Volume Two: The Path to Azure Clouds 24. Turmoil at the Wedding (Part II)

The wedding finally commenced promptly at 12:16. The dashing host, Wang Jiaming, brought his full professional expertise to the stage, crafting an atmosphere that was both lively and grand. Only upon closer inspection could one notice how my relatives, seated in the corner, stood out sharply from the other guests due to their attire; otherwise, the scene appeared perfectly harmonious and serene.

Only then did I fully grasp why my father-in-law, Shu Zhongquan, had sequestered them in such an inconspicuous corner. He was not a snobbish man, but he was one who considered every detail with great care. Without such an arrangement, they would have seemed even more out of place.

During the tea ceremony for the parents, a minor incident occurred. When Wang Jiaming announced the offering of tea to the groom’s mother, I knelt before my mother without hesitation. Shu Xiaoya, however, remained standing. She merely bowed, then reached for a teacup from the tray held by the bridesmaid to offer it to my mother. I felt a sudden surge of embarrassment, yet I found it difficult to intervene. At that moment, my father-in-law spoke up: "Xiaoya, kneel and offer the tea to your mother-in-law. From now on, you are one family; you must treat her as you would your own mother."

Shu Xiaoya replied, "I am following Western customs. Aside from my biological parents, I do not kneel to anyone. I have already bowed, as you saw."

My mother then interjected, "Either way is fine. I am truly delighted that my son has married a woman like Xiaoya. In the future, I will treat her like my own daughter. Come, I will drink this cup of tea."

Accompanied by a slightly choked "Mom" from Shu Xiaoya, my mother took the cup and downed the tea in one gulp, much like a shot of liquor.

Amidst this awkward moment, the host, Wang Jiaming, spoke up clearly: "One is a talent cultivated on our own soil, the other a beautiful lady returning from abroad. Today, our wedding ceremony highlights a fusion of East and West. I believe our groom’s mother feels blessed to have gained such a beautiful and sophisticated daughter-in-law, and our bride is fortunate to have gained a mother-in-law who is as reasonable and tolerant as her own. Let us offer them our warmest applause and best wishes!" The entire hall erupted in thunderous clapping.

Although my mother’s grace and Wang Jiaming’s professional skill kept the wedding moving smoothly, a knot remained in my heart. When we reached the tea ceremony for Shu Xiaoya’s parents, she bowed again, just as she had with my mother. With the precedent set, I initially considered not kneeling, but after a moment’s reflection, I chose to do so anyway. It was evident that her parents were very pleased and happy.

After the ceremony, the hot courses were served, and Shu Xiaoya and I, accompanied by our best man and maid of honor, went from table to table to toast the guests. We began with the head table, where, in addition to my mother and my in-laws, there were two deputy directors from the Provincial Planning Commission, three leaders from our factory including Director Shi, and the principal of Jiangning People’s Experimental Primary School, where Shu Xiaoya worked.

Before we had finished toasting the head table, a clamor erupted from the back of the hall, causing everyone to turn and look. I followed their gaze to find the source of the noise—my large group of relatives from back home. Their voices rose and fell in a rhythmic chant: "Five of a kind! Eight horses! Brothers for life!" It was the familiar sound of finger-guessing games played at weddings in our hometown. Yet, echoing in this opulent four-star hotel, it sounded jarring and utterly out of place. I felt a renewed sense of shame, but I had to grit my teeth and finish the toasts at the head table.

Afterward, I asked Shu Xiaoya to join me at my relatives' table, but she refused, claiming they had made her lose face. I had no choice but to go alone.

When I reached my second and third uncles' table, they were still deep into their game, their voices loud enough to lift the roof. My second aunt saw me and said, "Shanwazi, what brings you here? I thought you’d forgotten all about us." My uncles stopped their game and looked at me. I gritted my teeth and pleaded, "Second Uncle, Third Uncle, could you please stop the finger-guessing?"

"We can't drink without playing!" my second uncle seemed annoyed, then added after a moment, "Isn't this just to liven up your wedding?"

"I appreciate you wanting to liven things up, but we are in a star-rated hotel today. Tomorrow, let's find another place where you can drink to your heart’s content and play all you like. For now, let me offer you a drink." I raised my glass.

"Who ever heard of a groom toasting alone? Where is the bride? What kind of sense does this make?" my second aunt chimed in.

"Forget it, Dad, Mom. Brother Shan is under a lot of pressure. There are city rules to follow, so let’s stop the games. Look, no one else is doing it. Just let him toast and go; he has so many guests to attend to. We should be more considerate of his position," my cousin Dongliang added. Only then did my aunt and uncle fall silent.

Few guests remained late into the evening, mostly just relatives from both sides. Thankfully, no further incidents occurred. It was past eleven when Shu Xiaoya and I returned to our new home at the factory. We were both exhausted. Dongbao and my cousin had clamored to tease us in the bridal chamber, but my mother had fortunately talked them out of it.

Despite the hiccups during the wedding, I felt that marriage was a milestone in life, and I didn't want to dwell on Shu Xiaoya’s behavior that day. She seemed genuinely excited. She went to bathe first, and I sat on the edge of the bed, waiting. Looking at the "Double Happiness" characters scattered throughout the room, I was enveloped in a sense of contentment. When she emerged, she urged me to wash up. A moment of joy on one's wedding night is worth a thousand pieces of gold; I finished quickly, ready to enjoy our night together, only to find that Shu Xiaoya had already fallen asleep on the large bed I had bought just two months prior. She must have been truly exhausted. I gazed at her beautiful face in slumber, unable to bear waking her. I climbed into bed gingerly and, perhaps overcome by my own weariness, drifted off to sleep as well. And so, my wedding night passed.