11. Getting married, bidding farewell to bachelorhood forever.

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“Mother, I slept very well. I’m a rough-and-ready sort of person myself,” Meng Yun teased.

“You silly child, today is the great wedding day for you and Chuan’er. Let me arrange the room,” said Zhou Yaru.

“All right. Thank you, Mother. We’ll do it together.”

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law immediately set to work.

They spread a scarlet sheet over the bed and changed the quilt cover to match. Auspicious dragons and phoenixes were embroidered across it, while the pillowcases were replaced with ones bearing entwined-lotus embroidery.

“This is your wedding dress. Once the food is ready, eat first. We’re farmers, so we don’t fuss over too many formalities. People will be coming to the house shortly. If anyone comes into the room to see you, or says anything, don’t take offense,” Madam Zhou said as she tidied up.

“I know, Mother. It’s a joyous occasion. I’m sure they won’t say anything too outrageous,” Meng Yun replied.

“Ah, good. The room is finished, then. I’ll go prepare the food. Qiao’er and Zhe’er will come over later to put up the window decorations and the wedding characters.”

After saying this, Madam Zhou left the room.

Meng Yun watched her mother-in-law’s retreating figure, her heart filled with warmth.

Before long, Jin Yanzhe and Jin Qiao’er arrived. One carried the wedding decorations, while the other held a bowl of paste.

“Eldest Sister-in-law!”

“Eldest Sister-in-law!”

The siblings saw her come out and immediately greeted her.

“I’ll help you,” Meng Yun offered.

“No need, Sister-in-law. Don’t get your clothes dirty. Qiao’er and I can handle this little bit of work.”

Jin Yanzhe was thirteen years old and already five feet seven. He had a refined, gentle face that somewhat resembled Jin Yanan’s. Come to think of it, the two brothers looked nothing like Jin Yanchuan. Jin Yanchuan had strong yet handsome features and an exceptionally defined jawline—the sort of face that immediately marked him as a charming man. These two brothers, by contrast, had softer, more delicate appearances, resembling Madam Zhou.

Meng Yun did not dwell on it. She guessed that Jin Yanchuan had inherited his features from his father-in-law. The older man’s face had been disfigured, making his original appearance impossible to discern, but his straight, sturdy back suggested that he, too, must once have been an outstanding man.

She simply had no idea what the family had gone through. Their father was disfigured, their eldest son had the mind of a child, and their second son was lame...

As Meng Yun’s thoughts wandered, Jin Qiao’er brought in the meal: a bowl of porridge, two boiled eggs, some reheated cabbage left over from the previous night, and a small dish of pickles.

By Meng Yun’s present standards, even this counted as delicious. The family’s circumstances were what they were, and she could only adapt to local customs.

“Little Sister, have you eaten?” Meng Yun asked, looking at the girl.

She was ten years old, with delicate features. When she grew up, she would certainly become a great beauty. Her large eyes were lively, like those of an elf that could speak.

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At the thought of elves, Meng Yun remembered her spatial elf—that little rascal. She wondered where the creature had gone to hold its meeting.

“Not yet. I’ll eat in the kitchen later,” Jin Qiao’er said, somewhat timidly.

“Go serve yourself a bowl of porridge and eat with me. I couldn’t finish all this by myself anyway.”

“No, Sister-in-law. I’ll eat in the kitchen...”

After saying this, the girl ran off.

Meng Yun shook her head. She guessed that the kitchen certainly did not have such a generous meal. The Jin family’s kindness warmed her heart.

She quickly finished the porridge and ate a few bites of cabbage, then carried the bowls and chopsticks into the kitchen.

Just as she had expected, several members of the family were sitting there with bowls in their hands, drinking porridge. The only thing on the stove was a small dish of pickles.

“Yun’er, are you full?” Madam Zhou hurriedly set down her bowl.

“Mother, I’m full.” Meng Yun put down the bowls and chopsticks. “Take your time eating. I’ll go back first.”

She glanced at Jin Yanchuan, who was gazing at her with a foolish grin, smiled, and turned to leave.

Zhou Yaru looked at the remaining cabbage and the single egg.

“Chuan’er, eat the egg. Everyone else can share the cabbage.”

No one objected to this decision. They were all accustomed to it by now.

Meng Yun sat in the room, her heart unable to settle for a long time. If she had still been thinking yesterday of using the Jin family to escape from the Meng family, then today she wanted to stay. She wanted to cure their illnesses and lead them toward a prosperous life. Otherwise, she would feel she had betrayed the kindness they had shown her.

As for whether the family had enemies or other troubles, Meng Yun would not consider that for the moment. After all, apart from a few simple self-defense techniques, she possessed no real combat ability. She was not blindly arrogant or self-confident enough to think herself superior merely because she had crossed into another world. In the face of unknown dangers, she had to act within her limits.

Before long, people began arriving at the Jin family home one after another. The men’s lively voices could be heard as they busied themselves, while the women chatted idly about family matters.

Meng Yun changed into her wedding dress herself. In truth, it was simply a red gown embroidered with blooming flowers symbolizing wealth and honor. A pair of mandarin ducks and intertwined branches adorned the bridal veil, all carrying auspicious meanings. Her embroidered shoes bore a similar design, with two mandarin ducks playing in the water.

Because of her unusual circumstances, there were no other formalities. She styled her own hair and sat quietly beside the bed, leaving the veil to one side. It would only be inconvenient once people came into the room.

Sure enough, not long afterward, Zhou Yaru arrived with several women.

“Yun’er, these are several of the village aunties,” Madam Zhou said, introducing them one by one.

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Meng Yun rose and greeted each of them.

“Oh my, this girl is so fresh and lovely.”

“Indeed, she’s truly beautiful, just like a young lady from the city.”

“A-Chuan is remarkably handsome too. Their children will surely be as beautiful as little immortals.”

The women chattered among themselves while Meng Yun listened quietly.

“All right, let the bride rest for a while. Everyone, hurry and get to the cooking!”

At someone’s shout, the women all left.

“Yun’er, they were only speaking carelessly. Don’t take those remarks seriously,” Zhou Yaru said.

She was worried Meng Yun might take offense at the women’s comments about children. Her son had the intelligence of a six- or seven-year-old; she did not even know whether he understood the relationship between men and women. Bringing up children so casually might leave Meng Yun embarrassed and unable to respond.

If Meng Yun had known that her mother-in-law was troubled by this, she would have loudly declared, “You’re worrying over nothing. Your son not only knows how to do that—he’s very good at it. Naturally, I’m the teacher.”

“It’s all right, Mother.” Meng Yun’s face flushed.

“All right, then. I have work to do. If you get bored, ask Qiao’er to come keep you company. Yesterday I sent word to Wany’er’s family. I wonder whether she’ll be able to come back.”

With that, Madam Zhou left.

Meng Yun knew that Wany’er was the Jin family’s third child. Jin Wany’er had married at fifteen, just after her coming-of-age ceremony. Her husband’s family was also from Wanqing Town, in the eastern part of the town.

Married at fifteen? Meng Yun sighed. Was this body of hers not only sixteen? Good heavens, they were all minors. What a bunch of little monsters...

Before long, the fragrance of food filled the Jin family courtyard. Villagers began arriving one after another, and both the village head and the clan head had been invited. Whether or not they liked the Jin family, they had to show up out of respect for their positions.

In truth, the Jin family’s poor reputation had all been spread by Zhou Yaru’s maternal relatives. The Jin family had never committed any crimes. They had lived quietly and lawfully in Zhou Family Village for sixteen years.

Children ran back and forth across the courtyard, candy in their hands and mouths. The older villagers sat around cracking sunflower seeds and chatting about everything under the sun.

Matchmaker Li also arrived, accompanied by her eldest daughter-in-law. And what a display she made—her presence and prestige seemed even greater than the village head’s. Yet no one dared say a word. Most families had children of marriageable age, and anyone who offended a matchmaker might never find a good match for their sons or daughters.