After the wedding cars were parked in order, people from the groom’s side started getting off one by one. However, I had a bit of trouble distinguishing the best man from the groom, as their outfits today were extremely similar. But this wasn’t important, because later on, the real groom would definitely carry Li Xiaoyun away from here.
The sound of celebratory cannons rang out again, and finally the wedding procession entered the corridor, briefly disappearing from my sight. Inside the house, excitement had already begun to build. The door to Li Xiaoyun’s bedroom was shut by her close female friends, apparently intending to playfully challenge the groom according to tradition.
Among the crowd, I spotted my mother standing at the back again. Although she was smiling along with everyone else, I, as her son, could sense her underlying sadness. Her smile was likely only meant as a blessing for Li Xiaoyun, wishing her happiness in marrying a good husband and joining a good family.
The groom’s family and friends entered the room, and finally I identified the real groom by the word “groom” pinned on his chest flower. He appeared to be around my age, wearing black-framed glasses, looking very gentle, and his face was filled with eager anticipation, as if he couldn’t wait to see his bride the very next second.
Candy and cigarettes were handed out to us by the groom and his family, but no one was satisfied yet, continuing to playfully challenge the groom. So I joined in the teasing and noise from the crowd, and during the commotion, I grabbed two packs of high-end cigarettes from the groom’s hand, our eyes briefly meeting in that moment…
“Ooooh… ooooh!” I continued making teasing sounds, tugging on the groom’s sleeve, causing all the cigarettes and candy he was holding to scatter onto the floor. These represented good fortune, and amid laughter and jokes, everyone scrambled to pick them up… For a while, the atmosphere was really lively and festive!
After collecting enough cigarettes and candy, I moved aside with the crowd. Finally, the groom had space to face Li Xiaoyun’s parents. With genuine emotion and tears in his eyes, he said to the elderly couple, “Thank you, Mom and Dad, for giving me such an excellent Xiaoyun. I will definitely cherish her for my entire life. If I fail to do so, I would rather…”
Li Xiaoyun’s mother patted the groom and scolded gently, “Tsk tsk… Don’t say anything unlucky on this wedding day. Your sincerity towards Xiaoyun has already been seen by me and her father, which is why we are willing to entrust her to you… You must treat her well!”
At this point, Li Xiaoyun’s mother was already choked up, wiping her tears, as was the groom, who once again made a sincere promise…
Watching this wedding filled with tears, I felt a sense of emotion and understanding. Perhaps this was exactly what a wedding should feel like… Then, I couldn’t help but imagine my future wedding with Mi Cai.
Perhaps ours wouldn’t be so sentimental, as she has no father, and her mother was never mentioned by her. Therefore, I could simply welcome her into my home and live a peaceful life with her. At that time, whether she would be beautiful or shining with brilliance wouldn’t really matter anymore.
After overcoming many playful obstacles, the groom finally carried Li Xiaoyun out of the room and left amidst the crowd’s cheers. Next, they would head to the groom’s home to complete some essential wedding rituals before heading together to the hotel. There, under the host’s guidance, they would complete many joyful wedding segments.
…
Recently, I had many troubles, so at the banquet, I inevitably lost some self-control. I drank quite a bit, to the point of feeling dizzy halfway through the wedding banquet, my legs feeling like they were stepping on cotton, unable to exert any force. This led my mother to scold me at the table, criticizing me for still lacking self-restraint as I always had.
My mother seemed to have great authority among the crowd. After she scolded me, no one dared to persuade me to drink anymore, giving me a chance to catch my breath, drinking only plain water to ease the dizziness rising from within my body…
The hotel was too noisy. As I gradually sobered up, I bid everyone farewell and decided to leave early to rest. When I stepped out of the hotel, it finally signified that I had fulfilled my promise to Li Xiaoyun. Perhaps the next time we meet, she would already be a mother. From her close female friends, I heard that she and her husband had gotten married because she was already pregnant.
The sunlight outside the hotel was very nice, but the wind was strong. I endured the cold while stomping my feet, waiting for a passing taxi, but none came for a long time. I lit a cigarette, squinting as I looked at the blue sky and white clouds, instinctively searching for something… I finally remembered: it was exactly a year ago, on the day I attended Yan Yan and Fang Yuan’s wedding, that a city within me crumbled away, causing me such pain that I almost jumped into the moat seeking relief. Now, more than a year has passed, and I attended another wedding, but that city still hadn’t returned to my body. However, I no longer felt so tormented, and even still carried some anticipation to continue searching for that floating city.
In fact, after witnessing the scenery of time, I gradually understood: that city was a manifestation of my own emotions and experiences, representing the most beautiful period of my life. However, when fate burdened me with too much pain, in order to preserve that beauty and innocence, it had to leave me…
Therefore, when it truly returns one day, my life will surely begin anew with endless beauty from a new journey, eventually reflecting and illuminating that city, lighting up every corner of my life that once dried up.
…
“Zhaoyang, it’s hard to get a taxi here. I’ve asked a friend to give you a ride home; she will be here soon.”
I turned around, and there stood Li Xiaoyun behind me. At this moment, she was no longer wearing her wedding dress but a bright red padded jacket, though her bridal makeup remained.
Feeling somewhat wronged, I took the opportunity of being tipsy to ask her, “Why did you give the wedding gift I gave you to someone else? Do you know how long I picked it out in the mall?”
“I know you’re rich now and have achieved success in your career, but I really don’t need these things… I’ve never pursued luxury items beyond my means with vanity, and you should know this better than anyone. Yet you still gave me these things, so I was really upset. I think you underestimated me, Zhaoyang! You looked down on me, Li Xiaoyun!”
“You misunderstood me; I didn’t mean it at all!”
Li Xiaoyun smiled, “Alright… let’s not talk about unpleasant things anymore. No matter whether you, Zhaoyang, are rich or fall into destitution in the future, as long as you return to Xuzhou and are still willing to find me, Li Xiaoyun, I will be willing to treat you to a meal… or even lend you some money again!”
Her words were like a sharp blade piercing the softest part of my heart. I just looked at her silently, scenes from the past frequently flashing through my mind. However, I understood even more that what she said now had nothing to do with the past anymore.
At this moment, Li Xiaoyun pushed my arm again and said, “See that red Skoda coming up ahead? After you get in the car, tell my friend your address, and she will drive you home.”
“Thank you.”
Li Xiaoyun smiled, “Don’t be so polite. Go back and rest quickly.”
I nodded and turned to walk toward the car waiting at the intersection.
Once again, Li Xiaoyun’s voice came from behind me, “Zhaoyang, thank you for coming to my wedding… I hope that in the near future, I can also attend your wedding… Just like you, no matter how busy I am, if you invite me, I will definitely come.”
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