WSMTATMC C130

Chapter 130

“Which Chen family do you mean?”

“Which else? How many Chens do you know?”

“Is it Chen Qingyan’s younger sister?” Liu Changyi sat up straight; his face no longer gloomy, his tears gone, joy spilling clear across his brows.

“Get off the cart—we’re not going,” Qin Furong said, turning to head back.

“Wait!” Liu Changyi hurriedly caught his mother’s sleeve. “Let’s go, let’s go!”

Suspicious, she narrowed her eyes. “Didn’t you say you already had a girl you admire in your heart? What are you going for?”

“To tell the truth… the one I admire is… the Chen family’s girl.”

He then recounted how, during a study visit to the Chen household, he had encountered Chen Qingyun. Qin Furong was half exasperated, half amused—after all that, mother and son had set their eyes on the very same person.

“In that case, let’s go.”

“W-wait.”

Her brows drew together. “What now?”

Embarrassed, he rubbed his cheek. “I haven’t finished shaving my whiskers…”

—

At the Chen home, word had arrived yesterday that Lady Liu would call.

At first light, Madam Li roused her daughter and opened the trunk to choose attire.

“How about this apricot-colored one?”

“The collar’s a bit tight.”

“Then this cherry-pink?”

Qingyun shook her head. “Makes me look darker.” Her complexion took after her father; compared to her two brothers, she wasn’t especially fair, but her fine features more than made up for it—her grace undiminished.

After trying many, the pale-green skirt still suited her best. Over it, a beige cross-collared jacket embroidered with young bamboo. Worn together, she looked like a tender sprout—fresh and lovely.

Madam Li then took out jewelry long unworn to test in her daughter’s hair.

“Mother… this gold hairpin is a bit too grand…”

“This is the first time meeting your future mother-in-law—leave a good impression.”

Qingyun flushed scarlet. “The marriage isn’t even set yet… and besides, it’s not as if it’s the first time I’ve seen her.”

“You’ve met Lady Liu?”

“Several times—she often comes to buy at our vegetable shop. We just didn’t know each other. Only when sister-in-law said she was Liu Changyi’s mother did I realize.”

“No wonder. Tell me, what’s she like?”

Qingyun thought a moment. “Easy to talk to, generous when buying—none of that nitpicking or trying to pinch a coin like some.”

“Good. I was worried she’d be difficult.”

Just then, Fourth Aunt Fang Ling knocked and entered.

“You came at the right time—help pick which hairpin looks best on Qingyun.”

She pointed to a green-jade hairpin. “This one—it matches her clothes.”

Madam Li set it in place and added matching jade-bead earrings, nodding in satisfaction.

“Go now, and chat with your fourth aunt a while.”

Knowing well what they would discuss, Qingyun withdrew, shy and smiling.

Watching her daughter’s graceful back, Madam Li sighed—already a grown young lady.

Once she’d gone, Madam Li spoke. “When Lady Liu comes, help me screen things. I’ve never dealt with an official’s lady—don’t know what to say and what not to.”

“Don’t worry,” said Fourth Aunt. “If they’re sincere about joining us, anything goes; if not, a few words will show it.”

“True, but I can’t set my heart at ease. The girl’s been pampered and can be a little delicate—I fear a quarrel after marriage and her being wronged. Before, we were anxious because we couldn’t find a proper match; now there is one, and I can’t quite bear to let go.”

Fang Ling patted her arm. “Don’t overthink it. All sons and daughters must pass through this. One can’t keep them tethered a lifetime.”

“Words are true, but daughters aren’t like sons. After marriage, so much isn’t in their control. Rare indeed are households like ours, where after the wedding the couple is master in their own home.”

With mothers-in-law long gone, both women had escaped such strife. But in these years, they had heard and seen plenty of mothers-in-law grinding down daughters-in-law and sons-in-law alike.

“We’re not dough,” Fang Ling snorted. “No one will knead us flat or roll us round. If anyone dares treat our girl ill, she still has her Fourth Uncle to back her—no one will dare push far.”

Soothing somewhat, Madam Li turned to dowry matters. “Back in town, well-off houses might send a hundred strings’ worth with a daughter at most. I don’t know the going rate in the prefectural city.”

“Not sure in Jizhou,” Fang Ling said, “but when we were in Laizhou, richer families who cherished their daughters prepared sixteen sedan-loads of dowry—some did thirty-two, even sixty-four.”

“How are those counted?”

“Two men per load—each a wooden chest four feet by two. Inside is the bride’s dowry, from needle-boxes to, at the high end, a hundred-son bed already prepared. As for ready silver—give what you can. More if you have it, less if not.”

Madam Li made notes in her mind. She had just over six hundred taels on hand, intending to spend a hundred and thirty to outfit Qingyun’s dowry and reserve the rest for Qingsong’s marriage.

In town, such funds would suffice; in the prefectural city, expenses might run higher—likely so for Qingsong later.

This past year, all inside and out had rested on Wang Ying’s shoulders. At times she felt useless—without such a son-in-law, the family might have fallen apart.

Soon Wang Ying arrived. He hadn’t gone to the shop today, with Lin, plus Ma Zhandong and Tian Ju helping there.

“Where’s Qingyun?”

“She just stepped out.”

“Mother, no need to be nervous. Lady Liu is easy to speak to, and the Liu family’s household teaching is fine. I’ve heard Master Liu hasn’t taken concubines; their children—he has two elder daughters, both by the same mother, now married in the capital.”

That pleased Madam Li—the match was a climb for their family. If truly suitable, she would gladly see her daughter marry a bit higher.

Around the Hour of Chen, gate-keeper Chen Fang reported guests.

Knowing it must be the Lius, Wang Ying had the door opened to welcome mother and son.

Qin Furong greeted warmly, “Shopkeeper Wang.”

“Madam, welcome—please, inside.”

Following his mother, Liu Changyi bowed to Wang Ying, then entered.

In the main hall, Madam Li and Fourth Aunt Fang rose to receive them. Wang Ying introduced both sides.

Lady Liu and Madam Li looked each other over, then smiled and nodded.

Servants brought tea; Wang Ying poured.

“Ying,” Madam Li said, “no need to fuss—sit and rest.”

“You and Lady Liu talk first. If Young Master Liu feels awkward, he can join Qingyan and the others.”

At his mother’s nod, Liu Changyi slipped off to Master Liang’s room.

With the younger folk gone, the three elders opened their conversation. Though sharp-tongued at home, Lady Liu was gentle and courteous with outsiders.

She began: “I’ve seen Qingyan, Qinghuai, and Qingsong—three fine lads. At the time, Yi’er’s father and I said, if only the Chens had a daughter or gē’er—any family that raises such children must have a clean and upright household teaching. Never thought you truly had a daughter!”

Flustered by the praise, Madam Li smiled shyly. “We often hear from Yan’er about Changyi—his learning is outstanding. And he said your cooking is wonderful—why, we had the fortune to try your fried yuanzi last time.”

“Oh my—how embarrassing,” Lady Liu laughed. “I’ve nothing to do at home and just tinker, feeding the children to try.”

Madam Li chuckled. “You’re far more skilled—I’m hopeless in the kitchen. I can even burn porridge.”

“Me too,” said Fourth Aunt.

The three women broke into easy laughter.

There is a strange magnetism between people—some are comfortable at first glance, their words agreeable to the ear.

Though their temperaments differed, Madam Li and Lady Qin got on smoothly—like old friends at first meeting.

They spoke of everything from the prefectural city to Longquan County, and the flood last year.

Madam Li told of their refuge in the mountain, and Lady Qin gasped at intervals. “Truly not easy—our side of the prefectural city saw little water; I didn’t imagine Longquan’s houses would be swallowed.”

“Exactly,” Madam Li said. “We had no choice but to come. And with the boys sitting exams here, we simply stayed.”

“Fate brings children together from the ends of the earth,” Lady Qin said with meaning.

Understanding, Madam Li nodded; she truly favored the match.

Since the talk had reached this point, Lady Qin spoke plainly: “My son is eighteen and not yet betrothed. The few matches we viewed were unpleasing. Since he met Qingyun once, he hasn’t forgotten her. I’ve come to ask—has Qingyun been promised?”

“This girl only turned sixteen after the New Year,” Madam Li replied. “We’ve not hurried to arrange anything.”

“If you don’t look down on us, may I ask you to take my son for a half-son?”

“Gladly.”

Thus the marriage was settled in words. In a few days, they would formally send a matchmaker to ask for Qingyun’s birth characters, take them to a temple to test the match, and then choose a good day to set the betrothal.

No rush after that; matters could proceed at a measured pace. The Lius had only the one son, the Chens the one daughter—neither side would shortchange their child.

In Master Liang’s room, Liu Changyi was enduring the “inquisition” of the three Chen brothers.

“Speak—when did you set eyes on our sister?”

“Brother Song… ease your arm… can’t breathe…”

Once Qingsong released him, Liu straightened. “Last time—when I came to your home…”

Qingyan snorted. “So we brought a wolf into the house—treat you as a brother, and you set your sights on our sister.”

“Don’t dare, don’t dare—why, I mean to step closer and become kin!”

From behind, Qinghuai hooked an arm over his shoulders and toppled him. “Get him—rough him up a bit!”

Qingsong and Qingyan set to tickling him till he begged for mercy.

After the laughter, they sat together. Qingyan grew serious. “Let’s put it plain. If you mistreat our sister even half a point, we won’t spare you for old times’ sake.”

Solemn, Liu replied, “Rest assured—if I ever fail her even a little, may I never pass the provincial exam in my life!”

It was a harsh oath. Qingyan gave him a light punch. “Then you’d better work hard—else we’ll all pass and you’ll be the lone licentiate left.”

That stoked Liu’s competitive fire. “Brother Qingyan and Brother Qinghuai—take the prefectural exam first.”

“You brat—tickle him again!”

“Mercy…!”