“The Lu boy is offering eight taels and eight mace as the bride price. Besides the silver, all the customary betrothal gifts will be prepared according to tradition. This is the kind of marriage people search for with a lantern and still can’t find!”
Aunt Zhang’s words left Han Daliang completely stunned.
Madam Li, however, recovered much faster.
First they had lost the wealthy Zhang family’s proposal. Then, only yesterday, they had been told the hunter wanted nothing to do with Han Xiuxiu.
Yet today, everything had suddenly turned around.
Not only was someone willing to marry Han Xiuxiu, there was even a generous bride price.
Why wouldn’t they agree?
She hurriedly nudged Han Daliang.
“Husband, say something!”
What more was there to say?
Although Han Daliang still couldn’t understand why Lu Yunfei had suddenly changed his mind, the problem that had weighed on his heart for days had been solved.
At last, he no longer had to worry about Xiuxiu’s marriage.
“Thank you for making the trip on our Xiuxiu’s behalf,” he said.
“We accept the proposal.”
Aunt Zhang was overjoyed.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, she hurried off like a gust of wind to deliver the good news, leaving the Han family staring at one another in disbelief.
Han Xiuxiu had heard everything from her room.
Her expression didn’t change.
But her eyes filled with amusement.
Hooked.
She hadn’t expected the man to be so easy to win over.
She was very satisfied with Lu Yunfei’s reaction.
Her early-morning visit to his house hadn’t been in vain.
Now that Han Xiuxiu’s marriage was settled, Han Daliang felt like a burden had been lifted from his shoulders.
That evening he told Madam Li to make scrambled eggs with garlic chives, an extra dish to celebrate.
Eggs were normally saved and sold at market in exchange for salt and soy sauce.
The family rarely ate them.
Occasionally Madam Li would boil one egg for Han Dongdong.
The two girls, despite gathering grass and tending the chickens every day, almost never got any.
The only exception had been after Han Xiuxiu nearly drowned, when Han Daliang secretly made her egg drop soup behind Madam Li’s back.
The next morning Madam Li had even counted the eggs in the basket to see whether any were missing.
The moment Han Xiaoxiao heard there would be scrambled eggs, her face lit up.
“Big Sister! We get to eat eggs tonight!”
Han Xiuxiu smiled and rubbed her little sister’s head.
Now she finally looked like a child.
Madam Li was also in an unusually good mood.
The bride price would soon be hers.
And before long, the troublesome Han Xiuxiu would finally be married off.
She cheerfully took out three whole eggs.
Han Xiuxiu volunteered to cut fresh garlic chives from the vegetable patch.
The gloomy atmosphere that had hung over the family for days disappeared.
Even everyone’s footsteps seemed lighter.
The vegetable garden still held cabbage, spinach, radishes, and scallions.
The garlic chives had thrived under the spring rain.
They stood lush and emerald green.
One sweep of the sickle gathered an armful.
Their sharp, fresh fragrance filled the air.
They would taste wonderful fried with the family’s free-range eggs.
When Han Xiuxiu returned, Madam Li was already stir-frying cabbage.
Han Xiaoxiao sat on a small stool tending the fire beneath the stove.
The kitchen overflowed with warmth and the comforting smells of home.
Han Xiuxiu fetched water from the storage jar and carefully washed the freshly cut chives.
She chopped them into short pieces.
Then she crushed two cloves of homegrown garlic.
The ingredients were ready.
After setting the bowls and chopsticks on the table, she called,
“Dad! Dinner’s ready!”
Han Daliang knocked the ash from his pipe against his shoe before coming inside.
Madam Li cracked the eggs into a bowl, sprinkled in a little salt, and beat them briskly in one direction.
She poured them into hot oil.
The egg immediately puffed up into fluffy golden curds.
The rich aroma filled the house.
Once the eggs were nearly done, she tossed in the chopped chives.
Moments later, a fragrant plate of garlic chive scrambled eggs emerged from the wok, steaming invitingly.
Dinner consisted of:
A large bowl of stir-fried cabbage flavored with dried chilies.
A bright green-and-gold plate of garlic chive scrambled eggs.
A small bowl of homemade pickled vegetables.
And a simple soup made by boiling water in the same wok after cooking.
Three dishes and a soup.
For a farming family…
It was a feast.
Smelling the delicious food, Han Daliang asked Han Xiaoxiao to fetch the wine jar from beneath the bed.
Tonight, he intended to enjoy a drink.
A pot of white rice steamed on the stove.
Everyone would receive one bowl.
At the bottom was a layer of crisp golden rice crust.
Madam Li poured water over it and added more firewood to the stove.
After the rice was finished, they would have fragrant crispy-rice porridge.
Han Xiuxiu had to admit something.
Although Madam Li was sharp-tongued and unpleasant…
She was an excellent cook.
The dishes were simple.
Yet they tasted better than anything Han Xiuxiu had ever eaten in her previous life.
Earlier, Han Xiaoxiao had been excited about eating eggs.
But once everyone sat down, she only reached for the cabbage.
Seeing that made Han Xiuxiu’s heart ache.
She immediately picked up a generous helping of eggs and placed them into her sister’s bowl.
“Xiaoxiao.”
“Eat while it’s hot.”
Garlic chives, fluffy eggs, and steaming rice quickly puffed Han Xiaoxiao’s cheeks full.
She smiled sweetly at her sister.
Madam Li ignored the two girls completely.
She only served food to herself and Han Dongdong.
Han Daliang drank slowly.
Before he’d eaten more than a couple bites, the entire plate of eggs had already disappeared.
He complained that Madam Li had cooked too little.
She smiled sideways at Han Xiuxiu.
“Three eggs wasn’t exactly a small amount.”
“Dongdong and I hardly ate any.”
“Who knew it’d disappear so fast?”
“Next time I’ll cook more.”
Han Xiuxiu pretended not to hear.
Instead, she picked up more cabbage for Xiaoxiao and ladled two spoonfuls of soup into her bowl.
The little girl was still growing.
Of course she should eat more.
Afterward, Han Xiuxiu helped herself to half a bowl of crispy-rice porridge, eating it together with the pickled vegetables.
The toasted aroma made her wish she could eat another bowl.
Perhaps the happiest part of being reborn…
Was being able to enjoy food like this.
Meals that had become unimaginable luxuries in the apocalypse.
Every bite reminded her how fortunate she was to live again in a peaceful era.
The people here were poor.
But at least…
Most of them could still fill their stomachs.
Once she married…
She would build a better life.
She would never go hungry again.
She would eat whatever she wished.
She would never let Xiaoxiao timidly avoid reaching for food again.
She would raise her little sister healthy and plump.
She couldn’t truly change things while living in the Han household.
But after marriage…
Everything would be different.
Meanwhile, Lu Yunfei had just received Aunt Zhang’s message that the Han family had accepted his proposal.
A cold mountain breeze swept over him, making him shiver.
Though spring had arrived, mornings and evenings remained chilly.
Especially in the mountains.
After rain, people still wore padded jackets.
Walking home along the narrow path, he mentally listed everything he still needed to prepare.
Tomorrow he’d hunt several pheasants.
They would make respectable gifts for the Han family and show his hunting ability.
He still had smoked wild boar from last year.
He could send a few slabs of that.
He also planned to buy fresh pork and some sweets from town.
The more he thought…
The more excited he became about getting married.
Black Panther ran ahead before stopping to wag his tail and wait for him.
Master and dog walked home together.
The house was pitch black.
No lamp had been lit.
In the countryside, once night fell, darkness swallowed everything.
He had always been used to living alone.
Yet now…
He found himself looking forward to marriage.
No matter what time he returned home…
There would be candlelight waiting inside.
He would push open the door…
See a smiling face…
And hear someone say—
“You’re home.”
Before, that image had felt vague.
But today…
He clearly remembered the girl’s fair little face.
No larger than his palm.
Bright black eyes.
Lips like rose petals.
A voice so soft and gentle.
If she were the one saying those words…
Without realizing it, the corners of Lu Yunfei’s mouth lifted into a smile.
Country weddings weren’t nearly as elaborate as those of wealthy families.
Instead of taking months or even years to complete all the formalities…
Everything was finished within half a month.
Madam Li had originally intended to keep the entire eight taels and eight mace of bride price.
Han Daliang refused.
He feared people would criticize them.
In the end, he forced her to use half of it as Han Xiuxiu’s dowry.
Four taels wasn’t a fortune.
But it was enough.
Several bolts of patterned cloth.
A new quilt.
And a collection of household necessities.
Nothing extravagant.
Yet respectable enough that no one could criticize the family.
After several weeks of proper meals, Han Xiuxiu’s body had mostly recovered.
She was still slender.
But her pale face now carried healthy color.
Dressed in her red wedding gown…
Her head covered with the bridal veil…
She sat inside the small sedan chair carried by two men.
Listening to the music outside, she quietly lifted the curtain for a look.
Mountains stretched endlessly into the distance.
Terraced fields carved into the hillsides shimmered with fresh green.
It was the most vibrant season of the year.
After arriving at her new home, Han Xiuxiu was led into the bridal chamber.
Bright red paper cutouts of the Double Happiness character decorated the windows and walls.
Village women crowded inside, chatting noisily.
Once the wedding feast began outside, the room finally emptied.
Han Xiuxiu lifted her veil.
She quietly looked around the room.
Then she sat back on the bed and covered herself once more.
Night slowly fell.
The voices outside gradually faded.
The wedding guests all hurried home before it grew too late.
A pair of red candles filled the room with warm crimson light.
Footsteps approached.
A moment later, Lu Yunfei entered.
His tall figure blocked the candlelight.
He reached out…
And gently lifted her bridal veil.
Han Xiuxiu lowered her head slightly.
From where he stood, Lu Yunfei could only see her long eyelashes…
And cheeks lightly dusted with rouge.
Under the candlelight…
She looked even more beautiful than the day he first met her.
She slowly raised her eyes to look at him.
Spring seemed to bloom inside those eyes.
His breathing unconsciously grew heavier.
“You…”
“Are you hungry?”
“Would… would you like something to eat?”
Lu Yunfei desperately tried to remain calm.
Even so, his words came out stumbling.
Han Xiuxiu couldn’t help laughing.
His face instantly turned red.
“What are you laughing at?”
She smiled mischievously.
“I’m laughing because someone once rejected my father without the slightest hesitation.”
“He said he absolutely didn’t want to marry me.”
“But the very next day…”
“He hurriedly found a matchmaker and came asking for my hand.”
“Tell me…”
“Isn’t that funny?”
Lu Yunfei blushed even harder.
“I…”
“Well…”
He couldn’t think of a single excuse.
Was he supposed to admit that the moment he truly looked at her…
He had completely changed his mind?
Watching him blush, Han Xiuxiu stood up.
She gently hooked one of his fingers with hers.
Looking up into his face, she said softly,
“Thank you for marrying me.”
“I’m so happy…”
“…that I get to marry you.”
Her shy eyes met his.
One glance from her made his whole body go numb.
His palm grew damp inside her hand.
After a long moment, he finally managed to breathe again.
“I…”
“I’m happy too.”