Scratching his behind, Xiao Yu took a moment to get the hint, then slipped to the side and shouted, "Found them!"

The sisters team instinctively looked toward Xiao Yu, only to see him standing there with his back to them, motionless after his shout.

"Hey!"

Qin Guanglin clapped his hands triumphantly and went over to lift the curtains, "Right here~!"

The bride’s high heels were tied behind the curtain, suddenly in view for everyone.

"You tricked us!"

He Fang was the first to react, biting her silver teeth and glaring at him.

"Too cunning!"

"Sly!"

Having found the shoes, there was no way to redo the challenge, so the sisters team could only watch as Xiao Yu went to take the shoes down and put them on Zhou Nan.

"Dirty tricks, spray him!"

"Spray!"

When Qin Guanglin saw He Fang coming at him with ribbon sprays as well, he could only dodge while covering his head, "It’s not my fault you guys got distracted..."

"It’s your fault for being sneaky!"

"Ah, let’s hurry, the bride is leaving!"

Yu Fei and Gao Xin had already dashed out when the high heels were found. They carried the red carpet from the car and laid it from Zhou Nan’s living room entrance all the way to the car outside the gate.

Firecrackers and confetti blasted simultaneously as Xiao Yu walked out the door arm-in-arm with Zhou Nan, his face beaming with joy.

"Let’s go, let’s go. The car will leave us behind soon."

Qin Guanglin picked off the foam ribbons from his head, saw the sisters team heading out, and quietly grabbed He Fang.

"What’s up, you want to walk the red carpet with me too?" He Fang could hardly keep from laughing when she saw him covered with colorful ribbons.

Serves him right, for being tricky.

"Nope."

Qin Guanglin looked her up and down, chuckled sillily a couple of times, and leaned in to whisper, "You look really nice in that dress."

"Hmph, that’s all?"

"Especially the high heels, they suit you."

"Are you saying I’m short?"

"No, I’m saying you’re beautiful."

The two, dressed in their finery, walked out of the house leisurely, the sound of firecrackers not yet subsided. The ground was covered with red scraps against the red carpet, accentuating a festive atmosphere.