Chapter 5

“Then I’ll say it,”

“Go on.”

“This married couple: the man’s name is Liu Changsheng, the woman’s name is Liu Meijuan.”

“What?” Everyone in the room shouted at once. “No, no.” Liu Meijuan shook her head. “Absurd, absurd. Fourth Sister-in-law, what nonsense are you talking? ” Liu Changsheng pointed at Fourth Aunt, his finger trembling.

Su Fuxuan and Liu Fen both pressed a hand to their foreheads, their heads aching.

Su Hui and Liu Yiqiang both stood up and were about to leave.

“What are you all doing! Xiaohui, Xiaoqiang, sit down. Listen to me.”

Su Hui and Liu Yiqiang pouted and sat back down.

“You don’t have to rush. First look at the conditions Xiaohui brought up. What exactly doesn’t fit for Changsheng and Meijuan? First, the four of you all know each other, right? You’re not strangers, right? The four of you are two married couples, right? In good health, that’s correct, isn’t it? Changsheng and Meijuan have had children, right? Two children, one son and one daughter, both healthy, right? That’s also correct, isn’t it? Not poor households, right? Not old men and old women, right? Changsheng’s age, if you put him in the city, is still the prime of life, and Changsheng is the village head and the Liu clan elder. Once Second Uncle steps down, Changsheng will be the Liu clan chief. Aren’t all of these conditions met? Tell me, which part doesn’t meet the requirements?”

“They, they’re Yiqiang’s parents. That alone makes it not work.”

“Xiaohui, that’s a little unreasonable. In our village, when it comes to this kind of thing, the first thing we consider isn’t kinship. It’s fertility. Fertility is the most important thing. Everything else is secondary.”

“But Yiqiang and his mother—that’s incest.”

“Xiaohui, then when siblings swap partners, isn’t that incest too? Not to mention anything far away, by seniority I’m Xiaoqiang’s aunt, but Fourth Aunt has also borrowed Xiaoqiang before, hasn’t she? And Meijuan and your Second Great-Grandfather, that was a generation gap too. Back then Changsheng even agreed to Second Uncle and lent Meijuan to your Second Great-Grandfather, my Second Uncle, didn’t he? To speak further out, eighty percent of the whole village has the surname Liu. Which pair doesn’t have a little kinship between them? Xiaohui, tell me, does what I’m saying make sense?”

“I... I...”

“I disagree.” Liu Yiqiang spoke up to save Su Hui. “Xiaoqiang, you weren’t saying that just now. You said it was up to Xiaohui.”

“We also disagree.” Liu Fen said.

“Dear sister-in-law, Xiaohui has already married into our village. From now on we’re one family. Family members are supposed to understand and respect one another, and that includes our village’s customs and traditions. Dear sister-in-law, am I wrong?”

“But this is the dregs of society.”

“Dear sister-in-law, what exists has its reasons. Whether it’s dregs or not, I don’t know. I only know this is an established custom. I may not have read much, but I still know that when people don’t report something, the authorities don’t come looking into it. Besides, do you really think the government doesn’t know about our village’s custom? It’s been so many years since liberation. Has anyone ever come to regulate it? And I believe you city folks have at least heard something about this custom in our village, otherwise you wouldn’t have followed us here today.” As she finished speaking, Fourth Aunt turned her gaze toward Liu Changsheng and Liu Meijuan.

Liu Changsheng slapped his thigh. “Then let’s do it this way, then. Yiqiang’s mother, what do you think?”

“Ah, fine. It’s just that on the outside we still need to say Yiqiang is filial. He’s not doing this for the sake of having a child, just purely to repay his parents for raising him. That sounds better when people hear it.”

“Xiaohui, now it’s your turn. You promised, remember?”

Su Hui lowered her head, clutching her hair, shaking fiercely. “Ah...” She shouted once. “Fine, I agree. But how long we swap for is up to me. The moment I say we’re not swapping anymore, we stop.”

Liu Changsheng and Liu Meijuan looked at each other. “All right, we agree.”

“Now isn’t this a happy ending? Since everyone agrees, let’s follow the custom.”

“Mm, let’s follow the custom,” Liu Meijuan agreed.

“What custom?”

“It’s nothing much. The four of you just need to exchange keepsakes.”

“What keepsakes?”

“Xiaoqiang takes off your underwear, you take off Xiaoqiang’s underwear, then Xiaoqiang gives your underwear to Changsheng, and you give Xiaoqiang’s underwear to Meijuan. The other way around works too.”

“Here?”

“Yes, of course here. Xiaoqiang, get moving.”

Back in the house, Liu Yiqiang had no say in anything. He could only walk to Su Hui’s side, squat down, reach into the skirt of her dress, and pull off her panties.

Then he stood up and slipped his hand in from the neckline of Su Hui’s off-the-shoulder dress to her back, unfastening her strapless bra.

Liu Yiqiang was secretly relieved that Su Hui was wearing an off-the-shoulder dress today. Otherwise, she would have had to strip naked in front of everyone.

Liu Yiqiang held Su Hui’s underwear, the white lace set still warm from her body, and walked over to Liu Changsheng, presenting it to his father with both hands.

Liu Changsheng took it, a little excited.

Liu Yiqiang returned to Su Hui’s side. “Xiaohui, take Xiaoqiang’s underwear off.” Fourth Aunt urged the dazed Xiaohui.

Su Hui looked at Liu Yiqiang reluctantly. Liu Yiqiang touched her face. “It’s fine. We’re still family, aren’t we?”

“But...”

“You’re not losing out, and I believe Dad will treat you well. Help me take off my underwear.” Liu Yiqiang undid his belt himself. Su Hui closed her eyes and pulled down Liu Yiqiang’s pants. Liu Yiqiang’s cock was slightly hard, and no one knew whether it was because he was excited that his own mother was about to become his wife, or because the wife he had slept with for years was about to become his mother.

It might also have been that, being stripped in front of everyone, his cock had simply grown stiff from embarrassment.

After Su Hui took off Liu Yiqiang’s underwear, he hurriedly pulled his trousers back up, then helped Su Hui take off the T-shirt she was wearing.

While Liu Yiqiang and Su Hui were still reluctant to let go of each other, over on the other side Liu Changsheng and Liu Meijuan had already finished helping each other off with their underwear.

Su Hui took Liu Yiqiang’s underwear and T-shirt and handed them to Liu Meijuan. Liu Meijuan handed Liu Changsheng’s underwear to Su Hui, and then Liu Changsheng personally placed Liu Meijuan’s underwear into Liu Yiqiang’s hands.

“All right, both sides have formally agreed to the bride exchange.” After Fourth Aunt said this, Liu Changsheng took Su Hui’s underwear and respectfully placed it on the ancestral altar.

Liu Yiqiang likewise placed Liu Meijuan’s panties to the right of Su Hui’s underwear.

“Changsheng, I think we might as well choose today since we’re already here. Why not have you exchange formally tonight? Once you and Xiaohui complete the bridal chamber, it’ll be easier for us to address things properly.”

“Tonight? Isn’t that too rushed?” Liu Fen, who had not spoken for a while, finally said. Looking at how listless Su Hui was, she felt sorry for her daughter.

“Dear sister-in-law, it’s not rushed. Handling this isn’t like arranging a wedding; it’s simple. You can just stay home and keep Xiaohui company. Tonight we’ll get it done, and everything will be complete and proper.”

“Meijuan, go change your clothes. We’ll head into town to buy the things we need for tonight. Changsheng, go tell some people to come over for dinner tonight. Xiaoqiang, you can slaughter a few chickens. As for the braised pork, tofu balls, and egg dumplings, your dad already made those last night. Once Meijuan and I get back from buying things, I’ll call a few women over and we’ll have everything arranged in a couple of moves.”

With that, Fourth Aunt pushed Meijuan to change clothes, and then the two of them rode an electric scooter out.

Su Hui and Liu Fen returned to the room on the third floor.

“Mom, how did it end up like this?”

“I didn’t know they still had such a custom. At first I thought as long as you said you wanted to find someone you knew, we could stall it off. Sigh, I really didn’t know.”

“What do we do now?”

“Xiaohui, what else can we do now, unless you divorce Xiaoqiang.”

“But I don’t want to divorce him.”

“Then follow their custom. Besides, didn’t you say the length of the swap is up to you? At worst, once you get pregnant, swap back.”

“What if he can’t get anyone pregnant?”

“If he can’t, you can still swap back. The whole point of your exchange was to have a child anyway. If he can’t have children, then there’s even less reason not to switch back, isn’t there? All right, since it’s come to this, cheer up. Tonight you’re a bride again.”

“Mom...”

“All right, be happy. Don’t men always say they’re a groom every night? Women can be brides every night too.”

“Mom, do you think women can separate sex from love?”

“I don’t know about other people, but your mom can’t do it.”

“Can women be as broad-minded as men?”

“Why not? Liking someone and sleeping with him, isn’t that a wonderful thing?”

“Mom, do you love that uncle?”

“I did once. I don’t now, so I broke it off with him.”

“Then do you still love Dad?”

“Of course. Otherwise why would I still be with him now? I’ve always loved your dad. Even back then, while I was with him, I still loved your dad.” When Liu Fen said this, her face was full of tenderness.

“I’m so envious of you, Mom.”

“Envious of what?”

“That you can still love another man while loving Dad.”

“You can too, silly girl.”

“How could I?”

“It’s just like when you’re with Xiaoqiang. Go and discover more of a man’s strengths and look at fewer of his flaws. Understand men, and naturally you’ll receive more love.”

“That sounds so profound. It feels really hard.”

“It’s not hard. For example, starting now, you need to make yourself happy, enjoy tonight properly, and let yourself be a graceful, beautiful bride.”

“But I can’t be happy. When Yiqiang and I got married, there wasn’t any ceremony at all. And tonight...”

“Then think of it this way. Didn’t your Fourth Aunt just say that after the bridal chamber you have to change how you address each other? Then doesn’t that mean Xiaoqiang will have to call you Mom?”

“How could that be?”

“Bride exchange, remember? You’ve already consummated things with Xiaoqiang’s father, and you’ve swapped brides. Doesn’t that make you Xiaoqiang’s father’s wife? Then shouldn’t he call you Mom?”

“Right. That means I don’t even have to have a child, and I’ll already have a grown son. Hahaha.”

“See? You’re not losing out, are you?”

“Looks like it really is that way.”

“Feeling better now?”

“Seems a little better.”

“Then come walk around the village with Mom.”

“Okay. Oh, but I need to put my underwear back on first. Mom, sneak to your car and bring my suitcase up.”

“You, huh. Did you already guess it would turn out like this? Otherwise why would you secretly prepare clothes and not let Xiaoqiang know?”

“I just didn’t want Xiaoqiang to overthink it. Besides, it’s always good to be prepared. If I hadn’t prepared anything, wouldn’t I be embarrassed right now? Not to mention who knows what other rituals they still have tonight.”

“Fine, I can’t beat you. Wait here.”

Inside the bathroom, Su Hui washed her face and touched up her makeup a little. Not long after, Liu Fen knocked and came into the room again. Seeing her empty-handed, Su Hui asked, “Didn’t I ask you to help carry the suitcase?”

“You think a weak woman like me could carry your suitcase?”

“Couldn’t you have asked Dad to carry it?”

“I don’t know where he wandered off to.”

“Then what do we do now?”

“Don’t worry. I had your future groom take it to his room. Here, this is your underwear.” Liu Fen took it out of her handbag and handed it to Su Hui.

After changing, Su Hui went downstairs hand in hand with Liu Fen. Some villagers were already there helping out. Everyone who saw her, whether they knew her or not, smiled at Su Hui. Their smiles were so sincere, with not the slightest hint of mockery.

Liu Yiqiang was standing in front of the ancestral altar, arranging fruit on the offering table. Su Hui walked over naturally. “Husband, need help?”

“Ah... oh, no need, no need.” Liu Yiqiang froze for a moment, then hurriedly reacted and answered. “How many tables are we setting up at home tonight?”

“This doesn’t need too many. My dad is from the senior generation, and the younger generation isn’t qualified to sit at the table. Three tables is enough.”

“Hey, let me ask you, why did you just put our underwear on the ancestral altar?”

“Oh, it’s just to inform the ancestors.”

“Then why was my underwear placed farther inside, while your mom’s was more toward the outside?”

“Because you’re the senior one, so you go in front.”

“Darling, later you should buy your mom some pretty underwear. Look how plain your mom’s underwear is.”

“Oh, oh, I will.” As Liu Yiqiang spoke with Su Hui, his cock was rock hard, pressed against his lower abdomen. Since he hadn’t had time to put on underwear, there was already a wet patch showing on the front of his trousers near the zipper.

“If there’s nothing for me to do, I’ll take my mom for a walk outside.”

“Go ahead, go ahead.” Liu Yiqiang had never wanted to get away from Su Hui as badly as he did today. He didn’t want her to see his disgraceful state.

Su Hui walked to the doorway. Liu Fen was watching Fourth Aunt direct a few young people as they helped hang red lanterns. A strip of yellow cloth and a strip of red cloth had been tied together in the middle like a flower and hung above the door.

When Fourth Aunt saw Su Hui come out, she smiled and said, “Xiaohui, why aren’t you resting a bit?”

“Oh, I can’t sleep anyway. I brought my mom out for a walk. What’s all this for?”

Fourth Aunt stood aside with Su Hui and Liu Fen and quietly explained that hanging red lanterns of course meant the homeowner had a happy occasion. The two long cloth strips above the doorway, one yellow and one red, represented the homeowner’s own bride exchange.

“Then do the borrowed-wife and borrowed-womb cases not hang anything?” Su Hui asked.

“They do, but only red cloth, and the middle isn’t tied into a flower.” Fourth Aunt explained. “That way, the whole village can tell at a glance what kind of happy event the household is holding. Oh, right, Xiaohui, do you have new red underwear?”

“Yes. Why?”

“Well, by our custom, the bride tonight can’t wear old underwear. If you don’t have any, I’d have to go buy you a set.”

“No need, no need, I have some. Oh, so it’s just underwear?”

“Mm-hmm. Back when we were poor here, only a major wedding required everything to be new inside and out. For a night like tonight, only the inner layer needs to be new.”

“Oh, then does my mom have hers?”

“She does, she does. We bought it together when we were out buying things just now.”

“Fourth Aunt, are there any other customs or rules?”

“Xiaohui, you don’t need to memorize them. When the matchmaker comes to accompany you later, just follow along.”

“Oh.”

The three of them chatted a while longer. Fourth Aunt then had to go inside and finish arranging the bridal chamber, so Su Hui and Liu Fen wandered around the village on their own. Before they parted, Fourth Aunt specifically reminded Xiaohui to keep an eye on the time and come back around 4:30 to wash up, change clothes, and so on.

By sunset, it was time to prepare for the ceremony.

“What, Xiaohui’s already looking forward to tonight?” After Fourth Aunt went into the house, Liu Fen smiled at Su Hui.

“Where is that coming from? I’m just curious.”

“It’s not strange to look forward to it. Every girl hopes for a wedding of her own.”

“Sigh, pity the groom isn’t Yiqiang.”

“Even if the groom isn’t Yiqiang, the son is Yiqiang.” Liu Fen laughed.

“Mom... you’re laughing at me again...” Su Hui’s heart sank a little again. “Mom, do you think if I had insisted back then on getting a wedding from Yiqiang, things wouldn’t have turned out like this? Yiqiang married me without spending any money. Do you think it was too easy to get, so he didn’t cherish it?”

“Xiaohui, don’t think like that. I can tell Xiaoqiang loves you very much. If you didn’t ask him for a wedding back then, that was because you loved him and understood him.”

“Mom, why did you and Dad agree to our bare-bones marriage back then?”

“Xiaohui, the reason we agreed back then was that at that time there was only Xiaoqiang in your eyes. Your eyes couldn’t take in anyone or anything else. Your dad and I only have you as our daughter. We were marrying off a daughter, not selling one. It didn’t matter what kind of family or background your son-in-law had, because your dad and I could prepare all of that for you.”

“Mom, why didn’t you and Dad have two children back then?”

“That was when family planning was being checked so strictly. Besides, you alone already took up so much of my time. If there had been another one, how would your mom have had time to fall in love? Then your mom would definitely look like an old maid by now.”

“Mom, you’re amazing. That’s the first time I’ve heard someone describe cheating in such a refreshingly elegant way.”

“Of course. Xiaohui, even if a woman is a slut, she’s only a slut in the eyes of one man or a few men. A slut must never be the way everyone talks about her.”

“I understand, Mom.”

“Look, it’s almost time. Let’s go back, and don’t ruin the good hour for my precious daughter.”

“Mom, you’re teasing me again.”

“All right, all right, I won’t tease you anymore. Xiaohui, no matter who you’re with, Mom just wants you to be happy.”

“You’re awful, Mom. You always try to make me cry.”

“Yes, yes, Mom shouldn’t tease you. Mom wants you to go into the bridal chamber happy and beautiful.”