Jiang Xiaoyu was cooking lunch while Damei burned firewood under the stove. Second Sister was in the main room teaching the two younger boys how to behave and learn characters. Damei peeked inside; the main room was noisy and lively, and Second Sister was busy lecturing the boys about manners, so there was no time to come over.
When Damei went to look for her grandmother and aunt, she happened to hear Doctor Pan discussing Second Sister’s marriage with her grandmother. From the way it sounded, Doctor Pan wanted to marry Second Sister. Even she could tell, so her parents must have known about it long ago. The conversation from last night that went late into the night was probably about this. She told her stepmother everything she had overheard.
“Mom, if one spouse dies, does the other one immediately remarry? Did they have feelings for each other before? I feel like Dad and my biological mom didn’t have much affection, but Uncle Pan and his wife probably did.”
Jiang Xiaoyu was stumped. Why did she treat her husband like a boss and the role of stepmother like a job? Because when money is involved, everything becomes gains and losses. Winning brings joy, losing only hurts a little. But emotions are different, they can hurt deeply. Still, no matter the era, genuine feelings do exist. She couldn’t use her own modern perspective to guide a young, still-naive child like Damei.
So Jiang Xiaoyu didn’t talk about others. Instead, she used herself as an example.
“My grandmother thinks being your stepmother means I won’t have a good life. But what I think is, your dad earns a salary that equals two ordinary workers. Marrying him means I can eat rationed grain and don’t have to farm. Damei, you’ve suffered at your grandparents’ and your grandmother’s house, but you haven’t experienced the hardship of the countryside. I haven’t either, but I’ve seen it. If I had to live that life facing the earth all day, I couldn’t stand it. Becoming your dad’s wife and your stepmother means my life is much easier than in the countryside. I’ve never regretted it.”
Damei understood the surface meaning. The stepmother didn’t want to suffer in the countryside, so she chose this marriage. Maybe Second Sister also didn’t want to deal with in-laws, daughters-in-law disputes, and complicated families, so she set her sights on Doctor Pan.
But she still couldn’t understand. Uncle Pan and Aunt Sun had clearly loved each other so much. How could he already be proposing marriage to Second Sister so soon? Wasn’t that making their marriage look like a joke?
Damei sighed heavily and stopped asking.
Jiang Xiaoyu thought it still needed guidance, or at least a different way of thinking.
“There’s no need to be sad,” she said gently. “As long as you live happily while you’re alive, what happens after death doesn’t matter. I never think about what comes after death. So I want to spend my life using your dad’s money to buy good food and share it with everyone. You should do the same. Just focus on being happy while you’re alive.”
Damei smiled shyly. “Mom, you’re amazing. I don’t feel troubled anymore.”
…
Outside the guesthouse, Pan Mengping had already told He Juzhen that he wanted to marry her second daughter. He Juzhen refused. She was unwilling to let her daughter become a stepmother, and used the excuse that the children at home didn’t get along to reject him.
But Pan Mengping had noticed Li Ruyi’s expression. She actually seemed willing, just restrained by her mother’s opposition.
He gathered his courage and continued persuading them. In truth, he knew exactly what the old woman cared about. He offered a bride price of one hundred eighty-eight yuan, promised that for Li Ruyi’s younger brother’s future marriage, no matter what the other party asked for, he would add one hundred yuan, and if the younger brother built a house, he would subsidize another three hundred yuan, paid when construction began.
He Juzhen was burning with jealousy. Her family lived in a semi-rural area, and three tiled rooms could be built for four to five hundred yuan. Pan Mengping clearly had that ability. Compared to him, Mu Chengfeng, who split child expenses with his daughter and only contributed twenty yuan a month, suddenly looked even wealthier. And now all of that benefit has gone to Jiang Xiaoyu. Her eldest daughter had truly been too foolish.
Inside the guesthouse, Li Ruyi clearly wanted to agree, but she couldn’t say it outright in front of her mother. She simply wore a stiff expression, as if she had accepted fate.
“I really live completely differently from my sister,” she said bitterly. “She can do whatever she wants, but you control everything about me, what I eat, what I wear, even who I marry. Do you even care whether I live well or not? You only care about benefits. With such a high bride price and you still think it’s not enough, I’d like to see what price you can sell me for in the future.”
He Juzhen nearly fainted from anger. She had only considered this match because Pan Mengping had better conditions and the children were already part of the family, not because she truly wanted to force her daughter into hardship.
“You think stepmother is easy?” she snapped. “That little boy at his house was kicking and shouting yesterday. How are you supposed to handle that?”
Li Ruyi hesitated. Nothing in life was perfect. But even a first marriage would involve in-laws, sisters-in-law, and complicated families. Were those any easier?
“I won’t marry then,” she said in anger. “I’ll stay unmarried.”
But saying that only made her more upset. If she didn’t marry, what about her siblings and future in-laws? Would they accept her? Tears welled up in her eyes.
Seeing this, He Juzhen finally softened. If they returned empty-handed, everyone back home would know she had failed to arrange anything. She had no choice but to call Pan Mengping back.
Her attitude was no longer as firm.
“You have good conditions,” she said. “And your bride price is better than anyone else’s. I shouldn’t refuse. But your eldest child is a problem. He clearly refuses to accept a stepmother. If you’re not home, how will Ruyi manage?”
Pan Mengping’s expression darkened slightly. He had also realized his son would not accept it easily. Last night, the boy had even threatened to run away if a stepmother came, saying he would go live with his grandmother.
Still, Pan Mengping made his position clear. “Then it’s simple. My children are my responsibility. I will still give monthly support. I’ll give thirty yuan per child for living expenses, and another thirty yuan for household costs. The rest of my salary I’ll save for larger expenses.”
He Juzhen frowned. “Two children don’t need thirty yuan.”
Pan Mengping smiled faintly. He was not someone who could be easily controlled.
“Whether it’s enough depends on conscience. If I don’t treat my own children well, would you still dare to marry your daughter to me?”
Li Ruyi had already made up her mind. If she could avoid becoming a stepmother, that was far better. Even if thirty yuan was gone, life would still be easier. She could also slowly look for work under a family member’s status. She didn’t believe her life would be worse than others.
Finally, hearing Pan Mengping’s firmness, she couldn’t help but speak.
“Mom, if you don’t agree, just reject it quickly. Don’t keep hesitating and embarrassing yourself. I’m going back.”
He Juzhen had no choice. Afraid of missing out on a good match and also afraid her daughter would give up entirely and marry anyone, she finally agreed.
…
Before preparing dinner, Jiang Xiaoyu sent Damei and Second Sister back to the guesthouse to ask whether their grandmother would come for dinner.
Second Sister refused. “Grandmother doesn’t need to be called. If she wants to come, she will come on her own. If not, she has better options elsewhere.”
Damei wanted to go see what was happening, and whether Pan Mengping was still there. Second Sister wouldn’t go, and Jiang Xiaoyu didn’t allow her to go alone. So she asked Xiaojun.
Xiaojun looked at Ke Xiu, and Ke Xiu nodded. “Go ahead, don’t stay outside too long. Come back early for dinner.”
The two children ran off.
Ke Xiu then asked, “Didn’t He Juzhen ask Mu Chengfeng to introduce a match for Second Sister? Why hasn’t she come to the house?”
Jiang Xiaoyu guessed. “She probably went to find one herself.”
“Who?” Ke Xiu was shocked. “Who could she know?”
Jiang Xiaoyu said it was likely Pan Mengping. If she hadn’t come, then the matter was probably already settled.
Ke Xiu was stunned and went back to tell her mother-in-law. Soon, Hua Lianfang came to Jiang Xiaoyu to confirm whether it was true.
Jiang Xiaoyu nodded. “About eighty or ninety percent likely.”