Zhou Mu’s mother, that is, Zhou Ze’an’s grandmother, was nearly seventy, with silver-white hair and plenty of spirit. Her clothes were clean with no patches, and the cloth shoes on her feet were brand new. Clearly she had dressed herself up carefully for today’s meeting.
Zhou Mu’s mother had no name. Her family name was Wan, and in her parents’ home she was the third child, so even Zhou Mu’s father only knew her as Wan San. In everyday life everyone called her Madam Wan.
Zhou Mu’s father, his back slightly bent, followed behind Wan San. The three of them and the matchmaker came in.
When Wan San saw Huo Shufen and her husband she opened her mouth, but her mouth was as if pasted shut by something and simply would not open. It was Zhou Mu who stepped up and smoothly called out, “Uncle, Auntie.”
That was what finally broke the awkward situation.
“Shufen, it’s all the fault of that good-for-nothing daughter-in-law of mine, making Ruizhi suffer like this. The two of us old ones have come today not only to ask for Ruizhi’s hand for this boy Zhou Mu, but also to apologize to you. I gave her a fierce scolding last night. I hope you can forgive us!”
Madam Wan had lived a long time and saw things clearly. Since her youngest son wanted to marry Yan Ruizhi, then at a time like this you apologized where an apology was due and bowed your head where a bow was due.
Huo Shufen had not expected Zhou Mu’s parents to be so open-minded, and now she felt a little awkward herself. She wanted to say something back, but with the words at her lips she nearly called out “Auntie” without thinking, and the atmosphere turned awkward for a moment.
Yan Ruizhi had thought a great deal last night. In her last life, after her daughter died, she had gone through a long period of recovery, and so when it came to speaking, she had long since grown used to silence, used to sinking into her own world.
But she had already agreed to Zhou Mu last night. By feeling and by reason, Zhou Mu was the man who had saved her life, and she could not be a person who repaid kindness with ingratitude.
Right now the Yan family courtyard had fallen silent. She went over to Madam Wan of her own accord, first called her softly, “Auntie,” and then said, “You split the household long ago. What happens at Zhou Ze’an’s house has nothing to do with you.”
“Ruizhi really is understanding and reasonable! That’s the reason of it, but even so, that little wretch Zhou Ze’an did wrong you in the end!” Madam Wan took Yan Ruizhi’s hand warmly. “Ruizhi, Ze’an wronged you, and I have no way to keep him in line, but Zhou Mu is different. Zhou Mu is my own son, and I can promise you that after you two are married I’ll make sure he treats you well and doesn’t wrong you!”
Looking at the old woman in front of her, Yan Ruizhi could not help feeling something. In her last life the old woman had been in good health and lived to eighty-two. Her father had once been a teacher at a private school, and she had lived her whole life clear-eyed, a kind-faced old lady. In her last life Yan Ruizhi had suffered endlessly in the Zhou house, and this old woman had lectured Du Tianzhen and lectured Zhou Ze’an behind her back many a time.
Her nose stung a little. “Auntie, I’ve been worried all along that Un… that Zhou Mu marrying me is too much of a sacrifice for him!”
That was exactly why Yan Ruizhi had said nothing yesterday. Zhou Mu had saved her, and in the end she was the one forcing him to marry a woman with a ruined reputation. Wasn’t that repaying kindness with ingratitude? If it were not for the effect this would have on Zhou Mu’s work, perhaps she still would not have agreed.
“What sacrifice!” Madam Wan patted the back of Yan Ruizhi’s hand gently. “That boy is probably over the moon. He’s already thirty-two. Ruizhi, you’re only twenty, young and pretty, with lovely features. He’s struck gold!”
Because of that remark from Madam Wan, the rest of the process went very smoothly. The date for the engagement was quickly settled, three days from now, because Zhou Mu’s home leave was almost up and they had no choice but to hurry.
After Madam Wan and the others left, Huo Shufen looked at the two stacks of money on the table and her nose stung a little. Zhou Mu had already given a thousand yuan last night, and just now Madam Wan had given another two hundred, saying it was a first-meeting gift for Yan Ruizhi.
They were all Zhou family people, yet Zhou Mu and Madam Wan compared with Du Tianzhen and her son were as different as heaven and earth!
Li Guiqin stared at the money in Huo Shufen’s hand, her eyes burning. Huo Shufen simply pushed the money into Yan Ruizhi’s hand. “Children’s father, Ruilin, nobody goes out to work today. Ruizhi’s engagement is the day after tomorrow. You two go and let the relatives know first, so they can come and have a cup of wine.”
Yan Zhengguo and Yan Ruilin nodded and went straight inside to tidy up and change clothes.
Li Guiqin’s expression was a little unnatural just then, and out of the corner of her eye she still glanced now and again at the money in Yan Ruizhi’s hand. Huo Shufen called to her, “Guiqin, work hard these couple of days. Bring out the pickled vegetables we salted, and also…”
Two years ago, when Yan Ruizhi got engaged to Zhou Ze’an, Huo Shufen had already done this once, so this time she was practised at it. Having given Li Guiqin her instructions, she said to Yan Ruizhi, “Ruizhi, there isn’t much for you to do for the engagement, but by the custom around here you have to go and buy Zhou Mu a set of clothes, and his mother too. The Zhou family is thorough with the courtesies, and we can’t let people laugh at us either. Take these two hundred yuan. I’ll go inside and get you another fifty. Tomorrow you go to the county town and buy some things.”
Yan Ruizhi took the money and said quietly to Huo Shufen, “Mom, the money Un… that Zhou Mu gave, I want to use it to pay Zhou Ze’an back first.”
Huo Shufen heard that and stopped what she was doing. Li Guiqin, who had been about to go out, turned round and looked at Yan Ruizhi too.
Huo Shufen took a deep breath and said to Yan Ruizhi and Li Guiqin, “You four are brothers and sisters, and I know I can’t be absolutely fair, but Ruizhi’s bride price money from last time went to marrying you, Guiqin. By rights I shouldn’t keep dragging this up, but a person can’t behave like this. Ruilin is my son, but Ruizhi is my daughter too, and just because Ruizhi is kind-hearted and honest, that doesn’t mean the family gets to pick on her alone. Guiqin, wouldn’t you say so?”
Li Guiqin gave an embarrassed smile. Huo Shufen took Yan Ruizhi’s hand. “Ruizhi, hold on to the bride price money Zhou Mu gave you. As for the bride price money to Zhou Ze’an’s family, you needn’t worry about it. There’s your eldest brother, and your dad and me. Tomorrow go and pick out some good things!”
Yan Ruizhi’s eyes stung and there was so much stopped up in her throat that she choked and could not speak.
Back in her room, Yan Ruizhi stared at the fifty yuan in her hand, her thoughts turning over and over. Her mother might be sharp-tongued, but she was extremely good to her family. Her father was steady and hardworking, and the brothers and sisters loved one another. Growing up in a family like this, Yan Ruizhi had been gentle and inward from childhood, not much of a talker, but in one thing she was extremely stubborn!
For the sake of that stubbornness she had ruined her whole life in her last life, and killed her own daughter as well. Fortunately heaven pitied her and gave her a chance to start over. This time she would draw a clear line with Zhou Ze’an, and in this life there would never be anything between them again.
The family bustled about over the engagement, and even her younger brother and sister, home on holiday, got no rest. Yan Ruizhi had nothing much to do. She had arranged to meet Zhou Mu at the village entrance and go to the county town together to buy things.
Before she even reached the village entrance she saw the tall figure standing under the big locust tree from far off. Zhou Mu really was tall. There was no man in their village taller than him, and that straight-backed frame gave you a full sense of safety at a glance.
Yan Ruizhi felt a little shy. She smoothed the loose hair at her ear and dawdled for a good while before walking over to him.
“We’ll go into town first, then take the bus to the county town…”
Zhou Mu had not finished speaking when they saw Zhou Ze’an coming towards them, pushing a bicycle, walking beside a female comrade in a blue-and-white checked shirt. The two of them were talking and laughing, a very sweet and warm picture, but when they saw Zhou Mu and Yan Ruizhi, the smile froze on Zhou Ze’an’s face at once.