Chapter 128: A Lively Wedding

When Chen Liang returned to his junior fellow apprentice’s home, young Borba was dressed in a crisp, brand-new blue Zhongshan suit, paired with matching wide-legged trousers. His heavy leather shoes were polished to such a high shine that one could see their own reflection in them; the young man looked as spirited and energetic as could be.

After shooing away the clamoring children with candy, Mother Bo hurried over. "Xiao Liang, why are you still standing there? Hurry up and go fetch the bride! Everyone is waiting for you!"

Damn it all!

It felt as if they really viewed him as a donkey on a production team, and even a donkey wouldn't be worked this relentlessly—couldn't they at least let him catch his breath?

However, upon seeing the thick, heavy rolling pin in Mother Bo’s hand, Chen Liang forced a very insincere smile. "Right, understood, I'm going right now!"

Chen Liang jumped up, downed his tea in one gulp, and stepped out of the courtyard. At the gate, Borba, dressed to the nines, was already prepared to set off, his face beaming with a radiant smile.

Much like at Chen Liang’s own wedding, the slightly used bicycle had been scrubbed clean, and a large red silk flower was tied to the handlebars, radiating a festive atmosphere from every angle.

Seeing Chen Liang emerge, his junior fellow apprentice urged him on: "Senior brother, we’ve been waiting for you. Let’s go, I don’t want my bride to be kept waiting."

"Hurry, hurry, stop rushing me! Good grief, I’ve finally figured it out—you only asked me to come because you needed a free laborer!"

"Besides, so what if we’re a little late? Is your bride going to grow legs and run away?"

Deeply resentful, Chen Liang dared not snap at Father and Mother Bo, but surely he could vent his frustration on his junior apprentice?

Chen Liang’s sudden outburst left the junior apprentice and his friends bewildered. What was wrong with this big shot? Why was he so irritable? Had he been kicked out of bed by his wife early this morning?

However, given Chen Liang’s imposing presence and strength, no one dared to argue back, and they all fell silent.

Just then, Mother Bo came out from the courtyard. Seeing the awkward silence, she narrowed her eyes and raised her hand, pretending to swat at Chen Liang. "Xiao Liang, are you itching for a beating again? Do you really need me to slap you across the face to be happy? Now, hurry up and go get me that bride!"

"Alright! Calm down, Mother Bo, I’m off! I promise to bring her back for you!"

Hearing this, Chen Liang wasted no time and urged his junior apprentice, "Well? Are you still waiting for her to grow legs and run away before you move?"

"Right, coming! Senior brother, ride slowly!" Hearing Chen Liang, his junior apprentice pedaled hard, and with a "whoosh," he sped off. His friends followed in succession.

Yue Hehua had no relatives in the capital, so she had simply adopted her master’s brother as her foster family. She had stayed at their house the previous night so that Borba could come to fetch her.

Along the way, their group attracted many curious gazes. Look at the display for this wedding—six bicycles in total; it was truly impressive!

The group of young men shouted and cheered as they rode, and within ten minutes, they reached their destination.

As soon as they parked, a swarm of children surrounded them, asking for wedding candy. After giving each child two pieces and sending them off, Borba took the lead, with Chen Liang and the others trailing behind into the house.

The uncle’s home was also a small, detached courtyard. When they entered, the yard was packed with onlookers. After greeting his master’s brother, Chen Liang and Borba kowtowed respectfully to the elderly couple. "Master's brother, Master's sister-in-law," "Master, Mistress," "Your disciple pays his respects!"

The mistress was a very gentle woman, and she was deeply fond of Chen Liang and Borba, who were to care for them in their old age. Once they finished their kowtows, she hurried forward to help them up.

The rest of the proceedings went as expected, much like Chen Liang’s own wedding. When the bride was finally brought out amidst the lively commotion, even the uncle, usually known as a stoic, iron-willed man, found his eyes turning red.

It was wonderful! The two little monkeys he had known for so long had both settled down and started families; life was looking brighter by the day.

Yue Hehua didn't have many belongings, and even her current luggage had been provided by Borba’s family. Chen Liang slung her small bundle over his shoulder, and they hurried back to the Bo residence.

When they returned, a crowd had already gathered at the entrance of the courtyard compound. As the junior apprentice pulled up with Yue Hehua, the neighbors applauded and ushered them into the house.

Chen Liang carried the bundle and followed the crowd, watching his junior apprentice complete the traditional, period-specific wedding ceremony.

Then came the much-anticipated feast. There were only four dishes and one soup, and they had set up only three tables—one for relatives, one for friends, and one for neighbors. It couldn't compare to the high-profile eight-table affair at Chen Liang’s wedding.

Chen Liang was entitled to a seat, but it was just a formality; he polished off two steamed buns in a few bites. Once the bride and groom finished their toasts, the wedding was essentially over.

As a woman, Xiao Yu was not eligible to sit at the tables and could only have a quick bite in the kitchen with Mother Bo. The hired cook’s skills were mediocre; the food wasn't particularly good, just barely edible, and certainly no match for Sha Zhu’s cooking.

It wasn't that Chen Liang was being stingy or unwilling to help; it was just that Sha Zhu’s current status meant a typical wedding feast couldn't afford him.

Sha Zhu was now a top-tier chef in the capital’s culinary scene, second only to those who cooked for state banquets. For him to charge less than five yuan per table would be a blow to his reputation.

If Chen Liang had asked Sha Zhu to help, he certainly would have come, even for free, but doing so would have broken the unspoken rules of the culinary circle. If they paid him—even at his lowest rate of five yuan per table—three tables would cost fifteen yuan, which was enough to cover a family’s food expenses for an entire month. Father and Mother Bo would never have agreed to that.

To avoid putting everyone in an awkward or unhappy position, Chen Liang had simply not brought it up, leaving Father Bo to find a cook himself.

After the guests had dispersed, Chen Liang sat in the room with his master and the uncle’s couple, drinking tea. Once Father and Mother Bo and the newlyweds returned from seeing off the guests, Chen Liang proposed a very novel idea.