TFWYH – Chapter 246 Comparison of Damage

And since this wasn’t a place strangers could just enter—

Old Madam Liu immediately flared up, pointing at Tang Wan and cursing, “Hey! Where did this shameless vixen come from? Get out of here!”

“Big Sister-in-law!” Ling Yue’s eyes lit up when she saw her and she quickly ran over. “Why are you here?”

“Afraid you’d be bullied.” Tang Wan glanced at her, then looked at Old Madam Liu.

Old Madam Liu, hearing Ling Yue call her “sister-in-law,” froze. Her old face stiffened with shifting colors, and when she looked at Tang Wan, her eyes were full of fear. “Y-You… you’re Tang Wan?”

Tang Wan nodded. “Long time no see.”

Old Madam Liu shuddered, forcing out a smile so stiff the wrinkles on her face could pinch a mosquito to death. “You… you came, ah…”

“There are still things to take care of in front. I’ll leave this to you two.” She didn’t even finish her sentence before slipping away.

Tang Wan wouldn’t give her face, nor did she care about the occasion. She would hit her if she wanted to—Old Madam Liu knew this better than anyone.

If she stayed a second longer, Tang Wan might beat her.

Once the old lady left, the two wedding attendants sighed helplessly. “That old woman really is… ah, country folk will be country folk—too unruly. By the way, you two are…?”

“I’m the bride’s younger cousin, and she is the bride’s older cousin-sister-in-law.”

“Oh, so you’re from the bride’s family!” The attendants looked a bit embarrassed. “We weren’t talking about you earlier.”

“It’s fine!” Ling Yue was easygoing and smiled sweetly. “We’ve long moved to town and no longer live with my grandmother. Besides, my grandmother isn’t that bad—just a straightforward temper. You two aunties look like kind and generous people; please don’t take her to heart.”

Family quarrels were family shame—never to be aired outside.

Even if Ling Yue disliked that old woman, she would never be rude enough to ruin her reputation in public.

The wedding attendants had arrived early and had been bossed around endlessly by Old Madam Liu.

They had been annoyed, but Ling Yue’s sweet talk softened them.

People can’t get angry at a smiling face.

The attendants laughed. “No wonder! You two certainly don’t look like country folk—more like the young ladies of a grand household!”

“You flatter us…”

After a few more polite exchanges, Ling Yue took Tang Wan into the bridal chamber.

The customs of this era were different from what Tang Wan knew of ancient traditions.

When a bride married, unmarried female relatives from her maternal family had to tie bells above the marriage bed to give blessings—this was called “adding bridal ornaments.”

At night, whether the couple consummated the marriage could be guessed from the sound of the bells.

The bridal bed also had to be sprinkled with jujubes and lotus seeds—symbolizing “early birth of noble sons.”

After the bride was delivered to the bridal room, many of her unmarried sisters would accompany her so she wouldn’t be nervous.

If the bride had no sisters, the wedding attendants took over.

Ling Yue was Ling Xiaofang’s only sister, so naturally this job fell to her.

Although she wasn’t happy about it, she didn’t show it on her face.

After all, she was their little angel!

While the sisters-in-law busied themselves inside the bridal chamber, the voice announcing the three bows rang outside.

Soon after, the officiant announced that the bride was to be sent into the bridal room.

Ling Yue finished tying the last bell and pulled Tang Wan out of the room.

Moments later, the newlyweds were escorted in by the crowd.

After drinking the cross-cup wine, the groom lifted the red bridal veil, and the teasing of the wedding chamber began.

Ling Yue stood outside watching the people crowding the room, then glanced at Tang Wan’s expressionless face and felt uncomfortable.

Her sister-in-law’s wedding with her elder brother had been so desolate.

There had been no betrothal gifts. Her brother hadn’t even gone to fetch the bride.

Her sister-in-law had ridden a shabby ox cart into the Ling household.

Her brother, because of his disabled leg, didn’t even stand to bow with her.

Even though her sister-in-law entered the family by using some means… she was married now.

Yet look at Ling Xiaofang—her wedding was so lively and grand. Her sister-in-law must feel terrible, right?

Tang Wan was indeed a little downhearted, but not deeply so.

These things were just rituals—nice to have, but not necessary. Without them, it changed nothing important.