Chapter 1647

As soon as it was light, I was awakened by a violent knock on the door.

"Who is it?" For people who come to disturb their dreams so early, I will not be polite. I fiercely rushed to the door and said, "who is outside?"

"Rita, open the door quickly!" As I yelled, the knock on the door outside became more rapid, accompanied by a yell.

I listened attentively for a moment, then I recognized that Nina and ulanova were calling me outside. I quickly lifted the quilt, jumped out of bed, dressed in underwear barefoot, rushed to the door, suddenly opened the door.

I saw Nina and ulannova standing at the door. Surprisingly, they were not in military uniform, but in plain clothes. Seeing me standing at the door, they came forward with open arms and gave me a warm hug.

When they were released, I closed the door. As I sat by the bed and bent over to put on my boots, I asked them curiously, "how do you know I live here?"

"The watchman told us," Nina explained to me with a smile. "We live in this building, too, and it happens that the watchman and we are in the same room. She came back from work this morning and said that a general we knew had come in. I guessed it might be you. When I asked my name, it was really you, so I came with ulanova. "

I sat up straight, looking at the two people in casual clothes and asked, "I used to see you in military uniform. How do I think of wearing casual clothes today? Do I plan to go shopping?"

"It's not shopping, it's for the wedding."

"To the wedding?" When I heard Nina say this, I couldn't help looking at them carefully. Unfortunately, I didn't see any sign of becoming a bride today. So I tentatively asked, "which of you is going to get married or go to someone else's wedding?"

"Going to other people's weddings, of course." Ulannova said in a hurry: "you have seen the groom, who is the second lieutenant in charge of the security work of the women's health company."

I quickly recalled in my mind the situation when I went to the women's health company. I immediately remembered the second lieutenant who was on duty outside the church, and asked carefully, "is that second lieutenant Blick?"

"Yes, yes, that's him." Ulanova nodded and said, "Rita, you have a good memory. You remember his name."

"Would you like to come with us, Rita?" "Today's wedding must be very lively. If you don't go, it's a pity," she asked

To tell you the truth, I'd like to go to the wedding, but I looked at my military uniform on the back of the chair beside the bed and said in a bit of embarrassment, "you're not going to let me go to the wedding in my military uniform. I'm afraid it will frighten the guests."

"It's easy. I have extra casual clothes in my room. You're about the same size as me, Rita. I'll get your clothes for you now Ulannova said, opened the door and ran out.

Nina shook her head, got up, closed the door, turned to me and said, "Rita, uranova is such a character. I hope you don't blame her."

"No," I got up and walked to the bathroom, and said, "I don't deal with her for a day or two. I know her character very well."

By the time I got out of the bathroom, ulanova had come back with her casual clothes. Try it on, it's just right. Ulannova urged me: "OK, Rita, let's go now!"

We came downstairs and saw three jeeps parked outside. When we saw the three of us coming out, the driver of the car finally put his head out and yelled at us, "Hello, three girls, you should hurry up. We have to rob the bride."

Robbing the bride? When I heard the driver say that, I couldn't help asking Nina curiously, "how do I rob the bride? Do we rush into the bride's house and take her away from her parents? "

"You'll know when you get to the place," Nina didn't mean to show off, but she didn't understand. "The bride is Ukrainian, and I don't know much about their wedding customs."

The welcoming motorcade went out of Lublin from the east of the city. After driving for more than ten minutes, it came to a small village. Nina turned to me and said, "the bride lives in this village. Later, the groom will call with the best man."

Our car was parked on a grain drying field, and the two cars in front of us were Hula down. The handsome man No. 78, who was the leading role today, dazzled my eyes.

We followed the groom and the best man to a wooden house not far away. The bridegroom and they stopped and formed a neat line, singing to the cabin. With the sound of the song, the closed wooden door was half opened, and several young girls with long braids could be seen crowding at the door. According to my experience, they were either sisters or best friends of the bride.

After the two sides set eyes on each other, they began a passionate song contest. As they were all sung in Ukrainian, I couldn't understand a word, so I had to do it myself.

(man: "little rabbit, open the door, and the corn will go in..."

Woman: "if you don't open it, you can't open it. Corn is a villain. Don't open it..."

After singing for a while, a best man approached the door, leaned on the wooden wall and whispered to the girl who was the most outside. Maybe he was mixing up. Sure enough, it wasn't long before the girl opened the door completely, leaning her back against the door, singing loudly and glancing at the best man from the corner of her eyes.

Seeing the door open, I thought the bridegroom would rush in regardless of himself, but he was still standing in the same place. But another best man came up, strode into the cabin and said something to the girls who were singing.

Just when I was confused, I suddenly saw a window of the cabin open. A young girl in a white wedding dress and a wreath climbed out of the window. At this time, the groom finally moved. He rushed to the window and held out his hands to hold the girl down from the window.

Seeing that the bride had been snatched by the bridegroom, her parents came out of the room. They stand in front of everyone, in the girls' singing accompaniment, to say goodbye to their daughter and wish. I saw the bride come to her parents with tears streaming down her face, embracing and kissing them while receiving their blessing.

After these ceremonies, the bride and groom, surrounded by everyone, come to the village chapel to receive the blessing of the priest. I thought this was Poland, and the priests in the church must be Catholic. Who knows, after asking Nina, I found out that most people in this village are Ukrainians and believe in the Orthodox Church.

Nina and ulanova and I sat on the last row of chairs in the church, listening to the elderly priest, blessing and preaching to a new couple. I don't know if people become very nagging when they get old. The priest talked on stage for nearly an hour, and I was sleepy, but most people listened with relish.

After finishing the process, a couple came to the open space in front of the church and began to dance under the crowd. The best men who came with us were all in suits, while the local men were in shirts and trousers with a jacket over them. While women wear a short woolen skirt over the tight petticoat with various patterns on it; The upper body is wearing a sleeveless coat with dark red, green or blue velvet, and part of the front of the coat is crossed; Wearing red boots on the feet, and some wearing a few strings of colored beads or necklaces around the neck, it looks very ethnic.

After the dance, we went back to the bride's home, and the room was packed with guests. The bridegroom and bride are sitting by the window. In front of them, there is a small round table spread on the white tablecloth. After another lively and tedious ceremony, in the girls' singing, a beautiful big cake was put on the round table.

With the cake on the table, it means that the wedding banquet at noon will officially begin. The banquet was placed in the open space in front of the bride's house, surrounded by three long tables, full of guests. I carefully looked at the table, in addition to the empty plate, there are only a few huge buns.

When I saw these things, I could not help but turn my mouth secretly, saying that we would be invited to eat them at the wedding banquet, which was too shabby. But when I think about it like this, I forget that I came here empty handed, let alone with gifts, even without gifts.

However, I soon realized that I was wrong. A dozen old ladies came up with an aluminum pot and put it on the table. Nina picked up the napkin on the table, spread it out and spread it on my knees. At the same time, she explained to me: "according to Ukrainian custom, napkin should be spread on my knees, not around my neck when eating; After the meal, put the napkin on the table. "

The first course is hot soup. Besides the common red vegetable soup, there are cabbage soup and potato soup; The second course is fish, meat, poultry and so on, both cooked and roasted, which tastes good; The third course is fruit and desserts. It's vodka, kvass, beer, coffee and tea.

However, it is strange that since the hot soup was put on the table, all the bread on the table was removed. I asked Nina curiously, "what's going on?"

"Bread was eaten before the first course," Nina said, glancing at the small piece of bread in my hand as she answered my question. "So as soon as the dish is served, the bread will be removed."

I looked around, saw no one noticed, hurriedly put the rest of the bread into my mouth, so as not to be seen, would say that I am woodlouse. After trying to swallow the bread, I whispered, "Nina, is this the end of the wedding?"

"Over?" Nina didn't speak. Ulanova, sitting on the other side of me, said, "it's still early. There are still several important ceremonies that haven't been carried out."

It is said that there are still important ceremonies. Instead of asking, I try to think about the difference between today's wedding and the wedding I have seen. After thinking about it for a long time, I finally remembered that the bride seemed to throw a flower ball at the back and let the unmarried sisters grab it. Thinking of this, I stare at the bride sitting at the other end of the long table and mutter to myself: I don't seem to see the flowers in her hand.

After you have finished this wonderful marriage, I see many young girls, after they get up, follow the bride and walk into her house. Nina looked at me staring at the girls and asked me with a smile, "there's going to be an important ceremony in the room. Do you want to go in and have a look?"

"Let's go!" I have never seen a lot of Customs in the wedding ceremony I attended today, so as soon as I heard that there was an important ceremony, I wanted to watch it.

When the three of us entered the room, we saw the bride sitting in the middle of the room, surrounded by a group of young girls singing Ukrainian songs to her that I didn't understand. An old lady took off the wreath and veil on her head and began to help her braid again.

When the bride's braids were finished, she stood up and took a few steps forward without saying a word. At this time, the girls who had been singing around her suddenly let out a cheer, and then scrambled to sit in the position the bride had just done. When a beautiful girl got there first, the others scattered and looked at her with admiration. And the bride standing on one side came forward and sent her sincere wishes.

Seeing this, I suddenly realized that the custom of grabbing stools in Ukraine should be equivalent to throwing flower balls in later generations. The girl who grabs the stool is the next one who is going to be the bride. No wonder her sisters cast envious eyes on her, and the bride also gives her the most sincere blessing.

I gently touched Nina and ulanowa, indicating that they would go out with me. When the three of us came outside again, I asked tentatively, "is this the end of all the important wedding ceremonies?"

"Where, where," I did not expect that after listening to my words, ulannova even waved her fingers and said, "there is still one of the most important ceremonies that has not been carried out."

The most important ceremony? When I heard that, I couldn't help but widen my eyes. My heart said that I would not let the bridegroom and bride perform Dunlun in public. That's too exaggerated.

"Look, the bridegroom is coming!" Nina suddenly whispered, "the most important ceremony is about to begin."

I watched the bridegroom come with a few best men and stop five or six steps away from the door. And the bride, accompanied by her sisters, went to the door. The bridegroom and the bride were not far away from each other. They looked at each other affectionately. Neither spoke nor took the initiative to move forward.

Just as I wanted to ask what was going on, the groom finally moved. He took a few steps forward, stooped to pick up something that had been left by the door, crossed the threshold and entered the room. I saw clearly that what the bridegroom was carrying was a bright ax. I could not help shivering in my heart. My heart said what the bridegroom was going to do with the ax. Was he going to kill the bride?

With the help of the old lady, the bride slowly knelt in front of the door. Then she bent down and put one side of her face on the threshold. The old lady straightened her braid and put it on the threshold and slowly retreated to one side.

Seeing the bridegroom walking forward step by step and raising his bright axe high above my head, my heart raised to my throat. Looking around, I saw that all the guests around were looking solemnly at what was going to happen, and no one spoke. I was worried that the bridegroom would do harm to the bride, so I instinctively felt around my waist. As a result, I felt empty, and then I remembered that I was wearing casual clothes today, and I didn't have any weapons at all.

Unexpectedly, after the bridegroom came to the bride's side, he knelt down beside her. He looked up at the guests standing outside, closed his eyes, drew a cross on his chest, raised the axe with his right hand, and then cut it off. After hearing a dull noise, I saw the axe cut off the braid on the threshold. To find out that the bridegroom used an axe just to cut off the bride's hair, the stone hanging in my heart finally fell to the ground.

The bridegroom put down his axe, crossed the threshold and came out into the crowd, staring at the bride who was still lying on the threshold. At this time, the old lady appeared again, first picked up the cut braid, got up and put it on a small table beside the door, and then bent down to help the bride up.

The bride is still kneeling in front of the threshold. After finishing her hair, the old lady takes out a beautiful headscarf and puts it on the bride's head in the blessing song of a group of middle-aged and old women, completing the transformation ceremony of the bride from a young girl to a young woman.

Although there will be grand celebrations next, considering that this is a newly recovered area after all, if I stay too late, something unexpected may happen, so I urge Nina and ulannova to return to the city overnight.

On the way home, ulannova said with emotion: "maybe this time next year, we can go to that small village to celebrate the birth of a small life. Too many people have died in this war. "

Ulannova's words made me suddenly have a question in my heart. If I had any accident in this time and space, would I really die, or would I go back to my time and space again?

Nina saw that I was so worried that she couldn't help asking, "what are you thinking, Rita?"

"Do you know where the soul will go after death?"

"It doesn't matter," Nina said casually. "It's up to you to go to heaven or go to hell. It all depends on what you do when you're alive. Rita, how can you suddenly think of asking about it? "

"Nina, ulanova, I want to ask you." I think if I don't speak out the doubts in my heart, I will surely lose sleep tonight: "if the human soul can be reincarnated and reincarnated, can you still recognize me when I appear in front of you in a different image decades later?"

"Don't worry, Rita." "No matter what you become, we can recognize you," she said. Even if you don't recognize it for a while, as long as you mention the wedding we went to today, I think we can recognize you even if you change a lot. "