Chapter Two: Proposing Marriage
Just as they reached the backyard gate, they stumbled upon a scene that reeked of blood: Zhang Liuli was digging out the pig's internal organs with his bare hands!
"Oh my goodness!"
Startled, Song nearly dropped the hoe, and her face turned pale instantly.
She was an honest peasant woman, and had never seen such a scene in her own backyard.
Especially since the one who did it was a young woman! Old Man Xiong gasped and instinctively took a half step back.
"Father, Mother, you're back."
Xiong Zixiang greeted him calmly.
"This is Zhang the butcher's daughter, she's here to help us slaughter a pig."
Mrs. Song clutched her chest, still shaken, as she looked at Zhang Xiaoli, whose hands were covered in blood but whose expression remained calm. She then looked at the gutted pig on the ground, and then at her son's serene face. For a moment, she was speechless.
Hearing the noise, Zhang looked up, his face splattered with blood, but he gave Song Shi and Old Man Xiong a hearty smile.
"Uncle, Aunt, did I scare you? It'll be over soon."
As she spoke, her hands moved swiftly, deftly removing the steaming hot heart, liver, lungs, and other internal organs one by one.
They carefully separated the intestines and put the offal together.
People in rural areas would not waste even a single bit of meat.
If they handle the wastewater properly, it can be a treasure for them.
Old Man Xiong composed himself and hurriedly said.
"No...it's nothing, thank you for your hard work, young lady."
Although he was also shocked, he was more impressed by the girl's courage and ability.
After recovering from her shock, Song looked at Zhang Yi's efficient movements and then at the neatly dissected pork on the ground. Her expression gradually changed.
After the initial shock subsided, a surge of affection welled up within me.
This girl is so capable! Not spoiled at all.
She quickly handed the hoe to her husband and ran to the kitchen.
Zhang is quick and agile, his movements so fast they're dazzling.
Cut open the pig's stomach, remove the head, separate the bones and meat.
She skillfully moved between the sharp knife and the bone-dissecting knife in her hand, working nimbly between the flesh and bones.
Xiong Zixiang watched silently from the side, occasionally lending a hand, handing over a basin or moving a bucket.
He was taciturn, but his gaze involuntarily followed Zhang Xiaoli's hands, which moved up and down with remarkable steady speed and splatter of blood.
And her profile when she was slaughtering a pig, completely focused and attentive.
In about half an hour, the once-living pig had been turned into a pile of cleaned and categorized pieces of meat.
The pig's head was placed to one side, and two carcasses of pork hung on a makeshift wooden frame, their fat snow-white and their lean meat bright red.
The pork belly and ribs were carefully arranged on a mat covered with clean straw, stacked neatly.
Offal, pig's blood, pig's trotters, pig's tail, and other miscellaneous items were all placed in their respective wooden buckets.
Zhang Yi let out a long sigh of relief and shook his slightly sore wrist.
At this moment, Song came running over, carrying a basin of steaming water, with a clean coarse cloth draped over her arm and a soapberry pod in her other hand.
Her face was full of grateful smiles.
"Watch out, young lady! Quick! Wash your hands! Oh my, you must be exhausted! Look at all that sweat... You've really worked hard! Thank you so much!"
As he spoke, he put down the basin of hot water, stuffed the soap pods into Zhang Yili's hands, and handed him a cloth.
As Song watched Zhang Xiaoli wash his hands, she reached into her bosom and pulled out a small cloth bag containing dozens of copper coins, which she then tried to stuff into Zhang Xiaoli's hand.
"Young lady, take this money. It's freezing cold; I can't let you work for nothing..."
Zhang Liuxin was vigorously rubbing the soapberry, her hands covered in foam.
Seeing this, she quickly pulled her hands out of the water and waved them away, still wet.
"Oh! Auntie! You can't do that! Take it back right away!"
She shook the water off her hands, then picked up a cloth to wipe them, smiling at Mrs. Song as she did so.
“The other day, the roof of my pigsty collapsed under the weight of the snow. If it weren’t for your sharp eyes noticing it and calling Uncle Xiong and a few neighbors to help, those pigs would have definitely gotten sick from the cold. They’re my dad’s lifeline! You’ve helped my family so much, so it’s only right that I lend a hand today. Why are you even talking about money? If you keep doing this, I’ll be so ashamed that I won’t dare to set foot in your house again!”
She spoke quickly and crisply, clearly and logically, with genuine emotion.
Song's hand holding the money bag froze in mid-air. Looking into Zhang Xiaoyi's clear and honest eyes, the affection in her heart surged even more.
This girl is not only capable, but also loyal and grateful!
She may have a fiery temper, but what a kind and honest heart she has!
Those gossipy villagers, what do they know!
"This...this..." Madam Song was at a loss for words, only feeling that the girl was pleasing to the eye no matter how she looked at her.
"Auntie, please feel bad about it."
Zhang Liuli wiped his hands clean, folded the cloth and placed it next to the basin, then pointed with a grin towards the kitchen, "I can smell the aroma of your pancakes. The smell of those scallion pancakes is so tempting, it makes my mouth water from far away."
If you're so kind as to give me two, I can take them back for my dad to try. That would make me happier than receiving money!
"Oh! What's there to be reluctant about! You wait! Auntie will get it for you right away! Plenty!"
Upon hearing this, Song's face lit up with a smile, and she turned around and ran happily towards the kitchen, her steps becoming lighter.
Xiong Zixiang stood aside, watching his mother's joyful figure.
He pursed his lips, and the corners of his usually tightly pressed mouth seemed to curve upwards almost imperceptibly before quickly returning to their original state.
That night, at the Xiong family's residence.
The dim light of the oil lamp flickered on the low wooden table, illuminating three faces with different expressions.
On the table sat steaming stewed cabbage, a small dish of freshly pickled radish, and several thick, glistening pieces of boiled pork.
Xiong Zixiang swallowed the last bite of the pancake, put down his chopsticks, and spoke in a low voice, like a stone thrown into calm water.
"Father, Mother, I want to marry Miss Xiaoyi."
"Great! Great!"
Song responded almost immediately, a big smile instantly spreading across her face.
"That girl is wonderful! She's pretty, has a straightforward personality, and is incredibly capable at work! I like her very much! I approve of this marriage!"
She rubbed her hands together excitedly, as if she could welcome her daughter-in-law into the house tomorrow.
Old Man Xiong frowned, and his chopsticks stopped moving.
He coughed softly, looked up at his son, and then at his wife, whose face was beaming with joy.
“Keep an eye on this girl… She’s capable, and not a bad person, I admit that. But… but her reputation…”
He paused, lowering his voice slightly.
"It's all over the village. They say she's incredibly shrewish, always ready to block people's doors with a butcher's knife, and her insults are fiercer than a man's... like a tigress... If we marry her, what if... what if she causes trouble in the family and the neighbors laugh at us? Our Xiong family... still has a reputation to maintain."
The oil lamp flame crackled softly.
Song's smile froze. She was about to retort when Xiong Zixiang raised his hand to stop her.
Xiong Zixiang's gaze calmly fell on his father's face, and he spoke, his voice still slow and deliberate.
"Dad, life is for you to live, not for others to see. Why care what others say?"
“Keep an eye on this girl; she’s a good girl. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.”
"Her fierceness is to protect her family, not to cause trouble. Blocking the door and yelling at people is to collect debts and reason with them, not to throw a tantrum."
“I, Xiong Zixiang, work in the yamen. I catch the real culprits and suppress the scoundrels. I have a notorious reputation, which is not a good one.”
"I'm twenty-four and still can't get married. Why? You know the answer."
"She is not young, and is still unmarried. Why? You heard it yourself."
“The two of us.” He paused, his gaze sweeping over the meat on the table, as if he could see again those blood-stained yet remarkably steady hands. “A fierce man and a shrew, both of us in our late twenties, we are a match made in heaven.”
He said nothing more, just looked at his father, waiting for his reaction.
The room was completely silent, save for the faint crackling of the oil lamp and the howling wind outside.
Mrs. Song watched her husband nervously, her hands gripping the hem of her clothes tightly. Old Man Xiong's wrinkles deepened; he lowered his head, his cloudy eyes staring at the bowl of stewed cabbage on the table, remaining silent for a long time.
Yes, my son is right. You live your own life.
The son's bad reputation did indeed delay his marriage.
Observe that girl... how swiftly she slaughtered the pig today, how straightforward she was in dealing with people, and how affectionate she was with her husband... she doesn't seem... she doesn't seem so scary after all?
Upon closer examination, aren't most of those rumors just baseless speculations?
He let out a long sigh.
When I looked up again, all that remained was a sense of helplessness and resignation.
"...Since you've thought it through...then...do as you please."
His voice was hoarse, but he no longer objected.
Song's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, was immediately put to rest. Her face regained its radiance, and she slapped her thigh with joy.
"That's right! Old man! I'll go find Matchmaker Wang right now! I'll go first thing tomorrow morning!"
She didn't even bother to eat, immediately got up, and rushed off to search for the few feet of red cloth she had saved up for the New Year, as if afraid that if she was a step too late, such a good daughter-in-law would be gone.
The next morning.
The sky was just beginning to lighten.
Wrapped in a thick cotton-padded coat, carrying a few hot boiled eggs and a small bag of treasured sesame candy, Song braved the cold wind and trudged to the gate of Wang the Matchmaker's house at the west end of the village.
Wang the matchmaker had just gotten up and was warming her hands by breathing on them at the kitchen door with her sleeves tucked in. When she saw it was Song Shi and heard her explain her purpose, she immediately noticed her.
He proposed marriage to his son, Xiong Zixiang, who was a constable, with Zhang Liuyi, the daughter of Zhang the butcher.
He was taken aback at first, then his eyes lit up and his face instantly lit up with an exaggerated smile of surprise.
"Oh my! My dear sister! This is truly a wonderful occasion! A match made in heaven!"
Matchmaker Wang slapped her thigh, her voice rising several octaves, and spittle practically flew out of her mouth.
"Keep an eye on that girl! How many families have I introduced her to? They either dislike her reputation or are afraid of her wild nature! It's driving me crazy! Officer Xiong! He's a big shot in our county! He's a perfect match for that girl!" She quickly pretended to pat her mouth lightly, smiling so broadly that her eyes disappeared.
"What do you call this, a perfect match of strength and gentleness? No, no, it's a perfect match! They're both reliable people who can support their families! Officer Xiong is capable and responsible, and Xiaoya is efficient and straightforward! This marriage is a blessing from heaven, a great deed delivered to this old woman! Don't worry, sister, leave it to me! I'll make sure it's handled perfectly and that the Zhang family is overjoyed!"
As Wang the matchmaker spoke, she warmly pulled Song's hand and ushered her into the house, her mouth rattling off her plans on how to speak and how to praise both families, as if she could already see the heavy gift of thanks beckoning to her.
As Song listened to the matchmaker's barrage of praise and assurances, the weight in her heart was finally lifted, and the most contented smile she had seen in days appeared on her face, as if she could already see her son and Xiaozhi standing together, looking perfectly matched.
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