“Mother, there are so many men in the village around my age, you should be more diligent in asking around,” Zhang Chunhua complained to her mother in the dilapidated, dimly lit thatched hut.

It's no wonder she was anxious. Seeing that the villagers were living better and better lives, with abundant and stable food supplies, she had no intention of marrying someone from outside the village.

She had previously promised the magistrate of Wu County and several hundred people, the old village chief and the villagers that as long as the girls went to fight the enemy, they would be given a piece of land to build houses if they wanted to. She did not go to fight the enemy, but she also looked down on taking a son-in-law!

What's so good about marrying into a family? Not only is there no dowry, but you also have to build your own house, and the couple has to handle everything, big and small, at home. It's much better to marry into a family where everything is provided and life is much more comfortable.

Aunt Zhang was also anxious and puzzled, saying, "I don't know what's going on. There are so many men of marriageable age in the village, but none of their wives have come to me to discuss marriage arrangements. It's not like the woman has to bring it up with the man first."

She looked at her daughter. She was short, her hair was a bit yellow, and her skin was a bit dark, but what did that matter? Her daughter was capable, obedient, hardworking, and could do all kinds of work in the fields!

“Mom, you should try harder. Look how amazing Aunt Ding is. She found Hu Wenhua for Ding Jiajia. They can buy land and forests in the village now. I heard that the Hu family is even planning to build a house.” She had previously thought that the burly and strong Hu Wenhua was intimidating, and that the family was staying at her married sister's house with nothing.

It's just unexpected that they were able to acquire property in such a short time. The floods and wars did not cause any losses to the Hu family; in fact, they even gained more property.

If she had known that the Hu family was so wealthy, she would never have looked down on Hu Wenhua!

Speaking of this, Aunt Zhang gets angry.

She had clearly made a move on Hu Wenhua before, but he didn't even fancy Chunhua!

She looked at Chunhua and complained, "Ding Jiajia is so pretty. Her face is like a peeled egg, and her body is slender where it should be and fleshy where it should be. Look at you, you're like a bamboo pole. What's the use of your mother trying so hard?"

The man definitely loves Ding Jiajia more. Your family taught you to be more proactive, but you complained and made excuses. Now look what happened, someone else beat you to it.

Zhang Chunhua was on the verge of tears, stamping her feet and sobbing, "What does Aunt Ding feed Ding Jiajia? What do I eat? Black flour porridge with wild vegetables every day, how am I supposed to gain weight?"

Besides, what good is it for Ding Jiajia to be so chubby? Can she wash clothes faster than me, or farm faster than me?

Hearing his mother and sister arguing, Zhang Xiaogou couldn't help but interject: "Sister, girls aren't only good at washing clothes and farming. Look at Ding Jiajia, she knows about medicinal herbs. I heard she manages the herb shop. Sister Xiaocao can earn more than 600 coins a month there. Can Ding Jiajia earn less than her?"

Even if Brother Wenhua doesn't choose Ding Jiajia, Ding Jiajia can find someone better! Besides, not only Ding Jiajia, but even our Sister Xiaocao is easy to match with.

Zhang Chunhua glared at her younger brother resentfully, biting her lip and remaining silent.

Aunt Zhang immediately perked up!

Pointing to his daughter's head, he said smugly, "Your brother was right, look at you."

Zhang Xiaogou interrupted first: "Mom, Uncle Ding and Aunt Ding are both working for Sister Shuiqing. Their wages will only increase, not decrease. Besides, even if they don't work for Sister Shuiqing, they can still make a good living with their herb-gathering skills."

Everyone in the village knows they're capable, and Ding Jiajia is their only daughter, so they give her all the best things. Even if other families are so hardworking and capable, they'd still propose marriage. I heard that Sister-in-law Fan changed her mind again and even agreed to Erzhu and Sanzhu marrying into the family, is that right?

Aunt Zhang looked embarrassed, but stubbornly retorted, "The Fan family has many sons! Four sons, so what's wrong with one marrying into the family?"

“The Hu family only has one son. I’ve heard that in the future, Brother Wenhua and Ding Jiajia’s child will take Ding Jiajia’s surname. Do you think it would be possible for any other woman?” Zhang Xiaogou asked rhetorically.