Chapter 201: Sha Zhu Proposes Marriage

The bridal gift controversy had just subsided, and Sha Zhu and Ma Dongmei's wedding preparations immediately moved to the next stage—the betrothal gift, that is, going to Ma Dongmei's natal home to formally settle the marriage.

This worried Sha Zhu sick—more than having him single-handedly prepare a feast for a hundred people. He paced around Li Ping'an like a top that had lost its spin: "Brother Ping'an, Brother Ping'an! What… what should I bring for the betrothal gift? I have no clue at all! I can't show up empty‑handed, right? Otherwise Ma Dongmei's parents will chase me out with a broom!"

Li Ping'an was checking the bicycle chain in the courtyard, head down, his tone flat yet weighty: "Now everything is lacking; we stress practicality. Get five pounds of pork, with a good mix of fat and lean, looking auspicious. Ten pounds of white flour, wrapped in red paper. Bring two bottles of baijiu—best if the old man can drink some, but even if he can't it's respectable. Finally weigh out a catty of fruit candy to hand out to the village kids for liveliness."

Hearing this, Sha Zhu's eyes lit up, counting on his fingers: "Five jin of meat, ten jin of flour, two bottles of liquor, two jin of candy… done! That's good! Practical, no empty show!" He rubbed his hands, chuckling, "Still, Brother Ping'an has the idea! I'll go get ready right away!"

He hadn't even warmed the gift list in his hands when it somehow leaked out again. The few people in the courtyard immediately found fresh material for gossip.

Xu Damao was the first to jump out, leaning against the ornamental gate, speaking with a sarcastic tone: "Yo! Five jin of pork? Sha Zhu really went all out this time! Is he trying to empty the supply and marketing cooperative? But having said that, this little stuff taken to the countryside really could impress those unsophisticated country bumpkins."

He deliberately stressed the words "country bumpkin," both belittling Ma Dongmei's natal family and mocking Sha Zhu's poverty.

Jia Zhangshi was stitching shoe soles in the central courtyard; hearing this, she jabbed her awl into the sole, pursed her lips, and said to Qin Huairu beside her: "Did you hear? Five jin of meat and she's all happy! When we married you, sure we didn't make a big fuss, but…" She stumbled a bit, apparently recalling that the Jia family hadn't given much of a betrothal gift either, but then she hardened her tone: "Anyway, it's better than this! Poor and sour! It's obvious they're rushing to curry favor with a village girl, afraid she'll change her mind."

Qin Huairu lowered her head, rubbing her swollen ankle, yet in her mind she thought, Five jin of pork, ten jin of flour… what a substantial gift that would be. If Jia Dongxu had been able to produce something like that back then… she dared not think further.

In the front courtyard, Yan Bu Gui adjusted his glasses and started moving the abacus beads: "Five jin of pork, at market price… ten jin of white flour… two bottles of baijiu… two jin of candy… tsk, Sha Zhu's trip will cost quite a bit! The marriage hasn't even brought any return yet, and he's already pouring this much in!" He simply couldn't grasp such an "unprofitable" investment.

In the rear courtyard, Liu Haizhong stuck out his belly, speaking in full official tone to Second Granny: "Comrade He Yuzhu's betrothal gift shows our working class's plain and unpretentious style—no extravagance, very good! But isn't this amount a bit light? It seems not enough emphasis! We should add something… say, another fish, for surplus year after year!" He completely forgot that his own family might not even buy a whole fish for New Year.

Yi Zhonghai listened to the courtyard's chatter without speaking, but turned it over in his mind. Sha Zhu's gift—neither thick nor thin—hit exactly a "practical" point. Evidently someone behind the scenes was giving pointers, most likely Li Ping'an. This made him feel once again that his grip on the young people in the courtyard was weakening.

Regardless of how the courtyard gossiped, Sha Zhu still prepared everything according to Li Ping'an's instructions. Wang Meipo also dressed up freshly and accompanied him to Ma Dongmei's rural home in the suburbs.

The Ma family truly were plain farming folk; the courtyard was swept spotless, and though their few earth‑brick houses were simple, they were kept neat and tidy.

Ma's father was a taciturn, dark‑skinned old man; his mother wore a kindly face. Seeing Sha Zhu carrying the gifts—especially the red‑wrapped ten jin of white flour and the glistening five‑jin pork belly—her face instantly broke into a smile, not because she coveted these things, but because she felt the future son‑in‑law was honest and genuine, not playing games.

"You've come, why bring all this stuff? Hurry, sit inside, sit inside!" Ma's mother greeted warmly.

Wang Meipo stood aside spouting auspicious phrases, praising Sha Zhu up like a flower—"good craftsmanship, honest person, loves his wife"—making Ma's parents nod repeatedly.

The marriage talk went surprisingly smoothly. The Ma family, just as Ma Dongmei had said, brought up no excessive demands. The wedding date was set for a weekend two months later, choosing a double‑day auspicious date. As for the betrothal gift, Ma's father knocked his ash‑pipe, blew out a smoke ring, and drawled: "Just go by the market rate—ten yuan, and the sentiment is enough."

Ten yuan! When this figure reached the courtyard, it was bound to cause an uproar. These days, urban betrothal gifts run twenty to thirty; ten yuan is practically a "cabbage price"!

Sha Zhu felt moved, knowing this was the Ma family's consideration for him, and also because of Ma Dongmei's firm stance. He immediately slapped his chest and promised: "Uncle, Aunt, rest assured—I, He Yuzhu, will definitely treat Dongmei well! I won't let your daughter suffer the slightest grievance!"

Ma Dongmei stood to the side, watching Sha Zhu's earnest yet goofy demeanor; she pursed her lips and smiled, her eyes firm with resolve.

The betrothal gift went off perfectly successfully. When Sha Zhu and Wang Meipo returned, the sky was already darkening. Sha Zhu's grin couldn't be hidden; he walked with a spring in his step.

The news flew back to the courtyard like it had grown wings.

"What? The betrothal gift is only ten yuan?" Upon hearing this, Xu Damao's eyes nearly popped out, and a stronger jealousy surged in his chest. "What right does he have? How could Sha Zhu find such a reasonable, still 'cheap' wife? He felt all his previous scheming had turned into a joke!

Jia Zhangshi was even more sour, bubbling over: "Ten yuan? What's the difference from picking it up for free? Tsk tsk, how afraid the Ma family is that their daughter won't marry off! Even a reverse dowry isn't this cheap!" She had completely forgotten how she herself had once been harsh toward Qin Huairu.

Yan Bu Gui's little abacus miscalculated again; he shook his head regretfully: "Ten? This… this doesn't even recover the cost! Sha Zhu, that silly kid, really walked into dog‑shit luck!"

Liu Haizhong still kept his dignified air: "Hmm, a simple betrothal gift—changing customs, worth advocating! This shows the parents on both sides have high ideological awareness!"

Yi Zhonghai said nothing, but inside he grew more certain that taking Ma Dongmei as a daughter‑in‑law would make Sha Zhu harder to handle in the future. That Ma Dongmei, just looking at her, is not someone who will suffer a loss.

In the west annex courtyard, Li Ping'an heard Sha Zhu's returning news, merely nodded slightly, and told Lin Xueqing: "It seems the Ma family are reasonable people. Zhuzi's marriage is well worth it."

Lin Xueqing also smiled: "It's Zhuzi's good fortune. That Yushui child, knowing the future sister‑in‑law's family is so sensible, should also feel relieved."

Indeed, He Yushui heard her brother come back and recount the betrothal gift proceedings—especially that the future sister‑in‑law's family asked only ten yuan for the gift—and she stared for a long while, then quietly let out a breath. Although she's young, she also understands what this means.

This means her brother won't be burdened with a heavy load by marriage, and also means that the future home, at least at the start, is filled with consideration and warmth.

She watched her brother excitedly plan how to furnish the new house; for the first time she felt no anxiety, but rather a faint anticipation. Perhaps adding one more person to this household isn't a bad thing.

Under the night sky, the courtyard's lights glowed unevenly, reflecting different thoughts. Sha Zhu's joyous occasion was like a mirror, showing the courtyard's worldly warmth and coldness, and also revealing that rare sincerity and simplicity in human nature. And all of this was silently observed by the quiet crabapple tree in the west annex courtyard.