Back in her room, Xiang Wenshan lay down and sighed. How had she agreed so quickly?
But maybe agreeing wasn’t bad. In two or three years, people would definitely start pressuring her to marry. In this era, if a girl wasn’t married by twenty, people would gossip behind her back, calling her an “old maid.”
Besides, she’d be stuck in the countryside at least seven or eight years. By then she’d be twenty-five or twenty-six. If she still wasn’t married, people’s spit could probably drown her.
She shook her head. Stop thinking about it.
After returning home, Song Zhaohua took off his clothes and lay down directly.
Song Yinghua sniffed the air. “Fifth Brother, did you sneak out to eat something good? Why do I smell peach pastries?”
Song Zhaohua nearly choked on his breath. What kind of dog nose was that? He could even smell that?
Keeping a straight face, he said, “You’re mistaken. Where would I get peach pastries? My pockets are cleaner than my face — not a single cent. You treating me?”
Song Yinghua thought about it. True — among the whole family, Fifth Brother was the only one without secret savings. He rubbed his nose. “I don’t have money either. Must’ve smelled wrong. Hehe.”
After saying that, he lay down, still frowning. He could’ve sworn he didn’t smell wrong.
Seeing him turn away, Song Zhaohua quietly let out a sigh of relief. What kind of family was this? Too miserable.
Eating something tasteless in secret and still getting suspected.
If he ever ate meat, wouldn’t the whole family put him on trial?
He became even more determined to move out as soon as possible.
Early the next morning, the whole family was eating when Song Zhaohua washed up and sat down.
Yu Zhaodi shot him a disdainful look. “Planning to slack off again today? Why don’t you learn from your eldest brother and earn ten work points? You’re capable of earning ten but insist on earning three. Aren’t you ashamed?”
Song Zhaohua didn’t care. “What’s there to be ashamed of? Some people don’t earn even one work point and still get to eat eggs. If they’re not ashamed, why should I be?”
Song Lanhua bristled. “Fifth Brother, what do you mean? Are you talking about me and Seventh Brother?
I don’t work because I’m thinking about this family! If I go work in the fields, I’ll get dark and rough-skinned. How will I marry a city man?
Once I marry into the city, our family will have face in the production team. In the future, I’ll bring everyone to eat state grain!”
Song Zhaohua let out a scoff. “You think city men are fools? They’ve got city girls to choose from — why would they come to the countryside for you?
More importantly, why you? What do you have? What would they want from you?”
Song Lanhua’s face twisted, voice shrill. “Mom! Look at him! Say something! What kind of brother talks about his own sister like that?”
“Oh? Wasn’t I telling the truth? Or else why are you so angry? So temperamental. City men don’t like women who blow up at every little thing.”
Song Lanhua stamped her foot and screamed, “Ah!”
Yu Zhaodi’s head buzzed from the noise. “Enough! Sit down and eat. And you, Fifth — why do you have to say things that stab people in the heart?
Sixth, sit down. Mom steamed egg custard for you today. Ignore your Fifth Brother. You know what kind of rascal he is. Arguing with him only makes you angry.”
Song Lanhua sat down and glared viciously at Song Zhaohua before turning sweetly to her mother. “Mom’s the best. When I marry into the city, I’ll take you to a state-run restaurant for big buns and braised pork.”
Yu Zhaodi grinned ear to ear. “Good, good.”
Song Zhaohua rolled his eyes. Couldn’t they tell she was just drawing a pie in the sky?
The younger children in the Song family watched their aunt and uncle eating egg custard, swallowing hard and staring longingly.
Song Laoliu and Song Laoqi didn’t even glance at them.
Yu Zhaodi noticed and banged her chopsticks on the table. “What are you staring at? Useless things. Eat your food. If you don’t eat now, don’t eat at all!”
The children quickly lowered their heads and shoveled rice into their mouths.
When things finally quieted, Song Zhaohua cleared his throat.
Yu Zhaodi shot him another glare. “Can’t even eat in peace.”
“Ahem… Dad, Mom, I have something important to tell you.”
Song Dashan and Yu Zhaodi both turned to look at him.
“Dad, Mom — I’m going to get married.”
Everyone at the table stared at Song Laowu.
Third Brother’s wife nudged her husband’s arm and gave him a look. Third Brother returned a reassuring glance.
Before anyone else could speak, Third Brother grinned. “That’s good news! Fifth, who’s the girl? Which family? How much bride price are they asking?”
Fourth Brother chimed in, “Yeah, what’s her family like? And where will you live after marriage? You can’t get married and still share a room with Seventh Brother, right? That wouldn’t look good.”
Yu Zhaodi was extremely curious too. Last time she’d introduced a girl who didn’t ask for bride price and he’d refused, even scolding her. She wanted to see what kind of girl he’d found himself.
“Do they want bride price? If it’s too much, forget it.”
Song Laowu looked around the table, a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. He’d expected this.
“They don’t want any bride price.”
As soon as he said that, several people at the table smiled broadly.
Yu Zhaodi’s face wrinkled with joy. “No bride price is good! Very good! Which family? Is she hardworking? Is the girl diligent?”
Song Zhaohua rested his fist against his cheek, tapping his temple with a finger.
“Hmm… She’s probably not good at farm work. She’s pampered — kind of like Sixth. A treasured daughter at home.
But… in every other way, she’s better than Sixth. Compared to her, Sixth is like heaven and—”
“…one above ground, and of course the one underground is the sixth one.
“But they have one condition—he’d have to marry into their family.”
“What did you say?!”