The Hu family—
"Xiuxiu".
Hu Xiuxiu was feeding the chickens at home when a voice sounded behind her.
Turning around, I saw the village head's wife standing outside the gate.
"Grandma Village Head, why are you here so early?" Hu Xiuxiu quickly opened the door.
The village head's wife smiled and looked her up and down as she came in.
Hu Xiuxiu blushed as she was scrutinized: "Grandma Village Head, what brings you here..."
Is your mother home?
"They're inside!"
The village head's wife smiled and nodded, then went inside.
Xiuxiu's mother was sewing shoe soles when she heard the noise and quickly came out: "Auntie, what brings you here? Come in and sit down."
After the two entered the main room, before Xiuxiu's mother could serve tea, the village head's wife took her hand and asked, "How are things going with Xiuxiu's marriage proposal lately?"
"Well... there's already someone I'm looking for, but it'll have to wait a while. Auntie, what's going on..."
"I won't beat around the bush. I told you about Ye Yong from Ye Youtian's family last year. Last time you said you wanted twenty taels of silver as a bride price, but they didn't have it, so I didn't bring it up again. Now they've raised the money!"
As she spoke, the village head's wife lowered her voice and said, "Besides, we know some things. The two young people are a little interested in each other. Why don't we help them get together?"
Xiuxiu's eyes lit up when she heard this.
She had been waiting anxiously for that carpenter, Cai, for a long time.
Although she thought Xiuxiu was a good catch, she had been searching for so many years but couldn't find anyone who could afford twenty taels. Xiuxiu was already seventeen, and if she delayed any longer, she was afraid she would become worthless.
That carpenter Cai was hanging there, who knew if it would ever come to fruition. Now that there's a ready-made one, of course we should take it!
“Let’s go!” Xiuxiu’s mother stood up.
"Where are you going?"
"Go to the Ye family to propose marriage. We're all from the same village, so let's settle the marriage in person. Then we can have them send a matchmaker to formally propose!"
The village head's wife was completely stunned by her. Everyone else would wait for the matchmaker to reply before asking the matchmaker to come and talk things over.
I've never seen anyone so impatient!
However, a quick victory doesn't seem to be a bad thing.
The village head's wife followed Xiuxiu's mother out of the house quickly.
"..." Hu Xiuxiu was startled when she saw them suddenly come out.
She had overheard most of their conversation, and her face flushed red with a mixture of nervousness and joy. Her marriage was about to be settled.
The village head's wife and Xiuxiu's mother headed towards Old Ye's house.
As they approached the Ye family's residence, they saw Ye Bajin's oxcart parked in the distance, with Ye Caiping getting off.
"Caiping is back after finishing her business," said the village head's wife.
"Yes." Ye Caiping smiled, glancing at Xiuxiu's mother behind her. Was she here to propose marriage?
"Let's take Bajin home first," said the village head's wife.
Ye Bajin obediently drove the oxcart away.
Xiuxiu glanced at Ye Caiping, said nothing, and tilted her head slightly.
She remembered perfectly well how Ye Caiping had rebuked her after Xiuxiu fell into the water last time!
Hmph, so what if he was so arrogant back then? Now he's begging to marry Xiuxiu!
Ye Caiping frowned slightly and said calmly, "Auntie, Xiuxiu's mother, please come in!"
"Sister-in-law, Daquan's wife, Xiuxiu's mother is here!" The village head's wife walked in, her loud voice filled with laughter.
Ye Yong was chopping firewood in the yard when he suddenly saw the two of them enter. His face flushed, especially when he saw Xiuxiu's mother, and he quickly stood up.
"Grandma Village Head, Auntie... what brings you here? I'll go call Grandma and Mom."
As he spoke, he ran into the room decorated with gold and silver flowers.
Grandma Ye, Madam Du, Madam Wei, Jin Hua, Yin Hua, and even Jin'er and Huan'er were all sitting on the bed, sewing clothes.
"Grandma, Mother, Xiuxiu's mother is here." Ye Yong walked in, looking somewhat nervous.
Du had heard the noise earlier: "Why did you come so fast? The village head came to report... why did you bring the person over directly?"
"Since you're already here, let's go out and greet you!" Old Mrs. Ye put down her needlework.
Grandma Ye and the other women came out of the house together, and with a smile, invited the village head's husband and Xiuxiu's mother into the main room to sit down.
Ye Yong couldn't stay in the room, so he hid in the old man and his wife's room.
Jin Hua, Yin Hua, Jin Er, and Huan Er all huddled behind Ye Yong, eavesdropping. Ye Yong tried to shoo them away several times, but they wouldn't leave.
Ye Caiping and Madam Wei served tea to everyone, and then sat down next to Old Madam Ye.
Once Xiuxiu's mother sat down, she just sat there silently. Even though she was the one who had come so eagerly, she didn't say a word after the dishes were served.
Seeing the awkward atmosphere, the village head's wife felt like slapping herself across the face.
She should have stopped Xiuxiu's mother from suddenly running over!
The village head's wife hurriedly said with a smile, "We just arrived at Xiuxiu's parents' house and talked about the marriage of the two children. Xiuxiu's mother has already agreed. I was thinking that since we are all from the same village, we might as well sit down and have a good talk. Once we reach an agreement, we can have the matchmaker come to propose marriage and exchange betrothal gifts. That would save us a lot of trouble."
The village head's wife gave Xiuxiu's mother a lot of face and took all the blame for her sudden arrival.
Upon hearing Xiuxiu's mother agree, both Madam Du and Old Lady Ye breathed a sigh of relief, their faces beaming with joy.
Ye Yong, inside the room, also felt a great sense of relief, his face flushing red. Jin Hua and Yin Hua whispered shyly at him.
Grandma Ye laughed and said, "Yes, it's easier to chat while sitting together. Xiuxiu's mother, besides the twenty taels of betrothal gift, what other requirements are there for the dowry?"
Xiuxiu's mother slowly put down her coarse porcelain teacup: "In addition to the eight usual items, you must give Xiuxiu a gold hairpin."
"A gold hairpin?" Both Madam Du and Madam Wei were startled.
When betrothing someone in this place, there must always be some valuable item to weigh it down.
Poor farmers would be given a small bronze mirror, ordinary families would be given a pair of silver clove earrings, and those with a little extra money would be given a silver hairpin.
Du originally intended to give a silver hairpin, but Xiuxiu insisted on gold!
Grandma Ye smiled and said, "Alright, the hairpin."
"Mother..." Madam Du's heart was bleeding, but thinking of the marriage her son had worked so hard to secure, she couldn't let a small matter ruin everything.
Even the lightest gold hairpin costs ten taels of silver... Fortunately, Ye Daquan has wages now, and he can borrow some more from his mother later, which should be enough.
Madam Wei glanced at Old Madam Ye. Yong'er wanted a gold hairpin, and she couldn't let her own Peng'er be left out when he got married in the future.
Before Xiuxiu's mother could say anything more, Old Lady Ye spoke up:
“Xiuxiu’s mother, we are a farming family. Twenty taels of silver for a gold hairpin is the best we can offer. Ask around, who offers a gold hairpin as a betrothal gift? If you want any other gold or silver valuables, we can’t provide them.”
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