Chapter 58: Liu Shumin

Liu Shumin is now 22, graduated high school, hit by a disaster year, and hasn't found any job.

Now he is doing odd jobs to support the household.

The Liu family has a mother in her early forties, now thin and gaunt; thanks to having no serious illness, she has managed to hold on until now.

Liu Shumin is the eldest; she also has two younger sisters and a younger brother.

The burden forces her to stay home and Earning Money to support the family.

She approaches a prospective husband's family asking them to support her natal family.

She scares off an unknown number of people.

As for her father, he has been gone for several years.

Seeing her age increase, she is not anxious, but her mother is.

Liu Tianshi, beside her, is patching a cardboard box and says.

"I think it's fine; in a famine year a cook won't starve, marry a cook, and you won't worry about food and drink."

"If you get married, any surplus you have can help the family; if you have no extra money, I can also support a few of them, so you don't have to worry."

Liu Shumin looks at her mother and says irritably.

"Relying on you, you're courting death; just buying grain costs three or four yuan per person."

"Two younger sisters, one younger brother, counting you, four people."

"At least fifteen yuan a month."

"Where do you think you can earn fifteen? Do you think the old days, working hard day and night, could earn that?"

"Now you go looking for work, you can't find any."

"Just patching cardboard boxes, at most five yuan a month—what's that enough for?"

Liu Tianshi now wants to marry off her daughter; if she delays any longer she'll become an old maid, and no matter how good she looks, she won't find a good match.

There's a cook who won't worry about food and drink now, so why hesitate?

Those who have lived through a disaster year know how hard it is to get enough to eat.

"You should marry; you can do odd jobs, I can too."

Liu Shumin says bluntly.

"What can you do? Look at yourself now—who would hire you?"

"You just stay home patching matchboxes; the marriage matter isn't your concern."

Liu Tianshi mutters.

"If I don't intervene, she'll become an old maid."

Liu Shumin doesn't want to say more to her mother; her mother is almost obsessed with finding a husband for her.

She turns to Wang Meipo, who has come several times, and says.

"You've seen my family's situation; if you marry me, you must take our whole clan with you."

"If you don't help our family, nothing will be discussed."

Wang Meipo counts on her fingers, then says.

"You just want to marry out so the husband's family gives your family fifteen yuan a month, right?"

"Until those three younger sisters and brother come of age."

"It's simple."

"I'll tell them; after you marry out, the money you earn can supplement your natal family."

"If it's not enough, he'll top it up for you."

"That's the idea, isn't it?"

Liu Shumin thinks it over, nods, and hums.

"That's roughly what I mean; if he agrees, I'll marry; if not, forget it."

"And once married, don't give me any of those messy things."

Saying that, she opens the scissors, and with a snap.

"Otherwise, I'll snap him."

"Go explain this clearly; otherwise, if disaster strikes later, don't blame me for not having said anything."

"In Liu Shumin's eyes, there's no room for sand."

Wang Meipo is startled by Liu Shumin's demeanor.

"I'm going to introduce this woman to Sha Zhu—am I being too much?"

But thinking of the ten yuan matchmaking fee and the ten yuan from Xu Damao, she feels it's still a matter of life or death.

"Fine, I'll pass the message to you."

"You all wait for good news."

Several days pass, and Sha Zhu's confidence has been pretty much crushed.

Especially with people around pointing fingers at him, he feels extremely resentful.

This time Wang Meipo doesn't go to the Siheyuan; instead she finds someone to deliver a message to Sha Zhu, asking him to come after work.

Sha Zhu arrives, no longer the spirited man he once was, a bit downcast.

"Aunt Wang, you called me."

Wang Meipo pulls him inside and says softly.

"I've found another girl for you, but I'm afraid someone in your courtyard might cause trouble, so I didn't go to your Siheyuan to find you."

Sha Zhu is pleased at the news.

"Really?"

Wang Meipo stuck out her chest and said.

Of course it's true. If you don't see who I, Wang Meipo, am, then there's no match I can't make.

But there's no one meeting such high demands.

This time I'm introducing you to someone whose other aspects haven't changed; just that her education is high school, and her family has some burdens.

I don't know if you can handle it.

Sha Zhu, upon hearing that her looks weren't discounted, was satisfied.

【67> He now urgently needs a beautiful wife to change his current predicament.

He urgently needs a beautiful wife to change his current predicament.

Auntie Wang, what do you mean by this burden?

This still needs to be clarified; otherwise it's a big pitfall that would bury oneself.

Auntie Wang, well-versed in the Spring and Autumn brush method, spoke by emphasizing the light and avoiding the heavy.

Her family has many children, so she's only now looking for a partner.

The precondition for marriage is that after marrying, she will earn her own money, and you must allow her to support her natal family, about fifteen per month.

This isn't a big problem; for He Yuzhu, if it doesn't cost his own money, it's not a burden.

No problem, being filial is only right.

Moreover, in these times, if we don't help each other, who knows how many will starve to death.

Wang Meipo heard this and let out a sigh of relief; the matter was completely within her expectations.

Since you're willing, I'll tell you the girl's final condition.

He Yuzhu said boldly.

What condition? Auntie Wang, you say.

Wang Meipo solemnized her expression, imitating Liu Shumin, and raised two fingers.

She said, before, no matter what you did or what reputation you had, she could care about it, but from now on, if you dare cause any trouble,

she will go 'snip' and cut you off.

Saying this, Wang Meipo poked Sha Zhu's waist with her two fingers.

Sha Zhu was startled; is this girl really so rash?

He even broke into a sweat.

Wang Meipo finally pressed, saying.

How about it, still want to meet this girl?

But I'll tell you beforehand, with those conditions you proposed, I can't find anyone.

If you still insist on those demands, I'll refund you five bucks, we'll call it quits—I can't satisfy you.

Sha Zhu's heart was thumping thump-thump, but Wang Meipo's startle made it instantly calm down.

To shirk responsibility, how could that work?

If even matchmakers refuse to make matches for him, how bad would his reputation become?

If matchmakers avoid him, does he still want to marry?

Auntie Wang, don't rush, don't rush; that scare just now left me a bit dazed.

Let me calm down...

Wang Meipo said nothing more, silently waiting for Sha Zhu's decision.

After a moment, Sha Zhu finally figured it out.

Anyway, he's already decided to stay away from the Jia family; what's there to fear?

Yi Zhonghai's connections here should be maintained; if they can't be, he'll mainly maintain those of the deaf old lady.

With the deaf old lady as his backing, he can certainly stand firm in the courtyard.

Alright, this marriage, I agree to.

But, Auntie Wang, you must guarantee she's really beautiful.

Seeing Sha Zhu agree, Auntie Wang let out a sigh of relief and repeatedly assured.

Beautiful, beautiful, absolutely beautiful.