It was a sunny day, just in time for the coming of spring.
The Kuangfeng Village was bustling. In the village nestled in the mountains and beside the water, every household was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations. The characters of "happiness" on the windows were large or small, thick or thin, but they were all passionate, connected one by one, and looked like a forest. Several red silks extended from the entrance of the village to the deepest big tent, passing through the eaves of one house after another, connecting all the houses in the village into one piece. From the sky, it looked like a string of beads, stringing together scattered gray beads.
The big and strong men all wore the most decent clothes they thought, dressed politely, and smiled, which was completely different from the past, but made people feel a little funny.
Occasionally, three or five children shuttled around, probably because they had never seen such a happy event, and they were happily looking for candy everywhere. Some wild cats and dogs were also attracted and looked eagerly at the empty tables on the training ground outside the big tent. They knew that there would be a big banquet today, and maybe they could get some bones. A row of tits were also waiting for an opportunity on the eaves around the training ground, walking and stopping, moving in stillness.
It was still early, and although the sun was shining brightly overhead, there was also a breeze in the early morning.
It was hard to imagine that there was such a group of people and such a water in the deep mountains and forests.
Even Xia Shang, who was sitting high above the mountain and looking at the village, found it hard to imagine.
Xia Shang had already dressed up properly, wearing a red embroidered wedding gown and a big red flower ball on his chest, looking a little silly.
Next to him was the leader of the mountain stronghold, dressed casually, looking in the same direction as Xia Shang: "The brothers in the house came back yesterday and said that the herbs in the mountains were sold at a good price in Yangzhou City, more than thirty taels of silver."
"That's normal. The herbs in the deep mountains and old forests are all good goods. The big and small medicine shops in Yangzhou City are in short supply."
"It's not that we haven't sold them before, but we didn't know which herbs were valuable and how much they should be sold for. After you said that, everyone in the village understands. It's not impossible to rely on selling herbs in the future."
"Now that you have a way to make a living, do less murder and robbery. Being a mountain bandit is not a way out after all."
"Murder and robbery? I act openly and honestly, only killing those who should be killed, and never do despicable things that harm people. That's not the case, you think How can you still be alive now? I have kidnapped many people. As long as you pay the ransom honestly, I will send all of them back intact, without losing a single hair. If you don't pay, you will stay in the village and live."
Xia Shang was curious: "So those women are the ones you detained in the village? And they married men and had children?"
"So what? They are all willing. Who wants to be a bandit? Who doesn't want to live upright? But I can't do anything except fighting and killing! Now the world is peaceful, and the army is being reduced in various places. I have been a soldier since I was a child. I can't do anything without the army, so I can only rely on occupying the mountains to be the king."
"So that's it." Xia Shang sighed a little. Who would have thought that this peaceful and prosperous era could force soldiers to become bandits. So which is better, a prosperous era or a chaotic era?
It can only be said that no era is perfect, and there is always its darkness and helplessness.
"I don't want the ransom of 100,000 taels. You can leave after your wedding."
Zhang Tieniu suddenly said this, then jumped off the stone in the distance and left alone.
Xia Shang was still a little stunned. This seemingly rough and irritable bandit leader actually had a moment of foolishness and innocence.
It was also fortunate that he found a secluded paradise, otherwise he really wouldn't be a bandit according to his temperament.
"Let's go quickly, don't let the bride wait anxiously."
Bride?
With a hint of helplessness and a bitter smile, Xia Shang walked slowly to the stream.
If he told Zhang Tieniu that it was a fake marriage at this time, the other party might turn against him.
After thinking about it, Xia Shang decided to let this drama end perfectly.
In the summer stream, flowers are everywhere, and the strong fragrance of flowers attracts bees and butterflies.
The simple picture evokes a beautiful picture scroll.
Xia Shang couldn't help but adjust the flower ball on his chest and squatted down.
...
The sun is rising, and the auspicious time is approaching.
In a small flower house in the village, two women in coarse linen clothes are busy, going back and forth to make the final dressing for the most colorful rose in the house.
The bride is very beautiful, so beautiful that all the women in the village envy her, but this bride has always had a stern face, calm and indifferent, with no expression.
"Big sister, today is your big day, why are you not happy?"
"Is there anything wronged? You can tell me."
"Nothing." Yue Haitang is still so calm.
At this time, there was a knock on the door outside, followed by a series of shouts: "Open the door quickly, the groom is here to pick up the bride."
Hearing the voice, the little hand hidden in the sleeve suddenly tightened, then slowly stood up and put on the red veil: "Open the door."
The door opened, and a rose that led the flowers swayed in the wind, making the flowers all over the mountains lose their color, and the breeze and green willows all became her foil. Although covered with a veil, although hiding her little hands, although wrapped tightly, she is still herself, Yue Haitang is Yue Haitang, a fairy who fell into the mortal world, but I don't know if the man in front of her is a cowherd in the mortal world.
There are no mundane etiquette, no eight-man sedan chair, and no firecrackers.
There are only a group of men who are simply making a fuss and shouting.
"Hold her up! Hold her up!"
"Give her a kiss! Give her a kiss!"
Her eyes were watery under the veil, and her hands were tightly clenched in her sleeves. She wanted to look around, but she didn't dare to. She could only see pairs of shoes under the veil.
She could also see a person very close to her.
In her limited field of vision, a bouquet of flowers suddenly appeared, a tightly wrapped bouquet of hundreds of wild flowers.
There were all kinds of colors, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple, small and light, with a fragrance that wafted in the wind.
So beautiful!
"Where we are, brides have to hold flowers in their hands. This is for you."
Through a layer of red curtains, Yue Haitang seemed to be able to feel the sincerity of the person in front of her, and the bouquet was really beautiful. She really liked it.
Yue Haitang couldn't control herself a little. She subconsciously took the bouquet and sniffed it secretly under the veil. She squinted her eyes because of the beauty.
But the next moment, a man suddenly put his arm around her waist without warning and picked her up roughly. Suddenly, cheers broke out and the people who were seeing her off were excited.
The journey was short and long. There were no rituals, firecrackers, or wedding songs. It was all thanks to the enthusiasm and shouts of the people in the village that the bride and groom were sent from the hut to the ceremony hall. There were laughter and joy all the way, and cats and dogs followed.
In the ceremony hall, Mr. Zhuo put on his veil and held the wedding words in his hand. When the newlyweds entered, they stood together and sang loudly:
"The two families are married, the contract is signed in one hall, the good marriage is forever, and they are also worthy of the same name. Look at the peach blossoms today, it is a good day to go home. I predict that in the next year, you will have many descendants and you will be prosperous. I hereby make this promise to be together until old age, and write it on a piece of red paper, so that the red leaf alliance can be recorded in the love genealogy. This is the certificate!"