Chapter 407: Everyone Had to Be Happy
Chapter 402 of "The Great Ming in the Box" starts with dramatic events: Gao Chuwu âdefeatedâ Xing Honglang in one move, then carried her out as his male... Discover what happens!
Gao Chuwu âdefeatedâ Xing Honglang in one move, then carried her out as his male relatives and friends rallied around him and fled rapidly outward.Ground Rabbit had just gotten up and steadied himself at the entrance, uttering one boastful sentence, when Gao Chuwu charged over like an en gine.
In Gaojia Village, there wasnât a single person who could win a head-on collision against Gao Chuwuâeven Zheng Daniu could only achieve a draw.
What virtue or ability did Ground Rabbit have to endure Ga o Chuwuâs collision?
With a bang, Mr. Rabbit was flat on the ground again.
Thus, a huge crowd trampled over him like a thunderous rumble as they dashed toward the sun chariot. Gao Chuwu placed Xing Honglang onto the chariot and immediately cheerfully called o ut, âDaniu, come drive.â
Zheng Daniu quickly jumped onto the chariot, followed by Zao Ying, the bridesmaid, who climbed up too. She was clearly supposed to be the bridesmaid, yet she constantly stayed by the groomsmanâs sideâhad she mistaken her role or found the right match?
The sun chariot headed for the main fortress.
Zheng Gouzi squatted down again and poked Ground Rabbit on the ground, âAre you still alive?â
Ground Rabbit instantly jumped up, âHurry, hurry, hurry! Follow the main group, or we wonât get good seats when the feast starts.â
Zheng Gouzi said, âDamn, worrying about your injury made me look like an idiot.â
The two of them dashed off after the sun chariot, returning noisily to the front of the main fortress with the big crowd. With 500 tables, that was too many to place insideâso they were set up on the open ground before the main fortress, and all Gaojia Village residents were free to drop by for the excitement.
Dian Deng Zi Zhao Sheng, who had specially rushed back from Heyang County, was teaching people how to speak auspicious phrases. He taught a saying to each newcomer: one person listened, ran to Gao Chuwu, and loudly announced, âDrums and gongs clamor wildly as the wedding curtain arrives; a colorful tent welcomes the new bride.â
Zhao Sheng then taught the next person, and after listening, that runner went to Gao Chuwu and loudly recited, âJoy flows endlessly as the wedding curtain parts; two hands help out a fairy-like beauty.â
After reciting, both felt something was off and turned toward Zhao Sheng, âMr. Zhao, the bride didnât come in a wedding curtain at allâshe arrived by chariot.â
Zhao Sheng said, ââŚâ
On the main fortress platform, Bai Yuan, who had hastened back from Qiachuan Port, was the officiant todayâa role he had fought hard for because weddings were part of âpropriety,â one of the Six Arts of Gentlemen he took very seriously.
Seeing the new couple being ushered forward, Bai Yuan wore a solemn expression, âFirst, bow to heaven and earthâŚâ
Normally, if people did this bow, it was just a casual, symbolic gesture. But in Gaojia Village, bowing to heaven couldnât be carelessâeveryone glanced up at the sky, where the Deityâs low cloud hung suspended.
The two newlyweds bowed formally and deeply to the Deity.
Li Daoxuan had an immortal face of delight as he chuckled, âEveryone gave gifts? Well, Iâll send you something too. Share and eat it later.â
He extended a golden hand that held a âsix-inchâ cake, slowly lowering it while cream lettering decorated the top: âWishing Gao Chuwu and Xing Honglang eternal love till their hair turns white.â
This was an Xzu cake he had ordered early that morning, with the shop clerk specifically instructed to write those words.
A six-inch cake measured 15 centimeters across, but for little folks, it was an enormous egg cake 30 meters in diameterâtopped with colorful cream that looked unbelievably wonderful to their untrained eyes. The crowd stared dazedly in an instant.
âWhat else to expect from Gao Chuwu? For his marriage, the De ity gave a ceremonial gift, after all.â
âHow much does the De ity favor Ga o Chuwu?â
âWhat must I do to earn your favor? Like an ugly, self-hating creature waiting in the corner.â
Zheng Daniu sniffed around, âThe smell tells my nose itâs delicious! Oh no! I really want to eat it.â
Halt! Bai Yuan shot him a warning glare: the wedding wasnât over yetâbefore anyone called for feasting, no one could eat a bite. Otherwise, it would ruin proprietyâthat word âproprietyâ must never be allowed to fade under my watch.
Zheng Daniu didnât dare budge.
But Zao Ying slipped unnoticed to the giant cake, turned her back, scooped out some cream with a cupped hand behind her, and tiptoed back to Zheng Daniu, whispering, âHere, have this.â
Zheng Daniu was overjoyed, gobbling down the cream in just two or three bites. âSo delicious! Ah⌠thereâs more on your hand, donât let it go to waste.â
He grabbed Zao Yingâs hand and licked it!
Zao Yingâs heart fluttered with secret delight: Win a manâs stomach, and you win his heart. He licked my hand! What an intimate gesture! We must be almost on the verge of marriage now. Hehehe.
She lowered her voice. âDaniu! Look, if the Deity favors someone and they get married, he bestows this heavenly egg cake upon them. If you want to eat more of this, shouldnât we perhapsâŚâ
A lightbulb seemed to flash above Zheng Daniuâs head. âI get it! Letâs have Old Village Chief, Gao Laba, Gao San Niang, Gao Sanwa⌠get married one more time each!â
Zao Ying: âPfft!â
While the two of them were sneakily eating cake and licking hands over here, the wedding ceremony on the other side had completed the bows to Heaven, Earth, and ancestors. Bai Yuan called out loudly, âThe couple now bows to each other!â
Gao Chuwu and Xing Honglang turned to face each other and bowedâŚ
Usually, this bow is harmonious.
But this particular couple were both unusually huge, towering at least a head taller than ordinary people. As they bowed simultaneously, their heads collided with a loud âCLUNK!â
Both flipped backward and fell to the floor.
The crowd erupted in laughter. âHAHAHAHA!â
The solemn moment instantly turned into chaos.
Bai Yuanâs face darkened. âWe were at the final step! Did you have to ruin this gentlemanly ritual? Aiyo! How truly arduous it is to uphold the way of the nobleman.â
Bai Yuan sighed deeply as he turned, his flowing white robes twirling around him. He left everyone with a supremely handsome, albeit retreating, back view. Though his commitment to the gentlemanly way had failed this time, his dedication to maintaining a cool and pretentious air remained impeccable.
Gao Chuwu climbed to his feet. âHonglang! The ceremony is complete! We are officially married now! You donât have to be shy anymore!â
Xing Honglang stretched out both hands toward him. âChuwu!â
Gao Chuwu stretched out his own hands toward her. âHonglang!â
They collided once more with a âCLUNK!â as they pulled each other into a tight embrace.
âThe rite is done! Now, let the feast begin!â
Five hundred tables starting the banquet at once was a truly spectacular sight.
A group of villagers particularly fond of sweets swarmed around the giant cake. Its ten-zhang diameter left them momentarily stunned and confused, unsure of where to even begin eating.
Li Daoxuan thought: One slice of this cake would take at least four or five people to finish in my world. Even if everyone in Gaojia Village ate their fill, theyâd only manage a small piece. Leaving it all here is wasteful. How about I share some with other places? Letting everyone join in the joy!
Swiftly, he pulled out a knife. Reaching into the box, visible to the villagers, he made several sharp âsnick-snick!â sounds, cutting the cake into several large segments.
He left the largest piece for Gaojia Village. Picking up the other pieces, he shifted his perspective: Chengcheng County, Heyang County, Fengyuan Town, Qiachuan Port, Quangou Village, Yang VillageâŚ
Finally, he took out a smaller piece even yet, and abruptly placed it inside Huanglong Mountain Prison.
Everyone, be happy today!