Qi Xiuxiu placed the wild ginseng she was holding on the stove. Qi Xiuxiu was in her thirties. She had three older brothers, all of whom were already married. Qi Xiuxiu was tall, strong, and dark-skinned, but she still hadn't found a husband.
Several people had proposed marriage to Xiuxiu's parents before, but they thought the dowry offered was too low. Xiuxiu herself was rather slow-witted. As time went on, Xiuxiu grew older.
The older Qi Xiuxiu got, the worse the suitors became, and the less dowry they offered. This made Qi Xiuxiu's parents even more unwilling.
Although Qi Xiuxiu was tall, strong, and dark-skinned, she was more capable than her three older brothers. Qi Xiuxiu's parents felt it was a waste to marry her off for such a small amount of money. So they dragged it out until now.
In the past, the villagers called Qi Xiuxiu "Black Girl". Now, the villagers call Qi Xiuxiu "Black Aunt".
Qi Xiuxiu was covered in dirt, and her clothes had several tears. It was clear she had just come down from the mountain.
Grandma Yangyang looked at the wild ginseng on the stove: "You went into the mountains?"
"Yes. He'll be fine if he eats this wild ginseng."
Grandpa Yangyang knew that wild ginseng would be beneficial to Yangyang's father's illness. But... he had neither the money nor the strength to go into the mountains. Besides, even if he did go, he might not be able to find any wild ginseng. "Has anyone seen it?"
No. I'm leaving.
Grandpa Yangyang: "We will remember your kindness."
"I..." Qi Xiuxiu wanted to say, "I just hope he's alright," but she was too embarrassed to say it. "I just happened to see it and dug it up. Uncle, Aunt, I'm leaving."
Grandpa Yangyang: "Okay. Be careful, don't let anyone see."
"Um."
After Qi Xiuxiu left, Yangyang's grandmother cut some wild ginseng and put it in Yangyang's father's medicine. "Old man," she said, "do you think they'll agree if we propose to Xiuxiu's parents?"
Grandpa Yangyang sighed. "Given our current status..."
"Our son is handsome and well-educated. If it weren't for... if it weren't for..." Grandma Yangyang repeated "if it weren't for" twice, not daring to say what was really on her mind. "If we hadn't moved here, how could it have been her turn?"
Grandma Yangyang looked at Grandpa Yangyang. "We can't take care of our son for much longer. How about we try to take over?"
Grandpa Yangyang also wanted to find a companion for his son. But... "How can we try? Xiuxiu's parents avoid us as soon as they see us."
Grandma Yangyang sighed. "When will this ever end?"
"Don't say that. Is the medicine ready? If it is, take it in to your son."
Grandma Yangyang lifted the medicine jar and looked inside. "We'll have to wait a little longer."
"Then I'll go and talk to my son for a while."
"Um."
When Yangyang's grandfather came in, Ouyang Jia Hui was coughing. Yangyang's grandfather patted his son's back. "Your mother is brewing medicine; you'll feel better after drinking it."
Ouyang Jia Hui coughed a few more times. "It's no use. Don't waste your money."
"This time it will definitely work."
Ouyang Jiahui gave a weak smile: "I wonder what Xuanxuan is doing now?"
Missing your son?
"Hmm. I wonder how tall Xuanxuan is now?"
"Once you're better, write a letter to Xuanxuan's mother and ask her to send you a picture of Xuanxuan."
Ouyang Jiahui coughed a few more times. "No. I'm afraid of causing trouble for her and her daughter."
"That's true. We'll talk about it later then."
"Um."
A moment later, Yangyang's grandmother brought in the medicine. "Son, take your medicine."
"Okay." Ouyang Jiahui sat up from the kang (a heated brick bed). "Mother, give it to me."
"No need. I can hold it." Grandma Yangyang brought the bowl to Ouyang Jia Hui's lips. "Here, drink."
"Thank you, Mother."
Experience makes one a doctor. Ouyang Jiahui knew after just one sip that it contained wild ginseng.
After finishing his drink, Ouyang Jiahui asked, "Mother, is Xiuxiu here?" Ouyang Jiahui knew very well what the situation was like at home.
Grandma Yangyang placed the bowl on the table. "Hmm. I want to propose to Xiuxiu's family, but your father said Xiuxiu's parents definitely won't agree." Grandma Yangyang doesn't ask for anything now, only that someone can help them take care of Ouyang Jiahui after they leave. Although Xiuxiu isn't pretty, she's capable in all aspects of life, from climbing mountains to working in the fields. She can fetch water and cook.
Ouyang Jiahui's eyes dimmed: "Mother, it's because your son is useless."
"What are you saying? How come you're useless? It's just... it's just..."
Grandpa Yangyang smiled. "Son, you were just born at the wrong time."
Grandma Yangyang: "Yes. Son, lie down and rest."
"Um."
On the other side, as soon as Qi Xiuxiu got home, her mother glared at her. "Where did you go gallivanting again?"
"Nowhere."
Xiuxiu's mother looked at Qi Xiuxiu's clothes. "You didn't go anywhere, so why are your clothes torn?"
"I accidentally cut myself just now." Qi Xiuxiu wanted to wash her face, but there wasn't a drop of water in the water tank. "I'll go fetch some water."
"You brat," Qi Xiuxiu's mother stopped her and asked, "Did you go to deliver things to that sickly boy again?"
"without."
Qi Xiuxiu's mother didn't believe her. "Then what have you been doing all this time?"
"Nothing. Mother, the water tank is empty."
"You brat, if you dare lie to me, I'll break your legs."
Qi Xiuxiu glanced at her mother, thinking: If you break my legs, who will do the work for you? "Mom, there's no water in the water vat."
"Then why don't you hurry up and go pick one out?"
Qi Xiuxiu carried the small buckets and walked past her mother.
As soon as Qi Xiuxiu left, her second sister-in-law came out of the house: "Mother, my little sister keeps secretly going to deliver things to that sickly man, why doesn't Father do anything about it?"
Qi Xiuxiu's mother glared at Erzhu's wife: "Which eye of yours saw your sister giving things to that sickly man?"
Erzhu's wife was stunned for a moment: "Mother, didn't you just say..."
"What did I say? What did I say?" Xiuxiu's mother pointed at Erzhu's wife's nose and said, "Did you use up all the water in the water tank?"
"I...I'm just about to pick one out."
"You lazy bum. Go cook."
Erzhu's wife muttered under her breath, "All you do is scold me, why don't you scold your daughter?"
Xiuxiu's mother didn't hear her clearly: "What did you say?"
"I said my younger sister cooks better than me."
Xiuxiu's mother glanced at Erzhu's wife: "Why did I ever marry such a lazy bum like you for my second son? Hurry up and go!"
Erzhu's wife reluctantly went to cook.
A little while later, Xiuxiu's father returned. After he went inside, Xiuxiu's mother followed him in. As soon as they entered, Xiuxiu's mother said to Xiuxiu's father, "That brat went out again today."
Xiuxiu's father sat down on the kang (a heated brick bed) and picked up his pipe. "So what if he goes out?"
"She must have gone to deliver things to that sickly guy again. I asked her, but she wouldn't tell me."
Xiuxiu's father took a drag of his cigarette. "Didn't I tell you? Don't get involved in this."
"Dad, what are you really thinking?"
Xiuxiu's father didn't say anything.
"Dad, you don't really want to marry Xiuxiu off to that sickly man, do you?"
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