Chapter 22 Marriage
Song Zhenping couldn't sleep all night because he was thinking about his second sister's words.
After waiting until dawn to help the village head's wife fetch water, he returned to the Song family courtyard with Xiao An.
He didn't dare to go in, so the two brothers could only squat outside the wall of someone else's house, staring at the closed door of their own house.
In the past, Song Zhenping only cared about his younger brother.
Now that his younger brother is around, he is worried about his second sister.
Yun'er is in there. I wonder what happened to her last night?
However, he didn't stay outside the door for long before he was called back by the wife of the village head.
If the two brothers were seen here by Mrs. Gu and her daughter-in-law, they might be beaten and scolded again.
Before noon, Song Laoer came back happily.
He was accompanied by a gorgeously dressed matchmaker and a gift box carried by two men in blue clothes.
The gift box was placed in the yard. Mrs. Gu and Little Mrs. Gu looked at the two pieces of pink fine cloth, a ten-jin piece of meat, ten-jin white rice, ten-jin white flour, and a pair of silver bracelets placed on it. They smiled from ear to ear and kept calling her into the house to drink water.
The matchmaker didn't go into the house. She looked at the villagers who had gathered outside to watch the fun. She waved her handkerchief and said with a pinched laugh, "Our Master Xue is very fond of your daughter. He asked me to send a gift to her quickly. I also have something to tell my in-laws."
Mrs. Gu smiled so hard that her teeth were visible. "Oh, Master Xue is so polite. It's her blessing that he likes that girl."
Little Gu's eyes were dark, but she forced a smile and stepped forward to join in the fun: "If Master Xue has anything to say, just tell him!"
The matchmaker smiled without saying anything, and only used her chin to indicate that the gate could be closed.
The two men in blue clothes quickly closed the courtyard door, and the matchmaker's face turned cold. "Mrs. Gu, I've delivered the things today. Your daughter is our Master Xue's. Please don't beat or scold her anymore. Master Xue won't tolerate even a little scratch."
Mrs. Gu's smile froze as she muttered, "He hasn't even left the house yet, and you're already thinking of sending him away with just this little thing!"
The matchmaker slapped her with her handkerchief and sneered, "Old sister, what are you talking about? Our Master Xue has already given Master Song twenty taels of silver, and the rest will be paid when the girl comes home. How much more do you want?"
When Xiao Gu heard that she had received twenty taels of silver, she was immediately overjoyed: "Don't worry, Aunt He, we will take good care of the girl and make sure she has enough food and sleep. As soon as she enters the house, Master Xue will definitely see a beautiful bride."
Matchmaker He chuckled, "Mrs. Gu is a sensible person. I won't waste time talking to the two in-laws any more. I'd better take a look at the girl first, and then I can quickly reply to Mr. Xue."
Upon hearing this, Madam Gu attentively led the way and said hesitantly, "Aunt He, come this way. It's just... my daughter is impatient, so we want to keep her in the house to make the wedding veil, so..."
There were only a few rooms in the Song family courtyard. Turning around, she arrived at the door of the ear room. Before little Gu finished her words, matchmaker He saw the tightly tied doorknob on the ear room.
Seeing this scene, she didn't even frown.
She has been a matchmaker for a long time and has seen everything. Some girls would cause trouble before getting married, either running away from the marriage or pretending to be crazy, making her parents' home restless.
Besides, the situation of Song Laoer's family is even more special, so it is safer for them to stay in the house.
She didn't ask anyone to open the door, but just raised her hand to poke the window next to her.
With a push of her finger, the already old window paper broke, and Matchmaker He leaned over to look inside through the hole her finger made.
The light in the ear room was dim, and I could vaguely see a slender girl sitting on the kang with her back to me.
His shoulders were flat, his hair was black, and his head was slightly lowered, revealing a long, white neck.
She had a slender waist, no skirt, and was wearing half-worn light blue thin pants that highlighted her round buttocks.
Matchmaker He nodded secretly. Although she didn't see the face, she could see that the woman had a good figure with her years of seeing countless people.
For a man like Mr. Xue, it doesn’t matter whether his face is pretty or not. Once the lights are turned off, beauty and ugliness are the same.
As long as the woman in bed is knowledgeable and understands one's preferences, she will be much more interesting than a wooden beauty with a pretty face.
Since the girl from the Song family is willing to serve Mr. Xue and has such a good health, it would not be a wasted trip.
Matchmaker He turned around and said to Song Lao Er, who had been standing at the main door, "Second Master Song, Master Xue said he would come to pick up the young lady tomorrow evening at 4 p.m., and he would also bring the remaining thirty taels of silver with him."
Song Lao Er's face was already smiling to pieces. He nodded repeatedly when he heard what He the matchmaker said and stuffed a small purse into her pocket. "I'd appreciate it if Madam He could say a few good words for me when we get home. The twilight hour is a good time for chickens to go into their coops and people to return to their homes. I'm waiting for Mr. Xue to arrive."
Seeing that the matter was settled, He the matchmaker did not refuse Song Lao Er's purse, but stuffed it into her sleeve pocket. She waved a handkerchief in her hand and then said to the two men in blue: "Now that the matter here is settled, we will go back to Xue's Mansion to report." Then, she left with the others like the wind!
In the room, Song Liyun looked back with disdain: She said that according to the rules, if she wanted to "marry" into the Xue family, it would take at least three to five days to go through the procedures no matter how anxious she was.
As a result, my second uncle agreed to come and pick me up tomorrow night. He is such a good second uncle that he can’t wait to get the money.
I wonder what my second uncle’s expression will be when the Xue family comes tomorrow night!
But by then it will not be my responsibility to worry about it, my second uncle will take care of it.
Hearing that the Xue family had sent someone to deliver the gift box, Song Zhenping, who was hiding in the village headman's house, was so anxious that he fidgeted. It was Song Lizheng who persuaded him with a word: "If you go back now, Mrs. Gu will make a fuss and you won't be able to perform the corvée. I'm afraid that Yun's plan will be ruined, and then all three of you brothers and sisters will be in trouble."
The three of them discussed a way out last night.
He also risked his life to go back to Song Laoer's house with Song Liyun, and finalized the matter of Song Zhenping taking Xiao An to perform labor service, and also agreed that Song Liyun would "marry" the Xue family.
In fact, he was very conflicted when Song Liyun mentioned running away from the marriage.
From his perspective as an elder who needs to manage the villagers and is happy for peace in the world, running away from marriage is not acceptable to him and can be said to be "heretical and disgusting."
The practice of "raising sons with daughters" is common in rural areas and even deeply rooted in people's minds.
Song Liyun was sent to the restaurant to be a slave so that the boys in the family could have a better life. Otherwise, the nine-year-old Song Zhenping would be more suitable to be a servant.
If Song Lao Er did a better job and chose a more reliable husband's family for Song Liyun to help her brothers from her natal family, Song Li Zheng would definitely support her.
However, Mr. Xue is not an ordinary man, and Song Lao Er is too mean to the two brothers. Agreeing to the marriage would endanger the lives of three siblings.
Song Lizheng couldn't bear to watch the tragedy happen, as it would be bad for the reputation of Xiaoshi Village.
He could only help Song Liyun escape the marriage first, and then slowly solve the issue of Song Zhenping becoming an independent household after he finished his labor service and came back.
With the arrival of matchmaker He, the news that Song Lao Er wanted to marry Song Liyun to the Xue family was finally made public, and the whole village was talking about it for a while.
Some people say that Song Lao Er is completely heartless. He knew that Mr. Xue was already buried up to his neck in the earth, but he still sent a healthy young girl to be buried in the fire pit.
Some people were envious. The Xue family was well-known in Qingping Town and had servants at home. Once Yun got married, she would be served by someone, eat the best food, wear gold and silver jewelry, and no longer have to work in the fields or go up the mountain to collect firewood.
There is more silence.
In recent years, Mrs. Gu and her daughter-in-law have been running rampant in the village. Others can't afford to offend them and can avoid them, so it's better for the Song family to stay out of their way.
Anyway, Song Lizheng didn't say anything, so the villagers just said a few words and passed it over, talking more about the matter of performing corvee labor.
In the morning, Song Lizheng handed the list to the town, and the exact time of departure was announced.
(End of this chapter)
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