Approaching the small creek, Xu Ruyi heard Xu Niannian’s excited shouts, “Brother, such a big fish! Give it to Niannian, give it to Niannian!”
As Xu Ruyi drew nearer, she saw it was indeed sizable—a Crucian carp about one and a half jin, quite large for this small creek. “Oh, not bad at all! This fish is huge!”
Hearing her sister’s voice, Xu Niannian immediately turned around. Seeing it was really her sister, she jumped with joy. “Sister, fish, fish! Brother caught it!”
“Sis, what brings you here?” Xu Sigui was somewhat surprised to see Xu Ruyi arriving.
Xu Ruyi picked up the bucket and glanced inside, raising an eyebrow. “Oh, quite a haul! My eyes were getting sore from too much embroidery, so I thought I’d take a break and come check on you.”
Xu Sigui grinned. “Sis, you came at the perfect time. Later, you can make us some Crucian carp soup—it’ll be delicious for sure.”
Xu Ruyi nodded. “Alright, my cooking skills have improved lately. I guarantee you’ll be satisfied.”
Xu Niannian clapped her little hands nearby. “Yummy, yummy!”
Just then, Xu Ruyi noticed movement in the aquatic grass not far away. Looking closer, she saw it was an even larger Blackfish swimming about.
She quickly pointed in that direction, lowering her voice. “Sigui, there’s a big Blackfish over there.”
Xu Sigui followed her pointing finger, his eyes lighting up as he cautiously approached.
The Blackfish was quite cunning. Sensing someone nearby, it swiftly darted away.
But Xu Sigui was quicker. With a sudden lunge, he firmly grasped the Blackfish with both hands.
This Blackfish weighed over two jin and struggled vigorously in his grip.
Xu Niannian bounced excitedly. “Brother is amazing! Brother is amazing!”
Xu Ruyi looked at the Blackfish in her brother’s hands and smiled. “We’ve got quite the harvest today. We’ll have an extra dish for dinner.”
Xu Sigui placed the Blackfish in the bucket and wiped his hands. “Sis, we’ve caught so much. Let’s head back!”
“Alright, you carry the bucket. Niannian, come here. Let sister hold your hand.”
Xu Niannian happily offered her dirty little hand to Xu Ruyi. “Okay! Sister hold hand.”
That evening, Xu Ruyi cooked three dishes: Crucian carp with tofu, Blackfish with eggplant, stir-fried cabbage, and steamed Foxtail millet rice.
The whole family ate with immense satisfaction, clearing every plate.
After dinner, they sat in the yard chatting.
Wang Cuihua looked at her fair and delicate daughter. “Ruyi, your aunt mentioned it. Tomorrow at noon, you’ll go to her place to meet someone. Sigui, you accompany your sister tomorrow. Remember, don’t speak out of turn there.”
Xu Ruyi didn’t mind either way. Meeting someone was no big deal. Although she rather liked Zhao Lie, that didn’t mean she couldn’t look at other options. She nodded to show she understood.
Xu Sigui, however, took it more seriously. He hoped his sister could find a good match. She had suffered too much in the past; he wanted her future to be sweeter. “Mother, don’t worry. I’ll definitely behave.”
The next day at noon, Xu Ruyi and Xu Sigui arrived at their uncle’s house.
As soon as they entered, they saw a young man sitting in the main hall.
The man had decent features, but his eyes carried a hint of arrogance.
“Ah, Ruyi’s here! Come, come, sit down. Auntie will make you some sweetened water.” Bai Maimiao was delighted to see Xu Ruyi. She genuinely liked this niece of hers.
Not only was she good-looking, but she also had remarkable skills, not to mention being literate. If Xu Ruyi weren’t at the age for official matchmaking, Bai Maimiao would have taken her time to find a scholar for her—it wouldn’t have been impossible.
Bai Maimiao warmly invited them to sit down, then poured each of the siblings a glass of sweetened water. “Come, it’s hot weather—have some sweet water to replenish yourselves.”
“Alright, thank you, Auntie!” Xu Ruyi obediently took the cup and sat there drinking.
Xu Sigui was completely like a background prop. Though he remained still, his eyes kept darting around, sizing up the man who had come to meet his sister.
Bai Maimiao began introducing both sides. “Sanshui’s mother, this is my eldest niece, Xu Ruyi, seventeen years old.” Then she turned to Xu Ruyi. “Ruyi, this is Sanshui’s mother. Though we’re beyond the five degrees of mourning, you can just call her Fifth Aunt.”
“Greetings, Fifth Aunt!” Xu Ruyi called out obediently.
“Ah, good, good. This girl is truly lovely.” Sanshui’s mother looked at Xu Ruyi before her and was utterly satisfied, instead feeling that her own simple son wasn’t worthy of her.