By the way, my parents' idea is to invite you all over for a meal tomorrow while my two younger brothers and sister are home, so everyone can get to know each other, and the matchmaker can discuss the betrothal gifts! Then we can set a date.
Old Man Liu readily agreed.
"Okay, we'll go there tomorrow morning."
After leaving the Liu family, Xie Tianlin went to the matchmaker's house before returning home.
He arrived home not long after Xie Yushu and her entourage. Although they had heard some rumors on the way, Xie Yushu herself didn't seem to care much, so they didn't bring it up again. The family divided the cloth and cotton among themselves, prepared the dowry for the Liu family, and then rested.
After a good night's sleep, Lu and Wang got up early the next morning to make breakfast. After everyone had a quick bite, they began to prepare food for the guests. Although it was called a "guests' meal," the limited resources meant there weren't many dishes. To bring good luck, they prepared six dishes.
One dish of mushroom, egg, and spinach sauce; one dish of stir-fried shredded potatoes; one dish of scrambled eggs with chives; one dish of stir-fried bean sprouts; one dish of peanuts; and one dish of chicken stew with mushrooms.
The staple food was a large pot of white flour steamed buns.
When the dishes were half-prepared, Liu Qiaomei and her parents arrived with the matchmaker. Xie Baotian and Xie Baoshu chatted with the Liu family, while Lu Shi and Wang Shi busied themselves preparing the dishes. Xie Yushu was in charge of steaming buns. When Liu Qiaomei saw this, she went to the kitchen and asked if she needed any help. Lu Shi immediately said that it was her first time here and she couldn't be asked to do any work. She quickly invited her into the house.
Upon hearing this, Liu Qiao'er did not go forward. She greeted Wang Shi and Xie Yushu, told them to call her if she was too busy, and then went back to her room.
Madam Lu then asked Xie Yumin and Xiao Haitang to keep her company while she talked.
Once the food was ready, two tables were set up, one for the men and one for the women, so they could eat and chat together.
The dishes prepared by Madam Lu were plentiful; six dishes would normally be average, but after a year of famine, they seemed exceptionally sumptuous. The large white steamed buns looked particularly tempting, making the matchmaker beam with joy and showering them with praise.
"Brother Liu, I told you your daughter wouldn't be able to endure hardship after marrying into this family. Look at this time of year, who can afford six dishes and these big white steamed buns!"
I'm a very honest matchmaker; I would never cheat anyone!
Liu, you big brother, don't feel like you've been cheated. Let me tell you something. My niece, Qiaomei, is good at everything she does, and she's also pretty. Most importantly, she's sensible and doesn't cause trouble or do anything stupid!
"You're lucky to have married her!"
The matchmaker praised both sides, and both families listened with pleasure, making for a harmonious meal.
Finally, it was agreed that the wedding ceremony would take place the day before yesterday and the day after, and the wedding would be held on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.
The matchmaker offered a dowry of three taels of silver and two dan of rice. Xie Baotian voluntarily added twelve feet of cloth, six catties of cotton, two jars of wine, and two hens, making a total of six items, hoping for good luck.
The Liu family was extremely satisfied with this, as it far exceeded their expectations. They immediately patted Xie Tianlin on the shoulder and told him that they would be in charge of their daughter from now on.
The two young men blushed with embarrassment, which made everyone laugh.
Before leaving, Madam Lu gave Liu Qiao'er a six-foot-long red cloth and a pair of silver earrings, telling her that this was a token of the Xie family's goodwill, not included in the betrothal gifts, but given to her separately.
They also gave the matchmaker three feet of blue cotton cloth and two jars of wine as a thank-you gift. Both the Liu family and the matchmaker left happily, and the meeting came to a successful conclusion.
Three days later, it was time to send the betrothal gifts. Xie Yushu was worried that Xie Baotian might be short of money, so she gave them another five taels of silver. Three taels were for the betrothal gifts, and the remaining two taels were to be used to prepare for the wedding banquet.
The matchmaker, along with Xie Baotian, Xie Baoshu, Xie Tianlin, Xie Tianqi, and Xie Tianming, delivered the betrothal gifts to the Liu family. The matter was settled, and they were just waiting for the wedding to take place on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.
There was nothing much to do before Laba Festival. The Lu family and their relatives started making clothes with great enthusiasm, Xie Baotian and his group started selling candied hawthorns, and Xie Yushu also took Haitang and Xie Tianqi back to Tai'an Prefecture.
Madam Lu was somewhat reluctant to part with them, but considering Xie Yushu's situation, it might be better for her to leave, so she didn't insist on keeping them. She only told Xie Tianlin to have them come back early when he got married!
Xie Yushu and the others readily agreed, then loaded the medicinal herbs and furs, and set off in their little donkey cart.
Tiger and wolf skins are not things that ordinary people can use. Xie Yushu plans to exchange the four wolf skins for sheepskins to make shawls for Xie Baotian and the others. As for the tiger skins, she will keep them for herself and use them as mattresses.
Although she is now just an ordinary citizen, who would bother to check what she sleeps on?
Upon arriving in Tai'an, Xie Yushu handed four wolf pelts to Xie Tianqi, instructing him to exchange them for sheepskins. Four wolf pelts would be enough to exchange for eight sheepskins. She then told them to find a tailor to make a vest, leaving three for Xie Baotian and the others. Afterward, she took Haitang to the government office to register their household registration.
I hadn’t planned to ask Han Zhongyu this time. I just wanted to set up a female household registration and follow the procedures. But I just happened to run into him!
Han Zhongyu had just returned from investigating the people's conditions when he saw Xie Yushu leading a young maid to the yamen and asked her...
"You've come here because you need something?"
"Lord Han, I'm here to register my household?"
"You want to transfer your household registration? Why are there only two of you? Is this child your sister?"
"Ah! This girl is my niece! Xiao Haitang."
"Xiao? Your husband's niece? Where is your husband?!"
“He’s gone, and I’ve been divorced by the Xiao family. This child will stay with me from now on. I brought her here today to register her as a female household and put her on my household register first!”
Han Zhongyu listened and said
"Well, please accept my condolences! If you need any help in the future, just let me know."
"Uh-huh?"
Xie Yushu was dumbfounded. What was all this about?!
"Sir, my second uncle is not dead. He left with my younger brother. My grandparents want to seize my second uncle's house and divorce my second aunt. They abuse me every day, making me do a lot of work and not letting me eat enough. My second aunt couldn't bear to part with me, so she exchanged me for something else!"
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