Xiaoxue quickly drew her face back. Then she swung a side kick and sent Madam Deng sprawling to the ground. Though Xiaoxue had moved fast, Madam Deng’s nails still scraped across Xiaoxue’s cheek, leaving a cut.
Seeing this, Madam Zhao no longer had time to break up the fight. She hurried over to examine Yan Chuxue’s face carefully, then said, “Thank goodness the cut isn’t too deep. Otherwise, it might have left a scar.” She turned to Madam Deng and scolded her angrily. “Third Aunt[1]Chinese kinship terms can specify an elder relative’s place in the family order. Here “Third Aunt” addresses the wife of Third Uncle Yan. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3717454_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3717454_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });, what was that supposed to mean? Xiaoxue is a young woman. Mother knows how important her face is to her!”
Yan Chuxue wiped the blood from her face and walked toward Madam Deng with a cold laugh. Madam Deng was curled up on the ground, clutching her stomach and looking pained. Yan Chuxue had put real force into that kick; Madam Deng would probably be bedridden for several days.
When Madam Deng saw Yan Chuxue approaching, she shrank back in terror and said, “D-don’t come any closer! I-I’m your elder!”
Yan Chuxue gave a scornful snort. “Why didn’t you remember you were my elder when you were trying to ruin my face?” As she spoke, she gripped Madam Deng’s chin so hard it seemed she might crush it.
Seeing that things were getting out of hand, Madam Zhao hurriedly said, “Xiaoxue, we have guests. Let’s go back now.”
Yan Chuxue snorted and kicked Madam Deng once more before leaving with Madam Zhao.
Auntie Qin was trembling with anger. If Madam Deng hadn’t made such a scene today, things would never have turned out like this.
Matchmaker Yuan was deeply frustrated, too. She had never met a family so unreasonable. This marriage proposal probably wouldn’t come to anything now.
Fortunately, Madam Zhao hadn’t forgotten about them. She said apologetically, “Please, come with me. I’m so sorry about what just happened.” She led Auntie Qin and the others toward the old house.
Matchmaker Yuan glanced at Yan Chuxue, thinking that the girl was no pushover. She wondered whether Young Master Tang would be able to keep her in line, as her Mother might have hoped.
Madam Deng could only watch the others leave, unwillingly. Still, she thought the marriage was probably off now. Who would want to marry such a fierce wife?
As soon as Madam Zhao and the others were gone, Madam Deng began groaning, “Oh, it hurts, it hurts!” She turned to Madam Zhou and said, “Mother, please call a doctor for me. I’m in agony!”
Madam Zhou’s expression changed, and she snapped, “Why call a doctor? Just lie down for a while. What could one kick from a young girl possibly do? Who’s as delicate as you?”
In any case, Madam Zhou refused to fetch a doctor. With no other choice, Madam Deng sent Yan Yujiao to call Third Master Fang, the village’s barefoot doctor[2]“Barefoot doctor” is a term best known for rural Chinese health workers with basic training in the twentieth century. Here it is used for a village practitioner and does not by itself establish … Continue reading jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3717454_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3717454_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });.
After examining her, Third Master Fang said, “It’s nothing. Rest for a couple of days and you’ll be fine.” Then he collected his fee and left.
Madam Deng grudgingly paid the five copper coins for the visit, cursing Yan Chuxue in her heart.
Meanwhile, Auntie Qin and the others followed Madam Zhao to the old house. Auntie Qin was still seething. She had no liking for Third Uncle Yan and his wife, finding them far too calculating. It was a good thing Snow Girl wasn’t their daughter; otherwise, she would have done everything she could to stop Tang Hongxi from marrying her.
Yan Chuxue still couldn’t figure out why Tang Hongxi had come to propose. They had only met yesterday, and he was already proposing today. Could he have fallen in love with her at first sight? Yan Chuxue thought rather highly of herself—but of course, that was pure speculation. Bored, she was crouching by the corner of the wall, counting ants. Madam Zhao had sent her outside so she wouldn’t overhear anything.
Madam Zhao awkwardly poured three bowls of plain water for Yang Qin-shi and the other two, then said sheepishly, “We don’t have any tea leaves at home. I hope you won’t think badly of us.”
Matchmaker Yuan wasn’t particularly fussy. Putting the earlier unpleasantness aside for the moment, she smiled and said, “You’ve both seen Young Master Tang’s character and appearance. Though he came from elsewhere, he’s settled in the village now. If Miss Yan marries him, she’ll be close to her Mother’s family, and you’ll be able to look in on her.
“What’s more, once Miss Yan marries him, she’ll be mistress of her own household, with no mother-in-law[3]In many traditional marriages, a wife joined her husband’s family and was expected to respect and assist her mother-in-law. A separate household could lessen those everyday obligations. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3717454_1_3').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3717454_1_3', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); to serve. That’s something many people can only dream of.”
Yan Dajun was tempted by the match. After all, Yan Chuxue’s reputation had been ruined because of Tang Hongxi, and marrying Tang Hongxi would certainly be best. He simply knew nothing about the man himself.
Yan Dajun thought for a moment, then asked, “What does Young Master Tang plan to do for a living? He doesn’t look like someone who knows how to farm, Mother.”
That was Yan Dajun’s greatest worry. He didn’t want his daughter to marry into hardship. She had already suffered enough at home, and he hoped she would have an easier life after marriage.
At that, Tang Hongxi stepped forward and said, “Fifth Uncle Yan, please don’t worry. I’ve found a position teaching at a school in town. I’ll earn two taels[4]A tael, also called a liang, is a traditional unit of weight used for silver and monetary accounting. Its weight and purchasing power varied by period. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3717454_1_4').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3717454_1_4', 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. I’ve also asked Village Chief Yang to arrange for me to buy three mu[5]A mu is a traditional Chinese unit of land area, approximately 667 square meters under the modern standard; historical measurements varied. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3717454_1_5').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3717454_1_5', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); of paddy fields. I can rent them out for others to farm. Please rest assured, Mother, I won’t let Miss Yan suffer.”
Although Yan Dajun was tempted, he still didn’t agree. But neither did he reject the proposal outright. “There’s no need to rush. Let our family discuss it some more.”
Matchmaker Yuan knew that families who cared about their daughters wouldn’t agree on the spot, so she smiled and said, “That’s only right. This concerns Miss Yan’s whole life, so of course you should think it over carefully, Mother.”
References[+]