Fortunately, Second Bai's house wasn't far from the intersection. They did, however, have a custom where the bride had to be carried out of her home, either on her brother's back or in the groom's arms.
Over here, there was a saying: "the earlier you fetch the bride, the better." So, the bride was picked up in a lively celebration. After watching her niece climb onto the tractor, Bai Xiulan started for home.
Xu Changqing heard a commotion in the front yard but didn't pay it much mind. With her father often away, women of all ages liked to drop by their house once farm work slowed in the winter.
She was just thinking she should go out and say her mother and grandmother were still at her uncle's place and hadn't returned. But as soon as she lifted the padded cotton curtain to the outer room, she saw her mother approaching alone, head bowed.
