The light from inside the house fell on the paper windows, creating faint, blurry shadows.
After the noise in the courtyard died down, Bai Lixin heard the faint sound of music being played from a distance.
The sound of the suona pierced through the air, drowning out all other noises, echoing through the sky and into everyone’s ears.
It only remained quiet for a second before the courtyard became lively and boisterous again.
Those who hadn’t yet eaten their dumplings quickly shoved them into their mouths. Their faces scrunched up from the heat, but they refused to spit them out. They wiped their wet hands on their pant legs, straightened their backs, and stood tall in the courtyard, brimming with excitement.
“Hey, little brother, I’ve never seen you acting like such a gentleman, but standing like this today, you actually look like an official.”
“You too, you too.”
“Aren’t we all just trying to make a good impression for our child? Let the groom see that our Chen Family is a respectable household, and that our daughter won’t be easily bullied after she’s married.”
“If they dare to bully our daughter, I’ll be the first to disagree. I’ll burn their ancestral graves!”
“Hahaha, you said it. When the time comes, don’t chicken out like a coward.”
“If I back out, then I’m a coward!”
The older men and women bantered back and forth, the atmosphere both harmonious and cheerful.
The younger generation gathered on the other side, huddled together in a group.
The adults couldn’t control the younger children, so they ran around the courtyard. Upon hearing that the groom’s sedan chair had arrived, they rushed out with their homemade lanterns to welcome him.
The sound of the suona grew louder as it approached, but the courtyard remained noisy. Just then, an elderly grandmother leaning on a cane slowly walked in from outside, her face serious as she shouted, “Be quiet!”
For a moment, the courtyard fell completely silent.
“Grandma Chief is really fierce,” Chen Xiaoshi whispered, “Only she can keep these old rascals in line.”
So, she’s the clan leader of Chenjia Village?
Grandma Chief’s legs were not very nimble, and beside her was a young girl helping her walk. The girl was very pretty, around fifteen or sixteen years old.
After the courtyard quieted down, Grandma Chief didn’t say much. She merely scanned the courtyard with her sharp gaze, and everyone immediately bowed their heads like students who had made a mistake.
Bai Lixin looked at her and felt that the other person’s eyes were as sharp as wheat spikes, as if all they could pierce through any secrets.
“Everything is well-prepared,” Grandma Chief said in her hoarse voice, “Are the elders and the bride inside ready?”
A vague response came from inside the house: “Everything is ready. Don’t worry, Grandma Chief, the bride is dressed up beautifully. She’s definitely the most beautiful bride in the world.”
The stern expression on Grandma Chief’s face slowly relaxed, and she said “Good” three times in a row.
The sound of the suona was loud and clear, now just a stone’s throw away.
The children ran back into the courtyard, shouting excitedly, “The groom’s sedan chair has arrived! The groom is here!”
S419M: [Host, it’s still so dark, it’s only eleven at night. Is it normal to get married at this time?]
Bai Lixin: [It’s hard to say, but it’s reasonable, I suppose. Since ancient times, weddings have always been about auspicious timings. Judging by the birth dates and the incense burner on the table earlier, they must also value this. Marriage is a joyous occasion, and it’s best for the bride to enter the groom’s home as the sun rises. Hence, there’s the saying, ‘Don’t miss the timing’. Some brides from far away might start preparing before dawn to make it in time.]
[Earlier, the villagers mentioned that the bride is marrying into a neighboring village. The two villages might be far apart, and the journey could be difficult. It makes sense to fetch the bride at this hour to ensure she arrives at the right time.]
The children holding small red lanterns shouted in their childish voices towards the gate, “Please, come in, uncle!”
Hearing this, Bai Lixin looked towards the entrance.
After much anticipation, a man dressed in dark red robes finally appeared.
Bai Lixin’s gaze was immediately drawn to the object the man was holding.
It was a black-and-white photo framed in a border, with a bright red flower attached to the frame. The photo showed a young, scholarly man with round black-framed glasses, smiling warmly, looking refined and dignified.
There was also a couplet on either side of the photo.
The left side read: [Zhou Guoyou, courtesy name Qingxin, was twenty-two.]
The right side read: [Suddenly passed away on the day of Yisi in the month of Gengzi in the year of Xinsi.]
The man holding the frame entered the courtyard and bowed respectfully towards the grand chair at the front, saying, “I am Zhou Guoyou of the Zhou family, here to marry the daughter of the Chen family.”
S419M: [Host, is this even reasonable?]
Bai Lixin: [Well… from a certain perspective, it does make some sense in the horror game.]
Around them, Chenjia villagers whispered to each other.
“Twenty-two years old, still quite young. And he even wears glasses, he looks quite handsome.”
“I told you earlier, this child is a good one, he looks handsome and extraordinary. I didn’t lie to you, right?”
“Our daughter is nineteen, a perfect match for him.”
“Indeed, a talented man and a beautiful woman, truly a great match.”
Bai Lixin’s gaze swept over the villagers imperceptibly. They seemed completely unfazed by the situation. There was no trace of fear on their faces, only a mix of joy and excitement.
Chen Xiaoshi leaned towards Bai Lixin’s ear and said, “Brother, don’t be too upset.”
Bai Lixin tilted his head slightly, his eyes silently expressing his doubts.
Chen Xiaoshi lowered his voice, “I know you’ve always liked Sister Xiaoling. It’s no shame losing to this groom from the Zhou family.”
Chen Dazhuang leaned in with his head tilted, “Erniu wants to get married too? When we get back, I’ll talk to our parents about it. We’ll find you a good match, and you could be married by the end of the year.”
Bai Lixin: “Big Brother is getting married?”
Chen Dazhuang: “I’m not in a rush. Xiaoshi isn’t grown up yet. I’ll think about marriage once he’s older.”
Bai Lixin: “Then I’m not in a rush either.”
Chen Dazhuang shook his head disapprovingly, “You’ve always been so stubborn. It’s really worrying.”
As the three brothers talked, a woman’s laughter came from inside the house: “Please welcome the elders.”
With that, the wooden door creaked open, and an elderly man slowly walked out.
The old man’s hair was gray, his face waxy yellow, and his cheeks sunken. From a distance, he looked like a skeleton wrapped in skin.
He wore an ill-fitting black-and-red robe and a round cap on his head.
Supported by someone, he struggled to get on the high table and sit down in the grand chair.
S419M: [Host, don’t you think his clothes look a bit out of place?]
Bai Lixin: [Don’t they look a bit like burial clothes?]
S419M: [Now that you mention it, it really does.]
As soon as the old man sat down, the villagers around began to bless him.
“Congratulations, Fourth Brother, you have watched your daughter grow up and now see her get married.”
“Yes, Old Fourth, this wedding must have cost you a lot.”
The old man’s gaunt face broke into a wide smile, “Did you enjoy the dumplings?”
“They were delicious, better than any dumplings I’ve ever had. Why?”
“I didn’t get enough!”
“This time we’re really lucky, thanks to your daughter.”
“Hehe.” The old man chuckled, “I butchered our old sow for the filling and added a lot of sesame oil. You’ve never tasted anything like it before, so of course, it’s delicious.”
“Sesame oil?” A villager’s eyes widened, “Where did you get sesame oil?!”
The old man: “My daughter brought it from the city. She brings a little each time, and I’ve been saving it. I poured it all in this time. If you like it, don’t hold back, eat as much as you can. Finish all the dumplings, not a single one should be left. If anyone dares to leave any, I, Old Chen, will be angry with whoever dares to leave any behind!”
“Leftovers?! I was worried there won’t be enough! With those words, we’ll eat to our hearts’ content later!”
“Eat, eat, eat! Finish it all, don’t leave a single piece!”
The simple and lively atmosphere completely washed away the solemn atmosphere that had just been created.
Grandma Chief cleared her throat, and the courtyard instantly fell silent, with everyone shrinking back like quails.
S419M: [Tsk tsk, Grandma Chief is even more effective than a mute button.]
“Bring out the bride of Zhou family!”
The ceremonial music started, and the door covered with bright red window paper opened.
A woman dressed in dark red stripes stepped out of the room, holding a similar black-and-white framed photo in her hands, with a red floral ribbon wrapped around it.
The woman in the photo had a childish face and a smile on her face, showing a playful little tiger tooth. Her pretty eyes were curved into crescent moons, looking adorable and cute.
On the left side of the photo, it read: [Chen family’s youngest daughter, Xiaoling, was nineteen.]
On the right side, it read: [Suddenly passed away on the day of Yisi in the month of Gengzi in the year of Xinsi.]
S419M: [Host, the groom and the bride both passed away on the same day.]
Bai Lixin: [I noticed that too.]
Seeing his daughter’s photo being brought out, Old Chen who was sitting on the grand chair, smiled even more brightly.
Whistles and cheers erupted in the courtyard.
“The bride looks so beautiful today!”
“Look how happy the old man is, his face is all wrinkled up. If you didn’t know better, you’d think the old elm tree at the end of our alley has started blooming!”
Old Chen squinted and gave a playful glare at the hecklers in the courtyard, “If I’m the old elm tree blooming, then you’re the old cotton tree playing the lute!”
Grandma Chief tapped her cane, and the scene fell silent once again.
The officiant called out, “Bow to the elders!” The groom and bride’s photos were lifted and placed in front of the prayer mat.
At that moment, a gust of cold wind blew from nowhere, causing the red ribbons in the courtyard to sway. The two birthdate papers on the table rustled loudly. Dust flew up, and the peanuts on the table were blown all over the place.
“Thud!”
“Thud!”
Two dull thuds echoed as the photos, which had been placed steadily, suddenly flipped over, one to the left and one to the right, landing face down on the prayer mat, as if they were really bowing to the elders.
It was late at night and the weather was chilly, but the villagers had worn thick clothes. Bai Lixin estimated that the temperature was about -3 or 4 degrees Celsius.
A cool breeze slipped down Bai Lixin’s neck, making him shiver involuntarily. Next to him, Chen Dazhuang leaned in and whispered, “It’s getting cold. Mom said this winter will be harsh. She’s hurrying to make cotton-padded clothes for the three of us, they’ll be ready soon. Just hang in there for a few more days.”
Chen Xiaoshi’s eyes lit up, and he tugged at Chen Dazhuang and Bai Lixin’s arms excitedly, “Big Brother Dazhuang, Second Brother Erniu, look, is Sister Xiaoling back?!”
S419M shuddered in Bai Lixin’s mind: [Host, look up at the sky.]
Bai Lixin looked up. In the pitch-black night sky, a cluster of banyan tree flowers were drifting down from who knows where. The bright peach-red color fluttered down, landed in the courtyard, on the villagers, on Old Chen, and around the two “newlyweds.”
Seeing the banyan flowers covering the ground, the villagers grew even more excited, “The Mountain God has appeared!”
“The Mountain God is here to bless the newlyweds! This couple will definitely have a happy and prosperous marriage!”
“Thank you, Mountain God, for your protection!”
S419M: [Host, is it normal for banyan trees to still be blooming in this season?]
Bai Lixin: “…”
Of course not.
But in the world of the horror game, when has anything ever been normal?
