Chapter 6: Trying to get something for nothing
"My daughter, I want to tell you something. It may not be appropriate for me to say it myself, but this is the condition we have, and there is nothing I can do." Zhang Dahua said affectionately, holding Li Wanqing's hand.
"Auntie, you say." Li Wanqing was not used to being so close to Rang, so she pretended to tuck her hair and pulled her hand out.
Zhang Dahua looked at her empty hands, her eyes twinkling as she said, "Daughter, is there anyone else at home?"
Li Wanqing shook her head. "No more. Auntie, I won't hide it from you. My parents sold me when there was a severe drought."
I was also lucky. I happened to meet a wealthy family in the capital who wanted a maid. I have been staying in the capital for many years. A few days ago, my master was old and wanted to return to his hometown.
Since they couldn't bring so many people on the road, they allowed us slaves to redeem ourselves. I used the silver I had saved over the years to redeem myself.
I didn't expect that after I went through so much hardship to return to my hometown, my parents had moved away with their whole family.
I accidentally wandered into the mountains and got lost. If I hadn't met Brother Gu who saved me, I would have been bitten by a poisonous snake."
"Alas, you are a poor child with no relatives to rely on, but everything will be fine in the future. What are your plans for the future?" Zhang Dahua patted Li Wanqing's hand with pity.
Li Wanqing shook her head again: "Let's take it one step at a time. I want to go out and see if there is a house to rent. I can stay here first and talk about it later."
"Oh, I have a few words to say, but I'm not sure whether I should say them or not." Zhang Dahua said after seeming to hesitate for a moment.
"What are you talking about? Just say it, Auntie. It's okay." Li Wanqing said.
"Then the old lady said, logically speaking, this shouldn't be said to a little girl like you, but your parents are not around. You have to make the decision yourself.
Auntie, you are not young anymore. Have you ever thought about finding a husband? That way you will have someone to rely on in the future.
I'm not exaggerating, but it's not safe for a single girl like you to walk outside.
The world outside isn't peaceful either. I heard there are human traffickers who specifically sell girls like you to the borderlands," said Zhang Dahua.
"Well, there's nothing we can do. We can only be careful." Li Wanqing really felt so.
Gu Yan watched Zhang Dahua from outside for a long time but she didn't get to the point. He was so anxious that he kept winking at her.
Zhang Dahua glared at him, then turned around and said to Li Wanqing with a smile, "My girl, I'm not going to lie to you. What do you think of our Gu Yan?
I'm not bragging, my son is a famous hunter around here. Apart from anything else, he will definitely have no problem supporting his wife and children.
I'm not going to lie to you. If you agree, we can get married in a couple of days."
Li Wanqing was shocked when she heard this. She thought, is this just trying to get something for nothing? Although she didn't understand the rules of ancient marriage, she did understand the most basic things like betrothal gifts.
No one can just touch their upper lip to their lower lip.
Although she had a good impression of Gu Yan, it was impossible for her to agree to it just like that.
"Brother Gu is a nice guy, but I'm not in a hurry to get married.
Although my parents are not around, my daughter gave me a dowry when I came out. Although it is not much, it is not less than that of other families.
So I want to wait and see. What if there's news about my parents?"
Although Li Wanqing's words were euphemistic, her implication was that I have a dowry, and it's quite a bit. It's impossible for you to take advantage of me by not giving me a betrothal gift.
He also indirectly mentioned that he was someone close to the lady, and that the lady was still thinking about him after he redeemed himself.
Gu Yan, who was eavesdropping outside the cave, didn't bother hiding anymore and ran in to pull Zhang Dahua out. "Mom, just give me the same amount of silver as my second brother spent on marrying his wife. Don't worry about anything else."
Gu Yan's face looked very unhappy now. He also heard that her mother meant that she didn't want to give a betrothal gift.
My elder and second brothers spent money to get married, so why doesn’t his mother want to pay for his marriage?
"Where is the money left at home? You know we spent all the money on your second brother's marriage and it wasn't enough, so you even borrowed two taels from your uncle Dagen.
Where can I get the money now? I told you to marry Chunmei, but you're not willing.
"That girl in the house, aside from being pretty, isn't a capable person at all. How can she compare to Chunmei, who's good at everything around the house and outside?" Zhang Dahua muttered with a sullen expression.
"What's so good about Chunmei? My second brother doesn't want her, but you're forcing her on me.
I don’t care. My second brother’s betrothal gift is ten taels, and my wife’s betrothal gift also needs to be ten taels.
I am also your son, so I cannot be so lenient." Gu Yan said in a low voice, fearing that Li Wanqing would hear him.
"Why are you competing with your second brother? If it weren't for you, would your second brother have stopped drinking milk so early?" Zhang Dahua accidentally said what was really in her mind.
After she said it, she immediately regretted it: "San'er, that's not what I meant. I just..."
"That's what? Is it my fault that he has no milk? I made you pregnant? I made you give birth to me?
Don't forget, he drank milk for three months, but I didn't even drink it for a month before you sent me to my grandmother.
You regret giving birth to me, and I regret being born in your belly?
Since you regret giving birth to me and are unwilling to use the money to help me find a wife, then just separate me.
Don't worry, I will find a wife myself, you don't have to spend a penny." Gu Yan also expressed the dissatisfaction that had been hidden in his heart for a long time.
"San'er, it's not that we don't want to give you money, it's just that we have no money left at home.
Why don't you wait for two years, and I'll definitely give it to you when your family is well off." Zhang Dahua explained anxiously.
"Do you really have no silver? Last year, not counting the small things, I killed three wild boars. Each one is worth three taels of silver, so three boars is nine taels.
There are also many other pheasants, hares and roe deer, which can be sold for at least seven or eight taels.
My father also hunted two wild boars and two foxes last year. Although fox meat is not valuable, a fox skin can be sold for more than ten taels.
Need I say more? I don't know why you guys are so rich but you won't spend money on me getting married. It's obvious that I earn enough on my own, so I don't need you to pay for anything.
But it doesn't matter now. I'll take Wanqing to my place now." Gu Yan said and entered the cave.
"Wanqing, are you willing to live with me? Although I can't give you a betrothal gift now, don't worry, as long as you give me a few months, I will be able to raise enough money." Gu Yan said to Li Wanqing as soon as he came in.
In fact, Li Wanqing had already heard what they said outside the cave. She didn't want to be the source of conflict between them.
"Brother Gu, please don't have a conflict with Auntie because of me. Thank you for hosting me. I'll leave now." Li Wanqing picked up her bag.
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