Zhang Xiaoniu snapped back to reality and reached out to lift the veil for Song Mingyue.
A deathly pale face appeared before Zhang Xiaoniu. He blinked, thinking his eyes were playing tricks on him. He blinked again, and it was still a face so white it was terrifying.
"Where's my wife? Where did you hide my wife?" Zhang Xiaoniu took a step back. "You ugly monster!"
"Oh, so now I'm an ugly monster just because I'm the wife you brought home? Come on, tell me where you're itching, and I'll scratch it for you!" Song Mingyue said indignantly, hands on her hips, pointing a finger at Zhang Xiaoniu's nose. "Your grandma is going to teach you a good lesson today."
Zhang Xiaoniu looked bewildered. "It sounds like my wife, but..."
Zhang Xiaoniu's throat bobbed, and he swallowed. "Wife, did you stick your face in a flour bin and smear it all over?"
Song Mingyue gritted her teeth. What if she just beat him up?
Zhang Xiaoniu sneakily leaned forward, hugged Song Mingyue, and rubbed his face against hers. "I'll get white with you, wife. Don't be angry."
Seeing Zhang Xiaoniu's nose and cheeks smeared with white, Song Mingyue burst into laughter and pushed him away. "You're so glib. Alright, hurry up and take a bath. The smell of alcohol on you is going to make people dizzy."
"No, no, we haven't drunk the bridal cup yet. My second sister-in-law told me we can't skip this step. We have to drink the bridal cup before we can consummate the marriage," Zhang Xiaoniu picked up the prepared wine on the table and handed a cup to Song Mingyue. "Here, wife."
Song Mingyue blushed as she took the wine from Zhang Xiaoniu. They crossed arms and drank it down in one gulp.
"Finished. Then I'm going to take a bath," Zhang Xiaoniu said with a silly grin.
Song Mingyue nodded gently. "I've put your clothes by the bed. Remember to take them with you."
After saying that, she sat in front of the dressing table and began to remove her headdress.
The mirror clearly reflected her appearance. Even with the thick layer of powder, a faint blush could be seen. A traditional bronze mirror wouldn't show such clarity. The mirror Song Mingyue was looking into was not a bronze mirror, but one that Zhang Xiaoniu had found and claimed was imported from foreign lands. Ladies of wealthy families all used mirrors like this.
"Mingyue," Zhang Xiaoniu's voice suddenly sounded.
Song Mingyue turned around and saw him holding a water bucket in one hand and a wooden basin in the other.
"Use this smaller one to wash your face, and this big one for your feet. Is this bucket of hot water enough? If not, I'll bring another one," Zhang Xiaoniu said cheerfully.
Song Mingyue was a little moved. Her parents had a very good relationship, and she often heard aunts tease her mother, saying she was lucky to marry a man who knew how to dote on her. But her father, who was seen as doting by outsiders, had never fetched foot-washing water for her mother; her mother prepared it every day.
On their first day of marriage, she hadn't served him for his bath, but he had come to serve her first.
"It's enough. Put it here, and hurry up and take your bath. The water will get cold if you delay. Oh, wait a moment, take your clothes with you!" Song Mingyue said softly.
"Alright," Zhang Xiaoniu grabbed the clothes from the bedside and happily went to take his bath.
After Song Mingyue removed all her headdresses, she scooped water to wash her face. After washing off the thick layer, she felt much more comfortable. She mixed in hot water and soaked her feet. The steam rose from her soles, and much of her fatigue dissipated.
Taking her feet out of the basin, Song Mingyue realized she had forgotten to bring the foot-drying towel close. Her feet were wet, and if she put on shoes directly, she would soak them. There was no other way but to lift her feet and gently swing them to dry faster.
When Zhang Xiaoniu came in with his wet hair, he saw Song Mingyue swinging her feet.
In the dim lamplight, her small, fair feet were adorned with water droplets, swaying back and forth, captivating to behold.
Zhang Xiaoniu unconsciously swallowed several times, feeling a surge of heat rise from his lower abdomen, making him feel quite warm.
"Why aren't you coming in? Are you standing there to catch a cold? Help me get the foot-drying towel, I forgot to bring it over," Song Mingyue called out when she saw him standing there blankly.
"Okay," Zhang Xiaoniu replied, rummaged through the chest for the foot-drying towel, and walked to the bedside in a few steps to sit down. "I'll dry them for you."
He then spread the foot-drying towel on his own lap, lifted Song Mingyue's feet, and placed them on his legs, gently wiping them. The man who was usually rough and strong was now as gentle as a little bride when drying feet.
As her feet were rubbed by the cotton cloth, Song Mingyue felt a tingling sensation. She had never felt this way when drying her own feet. She felt a little flustered and wanted to withdraw her feet. Zhang Xiaoniu sensed her intention, and his large hands immediately clasped Song Mingyue's feet, pulling them into his embrace. "Mingyue, your feet are so beautiful."
Song Mingyue's face instantly flushed, and her neck felt like it was burning. Her mind was filled with thoughts of how Zhang Xiaoniu could say such things, how embarrassing it was, and what to do.
The sight of Song Mingyue's blushing face made Zhang Xiaoniu see her as shy and charming. His beloved girl looking like this in front of him was an invitation.
Zhang Xiaoniu had often heard the rowdy men in the training grounds talk about matters between men and women. Although he hadn't experienced it, he had plenty of theoretical knowledge.
He tossed the foot-drying towel aside, lifted her feet into his arms, and his hot lips landed on Song Mingyue's delicate and moist toes.
Song Mingyue was completely stunned, her mind a blank slate. Under Zhang Xiaoniu's relentless advance, she melted like water.
The flickering red candles, the intertwined figures, the seductive murmurs, a room filled with amorousness...
The next day.
Song Mingyue opened her eyes and saw that the sky outside was bright. She was shocked. Her mother's words before she got married echoed in her mind: she was a new bride and had to behave well, not giving anyone a reason to criticize her. But on the first day of their marriage, she had slept until late morning. Looking at Zhang Xiaoniu beside her, whose breathing was deep and steady as he slept soundly, Song Mingyue felt a little annoyed. It was all his fault; he had been fooling around all night without rest. Otherwise, how could she have woken up so late?
Song Mingyue punched Zhang Xiaoniu hard, waking him up.
"Hiss..." Zhang Xiaoniu frowned. "Are you trying to murder your husband? You're hitting too hard."
"It's all your fault. Don't you see what time it is? Elder brother, second brother, second sister-in-law, and third brother must think I'm a lazy wife," Song Mingyue frowned. "On the first day of our marriage, how will I ever be able to face anyone?"
Zhang Xiaoniu chuckled. "Second sister-in-law told us that our family is different from others. Since the elders aren't here, we don't need to stick to those customs on the first day of marriage. We can pay respects to Elder Brother and the others anytime."
"But..." Song Mingyue was still a little uneasy.
"On their first day of marriage, second brother and second sister-in-law woke up even later than us. I, Elder Brother, and Third Brother had already eaten lunch when they finally got up," Zhang Xiaoniu mumbled. "My second brother said that whoever can turn a diligent wife into a lazy wife is capable. No, you should lie down quickly. Let's also get up after noon."