The Young Lady is a Bit Unruly [Fragrant Harbor] - Chapter 7: Marriage

Chapter 7: Marriage

Early morning, Ye Baoling opened her eyes, lying in bed reminiscing about the iron-pot stewed rooster from her dream, nearly drooling.

She took out money and asked Sister Ping to buy a large capon. One half was steamed plain, the other half braised in soy sauce. The whole family ate with great relish.

Her second cousin flattered while eating: Cousin, if only you were in charge of the household. We’d have meat every day.

Several younger cousins chimed in agreement.

Shen Yue’e became quite displeased upon hearing this, Have I been treating you poorly? Look at yourselves, each plump and well-fed. Be careful not to grow even fatter from eating more.

Cousin manages this household perfectly well. Don’t be ungrateful for your blessings, Ye Baoling said, which made Shen Yue’e beam with delight.

However, Miss Gu Zhen’er, since you’ve unnecessarily stirred up trouble, as a business major in university, could you propose a solution? How can we ensure everyone eats well and stays full without gaining weight, all within a limited budget? Ye Baoling, accustomed to leadership, was most skilled at delegating tasks.

Right, Aunt?

Thinking Ye Baoling was speaking up for her, Shen Yue’e quickly added: Indeed, those who don’t manage a household don’t understand the cost of rice and firewood. Second Sister, since you have so much to say, why don’t you give it a try? Listen to your cousin and come up with a solution.

Gu Man’er also joined in teasing: Wow, Second Sister, can you handle it?

Ye Baoling deliberately provoked: I don’t think she can.

Why can’t I? If I come up with a solution, what’s in it for me? Gu Zhen’er stood up.

Seeing the provocation succeed, Ye Baoling continued to dangle the bait: If you can devise a solution, you’ll be in charge of the household from now on, managing the accounts! Aunt, don’t you agree?

Still unaware that she might lose her housekeeping authority, Shen Yue’e smiled and nodded repeatedly: Then I could retire early and enjoy a life of leisure. It would save me effort and reduce my nagging, so you won’t have to complain about me being nagging anymore.

Gu Zhen’er gritted her teeth, her competitive spirit igniting fiercely: A promise is a promise! You better keep your word!

Of course, when has Aunt ever gone back on her word? We can all bear witness for you. Let Grandmother be the judge too. Ye Baoling successfully dragged her grandmother into the fray.

Only with Grandmother’s involvement could the transfer of household authority proceed smoothly.

I refuse to believe I can’t come up with a solution. Give me half a month. Successfully manipulated, Gu Zhen’er became energized.

After breakfast, Ye Baoling received a phone call from her father.

Come back immediately. Ye Kaimin’s tone was as cold and impatient as ever.

Hearing his voice irritated Ye Baoling too, I’m busy today and don’t have time.

Ye Kaimin: What are you busy with?

I’ve made plans with classmates to go out and have fun for a few days. Ye Baoling fabricated an excuse to prevent Ye Kaimin from calling her again in the following days.

Then she softened her tone slightly and asked in return: What do you want me to come back for?

Ye Kaimin: Have your Aunt Jun take you to buy some better clothes. Then we’ll arrange a meeting with Lu Tianyou another time.

Ye Baoling was surprised. Had her grandfather disapproved of Ye Baoxin’s marriage into the Lu family?

Given that she had voluntarily stepped aside, Zheng Junni shouldn’t lack the capability to handle this.

Most likely, Ye Baoxin herself was unwilling.

In the original storyline, Ye Baoxin was an extremely strong-willed and intelligent woman.

Zheng Junni was the one who wanted her daughter to take her place, but Ye Baoling didn’t mind. She had plenty of ways to make Lu Tianyou back off.

I’ll deal with it when I have time.

Ye Kaimin hadn’t expected his daughter to speak to him in such a superior tone. Just as he was about to scold her, the receiver transmitted again, I’m about to leave. If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up.

Before he could respond, his daughter ended the call.

Listening to the beep-beep-beep from the receiver, Ye Kaimin cursed angrily, Damn girl!

But cursing was useless since she couldn’t hear him, so he had to let it go.

In the evening, Ye Baoling checked into the five-star Full Moon Glory Hotel near Qing Tang Street with Gu Man’er and Chen Yulan.

The hotel had air conditioning, a large bathtub, endless delicious food, and the beds were much softer and more comfortable than those at the Gu residence. Gu Man’er was too excited to sleep, as if she were the one getting married tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the bride-to-be, Ye Baoling, remained as sleepy as ever. Feeling chilly from the air conditioning, she burrowed into the thin quilt, closed her weary eyes, and soon fell asleep.

She was shaken awake at seven o’clock for makeup. While modern weddings favored bridal gowns, hers was different—she had to wear a traditional dragon-and-phoenix gown for the ceremony.

The senior bridesmaid hired by the Third Branch knew her stuff, following all the customs to ensure a festive yet quiet celebration that didn’t disturb the neighbors.

On the Gu family’s side, Shen Yue’e arrived early to help supervise. Though clumsy and of little practical assistance, she ended up joining Gu Man’er to see the bride off to the wedding car.

The wedding car arrived without the groom. One might have expected a somber atmosphere, but just as the senior bridesmaid was helping the bride into the car, she couldn’t hold back and let out a thunderous fart.

Ye Baoling and Gu Man’er exchanged a knowing glance, shaking with laughter until tears nearly streamed down their faces.

Embarrassed, the senior bridesmaid tried to lighten the mood with a smile: Silent farts stink, loud ones don’t. Then she began chanting: Engine starts, gold fills the carts. Bride steps in, prosperity begins…

Finally seated in the car, Ye Baoling watched as it slowly moved forward. Chen Yulan sat beside her, while outside the window, her Aunt and eldest cousin waved goodbye.

It felt like a play, and she was the lead.

Everything revolved around her.

This experience was rather fascinating.

More surreal than dreaming about eating iron-pot braised rooster.

The wedding car headed to the marriage registry office designated by the Third Branch. The marriage documents already bore Ye Huaizhang’s personal seal.

Soon, she received a marriage certificate the size of an A4 paper.

Though she had never met him, from this moment on, Ye Baoling and Ye Huaizhang were officially legal spouses.

Once the time was right, she could apply to the court to declare Ye Huaizhang dead.

Amitabha. If she could successfully obtain the other Ugly King Jade Pendant, she would donate a perpetual lamp at a temple in Ye Huaizhang’s name.

May he swiftly reach the Pure Land and be reborn into a better life.

After leaving the registry, the driver took a long detour, deliberately avoiding the Old Main Branch’s mansion, before entering the No. 3 compound on Qing Tang Street from the other end.

Apart from the double happiness character pasted on the main door of the central building, the courtyard was not lavishly decorated, maintaining a very low profile.

Unrelated individuals had been asked to stay away, with only the immediate family of the Third Branch present.

The senior bridesmaid helped Ye Baoling out of the car and into the ceremony hall. Ye Huaizhang’s parents sat in the seats of honor, with Guan Old Lady seated to the side. Tong Po served as the wedding officiant.

Ye Baoling’s eyes immediately fell upon a short man in a suit standing in the middle of the hall, holding a rooster in his arms.

The hands holding the rooster were slender and fair, and upon closer inspection, the groom in the Western suit turned out to be a girl.

This should be Ye Huaizhang’s younger sister, Ye Yongqi, who had held the rooster to complete the wedding ceremony with her.

Since Ye Huaizhang had been missing with no news so far, to put it bluntly, the chances of his survival were slim. Aside from his grandmother and mother clinging to unrealistic hopes, everyone else had accepted the reality that Ye Huaizhang would not return.

Thus, the entire wedding ceremony was permeated with an eerie, funeral-like quietness and restraint.

No one dared to laugh, nor did they dare to wear a sour expression for fear of being deemed unlucky by the old lady.

Pfft… pfft…

The hall, which had only had Tong Po speaking before, fell even more silent in an instant.

The bridal attendant flushed with embarrassment. Though accustomed to grand occasions, she couldn’t pretend nothing had happened, nor could she explain that silent farts are smelly, loud farts are not. She had no choice but to brazen it out and diffuse the situation with a smile.

As the old saying goes, ‘a loud fart brings abundant fortune.’ The bridal attendant wishes the newlyweds ‘to respond with happiness, protected by farts for peace and health.’ May great luck and prosperity be upon you, and blessings overflow—

She had meant to say blessings overflow, but given the groom’s absence from his own wedding, the phrase seemed somewhat inauspicious, so she caught herself in time.

Ye Baoling, whom she was supporting, whispered a reminder: Blessings return…

Yes, yes, yes!

Beaming, the bridal attendant raised her voice: Great luck and prosperity, blessings return!

Hearing the phrase blessings return, Guan Old Lady, who had been stern-faced, finally showed a hint of a smile.

The crowd breathed a collective sigh of relief, and the atmosphere in the hall lightened considerably.

Ye Baoling first served tea to Guan Old Lady, addressing her as Grandma, then served tea to Ye Huaizhang’s parents, formally addressing them as well.

After receiving thick stacks of red envelopes for the address change, she handed all of them to Chen Yulan for safekeeping.

As soon as the ceremony ended, someone rushed in from outside, Old Lady, the Second Elder from the main branch has arrived.

Ye Baoling’s mind reeled for a moment before she realized that the Second Elder was her grandfather, Ye Qizu.

Why had her grandfather come?

Fearing that Ye Qizu would discover his granddaughter was today’s bride, Guan Old Lady quickly instructed, Jinsong, go greet your second uncle.

Though she said greet, it was actually meant to delay, slowing his entry.

Ye Huaizhang’s father, Ye Jinsong, acknowledged and went out.

You few, quickly, escort Bao… escort the young mistress back to the bridal chamber.

Four or five people crowded around the bride, escorting her toward the rear building. Seeing this, Chen Yulan hurried after them to protect Ye Baoling.

Since Ye Baoling had left the Ye family with her mother as a child and only returned occasionally for meals during holidays, she had little interaction with the third branch, so no one in the third branch recognized her.

Although aside from Guan Old Lady and Yang Pinxian and her husband, no one knew the bride was the granddaughter of the main branch, Guan Old Lady still worried about exposure.

Finding the main hall too crowded and exposed, she said, Everyone return to your rooms now. Don’t gather here any longer.

Thinking the old lady wanted to keep Ye Huaizhang’s kidnapping a secret, no one dared say much and dispersed tactfully.

Not long after, Ye Jinsong accompanied Ye Qizu inside.

After taking a seat, Ye Qizu complained slightly, I only just heard about Huaizhang’s trouble. How could you keep such a big matter from me?

Observing Ye Qizu’s expression, Guan Old Lady guessed he didn’t know much and quietly lamented, It happened in South Africa… No one could help. I was afraid telling you, Second Brother, would only make you worry and suffer.

Is there still no news at all?

Ye Jinsong shook his head with a sigh: There’s been no news at all.

Ye Qizu, a tall and slender man who carried an air of integrity, was nearly eighty but remained remarkably robust.

Surveying the festive wedding decorations around him, he remarked, It might be good to find him a wife.

The implication was clear: even if Ye Huaizhang never returned, adopting a son would at least preserve the family line.

Which family’s daughter is she? Ye Qizu inquired further.

Guan Old Lady evaded his question vaguely, She’s the only girl in all of Port City whose birth characters match Huaizhang’s. It was incredibly difficult to find her.

Assuming the bride came from humble origins, Ye Qizu didn’t press further, simply stating, Have her visit the ancestral temple tomorrow to offer incense.

Guan Old Lady understood – Ye Qizu was upset that such an important wedding hadn’t included him in the honored seat to receive the bride’s ceremonial tea.

Though ranked second among the Ye family’s third generation (his elder brother having passed away at five or six), Ye Qizu was effectively the eldest and current patriarch of the Ye clan.

This girl is only helping with the ritual marriage to ward off bad luck, not truly marrying into our family. We’ve encountered a kind soul.

Therefore, neither temple visits nor serving tea to Ye Qizu were appropriate.

I see. That’s quite remarkable, Ye Qizu pondered briefly before asking, What is this young lady’s surname?

Mother and son exchanged glances. They had previously agreed to refer to the bride as Miss Gu both internally and externally, but spreading rumors about her surname versus personally confirming it were entirely different matters.

Especially when facing Ye Baoling’s biological grandfather.

Just as Ye Jinsong was about to speak, he heard his mother release a soft sigh.

Oh dear! Guan Old Lady rubbed her temples, her face contorted in pain. This headache of mine…

Are you alright, Mother?

Ye Jinsong’s raised voice successfully diverted the conversation.

I’m terribly dizzy.

Ye Qizu assumed her condition resulted from anxiety over her grandson’s safety and excessive strain. Quick, call for a doctor, he urged.

The Third Branch estate comprised three buildings, with the one housing the old lady and her eldest son’s family called Inheritance Harmony Residence.

The bridal chamber was located on the third floor of Inheritance Harmony Residence.

With everyone else departed, only Ye Baoling and Chen Yulan remained in the room.

Ye Baoling examined the interior decor – Brazilian rosewood wainscoting paired with slightly retro European-style furniture indicated the room’s considerable age.

Only the prominently displayed red double-happiness character clashed awkwardly with the overall aesthetic, creating a somewhat comical contrast.

On the bedside table stood a photo frame.

It contained a picture of a middle-aged woman and a teenage boy in baseball attire.

The middle-aged woman wore a cheongsam, her face bearing a faint sorrow – this was Yang Pinxian, whose melancholic, unspoken gaze Ye Baoling recognized instantly.

If she guessed correctly, the boy in baseball uniform must be Ye Huaizhang.

This was Ye Huaizhang’s room.

She needed to stay here for three nights to complete the marriage ritual.

The moderately firm bed, fresh floral-scented bedding, and constant temperature air conditioning required little adjustment – she could comfortably pass these three days here.

Chen Yulan had already completed her circuit around the room and returned.

Cousin… Chen Yulan addressed Ye Baoling the same way Gu Man’er did, The bathroom has a huge bathtub, and there’s a separate room for hanging clothes with lots of men’s outfits. They cleared out one wardrobe—shall I hang your clothes in there?

Sure.

Ye Baoling walked further in and discovered the walk-in closet was larger than both her and Man’er’s bedrooms. Three walls were lined with floor-to-ceiling wardrobes, one of which was fitted with a seamless full-length mirror.

Another wall featured built-in bookshelves crammed full with books.

In front of the bookshelf sat a comfortable plush sofa, suggesting Ye Huaizhang often enjoyed reading in this closet.

The wardrobe allocated for her was tucked in a corner, squeezed between two larger closets. Since she wasn’t staying long-term, any space to hang clothes would suffice.

After organizing the clothes she’d brought, Ye Baoling prepared to change out of her wedding attire—the traditional dragon-and-phoenix gown. Meanwhile, Chen Yulan went out to familiarize herself with the surroundings.

Changing into the new outfit she’d bought two days prior, Ye Baoling hung up the wedding gown as well.

Unexpectedly, the embroidered gown snagged on a hook inside the closet, causing a string of decorative pearls to scatter across the floor with a clatter.

Pearls rolled into the corners of the wardrobe and across the floorboards.

Sighing in resignation, Ye Baoling stood with hands on her hips for a moment before crouching down to gather the pearls one by one. One pearl had fallen into a groove deep inside the wardrobe, and though she reached in to fish it out, it remained stubbornly stuck.

Just as she was about to give up and wait for Chen Yulan’s help, she pressed hard with her fingers—click—and the groove shifted.

Suddenly, she realized: there was a hidden compartment behind it, and the groove was the trigger.

Author’s Note

Enigmatic Chamber of Mysteries: Welcome, my new master?

September is here! Whether you’re starting school or returning to work, wishing everyone a prosperous new month overflowing with wealth?