Travel Through The countryside

Chapter 12

The day after the wedding was blessed with good weather. Madam Yang rose early to tidy up the remnants of the previous day's festivities. Firecracker debris littered the ground, the kitchen was a mess, and there was a large temporary stove set up outside, making cleanup quite a task.

Shen Dongming decided to take the day off from the tea plantation. In fact, he anticipated he might not be able to return to work for some time due to the task of arranging his daughter-in-law's considerable dowry.

After sweeping the trash outside, Madam Yang returned to the courtyard and spoke to her husband, who was busy moving boxes. "Go check if the children are awake. I'll start preparing breakfast."

"Alright..." Shen Dongming looked back at his son's room, its windows tightly shut with red wedding decorations still in place. The thought of his son being married made him chuckle. He put down his work and walked leisurely towards the room.

"Knock, knock, knock..." The distinctive sound of his father's knocking roused Shen Junxi. He propped himself up and gazed at his sleeping bride. Gently, he got out of bed, dressed in his outer garments, and went to the door.

Shen Dongming peered in and whispered, "Where's your wife?" Seeing his son's gesture indicating she was still asleep, he quickly covered his mouth and nodded, sneaking away with a grin.

By this time, Song Jingwei had already awakened and was sitting up with a sleepy frown. He dressed slowly, tying his robe with deliberate care.

Shen Junxi glanced back, fetched a basin, and went out to get water. He returned shortly and placed the water basin on the stand, where fresh cotton cloths prepared by the Shen family awaited.

Though Song Jingwei considered fetching his own household items, he decided it was too much trouble for now and used what was available. Shen Junxi, worried that Jingwei might disdain the wooden basins and cotton cloths, was secretly delighted to see him using them without complaint.

Soon, Madam Yang quietly came to the door, peeking in. As Song Jingwei turned his head to see her, his indifferent glance startled her.

With a sigh, Song Jingwei nodded at her, "Good morning."

Caught off guard, Madam Yang nervously twisted her apron and responded hastily, "Good morning, morning. Breakfast is ready, come and eat."

"Alright," Song Jingwei nodded again. Noticing the young man still washing up, he said, "I'll go out first."

He led the way out with Madam Yang following. Before leaving, she reminded her son, "Hurry up, don't keep your wife waiting."

Shen Junxi, having finished his morning routine, followed them to the main hall where meals and conversations took place.

Patriarch Shen Dongming was already seated. Seeing his daughter-in-law, he set aside his pipe and greeted her warmly, "Come, daughter-in-law, sit down and eat."

Song Jingwei acknowledged politely and sat on Shen Dongming's left, with Madam Yang on his right, leaving Shen Junxi to sit across from his father.

The dishes on the table were leftovers from the previous day. Worried that her daughter-in-law might mind, Madam Yang quickly explained, "These were kept untouched in the kitchen, they are still clean."

Song Jingwei nodded and picked up his chopsticks to eat. The Shen family watched him, not starting their meal until he did. Under their gaze, Song Jingwei calmly ate, savoring the fresh millet porridge. It had been a long time since he had tasted such simple, pure food.

With someone finally at ease, the rest of the family began eating, adopting unusually refined manners.

Throughout the meal, Madam Yang signaled her son several times to serve his wife. She could tell that the couple hadn't consummated their marriage the previous night and worried about their distant relationship.