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Revenge of the Present World Marriage
墨書 Inktalez
Chapter One
My name is Li Laogen, and I am sixty-two years old. I have spent my life toiling in the fields, and my greatest wish is to see my son settle down and establish a family.
My son, Li Dazhuang, is twenty-five this year. He is strong and sturdy, with thick eyebrows and bright eyes. Although he is just a farmer, he possesses a certain spirit about him. From a young age, he has been sensible and helped me with the farm work without ever complaining about hardship or fatigue. He is well-known in the village for being a dutiful son. Over the years, I have scrimped and saved to gather money for him to marry, and now that wish is finally about to come true.
Dazhuang is honest and hardworking, and he has good relationships with others. Through a matchmaker, he has become engaged to Xiu'er from the neighboring village. I have seen Xiu'er a few times; she is pretty and gentle in nature. When she stands next to Dazhuang, they make a perfect couple.
As the wedding date approaches, I am naturally happy as a father, feeling as if my heart is filled with honey. I want to host this wedding grandly so that my son can shine in front of his future wife.
However, planning a wedding is quite an undertaking; it cannot be done carelessly. It concerns my son's lifelong happiness, so I feel both excited and anxious.
"Dazhuang, we need to find someone knowledgeable to choose an auspicious date for the wedding," I said while puffing on my pipe.
"Father, I'll listen to you," Dazhuang replied with a simple smile, scratching his head.
"This matter cannot be taken lightly; we need someone reliable," I thought to myself. In our area, the most famous feng shui master is Liu Banjian.
I specifically invited Liu Banjian, the renowned feng shui master from our region, to help us select a good date. It is said that his ancestors used to serve the emperor in matters of feng shui. Although his family has declined somewhat over generations, he still possesses considerable skill. As he walked through the village stroking his beard and squinting his eyes, he carried himself with an air of authority akin to an ancient immortal.
"Mr. Liu, what an honor it is to have you here! Please come in," I quickly welcomed Liu Banjian into my home, pouring tea and offering cigarettes, afraid of neglecting him.
"Uncle Laogen, there's no need for such formality; we are all from the same village," Liu Banjian said as he accepted the teacup and took a sip, savoring it with satisfaction.
"Mr. Liu, could you take a look at which day would be suitable?" After some pleasantries, I got straight to the point and handed him the prepared almanac. Liu Banjian took it and pretended to flip through it thoughtfully while stroking his goatee as if trying to appear profound.
"Well... this..." He elongated his tone as if carefully considering his words or deliberately trying to build suspense in me, making my heart race like fifteen buckets drawing water at once.
"I think... the eighth of next month would be good; it's suitable for marriage and considered very auspicious!" Liu Banjian finally spoke up decisively.
Upon hearing this, my heart blossomed like flowers in spring; it felt as sweet as honey. The eighth—what a wonderful day! I quickly nodded in gratitude; this was a significant matter concerning my son's future.
"Then it's settled for the eighth! Thank you, Mr. Liu! Thank you!" My voice trembled with excitement as I spoke somewhat clumsily. Liu Banjian smiled broadly as he accepted my red envelope filled with money—a token of my appreciation. He weighed it in his hands; his smile grew even wider as he walked away humming a tune, exuding an air of satisfaction that was unmistakable.
I had no idea that Liu Banjian hadn’t taken it seriously at all. That day, he was drunk, his eyes glazed over and his head heavy; how could he possibly read the characters on the almanac clearly? He just blurted something out and randomly picked a date for me next month.
What I didn’t know was that he harbored resentment from our earlier argument about feng shui and deliberately chose this date to mock me. The argument had arisen when Widow Wang’s family at the east end of the village was building a new house and asked Liu Banjian to assess the feng shui. Liu Banjian suggested planting two locust trees by the entrance, claiming it would attract wealth. I immediately sensed something was off; locust trees are associated with yin energy, and planting them at the entrance would only draw negative energy into the house. I argued with Liu Banjian for a bit, but he just scowled and accused me of pretending to know what I was talking about. I didn’t think much of it afterward, never expecting that he would still hold a grudge.
Excitedly, I returned home to share this good news with Dazhuang and Xiu'er.
“Dazhuang, Xiu'er, great news! Liu Banjian picked a date for us—next month on the eighth, perfect for marriage, very auspicious!” I exclaimed as soon as I walked in.
“Really? Dad, that’s wonderful!” Dazhuang’s face lit up with joy as he hugged me tightly, his excitement akin to that of a child.
“That’s amazing, Uncle Li!” Xiu'er also beamed with happiness, her eyes sparkling with delight.
They were both thrilled and began preparing for the wedding. Dazhuang busied himself tidying up the house while Xiu'er focused on sewing her wedding dress, filling our home with a festive atmosphere.
Before we knew it, the eighth of next month arrived. Early in the morning, the sky was overcast, as if it were about to rain. Lead-gray clouds hung low overhead, and the air felt stiflingly hot, almost as if foreboding something ominous.
A sense of unease crept into my heart; something just didn’t feel right. This weather was too unusual—typically at this time of year, it would be clear skies and bright sunshine. Why was it so gloomy this year? But then I reminded myself that Liu Banjian was a well-known feng shui master in these parts; surely he wouldn’t make a mistake. After all, he was the expert; what did I know as a farmer?
“Dad, do you think it will rain today?” Dazhuang noticed the change in weather and asked worriedly.
“It shouldn’t; Liu Banjian wouldn’t get it wrong,” I replied reassuringly, though my heart still felt uneasy.
“Let’s hope so,” Dazhuang sighed and returned to his tasks.
Watching Dazhuang bustle about made my emotions swirl. My son was starting his own family; I should have been happy. Yet this weather weighed heavily on my heart like a stone, preventing me from feeling any relief.
Little did I know that halfway through the wedding ceremony, a sudden gust of wind swept through followed by torrential rain. The once-clear sky was instantly shrouded in dark clouds, and large raindrops pelted down like bullets as if heaven itself were furious and wanted to wash everything away.
The lively wedding scene descended into chaos. The beautifully decorated canopy was torn apart by the wind; tables and chairs were overturned, exquisite dishes and celebratory wine spilled everywhere. Guests panicked and scattered in all directions amidst cries and screams, turning the scene into utter disarray—there was no trace of celebration left.
What was even more terrifying was that at that moment, a branch snapped off in the wind and struck Dazhuang. The branch was as thick as a bowl and fell from a height of over ten meters, landing squarely on Dazhuang’s head.
“Dazhuang!” I cried out in agony, wanting to rush forward, but the crowd blocked my way.
I watched helplessly as my son fell into a pool of blood, unable to do anything. At that moment, my heart felt as if it were being crushed by an invisible hand, the pain nearly suffocating me.
Dazhuang, my son! He had fallen just like that, on this joyous day, amidst this sudden disaster.
My world collapsed. I felt as if all my strength had been drained away, and I slumped to the ground, tears streaming down my face like pearls from a broken string.
Xiu'er was crying uncontrollably, throwing herself over Dazhuang's body, shaking him repeatedly while calling his name. Her voice was so heart-wrenching it shattered my soul. I held my son's lifeless body, cold and devoid of breath. It felt as though my heart had been hollowed out, leaving only endless sorrow and despair.
This sudden downpour took away my son and also my hope. How could a joyous occasion turn into a funeral? Why did this happen?
I locked myself in the house, refusing to eat or drink, silent as a corpse. All day long, I sat there dazed, staring out the window with vacant eyes, devoid of any life.
I hated myself for not protecting my son, for believing Liu Banjian's words. If I hadn't asked him to choose a date, if I hadn't picked the eighth day of the month, my son would still be alive!
I couldn't go on living; I wanted to join my son. If I died too, I could accompany him so he wouldn't be alone.
Just when I was engulfed in despair, an elderly voice suddenly came from outside the door.
“Brother Li, open the door! It's Lao Liu.”
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