"Cousin, it's me, Cuifang."
Liu Cuifang quickly gave her name, recognizing her cousin Juan'er's voice.
It would be impolite for her to call her "Sister Juan" in person; she should call her "Cousin".
"Oh my, Cuifang, and Auntie is here too! What a rare guest! Please come in quickly."
A plump, beautiful woman opened the door with a warm smile on her face.
"Oh, Sister Juan, I was passing by here today and heard that you live here."
I just came to check on you. I hope I didn't bother you.
The village chief's wife felt rather embarrassed as she thought about what she was going to say later.
"Cousin, I just passed by a pastry shop and brought you some osmanthus cake and red date cake."
Liu Cuifang handed over the two packets of pastries appropriately.
"How could that be? Aunt, Cuifang, please sit down, I'll go make some tea."
Sister Juan took the pastries and went to the kitchen to make tea with a smile.
"Mom, I don't think my cousin's family is very well-off."
Only after her cousin left did Cuifang dare to whisper a sentence.
"We'll talk about the rest when we get home."
The village chief's wife told her to stop talking, warning her that walls might be overheard.
Cuifang stood up and looked around her cousin's house. It was a main room right inside the entrance.
It looks like there are two rooms on the left, and a kitchen and another room on the right.
There are only a few rooms, and they're not even as spacious as my own home.
"Auntie, we didn't prepare anything at home. Here, have some snacks."
Soon after, Sister Juan brought out two cups of tea and a full plate of red dates, longans, and peanuts.
"Oh dear, such good stuff, only you would be willing to give it to your aunt."
Xiao Xiao must have gone to work. Where's the child?
The village chief's wife noticed that her niece was quite generous to her, even though these red dates and longans weren't cheap.
"Yes, my husband goes out very early every morning, and the children go to school too."
Juan picked up her teacup and took a sip. Liu Cuifang observed her movements and secretly copied them.
"Oh my, your two boys are both in school. That must cost a lot of money. Amazing, amazing, Sister Juan, you married the right person."
When the village chief's wife heard that both of her sons could attend school in town, she knew that the family was quite well-off.
"Auntie, you don't know, going to school in town isn't cheap."
We gritted our teeth and tried everything we could to help the children learn a few words, don't you think?
When Juan heard this, she realized something was wrong. Could it be that they were here to borrow money?
So they quickly tried to make amends by saying that the children's expenses were not low.
“Sister Juan, we’re all family, so I’ll be frank and speak the truth.”
I came here today for my Cuifang.
Seeing that her niece was doing well, the village chief's wife figured she could definitely introduce a good young man to her daughter, so she made the suggestion.
"Cuifang, what's wrong, Cuifang?"
Sister Juan hadn't reacted yet.
"Oh, it's about finding a husband, isn't it? Cuifang is someone you watched grow up, do you know what kind of person she is?"
She kept saying she'd wait when we talked about marriage before, but now she's not happy with the matchmakers' introductions to her.
I was thinking that you've been in town for so many years, you must know quite a few people.
See if you know any boys who would be suitable for your cousin, and help introduce them.
The village chief's wife put it rather tactfully, while Liu Cuifang lowered her head, her face flushed, looking shy.
"How old is Cuifang this year? Seventeen?"
Sister Juan hadn't expected it to be about this, but her mind was racing as she looked around to see if there were any suitable people among her acquaintances.
"It's already the ninth year of the lunar calendar, otherwise why would I be in such a hurry? I'll be twenty next year, which sounds awful."
The village chief's wife looked worried as she spoke.
“You’re not getting any younger, Cuifang. What kind of boy are you looking for? Tell your cousin and I’ll help you think of someone suitable.”
When Juanjie saw that her aunt had come to visit in person, she naturally couldn't be perfunctory.
"It's all up to my parents to decide."
Liu Cuifang's main strength was being well-mannered. In this era, marriage was based on the parents' orders and the matchmaker's words, and young women were not allowed to discuss such matters.
"What Cuifang cares about most is that she doesn't want to toil in the fields for a living."
She's always told me since I was little that she envies me for finding such a good husband, so I don't have to work in the fields.
Your uncle and I were wondering if any of the boys in town would be interested in Cuifang.
The village chief's wife stated her family's requirements.
"Oh, is that so? Cuifang's request isn't actually that high. It's just that you live in the countryside and don't know anyone in town."
Cuifang is so beautiful, even prettier than I was back then.
"Don't even mention finding someone like mine, there are plenty of people even better than him."
Sister Juan hadn't seen Liu Cuifang for a year or two. When she saw her today, she found that Cuifang had grown up and was no less beautiful than the girls in town.
"Are you serious, Sister Juan? That's wonderful! So you've agreed to introduce her to Cuifang?"
When the village chief's wife heard her niece say that her daughter could find someone better than her niece's husband, she was so happy that she almost jumped off her chair.
Liu Cuifang also looked up expectantly at her cousin.
"Of course it's true, Auntie, but it's a bit troublesome for you to come over and visit since you live in the countryside."
How about this, in a couple of days I'll have Cuifang pack her clothes and come stay for a few days, then I can introduce her to a few boys."
Sister Juan had already thought of several men in her mind, all of whom came from ordinary families and were not easy to find a girl in town.
"Wouldn't that be too much trouble for you?"
The village chief's wife wanted to agree, but she was afraid that her niece was just being polite.
"Auntie, you're being too polite. You don't know, I don't even have a single good friend to talk to in town."
"If Cuifang marries into our family, I'll have somewhere to go. I'd love to! Let's agree on that."
Sister Juan spoke with exceptional sincerity.
"Alright, alright, Cuifang, quickly thank your cousin. Your marriage will depend on your cousin's arrangements."
The village chief's wife smiled so broadly, it was as if her daughter had found a good husband, that her teeth almost fell out.
"Cousin, thank you for helping me."
Liu Cuifang was about to bow as she spoke.
"Oh, we're like sisters, no need to be so polite. Have lunch here while I go buy groceries."
As Juan was speaking, she went to get the vegetable basket.
“Sister Juan, no need, no need, we have to go home, your uncle is still at home.”
We didn't go back, he'd worry. So we went back now. Your aunt will come see you again next time she has time.
The village chief's wife quickly stood up and pulled Cuifang away.
"Alright then, you must stay for dinner next time. Cuifang, remember to come over in a few days. I'll talk to them about it in the next couple of days."
Seeing that her aunt and cousin were leaving in such a hurry, Juan didn't know how to stop them.
"Sister Juan, no need to see me off, thank you for your help this time."
"See you later, cousin."
The mother and daughter said their goodbyes politely and then left.
"I knew it! People don't visit temples without a reason."
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