Madam Chen was charmed by the plump woman's appearance. They had known each other since their maiden days, and were, in fact, close confidantes. Their husbands later became business partners, and thus their relationship remained very cordial.
"How can you be so sure it's the smell of food? Could it be the scent of a new perfume used by one of the ladies, and you, being a glutton, mistook it?" Madam Chen teased the plump woman, covering her mouth with a handkerchief.
"Impossible! My nose is renowned, this smell is definitely delicious food, I couldn't possibly mistake it!" the plump woman replied with unwavering certainty, twitching her nose again to sniff. Her nose was a treasure, how could it possibly be wrong?
The plump woman twitched her round little nose, moving back and forth in the room. Hmm! The scent was strongest near the table, what else could it be but food?
Seeing the plump woman's actions, everyone chuckled. It was no wonder, as their family ran a restaurant; their noses were far more sensitive than others.
Looking at her friend's demeanor, Madam Chen found herself amused and exasperated. However, since she was so eager to know, there was no reason for her to refuse. It was just food from their own small kitchen, so she didn't think there was anything special about it.
Madam Chen looked up at Granny Xi, who had been attending to Chen Wenyi. "Why don't you list all the dishes from the young lady's wedding feast to Madam Jin? If she doesn't find this dish, she might not be able to sleep tonight."
"Hahahaha..."
"Hahahaha..."
The room erupted in another wave of female laughter, but Madam Jin felt no embarrassment. Her sense of smell was already very keen, and what was rare was that she also possessed a remarkable palate.
It was known that a significant portion of their family's restaurant success was thanks to Madam Jin's tongue and nose, as well as her sensitivity to unique aromas!
Granny Xi curtsied to Madam Chen and then headed to the servants' quarters behind the courtyard.
The dishes served at noon were easy to recall, and since the young lady and Miss Su had barely touched their food, all the dishes remained intact.
The young lady had said she would bestow the dishes upon them, and that Granny Xi should have them and the maids eat together after the wedding banquet.
As Granny Xi left, the others turned their attention back to the bride, Chen Wenyi, and the mysterious, young elder from the groom's side.
The woman stood tall and graceful beside the bridal bed, her posture erect and her bearing elegant. Although her attire was relatively simple, anyone with an eye for quality would know that her clothes were far from cheap.
The material was light and fluid, and even the slightest breeze would cause her hem to flutter, giving her a lively and playful look, radiating the aura of a youthful maiden.
Though the color of the dress was not vibrant, it was a hazy shade that made Su Muqing's already fair skin appear almost translucent, as if emitting light.
Even though the ladies could not see Su Muqing's face, her figure and movements alone were enough to capture attention. One had to admit, this woman's aura was truly exceptional!
"Sui Sui, the room is filled with aunties familiar to you since childhood. You can put down the feather fan now. They won't laugh at you," Madam Chen said with a smile to Chen Wenyi.
She herself had gone through the stage of being a maiden, so she understood the ordeal of the "sitting room" (a custom where the bride holds a fan for a period) and worried that her daughter's arm would ache from holding it for too long.
However, upon entering, she realized her worries were unnecessary. Her daughter was behaving admirably today, making Madam Chen's concern about her being ridiculed seem unfounded.
Therefore, Madam Chen had invited only a few close confidantes and their daughters into the bridal chamber. After all, these young ladies were on good terms with Chen Wenyi in private.
Secondly, she brought so many people because she had another intention. Her daughter's makeup today was so stunning, and Madam Chen was eager to share it with her friends, allowing them to envy her.
Upon hearing Madam Chen's words, Chen Wenyi breathed a sigh of relief. They had finally remembered her. If they hadn't prompted her soon, she feared her arm would become permanently fixed.
Although Chen Wenyi was tired from holding the fan, she maintained her composure. She slowly lowered her arm, then gently raised her head, offering everyone a faint smile.
A breathtakingly beautiful young face suddenly appeared in their view, and the room fell silent.
"Hiss~"
"Hiss~"
"This~"
"Oh my heavens~"
Upon seeing Chen Wenyi's exquisite face, everyone except Madam Chen and Su Muqing, who had seen her that morning, widened their eyes and covered their mouths, standing frozen as if struck by magic. They were unable to utter a coherent sentence for a long time.
"Is this... is this really an immortal descending to earth?"
"Is... is she really that little Sui Sui from the Chen family?"
Unsure who broke the silence first, someone muttered to themselves, but their eyes remained fixed on Chen Wenyi's face, even though the latter half of their statement was a question.
"Why is her bridal makeup like this? This, this..." The woman wanted to say it didn't adhere to tradition, but in front of Madam Chen, she refrained from speaking. However, she had to admit in her heart that this... this was simply too beautiful!
Many of the women in the hall shared the same thought; this makeup not only stunned them but also truly impressed them.
"But why is the bridal makeup done this way, it's so different from everyone else..."
"She really looks good like this! So that's how bridal makeup can be done!" These were all married women, and naturally, they had all worn the same uniform bridal makeup.
In fact, in their hearts, they felt that their own bridal makeup when they got married was quite ugly. Once applied, they couldn't even speak, and any slight movement would cause the powder on their faces to fall off like dandruff. It was as if they were kneading dough.
If the wedding took place in the height of summer, the bride would suffer even more. It was already hot, and yet another thick layer of makeup was applied to their faces.
Moreover, this heavy makeup wouldn't last long. It was bad enough if it smudged, but the most annoying part was that it would cake and clump on the face, making even the most beautiful woman look indescribably unsightly.
Thinking back, one could only wonder what the husbands felt when they happily lifted the veil, only to see such a ghastly face.
If the groom's health was somewhat delicate, he might faint on the spot.
If it was a wedding arranged specifically for good luck for a sick groom, it was highly possible that the groom would be sent away directly!