Chapter 132: The custom of crying at weddings, Martha cried because of greed

It was impossible for them not to sing the same song. Liang Jianxin and Huang Mingming were both native Qiang villagers. They had known each other since childhood and were very familiar with the folk songs. Moreover, they would not deliberately make things difficult for each other. They were just going through the motions.

After about ten minutes of singing, as the applause and cheers from the people around reached a peak, even outsiders who didn't understand folk songs knew that the singing session was over. Under everyone's eager gaze, Liang Jianxin strode with his head held high and walked towards the Huang's hall.

In the hall, the bride's parents were already seated. The groom bowed deeply to them and drank the tea.

The bride's parents receive the gift and show the groom the room where the bride is.

At the same time, the best man and bridesmaid begin to throw "lucky items" such as red paper, coins, and rice.

Martha watched the festive scenes passing by, smacked her lips, and looked at the man she loved beside her with a resentful look in her eyes.

She wanted to turn into a shapeless little devil and whisper fiercely in her lover's ear: See? That's it! Learn from me! Hurry up! Do you really want the girl to take the initiative?

But before she could mutter for long, suddenly, a loud, sad and real cry came from the bride's room.

Martha was stunned for a moment.

"What's wrong? Bride, why is Mingming crying?"

Could it be that she, she didn't want to get married at this moment? Could it be that this was going to happen? Could it be that Liang Jianxin was bullying Mingming now?

At this time, the bridesmaids were sprinkling blessings while changing into a sad crying tune and humming a different kind of folk song.

Of course, Martha still didn't understand and could only look at Lin Yan with doubt.

Lin Yan made a "hush" gesture, signaling Martha to keep quiet.

He even typed a statement in the live broadcast room to explain to Martha and the audience:
"This is also a unique wedding ceremony of the Qiang people, called 'crying at the wedding'. It is the bride's way of expressing her gratitude to her parents for raising her for so many years, and now that she is about to marry someone else, she will no longer be able to be at her parents' knees all the time, so she cries out of gratitude."

"In China, and even beyond China, many local wedding customs have similar traditions. However, the Qiang ethnic group closely combines the tradition of crying at weddings with their own folk song culture and develops their own unique type of crying at weddings. Different from singing duets that are almost a formality, crying at weddings often requires the bride to think of the words, express her feelings, match the tune, and sing the song herself, which is not an easy job."

"This can also show the bride's reluctance to leave her parents and her gratitude for their hard work in raising her."

Is that what happened?
For a moment, Martha thought of herself.

If, if I really marry someone far away in China in the future, and only have a few days to visit my family in the Alian Chiefs, then, then my parents...how should I face them that day?

Suddenly, Martha was panic-stricken and at a loss.

I don't know if it was out of instinct to escape, or if she really felt something at the moment, but she blurted out unconsciously:

“But Mingming’s home is only 7 or 8 steps away from Jianxin’s home. Isn’t she still in front of her parents every day like before? It’s not like she ran away from the village. Why is she crying so miserably - wuwuwuwu!!”

Lin Yan covered Martha's mouth expressionlessly and gave her a set of physical silence package. How dare you blame me for spoiling the mood when I was in Huacheng?
After singing the "Wedding Crying Song", the bride and groom walked out of the room and solemnly bowed to the girl's parents. The girl's parents nodded repeatedly, crying and laughing, holding their daughter's hand, and handed her over to the groom with confidence.

It was at this time that Martha saw the bride for the first time - in fact, it was not really "seen", at this moment Huang Mingming had a piece of red cloth on her head and was wearing a bright red wedding gown. Outsiders could not see Mingming's appearance at the moment, but she was undoubtedly the most beautiful bride in the world.

Liang Jianxin held Huang Mingming's hand tightly and solemnly promised to the two elders that he would never let Mingming down in this life. Then, surrounded by the best men and bridesmaids, Liang Jianxin carried Huang Mingming on his back and walked towards the Liang family's hall step by step without looking back.

The bridesmaids hold red umbrellas for the newlyweds, and the best men play suona and cannons, and no one ever looks back toward the bride's home, implying that everything will go smoothly for the newlyweds from now on and they will move on to a new life together.

After entering the hall, the newlyweds pass over the fire basin and perform the wedding ceremony in the presence of the groom's parents.

Martha was actually quite curious about what the "brazier" was used for, but just as she was about to ask, she was met with Lin Yan's eyes that said "you'd better not ask". This time she didn't dare to argue, but just shut up.

Apart from the fire basin, the scenes of "bow to heaven and earth first, bow to parents second", the woman offering tea, and the wizard praying, made her feel that "I am familiar with this process".

In their doctrines, there are also similar religious blessing segments in wedding ceremonies, but the objects of worship and the clergy who preside over the doctrine are slightly different, which is not a big deal.

What made Martha feel regretful was that until the final "bridal chamber", when the groom took the bride's hand and walked into the wedding room, the cloth covering the bride's head was not taken off.

Although she had become familiar with the enthusiastic girl Huang Mingming in the past few days and had long known what she looked like under the veil, it was that veil that made Martha unconsciously feel itchy and wanted to take a glimpse of what the bride looked like at this moment.

On such a big day, Mingming must have dressed up. What expression would she have under the veil now? Shy and lovely? It doesn't seem like her style! Could it be that she took off her veil as soon as she entered the house? This is her style, but it's too depressing! It's not what a bride should do.

But no matter what she looks like, Huang Mingming is definitely the most beautiful now!
It’s a pity that her most beautiful day, her most beautiful look, and the surprise at the moment when she opened the veil were destined to belong only to today’s protagonist, her only groom.

Martha twisted her fingers unconsciously.

She now fully understood why brides' attire, whether in the West or the East, emphasized a hazy sense of sacredness. That head covering was simply too charming. If it were on her head, on her head...

What expression would I have when Yan opened the veil for me?

Is it shy?

Or is it the same as last night, bold and passionate?
Or is it some other scene that I can’t even imagine right now?
It’s so hot, my face is so hot! My heart is beating so fast!

Just imagining the scene of Yan lifting the hood for me, I almost can't breathe!

Is this sick? Is this sick?
Martha looked up in panic, looking at the familiar yet not-so-familiar festive decorations in the Liang family's hall. Suddenly, all the scenes around her seemed to fade away. Only him, only her lover, and only her lover's parents were still sitting there happily, waiting for her, the bride, to step over the fire basin, step into the Lin family, and serve tea to her new parents!
At that moment, panic? Happiness? Shyness? Countless inexplicable emotions surged from her heart, making her head feel short of breath and dizzy, and her legs weak, unable to even stand steadily.

Will there be such a day for me?

There will be such a day!

(End of this chapter)