Chapter 445: Should We Go Easy?

No wonder Lin Siping was this angry?

He was not angry at his father-in-law, and even less so at the brother-in-law and brother-in-law-to-be before him, but at these few best men who had been specially invited to help him. To make friends and end up with a group of ghosts, one didn't know whether to say Lin Siping's luck was good or bad?

Gu Ming blinked his eyes: Then what should we do now? How about the two of us drink?

Lin Sicheng shook his head: It's not that we can't drink. Even if these four bastards don't help, at worst, he and Gu Ming will just have to vomit a few more times.

But the problem is, what if there are games like this later on?

Need to think of a trick.

Turning the thought over, Lin Sicheng leaned toward the table. When he was still a step away, the Tea Offering Official stopped him: "Brother, you're breaking the rules if you go any further." "Oh." Lin Sicheng pretended not to understand, "There are rules?"

"Of course!" The cousin offering tea nodded, "You cannot touch the table; you must stand a meter away. No matter who picks, just point to whichever cup you choose, and we will bring it over for you."

This was to prevent the best men from playing dirty and intentionally knocking the table over.

But it was useless: if you knock over one table, there are seventeen more behind it.

"Understood!" Lin Sicheng smiled, "Big Brother, I won't get close, is it alright if I just take a look from afar for two rounds?"

Take a look from afar for two rounds... what use is that?

Whether it's water or liquor, both are transparent, and the cups have no markings. What could one possibly tell from this?

Pondering this, the Tea Offering Official gestured: "You may!"

Lin Sicheng said thank you and circled the liquor table once.

As he circled, he gently twitched his nose.

Perhaps because of his rebirth, his body was more robust than in his previous life, and consequently, his senses were also more acute. Even though he was standing a meter away, Lin Sicheng could still clearly smell the unique fragrance of the sauce-aroma liquor and the scent of artificial flavoring.

But it was useless: the cups were right next to each other, the distance between them was too short, and he was standing too far away; he had no way to distinguish which cup had no flavoring and which one did. It seemed this method wouldn't work, which made things a bit difficult.

Then what other tricks could there be?

Lin Sicheng frowned slightly, circled around once, then circled again.

Several young men from the bride's side exchanged glances, wondering if Lin Sicheng was about to pull some crooked trick.

Just as they were secretly on guard, Lin Sicheng suddenly stopped, a flash of light in his eyes: "Big Brother, does this liquor have to be picked by the groom?" "That doesn't matter, anyone can pick! But there is one point: anyone can drink it, except for the new groom: it's a joyous day, we can't let him enter the bridal chamber drunk, right?"

The Tea Offering Official smiled, "It's just for fun, we never intended to make things hard for anyone!"

Before he finished speaking, a sneer came from behind: "You call this not making things hard for people? You are intentionally messing with us!"

Everyone paused and looked back: the one speaking was one of the best men, standing right next to Lin Siping. Whether he was faking it or not, his face showed a look of righteous indignation and resentment.

Lin Siping's face turned black instantly, and he tried hard to squeeze a smile at the Tea Offering Official: "Big Brother, he is drunk..."

"Lin Siping, I'm not drunk!" The best man stiffened his neck and pointed at the liquor table, "If you don't believe me, ask the brothers, is this not messing with people?" The three best men actually nodded in unison.

Lin Siping's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot, and Gu Ming clenched his fists: Are these dog-days trying to stir up trouble just for the sake of watching the show?

Today is for a wedding, not for seeking revenge, what kind of trouble are you fucking looking for?

And you call yourselves best men... fuck your mother...

Just as he was about to say something, Lin Sicheng waved his hand and looked at the best man: "Brother is from Chengjiang?"

The best man was stunned: "Yes!"

"First time attending a wedding in the Northwest?"

The best man nodded again: "Yes!"

"No wonder?" Lin Sicheng smiled and looked at the Tea Offering Official again, "Big Brother, is the Town Guard here?"

Not knowing what he meant, the Tea Offering Official pointed upward: "Of course he is, he's Jiajia's second uncle, he's upstairs drinking tea with the Gift Pressing Official right now!" "Then is the Precept Ruler there?" Lin Sicheng gestured, "It doesn't have to be a ruler, it could be a stick with Red Silk tied to it!" The Tea Offering Official was stunned: they actually did have one.

It had been held in Jiajia's second uncle's hand, but after the wedding party arrived, he had placed it on the gift table while he went up to drink tea with the Gift Pressing Official. The Tea Offering Official turned back and looked at a round table against the wall: piled on the table were the return gifts from the bride's side, and lying across the top of the gifts was an elm stick about the thickness of an egg and four feet long, with Red Silk tied to it.

Lin Sicheng followed his gaze and cupped his hands toward the few young people sitting at the round table cracking melon seeds: "Are these gentlemen the Deputy Makeup Official and the Guards?" The few young men were stunned: they knew about the Deputy Makeup Official; in the old society, they were the clansmen responsible for escorting the dowry when a bride married.

Nowadays, there is no need for escorting, but they have to put in the labor: the air conditioners, refrigerators, and other large items of the bride's dowry all have to be carried upstairs by them.

But what are the Guards for?

Just as they were suspicious, the Tea Offering Official praised: "Brother is so young, yet you are actually an expert in these customs?"

"I wouldn't call myself an expert, I've just heard the elders talk about it a little!" Lin Sicheng smiled, "Big Brother, I must ask: for today's Six-Color Groom, must there be exactly six?"

The six colors refer to the Six Rites, and also to red, blue, yellow, brown, cyan, and black.

In ancient times, besides presenting gifts and protecting the bride and groom, the Six-Color Grooms also had to drink on their behalf, break formations, pass literary and martial tests, and sometimes even take a beating. The Tea Offering Official looked strange: since you know about the Six-Color Grooms, if it's not six, how many could it be?

Just as this thought crossed his mind, he paused again and said "Oh": something didn't seem right?

The Tea Offering Official subconsciously turned back, looked at the Red Silk Precept Ruler on the gift table, then looked at the circle of young men cracking melon seeds around the table. Afterward, he looked at the four best men beside Lin Siping, then at Lin Sicheng, and a flash of light crossed his eyes: This kid is something, isn't he? Praising him in his heart, the Tea Offering Official nodded: "An even number is fine!"

Lin Sicheng confirmed again: "Is two okay?"

"Of course!"

Upon hearing "two," the Tea Offering Official was even more certain. A meaningful smile appeared on his face, and he beckoned behind him, "Xiaofeng, you guys come over, and bring the Precept Ruler too!"

The few young men cracking melon seeds paused, stood up, and walked over.

The one who looked slightly more mature carried the wooden stick.

Exchanging a look with the Tea Offering Official, they knew the rest didn't need to be said; they all understood. Lin Sicheng turned back and cupped his hands toward the four best men: "You brothers have taken the lead, I imagine you've had a bit too much to drink, go to the side and rest for a while!"

The few best men were confused: what does this person mean?

Are we not drinking the roadblock liquor anymore, and not passing the remaining hurdles?

Or does it mean the wedding isn't happening today?

Seeing the few best men standing still, the Tea Offering Official took the Precept Ruler and tapped it on the ground twice: "Come on, brothers, the Red Groom (leader of the grooms) has spoken: help the Groom's attendants move along!"

The few young men were stunned at first, but seeing the Tea Offering Official wink, they began to roll up their sleeves with laughter: "Brothers, under the Groom, the Red Groom is the highest authority: since he has spoken, you guys should move along, let's not hurt the friendly atmosphere!"

The few best men were all stunned: what is a Red Groom, and what is this supposed to mean?

Lin Siping was even more bewildered: No... everything was fine just a moment ago, how did Lin Sicheng suddenly incite the bride's relatives to deal with the best men? Just as he was about to say something, Sister Chunmei glared at him, and his cousin-in-law also shook her head at him, meaning for him to shut up.

"No, what are they trying to do?" The one who had just said the bride's side was messing with people glared, "Get this straight, we are the best men, we are here to welcome the bride!" "Welcoming the bride is fine, but don't talk drunken nonsense!" Lin Sicheng pointed to the side, "Sit to the side, drink some tea, catch your breath, and just watch!"

"What can you do if I don't go!" This person stiffened his neck, "Are you going to hit me?"

Lin Sicheng smiled. Just as he was about to wave his hand, a Best Man beside him pulled him hard, dragging the person with the stiff neck to the side. "Brother, we're all family, don't hurt the harmony on such a happy day!" He looked at Lin Sicheng and tried his best to smile, "My home is in Shaanbei, I understand the rules: we'll go drink tea..."

Lin Sicheng smiled: "Good, thank you for your hard work!"

The one with the stiff neck looked unconvinced and wanted to say something more, but the one who claimed to be from Shaanbei covered his mouth: "Yu Hao, I beg you to stop talking, they really dare to take action..."

Yu Hao froze, his face full of disbelief: No... this is a damn wedding day, you'd take action?

Afterwards, he looked at the expressionless Lin Sicheng, and Gu Ming who was sneering on the side. He then looked at the seven or eight young men who were eyeing them like tigers, looking as if they would rush over at a single command, and his heart shrank.

"No... why are they like bandits?"

"Don't talk nonsense!" The one from Shaanbei pushed him, "Have you seen the movie *Tiger City*? Ah, no? Then what about *Bailu Plain*?" "They aren't bandits, but they are specifically here to guard against bandits."

In the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China, commoners couldn't get enough to eat, so they had no choice but to go up into the mountains. This led to many bandit dens in the Northwest, especially in the mountains around Guanzhong. The good ones were no different from farmers who built fortified villages; they farmed when it was time to farm and harvested grain when it was time to harvest. But the bad ones naturally committed all kinds of evil: robbing grain, robbing money, kidnapping able-bodied men, kidnapping women... as long as it could be robbed, there was nothing they wouldn't rob.

And among these, what they loved to rob most was when men and women were getting married: either robbing the money and grain the groom's side used as a betrothal gift, or robbing the bride's family's dowry, while kidnapping the bride at the same time.

There was no other way; they couldn't just watch as the bandits robbed them. As time went on, a new custom formed: when picking up the bride, the groom's elders would take the young men of the clan to the bride's house to escort the gifts. Commonly known as the Gift Pressing Official, or Gift Pressing Master.

When returning, the bride's elders would take the bride's clan brothers to escort the dowry. Commonly known as the Makeup Pressing Official, or Makeup Pressing Master.

At the same time, both sides had to prevent enemies from the neighboring village or the same village from causing trouble during the wedding banquet. Therefore, the Gift Pressing Official and Makeup Pressing Official are also called the Town Guard. After the liberation, the bandits were gone, but there were still people causing trouble, and quite a lot of them: basically, out of ten weddings, at least eight would have a fight at the banquet. Therefore, this custom has been preserved.

This includes rural areas in the Northwest today, where this custom still exists: when arranging tasks the day before, they will specifically instruct the young and strong in the clan or village that no matter if you are serving dishes or welcoming guests, as long as someone causes trouble, you must drop what you are doing, pin the person down, and carry them out.

What if you can't pin them down?

Of course, you beat them until you can pin them down.

Lin Siping is young and doesn't know this custom. But Chunmei knows, and the cousin-in-law knows too.

The few Best Men from out of town certainly didn't know, but the folk customs in Shaanbei are more rugged, and that Best Man knew it clearly: if Yu Hao dared to stir up trouble again, he would at least get a few slaps to the face.

The few Best Men listened as if it were a story: "No... why didn't Lin Siping say anything?"

"Because he doesn't understand!" The one from Shaanbei shook his head and stared at Yu Hao, "I know you feel uncomfortable: in the same class, the same dormitory, and even sleeping in bunks above and below each other, why is Lin Siping doing so well? But don't make trouble today, if you make trouble again, you'll be the one to suffer..."

Yu Hao's face turned blue and then red, and the remaining two suddenly realized: they were wondering why this damn guy was so proactive, thinking of ways to find trouble for Lin Siping, so it was jealousy at work?

Their own brains were full of shit too: thinking it was just for fun, they kept following him to stir up trouble?

The few Best Men got angrier the more they thought about it, glaring at Yu Hao with hatred...

With the obstacles cleared and no more constraints, Lin Sicheng prepared to show off his skills.

He rolled up his sleeves, turned around, and looked at Lin Siping with a smile: "Siping, do you trust me?"

Lin Siping paused: "I do!"

If it were before, he would have been a bit skeptical: although his dad and mom kept nagging, and Sister Chunmei would also nag when she thought of it, saying how Lin Sicheng was this or that.

And there was the cousin-uncle (Gu Kaishan), who would sigh whenever he mentioned him, saying that Gu Ming's godfather had raised a good grandson, and that his god-brother had raised a good son. There was also Gu Ming, who would brag whenever he saw him: how amazing and awesome Lin Sicheng was. But when asked how he was awesome or amazing, he wouldn't say.

Lin Siping just felt: Lin Sicheng must be a little better than him, but no matter how good, he was only the same age as him.

So after being blocked here, when Sister Chunmei said she wanted to call Lin Sicheng over, Lin Siping was a bit dismissive: rather than calling Lin Sicheng, it would be better to call the cousin-uncle (Gu Kaishan) and ask him to plead with the father-in-law.

Until just now: although it felt like Lin Sicheng hadn't done much, that composure and confidence in every word and gesture made it seem like there was no problem he couldn't solve here?

In a flash, Lin Siping nodded again: "Sicheng, I trust you!"

"Trust is good!" Lin Sicheng pointed at the wine table and lowered his voice, "From left to right, you can count, right? I say which number, you take that cup..." "Ah?" Lin Siping was stunned, "Wouldn't it be better if you picked it yourself?"

"Nonsense: today is your wedding!" Lin Sicheng glared at him, "If I take all the spotlight, where does that leave you, the groom?" Lin Siping paused, realized, and was half-grateful, half-joking: "Are you sure it's not to make a fool of myself?"

"Even if you make a fool of yourself, it's you, I won't anyway!" Lin Sicheng pushed him, "Hurry up!"

Saying this, he pointed at Gu Ming: "I'll drink with you!"

"Drink then!" Gu Ming had a look of facing death, "A few cups of spicy water, at worst I'll just throw up a few more times!"

"It's not like we can't drink?" Sister Chunmei held the cousin-in-law's arm, "Let's go!"

The Tea Offering Official stared: he just felt that after getting rid of those bastards, the atmosphere suddenly became normal?

And the two who came later, especially the young man who looked so handsome, even more like a groom than Lin Siping, the more he looked, the more interesting he found them: responsible, bold, steady in temperament, and his ability to adapt to circumstances was not bad either.

Seeing the few people walk over, he cupped his hands: "What are the surnames of you two brothers?"

"Big brother, I am surnamed Lin, Siping is my cousin, I am his younger cousin!" Lin Sicheng pointed at Gu Ming again, "This one is surnamed Gu, he is Siping's cousin!"

So young?

The Tea Offering Official was surprised and lowered his voice: "Brother Lin, do you want me to go easy on you?"

The few of them were stunned in unison: Eh?