RMCF: Chapter 24

 

Chapter 24

The Xu couple sincerely wanted to thank Zhang Fangyuan. They had Xu He slaughter a duck to braise with dried bamboo shoots, take a piece of cured meat to make the rather complicated steamed pork with preserved mustard greens, and also prepare some wild vegetables for soup and a stirfry. Xu Changren knew Zhang Fangyuan drank, and although he couldn't join him, he still had Liu Xianglan bring out a jar of wine to entertain him.

Apart from New Year's and festivals, the family almost never had such a lavish spread. Xu He also cooked with great care. Before noon, the aroma of braised duck filled the entire courtyard. Villagers passing by on their way to the fields would stop and remark, “He Ger, do you have relatives visiting today? It smells so delicious. Makes a person drool! What dishes are you cooking?”

Xu He didn't respond to the villagers. He just carried firewood into the house by himself. The villager, having failed to get an answer, snorted in dismissal.

By noon, the food was on the table, and Zhang Fangyuan really did come. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he could smell the delicious aroma. His heart swelled with joy, feeling as if he were already eating at his future in-laws' home.

The small square dining table was laden with large plates and small bowls of dishes, an exceptionally sumptuous spread for an ordinary day. Zhang Fangyuan went inside to see Xu Changren, exchanged a few words with him, and then Liu Xianglan warmly invited him to eat. Xu Shaochun was reluctant to join the table, but Liu Xianglan shot her a glare.

“Butcher Zhang, we are truly grateful. I'm not good with words, so cooking a meal is our way of saying thank you. If there's anything our Xu family can help with in the future, we will certainly lend a hand.” Liu Xianglan said politely, “Shaochun, pour some wine for Butcher Zhang.”

Zhang Fangyuan said, “We're fellow villagers, Madam Xu, no need to be so polite. He Ger has already thanked me.”

He held the wine bowl passed from Xu Shaochun, took a large gulp, and without ceremony, started eating directly. He had only tasted Xu He's cooking once before and had been craving this hauntingly delicious flavor for a long time.

The duck was braised to a flavorful tenderness, not gamey at all. The dried bamboo shoots were crispy. It was enough to make him down a whole jar of wine. Although the dishes were excellent, thinking about being able to eat like this every day in the future, he only tasted a few chopstickfuls before setting them down.

“If Madam Xu truly wants to thank me, I do indeed have a difficulty.” Zhang Fangyuan's speech rose and fell with emphasis, revealing a rogue's smile, the kind he used when causing trouble and disrupting places in town.

Liu Xianglan was taken aback. She realized this man wasn't so easy to deal with. The person now was completely different from the warmhearted and righteous helper of yesterday. This was probably his true face.

She forced a smile and served Zhang Fangyuan some food. “I wonder what our Xu family could possibly help with.”

“Ah, I'll be twenty in a few months, still a lone bachelor. My uncles are extremely anxious, nagging me every time they see me.” Zhang Fangyuan's smile widened. “Madam Xu, you can't just stand by and watch me suffer.”

“This… that's putting it too seriously.” Liu Xianglan's expression soured. Xu Shaochun looked on the verge of tears, wishing she could turn and run away immediately, feeling deeply that even sharing a table with Zhang Fangyuan was like ruining her reputation.

Xu He also furrowed his brows. He chewed his rice slowly, unsure what Zhang Fangyuan was planning.

"I see Second Miss talented and virtuous, with both character and appearance…”

“But unfortunately, our Shaochun is already promised to the Fei family!”

Liu Xianglan hastily interrupted Zhang Fangyuan.

“Ah? When did this happen? I haven't heard anything.”

Liu Xianglan gave an awkward smile. “We haven't announced it publicly. Young Master Fei is taking the county exam. Once he returns, they will formalize the betrothal and marry. You can ask the Fei family about this.”

Zhang Fangyuan pretended to sigh, then looked at Xu He, who was still eating across from him. “Then He Ger surely isn't promised to anyone either, is he?”

Xu He looked up at Zhang Fangyuan, pressed his lips together, and gently kicked the two long legs under the table.

Zhang Fangyuan felt the pain but didn't make a sound, remaining as steady as Mount Tai. He turned his head to look at Liu Xianglan.

Liu Xianglan was stunned. “He Ger… he's still young.”

"Isn't He Ger only a year younger than Second Miss? Hasn't he already come of age? Still young?”

Liu Xianglan fell silent. Although having someone propose for Xu He would mean one less thing to worry about, her deeply ingrained mindset made her reluctant to have any connection with someone like Zhang Fangyuan.

Zhang Fangyuan also knew it wouldn't be that easy. Although the villagers' perception of him had improved, the things he had done over the years couldn't be forgotten overnight. He was the very epitome of the local ruffian. When it came to seriously considering him as a son-in-law, of course there would be reservations, especially since they were in the same village, unlike marrying far away with little contact.

He said slowly, “Uncle Xu's bones and tendons are injured. I imagine he won't recover for a while. Going in and out of town will be inconvenient. If there were a son-in-law with a cart at a time like this, wouldn't it mean going to town whenever you wanted?”

“Ah! And in the fourth month, the government officials will come again to collect taxes…”

Liu Xianglan's expression froze. These words undoubtedly hit right on all her concerns.

“Madam Xu, what do you think?”

Liu Xianglan's mind immediately became active. She thought about her sister's previous praise of Zhang Fangyuan. Now, Zhang Fangyuan was asking for He Ger, not Shaochun. That seemed… acceptable.

“Our Xu family is also open-minded. If Butcher Zhang is sincere, it can be discussed. Saying He Ger is still young is because his older sister hasn't married yet.”

If he weren't so eager to marry He Ger and bring him home, Zhang Fangyuan wouldn't have gone through all this effort and talk today. “My family is pressing me urgently, and running a business in the city really requires someone to help look after the household. Besides, it's not necessary for the older siblings to marry before the younger ones. Our village doesn't have such a strict rule, does it?”

“I've checked the almanac. The nineteenth day of the third month is a good day for marriage.” Zhang Fangyuan left no room for argument. “Tomorrow, I’ll deliver the betrothal gifts.”

Liu Xianglan was nearly shocked speechless. Wasn't this a bit too rushed? But then she thought, given the previous incident with the Guang family, and Zhang Fangyuan not being young anymore, his urgency was quite normal.

She didn't respond to Zhang Fangyuan's words directly, instead putting on a show of asking Xu He, who had been keeping his head down. “He Ger, what are your thoughts?”

Facing Xu He, Zhang Fangyuan suddenly felt a bit less confident. He was afraid his aggressiveness might upset Xu He, and he wasn't following their previous agreement to wait a while before coming.

Truthfully, his father's injury happened at a convenient time. He admitted he was taking advantage of the situation.

Xu He didn't know why Zhang Fangyuan had suddenly changed his strategy. Thinking of their past interactions, he remained silent for a moment, then said, “I'll follow Mother's arrangements.” This was his tacit consent.

Hearing this, Zhang Fangyuan's chest heaved, and he subtly let out a sigh of relief. His wife-to-be was so good, not making him lose face at all! Tomorrow, he would bring him more delicious treats.

“When a man is grown, he should marry; when a woman is grown, she should wed. Being in the same village is also a good thing. But marriage is no small matter; we still need elders to come and discuss…”

Zhang Fangyuan knew what Liu Xianglan was thinking. “My parents have long passed away. Everything in my household is decided by me. I can discuss it directly with you, Madam Xu. I've already asked the matchmaker. For marrying He Ger, I will follow the village customs for the bride price—three thousand two hundred wen.”

Liu Xianglan immediately had nothing more to say. This was a very appropriate bride price for village marriages. If she were to betroth He Ger to someone else, she might not necessarily get this much.

Moreover, with Xu Changren injured, the family urgently needed money. Zhang Fangyuan being so straightforward meant she could get the bride price quickly. Her face immediately broke into a smile, and she poured more wine for Zhang Fangyuan. “Our He Ger, although shy and quiet, is also capable. Having a place settled early relieves a worry for me, his mother. Becoming relatives with your family is the best possible outcome.”

Zhang Fangyuan stopped himself from laughing aloud. He glanced at Xu He and said loudly, “Then it's settled!”

The originally oppressive atmosphere in the household actually gained a somewhat festive air because of this marriage arrangement. Liu Xianglan was happy in her heart, and even her attitude towards Xu He improved significantly.

"Congratulations, little brother. I never thought you'd have your marriage settled before your older sister.

Xu He felt a bit dizzy. He had originally thought, like Zhang Fangyuan, that finalizing things would probably happen around mid-year. He never expected him to get it done so quickly.

He would be getting married on the nineteenth of next month, not just betrothed!

But thinking about it carefully, although it was rushed, since the outcome was marriage anyway, earlier wasn't necessarily worse than later.

“It's just that now that little brother is betrothed, you mustn't have any contact with the person who gave you that hair ribbon. If Butcher Zhang finds out about such things, when he goes crazy, it's probably terrifying.”

With the chaos at home yesterday, presumably his second sister hadn't had time to tattle yet. Xu He knew his second sister was now being sarcastic towards him. He might as well make her even angrier. “It was him who gave it.”

Xu Shaochun's beautiful eyes widened in shock as she belatedly realized, “So you two were already involved!”

Xu He neither admitted nor denied it, simply clearing the table on his own.

Seeing Xu He like this, Xu Shaochun felt she had hit the mark. Thinking about that exquisite and beautiful hair ribbon, it was actually chosen and bought by that fierce, hulking Zhang Fangyuan! She found it incredible. A man like Zhang Fangyuan would actually put thought into a gift for a ger!

She had originally thought Zhang Fangyuan was settling for Xu He because he couldn't have her, and that saying he had his sights on Xu He from the start was just to save face. She never expected he really was aiming for Xu He all along—or more precisely, using herself as a cover.

Thinking it over carefully, it was truly frightening. Previously, when villagers said Zhang Fangyuan was lurking around their house and seeking out He Ger to deliver things or messages, claiming it was for her, he was actually targeting Xu He. And she had thought Xu He was refusing on her behalf!

Realizing this, her face burned with embarrassment. It was the first time she had been so self-deluded, attributing someone else's romantic interest to herself. But how could she have known that someone would actually fancy a ger like Hege?

If it was just something she didn't want, that would be one thing. But now, knowing it was meant for Xu He, she felt sour inside. “Since you've found your home, your sister is happy for you. But you must be careful. That Zhang Fangyuan used to fool around recklessly in town, even visiting brothels. He probably has no shortage of tricks to deceive people, sweet-talking you into being deceived. After you go to his household, you must be properly obedient and submissive. Learn to say some pleasant words too. Many men change their attitude after marriage. Zhang Fangyuan is fierce and violent. If he hits you, what will you do then?”

Xu He was long accustomed to his second sister's way of sounding concerned with every sentence while actually picking at the other's flaws, saying things specifically to frighten him.

He retorted in kind, “Thank you for the advice, Second Sister. But, you are also about to be betrothed to the Fei family. Scholar Fei is highly talented and has boundless prospects. However, Scholar Fei is the only son of the Fei family,, extremely well cared for by his parents. After Second Sister marries into their family, you will certainly have to take care of Scholar Fei's daily life. If you practice managing household affairs more at home, you will probably be more liked by the Fei family after marriage."

Xu Shaochun was so angered by Xu He's words she nearly threw something. This brat usually doesn't say a word, but as soon as he's betrothed, his tail is up in the air! His words are eight hundred times more annoying than usual. She truly never knew, when he kept his head down before, that he could be so sharp-tongued!

“That doesn't require little brother's concern. No matter what, I am Father and Mother's own daughter. Whether married or not, Father and Mother will certainly look after me. Little brother, however, will have to rely more on yourself!”

Xu He didn't respond further. When she couldn't win the argument, she could only flaunt this matter. As if he coveted being the Xu family's own ger so much.

He turned away with the bowls and plates and went to the kitchen. Xu Shaochun still felt very unsatisfied. She closed her door and cried for a while.

Liu Xianglan had to oversee Xu He's marriage arrangements, looking forward to that bride price money, and also take care of Xu Changren. For the time being, she had no time to coax Xu Shaochun. This left Xu Shaochun, who had wanted her mother's support, in a dilemma—not knowing whether to continue crying in her room or not.

The next day, He Shi and Zhang Fangyuan came to deliver the betrothal gifts. Since everyone saw each other regularly, they directly skipped the matchmaking meeting. The families lived close enough that even Zhang Shicheng came by for a visit.

Zhang Fangyuan brought gifts and half of the bride price money (the other half to be given at the wedding). He also brought some town’s pastries and fruits specifically for Xu He, and purposely chose two bolts of dark-colored fabric suitable for a ger. There were large and small packages, far more than what he had brought to the Guang family before.

Although the items were chosen based on what Xu He could use, outsiders only saw the quantity. Liu Xianglan felt it reflected well on her and didn't try to hide it. Soon, the village learned about Xu He's betrothal to Zhang Fangyuan.

For a time, the villagers were abuzz with mixed reactions. Some said the Xu family acted quickly, actually managing to betroth a ger like Xu He to Zhang Fangyuan.

Others regretted not going to the Zhang family to propose a match sooner, losing in vain such a desirable person.

There were also those who said the two were well-matched, both being difficult people with poor temperaments. And of course, some said Xu He's appearance and talents didn't match up to Zhang Fangyuan's, and that he was guaranteed to suffer after marrying into that family.

In short, the village was lively with discussion, always bringing up the matter after meals and during tea.

 

***

 

T/N

hehe playing tricks ah

 

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