In the dead of night, they called for the blush of dawn.
***...*****
The horse carriage drew near; it was a canopied carriage, and at the front, steering the vehicle, sat a beaming Erlang.
Erlang had taken a wife the day before, and according to the longstanding customs of Thirty Mile Camp, on the morning of the second day, the new bride was to perform the ritual of kneeling and serving tea to her father-in-law and mother-in-law. Lian Shouyi and Lady He had stayed in town the night before, but Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou, the elderly couple at the family home, were present; therefore, early this morning, Erlang had brought his bride to pay respect to Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou.
Erlang stopped the carriage in front of a breakfast stall.
"Uncle Four, Aunt Four," Erlang called out.