Chapter 154

Jia Zhangshi these days always sighs, seeing her son Jia Dongxu already in his early twenties, still hasn't found a wife. She is calculating in her mind that she must quickly give the old Jia family an heir, so she starts arranging matchmaking.

Dongxu ah, tomorrow Mom will again ask Wang Meipo to find you a girl. Jia Zhangshi, while mending shoe soles, says, this time you better pay attention.

Jia Dongxu squats on the doorstep, weakly replying: 'Got it, Mom.'

But Jia Zhangshi's way of finding a matchmaker is really stingy—she shows up empty-handed and even issues blank checks: once the marriage is settled, the matchmaker's fee will definitely not be lacking for you!

The matchmaker smiles on the surface but inside she's cursing. She introduced three girls in a row, all fell through. Either they disliked that the Jia family only has one room, or they looked down on Jia Zhangshi's miserliness—even the matchmaking meal only had stir-fried greens, not even a slice of meat.

This Jia Dama really knows how to calculate. The matchmaker complains to her peers, with that family's conditions, she still picks and chooses?

No choice, the matchmaker had to go to the countryside. These days many girls want to marry into the city to eat state-allocated grain! The matchmaker heard that there is a famous girl in Qin Family Village.

Qin Huairu of Qin Family Village is a renowned beauty for miles around. She has an oval face, almond eyes, and a thick black braid hanging to her waist. The village boys, just to catch a glimpse of her, loiter outside her yard every day. The matchmaker has worn out her threshold trying, but Qin Huairu still refuses, wanting to marry into the city.

'Huairu, you're nineteen already.' Mother Qin worries, saying if you don't get a match soon, you'll really become an old maid. Girls your age, other people's children are already running around!

Qin Huairu, fixing her hair by the water vat, says: 'Mother, I want to marry into the city, to eat state-allocated grain, not wanting to face the loess earth every day with my back to the sky!'

Just then, the matchmaker's call came from outside the courtyard: 'Is Qin family's sister-in-law at home?'

Qin Mother: 'I'm home, who is it?'

Matchmaker: 'I'm a matchmaker from the city, I've come to find a husband's family for your daughter.'

This time the matchmaker carefully explained the Jia family's situation, especially emphasizing that Jia Dongxu is a formal worker at the Steel Rolling Mill, and has apprenticed under a seventh-level fitter master, making future promotion easy.

Qin Huairu's heart moved upon hearing that.

On the way to the city, she deliberately changed into the most presentable floral shirt, which made her figure look even more graceful. All along she inquired about the situation of the siheyuan.

As soon as she entered the siheyuan, it caused a sensation.

Yan Bu Gui: 'Wang Meipo, which family's girl is this? She's so lovely!'

Wang Meipo: 'Teacher Yan, how is she? Pretty, right? Even if she's pretty, you don't have a chance—I'm here to look for a match for the Jia family.'

Yan Bu Gui: 'Wang Meipo, I was thinking of having my eldest son look at her. Wang Meipo, if there's a good girl in the future, remember my family's Yan Jiecheng!'

Wang Meipo secretly shook her head; a miserly family style—who would want to marry into your home.

'My goodness, where did this fairy come from?' Xu Damao was about to go out, staring with wide eyes. He thought that when he marries in the future, he also wants a wife as beautiful as this girl.

Sha Zhu poked his head out of the kitchen door, his spatula almost slipping: 'This girl... truly lovely!'

Even the usually steady Yi Zhonghai glanced at her twice.

Jia Dongxu had been waiting at the courtyard gate; seeing Qin Huairu, his face instantly turned red like a monkey's butt. He rubbed his hands, stammering: 'Matchmaker Wang, and this lady, please come inside.'

After Wang Meipo's introduction, the matchmaking went surprisingly smoothly. Jia Dongxu was dazed, fell in love at first sight with Qin Huairu, and on the spot boasted: 'I'll definitely buy a sewing machine! The bride price will be ten dollars!'

Jia Zhangshi beside them was anxiously staring, but seeing her son's lovestruck look, she couldn't well erupt. Jia Zhangshi looked at Qin Huairu and muttered in her heart, 'fox spirit'—she's already hooked my son's soul, certainly not a good girl.

Qin Huairu wasn't too satisfied with the Jia family's conditions—only one room, and a formidable mother-in-law. But considering her age, if this fails she doesn't know how long she'd have to wait; to get into the city, she still nodded.

After leaving the Jia family, Qin Huairu met Li Ping'an, who had just come out of the West Wing Courtyard, in the courtyard.

The setting sun gilded Li Ping'an's upright posture with a golden edge; although he wore work clothes, his distinctive military bearing could not be concealed.

Qin Huairu stared, dazed.

'Who is that?' she whispered to the matchmaker.

The matchmaker glanced: 'Section Chief Li, head of the Security Section at the Steel Rolling Mill, a combat hero. Huairu, people like that are beyond our reach.'

Qin Huairu still wasn't giving up: 'Is he married?'

Wang Meipo: 'Not yet; I heard he just returned from the Korean battlefield, he and his sister rely on each other. But you shouldn't have any unrealistic thoughts—he will surely look for a match of equal status.'

Qin Huairu lowered her head, but her heart felt as if plucked by something.

Returning to the Jia family, Jia Zhangshi immediately changed expression: 'Ten dollars bride price? And a sewing machine? Do you think our family is a bank? Moreover, I think that Qin Huairu is a fox spirit; she will surely not observe wifely virtue, and will seduce all sorts of people!'

'Mom, I'm going to marry Qin Huairu; I've already promised her...'

'Promised what!' Jia Zhangshi slammed the table, 'If you want to marry Qin Huairu, fine, I'll give you five dollars, take it or leave it!'

The mother and son argued heatedly; Jia Dongxu had a brainwave: 'Why not... borrow some from my master? My master has always said he'd help me start a family.'

Jia Zhangshi's eyes lit up: 'Right! Find Old Yi! The master is like a half-father; when you marry, he should contribute.'

Yi Zhonghai was at home drinking tea; hearing the Jia mother-son explain the purpose, he pondered for a moment: 'Dongxu, you are my apprentice; I will definitely help with your marriage. This way, I'll pay half the sewing machine cost.'

Jia Zhangshi muttered: 'Still, it's Dongxu's master who's putting up half—you really are a good master to Dongxu!'

The news reached Qin Huairu's ears; she bit her lip and thought for a long time. The desire to enter the city ultimately prevailed.

'Eight dollars then, eight dollars it is.'

The marriage is thus settled.

The courtyard buzzed with discussion.

'If you ask me, it's a pity that this Qin girl married into the Jia family.' San Dama said while picking vegetables.

'That's right,' Er Da Ma chimed in, 'Jia Zhangshi is so formidable; the girl will suffer in the future.'

Only Li Ping'an was indifferent. He was teaching his sister self-defense: 'Ping Le, remember these moves. If anyone in the courtyard bullies you, just deal with them like this.'

'Brother, what do you say about the Jia family's new daughter-in-law?'

'No matter who it is. We don't provoke trouble, but we're not afraid of it either.'

Li Pingle: 'Brother, when are you going to marry? You're not young either; our family still needs you to carry on the lineage!'

Li Ping'an: 'You're still worrying about my marriage; you should think about yourself instead. You're not young either—what work are you preparing for, going into the textile factory?'

Li Pingle: 'Hmph, our Li family has only us two siblings left; I have to worry, who else will! As for work, I'm thinking of going into the textile factory; I heard that Master Su's embroidery workshop is going to be taken over by the state, Master Su is also getting old, preparing to retire.'

Li Ping'an also supports his sister going into the factory as a worker.

That night, Qin Huairu tossed and turned on the earthen bed. In her mind, sometimes it was Jia Dongxu's honest smile, sometimes it was Li Ping'an's upright figure.

'Section Chief of the Security Section...' she murmured to herself, her feelings were not pleasant.

In the siheyuan, Jia Zhangshi counted her savings under the lamp; each time she counted a bill, her brow tightened a bit more.

Getting married, really takes a toll on one's life...

Outside the window, the bright moon hangs high, illuminating human joys and sorrows.

No one knows what changes this beautiful daughter-in-law will bring to the Siheyuan.

Only Li Ping'an, in his sleep, slightly furrowed his brow.

The next day, he wrote a letter to Lin Xueqing:

... there will be a new addition in the courtyard, but I hope this pool of water won't become more turbid. Sometimes I think, everyone pays a price for their choices, only that price takes a long time to show...

After finishing the letter, he stood by the window, gazing at the Siheyuan in the morning light. This seemingly tranquil courtyard is about to enact a new story.

All stories are merely fragments in the grand play of fate.