"So, which family's girl has he taken a fancy to now?" Lin Yinan asked curiously.
Zhang said with a smile, "After the autumn harvest this year, Mother said we had to choose someone to settle down with and get married next year. That's when he told us to go to Yao Xiuer's house to propose marriage. This guy has taken a fancy to her eldest daughter, Huang Qingqing."
Zhang's words successfully piqued Lin Yinan's curiosity, and she looked on with a gossipy expression.
When did they get together?
The key issue is that no one noticed anything amiss.
"Who knew, everyone was so busy, and we didn't see him have any contact with Miss Huang."
When Yao Xiuer and her three children were abandoned by Huang Guichang, they were able to reach the south safely thanks to the help of Huang Qingqing, who was already fourteen at the time.
Throughout the journey, Huang Qingqing was hardworking and capable, without a trace of the spoiled air of a young lady from a wealthy family.
"Qingqing is indeed a good girl." Grandma Zhao said with satisfaction, "The two of them are a good match in terms of age. We've watched Qingqing grow up, and we know her well. She's eighteen this year."
Lin Yinan asked, "Is it settled?"
Grandma Zhao: Not yet. We've already spoken with Madam Yao. Your second aunt has prepared the betrothal gifts. We'll choose an auspicious day after the New Year to propose marriage.
"Second Aunt, please don't hesitate to ask if you need my help."
When she first arrived in Longtan, Lin Shuo and Zhang Shi helped her a lot, and Lin Yinan would never forget this kindness.
Zhang chuckled and said, "There's nothing I can help with. Yao is an educated and reasonable woman. I like Qingqing more and more the more I look at her. It feels like a dream to see her with Ah Zhang."
Grandma Zhao rolled her eyes at her, thinking, "What a good-for-nothing."
With Anan and Hengge'er in their family, and their grandson-in-law backing them up, their marriage is the envy of many.
"Ah Song is eighteen this year. Speaking of the girls who came south with us, they are all quite nice. If there are any suitable ones, we can settle down together. Now that we are well-off, we can marry Ah Zhang one after the other," said Old Mrs. Zhao with a smile.
"Yes, I'll listen to my mother."
Then the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law started discussing the girls they knew in the neighborhood.
Lin Yichun brewed some digestive tea in the kitchen and brought it over. Together with Qianwu, they coaxed Yun Shijiu to drink it.
Li Shulan winked at Lin Yinan and pulled her into her room.
After closing the door, Li Shulan hurriedly pulled Lin Yinan to sit down on the low couch.
Seeing her mother looking her up and down, Lin Yinan glanced down at herself and found nothing wrong with it, which puzzled her.
"Mother, what's wrong with you?"
Li Shulan's face was full of worry, her brows furrowed. "Should I go and call Doctor Lin to take a look at you?"
"What are you looking at?"
“You’re almost four years old, and there’s still no sign of pregnancy. Yunmo is also getting on in years, your mother-in-law must be getting worried,” Li Shulan said cryptically.
Lin Yinan immediately understood that her mother was trying to persuade her to have a second child.
"Mom, there's nothing wrong with my health, it's just that I don't want to have children."
Li Shulan stared straight at her, "Don't want to have a baby? Anan, listen to your mother, don't be willful, you have to think about your son-in-law."
Lin Yinan sighed and rubbed her forehead in exasperation.
People in this era were influenced by feudal ethics and believed that having a son was for the purpose of expanding the family line and ensuring that there would be male descendants to inherit the family business after their death.
They believed that daughters would eventually marry out and take their husband's surname, bearing children for others.
Even in modern southern regions, the preference for sons over daughters is deeply ingrained due to clan influence.
In some villages, when land is distributed or various land expropriation dividends are distributed, even married women who have not moved their household registration are not eligible to receive them; only male members are entitled to them.
In some places, only families with male offspring are eligible to receive land and homesteads.
For thousands of years, influenced by gender discrimination and the patriarchal system, men have only regarded women as their appendages. They could only stay at home to support their husbands and raise their children, and could not be independent or have autonomy.
Even if a woman is outstanding, there will still be people who criticize her for not taking good care of her family, not giving birth to a son, not being filial to her parents-in-law, not raising her children well, and not earning a penny for the family.
No one saw her sacrifices!
Even in death, her tombstone will bear her husband's surname.
Perhaps some people go through their entire lives without ever being themselves for a single day.
Lin Yinan did not blame Li Shulan. She was just a member of this era and was only considering things from a mother's perspective.
After thinking it over, Lin Yinan shifted the blame onto Yun Mo.
“Mother, I have discussed the matter of the child with Yunmo. He said to let fate decide. If it doesn’t work out, we can let Shijiu find a husband later.”
Lin Yinan never expected that his casual remark at the time would later become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Of course, that's a story for another time.
"Is that really what the son-in-law said?"
"If you don't believe me, wait until he comes back and ask him."
"Don't talk nonsense."
Li Shulan rolled her eyes at her.
What mother-in-law would ask her son-in-law about something like this? But Li Shulan didn't expect her son-in-law to be so open-minded, and she finally felt relieved.
When it was time to eat, only Lin Shuo and Lin Yiheng came back; the other boys were not home.
Grandma Zhao said irritably, "The child is all grown up now, running off every day, never home until dark."
“Mother, Ah Zhang told me this morning that they’re going up the mountain to chop some firewood while the weather is nice. This winter is cold, and we need a lot of firewood. We can’t afford to buy firewood to make ends meet,” Lin Shuo said, defending her son and nephews.
Fearing that the old lady would worry, Zhang also reassured her, "Don't worry, Ah Zhang knows what he's doing. They brought some dry food, so they won't go hungry."
Grandma Zhao then shut her mouth.
After dinner, when they came out of the Lin family's house, Lin Yinan saw that Yun Shijiu was exhausted and wanted Qianwu to take her back to rest.
Nineteen insisted on going with Lin Yinan to deliver New Year's gifts, despite her reluctance.
Lin Yinan then took the New Year's gifts to the school.
Master Dao was sitting in the courtyard, basking in the sun and playing chess with Su Kunliang, when he saw Lin Yinan come in carrying things. He quickly told the servants to bring chairs and make tea.
Knowing that the two were teachers, Yun Shijiu struggled to get off Qianwu's back and bowed to them in a proper manner.
Master Dao reached out to help her up, looked her up and down, and then went inside to retrieve a box.
"This box is for you. If you ever become curious, come find me, okay?" He handed the box to Yun Shijiu and said earnestly.
Yun Shijiu grinned, revealing her pretty little teeth. She nodded happily and gave the Taoist priest a thumbs up.
This is what her mother taught her: praise should be given.
Yun Shijiu opened the box, inside was a small plaque made of lightning-struck jujube wood, engraved with a dragon coiled around a sword and runes, looking like a Taoist magic weapon.
Lin Yinan immediately recognized that this item was extraordinary. "Master Dao, isn't this too valuable?"
"It's alright, I have a connection with her, and she will need it in the future." Master Dao waved his hand dismissively and continued, "Keep it for her, and send her to school in the spring."
Upon hearing this, Yun Shijiu carefully put the wooden plaque back, handed the box to Lin Yinan, and then happily pulled Qianwu to the teaching aids room to play.
"Thank you, Master!" Lin Yinan said with a smile and a gentle voice.
However, Master Dao's gaze was drawn to the New Year's gifts she brought.
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