Chapter 6: Betrothal and Replacement

At this time at home, Madam Tian noticed that everyone was up but Lin Chuntao and the others were nowhere to be seen.

He cursed and yelled at Lin Chuntao and the others to get up quickly.

But no one inside the house responded. Tian threw away the broom, picked up a piece of bamboo pole, and prepared to go upstairs to beat the person.

She rushed upstairs, only to find the bed empty!

They ran away? Impossible, where could a few girls run off to?

She hurriedly came downstairs and called Lin Changhe and Madam Qian over: "Where did those damned girls go?"

Lin Changhe and Qian Shi were both completely bewildered, but Qian Shi was the first to react.

"I didn't see her. I thought she hadn't gotten up yet. Was she not upstairs?" After asking the old lady, Qian remained silent. Zhang, who was standing next to her, exclaimed, "Could she have run away?"

"What if the betrothal party arrives but the person is nowhere to be found?"

Hearing Zhang's words, the old lady's face darkened. Looking at the people standing motionless in the courtyard, she scolded, "Go find someone! What are you all standing there for?"

Qian's temples throbbed as she thought about Lin Chuntao and the others running away. Lin Changhe, who was beside her, was still stammering, "Where...where do we look for them?"

"Go look in the sky! Where else would you look? Go look in the surrounding mountains and ask if anyone has seen them."

Lin Changhe was scolded by the old lady. He scratched the back of his head and prepared to take action, but before the Lin family members could leave the yard, they heard a commotion outside. When they opened the yard gate, they saw that the betrothal party had arrived!

Six or seven people were driving a donkey cart, with a red cloth hanging around the donkey's neck. The cart was loaded with things: a whole piece of meat, two bags of grain, and two whole bolts of cloth.

In this village, a wedding usually involves two pieces of pork, a few feet of red cloth, and a bucket of grain; I've never seen anyone give such a large dowry.

Seeing this spectacle, the villagers stopped rushing to work and joined in the fun, all following the betrothal procession to the Lin family's courtyard gate.

As arranged beforehand, the matchmaker greeted Tian warmly upon seeing her: "Sister-in-law Tian, ​​I've brought the Zhang brothers here to present betrothal gifts to your eldest daughter."

Upon hearing this, the villagers who had been watching at the door murmured among themselves, "The eldest girl? Chun Tao? Isn't she married?"

The expressions of the matchmaker and the Zhang family members changed slightly. They looked back at the villagers who were speaking, and then looked at Tian Shi with suspicion.

Tian looked embarrassed, but forced a smile and said, "Sister, you must be mistaken. The one we're going to arrange a marriage for is our second daughter, Chunxing."

The matchmaker frowned and looked at Madam Qian, who also put on a smile. "Aunt Qian, we were talking about Er Yatou before. Please don't stand at the door anymore, come in and have some water."

The matchmaker muttered to herself, but the Zhang family behind her seemed unconcerned, saying only, "Let's go inside and talk, and meet the people while we're at it."

The matchmaker thought it made sense; after all, whether it was the eldest daughter or the second daughter, they would both have to meet people.

Tian welcomed the people in, and Zhang invited them to sit down while asking her second son's wife to bring out some melon seeds.

After the betrothal party entered, the villagers followed into the courtyard, some squatting and some standing.

The children in the family were very enthusiastic about joining in the fun. Boys and girls stood in the courtyard, and the matchmaker sized up the girl in the courtyard. Madam Qian knew that she was looking for a betrothal partner for today.

Zhang Bao followed the matchmaker's gaze, looking around before his eyes fell on Lin Xian'er, who was leaning against the door. He thought it was her and was immediately delighted.

Realizing something was wrong, Madam Qian quickly said, "Auntie, we thought you wouldn't be here until the afternoon. Er Ya and the others went to work in the mountains early this morning. Have some melon seeds first, and I'll have someone go and call them back."

After saying this, Madam Qian turned around and ordered Lin Changhe to take a few nephews to call for help.

*

To deceive her family, Lin Chuntao and her companions cut a basket of pig feed on their way back.

He picked two more large leaves, wrapped the copper coins in them, and carried them around. While cutting pig feed, he also picked some wild herbs on the edge of the field and wrapped them in leaves as well.

When the five of them returned carrying pig feed and holding Pao'er, the yard was full of people.

"Oh my, Peach Girl, you're back from cutting pig feed so early?"

The villagers laughed and joked. Lin Chuntao looked at Pei Ying carrying pig feed, pursed her lips and pretended to be shy. "Pei Ying is not familiar with this area. We'll show him around and let him get acquainted with the village. We'll also cut some pig feed while we're at it." As she spoke, she turned to Chunhe and instructed, "Third brother, take your brother-in-law to collect the pig feed."

After receiving the message, Lin Chunhe led Pei Ying to the backyard. Lin Chuntao looked at the strangers in the yard and the mule with the red cloth hanging on it, and knew that these were the people who had come to propose marriage.

She pretended not to know or know anything about it, and called her cousins ​​over: "I made some bubbles, do you want some?"

The children crowded over when they heard this, and Lin Chuntao parted the leaves and gave each of them a little.

"I'll leave the rest for Duo'er and the others." As he spoke, he wrapped it up and took it inside.

Everyone thought she was holding Pao'er.

Lin Chuntao quickly carried the copper coins into the house and upstairs, hiding them all in the straw under the bedding.

With so many family members, she doesn't feel safe hiding money anywhere, but the straw under the bed is currently the safest place.

She remembered that Pei Ying had said the pot and the rice were hidden. She looked around but couldn't find them. Finally, she looked up and discovered that the pot was hidden in a particularly tricky spot under the thatch on the roof beam. It was on the edge of the beam, with the bottom of the pot facing outwards. It was quite dark upstairs, so you couldn't see the pot hidden there unless you looked carefully.

Lin Chuntao smiled; this was indeed well hidden.

She took the bubble downstairs, and to avoid attracting attention, she placed the leaf containing the bubble on the windowsill below.

In the courtyard, Madam Qian was introducing Lin Chunxing to the matchmaker and the Zhang family.

"This is our second daughter, Chunxing. She is very diligent, capable, and sensible." After introducing her to the matchmaker and the Zhang family, Madam Qian said to Lin Chunxing, "Chunxing, this is the family your mother has found for you."

The matchmaker, Qian, looked Chunxing up and down with great enthusiasm and familiarity, and then grabbed her hand and started talking.

First, she praised Zhang Bao for working as an accountant in the county town, and said that the Zhang family lived close to the county town. Then she said that Zhang Bao was a bit older than her, knew how to take care of people, and that she would enjoy endless blessings after marrying into the Zhang family.

Standing at the door, Lin Chuntao saw that the figure was about the same age as her biological father, Lin Changhe, and almost threw up her dinner from the night before.

If you are unkind, don't blame me for being unjust.

Lin Chuntao quickly walked to Chunxing's side and said with a smile, "Chunxing, why don't you thank Aunt Qian for finding you such a good marriage? You look weak, and you'll probably have to spend a lot of money on medicine in the future. If you married into our village, you might not even be able to afford medicine. Luckily, Aunt Qian is kind enough to find you a wealthy family."

Lin Chunxing pursed her lips slightly and lowered her head. "Thank you, Aunt Qian."

The matchmaker's expression changed several times before she looked up at Madam Qian.

Enraged, Madam Qian pointed at Lin Chuntao and yelled, "Lin Chuntao, what nonsense are you spouting here?"

Lin Chuntao quickly covered her mouth, pretending it was unintentional, trying to laugh it off: "No, no, it was a slip of the tongue."

The matchmaker and the Zhang family were clearly up to something. At this moment, Madam Qian explained, "Auntie, this is just the child talking nonsense. It's not true. Chunxing is perfectly healthy."

Zhang chimed in, "Yes, yes, this girl has hardly ever been sick since she was born."

The matchmaker's face darkened further. Who would believe she hadn't been sick for over a decade? She'd sneeze even when it was cold, and it was common for her to come two or three times a winter.

Lin Chunxing grabbed the matchmaker's hand and assured her, "It's all my sister's nonsense, she doesn't want me to marry well. I'm not sick, I have nothing wrong with me."

The more they explained, the more suspicious the matchmaker and the Zhang family became.

Just as she was about to question Qian, Lin Chunxing, who was holding the matchmaker's hand, suddenly convulsed, kicking her legs incessantly, twisting her body, turning her head to one side, and the veins on her forehead bulging. She looked exactly like someone with epilepsy, which frightened the matchmaker so much that she immediately pried her hand off.

Lin Chuntao cried out and grabbed Lin Chunxing, who was about to fall to the ground, shouting, "Don't bite your tongue! Don't bite! Bite my hand!"

As he spoke, he shoved his wrist into Lin Chunxing's mouth and made her bite it.

While helping Lin Chunxing, Lin Chuntao looked up at the matchmaker with teary eyes.

The villagers were shocked to see Lin Chunxing like this, and they started talking all at once, wondering if she had epilepsy.

Some people say they are pitiful, that their mothers died young and now they are sick.

The matchmaker was so angry that she immediately started reading and pointed at Qian Shi, ready to start cursing. She believed that no matter how eloquent Qian Shi was, she was actually a sickly person with epilepsy, something that everyone would avoid!

Zhang Bao felt relieved when he saw Lin Chunxing fall ill.

This girl is as thin as a bamboo pole, with a pointed mouth, monkey-like cheeks, and dark skin. Her hair is also like withered straw. She is far less fortunate than the fair-skinned and plump girl at the door.

At his age, if he were to remarry, he would only want to marry someone blessed with good fortune who could give him two more sons.

If this one doesn't work, we can try another one; it's not decided yet anyway.

He quickly pulled the matchmaker away and whispered, "Aunt Qian, don't be angry. It's all fate. Even if the marriage doesn't happen, we won't become enemies."

Madam Qian quickly replied, "That's right, Auntie, please calm down."

After the matchmaker sat down, Zhang Bao pulled her aside and whispered a few words to her. She looked up at Lin Xian'er at the door and immediately put on a smiling face.

"Dingxiang, that young lady, is she also part of your family?"

Madam Qian's heart skipped a beat, sensing something was amiss, but she still forced herself to reply, "This is my sister-in-law. She's still young, and my mother wants to keep her for a few more years. There's no rush to arrange a marriage."

Upon hearing this, Matchmaker Qian chuckled softly, "She looks to be a few years older than this second young lady?"

No one answered. The matchmaker Qian took Tian's hand and said affectionately, "Oh, my dear sister-in-law, you are such a kind person, thinking of arranging a marriage for your granddaughter first. In my opinion, it is right to arrange a good marriage for your daughter first. If it is your daughter, his family can add eight taels of betrothal money, for a total of twenty-eight taels!"

The Lin family's sisters-in-law stared at Lin Xian'er with wide eyes, while Madam Tian's face turned as black as charcoal.

“Sister, you’re joking. My daughter is going to stay at home and won’t get married.”

The matchmaker covered her mouth with her handkerchief and smiled, as if she didn't understand. "I understand, I understand. That's how it is when raising a daughter. We certainly can't settle it today. We have to pick another auspicious day."

Madam Tian slowly pushed away the matchmaker's hand, "This won't do."

The matchmaker, Qian, refused to listen and laughed loudly, "Sister-in-law Tian, ​​this Zhang family brother is a very good person. Otherwise, you wouldn't have agreed to let him come and propose marriage to your granddaughter, would you? It can't be that your granddaughter is suitable but your daughter isn't. I know you cherish your daughter, and it's only because Brother Zhang has taken a liking to her that he's willing to increase the dowry. It shows that he truly values ​​her!"

"That's settled for today. We'll go back and find another auspicious day to formally propose marriage." The matchmaker finished speaking to herself and glanced at Qian Dingxiang: "Dingxiang, when is your sister-in-law's birthday?"

Seeing Tian's expression, Qian Dingxiang felt embarrassed and remained silent. The matchmaker said, "It's alright, just tell me when you go back to your parents' home another day."

After saying this, Matchmaker Qian led the Zhang family to leave. She looked at the villagers and said with a smile, "If any of you have any young men or women of marriageable age, come to me anytime. I guarantee I'll arrange a marriage for you."

"In this world, there's no marriage that a matchmaker with my money can't arrange!"