PFC Chapter 225 The Newlyweds' Return to Their Bride's Home
Chapter 225 The Newlyweds' Return to Their Bride's Home
The crowing of roosters began outside the window, and the morning light shone through the window paper into the bridal chamber. Li Xiangyang opened his eyes, looked at the bride in his arms, and his heart began to beat faster involuntarily.
Her hair was scattered on the pillow, her cheeks were still flushed, and her eyelashes trembled slightly, as if she was about to wake up.
"Awake?" Li Xiangyang asked softly, gently brushing away the stray hairs from her forehead with his fingers.
Hearing this gentle call, Li Xiaoyun stirred slightly, slowly opened her eyes, and recalled the events of the previous night, her face instantly turning rosy.
"What time is it?" she asked, rubbing her eyes.
"It's almost eight o'clock."
Li Xiaoyun sat up abruptly, but because her body was sore and weak, she fell back onto the bed.
She glared at Li Xiangyang reproachfully, two red clouds rising to her cheeks: "It's all your fault..."
Looking at her coquettish expression, Li Xiangyang couldn't help but gently kiss her forehead: "Lie down a little longer, I'll go get you some water."
“No,” Li Xiaoyun bit her lip and shook her head, “I still have to serve tea to my mother-in-law. If I can’t get up, people will laugh at me.”
"It's alright, my mother knows you're tired."
"That won't do!" Li Xiaoyun's face turned even redder. "Quickly, help me up."
Seeing that she insisted, Li Xiangyang had no choice but to carefully help her up.
Li Xiaoyun endured the discomfort and slowly got dressed.
"Do I look...okay?" she asked somewhat nervously.
Li Xiangyang wrapped his arms around her from behind: "The most beautiful woman in the world."
"You're so glib," Li Xiaoyun scolded playfully, but her eyes shone with happiness.
Just then, Li Xiaohua's voice came from outside: "Brother, sister-in-law, breakfast is ready!"
Li Xiaoyun nervously squeezed Li Xiangyang's hand: "I...I'm fine."
Li Xiangyang looked at her with concern: "Do you want me to carry you out?"
"Go away, go away," Li Xiaoyun said, blushing as she pushed him away. "How can you do that?"
She took a deep breath, straightened her back, and, with Li Xiangyang's help, slowly walked out of the new house.
In the courtyard, Li's mother had already set out the tea set and was watching the newlyweds with a smile.
Despite her discomfort, Li Xiaoyun picked up the teacup and knelt respectfully before her mother, saying, "Mother, please have some tea."
Mother Li took the teacup, her eyes filled with loving kindness: "Good child, get up quickly. Eat something, today is your big day returning home to your parents' home, you'll be busy later."
Li Xiaohua brought over a steaming bowl of chicken soup: "Sister-in-law, this is something I made for you myself, it smells so good."
Li Xiaoyun took the bowl, took a small sip, and looked at her sister-in-law approvingly: "Delicious! Hua'er's cooking is really good."
Li Xiaohua smiled happily: "Of course, I learned it specifically from my mother."
After dinner, the family began packing their luggage.
Li's mother packed the prepared mountain produce gifts into several packages.
"Xiangyang, these are all mountain products. Use them as gifts for your father-in-law's relatives in the city," Li's mother carefully instructed.
Li Xiaohua helped pack her things, occasionally stealing glances at her new sister-in-law, her eyes full of affection.
Li Xiaoyun noticed and smiled, patting her head: "Hua'er is so capable."
After the group finished packing, Li Xiangyang locked the courtyard gate.
Upon arriving at the educated youth settlement, they met up with the Li family, and everyone hurried towards Kunming.
It was Li Xiaohua's first time riding a train, and she excitedly leaned against the window looking outside.
The train slowly pulled into Chuncheng Railway Station.
The Li family's relatives were already waiting on the platform.
Upon arriving at the Li family's home, the courtyard was already brightly decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and a newly replaced large red "double happiness" character was pasted on the gate.
There were more than a dozen round tables in the courtyard, each covered with a brand new red tablecloth.
"Come inside and rest," Mother Li called to everyone. "There's a ceremony coming up later."
Li Xiangyang and Li Xiaoyun were taken to different rooms to change clothes.
While helping Li Xiangyang adjust his wedding attire, Li's father carefully introduced the guests' identities and relationships.
When the two came out after changing their clothes, the courtyard was already full of guests.
Weddings in the city are more elaborate than those in the countryside, and the rituals of bowing to heaven and earth and bowing to one's parents are equally essential.
During the meal, Li's relatives took turns offering toasts.
Although Li Xiangyang had a good alcohol tolerance, he was also somewhat overwhelmed by this display of power.
Fortunately, Mr. Li intervened in time to stop him from drinking too much.
"Today is a joyous occasion for the Li family," Father Li stood up and raised his glass, "Xiaoyun has found a good family, and we are all very pleased. Come, everyone, let's toast the newlyweds!"
After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,
As dusk fell, the atmosphere in the courtyard grew increasingly lively.
Li Xiaohua ran around in the yard, having a great time playing with her younger cousins from the Li family.
The banquet ended late at night.
With so many relatives and not enough room for everyone, Li's father had already booked rooms at a nearby state-run guesthouse.
"Xiaoyun, you and Xiangyang will live in room 302 of building one," Father Li said, handing the keys to his daughter. "Sister Lin, you and Xiaohua will live in room 303 next door. The other relatives have all been arranged in building two."
The guesthouse was just across the street. The group of people carried their luggage and walked past the dim streetlights.
Li Xiaohua yawned, but still looked around the city, which was still very unfamiliar to her, with great interest.
"I'll take you to the department store tomorrow," Li Xiaoyun said, holding her sister-in-law's hand. "I'll buy you new clothes."
The room wasn't big, but it was very clean.
A double bed, a square table, and a wardrobe; the window offers a view of the entire nightscape of Kunming.
"Are you tired?" Li Xiangyang hugged Li Xiaoyun from behind. "Get some rest."
Li Xiaoyun nestled in his arms and whispered, "It was so lively today."
"Mmm." Li Xiangyang kissed her hair. "The days ahead will be just as lively."
The next morning, Mr. Li knocked on the door: "Are you up yet? I'm taking you to the photo studio to take your wedding photos."
Li Xiaoyun quickly opened the door.
Li's mother and Li Xiaohua had also finished getting ready and were standing in the corridor waiting.
"Let's go get some breakfast first," Mother Li said with a smile. "I know a steamed bun shop that's absolutely delicious."
The mornings in Kunming are very lively.
Pedestrians hurried along the street, and bicycle bells jingled.
Li Xiaohua found everything fascinating and kept asking her sister-in-law questions.
In the photo studio, Li Xiangyang was wearing a smart Zhongshan suit, and Li Xiaoyun was wearing a red cheongsam.
The two posed in front of the set, their faces beaming with happiness.
"The bride, look this way, yes, that's it," the photographer instructed. "The groom, look up a little, good, very natural."
The moment the shutter clicked captured their most beautiful moment.
Li's mother's eyes reddened as she watched, and Li's mother quickly handed her a handkerchief.
"Let's take another one while she's sitting." The photographer brought over a mahogany chair and had Li Xiaoyun sit down gracefully, while Li Xiangyang stood behind her, his hands gently resting on the back of the chair.
"Alright, now please have the whole family come together." The photographer adjusted the camera and arranged the positions. "The newlyweds sit in the front, and the family members stand behind. That's right, look this way, everyone smile."
The photographer pressed the shutter, capturing a heartwarming and precious moment.
The two families stood together, smiles on everyone's faces.