Chapter 4: Marriage
As soon as Wen Zongfu returned to his family home, the Wen household immediately confined him, informing him that he was to marry a bride from Jiangshui Village the following day.
He glanced at his parents and sneered, “These days, they actually send out notices for marriage?”
Every year, his parents had nagged him about getting married. Now, they had bypassed all the usual matchmaking steps and simply set a date for him to bring the bride home.
Seeing his indifferent attitude, Wen’s father grew so angry he wanted to lash him with a belt. "You good-for-nothing! Your mother went to great lengths to inquire about this girl. She’s a fine girl, studying up to her second year of high school. If it weren’t for that... you wouldn’t even deserve her!"
Wen Zongfu scoffed, “If I don’t deserve her, then why are you forcing me to marry her? If you’re so capable, why don’t you even take my place in the bridal chamber?”
What was he to them? A mere tool for producing offspring? A fortune-teller who had driven his parents nearly mad, forcing him to return and marry someone who could supposedly cure their psychological ailments by bearing children.
Yet, Wen Zongfu was not the type to obey his parents blindly.
“I’m done talking. Marry whoever you want. I’m not marrying anyone.” With a casual flick, he turned to leave, only for the Wen family’s front door to slam shut behind him.
With a signal from his father, several workers from the factory rushed over and forcibly locked Wen Zongfu in his room.
Listening to the sound of the lock clicking shut, Wen Zongfu couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.
So it had come to this!
Fine, if they insisted on forcing him to marry, he would make sure they never forgot the shame it would bring.
Grinding his teeth, he collapsed onto the bed and stared at the red double happiness symbol hanging on the wall, finding it utterly ridiculous. He stood up and tore it down.
***
The next morning dawned.
“Third brother, are you really going to bring back a countryside bride?” One of the young men from the wedding party followed Wen Zongfu, knowing well that the mere thought of marriage had made him rebellious over the past few years.
Dressed in formal attire and grinding his teeth, Wen said, “Listen carefully. When the time comes, I’ll expose their plan to cut off my line, and I’ll demand my money back. No matter what, I’ll make sure the bride’s family calls off this marriage!”
He wasn’t afraid of losing face. A man being rejected wasn’t a big deal. Even if he had to give back every hard-earned penny as compensation, he refused to marry someone he didn’t love.
***
Jiangshui Village.
From early morning, firecrackers exploded nonstop. The bride’s family had received a generous dowry, and the Jiang household wanted to uphold their daughter’s dignity. The house was spotless, and the firecrackers echoed throughout the entire village.
Many villagers came out to watch, eyeing the bicycle and several boxes of bridal gifts at the Jiang family’s doorstep with envy.
They thought it was wasteful. A young girl’s dowry could have been saved for the eldest son’s marriage. They did not approve of the Jiang family’s ways.
A daughter who marries out is like water spilled.
On the same day, the Jiang family’s second son was also marrying off his daughter, but the celebration was far less grand. The butcher Chen arrived with half a pig, ready to take the second daughter away.
The onlookers were sour but said little. Jiang’s mother didn’t mind; she handed out wedding candies to everyone she met. Despite her frail appearance, her face was suffused with contentment on her daughter’s joyous day.
“Here they come! The groom’s car has arrived!”
The sound of gongs and drums announced the Wen family’s private sedan rolling grandly into Jiangshui Village.
A group of children ran alongside the car, gleefully pointing and saying, “Four wheels!”
“Here come the guests from the Wen family!”
The front yard of Jiang’s third son was bustling with excitement because soon a city groom’s family would join them.
Wen Zongfu stepped out of the car, frowning at the joyful faces at the Jiang household. He felt uneasy and irritable.
Retreating to speak of canceling the wedding could very well result in being pelted with benches.
Still, he braced himself and went inside, clutching a few hundred yuan as compensation.
***
Once inside, the groom was expected to close the door and speak privately with the bride’s family — a scene unfamiliar to many neighbors who had climbed onto walls to watch.
They sat face to face at the eight-immortal table. The Jiang elders looked puzzled, while the eldest Jiang son sensed trouble from Wen Zongfu’s demeanor.
As expected, Wen began, “Um, uncle, aunt, my mother and the matchmaker probably didn’t make things clear. I... can’t have children.” He scratched his hair, stiffened with mousse, as a flush crept over his face. Such a serious man was suddenly embarrassed.
Silence filled the room.
Jiang’s mother went pale and opened her mouth, speechless.
Wen Zongfu broke the silence, placing a few hundred yuan on the table. “Uncle, aunt, I don’t want to hold anyone back. Consider this money as compensation. You can call off the marriage without losing face. Just blame it all on me.”
He spoke responsibly, but Jiang’s eldest son scowled. “Why didn’t you say something earlier? Waiting until the wedding day to cause such a scene!”
Wen Zongfu felt awkward. He had only found out yesterday that the wedding was set for today.
In the ensuing silence, the Jiang elders exchanged glances. Aside from this, there were no other faults—but if she married a man who couldn’t have children, what would become of their daughter’s future?
Better to break off the marriage.
Better to suffer shame and embarrassment than sacrifice their daughter’s entire life.
“Cancel the marriage...” Jiang’s father was about to speak when a fresh voice came from behind the door curtain.
“You don’t want to marry me?”
Wen Zongfu instinctively turned toward the voice, seeing the curtain lifted by a pair of delicate hands revealing a pretty young face.