The other three didnât appear to have sustained critical injuries; their situation wasnât serious. But the unconscious person might be in real danger. If they werenât treated soon, the optimal window for saving them might pass.
"Yes, yes, right! Quickly take them to the township clinic!" Song Yun exclaimed, having come to his senses. They quickly organized people and transported the four to the township clinic.
Meanwhile, the guests dining in the courtyard gradually learned of the violent assault in the backyard.
The families of the four injured individuals instantly gathered. Furious, they stormed towards the backyard, demanding the bride and groom hand over the bridesmaid who had committed the assault.
"Itâs over, itâs all over! These families have many relatives in our village and are very influential. If they stir up trouble, no amount of money will be enough to compensate them," Chen Zishi said, panicking once more at the sight. He was completely at a loss, helpless and bewildered.
Now that people are injured, medical expenses are definitely unavoidable. Given their aggressive stance, even if we cover the medical costs, they likely wonât let this matter rest.
"What was supposed to be a joyous occasion has turned into this mess. Such bad luck!"
"Is that bridesmaid from out of town? Our village has had this wedding custom for so many years, and she actually pulls out a knife to attack someone?"
"If this isnât cleared up today, donât even think about leaving this courtyard!"
"Hand her over, now!"
"..."
The families of the four surrounded the backyard, shouting continuously, an angry mob demanding justice.
Hearing this, the bridesmaid who had committed the assault trembled even more. Her face grew paler with terror; she was petrified.
The bride, Peng Songyue, unable to watch any longer, stepped out of the backyard and attempted to reason with the four families. "They tore my best friendâs clothes to shreds! Can you still call that wedding hazing? Canât everyone be reasonable? My friend begged them to stop, but they wouldnât listen..."
However, she had barely spoken a few words before she was drowned out by the curses and denunciations from the families.
"Havenât you heard the saying, âFor three days after entering the new home, there are no distinctions of seniorityâ? Itâs a tradition passed down by our ancestors, and thatâs exactly what it means!"
"What does it matter if itâs hazing or not? Does that mean she can just attack and injure people if she doesnât like it?"
"Wedding hazing is all about festivity! People haze at weddings for your own good, to wish you a prosperous future! You people just donât know any better!"
"If she didnât want to be part of the hazing, she shouldnât have agreed to be a bridesmaid! How could she be a bridesmaid and not know about this custom?"
"..."
Outside the backyard, the families of the four continued to denounce and blame the bridesmaid. Their outcry was immense, and they were relentless.
Peng Songyue tried to reason with them several times but was forced to retreat each time. Her single voice was no match for the more than a dozen people opposing her.
"Uncle Song... what do we do now?" Chen Zishi asked with a mournful face, turning to Song Yun. After all, Song Yun was the owner of this agritainment venue.
The parents of the bride and groom also looked to Song Yun, hoping he could come up with a solution.
Song Yun swallowed hard. He couldnât help but turn and look behind him. "Uncle Qin... what should we do now?"
Heâd been running this agritainment business for many years. Heâd hosted quite a few weddings before, but this was the first time heâd encountered anything like this. He had absolutely no idea how to handle it.
The injured partiesâ families are furious right now. If we hand over the bridesmaid, thereâs no telling what might happen. But if we donât... weâre still in the wrong. No matter how you look at it, it seems our side struck first.
Listening to the deafening shouts and condemnations from outside, Qin Mu couldnât help but remark, "This wedding hazing... has certainly gotten out of hand."
Wedding hazing... it happens everywhere. The only difference is that in some places itâs more aggressive, while in others itâs just a token gesture. And Song Yunâs village is one of the more severe areas.
Actually, the custom of wedding hazing dates back to ancient times.
ăIn the Western Zhou period.ă
Back then, marriage was still considered a "gloomy and hidden rite," with most people preferring to keep it secret. That is, weddings were conducted covertly, without informing anyone. Therefore, marriages were typically held in the evening. Once the bride was brought home, they could proceed directly to the bridal chamber.
But as times changed, during the Tang Song era, marriage gradually came to be seen as one of lifeâs four great joys and began to be celebrated lavishly. Guests were invited, and the news was spread far and wide; they wanted everyone for miles around to know someone was getting married.
At the same time, a legend became widely circulated among the common folk. It was said that in a certain village, a newlywed couple with few social connections held a wedding attended by hardly anyone.
That night, however, they noticed someone lurking by the wall, apparently trying to watch the "live show." Candlelight flickered, casting dancing red shadows.
The couple couldnât resist trying to drive the voyeur away, only to discover that the figure by the wall, with disheveled hair and a hideous face, was a female ghost. It even bowed to them.
ăHalf a year later.ă
The couple both died.
Following this legend, the custom of wedding hazing gradually became popular. It was claimed, "If people donât cause a ruckus, ghosts will." To ensure a good life, the wedding had to be as boisterous as possible. If it was too quiet and subdued, it could mean an unhappy marriage, a dissatisfied life, and a grim future.
From then on, the custom of wedding hazing was formally established.
Initially, wedding hazing was actually quite civilized, with relatives simply helping to liven things up with playful teasing. However, due to concerns about seniority, it never really became very boisterous. The elders, as seniors, were too concerned about their dignity to participate fully, while the younger generation, as juniors, didnât dare to be too rowdy.
Thus, the saying "For three days after entering the new home, there are no distinctions of seniority" came into being. This meant that within three days of the marriage, anyone could participate in the wedding hazing, without being constrained by their usual rank or seniority.