Transmigrated as an Unwanted Ugly Girl

Liu Xiaomei asked with a sweet smile, "Juhua, what do you think of Xiu?"

Juhua’s eyes lit up. She nodded repeatedly. "Xiu is wonderful, of course! If I were a boy, I’d marry her. She’s as gentle as the waters of the Little Qing River. Why? Has one of your brothers taken a fancy to her?" ’That Liu Sanshun is just too slow,’ she thought. ’If he waits until Shorty Zhou finds a match for Xiu, he’ll have his second regret!’

Liu Xiaomei’s dark eyes twinkled as she asked, "Do you think if my Third Brother went to propose, Uncle Shorty would agree? Would Xiu agree?"

They were in the main room on the west side of the house. Seeing that it was far too crowded inside, Juhua quickly pulled her out into the backyard. They squatted by the spinach patch. While using a branch to brush away the snow, revealing the dark green, healthy spinach beneath, she smiled at Liu Xiaomei and said, "Xiu would definitely agree. But her agreement is useless—she doesn’t have the final say in her family. As for Uncle Shorty? I think he’d probably agree too. He’s a man of principle and can’t stand idlers and smooth-talkers. He likes capable men like your Third Brother the most."

Liu Xiaomei said cheerfully, "I think so too. My father is about to go propose to Uncle Shorty."

Juhua was overjoyed to hear this. ’So Liu Sanshun has finally come to his senses.’

The day passed in a blur of laughter and activity, and before they knew it, it was afternoon. When the bright melody of suonas and the clang of gongs drifted over from the old village, the guests here poured out of the house like bees from a hive. The children, ecstatic, ran ahead, shouting "The bride is here!" and went far down the road to greet her.

Hearing the festive music grow closer, Qingmu felt his heart race, his palms grow warm, and his nerves tighten. By the time the wedding procession, draped in red and colorful silks, came into view, he found he couldn’t move his feet. He just stood there, frozen with a silly smile on his face.

Juhua looked at her brother and thought his smile seemed a bit stiff. ’He must be nervous,’ she figured. She hurried over to straighten his wedding clothes and urged him in a low voice, "Go on! Just pretend you’re leading a meeting at the workshop."

Qingmu couldn’t help but chuckle at that. He nodded, and following behind Li Gengtian, strode out of the courtyard to meet them.

What followed was a cacophony of shouts, laughter, calls, and whispered conversations in the courtyard. Amidst the deafening sound of gongs and drums, firecrackers CRACKLED. Welcoming the bride, moving the dowry, performing the wedding ceremony, and then the loud calls for serving dishes after the banquet began... it was chaos, pure and simple! The excitement was at its peak.

Mixed in with the noisy chatter were the gleeful laughs of children. They ran down from the covered porch and charged back up again. The melting snow on the roof was dripping down, forming a curtain of water. They made a game of it, competing to see who could run through the water curtain without getting a single drop on them, having the time of their lives.

In this atmosphere, Juhua felt a little dizzy and overwhelmed. She saw her parents grinning from ear to ear, apparently not caring if their cheeks got sore. After escorting the bride to the bridal chamber, Qingmu came back out to make toasts at each of the banquet tables.

He managed to steal a moment to whisper to Juhua, "Go to the room and keep your sister-in-law company. It’s too noisy out here, and it’s a good chance for you to talk with her. Grandma and the others are in there." He wasn’t nervous anymore, his face filled with pure joy.

Juhua nodded with a smile and found Liu Xiaomei—who had just been pulled aside by Laixi for a chat—and they went into the bridal chamber together.

The bridal chamber was just as lively. Laishou and Zhao Qing had taken their shoes off and were jumping up and down on the new bed, crushing the peanuts and dates scattered all over it. No one stopped them—it was auspicious for children to jump on the bed.

The new, dark red canopy bed was exquisitely classical. The headboard and back were adorned with openwork carvings of flowers and plants. A long footboard was placed in front of it, and a pale pink gauze canopy hung over the bed. The room was fully furnished with chests and cabinets—it was much more well-appointed than Big Mouth Zhao’s bridal chamber had been when he got married. However, most of the furniture was simple and practical, with no dazzling ornaments.

Juhua had helped decorate the new room.

She had originally wanted to have a more modern bed made for Qingmu. But when she looked at their house, with its blue bricks and small tiles, she realized a traditional carved canopy bed would create a more classic feel. Li the carpenter’s craftsmanship was excellent, too; the floral carvings were incredibly lifelike. So, taking the opportunity, she also had a small canopy bed made for herself. With a plain gauze canopy hung over it, she felt like a maiden from a respectable family in the old days when she slept in it at night.

Liu Yunlan, her face flushed crimson and her eyes like tranquil autumn pools, sat on the edge of the canopy bed with her feet on the footboard. Mrs. Wang and the other elderly women were chatting and laughing beside her, while the married women endlessly praised the bride’s beautiful appearance, their eyes full of awe and envy.

A woman is most beautiful on her wedding day. Even a woman of average looks will seem stunning—the extra radiance comes from happiness and bliss, something no makeup can replicate. Liu Yunlan was already a beauty, and now, as a new bride, her eyes were filled with love and her powdered cheeks were shy. She was like a flower beaded with morning dew, delicate and captivating.

Juhua’s two grand-aunts looked at their grandnephew’s wife with great satisfaction. Of course, it wasn’t just because Liu Yunlan was beautiful. At their age, having experienced so much of the world, they had a keen eye for character. They felt this new wife had a dignified and gracious air about her. The two of them held the bride’s hands, stroking them and sighing with admiration for a long time.

Even though Liu Yunlan was poised and composed, being stared at by so many people made her feel anxious. Just as her heart was pounding, she caught sight of Juhua entering the room. Her eyes instantly brightened, and she flashed a brilliant smile that dazzled everyone present.

Seeing that the room was mostly filled with close family and friends, Juhua smiled and squeezed her way forward. She stepped onto the footboard and sat down next to Liu Yunlan. Her very first question was, "Sister Yunlan, are you hungry? Should I get you something to eat?"

Liu Yunlan was taken aback. Before she could answer, all the married women burst into laughter.