Chapter 41 Matchmaking

"There is no way. Due to the lack of rain, all places are growing brown rice. I am afraid that rice will become more and more expensive in the future. Polished rice is 130 wen a dou, and aged rice is sold for 100 wen. My son weighed the polished rice in the basket on his back and it was worth at least four dou."

Jiang Dahe continued.

"Si Dou? Can it be sold for half an ounce of silver? Oh my god, including the bird eggs, Fu Bao has earned more than one ounce of silver for the family today. Mother, you picked a really good name. Your daughter-in-law admires you. You are really blessed.

If you just go to the mountains and catch some bugs, you can earn a few taels. If I had known earlier, when we were born with the same element of fire and earth, we would have given our children happy names. One would be called Jinbao and the other Yinbao. If they picked up gold and silver every day, our family would be rich!"

Sun Pingmei fantasized in her mind that she had a house full of gold, silver and jewelry.

He had a silly smile on his face.

"Stop daydreaming. Go and cook some rice. Put the rest in a sack and sell it tomorrow. Stack these eggs in layers and pad them with straw. If one breaks, it will cost at least five copper coins! Be careful! Fubao, play with your brothers in the yard. Grandma will go to the kitchen to cook for you."

I can see that things at home are getting better and better.

Zhang Jinlan's steps are always empty when she walks.

At noon, the sixteen members of the Jiang family gathered around the table.

There was a big bowl of rice in front of each person.

I stir-fried the Artemisia annua leftover from yesterday with a little lard.

There is only this one dish.

However, everyone in the Jiang family enjoyed the food very much.

Jiang Fubao saw it all, but she smiled without saying anything.

This is the authentic fragrance of rice flowers!

Each rice is plump and has the right hardness and softness. After cooking, it is crystal clear, as if it had been coated with oil.

The aroma is very rich, and there is a hint of sweetness when you bite it.

It tastes good even if you eat it plain.

The rice here is simply incomparable.

"Grandma, are you going to sell this rice?"

Jiang Fubao really wanted his grandmother to keep the rice for themselves.

Compared with rice, even the brown rice that she mixed with millet was like pig food.

But she knows.

The family is short of money.

In Tianling Kingdom, only the rich, landlords and officials can afford to eat refined rice every day.

Farmers would keep a little rice for themselves when the rice harvest was good, and sell the rest for silver after paying taxes.

I can't bear to eat it on weekdays.

"Fubao, do you want to eat rice? Then grandma will leave a bunch of rice for Fubao to eat, okay?"

Zhang Jinlan loves her granddaughter.

Even if she knew that a bushel of refined rice could be sold for 130 wen, she would still be willing to leave a bushel for her granddaughter to eat.

What's more.

These fine rices were originally found by the granddaughter.

"No, grandma, please sell it and get more money back."

Jiang Fubao doesn't want to eat alone.

She shook her head and didn't continue the topic.

"Oh, there's something I forgot to tell you. Tong Jin's marriage has been decided. Tomorrow morning, Zhou the matchmaker will go to the girl's house to propose marriage. The day after tomorrow, we will bring the betrothal gifts and go to propose marriage in person. The wedding date is set for ten days later, and the girl's family is urging us to get married."

After dinner.

Everyone sat on the benches to rest.

Zhang Jinlan spoke slowly.

"Grandma, why do you have to ask for a kiss twice?" Jiang Tongshui's eyes were full of confusion.

"When a matchmaker proposes marriage, the girl's family will refuse at first for the sake of being reserved. Then we go to their house in person, show our sincerity, and give them enough face. Usually, the girl's family will relent the second time, give a betrothal gift, and sign the matchmaking agreement to get engaged."

Jiang Dahe explained.

"What if the girl's family doesn't agree the second time?" Jiang Tonghuo also started asking questions like his brother.

"I, your grandfather, have lived for so many years, and I have never seen a family refuse twice. It is embarrassing for the man's family. How can the girl have a good life after marrying him? Is this a marriage or an enmity~"

After Jiang Shoujia finished speaking, he picked his teeth with the tip of his chopsticks.

As people age, the gaps between their teeth become larger.

The food got stuck from time to time and I couldn't pick it out.

"Uncle, what is a matchmaking book?"

Jiang Fubao's big eyes were full of curiosity.

She had only heard of engagement letters and marriage certificates.

What the hell is a matchmaking book?

"There were floods a few years ago, and many people who fled famine settled down in various places. As a result, cases of betrothal money scams occurred frequently. These outsiders would scam seven or eight people and then run away with their families. Where could they be found? They didn't even have household registration, so even the government couldn't investigate. The scammed families could only pat their thighs and admit defeat.

There were so many quarrels that the law added a clause. When the betrothal gift is paid, the matchmaker takes out a matchmaking document and asks both parties to sign it. On the wedding day, the man can tear up the matchmaking document and the betrothal gift cannot be returned. If the woman's family runs away before the wedding, the matchmaker will have to pay compensation if the case is brought to court. So it is not easy for a matchmaker to be a good matchmaker. If she does not inquire about good families and randomly arranges marriages, she will be the one who suffers. "

Jiang Eryong, who is well-informed, helped his niece solve her doubts.

"What if the matchmaker runs away too?"

Jiang Fubao tilted his head.

"You can't escape. Not only did the law add this clause that year, it also stipulated that matchmakers had to go to the government to get a clear pass. After being registered, the government would issue a matchmaker card. If someone reported it to the government, you would be sent to jail for being a matchmaker without a card."

Jiang Siyin saw her daughter looking at her second brother with admiration.

He became jealous.

Before the second brother could speak, he gave his daughter the answer.

"Fubao got it. Thank you, Daddy."

Who is Jiang Fubao?

She is a smart person.

She saw through her father's jealousy at a glance.

While thanking her, she snuggled into her handsome father's arms and acted coquettishly.

The next second, Jiang Siyin carried his daughter on his neck and played with her.

Zhang Yanzi, who was standing by, screamed in fear.

The husband and wife are like this, you run and I chase you.

Jiang Fubao, who has never enjoyed the love of his father or mother.

At this moment, my eyes became moist.

But no one noticed.

"Slow down, I won't chase you anymore. Don't run, be careful not to fall Fubao." Zhang Yanzi stomped her feet in anger.

My husband is so old, yet he is still so childish.

"I don't believe you. If you catch me, you will definitely beat me up. Fubao, let's run quickly. Don't let your mother catch us. The tigress is coming. Run—"

Jiang Siyin didn't even turn his head, and walked around in circles in the yard with his daughter.

"Hahaha, Daddy, slow down, Mom, come and catch up with us——"

The bell-like laughter echoed at the foot of the mountain.

Two days passed in a row.

The hour of Chen.

Jiang Fubao put on his clothes, put away the basin under the bed, and walked out of the room.

"Grandma, uncle, are you going to propose marriage?"

In the yard, the Jiang family members were dressed neater than usual. Even grandma changed into clothes with only three patches on them.

"Yes, grandma is going to Zhoujia Village to propose marriage for your eldest cousin. Fubao, stay at home and behave yourself. Your mother is watering the backyard. Let your second aunt help you wash up. Grandma will be back at noon at the latest. If you go up the mountain with your brothers today, don't run too far, understand? Tongmu, take good care of your younger brothers and sisters."

After giving the instructions, Zhang Jinlan took her eldest son and his family of three out.

In her purse was two taels of silver as a betrothal gift.