It was truly the wheel of fate turning; thirty years east of the river, thirty years west. Back then, no one in Wu County wanted the man. Now everyone was scrambling for him. Qiao Lian's family had practically sold the woman off for just 100 kilograms (roughly 200 jin) of grain. People said she had tried to hang herself before the wedding, driven by despair. And now? Now everyone envied her for marrying such a good man who could provide stability.
That was destiny, unfolding in the most unexpected way.
"It depends on whether she knows how to handle herself from here on out," someone murmured.
On New Year's Eve, the entire country received a special power supply, lighting up homes that had been dark for weeks. Each local government hosted unlimited buffets for only 0.5 virtual coins. In some places it was bug eggs with mushrooms; in others, garlic sprouts with bug eggs, or even water grass with bug eggs. Each region had its specialty, based on whatever grew most abundantly in the damp earth.
The girl pitied those who had to eat garlic every day. Their breath was so strong that they greeted others with a hand over their mouths to hide the pungent scent.
That evening, the Spring Festival Gala began right on time, the screen glowing in the darkened room. The hosts appeared without makeup, their faces natural and weary but smiling. The performances were lighthearted skits and songs filled with hope for the future. The message was simple: the sun would rise, dawn would have come, and no one would give up hope.
"Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
The family clinked their cups together and began their New Year's Eve feast, watching the Gala as a group. Even before the apocalypse, the woman's family had never eaten so well. There were several kinds of seafood on the table, including strange shellfish they did not even recognize. Someone said it was abalone (a rare find); but honestly, it was not nearly as tasty as the rich pork belly.
Speaking of pork belly, the girl had roasted the slices herself, even adding precious barbecue seasoning from her stash. Wrapped in fresh lettuce, the crispy, tender pork melded with the crunch of the greens. It's the first time the woman's family had tasted something so delicious.
Then came the dumplings: shrimp and three-delicacy dumplings, chive and egg dumplings, even pineapple dumplings. There's too much to choose from as the steam rose from the plates. Just a few bites of each dish, and they were stuffed to the point of discomfort. They hated that they could not eat more. Another bite and they might burst.
"You've brought so much food for us. We're imposing on you far too much," Jing Pan said, her voice trailing off as she looked at the spread.
"Don't mention it, Eldest Sister," Jing An replied, raising his glass of milk. The milk had been reconstituted from powder, not wine, but it felt just as festive. "When I got married, you three sisters all helped us plenty. It's only right we return the favor."
Grandma Jing grinned so widely her eyes nearly disappeared into the wrinkles of her face. As an elder, nothing pleased her more than seeing her children united and happy. In the past she had been partial to her youngest son, stirring resentment among the daughters. But now, treating them all equally, everything's much better.
Speaking of drink, the grapes in the Cube Space are ripe, their skins dark and taut. The girl planned to make wine; and while she is at it, she would brew some rice wine and fermented sweet rice. A bowl of that in the morning, with poached eggs and tangyuan, would be perfection.
The family passed a joyful New Year's Eve together. Before the apocalypse, people would stay up all night, never turning off the lights. Adults would play mahjong while children played cards until dawn, and firecrackers would thunder at midnight. Now, there's nothing but the sound of the rain. The world lay in darkness and silence.
Just after midnight, as the Gala ended, the power shut off, plunging the house into gloom. Everyone went to bed. The girl handed out hot water bottles to each person to warm their bedding. Even though they had had a kang with a clay stove burning the night before, the quilts had still been icy, taking half an hour of body heat to warm up.
She suddenly remembered the prize draw at Suning, where she had won a dozen rechargeable hand warmers. Those would be invaluable when the temperature dropped to minus seventy (about -94 degrees Fahrenheit). Hot water bottles would never last more than an hour or two in that kind of cold, and boiling water again would waste precious time. The warmers are far more convenient.
Thanks to the hot water bottles, the bedding's cozy, and the whole family fell asleep quickly, grateful for her thoughtfulness.
On the first day of the New Year, at the yin (tiger) hour (approximately 3 AM - 5 AM), everyone rose early to prepare for the wedding. The household's bustling with activity as people moved through the dim light.
Jing Pan had invited around sixty guests: classmates and friends, some of the groom's acquaintances, colleagues of Wei Chang, and even workers from the Livestock Breeding Center.
There are no hotels anymore to host such events. The banquet's set up right at home in the courtyard. Ingredients had all been washed and prepared the day before; so today it's just a matter of cooking them into the traditional wedding dishes.
Cooking for sixty people at once's already a significant challenge, let alone during the apocalypse when supplies are scarce.
So Grandma Jing, Jing Pan, and others who could cook all went to the kitchen. Su Lanzhi, who is clumsy with her hands, took on other tasks: recording the gifts and keeping the accounts in the ledger.
"Be careful when taking gifts," the girl reminded them. "Dad, stick with Mom and stay alert. Someone jealous might cause trouble. Here, take this gun and keep it close to you."
"How valuable have the gifts been to need guarding?" Grandpa Jing scoffed, though he did not refuse. "Fine, let the men go out as guards."
The girl and Wu You'ai had nothing to do for the moment, so they helped apply the bride's makeup.
Grandma Jing had sewn red dragon-and-phoenix wedding robes, festive and beautiful, instantly giving the air of a proper traditional wedding. The girl first applied a cooling cucumber mask, then used their last bits of makeup to give the woman a light touch, finishing with an elegant updo that showed off the robe's collar.
The woman had been dejected, thinking she would have no proper wedding gown for her special day. She had always dreamed of a decent ceremony. But when the man's grandmother arrived, she brought everything: wedding robes, bedding, and even a newly decorated bridal room. It fulfilled every fantasy she had about a wedding.
How had her husband's family treated her? They fed her well, supported her family, and still her relatives clung to her like parasites. In that moment, she made up her mind about where her loyalties lay.
At noon, the wedding began as planned.
Though there are no firecrackers to mark the start, there are drums and gongs arranged by Wei Chang. All of Wu County knew that the man was getting married. Guests poured in, and soon the courtyard's full of people. The advantage of a flat house's its spacious yard. Two cars are moved out to the road, and borrowed tables and chairs filled the space. It might have looked mismatched, but it held everyone comfortably.
A stage had been built at one end, and a host had been invited to preside over the ceremony.
At the gate, gifts are collected and recorded in a red ledger. Su Lanzhi kept the accounts while Jing An and Grandpa Jing cross-checked them. It's important to know who had given what so they would return favors in the future.
Before the apocalypse, people would give cash. Now, gifts are all sorts of things: food, tools, and supplies; since virtual coins meant survival. The items are random, but many are still valuable in this economy.
"Alright, no one else is coming. Take the gifts inside. Let's start the ceremony."
"Okay."
At that moment, the screech of brakes split the air, sharp and sudden. A pickup truck roared forward, slamming straight toward the courtyard gate with a heavy thud.
"Now, in this exciting moment... let us warmly—" The host's voice was cut off.
"Ahhh!"
Bang! Bang!
Screams erupted from the crowd, followed by the sharp crack of gunfire.
Still standing in the courtyard, the girl did not hesitate. She charged outside toward the gate.
The wedding's thrown into total chaos as guests scrambled for cover.