"Hey, are your son and daughter getting old too?" The sister-in-law who was also in charge of raising chickens winked at Jinxiu.
Jin Xiu nodded, "Yes, my son is 16 years old and my daughter is 15 years old."
"Oh, I'm just old enough to save you from worrying about me. How great."
Jin Xiu had a forced expression on her face, just smiled and said nothing.
In order to increase the population, the government issued a notice: the age of first marriage is 16 for men and 14 for women; and any man who is unmarried at the age of 30 or any woman who is unmarried at the age of 20 will be taxed; any man who is unmarried at the age of 35 or any woman who is unmarried at the age of 25 must be arranged to marry by the government.
In addition, if a boy was born, the government would reward him with three dou of grain; if a girl was born, two dou of grain, and the more the better...
But the government's operation did not stop there. All men aged 16 and above and women aged 14 and above who were not slaves had to report to the government and be registered.
The government gathered dozens of matchmakers to "match" these unmarried men and women, striving to get them married as soon as possible when they reach marriageable age.
Jin Xiu did not want to force her son and daughter to stay at home, but she did not like to treat her children as an unwanted piece of meat on the table, being picked and chosen.
But she had no choice but to obey the government's arrangements. On the other hand, she also took the time to find some good ladies and gentlemen to avoid being picked up by others.
The same thing happened to Fang the butcher's family, and Mrs. Wu was extremely anxious.
She finally managed to convince her son to stop looking at Shopkeeper Fan, but the young ladies he had been introduced to later weren't to his liking. Now the other party had already been approached by a matchmaker and someone had come to propose marriage, and she was the only one left, anxiously wandering around!
Once the government issued this order, she was not only worried about one thing, but two things at once!
Fang Lu will be seventeen this year! If we don't hurry up, not only will there be no good candidates in a few years, but we'll also have to pay more taxes!
Wu's mouth was filled with rage. "You are all my living ancestors!"
"Fang Zheng, if you keep being so picky, you'll be waiting for Manager Fan for half your lifetime! And you, Fang Lu, you can still be picky now, but in two years, when you're old and faded, you'll be reduced to being the one being picked on!"
Fang Zheng had a heart attack, and the words "I can't wait for half my lifetime" really touched the wound in his heart.
Fang Lu's temper became more and more stubborn as she grew older. Even though her elder brother didn't say anything, she couldn't help but ask, "Do I have to make do with someone who's not suitable for me?"
"What's the point of being suitable or not? It was all arranged by your parents and the matchmaker. Your parents never even met each other back then, but aren't they living happily now?"
"What if? If I marry badly, can you take responsibility, mother?"
"How do you know you won't marry well? Don't you trust your mother's judgment?"
"Then how do you know I'll marry well? I don't trust your judgment, mother. You get so happy when outsiders say a few good words about me! It's like our family is so great!"
Ever since her father and eldest brother started selling pork in the Jiang family shop, many people were jealous and envious, and many of them took the initiative to come to the house to inquire about their business. With one flattering word after another, her mother's heart was already drifting!
Mrs. Wu slapped her arm hard. She had never seen any young lady as outspoken and shameless as her daughter, and she had so much to say about marriage.
"In a few years, if you still can't get married, we will have to increase taxes! Where will we get the money to pay you so much?! Your brother needs a betrothal gift to get married, and our family doesn't have anything to offer. In five or six years, Fang Xin will also have to pay a betrothal gift. Our family..."
Fang Lu rubbed her arm and interrupted directly, "I can go out and earn money by myself, right? Mom, you don't have to worry about me spending the family's money!"
Seeing the mother and daughter blushing and their words becoming increasingly harsh, Butcher Fang frowned and said, "Shut up, both of you!"
He turned to his wife and said, "I can earn the betrothal gifts for our two sons, so I don't need my daughter's share! We can't force our daughter to marry quickly just to pay less taxes."
Mrs. Wu wanted to say something, but was interrupted by the man again, "Besides, she is right. If she rushes into marriage and ruins her daughter's life, won't you feel bad?"
Fang Lu was secretly happy that her father was speaking for her, but her father turned around, said with a serious face, and asked her to apologize to her mother.
"And you, Fang Lu, you're not a child anymore. Don't you know what to say and what not to say? Is this how you talk to your mother? You have no respect for your parents!"
Fang Lu pinched the corner of her clothes with her fingers and pursed her lips. "I was wrong, Mom. I know you are worried about my marriage. It's not that I don't want to get married, but I don't want to decide on it like choosing vegetables. Who knows if it tastes good or not..."
In fact, she hadn't said a word yet, because she knew that her mother would definitely not agree.
The girl lowered her head, and Mrs. Wu softened, even being amused by her description. "What's delicious or not? Don't worry, mother will definitely open her eyes and pick a good one for you!"
After the busy farming season, many people have had some free time. In the hot summer, the custom of talking about marriage is prevalent in the city. People are busy as hell, with happy looks on their faces.
Many matchmakers, wearing red handkerchiefs and twisting their feet, walked quickly, their mouths almost stretched to the back of their heads. They shielded their heads from the scorching sun with large leaves as they walked through the streets.
Doing this job is not tiring, at most it consumes a little saliva. Not only can you get money and food from the government, but you can also get benefits from the marriage proposal family. Who wouldn't be polite to them now? They all speak to them with enthusiasm.
It can be said that they are the most magnificent and beautiful in the city now!
With the government's combined rewards and punishments, wedding banquets were held almost every other day in the city. For the Jiang family, business had reached a new level.
In such an atmosphere, the New Year's Reunion Festival has arrived again.
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