Hongyan saw the look of surprise on Ye Yunniang's face and smiled.
Since arriving at Courtyard No. 7, almost everyone Hongyan had seen wore an expression of shock, along with the gleeful look of someone anticipating drama.
"After all, I am Ma Hui's stepmother. I had to come for his bonding ceremony."
Hongyan's current identity was the second wife of Ma Kouzi, making her Ma Hui's stepmother. As an elder, it was perfectly acceptable for her to attend the younger generation's bonding banquet.
"You have such a strong heart," Ye Yunniang said with admiration, feeling she could never do the same herself.
"This way is better, being open and above board. We won't give anyone cause to criticize us," Chunyao agreed.
Liang Maimiao didn't speak but nodded in agreement.
Liang Maimiao and Chunyao sat together, while Ye Yunniang sat beside Hongyan.
Looking at Hongyan's protruding belly, Ye Yunniang estimated, "You must be about five months along?"
"Five and a half months. He's a considerate one. Carrying him hasn't been troublesome at all." Hongyan stroked her belly, radiating a maternal glow. "Would you like to feel?"
"May I?"
"Come on, feel." Hongyan untied her thin jacket, exposing her belly so Ye Yunniang could better feel the movement.
Ye Yunniang carefully reached out to touch Hongyan's stomach. The little one inside seemed to sense Ye Yunniang and stretched out a hand.
Through the clothes and skin, Ye Yunniang could feel his yearning for the outside world.
"He moved." As Hongyan spoke of the child in her belly, the smile on her face grew even more tender.
Ye Yunniang sensed a hostile gaze. After searching around, she saw a boy of about fourteen or fifteen not far away, looking at Hongyan's stomach with disgust.
Noticing someone watching him, the boy averted his eyes and looked down at the ground.
"He is my eldest son, Wang Jizu."
Hongyan told Ye Yunniang the boy's name and his relationship to her.
"I also have a second son named Wang Yaozu. They were both taken away by Old Mrs. Wang right after they were born to be raised by her. They've never been close to me since childhood. The way they look at me is like I'm chicken dung stuck to their shoe—full of disgust and revulsion." As Hongyan said this, a flicker of sadness passed through her eyes.
It was also her two biological sons' attitude towards her that made her decide to completely break with the Wang family.
"They're still young and don't understand."
"They're not young. I was bought by the Wang family as a child bride when I was eleven. I worked from morning till night every day without a moment's rest.
Three years later, I was violated by that old beast and gave birth to Wang Jizu. The next year, I had Wang Yaozu.
Old Mrs. Wang didn't dare blame her man, and doted on her son, so she took all her frustrations out on me." Hongyan recalled her days in the Wang family; it was like soaking bitter herbs in water, the bitterness unbearable.
Ye Yunniang looked at Hongyan, wanting to ask, "How can you be sure the Ma family is your happiness?" but felt it was inappropriate and swallowed the words.
"The auspicious hour has arrived!" someone shouted.
Ye Yunniang looked towards the entrance.
Wang Qiang and Ma Hui, dressed in bright red groom's attire, walked into the courtyard.
Both wore smiles of long-cherished wishes finally fulfilled. Following the matchmaker's loud proclamations, the bonding ceremony was completed successfully.
After the ceremony came the feast.
Tables were set up in the front courtyard, and guests took their seats.
Ye Yunniang sat with Chunyao and Liang Maimiao. Hongyan, as part of the host family, was taken by Ma Kouzi to the main table.
The Wang and Ma families held the banquet together. The food and drink were lavish, every dish containing meat. A restaurant chef had been hired to cook, and the flavors were excellent.
The guests ate with great satisfaction.
As Ye Yunniang sampled the delicacies, she pondered whether she could cook them herself.
"Watch out!" Chunyao's warning came too late. Ye Yunniang couldn't dodge in time, and her sleeve and the front of her robe were splattered with grease.
"Oh dear, I'm so sorry, so sorry. I've dirtied your clothes." The serving auntie apologized repeatedly and offered to wipe Ye Yunniang's clothes.
Seeing the auntie's greasy cloth, Ye Yunniang waved her hand. "No need. I'll do it myself." She took out a clean handkerchief from her sleeve to wipe.
The more she wiped, the greasier the clothes looked.
"Why not go to the back courtyard and get some water to clean it?" the auntie suggested.
"Hmm, never mind. I'll go home and change," Ye Yunniang wanted to leave.
"You can't! Leaving right after the feast has started. The hosts will be angry with me and dock my pay." The auntie blocked her way, not letting Ye Yunniang leave.
"Alright then, to the back courtyard." At the auntie's insistence, Ye Yunniang got up and followed her to the back.
"Yunniang, I'll go with you." Chunyao was a bit worried and stood up to accompany her.
"Chunyao, come, let's have a drink." A woman familiar with Chunyao walked over with a wine cup.
"Chunyao, I'll be fine on my own." Ye Yunniang got up to go handle it in the back courtyard.
Upon reaching the back courtyard, a puff of smoke hit her in the face.
Before Ye Yunniang could hold her breath, her body went limp and she collapsed.
The serving auntie and another person caught Ye Yunniang, carried her into a room in the back courtyard, and locked the door.
At the front courtyard, Wang Qiang, who had begun toasting the guests, saw the auntie's signal and knew the plan had succeeded.
Wang Qiang's smile widened. He nudged Ma Hui with his elbow, signaling him to go to the back.
"After the toasts," Ma Hui hesitated.
"Hui-ge, go now. I've got this here." Wang Qiang took the wine cup from Ma Hui's hand, urging him to proceed with the plan.
Under Wang Qiang's urging, Ma Hui went to the back courtyard and stood before the door.
Ma Hui's heart pounded violently. He hadn't told anyone.
The first time he saw Ye Yunniang, her gentle, lovely demeanor had caught his eye and been hidden in his heart.
Ma Hui knew he wasn't worthy, so he watched silently.
Now, the woman he had longed for for years was just beyond this door. Ma Hui nervously wiped the sweat from his palms and pushed the door open.
Seeing the slender figure lying on the bed, his heartbeat accelerated.
Ma Hui stepped closer. With the doors and windows shut, it was somewhat dark. He couldn't clearly see the face obscured by hair, but he caught a faint, delicate fragrance.
This fragrance—he had smelled it that day in the alley when he was close to Ye Yunniang. He knew it was Ye Yunniang's natural scent, the very fragrance that had filled his countless dreams.
Ma Hui's entire body grew hot, his breathing heavy, as he lunged towards the bed...
Time passed quickly, and the banquet ended.
Someone asked Wang Qiang, "Where's Ma Hui? How come you're the only one here drinking with everyone?"
"Hui-ge can't hold his liquor well; he went to the back to rest," Wang Qiang explained.
"Resting? Should we go check on him?"
"What 'check on him'—you just want to cause mischief in the bridal chamber."
"Don't say it so bluntly, it's not good."
"Come on, come on, let's go to the back courtyard."
...
A group of people pushed Wang Qiang towards the new room in the back courtyard.
Upon reaching the back, everyone heard intermittent sounds coming from the bridal chamber.
None present were children; they understood what was happening upon hearing the noises.
They exchanged glances, various thoughts passing between them.
Wang Qiang's face darkened, his fists clenched. He strode forward, "Ma Hui, you and... how is it you!?" Wang Qiang's voice trailed off, filled with confusion and shock.
The onlookers rushed to the doorway and clearly saw the two people inside, panicked, pulling blankets and clothes over themselves.
"My, so fair-skinned!"
"Xiumei! Ma Hui, I'll kill you—" One man in the crowd, upon seeing the woman inside, flew into a rage, clenched his fists, and charged towards Ma Hui on the bed.
"Let go of Hui-ge!" Wang Qiang stepped forward to block him.
"What is going on here?"
"How did Xiumei end up here?"
...
