When Yan Chuxue returned to the Yan Residence, she found that everyone had gone to the main room. She went there and discovered that Third Uncle Yan’s family had come back. Nearly everyone was there: except for their eldest daughter, who was already married, their younger daughter, Yan Yujiao, and their son, Yan Junjie, had both returned.
Madam Zhou was sitting on the kang with Yan Junjie nestled in her arms, feeding him snacks. When she saw Yan Chuxue enter, Madam Zhou gave her a look of disgust. But apparently wary of something, she said stiffly, “Snow Girl’s here. Sit by your mother.”
Yan Chuxue answered and felt instinctively that something was amiss. Madam Zhou wasn’t usually so agreeable. She sat down beside Madam Zhao and asked quietly, “Mother, did Third Uncle and his family come back for something?”
Madam Zhao’s expression darkened. “I don’t know. Your Third Uncle came back and talked with your grandparents in their room for a long time. Then your grandmother had Ergou call your father back.”
Third Uncle Yan shot Yan Chuxue a sinister look. It was all that wretched girl’s fault. Yesterday she had not only knocked him unconscious, but had knocked Steward Zhang out too, nearly causing him to offend Steward Zhang. He had paid a hefty sum to appease Steward Zhang’s anger.
Suppressing his fury, Third Uncle Yan forced a smile and said to Yan Dajun, “Fifth Son, I found Snow Girl a job at the Li Residence in the county town[1]A county town served as the administrative center of a county, a local territorial division in China. The chapter does not specify a particular historical dynasty. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3717453_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3717453_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });. She’ll earn two qian[2]Qian is a traditional Chinese weight unit, generally one-tenth of a tael (liang), sometimes used to state quantities of silver. Monetary value varied over time. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3717453_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3717453_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); of silver a month. Snow Girl’s reputation in the village isn’t good these days, so why not let her go to the county town and lie low for a while? She can also earn money toward her dowry[3]A dowry is money or property supplied by the bride’s side for her marriage, distinct from the groom’s betrothal gifts. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3717453_1_3').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3717453_1_3', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });.”
Third Uncle Yan made it sound as though he was thinking entirely of Yan Chuxue. He really did seem like a kind uncle.
Yan Dajun replied evenly, “What kind of job? If she has to sell herself as a maid[4]This phrase suggests entering a binding domestic-service arrangement rather than taking an ordinary paid job; the exact legal terms are not specified in the chapter. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3717453_1_4').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3717453_1_4', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });, then no. I can afford to support my daughter.”
For an instant, Third Uncle Yan’s expression changed. “I’m Snow Girl’s own uncle. How could I make her do something like that?” He gave a dry laugh.
The room fell silent. At last, the head of the Yan family, Yan Qingshan, spoke. “It’s settled, then. Snow Girl will go to town with Third Uncle tomorrow.”
Ever since Madam Zhao had learned how Madam Zhou and Third Uncle Yan had behaved, she had not trusted Third Uncle Yan for a moment. She desperately tried to signal Yan Dajun to refuse.
Yan Dajun was also uneasy about Yan Chuxue going with Third Uncle Yan. In a muffled voice, he said, “Let’s talk about it later. Third Brother hardly ever comes home, so let’s not get into all this now. I’ll have her mother go get dinner ready.”
Madam Zhao seized the chance to say, “That’s right. Father, Mother, I’ll go prepare dinner.” With that, she led Yan Chuxue out.
Since he hadn’t gotten what he wanted, Third Uncle Yan was naturally unwilling to leave things there. He and Madam Zhou whispered together in the room for quite some time before returning to the east wing.
That evening, after the family of three returned to their old house, Yan Chuxue opened the cupboard and pretended to take the rabbit meat out of it.
Madam Zhao paused. “Where did this rabbit come from?”
Yan Chuxue regretted forgetting about it and quickly made up an excuse. “I found it at the foot of Dalian Mountain this afternoon. It probably hit its head against a tree and got knocked out. There wasn’t much meat, so I didn’t take it out earlier. You and Father won’t blame me, will you?”
Yan Chuxue also wanted to use the opportunity to test where Yan Dajun and Madam Zhao drew the line when it came to the rest of the Yan family.
Yan Dajun looked at the rabbit meat and was silent for a while. Then he said to Madam Zhao, “Xiaoxue saved it for you. You should eat it.”
Madam Zhao smiled at him. “You should have some too.”
Yan Chuxue watched the two of them share the half-rabbit, then smiled. It seemed Yan Dajun and Madam Zhao weren’t as muddleheaded as she had thought.
Early the next morning, just after the whole Yan family had finished breakfast, Yang Qin-shi arrived with Tang Hongxi. A matchmaker[5]A matchmaker acted as a go-between for a formal marriage proposal, commonly approaching the prospective bride’s household on behalf of the suitor. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3717453_1_5').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3717453_1_5', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); they had brought from town came with them.
As soon as the three stepped inside, the matchmaker beamed. “Wonderful news! Wonderful news!”
Madam Deng knew Matchmaker Yuan, since she was quite famous in town. She looked to Third Uncle Yan, hoping he would decide what to do.
Third Uncle Yan’s eyes darkened, and he signaled for her to wait and see.
When no one in the room responded, Matchmaker Yuan kept smiling and continued, “I’m the official matchmaker from town. I took my husband’s surname, Yuan, and today I’ve come on behalf of Young Master Tang to propose marriage to your family’s eldest daughter.”
Everyone in the room looked bewildered. Seeing their reaction, Matchmaker Yuan explained, “I mean the eldest daughter of Fifth Son Yan’s family.”
At that, everyone turned to look at Yan Chuxue. Madam Deng, however, asked, “Which Young Master Tang do you mean?” She couldn’t recall anyone in the village with the surname Tang. Could he be from town? If so, she would have to ruin this marriage proposal all the more.
Matchmaker Yuan smiled. “The one staying at the Village Chief’s house. Though Young Master Tang is lodging with the Village Chief for now, he’s already bought a plot of land. They’ll start building his house in a couple of days, so Miss Yan won’t be left without a place to live.”
Hearing that, Tang Hongxi hurried forward and stammered, “I—I’ll take good care of Miss Yan.” He watched Yan Chuxue nervously, his hands clenched into fists.
Yan Chuxue’s mouth fell slightly open. What was going on? Could someone explain? They had only met yesterday, and today he was already here to propose. Had he fallen in love with her at first sight? Yan Chuxue indulged in the conceited thought—but of course, she was only imagining things.
But then she remembered she was only fourteen. In the apocalypse, she would still be in middle school. Now someone was already coming to ask for her hand in marriage. A wave of revulsion passed through her, and she felt uncomfortable all over.
Before her family could say anything, Madam Deng eagerly jumped in. “What marriage proposal? My Xiaoxue isn’t getting married. She’s going to town to work. Some poor scholar dares to come propose—can he even afford the betrothal gifts[6]Betrothal gifts were traditionally offered by the groom’s side during marriage negotiations. Their form and amount depended on local custom and family circumstances. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3717453_1_6').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3717453_1_6', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });?
“Get out, get out, get out! Leave now, or don’t blame me for what I do!” Madam Deng grabbed a broom and swung it at Tang Hongxi and the others. She was determined to ruin the match.
As the scuffle continued, Madam Deng took advantage of the confusion and turned her attention to Yan Chuxue. She glared at Yan Chuxue viciously, thinking, I’ll scratch up that face and see who’ll still want to marry you.
Yan Chuxue was trying to break up the fight and didn’t notice what was happening behind her. By the time she felt it, Madam Deng’s long, sharp fingernails were already touching her skin.
References[+]