RMCF: Chapter 32

 

Chapter 32

Seeing the Fei family visit, Liu Xianglan's smile almost reached the back of her ears. Spotting Zhang Fangyuan's cart passing outside, she didn't even greet him, directly leading the Fei family into the yard. Xu Shaochun, both shy and excited, stole a few glances at Fei Lian through the window before quickly hiding in her room.

“Fei Xiucai, please sit. Madam Fei, have some tea. It's new tea just bought from the tea plantation.”

These days, the Fei family had received much flattery and praise. Faced with Liu Xianglan's enthusiastic attitude, they merely returned a barely pleasant expression. Truth be told, Mother Fei's horizons had risen considerably recently. She had seen few children from other households, but compared to Xu Shaochun, they still fell short somewhat.

There had even been matchmakers from town approaching her, which she found very tempting. The girl's family circumstances were quite good, running a shop, naturally more well off than farming families, and the dowry offered was eye-catching. But unfortunately, that girl had been pampered since childhood and was unwilling to come to the village to manage household affairs. The underlying meaning in her words suggested they wanted their Fei Lian to be a live-in son-in-law, which she would never agree to.

After some consideration, Xu Shaochun was still more suitable.

“Madam Xu is too kind. How is your husband, Changren? Better now?”

Liu Xianglan thought to herself—he's been injured for so long, and you didn't bother to ask until now? A bit too perfunctory. But she didn't say it out loud, only smiling, “Much better. He can already move around a bit now.”

“That's good.” Mother Fei said, “Our Lian'er passed the exam and became a xiucai. He's been so busy with social engagements these days that we had to postpone major matters. We only came to visit today. We're truly sorry.”

“Oh, Madam Fei, what are you saying? A man's career is the most important. We had already settled this earlier. Both our families are honest and reliable. Would we go back on our word? We naturally trust each other.”

“I just love talking Madam Xu.”

After a round of pleasantries, Fei Lian noticed that the Xu family seemed to be missing a person, and felt as if many things were lacking. For a moment, affected by the scene, he felt distracted and didn't say much. Matters like proposing marriage were usually handled by the women in charge anway; a man didn't need to say much.

It wasn't until Xu Shaochun was called out, the delicate and beautiful girl speaking to him gently and gracefully, that he pulled himself out of his sorrow.

Xu Shaochun had specially dressed up today, looking even more beautiful. Mother Fei's eyes also lit up. Seeing that her son wasn't as downcast as he had been at home, she felt somewhat comforted. After the two young people met, Mother Fei and Liu Xianglan went aside separately to discuss the bride price.

Mother Fei said bluntly, “Since we're practically family now, I won't worry about being laughed at. Lian'er's studies have cost a lot of silver over the years, and recently, hosting banquets for his teacher and guests has also used up much money. Our hands are truly a bit tight. I know the Xu family is kind-hearted and certainly doesn't care about superficial formalities like the bride price, only hoping for the children's happiness and a good home.”

Liu Xianglan listened to all this. The Fei family only wanted to offer two thousand eight hundred wen as the bride price. Her eyes widened in disbelief. How could it be so much less than what that butcher from the Zhang family gave? It was one thing for the Fei family to bring meager betrothal gifts, but she had thought they would compensate with a higher bride price. She never expected it to be equally low.

As much as she indulged the Fei family, she couldn't stomach this. “Madam Fei, when that scoundrel Zhang proposed to our He Ger, he offered over three thousand wen right away. Just as you said, hoping for the children's happiness, I didn't raise the price to make things difficult for him. But the bride price you're offering is even lower than what ordinary families in our village give. Not even mentioning our Shaochun's character and appearance. Giving so little, I'm afraid you want me to become the laughingstock of the village.”

Mother Fei pondered for a moment. “Madam Xu, you can't just look at the immediate present. Our Lian'er is now a xiucai. You know how many benefits that brings. The bride price might be a little less now, but after your Shaochun enters our household, won't there be many good days ahead?”

But Liu Xianglan gave a cold laugh. “If there are so many benefits, then why is your offer even less than a butcher's? Isn’t Madam Fei afraid the villagers will talk and laugh at you?”

Mother Fei's face paled.

“Three thousand. If it weren't for seeing the affection between the two children, I wouldn't have relented.”

However, this price was still far below Liu Xianglan's expectations. Given her Shaochun's looks and popularity, she should be able to receive at over four thousand wen at least. The Fei family had truly changed their attitude once they gained an advantage.

She said firmly, “Does Madam Fei think our Shaochun has no other good families to choose from besides the Fei family? Since the husband's family shows no sincerity, my daughter won't thrust herself upon them. Madam Fei, please leave.”

Hearing this, Mother Fei also grew angry. The Xu family should look at their own status! She was silent for a moment. “If that's the case, then there's nothing more to say. We apologize for disturbing you.”

With that, she called Fei Lian and really prepared to leave. Liu Xianglan's pupils dilated in shock. They're really leaving without trying to stay? And that Fei boy didn't say a single word! She was so angry her lungs felt swollen.

Xu Shaochun was dumbfounded. Seeing Mother Fei's expression was wrong, clearly the negotiation had fallen through. She anxiously pulled Liu Xianglan's sleeve. “Mother, what's going on?! Weren't you just talking fine a moment ago!”

Liu Xianglan said irritably, “The Fei family is bullying us too much, offering so little bride price!”

“If it's a little less, then it's a little less. It's not a big deal.” Xu Shaochun lowered her voice. “Is Mother really that concerned about that bit of money?”

Hearing this, Liu Xianglan became even more furious, raising her voice, “It's even less than what Zhang Fangyuan offered for He Ger! You might be willing to marry, but I can't bear that loss of face!”

Xu Shaochun was also shocked upon hearing this, finding it quite unbelievable. “Less… less than He Ger…”

Watching the Fei mother and son leave the courtyard gate, Liu Xianglan hesitated several times. Ultimately, she called out to stop them. She knew that if the Fei family left today, this marriage arrangement would be completely ruined. Who knows how much Xu Shaochun would make a scene at her later.

“Add another two thousand wen. Both children are from my family; there shouldn't be such a disparity.”

Mother Fei paused her steps. Liu Xianglan's reason was indeed reasonable. She glanced at Fei Lian beside her. “What does my son think?”

“I'll follow Mother's decision.”

Mother Fei immediately changed her expression and turned back. “Look at this commotion. It was supposed to be a happy event.”

Both  sides sat back down at the table and finalized all the matters related to the marriage. The Fei family was very particular, asking this and that, even discussing the dowry. Liu Xianglan increasingly felt how straightforward Zhang Fangyuan had been in comparison. After they left, her face immediately fell again.

Liu Xianglan was fuming inside. Not only had they been strung along for so long, but now they also wanted to marry her daughter with so little. They were truly calculating to the point where their abacus beads could be heard outside the village.

Although Xu Shaochun felt somewhat uncomfortable, being stimulated by Xu He's marriage had long made her lose her head. Now that her own marriage was settled, the joy outweighed the displeasure.

Seeing her daughter so useless, Liu Xianglan was furious. If not for looking at her daughter's good future life, even finding a random household would have yielded more than what the Fei family gave.

She felt a strong sense of snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

Just then, the chickens in the yard started clucking noisily, the ducks gathered quacking loudly, and the pigs in the backyard pen, unfed, began ramming the pen door, making loud banging noises. She was so annoyed she almost wanted to pull her hair.

“Why haven't the chickens been let out so late in the morning? The ducks need to be herded to the river!” The noisy sounds made Liu Xianglan instinctively want to curse Xu He, only then remembering he had already gone to work at the Zhang family. The house was left with a pile of mess. She could only turn to say to Xu Shaochun instead. “The pig feed hasn't been cooked either! The pigs are about to jump out of the pen!”

Xu Shaochun felt her mother's mood changed too quickly and felt wronged. When He Ger's marriage happened, she had been happily laughing. Why was she unhappy now that her own marriage was settled?

The chicken and duck pens were piled with droppings. These animals were disgustingly smelly. Even if she knew how to do the work, where would she be willing to do such things?

Seeing her standing there not moving, Liu Xianglan couldn't help but scold, “Go on! Can I manage all this alone?! What use is it raising you? You don't know how to help at home at all.”

Xu Shaochun's eyes reddened. She hesitantly and awkwardly went to herd the ducks, afraid of stepping in droppings, her cautious appearance making Liu Xianglan even angrier.

So annoying! When Xu He was here, Liu Xianglan never felt there was so much trivial chores at home. Now that he’s left, she has to get up before dawn to cook. After the family eats, she still has to tend to the livestock. The work in the fields is also unavoidable.

She was truly starting to regret it now. If she had known earlier, she wouldn't have been so greedy for those few thousand wen and married Xu He off so soon. Even paying a little more tax each year would be better than being so busy her feet barely touched the ground.

…

Xu He went to Zhang Shicheng's house to deliver things. The couple went together, sat there for a while chatting before returning.

Zhang Shicheng and his wife were very happy about their marriage. They briefly offered a few words of advice without being annoying to the newlyweds, letting them live their own lives. After all, there would be plenty of opportunities to meet in the future.

“Although the Fourth Uncle's family planted our land, we still need to clear a couple of mu to grow some vegetables.”

As Xu He spoke, he adjusted the basket he was carrying. “Auntie gave me quite a few vegetable seeds. I'll go back and sow them.”

“Let's not be busy today. Just rest for a day.”

But Xu He said, “Sow the seeds early, and the seedlings will sprout early. It won't take much effort.”

Zhang Fangyuan was helpless. “Alright then, I'll go with you.”

Xu He raised his eyebrows. “I can handle this alone. Aren't you going to look for livestock?”

Zhang Fangyuan just wanted to stick close to him. But Xu He, though small, had such a diligent heart. Zhang Fangyuan sighed softly. “Can I go tomorrow morning?”

Seeing this, Xu He fell silent. He knew he might be boring, but he just wanted Zhang Fangyuan to feel marrying him wasn't a waste of so much effort and money.

“Then let's go sow the vegetable seeds together. We can also go up the mountain in the afternoon to dig for some wild vegetables.”

Only then did Zhang Fangyuan become happy. “Okay. We'll bring the hunting tools up the mountain in the afternoon. With spring flowers blooming, we might catch something.”

The two happily returned home, one carrying a hoe and the other holding vegetable seeds to work in the field. Zhang Fangyuan, afraid the sun would beat down on Xu He, even fetched a small straw hat for him to wear.

While Zhang Fangyuan loosened the soil, Xu He sorted the vegetable seeds. Many fruits and vegetables were suitable for sowing in spring. He had obtained eggplants, pumpkins, bok choy and others from fourth aunt… Zhang Fangyuan had previously said the green onions he planted at the Xu family grew very well, so he specifically asked for some of those too.

He noticed Zhang Fangyuan really liked eating stir-fried pork offal with scallions; he could eat three large bowls of rice with it.

“Well, you two are still out in the field today?”

A passing villager, seeing the two together, couldn't help but stop to chat for a moment.

“Yes, planting some vegetables.”

The villager saw Zhang Fangyuan was quite protective of Xu He, even coming out with his husband today. Feeling that in the future, the butcher's household affairs would definitely be managed by Xu He, she tried to get closer to him. “He Ger, Auntie has loofah seeds, bitter melon seeds, garlic, crown daisy, chili peppers… whatever you lack, come get some.”

“Thank you, Auntie. I'll definitely come if I need any.”

The woman agreed with a smile, then went to her own field carrying a basket on her back.

Zhang Fangyuan, head down shoveling the ground, had a smile in his eyes.

In the distance, Xu Shaochun, forced to carry a basket to her own field to cut cabbage for the pigs, saw the quietly busy couple. Although they weren't laughing and talking, they still gave off an air of newlywed happiness.

Thinking of her own marriage, she couldn't help her eyes turning red.

She gritted her teeth. Who isn't comfortable during the honeymoon period? It's the long-term that matters. She didn't believe with her looks, her life would be worse than Xu He's.

***

T/N

and an extra chapter as a treat - happy holidays to everyone ~ 

ヾ( ˃ᴗ˂ )◞ • *✰ 

 

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