As the wedding procession arrived at the entrance of Liu's Family's mansion, the day had already dawned. Many people were already waiting at the entrance. Zhang Xiaohua, leading the horse, walked to the front of the crowd before halting. When Zhang Xiaolong dismounted, Zhang Xiaohua handed over the horse's reins to a member of the Liu family.
The crowd greeted Zhang Xiaolong with a bow, saying, "Congratulations, Groom." Zhang Xiaolong happily reciprocated their gesture. Then, the crowd parted to form a pathway. Zhang Xiaohua noticed a wooden stand next to the mansion's front gate, atop which laid a bow. This was their rural tradition. The first ritual for a groom was to shoot three arrows into the sky from the bride's gate, symbolizing the dispersal of all evil spirits. Zhang Xiaolong had often witnessed this at other weddings. However, his arm, though healed, was not strong enough for farm work yet. How could he possibly draw a bow and shoot an arrow?
