Something happened. This is not going to be bloody.

Chapter 400: Miss Wu - After the Wedding

Zhang Shouhe was a person deeply influenced by Western culture. He was considered one of the few progressive young people in the county. He was the first person in the family to cut off his braids and cut his hair short. He tried hard to fight with his father to change the family's old system. He studied Western medicine and went to work in the county hospital. However, he could not fight his father on marriage. Marrying the daughter of the Wu family was a consideration between the two families. Even if he didn't want to, he could not escape the family mission.

After enjoying the support and protection of the family, it is difficult to speak up and avoid free love and free marriage.

Zhou Leng sat in the bridal chamber. She took off her veil and looked around. The room was filled with her dowry furniture, and the overall look did not seem unfamiliar.

People often say that young couples will be companions in old age, but now this young couple seemed strange and polite when they met for the first time.

Zhang Shouhe felt that this sixteen-year-old wife seemed completely different from what he knew. She had a beautiful face, a tall figure, and excellent complexion. It seemed that her six pulses were in harmony and her energy was as strong as an ox. This newlywed wife was different from many people he had met. She was too healthy, too confident, and her eyes were calm and restrained. She was different from the rumors and even more different from the description of her mother. Such an outstanding person even made him panic. He was afraid that this beautiful flower would wither in this decayed courtyard and be shattered in this chaotic era.

Zhou Leng felt that the other party was just as she imagined. She had heard her brother and father talk about Zhang Shouhe, and now she saw that he was indeed serious. His eyes were bright, his features were regular, he was about 1.73 meters tall, slightly plump, with a square face and big eyes. He had a smile on his face but he didn't look approachable, and his eyes always seemed to be scrutinizing and observing.

"Are you used to the sudden change of location?"

The man's warm and familiar greeting broke the awkward atmosphere.

"It's ok. I'm hungry. Can someone bring me something to eat?"

"I'll go get it. We don't have anyone to serve in our courtyard."

The two had a familiar conversation, without any shyness or embarrassment.

Zhang Shouhe came back soon with an iron lunch box in his hand and put it on the table. Zhou Leng opened it and saw that it was dumplings, which was a rare delicacy.

Zhou Leng ate quietly.

Zhang Shouhe sat on the other side of the table and introduced the situation at home:

"There are no servant girls in the courtyard where we live. We are all in charge of our own families. There is a small kitchen in the courtyard. If you are not used to it, you can go to the big kitchen to get food. The cooking skills of the cooks in the big kitchen are average. The food is not exquisite and there is no meat."

Zhang Shouhe was afraid that his newly-wed wife would get used to being a maid at home, so he said in such a tactful way that she could go to the big kitchen to get the food.

"Did you live in this yard alone before?"

"I just moved in recently. I used to live in the wing of my parents' compound."

After Zhou Leng finished her meal, she took her clothes to the side room, washed herself briefly, and returned to the bedroom. After all, it was her wedding night, and she was prepared for this kind of thing.

Zhang Shouhe also washed up and returned to the room. The two of them lay on the bed, with a white quilt, a bright red mandarin duck quilt cover, a burning red candle, and their breathing could be heard clearly.

Zhang Shouhe was a little nervous. He really couldn't get physical with her the first time they met, but he was also afraid that if he did nothing, the other party would misunderstand him. He hesitated and said:

"You are different from what I imagined. I...I think you should understand me. You are too young and your body is not fully developed yet. It is not good to have sex too early, so..."

Zhou Leng was very surprised. If the other party really thought so about this matter, then he was truly a rare man with excellent character.

Sometimes, love or not is not that important. If there is no love, what matters most is character and virtue.

"I have read books and some foreign stories in translation. Thank you for your understanding. You are just as I imagined, kind and honest, with a cold face but a warm heart."

Zhang Shouhe's eyes were filled with smiles, he thought everything was fine.

In fact, Wu Chenmin's appearance is outstanding. After Zhou Leng came, she took care of her body and made her complexion rosy and fair. She didn't expect that on the wedding night, the two of them would just chat under the quilt.

The next day, the newlyweds went to the main courtyard to have breakfast. Because there was a new person in the family, everyone was especially present.

There was one table for men, one table for women, and one table for children. I saw them all yesterday, but there were too many people and too much chatter at the wedding, so I'll take a closer look and talk about it today.

The master of the Zhang family has a wife and a concubine, but nowadays they are no longer called concubines. Some people outside call them concubines, and some people also call them junior wives because they marry younger wives.

The Zhang family has five sons and three daughters. The eldest son, the eldest daughter, the second son and Zhang Shouhe were born to the first wife, and the rest were born to the second wife. The three daughters are all married, and now only the fifth son who is studying abroad is still unmarried. The others have already started families.

You don't need to look at such a large family to know that there are many conflicts. Although they appear harmonious on the surface, fortunately this breakfast is peaceful and warm.

In Zhou Leng's hands, the dowry prepared by the Wu family was mostly jewelry, gold and silver, and the rest were some practical furniture items.

Three days later, the Wu family welcomed them warmly. Compared with the Zhang family, the Wu family's simple population made Zhang Shouhe uncomfortable.

Life after marriage was dull and boring. Zhang Shouhe went to work during the day, and Zhou Leng stayed alone in the yard reading and cooking. Occasionally, she was asked by her mother-in-law to do needlework. She lived the stable life that women of this era longed for.

Two months after the marriage, the Zhang family received a letter from Zhang Shouyi, who was studying in Taipei. The sender was Zhang Shouyi, but the writer was actually his teacher. The general content of the letter was that Zhang Shouyi organized his classmates to march in protest and was detained by government troops. The school's negotiations were fruitless and now they are informing his family.

Zhang Shouhe was the only one in the Zhang family who had lived in Taipei for a few years, so he became the only person to check out the matter.

In the evening, Zhou Leng watched the man pack his luggage, and she said, "I want to go to Taipei with you."

Zhang Shouhe frowned slightly. After two months of contact, he knew that the other party was not the kind of person who would make trouble for no reason.

"Why? This trip isn't an easy one."

"I have practiced martial arts and can protect you. I heard from my mother that my third uncle came to Taipei half a month ago. If you are desperate, I will go to my third aunt's house to ask if I can use her connections."

"Have you ever practiced boxing?"

"Well, I practiced secretly, and my family didn't know."

After careful consideration, Zhang Shouhe agreed to let Zhou Leng go with him.

The next day, when the two of them went out, the eldest wife pulled Zhou Leng and whispered, "Xiao Min, don't ask your third aunt for this matter. This is a man-made disaster. Don't force it."

The sound was so quiet that only the two of them knew it.

Zhou Leng nodded slightly.

The first wife had always secretly resented the second wife and her children, but she showed concern and harmony in front of others. However, Zhou Leng could truly feel the disgust at this moment.

The eldest wife patted her daughter-in-law's hand gently. She was very satisfied with this daughter-in-law. She was well-matched with her, had a pretty face, and was virtuous and taciturn.

The two of them went out for business. Zhang Shouhe wore a somewhat worn blue gown, and Zhou Leng wore a cheongsam with wide sleeves. This cheongsam was not trimmed at the waist, but was loose and comfortable, and did not attract attention.

The two of them carried cloth bags and boarded the train to Taipei.