Chapter 36.2

Finally, the day of their wedding has arrived.

Song Xingyi and Li shi had originally prepared a dowry of twenty taels of silver for Song Zhixuan, a sum that gleamed temptingly in the light, promised a secure start to their new life.

To this they added a bounty fresh from the farm: two plump geese, their feathers a study in snowy white, and two even fatter chickens. A pair of pork knuckles, rich and succulent, completed the savory side of the dowry. And for a touch of sweetness, they included not just one, but two baskets overflowing with seasonal fruits - crisp pears and perfectly ripe persimmons.

This was already a generous dowry for a rural family.

Later, because the Wang family sent a number of brushes, ink sticks, and paper, they added a pair of calligraphy brushes, a pair of gold-rimmed ink blocks, and a folding fan to the dowry. Even in town, this would be considered a substantial dowry.

On the day of the wedding, Song Xingyi and Li shi put on their new clothes. Li shi even wore two silver hairpins and a gold ring.

The gold ring was bought by Song Xingyi years ago when he earned a good sum of money. It was a precious gift for his wife, and she only wore it on special occasions like this.

Early in the morning, Song Zhixuan took his older brother and sister-in-law to greet the bride, and in order to do so, he specially borrowed a mule cart. However, before they even reached the town, the Wang family sent a carriage to lend to Song Zhixuan, saying that it wouldn't be right to inconvenience the daughter of the town's academy head on her wedding day.

Seeing that Song Zhixuan refused to accept, and mentioning the friendship between Zhou Yinuo and Song Dingxiang, they insisted on Song Zhixuan switching to the carriage.

The switch from a mule cart to a carriage instantly made the procession more grand, even the father's bride, Bai Shan, smiled, not wanting to make things difficult for his new son-in-law, and smoothly sent his daughter off.

The carriage was fast, and the journey that had taken over two hours to go and come back was completed in just over an hour. The dashing groom led his bride by red silk, beaming with a smile as he got off the carriage.

"The bride has bound feet!!" A child ran over to lift the bride's skirt and excitedly exclaimed upon seeing the delicate embroidered shoes covered by the red dress.

Fang Shi and Zhang Shi quickly shooed away the children and gave them some candy before escorting the bride into the courtyard.

Song Dingxiang didn't join the wedding procession but stayed by the side of Li shi to help. The moment the new bride entered the house, her eyes lit up.

After all, this new bride was the daughter of the only academy head in town.

Dressed in a crimson gown, the fabric danced with an intricate design – a phoenix rising amidst a swirling red dragon, symbols of prosperity and power. Atop her head, a veil of the same fiery hue cascaded down, embroidered with a scene of mandarin ducks frolicking in water, a traditional emblem of marital bliss. Her bound feet, a custom of the time, moved with a practiced grace, each step a whisper against the floor.

In the village, women did not bind their feet because it would hinder their ability to work. Those who did bind their feet were usually from wealthier families who didn't need women to do heavy labor.

Although Song Dingxiang did not approve of foot binding, she couldn't help but admire the grace of the new bride.

The new bride was quickly escorted to the bridal chamber, with Song Zijin pulling Song Dingxiang into the room as well. They were considered accompanying guests, specially there to accompany the new bride and her family.

Song Zhixuan trembled with excitement as he took the measuring pole, taking two attempts to lift the red bridal veil, revealing the face of the new bride, heavily powdered.

Song Dingxiang glanced and almost burst out laughing.

Perhaps it was a matter of aesthetic preference or style. The new bride had a heavily powdered face, with a small mouth, red dots on her forehead, and rouge on her cheeks, which made her look... not very attractive.

She thought it wasn't good-looking, but Song Zijin was excited, "Sister, look at the new sister-in-law's face, it's so white. They say you need the best pearl powder to achieve such a fair complexion. And her lips are so red, really beautiful."

Song Dingxiang sighed inwardly, relieved that she had married into the village, where such practices were not popular, thus avoiding a difficult situation.

As the crimson veil was carefully lifted, revealing the bride's face for the first time that day, a chorus of cheers and playful teasing erupted from the gathered crowd. The groom, flushed with newfound joy and a hint of nervousness, was ushered out by his groomsmen, no doubt to partake in some celebratory drinks.

In the room, only a group of chattering women and the bride remained.

Song Dingxiang and Song Zijin couldn't join the conversation, so they sat in a corner snacking on peanuts and sunflower seeds. Their attention drifted towards the new bride, a captivating study in shyness.

Downcast eyes seemed to be her default setting, only reluctantly flickering upwards after several prompts. Every movement exuded a delicate grace, as if a sudden breeze might send her fluttering away.

"Sister, do you think the new bride will stay in the village and live with us?" Song Zijin asked.

Song Dingxiang shook her head and said, "I don't think so. Little uncle still needs to go to the town to study, and how can he leave the new bride behind? Besides, look at the new bride's feet, what can she do in the village other than toil around the stove? Would little uncle allow her to do heavy work?"

"True, but the new bride's feet are really beautiful, and the shoes are beautiful too." Song Zijin glanced at her own feet and discreetly shuffled her skirts.

Seeing that no one was paying attention to them, Song Dingxiang whispered, "You only think they're beautiful, but don't you think it's torturous? Those feet are achieved by breaking and bending the bones of the foot, they can't even take off their socks to sleep. And how can such small feet be considered beautiful? They can't run or walk far, just thinking about it makes me tired."

Surprised, Song Zijin asked, "Really? Then why do city women bind their feet?"

Unable to explain the concept of male-dominated beauty standards, Song Dingxiang could only say, "Because they don't need to do laborious work, and men find such feet attractive, so they persuade women to bind their feet. But in the end, it's the women who suffer, isn't it?"

Somewhat understanding, Song Zijin said, "Anyway, I won't bind my feet. It takes quite a while to walk from our house to the town, so how would I manage with bound feet?"

Song Dingxiang chuckled and replied, "That's why foot-binding is for wealthy families. They go out in carriages, why would they need to walk?"

It wasn't until the next morning that Song Dingxiang saw the true face of the new bride.

While Bai Shi might not have possessed conventionally striking features, her beauty lay in a different realm. Years spent immersed in the company of books had imbued her with a refined elegance. There was a quiet grace in her movements, an air of intellectuality that emanated from her very being. This scholarly aura, however, was devoid of any hint of arrogance.

Despite this, she didn't display any signs of arrogance, waking up early to cook and prepare tea, then paying respects to Song Xingyi and Li shi, finally earning the approval of her in-laws.

In the village, Song Zhixuan was a looker, his features so sharp and defined that they stole the eye. Even the new bride, while not as conventionally stunning as her husband, possessed a certain grace and warmth that balanced his striking appearance. Together, they radiated a quiet harmony, a couple perfectly attuned to one another.

Additionally, the new bride spoke softly, wrote beautifully, was skilled in embroidery, and was a good cook.

It was no wonder Song Zhixuan had longed for his bride, praising Bai Shi every time he returned. Now, he had finally brought her home and his face was filled with happiness.

The women gathered, quickly turning the conversation to the new bride.

Direct and quick-witted, Song Zijin asked Bai Shi if foot-binding was painful.

Bai Shi smiled gently and said, "It's very painful, for days I couldn't sleep and couldn't walk, it's really torturous. I didn't want to bind my feet at that time, but all the women in my family had to, there was no choice. I envy you, being able to run and play freely, unlike me, who gets exhausted just walking for a while."

Sympathetic, Song Zijin said, "If it's so miserable, why bind them? Won't you lose the ability to climb mountains and wander around freely?"

Bai said, "That's right, but the emperor has already decreed that foot-binding is no longer allowed. However, despite this, there will still be people who bind their feet because they think it looks good."

Song Zijin looked enviously at the embroidered pointed shoes and said, "They do look really good, with just a hint of them. Aunty looks so graceful when she walks, unlike us."

Bai shi smiled and said, "That's because I can't walk too fast, otherwise I might fall. But I think the courtyard in our house is level, making it stable to walk on, so I'm not worried."

Li shi said, "That's because your father-in-law specifically paved it with cheap blue bricks, to prevent stepping in mud when it snows or rains."

Bai shi said, "My husband told me, parents, brother, and sister-in-law are all hardworking people. I may not be able to work in the fields, but I can cook and clean the house, so teach me how to do it in the future."

Li shi laughed and said, "It's not that troublesome. Although we split after marriage, we still live together. Everyone helps with the chores in the courtyard, so you don't have to handle everything alone. Besides, after the Lunar New Year, you and the third son will also move to town. Take care of him."

Bai shi was surprised and said, "Do you mean, accompany my husband to live in town? How can that be, if I go, I won't be able to serve my parents properly, and it wouldn't sound good if others knew."

Li Shi reassured her, saying, "Who needs to know or care? It's a family matter. Besides, if our third son is weary from his studies, having you by his side – kind and attentive – puts my mind at ease. However, there's one thing to keep in mind. After marriage, our family traditionally separates. But if you're open to it, we can either continue as one big family or live separately. Whichever you choose, know that we are all kind-hearted people, so there's no need to worry about gossip."

Bai shi bowed respectfully and said, "I will listen to everything you say, and will never cause any discord with my brother and sister-in-law."

The decision to split the family was already discussed and planned. After the Lunar New Year, they would invite the village head and village elder to witness the separation, making it official.

While other families may make a scene when splitting, this family did it calmly, as if it were just having a cup of tea, passing through smoothly.

——— TNote:

Footbinding was a centuries-old practice in China that involved tightly wrapping the feet of young girls, typically between the ages of four and six, to deform and stunt their growth. The ideal foot size was considered to be around three inches long, resembling a "golden lotus" and symbolizing beauty, refinement, and social status.