Hitting a Wall

"What's the matter?" Liu Kai asked casually.

Zhang Cai chuckled and said, "I'll tell Mr. Liu about it later."

Liu Kai nodded with a smile and continued to ask Zhang Cai about Liu Qian. Zhang Cai answered each question, and Zhang Xiaohua, standing nearby, kept calling him "Brother Liu" and spoke highly of Liu Qian, making Liu Kai beam with joy.

Liu Kai sat with Zhang Cai for a while. Seeing that it was getting late, he said to Zhang Cai, "Uncle, you and Xiaohua can sit here for a bit longer. I don't know when my father will be finished. I need to go say hello to my uncle and have lunch at his place."

Zhang Cai waved his hand and said, "Nephew, you don't need to be so polite. Just eat whatever is available."

Liu Kai stood up and said, "That won't do. It's not often that Uncle visits. We must show proper hospitality. I remember Xiaohua loves braised pork. You'll eat your fill today."

Zhang Xiaohua stuck out his tongue and said, "Then, thank you, Brother Liu."

Liu Kai smiled and said, "You sweet-talking little rascal." After saying that, he quickly left. Only Zhang Cai and Zhang Xiaohua remained in the room, waiting.

They drank tea and waited. After a while, Mr. Liu still hadn't come out.

Just then, a loud voice came from outside the door, "Old Brother Zhang, you've finally arrived."

Both Zhang Cai and Zhang Xiaohua smiled. It had to be Liu the Butcher.

Zhang Cai and Zhang Xiaohua quickly stood up. As they reached the doorway, they met Liu the Butcher, who was striding towards them with a brisk pace. Liu the Butcher warmly took Zhang Cai's hand and said, "Old Brother Zhang, it's been a few days since I last saw you. I really missed you. Is your leg alright now? Hmm, judging by your appearance, it must have healed completely."

Zhang Cai also smiled and said, "Yes, thanks to my younger brother. My injury has healed. I walked all the way from Guo Village to here this morning, and my leg didn't even hurt much."

Liu the Butcher said, "Good fortune favors the righteous. Old Brother Zhang is a good person, and you'll surely be rewarded. By the way, how are your two sons' injuries?"

Zhang Cai said, "Xiaohu's injuries have completely healed, and Xiaolong is almost there."

Liu the Butcher said, "That's excellent news! Spring plowing is just around the corner, so the family won't have to worry anymore. Come, let's go inside and talk."

Everyone then went inside and sat down again. As soon as they were seated, before Mr. Liu could even take a sip of water, he also entered the room. Zhang Cai and Zhang Xiaohua quickly stood up again and went to greet him. Mr. Liu returned their greeting and asked them to sit down. Mr. Liu apologized, saying, "Old Brother Zhang, you've been here for quite some time. I was painting a picture and didn't greet you properly. It was very rude of me."

Zhang Cai quickly replied, "It's alright, younger brother. You were busy with important matters. We were just waiting in the room. Besides, Liu Kai was here talking with us. He just left. Is your painting finished?"

Mr. Liu glanced at Liu the Butcher and said, "It's almost done. This fellow's loud voice interrupted my train of thought. I'll continue this afternoon."

Liu the Butcher said innocently, "I didn't know you were painting. Besides, I've always had a loud voice. If I hadn't called out to you, you would have kept Old Brother Zhang waiting here."

Mr. Liu said, "You're always right. I won't argue with you anymore."

Then he said to Zhang Cai, "I have this habit too. When I'm writing or painting, I forget everything around me. It's been like this for years, and I can't change it. Here, please have some tea."

After speaking, he picked up his teacup and took a sip. Then he said regretfully, "This tea is much worse than the tea at Old Brother Zhang's place. I really miss the tea I had last time."

Zhang Cai smiled and said, "Then, younger brother Liu, you should visit Guo Village more often. Or perhaps you could move there and drink it every day."

Mr. Liu smiled and said, "Many things are easier said than done."

The few of them sat and chatted for a while, asking about each other's situations. Mr. Liu then asked, "Old Brother Zhang, is there something specific that brought you to Baligou this time?"

Zhang Cai said, "Younger brother Liu, I have indeed come with a very important matter to discuss with you."

Mr. Liu nodded and said, "Please, tell me about it, Old Brother."

Zhang Cai continued, "Qianqian has been staying at our home for such a long time, and everyone in our family likes her very much. Furthermore, my eldest son, Zhang Xiaolong, and she are deeply in love. I've come this time to discuss whether we can form a marriage alliance between our children."

After speaking, Zhang Cai stared at Mr. Liu, hoping to see a smile or joy on his face.

However, he did not see the expression he expected. Instead, Mr. Liu was clearly startled and then frowned deeply, as if, as if, he was about to refuse. Liu the Butcher, who was usually quick to speak, remained silent this time. His eyes shifted from Zhang Cai to Mr. Liu, and then from Mr. Liu back to Zhang Cai, with a hint of contemplation. After a moment, Mr. Liu spoke, saying, "Old Brother Zhang, you are a straightforward person, so I'll be direct with you. Let's say whatever we need to say without holding back. What do you think?"

Zhang Cai naturally agreed.

Mr. Liu continued, "Before Qianqian's mother passed away, her only wish was for me to find a good family for Qianqian. Over the years, many families have proposed marriage for her, but I haven't agreed to any of them. Firstly, Qianqian was not satisfied. Secondly, I felt they couldn't bring Qianqian happiness. Also, I know Qianqian has loved reading since she was young, and her lifelong wish is to find a learned scholar. I know Xiaolong is a good child, and I have no doubts about his character, but he doesn't seem to be very literate, does he? If they are together in the future, I'm afraid their interests won't align. Furthermore, Qianqian hasn't done farm work since she was young. While she's no doubt capable of household chores and needlework, she won't be able to handle farm work when she's with Xiaolong. Also, Qianqian and Xiaolong have only known each other for about a month. How could they be so quickly in love? Qianqian might have a good impression of Xiaolong, which is normal, after all, Xiaolong once saved her. But if she were to marry him based on just this good impression, wouldn't that be too childish?"

Zhang Cai's expression became a bit awkward upon hearing these words. Based on his previous interactions with Mr. Liu, he had thought he was a very easy-going person. Moreover, seeing how much he seemed to admire Xiaolong, and since Liu Qian had agreed, he thought there wouldn't be any problems. But Zhang Cai was mistaken. Mr. Liu's admiration was merely for a young man passionate about farming, not from the perspective of a father-in-law. Furthermore, Zhang Xiaolong and Liu Qian lived in different worlds. Although both were in the countryside, one studied and the other farmed. They truly had no common ground, and their future lives would inevitably have some barriers. To Zhang Cai, who was looking to marry off his son, these were natural considerations. But for Mr. Liu, who was reluctant to see his daughter marry, these were things that required careful consideration.

Zhang Xiaohua was also stunned. He hadn't expected the seemingly amiable Mr. Liu to refuse. However, he didn't know what to say and could only look at his father, hoping he could persuade Mr. Liu.

Zhang Cai said, "Mr. Liu, you worry too much. Marriage is first and foremost about mutual affection. Since Xiaolong and Qianqian are willing, they will surely have a good life together. Regarding the lack of common topics you mentioned, I think we can let Qianqian teach Xiaolong to read more in the future, and they will gradually develop common interests, won't they? As for farm work, if Qianqian can't do field work, we certainly won't ask her to. We have four strong laborers at home, so we definitely won't mistreat Qianqian by making her work in the fields."

Mr. Liu sighed and said, "Didn't I just say that some things are easier said than done? Also, Liu Kai is not yet engaged or married. It wouldn't be appropriate for Liu Qian, as his younger sister, to get engaged first."

Zhang Cai had forgotten about this. Yes, it was the custom in farming families for the elder brother to marry before the younger sister. If the elder brother's marriage was not yet settled, the younger sister naturally had no right to consider marriage. Zhang Cai was somewhat speechless.

At this moment, Liu Kai returned. Not noticing the awkward atmosphere in the room, he said to Mr. Liu and Liu the Butcher, "Dad, Uncle Two, the food is ready over there. Please invite Uncle Zhang and Xiaohua to eat."

Mr. Liu looked at Zhang Cai and smiled, "Old Brother Zhang, let's go. We'll put this matter aside for now. Let's both think about it further, and then go eat."

Liu the Butcher also took Zhang Xiaohua's hand and said, "Let's go. Let's not talk about business anymore. Eating is the most important thing. Xiaohua, do you want to eat braised pork?"

The food at Liu the Butcher's house was naturally more lavish than at Zhang Cai's, but Zhang Cai didn't have much appetite. Despite the enthusiastic hospitality from Mr. Liu and Liu the Butcher, he didn't eat much. Only Zhang Xiaohua ate the most. Firstly, he was growing and had a good appetite. Secondly, in his opinion, his elder brother and Miss Qian were a perfect match, and they would surely be happy living together. He firmly believed this marriage would happen, so he was only briefly disappointed by Mr. Liu's refusal earlier. He had long since put it behind him, without his father's worries. Naturally, he dug into the feast with gusto. Seeing him eat so heartily, Liu the Butcher's wife and Liu Yueyue also smiled broadly, constantly putting delicious food into his bowl and urging him to eat more.

Although Zhang Cai had no appetite, he felt a little happier seeing his son eating so well. Mr. Liu chatted with him from time to time, and Liu the Butcher frequently raised his cup to him. Liu Kai had privately asked his father earlier and knew the reason for Zhang Cai's unhappiness, so he didn't say much at the dinner table, just ate his meal.

The meal finished quickly. After a brief rest at Liu the Butcher's house, Zhang Cai took Zhang Xiaohua and bid farewell to everyone. Mr. Liu wanted to invite them to his home for a while longer, but seeing that it was getting late and they had a long way to go, he didn't insist. The group escorted Zhang Cai and Zhang Xiaohua to the village entrance before turning back.

By then, everyone in Liu the Butcher's family knew the purpose of the Zhang family's visit. Liu Yueyue said to Mr. Liu, "Uncle, Uncle Zhang is right. My sister really likes Zhang Xiaolong. She mentioned it when I visited last time."

Mr. Liu sighed and said, "A daughter grows up and wants to leave home. But married life isn't just about feelings, you know."