RMCF: Chapter 9

 

Chapter 9

“Please. Have a seat, have a seat.”

“Madam Guang, your yard is so well-kept. Look how sturdy your chickens and ducks are.”

“They're just small things. Madam Zhang, please don't laugh at us.”

As soon as Zhang Fangyuan entered the yard, the two women began chatting and laughing as if they were one family. In these matters, he was truly tongue-tied; it really took women to handle the conversation. Asking his aunt to come had been the right decision.

He followed obediently behind He Shi, handing over gifts when told, greeting people when instructed; everything was managed very properly.

“Shall we have the young lady come out and take a look? It's important for these young people to find each other pleasing to the eye, don't you think, Madam Guang?”

After a bit of small talk, He Shi returned to the main topic. Madam Guang was quick to follow suit, calling out towards the house, “Qiu'er!”

Zhang Fangyuan waited for her to come out. Judging by Madam Guang's pleasant features, her daughter in the prime of her youth should also be decent-looking.

Usually, there was a customary ritual here; the young woman would need to be called three or four times, pretending to be shy. Zhang Fangyuan waited patiently. But instead of the young woman appearing, a man carrying a chicken barged headfirst into the yard from outside.

Naturally, everyone's attention was drawn to him.

Madam Guang saw the man and scolded him with a familiar tone, as if blaming him for his poor timing, “Even when you're sick, you don't rest properly. What work is so important that you have to go out right when your sister is meeting a potential match?”

She turned back with a smile to introduce him to He Shi and Zhang Fangyuan. “This is our good-for-nothing second son.”

Zhang Fangyuan tilted his head. The round, plump figure seemed somewhat familiar, but he couldn't place it immediately. When the Guang family's second son lifted his head, his shifty, rat-like features made Zhang Fangyuan stand up abruptly, disregarding etiquette.

His face was naturally quite fierce. Even a slight expression of anger made his appearance even more intimidating. He Shi was startled and asked quietly, “Fangyuan, what's going on?”

She tugged gently at his clothes, praying no conflict would arise at this critical moment.

The Guang family's second son seemed to have had a bit to drink; his mind muddled. When he looked up and saw the man standing in the yard, he reflexively shrank back in fear, his grip loosening. The half-dead chicken managed to struggle free from his grip and scurried away.

Zhang Fangyuan glanced at the panicked domestic chicken, narrowed his eyes slightly, and addressed the second son, “You're from this family?”

The man trembled and shrank back, not daring to answer him, hiding behind Madam Guang. “Mother…”

Madam Guang could also tell the two had some history and immediately tried to smooth things over. “You, child, if you're unwell, go inside first. A grown man showing fear out here. Madam Zhang, where were we?”

Just as He Shi was about to respond, Zhang Fangyuan said directly, “There's no need for the meeting, Aunt. Let's go.”

“This... what's going on?”

He Shi hastily grabbed the man whose face had turned dark.

Zhang Fangyuan replied, “There's no fate for this match.”

Madam Guang had known about Zhang Fangyuan's poor reputation, but seeing him in person had been an eye-opener; she found his appearance quite outstanding, and he was humble in front of elders.

Young girls often have a one-sided view of men, only knowing to pick gentle, considerate scholars who speak softly. They don't realize that after marriage, someone like Zhang Fangyuan has many advantages. Initially, she had been quite satisfied with the man himself. Even if he didn't get along with her son, for him to change his attitude so suddenly now, without even caring about saving face, made her unhappy too.

“Madam Zhang, what is the meaning of this? You asked the matchmaker to arrange a meeting, and now you're backing out before even seeing the person? Do you really think our Guang family, being new here, is easy to bully?”

He Shi looked troubled, turning to Zhang Fangyuan. “This…”

Zhang Fangyuan didn't want to directly expose their shame, but since Madam Guang insisted on pestering, he spoke bluntly, “May I ask what trade your second son is in?”

Upon hearing this, Madam Guang's face immediately darkened considerably, but she still said, “My second son is untalented. He picks up odd jobs in town, sometimes works as a hired hand in neighboring villages.”

Zhang Fangyuan glanced sideways at the chicken in the yard. “You, as an elder, should know very well what your second son does, since he's even bringing things home. A man may be poor, but his spirit should not be. Although I, Zhang Fangyuan, am untalented, I cannot become the brother-in-law of your second son.”

“I warned him last time he tried something with me. Hah.” Zhang Fangyuan sneered coldly. “It seems Second Brother has no intention of repenting. I cannot stomach this marriage.”

Although not stated explicitly, He Shi was a smart person. Reading between the lines, she immediately understood the situation. Even though she had been displeased with her nephew's sudden change of face moments ago, if this family had a brother with poor character, they certainly couldn't overlook it and proceed with the marriage.

“Madam Guang, since that is the case, we have troubled you.” He Shi, firmly on her nephew's side, picked up the gifts they had brought and prepared to leave. This action, however, made Madam Guang jump up in anger.

Having the family's shameful secrets exposed and losing a marriage prospect because of it made Madam Guang both humiliated and furious. When a person is in the wrong, they often try to regain some face from other angles.

“So it was you who beat up our second son like that! Broken ribs, scared out of his wits, bedridden for two days, and now he's barely able to go out, and you're still intimidating him! Just because you're a butcher, you think you can bully others like this? The marriage can be called off today, but you must pay for my son's medical expenses!”

The Guang family's second son hid behind the door, his sister beside him, listening to the quarrel outside. The fifth Guang daughter glanced at her brother, feeling utterly humiliated. She wiped her eyes, crying, and ran into the inner room. “I told you Brother shouldn't do this kind of work, but you kept doing it!”

Guang Er* cursed under his breath, “You didn't say that when you were eating the meat! You were the one who enjoyed it the most!”

*Er — Second

After cursing, he peeked fearfully at Zhang Fangyuan, secretly resenting his mother for saying such things.

He had personally experienced how fierce this butcher was. If it wasn't a match, they should just let them leave. Now, talking about compensation... if the butcher went crazy, wouldn't he beat up the whole family, young and old?

He was terrified but didn't dare go out, only blaming himself for not listening when the matchmaker came to propose and finding out which family and which man it was. But these family matters were all handled by his mother. When you can't even eat your fill, who has the mind to care about this?

After hearing Madam Guang's words, Zhang Fangyuan gave a humorless smile and directly moved to shield He Shi behind him. He looked down at Madam Guang from his height, sneering. “What, if I don't pay today, are you going to keep me for dinner? I thought I'd seen many shameless people, but Madam Guang, you surpass them all.”

Madam Guang, shedding her usual quiet village demeanor, assumed that on her own turf, with many children and a large family, Zhang Fangyuan would be intimidated. She directly pointed at Zhang Fangyuan's nose and cursed, “You beat someone and won't pay? Do you think the King of Heaven is your father?! Today, forget you refusing; I wouldn't give my daughter to someone as violent as you anyway! Let's see who in the village or beyond would give their daughter or ger to you. Stay a bachelor forever, you old wifeless man!”

Memories of his past life flashed through Zhang Fangyuan's mind. His eyes turned sharp. With a bang, he punched the wooden table in front of Madam Guang, cleanly breaking off a corner.

Madam Guang shuddered, her shoulders trembling. She stared blankly, no longer able to shout.

“Madam Guang, you might test whether your mouth is harder or my fist is harder.”

Zhang Fangyuan turned and called to He Shi, “Aunt, let's go.” The two left the same way they came.

After they had gone far enough, Madam Guang's legs gave way, and she collapsed into a chair. Guang Er, the fifth daughter, and the youngest son rushed over. “Mother, are you alright?”

“That butcher is so fierce! It's a good thing the marriage didn't happen, otherwise, wouldn't your daughter suffer endlessly if she married him?”

“Mother, he won't report us, will he?”

The noise around her was like the buzzing of mosquitoes. Madam Guang hadn't even had time to catch her breath. “Report us with what? If he says it is so, it is? The court demands evidence. Can he produce it?”

Hearing this, Guang Er breathed a sigh of relief. “Mother, Fifth Sister, don't be angry. Let's stew this chicken tonight. Mother, have some to calm your nerves and nourish your body.”

Madam Guang felt physically and mentally exhausted, her legs weak in the chair. She waved her hand, “Fifth Daughter, cook dinner tonight.”

The Guang’s fifth daughter clenched her fingers, feeling somewhat sad, but she obediently went to kill the chicken, as if no matter how big the issue, it couldn't outweigh a bite of meat.

…

“Fangyuan, don't be upset about this. It's better to know their character early than to find out after marriage and not be able to cleanly separate. You did the right thing. We can't get involved with a family of petty thieves.” Having learned the whole story, He Shi tried to console him. “Who would have thought this family was like this? Guang Er does these things, and Madam Guang doesn't even try to correct or teach him. How can that be acceptable?”

Zhang Fangyuan let out a long sigh. “I wondered why that kid called me 'Butcher' on the mountain, recognizing me when he looked unfamiliar. So he's from the Guang family. I regret not breaking that kid's hand last time, so he couldn’t still be doing these things.”

He Shi shook her head. “Forget it. Let's not have any more dealings with the Guang family from now on. Your aunt will make another trip to your Auntie Gan. We'll definitely find a suitable match.”

“We'll see.”

Zhang Fangyuan felt irritated. He had considered the possibility of the match not working out, but he hadn't expected it to fail in this way.

This matter of the marriage had already caused quite a stir in the village. Although they didn't publicly announce the match had failed, there were always busybodies trying to pry.

The villagers naturally didn't dare ask Zhang Fangyuan directly but always managed to pull He Shi aside for a chat and inquire.

He Shi wasn't a gossipy woman and didn't want to spread rumors. She only said the two sides weren't suitable. Thinking of that house full of children, all someone's sons and daughters, she ultimately spared the Guang family some face.

The failed marriage seemed like an expected outcome. The village women laughed and moved on, not paying it much mind. However, a few days later, a strange rumor began to spread through the village.

 

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