For thirty years, he has roamed the Northeast, his divine might overwhelming all immortals under hea

After resting at home for a while, the cast on my leg was removed.

Nurse Wang is right. The bones are healing well, but because she has been lying down for a long time, her calves have become thinner, and she has to use crutches to walk and walk slowly.

My mother was heartbroken and kept wiping away tears, saying that such a fine young man had been turned into a sickly person.

I'm fine with it. I'll get out of bed and walk around whenever I can. It's better than lying on the kang (heated brick bed) all day.

Not long after the cast was removed, my mother started making arrangements for me and Xiulian.

After all, as mentioned before, New Year's Day is just around the corner.

"Thirteen, you can finally move around on your own. I'm thinking of getting things done by the Lunar New Year so that Xiulian can spend the New Year at our house."

I glanced at Xiulian; she had her head down, her cheeks flushed, and her fingers were twisting the hem of her clothes.

"Mother, wasn't this already agreed upon? The sooner Xiulian marries into the family, the less people in the village will gossip."

Xiulian raised her head, glanced at me quickly, and then lowered her head again. Her eyes held a mixture of shyness, joy, and something else I couldn't quite put my finger on.

"Then let's do it as we agreed before."

With things settled, the days seem to be passing quickly.

My father drove a horse-drawn cart into the county town and brought back several feet of red cloth, two pounds of fruit candy, and a pound of loose liquor. My mother took out all the eggs she had saved up for half a year and traded them with the villagers for a few pounds of flour, preparing to make steamed buns.

Xiulian was busy too. During the day, she helped my mother tidy up the house, and at night she sewed shoe soles under the lamp. She said she was going to make me a new pair of cotton shoes to wear on my wedding day.

"Xiulian, why are you making shoes? My leg isn't fully healed yet, I can't wear them."

"Even if they can't wear them, they still have to be made; it's the custom. When a new bride enters the family, she has to make a pair of shoes for her new son-in-law."

I looked at her and thought to myself, "I, Li Shisan, really have a tough life."

In those few days, everyone in the village knew that my family was going to have a happy occasion.

He asked my mother as soon as he saw her.

"Hey, when's the wedding banquet, Old Li's family?"

My mother answered with a smile.

"Come join us during the Gregorian New Year!"

Huang Dalang never came back.

The crunching sound of footsteps on snow never came again.

Sometimes when I can't sleep at night, I lie on the kang (a heated brick bed) and look out the window.

The snow outside melted and fell again, fell and melted again; the frost on the windowpane thickened and thinned, thinned and thickened again.

I listened intently, but there was nothing but the sound of the wind.

That thing seems to be really gone.

But I still felt a little uneasy.

That feeling of unease, that indescribable feeling, is like that cloud on the horizon—it looks far away, but you never know when it might drift over.

The day before the Lunar New Year, my mother called Xiulian and me to her side.

"We'll get things done tomorrow, and there are a few things I need to say."

Xiulian lowered her head, her face flushed.

"Xiulian, after tomorrow, you'll be a member of the Li family. We're poor, not rich or powerful, but we're all honest and trustworthy. You'll be with Thirteen from now on, so tell your mother anything, don't keep secrets."

Xiulian nodded, her eyes reddening.

"Auntie, I know."

"Still calling me 'Auntie'?"

Xiulian paused for a moment, then looked up at my mother, then at me, and her lips moved slightly.

"daughter."

That soft, sweet "Mother" brought tears to my mother's eyes. She hugged Xiulian tightly and patted her back.

"Good girl!"

As I watched from the side, I felt a mix of emotions, a bittersweet feeling that I couldn't quite describe.

That night, Xiulian and I went to her father's grave and told him about the wedding the next day.

According to custom, a new bride is not allowed to stay overnight at her husband's house before the wedding.

But Xiulian is different. Ever since what happened last time, she has been living in my house.

The rules naturally become useless.

In the Gregorian calendar year, I woke up just as dawn was breaking.

The sky outside was a clear, deep blue; the sun hadn't risen yet, and the eastern sky was tinged with the pale light of dawn. A thick layer of frost covered the windowpanes, like a sheet of white paper.

My mother had been up for a while and was busy at the stove in the outer room. The sounds of pots and pans clattering, the crackling of firewood burning, and my father's footsteps going in and out all blended together.

"Thirteen, are you awake?"

"woke up."

"Get up! It's your wedding day, don't lie there."

I put on my clothes and got off the kang (a heated brick bed) with my crutches. My leg was still not feeling well, and I walked with a limp, but it was much better than when the cast was first removed.

The outer room was steaming hot, with flames leaping high in the stove and steam bubbling from the large iron pot. My mother was kneading dough, preparing to steam buns. When she saw me come out, she looked up at me.

"Go and call your father back, and have him go borrow a carriage."

I went out the door, leaning on my cane.

The yard was swept clean, with snow piled up in the corner. Several hens were pecking for food near the henhouse, and they clucked when they saw me come out. The black pig in the pigpen also came over, grunting. I added a ladle of food to its trough, and it buried its head in its food.

My father was chopping firewood in the backyard. Despite the freezing weather, he had taken off his cotton-padded coat, leaving only a light jacket, and was swinging the axe, chopping away stroke by stroke. A large pile of neatly chopped firewood was stacked beside the woodpile.

"Father, Mother wants you to borrow a carriage."

"understood."

He stuck the axe into the wooden stump, picked up his cotton-padded coat, and put it on.

How's your leg?

"good."

"Come inside, it's cold outside."

He walked out, but turned back at the courtyard gate.

"Cheer up, it's your wedding day."

I froze.

"Dad, I'm very happy."

He glanced at me, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

I stood there, watching his figure disappear through the courtyard gate. A sudden pang of sadness welled up inside me. My father was a man of few words, but I knew he had everything on his mind.

When the sun comes out, the village starts to come alive.

First, Aunt Wang from next door came over to help, and she started yelling as soon as she entered the door.

"Congratulations, Mr. Li!"

He was carrying a basket of eggs, saying he was adding them to the box.

Then came Aunt Liu from the front yard, Uncle Zhang from the back yard, Old Zhao from the east end, Widow Sun from the west end… People came in waves, some with eggs, some with red cloth, some with a few pounds of flour, and some with two old hens. My mother was busy greeting them, her face beaming with joy.

A large pot was set up in the yard, with flames leaping high in the stove. Several elderly women were gathered around the stove, busy chopping vegetables, kneading dough, and stewing meat. The meat was from a pig slaughtered yesterday, a black pig they had raised for a year. They had slaughtered over 200 jin (approximately 100 kg) of meat, enough for several meals.

Tables were also set up inside the house. Two kang tables were placed on the kang (heated brick bed), and two more square tables were set up on the floor. There were also about ten benches, all borrowed from the neighbors. The bowls, chopsticks, basins, and spoons were also borrowed from one neighbor to another, with different patterns, but they were all washed very clean.

I walked around the house wearing the new cotton shoes Xiulian had made. My legs still felt uncomfortable, but I was so happy that I didn't feel the pain anymore.

Xiulian stayed at my house, so the wedding procession was skipped. However, just to go through the motions, Xiulian was in the main room and I was in the hall, which was a simple wedding ceremony.

The curtain was lifted, and Xiulian came in.

She was wearing a red cotton-padded jacket and trousers, with a red veil covering her head. Two women, one on each side, supported her as she walked in with small, quick steps. I couldn't see her face clearly, but I could see that she was tightly clutching a red handkerchief in both hands, her fingers trembling slightly.

"The new bride has arrived!"

Everyone inside crowded around, chattering and watching. I was pushed to the side, standing there leaning on my cane, watching as Xiulian was surrounded and helped onto the kang (heated brick bed).

According to custom, the new bride must sit on the bridal veil upon entering the house. A red quilt is laid on the kang (a heated brick bed), sprinkled with peanuts, red dates, and chestnuts, symbolizing the wish for many children and a complete family. Xiulian sat down on the edge of the kang, her red veil still covering her face, but her hands were visible on her knees, very properly.

My mother brought in a bowl of dumplings and handed it to Xiulian.

"Xiulian, eat dumplings."

Xiulian took the bowl, picked up her chopsticks, picked up a dumpling, and took a bite.

"Alive or not?"

Everyone inside was holding back their laughter, waiting for her answer.

Xiulian paused for a moment, then whispered.

"born."

The room erupted in laughter.

"Good, good birth, good birth!"

Xiulian then realized what was happening, and her face flushed red, even the roots of her neck turned bright red.

I watched from the side, feeling both amused and sorry for him.

Next comes the wedding ceremony.

A small table was placed on the kang (a heated brick bed), with an incense burner, candles, a plate of steamed buns, and a plate of meat on it. My father and mother sat on the edge of the kang, their faces smiling, but their eyes were a little moist.

Xiulian and I stood side by side on the ground, and in front of us stood Teacher Wang, the cultured man from the village, who was acting as the master of ceremonies.

"I bow to Heaven and Earth!"

Xiulian and I bowed to the doorway.

"Bowing to the parents a second time!"

He turned around and bowed to my parents. My mother took out a handkerchief to wipe her eyes, and my father's head was down, so I couldn't see his face.

"Husband and wife bow to each other!"

Xiulian and I stood facing each other and bowed to one another. The half of her neck that was exposed under her red veil was as red as if she had applied rouge.

"Send them to the bridal chamber!"

Another burst of laughter followed. Xiulian was helped into the inner room, and I followed behind, leaning on my cane.

The bridal chamber is this room. New newspapers are pasted on the walls, red paper-cut window decorations are pasted on the windows, and new mattresses and quilts are laid out on the kang (a heated brick bed). Xiulian sits on the edge of the kang, still covered by a red veil.

I stood at the doorway, watching her.

It was just the two of us left inside. The lively sounds outside drifted in through the curtain, sometimes near, sometimes far.

I walked over with my cane and sat down next to her.

"Xiulian".

She didn't say anything, but I noticed that her hands were clenched even tighter.

I reached out and lifted the red veil.

She looked up at me. Her face was flushed, and her eyes were red too; I couldn't tell if it was from happiness or from crying.

"Thirteenth Brother."

"Um."

I reached out and touched her face. It was warm and smooth.

She lowered her head and leaned on my shoulder. I put my arm around her and smelled the scent of soap in her hair, mixed with the smell of gunpowder from firecrackers.

Someone was knocking on the door.

"New son-in-law and new daughter-in-law, come out and offer your toasts!"

Xiulian quickly sat up straight and wiped her eyes. I took her hand and stood up.

"Let's go."

A banquet has already been set out in the outer room.

There was a table on the kang (a heated brick bed), a table on the ground, and two more tables set up in the courtyard. The place was packed with people, mostly old and young relatives and friends from the village. Large bowls of meat, large basins of vegetables, and jugs of white liquor were laid out on the tables.

Xiulian and I went from table to table toasting each other.

First, we offered a toast to the table on the kang (heated brick bed), where my parents and several elders were seated. I held the wine pot, and Xiulian held the wine cup, and we toasted them one by one.

"Father, Mother, I salute you."

My father took the wine glass, tilted his head back, and downed it in one gulp. He looked at me, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't. My mother wiped away her tears again, holding Xiulian's hand tightly.

"Good girl, good girl..."

Then we offered toasts to one table in the courtyard, and then to two more tables in the yard. My legs aren't very strong, so I have to rest after every few steps, and Xiulian helped me walk from table to table.

"Thirteen, congratulations on your wedding!"

Congratulations!

"Wishing you a speedy arrival of your precious child!"

"Two children in three years!"

One toast after another was offered, and smiling faces greeted us. Xiulian, her face flushed, followed behind, smiling with her lips pursed.

When we toasted Zhao Laoliu's table, he drank until his face was flushed and he wouldn't let go of me.

"Thirteen, you're lucky to have married such a beautiful wife!"

"Sixth Brother, you've had too much to drink."

"Not much! I'm perfectly sober! Come on, have another drink!"

She poured me another cup and insisted I drink it. I glanced at Xiulian, who shook her head slightly. I picked up the cup and took a sip.

"Sixth Brother, that's enough. My leg isn't fully healed yet, so I can't drink too much."

"Alright, alright, that's the point. Thirteen, live a good life, okay?"

"Why."

After the toasts were finished, the sun was already setting in the west.

The people in the courtyard gradually dispersed. The women who had helped clear away the dishes, while the men sat there chatting. Xiulian and I went inside and sat down on the kang (a heated brick bed).

"Are you tired?"

"Not tired."

She said she wasn't tired, but her face showed signs of weariness. I reached out and pulled her close.

"Take a break."

She leaned on my shoulder and closed her eyes.

The voices outside gradually subsided, occasionally punctuated by a laugh that then faded into the distance. Darkness descended, and the room grew dark as well. The frost on the windowpanes gleamed with a greyish-white light, and the snow outside reflected the sky, making the old elm tree at the courtyard gate vaguely visible.

My mother lifted the curtain and came in, carrying two bowls of dumplings.

"Are you hungry? Have some dumplings."

Xiulian quickly sat up and took the bowl.

"Thank you, Mother."

My mother glanced at the two of us and smiled.

"Eat your meal and get some rest. You don't need to get up early tomorrow."

She went out, and the curtain fell down.

Xiulian and I ate dumplings in silence. The filling was pork and sauerkraut; the sauerkraut was pickled by my mother in the fall, and the pork was from a pig slaughtered today. One bite, and my mouth was filled with juicy goodness.

After dinner, Xiulian cleared away the dishes and took them out. I sat on the kang (a heated brick bed), listening to the sounds from the outer room. I heard the clatter of pots and pans, the sound of voices, then the sound of a door closing, and footsteps fading away.

Xiulian is back.

She closed the door and bolted it. She stood in the doorway, staring at me.

The room was lit, casting a dim, yellowish light on her face. She had taken off her red cotton-padded jacket and was wearing a white vest with red flowers. Her hair was a little messy, and her face still had a flush from drinking.

"Thirteenth Brother."

"Um."

She walked over and got onto the kang (a heated brick bed).

The wind outside picked up and howled. The window frame swayed, then stabilized.

I reached out and hugged her. She nestled in my arms, her body warm and soft.

"Xiulian".

"Um?"

"From now on, you'll be my wife."

She looked up at me. Her eyes, reflecting the lamplight, sparkled.

"Thirteenth Brother, do you like me?"

"Rare."

She laughed and buried her face in my chest.

I held her in my arms, my heart overflowing, as if it were filled with something.

The lights went out.

The room grew dark, with only a sliver of white light from the snow filtering through the window. The wind howled outside, and a few distant barks of dogs echoed before fading into the distance.

I held Xiulian in my arms, our eyes met, and I felt a heat, a deep heat, coursing through my body…

We were like two magnets, slowly drawing closer... closer...

Finally, they merged together...