C355

The bright red cloth quietly hung down on both sides of the bed. Embroidered, it was the joyous bedding of mandarin ducks. Laying flat on the bed, beside it were dates, peanuts, lotus seeds, and cinnamon dumplings.

A bride dressed in red, covered with a xipa, sat obediently on the bed, waiting for the bride and groom to arrive.

After an unknown period of time, with a creaking sound