"Come, come, these are a few side dishes the kitchen just stir-fried, and this is the Daughter's Red wine sent by the in-laws. Sir, please enjoy your meal."
He Xiuyuan had barely sat down when an old man walked over and placed the freshly cooked dishes from the kitchen onto He Xiuyuan's table.
Seeing this, He Xiuyuan quickly stood up and thanked him.
Looking at the old man in front of him, he was likely the groom's father.
The old man was also smiling happily at He Xiuyuan, and after reminding He Xiuyuan to eat and drink well, he turned and left.
He Xiuyuan glanced around but no longer saw the groom. It seemed he might have gone into the bridal chamber.
Seeing this, He Xiuyuan couldn't help but smile. He then sat down and began to eat unhurriedly.
If the groom had entered the bridal chamber, He Xiuyuan shouldn't eavesdrop on anything. It would be better to temporarily withdraw his six senses to avoid overhearing private matters.
At the banquet, cups clinked and clanked. He Xiuyuan was eating alone, and from time to time, other freshly prepared dishes would be brought and placed on his table.
He Xiuyuan didn't stand on ceremony.
After he had eaten and drunk his fill, he saw that most of the guests in the courtyard had already dispersed.
He Xiuyuan rubbed his stomach, seeing that he had eaten enough, and immediately stood up. Then, he pulled out an ounce of silver from his sleeve.
This ounce of silver as a gift should be sufficient, he thought.
Thinking this, He Xiuyuan placed the silver on the table and prepared to leave.
Earlier, while he was eating, the Village Head had told him that a room had been arranged for him: the first side room at the end of the corridor, after turning right from the exit, was for him to stay in, a few steps away from here.
However, just as He Xiuyuan stood up, the groom's father happily walked over. Just as he was about to ask He Xiuyuan how his meal was, he saw the silver on the table.
"Young man, what is the meaning of this?"
The old man looked at the silver on the table, a bit displeased, as he looked at He Xiuyuan.
"Elder, I've come to drink wedding wine, so I should at least give some gift money."
He Xiuyuan smiled and replied.
The old man's brow furrowed, and his expression instantly turned somewhat unhappy. "A guest is a guest. This meal was meant for our village to host guests. Where is the logic in taking money?"
"It's just that today, everyone in the village came to my place to celebrate this wedding, so we couldn't arrange anything else for you to eat. Naturally, this meal must be provided by our family."
"If I were to accept money from you, young man, wouldn't the other people in the village say that I'm greedy for money?"
"You must take this money back."
The old man in front of him was extremely resolute, then reached out, picked up the silver, and stuffed it back into He Xiuyuan's hand.
He Xiuyuan looked at the silver in his hand, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. How could he not even give a gift?
This was turning into a troublesome matter.
As He Xiuyuan thought this, the old man, seeing that He Xiuyuan had accepted the silver, changed back to a smiling expression and asked He Xiuyuan how he had eaten, if he was full, and other such words.
After He Xiuyuan said he had eaten very well, the old man, with a face full of smiles, escorted He Xiuyuan out of the courtyard gate.
After leaving, He Xiuyuan quickly found the room the Village Head had arranged for him. Upon entering, he saw that the place was quite clean.
Seeing this, He Xiuyuan immediately took off his outer robe and lay down in his inner shirt and trousers... "How is it? Are you alright?"
In a courtyard not far from He Xiuyuan, the old man now entered the groom's room and, looking at the two newlyweds inside, asked in a low voice.
The groom looked at his father, then at the bride beside him, his expression somewhat anxious.
"Father, will that thing really come?"
As he said this, a hint of nervousness and fear welled up on his face.
"Don't worry whether it comes or not. She is your wife now. Are you not going to protect her?"
The old man's brow furrowed at these words, and he spoke in a low, stern tone.
The groom, who still looked a bit naive, immediately shook his head upon hearing this. "Of course not! Cui'er is my wife now, so I definitely have to protect her well!"
The old man nodded in satisfaction at these words.
However, the bride beside them, upon hearing this, looked somewhat worried. "Husband, that thing has already become a spirit. If it truly comes to it, please send me away, lest I implicate you all..."
That thing had already become a spirit; it wouldn't be so easy to deal with.
Especially recalling the words that thing had spoken earlier, her heart was filled with even more dread.
"Cui'er, don't worry. No matter what, I will not let that thing take you away!"
Hearing this, the groom quickly grabbed her hand and vowed solemnly.
The old man beside them also spoke to comfort her, "That's right, just rest assured. I've already spoken with the others in the village. If that thing really dares to come, everyone won't just stand by. They're still waiting outside now!"
Cui'er felt a little relieved upon hearing this, but then she became worried again.
The demon had spoken earlier, saying it would take her back to be its bride.
Although she was now married, who knew if that thing would give up.
What if it didn't give up?
Thinking of this, she quietly gripped a pair of scissors hidden in her sleeve.
If that demon was truly powerful, then she would temporarily yield to it. But after leaving, she would use these scissors to take her own life. No matter what, she would not be a demon's wife!
"Let's go, let's go outside. It's safer if everyone stays together. Otherwise, if that demon breaks in here and everyone is outside, they won't know what's happening inside, and it would be a wasted wait."
The old man watched this scene from the side, then spoke softly.
The two immediately responded and then followed him out to the courtyard.
"Father, has that guest from earlier left? Please don't involve him."
"Don't worry, I know. That guest has eaten and drunk his fill and gone to rest. The place arranged for him is also quite far from here; it definitely won't implicate him."
The old man replied.
The groom immediately felt relieved upon hearing this and then followed him out to the courtyard.
Outside the courtyard, many young men were still drinking wine, trying to use it to bolster their courage. After all, they were going to face a demon, and they were still a bit scared.
In the past, they had only heard stories; they had never actually encountered one. No one knew how powerful this demon truly was.
