A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Starting from the Village Chief

Chapter 139: Doing Things to the Extreme

Li Yi rode a tall, dark red horse, and a large red silk flower was tied to his blue robe.
Next to him were the groomsmen, including Li Dejiang and Dong Qilang, who were riding horses. Although Li Dejiang had not yet married, he was imparting his experience to Li Yi in a very knowledgeable manner.

"When we get to the Du residence in Anminfang, the bride's family will definitely block the entrance and alley to prevent the wedding car from moving. This is called blocking the car, and they will have to give a lot of money, wine and food to prevent it from moving.

So, I asked you to prepare some more copper coins, and that's why. We will first give them some wine, food, and snacks, and then distribute the money.
Once the money is scattered on both sides of the road, everyone will rush to grab it, and the road will be open. We can take the opportunity to protect the wedding carriage through."

The custom of blocking the car originally meant that the parents were reluctant to let their daughters get married, but it has gradually evolved into a bad habit of demanding money.
It's not just relatives who come. Whenever there is a girl getting married, many beggars, even idlers and scoundrels, will swarm in, stopping cars and demanding money, and they won't accept any less.

Li Yi didn't understand these things, but Ji also taught him a lot. Now Li Dejiang is very experienced, so of course he had prepared a lot of wine, dried fruits, snacks, and many copper coins.

He is ready to spend a lot of money today.

It’s not far from Pingkangfang to Anminfang, just a few miles away.

After entering the town, we rushed to Du's house.
The wedding procession was fully prepared to deal with the barrier carts of the Du family. According to Li Dejiang, the Jingzhao Du family was a famous and prestigious family in Guanzhong. The bride was a daughter of a wealthy family, so the barrier cart team must be very large and they had to go all out.

It would be embarrassing if I couldn't pass this first hurdle.

Li Yi also prepared a trump card,

In addition to preparing a lot of copper coins, he even prepared some loose silver.
If there are really some scoundrels who stop the car and won't let you go, just throw silver beans at it. Who can resist silver?

"Everyone, protect the wedding car and the groom. Don't let the bride's family rob them." Li Dejiang shouted.
Everyone responded with laughter, saying they would protect the groom.

Turn from Big Cross Street into Small Cross Street.
After passing the alley, you will enter the small street in front of Du's house.
Surprisingly, no one was there.

"Ok?"

Li Dejiang, who was rolling up his sleeves, was stunned for a moment. "Brother Wuyi, did you remember the wrong place? Didn't the Du family's bride get married here?"

Li Yi was also stunned. No way.

"Previously, all the matchmaking and betrothal proposals came to Du Bingcao's residence. They also agreed to send the bride and groom today from here."

"That's weird."

Everyone continued to move forward in confusion.

Really, he arrived at Du Ruhui's gate smoothly and without any obstacles.

There was no one outside the Wutou Wall either.

Even on the gate of the mansion, there was no festive decoration at all.

Li Dejiang laughed and said, "Brother Wuyi, it seems you've made a mistake. It's impossible for them to marry their daughter off here. Send someone to the Du family to ask if they've moved to a new location. I remember the Fengxiang Marquisate had several mansions in Chang'an. Your father-in-law also has a mansion in Chang'an City. It seems to be in Wubenfang, west of Pingkangfang."

Li Yi was confused, but he still asked Liu Heizi to go forward and knock on the door to ask.

After a while, Liu Heizi came back with a strange look on his face.

"Alang, the Du family's doorman said that Shi Niang is getting married here."

"Huh?" This time it was Li Dejiang's turn to be confused. "Today?"

Li Yi passed the Wutou Gate and came to the main gate himself. The gatekeeper was an old servant. Li Yi first handed over a red envelope.
This old servant is not the one I often saw when he came to Du Ruhui's house before. Seeing that he looks unhappy, I guess he was brought by Guo from Duqu.

Li Yi introduced himself and said that he was there to pick up the bride.

"Our old lady said that according to etiquette, the wedding should be held at dusk. When the auspicious time comes, Shi Niang will be sent out."

Even though Li Yi knew that Guo had been making things difficult for him, he still found this attitude unbelievable. After all, today was Shi Niang's wedding day, so how could this happen?

"Could you please tell the old lady that Li Yi has arrived and wants to come into the mansion to see her?"

"My wife is ill today and cannot see guests."

Li Yi, who was rejected, was furious but kept suppressing his anger.

But no matter how much we tried to persuade him, the old servant just wouldn't budge.

"Then can I see Sergeant Du?"

"Erlang received an urgent summons from the King of Qin yesterday and went to Changchun Palace. He is not at home."

"Then may I meet Du Bingcao's wife?"

The old servant ignored him.

Standing in front of the gate of Du’s house, Li Yi wanted to curse.

Finally I held back.

When they returned to the outside of the Wutou Gate, the people who were welcoming the bride were a little at a loss. They had never seen such a situation before.

Li Dejiang came up and asked, "What's going on?"

"Mrs. Guo said she would wait until dusk to marry Shi Niang."

"Now, there's no one to entertain you."

"And the wedding reception, wouldn't there be a poem urging the bride to get ready, a poem to repel the fan, a banquet, and many other ceremonies?"

Li Yi sneered twice.
Guo really did something too extreme. I guess Shi Niang must be heartbroken at this moment.

"Wait,"

Li Dejiang was a little dissatisfied and walked to the band he had invited in the back, "Everyone, please set up your posture here, show your best skills, and play the instruments.
Everyone, work harder, and everyone will get a reward. Your wages will be doubled."

As soon as this word comes out,
The group of trumpeters and drummers didn't even bother to sit back and watch the fun, they all started playing music.

When this music sounded,
Many neighbors came to watch the fun.

When they saw the wedding procession, they were quite surprised, because they had not heard any rumor that the Du family was marrying off their daughter today.

Li Dejiang was loudly proclaiming it,

It is said that today, Li Yi, the founding Viscount of Qianshui County, who was appointed by His Majesty, is marrying Du Shiniang, the daughter of the Fengxiang Marquis of the Jingzhao Du family.

As he spoke, he distributed cakes and snacks to everyone, and asked them to bring the prepared wedding wine from the car to treat the neighbors.

More and more people gathered,

Come and watch the fun,
Everyone was drinking wedding wine and eating fruit, and they were all wondering why the Du family had no celebration for their daughter's wedding, and why they didn't welcome the wedding party into the house.

Curious neighbors,
After eating and drinking, I was reluctant to leave.
The old servant who was guarding the Du family came over and said that the old lady was not feeling well and that she should not make such noise.

Li Yi ignored him.

Then,
The band played from noon till dusk, and the Du family kept their doors closed.
As dusk approached,
Li Yi went up to ask,
"The auspicious time has arrived. Can we pick up the bride?"

Du's house,

Shi Niang cried so much that her eyes were red and swollen.

She hadn't expected it to be like this on the most important day of her life.

He went to ask to see his grandmother several times, but was stopped by the maid.

I wanted to go to the East Courtyard and discuss it with my second sister-in-law, but I was not allowed.

There was no one to help her with her facials and makeup.
Finally, Du Shiniang, who had cried till her tears ran dry,

I do my own makeup and make-up.

In front of the mirror,

As she combed her hair, she blessed herself, "One comb to the end, two combs to the eyebrows, three combs to a house full of children and grandchildren."

Every time I say something, it feels like a needle piercing my heart.

At last,
She picked up the green dress and the gold and silver-decorated hairpin.
The dress was made of linen, and the flower hairpin was just a copper hairpin coated with gold and silver.

The linen tailor's blue clothes, blue shoes, and blue socks,
Looking at the swollen eyes,
Du Shiniang applied a thick layer of lead powder on her face as a base makeup, and then chose a more colorful rouge powder to apply peach blossom makeup to cover up her bad complexion.

She put on a flower ornament between her eyebrows in front of the mirror and drew long and curved willow-leaf eyebrows with black ink.

Finally, I used bright red paint on half of my lips to create a butterfly lip makeup.

The bright and vivid lip makeup makes her look like a festive bride.

In the afternoon,

The sound of music came from outside.
After putting on her makeup and wedding dress, Shi Niang sat on the bed in a daze.
It must be Li Lang who has come to meet her.
But my grandmother didn't let Li Lang in.
Just waiting quietly,

Du Shiniang stopped crying, she told herself that crying would ruin her makeup.

She didn't want to see Li Lang and let him see her in such an embarrassing state.

Be strong,
at last,

A maid came over from my grandmother's side.

"Shi Niang, the auspicious time for getting married has arrived. It's time to go out."

"Won't my grandpa come and see me off?"

"The old lady is not feeling well, so she said she won't come to see you off, to avoid you feeling sad again.

Du Shiniang stood up and walked out alone in her wedding dress.

The maidservant looked at this and felt upset too.

"Shi Niang, don't blame the old lady. She has been crying all day and fainted twice. She has always treated you as the apple of her eye.

You have greatly disappointed the old lady this time, she cannot accept you."

Shi Niang did not stop, nor did she reply.

She clenched her fists tightly in her sleeves, her nails piercing the skin on her palms.

All the way to the front door.

"Open the door." Shi Niang said expressionlessly to the old servant guarding the door.

The door is opened,

Du Shiniang stood at the door and took several deep breaths.
Take a step forward,
When she walked through the gate and saw Li Yi waiting outside,

Stopped,
Turn around, kneel down,
He kowtowed three times to the Du residence.
Then stand up,

Turning around and walking towards Li Yi,
Li Yi felt extremely distressed when he saw Du Shiniang walking out alone.

He walked forward quickly, held her hand,
"Shi Niang, I'm here to welcome you home."

"Li Lang," Shi Niang almost couldn't hold back her tears when she said those two words. She tried hard to hold back her tears, and her lips were trembling.

"I'm sorry for wronging you. I will treat you well in the future."

Li Yi took her to the wedding car.
Li Dejiang shouted to the trumpeters, "Play as hard as you can."

Li Yi mounted his horse and looked at the neighbors who were watching.

"Heizi, give wedding money to the neighbors, pick up the bride, and go home!"

Amidst the festive music of blowing and beating,

Li Yi led the wedding procession back to Pingkangfang. Liu Heizi and his companions each carried a cloth bag and scattered money as they walked.

The team gradually moved away,

Soon, only a group of neighbors were left in front of the Du residence, watching and watching, and they were all discussing this strange wedding reception.

If Du Shiniang hadn't been seen walking out of the Du residence in her green wedding gown, no one would have believed that the Du family was getting their daughter married today.

"This is the first time I've seen a wedding like this."

"Of course not. I'm over sixty years old and I've never heard of it before."

"Why? The groom is also a worthy Viscount of the founding county, and he is also very handsome."

"Who knows?"

"Don't mention it, this groom is not only handsome, but also generous. He distributed wedding wine and fruits, and also spent a lot of money. It's not a small amount."

The door of Du's house was tightly closed.

The inner court,

When Guo heard that Shi Niang had been taken away by Li Yi, she knelt down at the gate facing the house and kowtowed three times before leaving.

Mrs. Guo, with her hair full of silver, leaned there, tears streaming down her face.

The maids all lowered their heads and dared not even breathe.

(End of this chapter)