Chapter 350: Why Are Your Thoughts So Evil?

"Hey hey hey, no entering, absolutely not allowed! I'm warning you two—don't even think about using force on me! I'm a bona fide martial artist."

"Getting married so casually—how's that gonna make your future life any fun? In today's new society, we don't do wedding pranks anymore,"

"so you two must show us a little affection—let everyone witness your happiness!"

In the early morning, west of the Beijing Zoo, in Li Ye's nth sihe courtyard, a simple yet lively wedding was underway.

Today was the wedding of Li Ye's senior sister Yu Xiufen and senior brother Wang Zhiyuan; Li Ye had come early to help, but he felt this wedding was too "plain and unadorned."

In 1984, weddings didn't yet feature love stories, flowers, balloons, or the bride performing a dance.

There were only a few crisp firecrackers, blessings from relatives and friends, and the sincere truth that "it's all in the wine."

But Li Ye thought if nothing lively happened on a day like this, it would be a waste.

So he dragged over a table and blocked the main door completely, forcing the newlyweds to show affection in front of everyone.

That only made things worse—the crowd of fellow seniors and junior sisters immediately started cheering, and one guy with a camera already picked his spot to snap photos.

Now wasn't this lively?

Yu Xiufen immediately got angry: "I'm telling you, little brother—if you block me for another minute, I'll show you just how fierce your senior sister can be!"

Wang Zhiyuan chimed in obediently: "Yeah! Let you know our strength!"

Li Ye shrank his neck, putting on a "so scared" expression.

"Senior sister, you haven't even crossed the threshold yet, and you're already showing off your tyrant nature? That's not good—"

"Think about it: how did famous women in history run their households? Gentleness is a woman's strongest weapon. Today, Brother Wang is helping you out, but deep down, he's actually scared."

"Hahahaha~"

"I'm dying! Who is this kid? He looks so upright, but why's he so smooth-talking and full of street smarts?"

"You don't know? He's Master Zhang's newest disciple—he's close with Yu Xiufen and Wang Zhiyuan."

"Don't let his age fool you—he's small but cunning. Look at the wedding dress Xiufen is wearing, and the two cars used for the bridal procession—all arranged by this little brother."

"You're right—Xiufen's dress today looks perfect, clearly matching our Chinese women's traditional 'gentle and reserved' aura."

"You're spot on—if Xiufen stayed this gentle, I'd think she'd changed her personality!"

The group's laughter and merriment calmed Yu Xiufen's irritation, leaving her both annoyed and amused.

This morning, when she put on the bright red wedding dress and wore the hairpiece Li Ye had gifted her, she saw for the first time in the mirror that she, too, could be "gentle and beautiful."

And during the bridal procession, Wang Zhiyuan had stared at Yu Xiufen several times, lost in thought.

That dazed, clueless look reminded her of how Wang Zhiyuan had looked when they first met years ago.

So Yu Xiufen acknowledged the power of gentleness—she'd just been too quick-tempered and blunt for twenty years, and couldn't easily turn it around.

Seeing his bride calm down, Wang Zhiyuan quickly said: "Li Ye, you all only know half the story."

"Actually, your senior sister is only loud on the surface—in private, she's very gentle with me. So what you just said is wrong."

"And making us show affection publicly? That's even more wrong—it violates social norms."

Li Ye was surprised—Wang Zhiyuan was usually quiet and stiff, smart but slow to speak; before he could react, Yu Xiufen always stepped in for him.

But today, Wang Zhiyuan was standing up for Yu Xiufen—there was a hint of real manly responsibility.

Still, Wang Zhiyuan was always reserved and lacked Yu Xiufen's commanding presence; after he spoke, before Li Ye could even smirk, the other classmates were already objecting.

"What social norms? You two are legally married—what's wrong with that? Today you must perform like in 'Love on Lushan Mountain'!"

"No no no—we're sick of 'Love on Lushan Mountain.' We want something like those dubbed foreign films."

The young crowd's teasing finally made Wang Zhiyuan's face turn red—he'd rather be stabbed than kiss Yu Xiufen in public.

Li Ye sensed the moment was right—people in 1984 couldn't take much teasing; if they got serious, it'd be bad.

"Hey hey hey, what are you all thinking? Why are your thoughts so evil?"

Li Ye swept his arm around the cheering crowd and scolded with a laugh: "Why, when I say 'show affection,' do you all jump straight to 'Love on Lushan Mountain' and dubbed films?"

"Our ancestors said: men and women must keep proper distance. Holding hands—that's already 'affection,' isn't it? What are you imagining? Watching dubbed films? Did you buy tickets?"

"Hahahaha~"

Everyone laughed again, feeling this wedding was truly entertaining.

Yu Xiufen then calmly took Wang Zhiyuan's hand, prompting a thunderous cheer and applause.

A bright, cheerful girl was always likable.

The guy with the camera snapped several pictures, making Yu Xiufen even more proud.

"Move it, move it quickly."

Yu Xiufen laughed and scolded Li Ye to clear the table.

As he moved the table, Li Ye grinned: "Don't blame me, senior brother and sister—your modern wedding is so stripped down,"

"you didn't even do the traditional bows to heaven and earth, or to your parents. If I didn't stir things up a bit, it'd be boring."

Yu Xiufen paused, locking eyes with Li Ye.

She wasn't dumb—she immediately sensed his words carried deeper meaning.

"What's wrong, little brother? Don't you think a simple wedding is better?"

"I can't say for sure," Li Ye shook his head. "But back home, after marriage, you're officially an adult. Your parents worked hard raising you—newlyweds must kneel and bow to them."

Yu Xiufen froze again, then turned to look at an elderly couple.

Both elders wore smiles, but also clear nervousness and unease; when they saw Yu Xiufen looking at them, they quickly forced awkward grins.

They were Wang Zhiyuan's parents, who had traveled far to attend their son's wedding.

But they'd never left home before; in Beijing, surrounded by section chiefs and deputy directors, they stood stiffly, utterly out of place—like outsiders throughout the entire ceremony.

Yu Xiufen immediately told Wang Zhiyuan: "Go get Mom and Dad. We'll kneel and bow to them three times."

Wang Zhiyuan stared for two seconds, then turned and hurried to find his parents.

Seizing the moment, Yu Xiufen whispered to Li Ye: "You realized something was off?"

Li Ye nodded: "In the new society, avoiding extravagance is good—but your parents worked their whole lives. These are the moments they feel proudest. Why take that away from them?"

Yu Xiufen slowly nodded. "You're right. Some traditions must be preserved. I didn't think enough."

Li Ye and a few classmates moved chairs and cushions in a minute.

But the two elders hesitated, reluctant to accept the kneeling bows.

"No need, no need—this is the new society, why cling to old customs?"

"Exactly! Xiao Fen's a township head! How can she kneel to us? No way, no way!"

"Xiao Yuan, go entertain your colleagues and leaders! We're fine—don't let them laugh at you!"

Yu Xiufen was capable and emotionally intelligent; in under three years, she'd been promoted twice and was about to become deputy director—technically equal to a township head, so the elders felt deeply intimidated.

Wang Zhiyuan's eyes filled with tears.

He was quiet, bad at expressing himself. With the new-style wedding trend in Yu Xiufen's unit, he hadn't even thought of the kneeling ritual.

Now, his parents refused out of fear of causing trouble—his guilt overwhelmed him.

These were the parents who had raised him from infancy, fed him, clothed him—how had they suddenly become so distant?

Li Ye, tall and seeing far, noticed Wang Zhiyuan's distress and whispered to Yu Xiufen.

Yu Xiufen immediately lifted her wedding skirt and ran over quickly.

"Dad, Mom—you must accept this bow. Otherwise, what kind of people are we?"

Wang Zhiyuan's parents grew even more flustered, stammering, faces flushed.

Finally, Professor Zhang stepped in to resolve it.

"Elders, even if they're officials now, they're still your children. Please come forward—let them bow, then we can all enjoy a proper drink."

"Oh oh, then…"

The two elders began to cry, tears streaming uncontrollably.

"First bow to heaven and earth. Second bow to parents."

Li Ye's clear voice sounded oddly out of place among the crowd in Zhongshan suits.

But the thunderous applause that followed made it clear: in any era, people deeply recognized the filial piety and family bonds of Zhonghua.