Chapter 163

Wang Min’er stormed out of the eastern room and nearly collided with Wang Chun’er, who was carrying a large basin of laundry.

“Elder sister, I saw Min’er looking really upset. What happened to her?” Wang Chun’er placed the basin under the corridor and lifted the curtain to ask.

Wang Yuan’er looked up and said, “I just told her some things she didn’t want to hear, and she got upset.”

The things may not have been pleasant to hear, but they were grounded in truth. With Wang Min’er’s generally kind nature, Wang Yuan’er felt compelled to offer heartfelt advice. If it were someone else, who would put so much effort into analyzing things and guiding her?

Since Min’er’s wedding was imminent, Wang Yuan’er had said everything that needed to be said and given all the advice she could. What happened next was entirely up to her.

Wang Chun’er bit her lip and said, “She’s probably nervous about getting married.”

Wang Yuan’er nodded in agreement.

As the autumn wind rose, Manager Guan sent word that the materials had all arrived, and it was time to start making the fermented tofu.

When Wang Yuan’er arrived at the workshop, Manager Guan introduced a modest young woman to her. “This is San Niang. She’ll be assisting you with the work. Just give her instructions as needed.”

After exchanging greetings, Wang Yuan’er led San Niang to start their tasks.

Previously, two women in their mid-twenties, Madam He and Madam Nian, went to the Bai family to learn how to make their signature Baiyu tofu.

Wang Yuan’er had been worried that the results might fall far short of the Bai family’s standards. However, she was proven wrong—Song San had found truly talented people. Madam He and Madam Nian had put genuine effort into learning, and the Bai family, after receiving payment, had not held back any secrets. The tofu they produced was nearly identical to that of the Bai family.

Once the tofu was made, Wang Yuan’er dressed in brand-new clothes before entering the workshop. This was a requirement by Song San, who insisted that all workers maintain cleanliness to ensure the purity of the ingredients. The women also had to keep their hair covered. His strict standards left Wang Yuan’er with no choice but to comply. She led by example, understanding that the fermented tofu could be of the highest quality only by adhering to such practices.

The large workshop was worlds apart from her former small shop. It had specialized steaming cabinets, a spacious drying yard, and large underground cellars for storage. It was a truly large-scale facility.

The workers in the workshop had clearly defined roles and operated with precision and order, evidence of rigorous training.

After a busy day of work, Wang Yuan’er couldn’t help but marvel at how Jinji had grown its business to such a large scale. It was clearly thanks to a strict and effective management system.

Wang Yuan’er had mastered the process of making fermented tofu through extensive practice. Even in such a large workshop, she remained calm and composed. With San Niang assisting her, she found the work even smoother and more efficient. Before long, the first batch of tofu was prepared, sealed in jars, and stored in the underground cellar.

Time flew by, and September 8th—the day Wang Min’er was to be brought to the Tang family—finally arrived.

Since there wasn’t going to be a wedding banquet, only Madam Zhang’s relatives and the Wang family gathered for a meal, which amounted to just two or three tables. The evening before, Grandma Wang instructed Wang Yuan’er’s household to halt production for a day on September 8th and instead help out with the preparations.

Before dawn on the 8th, Wang Yuan’er woke her sisters, got them dressed, and ready for the day. Looking outside, she noticed the lights were already on in the main house and the western room, and people were bustling around.

“You all go ahead and help. I’ll go to Butcher Zhang’s to pick up the meat,” Wang Yuan’er said to her sisters after getting herself ready.

The meat had been pre-ordered and needed to be collected early in the morning to be cleaned and cooked in time for the meal.

“Elder sister, let me go with you. Twenty pounds of meat is heavy, and your foot isn’t fully healed yet—you shouldn’t strain yourself,” Wang Chun’er said, glancing at Wang Yuan’er’s foot.

“It’s fine, I’ll ask Fuquan to come along,” Wang Yuan’er replied with a smile.

Fuquan was still lying in bed. These days, Wang Er had him working at the river post, leaving him tanned and worn out. He yawned, full of impatience. If it weren’t for his own sister’s matter, he wouldn’t have bothered to pay attention to Wang Yuan’er at all.

After retrieving the meat from Butcher Zhang, the Wang household was already bustling with activity—cleaning and tidying everywhere. In the western room, there were women singing celebratory songs. It wasn’t clear who was helping Wang Min’er with her hair.

“It’s Madam Zhang’s mother who’s helping with the hair,” Wang Qing’er, always curious, found a moment to whisper to Wang Yuan’er.

Wang Yuan’er pursed her lips. After all, this wasn’t a proper wedding; even the hairdressing felt constrained and begrudging. She couldn’t help but wonder if Wang Min’er regretted her decision.

The entire family was spinning like tops with busy preparations. By late morning, members of the Zhang family began arriving. The Wang household felt like a stage being set for a performance as the commotion grew louder.

In the western room, people were constantly coming and going. Wang Qing’er had been tasked with pouring tea and bringing water. She darted back and forth between the kitchen, the western room, and the main house countless times. Despite the autumn weather, all this running around left her sweating profusely.

Wang Yuan’er and Wang Chun’er were busy in the kitchen preparing food for the guests. Even their youngest sister, Wang Lan’er, had to help tend the firewood.

Since there wasn’t a banquet and no neighbors were invited to assist, the sisters were working tirelessly, sweating profusely and barely having time for a sip of water.

Wang Qing’er stormed into the kitchen, slamming the tray in her hands onto the Eight Immortals table, clearly sulking.

“Who’s upset you this time?” Wang Yuan’er asked while adding salt to the meat.

Wang Qing’er, unable to hold back her frustration, turned around and said, “Elder sister, aren’t we the ones who are truly her sisters? We’ve been up since early morning, busy with everything for her, and yet there she is, entertaining her cousins in the room and giving each of them a pearl flower. Isn’t that just unfair?”

“Didn’t she give us some silk flowers? Weren’t you overjoyed about those?” Wang Yuan’er replied without even looking at her.

“Silk flowers and pearl flowers are completely different! Those pearl flowers are strung with real pearls—they’re so beautiful,” Wang Qing’er pouted.

“Alright, who she chooses to be close to is her choice. We’re not after that. In a few months, it’ll be the New Year. Then I’ll buy you two pearl flowers to wear on your head. How about that?” Wang Yuan’er said while wiping away her sweat.

Wang Qing’er finally managed a smile. “Alright, you’ve got yourself a deal!”

“You’re so shallow,” Wang Yuan’er teased. “Look at your second sister and our youngest—neither of them is like you.”

Wang Lan’er stuck her tongue out at Wang Qing’er. “Shame on you, Third Sister!”

Wang Qing’er was about to retort when their second aunt’s voice called out from outside, “Qing’er, bring out two more cups of tea!”

“I’m not your servant, stop ordering me around,” Wang Qing’er muttered, pouting, but she grabbed another pot of tea and went out again.

By the time they finished preparing about ten dishes and plating them, it was nearly late morning. Suddenly, the sound of firecrackers burst through the air, followed by Fuduo’s voice shouting, “The sedan chair is here! The sedan chair is here!”

Wang Yuan’er and Wang Chun’er exchanged a glance. “It must be the Tang family coming to take her. Let’s go see the excitement,” Wang Yuan’er said.

The two sisters took off their aprons and walked out of the kitchen. The group sent to fetch the bride consisted of a few sedan chair carriers and two elderly women dressed in festive attire. As for the groom or any major family representative, not one of them was present. Wang Yuan’er couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness.

Marriage is a significant event for a woman. Even in Wang Min’er’s situation, she was leaving the home where she had been raised to join another family. Naturally, she would hope for a dignified departure. But this? The Tang family’s attitude clearly showed how little they valued her.

Wang Chun’er, clearly concerned, softly said, “Elder sister, even if she’s not the main wife, she still should…”

Wang Yuan’er let out a sigh.

Wang Min’er then stepped out of the western room, dressed not in true red but in a festive water-red wedding gown. Her face was powdered with rouge, her hair fully styled into a bun, adorned with two jeweled golden hairpins. She was escorted to the main room to kneel and bid farewell to her parents.

Wang Yuan’er followed along. In the main room, Grandfather Wang and Grandmother Wang sat in their seats of honor. Wang Min’er knelt properly on the floor, respectfully kowtowing to say her goodbyes.

Grandma Wang’s eyes were misty, and the many words she wanted to say ultimately condensed into just four: “Take care of yourself.”

Wang Min’er pressed her lips together, then moved on to the central hall to bid farewell to her parents. Madam Zhang was crying so much her makeup was nearly ruined, clinging to Wang Min’er’s hands and unwilling to let go. This was the cherished daughter she had lovingly raised. Even if Wang Min’er wasn’t married as a main wife, from this moment on, she belonged to another family.

Madam Zhang suddenly felt a pang of reluctance.

“The auspicious hour is here!” called out the two elderly matchmakers in festive attire.

“She’s going off to have a good life, so let her go!” Madam Zhang’s mother said as she pried Madam Zhang’s hands away.

“Mother…” Wang Min’er, equally reluctant, pressed her lips together, tears streaming down her face.

“Go now, and be good,” Madam Zhang said as she wiped the corners of her eyes and smiled.

When they reached the courtyard, the two matchmaker women noticed the two jeweled hairpins Wang Min’er was wearing. Their eyes lit up, and they exchanged a glance. One of them approached Wang Min’er and said, “Oh my, young lady, this headdress isn’t quite proper. When you meet the mistresses, they’ll undoubtedly scold you for it. Let me keep this hairpin safe for you, and you can get it back from me later, alright?”

Before she even finished her sentence, the woman reached out and casually took one of the hairpins from Wang Min’er’s head, slipping it into her sleeve.

Everyone around them stared in shock, dumbfounded.

“You…” Wang Min’er was about to lose her temper but stopped herself. Instinctively, she turned to look at Wang Yuan’er.

Wang Yuan’er shook her head, biting her lip, and forced a smile as she curtsied politely to the matron. “Thank you for the reminder, Madam,” she said.

The matron hummed in satisfaction, thinking to herself, “At least she knows her place.” Clearly, that jeweled hairpin was now gone for good—once something changed hands, it wasn’t coming back.

This scene unfolded before everyone’s eyes, leaving them all feeling stifled and helpless. But what could they do? Such was the fate of a concubine. Worse still, Wang Min’er wasn’t even formally a concubine yet—merely a companion servant. Who would bother giving her any dignity?

The matron placed the red veil on Wang Min’er’s head and helped her walk out of the Wang family’s gate. Under the red veil, Wang Min’er stared at the cobblestones on the ground, taking one step at a time. As she neared the gate, she paused, wanting to look back. But the people behind her called out urgently, “Don’t turn back! Don’t turn back!”

A married woman, like spilled water, cannot turn back. This was the path Wang Min’er had chosen herself, and regardless of the challenges, she had to grit her teeth and keep moving forward.

Ultimately, Wang Min’er did not turn back. She stepped over the threshold of the Wang family, climbed into the Tang family’s sedan chair, and trembled her way toward an unknown future.