17
The Matchmaker Proposes
Liu Zhi thought to herself, no wonder her mother looked younger than Auntie despite being similar in age. Moreover, Mother knew how to win Father’s heart, always putting her first in everything.
Even the communal funds—Mother would feign hardship to make Father set aside some money for her. She remembered Mother saying:
“Brother Liu, I know Mother doesn’t approve of me and only favors Sister, but we met first, understood each other’s feelings, and pledged ourselves to one another.”
“If I fall ill and Mother refuses to use the communal funds to treat Xiang’er, so be it. But what about our sons and daughters?”
She spoke with such genuine emotion, leaning lightly against Father’s shoulder, tears streaming down her cheeks—glistening like morning dew nourishing flower petals, conveying boundless tenderness.
Lifting her gaze slightly to meet Father’s eyes, her stunningly beautiful pupils held him spellbound.
Father, moved deeply, embraced Mother and poured out his own struggles—how his own mother never accepted her—before agreeing with both emotion and tenderness.
Then, pitying her, he said, “Xiang’er, you’ve suffered,” and gave two coins to five-year-old Liu Zhi, telling her to take her one-year-old brother to buy sweets.
It was the day the peddler came to the village. He carried his goods from hamlet to hamlet to sell.
At five, she understood nothing but her love for candy, so she obediently took her brother out.
Yet she remembered their conversation. When she returned with her brother that evening asking for Mother, Father said Mother wasn’t feeling well.
She didn’t understand—hadn’t Mother been fine during the day? She wanted to see her, but Father said Mother was tired and shouldn’t be disturbed.
But they hadn’t even worked in the fields that day?
Now recalling everything, Liu Zhi flushed with embarrassment and hurriedly replied, “Alright, Mother, I’ll go to bed first.” Covering her crimson cheeks, she hurried away.
Yu Xiang gazed sorrowfully at her husband lying in bed.
His thick brows arched defiantly, beneath them long, slightly curled lashes framed a handsome nose bridge and skin weathered firm as iron by time’s trials.
Yet now he lay weak in bed. Had he not been decent-looking, skilled in his trade, kind to her, and from an uncomplicated family, she would never have married into this household.
Helplessly, she dipped a handkerchief in water to wipe his body clean. Beads of sweat covered his forehead, as if he were in great pain.
As she carefully dried the perspiration from his brow, the door creaked open.
Grandma Liu entered to find her daughter-in-law wiping her son’s body—he was being well cared for. She looked kindly at Yu Xiang and said:
“Xiang’er, you’ve worked hard. Has his condition changed?”
Yu Xiang replied sadly, “Mother, there’s no change.”
“Mm, you should rest early too. I’ll go check on Qingyang.” Having learned what she needed, Grandma Liu left.
After she departed, Yu Xiang remained watching by the bedside until she drifted into fitful sleep, faintly sensing a large hand stroking her head.
Grandma Liu had intended to visit the eldest son’s room but found it already dark. With no alternative, she turned back.
Just as she closed the door, Grandpa Liu asked, “How are things?”
“The eldest had already gone to bed. The second daughter-in-law was wiping Qingzhu’s sweat by his bedside. I suspect she’ll watch over him till dawn.”
Grandpa Liu reflected, “We chose well with this daughter-in-law. We mustn’t let her down—she truly cherishes her man.”
“I’ll sneak her a few coins tomorrow to buy some meat buns and nourish her body. Don’t even think about the eldest son – I’ve never seen anyone so lazy. Ah! It’s my fault for misjudging people.”
“Children and grandchildren will have their own fortunes.”
Grandma Liu watched Grandpa Liu close his eyes, suddenly remembering how her third son used to softly call out:
“Mother~.” Chubby little Qing-Lin would hold out his arms begging for a hug.
Soon the lamp in the room went out.
Meanwhile, Liu Shuhuai was happily falling asleep while holding Brother He.
A few days later.
“Oh, aren’t you Second Sister-in-law from Liu Yan’s family?”
Yu Xiang smiled at the woman greeting her: “Yes, that’s me. What are you up to, auntie?”
“Just bringing food to my husband – he’s building houses in the next village.” Then she whispered: “I heard someone’s coming to propose to your Liu Zhi tomorrow?”
Yu Xiang confirmed: “That’s right, it’s Wang Wen-Bin from Wang Village. Would you like to come to my house, auntie?”
“Oh no, I’ve got things to do. I should be going.” The auntie hurriedly excused herself to deliver the meal.
“Alright, take care.”
Yu Xiang had just returned from her parents’ home. They had used the same excuse to trick her into coming back, claiming they had no money again, and she had no choice but to give them some. They just wouldn’t stop. If her precious son were to die, maybe then they’d finally leave her alone.
A grown man still unmarried, always finding excuses to ask her for money.
Deep in Great Black Mountain.
Liu Shuhuai wasn’t afraid of being required to gather four bundles of firewood daily, since Brother He was with him. Today, Brother He had smeared something from a box on his face. It didn’t take long, but when he looked at his reflection in the water, he discovered he looked even more pitiful than before Brother He appeared – like a famine refugee who ate nothing but chaff and wild herbs every day.
“Brother He, you’re amazing.Liu Shuhuai worshipfully pounced into He Xunzhou’s arms.
He Xunzhou instantly felt his vanity swell. Smiling, he said: “I’ll teach you.” He wanted to raise Liu Shuhuai to be healthy and plump, while ensuring he learned how to make himself look like a complete beggar.
“Mhmm.” Brother He was truly capable of anything.
…
The next morning, the matchmaker arrived at the Liu Family, stating that Wang Wen-Bin was interested in Liu Zhi and hoped for permission to marry her.
Everyone sat in the main hall, except for the two who were injured.
Although Grandma Liu agreed, she demanded a bride price of six taels of silver.
Ordinary families usually paid two taels for a bride price – this was practically selling a daughter! The matchmaker complained inwardly, but had no choice but to return and discuss with the Wang Family.
Grandma Liu knew six taels was the Wang Family’s limit, but as long as her granddaughter married over, she could help support her maternal family.
Liu Zhi felt heartbroken seeing her grandmother treat her like merchandise. The Wang Family would never agree to six taels, especially since Wang Wen-Bin still needed to study.
She looked helplessly at her birth mother, who signaled her to stay quiet for now, so she could only seal her lips.
She had followed her mother’s advice to pay great attention to her appearance, never skipping her daily routines. When she met Wang Wen-Bin, she had even applied an ointment that made people infatuated.
Sure enough, her mother hadn’t been wrong. She had merely mentioned that Grandma intended to marry her off to an old man in exchange for a bride price, and that she didn’t know what to do except come to him.
She said she only loved him, and if he didn’t marry her, she would have to die to protect their love.
Wang Wen-Bin comforted her, saying he would speak to his parents and send a matchmaker to her home. They would marry right after he completed the Children’s Examination, and told her not to be afraid.
Wang Wen-Bin gazed at Liu Zhi’s graceful figure paired with her sweet smile—beautiful as a poem, unforgettable as a painting.
For some reason, he found her utterly captivating.
Her natural fragrance intoxicated him, almost as if luring him in.
When they parted, he kissed the back of her hand and was pleased to see her shyly glare at him before turning her face away.
“Xiao Zhi, with you in my life, I have all I need!”
Blushing, Liu Zhi replied, “Brother Wang, my heart belongs to you. I only wish to spend the rest of my life with you.”
They gazed at each other with deep affection, reluctant to part. It was Liu Zhi who finally took her leave first, while Wang Wen-Bin continued to watch her receding figure.