Betrothal

Zhang Xiaolong said with a smile, "Our Well Water, of course! The way Mr. Liu drank tea that day, he looked happier than if we'd given him ten taels of silver. From now on, if we give him more Well Water, it'll not only satisfy his palate but also keep him healthy. Wouldn't that be even better? Oh, right, Father—if there's a chance during this trip, talk to Mr. Liu about moving to Guo Village. I think he was already inclined to do so last time, but he still had some misgivings. Now that Liu Qian has come over, I imagine he'd be willing. That way, Liu Qian and I can look after him nearby as well. What do you think?"

Zhang Cai and Guo Sufi exchanged a look. "I'll certainly bring it up when I go. Here, take these banknotes and the token for now. If you truly need to, cash them in."

Zhang Xiaolong thought for a moment. "All right, I'll hold on to them for now."

With that, he tucked the banknotes and token into his robes.

Since Zhang Xiaolong refused to use the banknotes, preparing the Zhang family's betrothal gifts became much simpler. They merely put together a few gifts according to local custom. Early that morning, Zhang Cai and Guo Sufi put on brand-new clothes, took the gifts they had long prepared, and set off for Baligou, ready to arrange the most important engagement of Zhang Xiaolong's life.

When Zhang Cai and Guo Sufi arrived at Mr. Liu's home, they received a most ceremonious welcome. When they presented the modest betrothal gifts, Mr. Liu did not mind their simplicity in the least. He accepted them respectfully, neither looking down on them nor turning hostile because the gifts were plain. This greatly reassured Zhang Cai and his wife. There were no outsiders in the Liu family's main hall, only Liu the Butcher and the other family members. It seemed Mr. Liu truly was not the sort of man who cared for extravagance and empty formalities. Liu Qian was nowhere to be seen in the hall; she had likely hidden herself away out of shyness.

The entire betrothal process was simple but not careless. Everything proceeded according to village custom, without the slightest deviation. As the ceremony drew smoothly toward its conclusion, it was time for both sides to discuss the wedding date. Zhang Cai and Guo Sufi asked Mr. Liu to decide, with only one request: that the marriage take place as soon as possible. Grandmother's health truly could not hold out much longer. The old woman's final wish was to see her grandson's wedding.

Mr. Liu pondered for a long time, then took out an almanac and studied it carefully, his brows knitting slightly. Zhang Cai and the others could not help but have their hearts rise into their throats. After quite a while, Mr. Liu finally looked up and said, "Judging by these dates, the end of this month is the nearest auspicious day. After that, it would have to be June. But would the end of this month be too rushed? And by the end of June, the old lady..." He left the rest unsaid.

Sure enough, Zhang Cai and Guo Sufi frowned as well. Still unwilling to give up, Guo Sufi asked, "Are there truly no good dates in between?"

"There are plenty of good dates in between," Mr. Liu said, "but none that match Xiaolong and Qianqian's birth dates and horoscopes."

Zhang Cai let out a long breath. "Sigh... then June is our only choice. There are barely any days left before the end of this month, and we don't even have a wedding house yet. How could we possibly prepare everything in just a few days?"

Mr. Liu nodded as well. "Then it can only be so. I only wonder about the old lady..."

Just then, a voice came from outside. "Father, I think it should be set for the end of this month."

Everyone looked closely. The person entering was Liu Qian. It turned out she had been listening outside the whole time.

Liu Qian's face was slightly red as she said, "Uncle, Auntie, seeing Xiaolong's wedding is Grandmother's final wish. As her juniors, we ought to fulfill it. Besides, how elaborate or simple the wedding is depends on us. There is no need for overly cumbersome ceremonies, and holding a lavish affair is not very realistic for us either. I don't think you need to prepare any new house for the time being. Just make do with whatever place we can find first. And Father, weren't you planning to move to Guo Village as well? Take this opportunity to find a plot beside the Zhang family courtyard, put up a few rooms, and build a surrounding wall. Wouldn't that make a home? Once that courtyard is finished, you can move over, and Xiaolong and I can move there too. We can serve you, and at the same time look after Uncle and Auntie. What do you think?"

Liu Qian's idea seemed rather startling, but on careful consideration, it was quite feasible. Grandmother likely would not survive until June. If the old woman passed away, the mourning period and other rites would very likely delay the marriage, while she desperately wished to see her grandson wed. Therefore, the wedding ought to be held at the end of February. Given the Zhang family's circumstances, staging a grand wedding was unrealistic, but a simple wedding would be easy enough to prepare. With familiar people from the village helping out, it would not be too difficult to get it done within a few days. The greatest problem was the wedding house. Ordinarily, a new home should be prepared for newlyweds, and if construction began now, one might be built within a month. But if Mr. Liu also wished to move there, then a whole new small courtyard would have to be built, which would take several months. Liu Qian also wished to care for her father, so that courtyard naturally had to be constructed. It was better to combine the matters. Still, what Zhang Cai was considering now was that Liu Qian, before even entering the family, wanted to live separately with Xiaolong and make a home alongside her own father. It seemed somewhat like splitting the household. Could she have some other motive?

But Zhang Cai soon dismissed the thought. What did his family have that Liu Qian could covet? Nothing but that well. Liu Qian's urging her father to move over was surely only out of concern for his health, a filial devotion worthy of praise. And as for Xiaolong and Liu Qian setting up their own household, that was honestly bound to happen sooner or later. There were three sons in the family—how could they possibly never divide the household? Bringing it up now seemed early, but on reflection, it was suitable enough. At least it would show Liu Qian's foresight and keep Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua from harboring any resentment.

Naturally, Mr. Liu had no objections. He had already been considering how he would spend his old age. He was a teacher, respected wherever he went, and he had heard that no one in Guo Village taught. If he went there, he would surely be welcome. Moreover, he would have his daughter to rely on there, and he could protect her as well. What was not to like? He had originally been wondering how to bring up the matter of moving with Zhang Cai. Now that his daughter had raised it, the timing could not have been better.

There were, however, people who objected—Liu the Butcher's family.

Liu the Butcher raised his voice. "Big Brother, why are you thinking of moving to Guo Village without discussing it with me? The two of us grew up in Baligou together!"

Mr. Liu said gently, "Second Brother, I'm only considering it for now. Qianqian will be marrying far away in Guo Village, where she knows neither people nor place, and no one will be there to look after her. Meanwhile, Liu Kai and I are at home without a woman to care for us, and life has not been going smoothly."

Liu Yueyue cut in, "Uncle, isn't there still me? Haven't I been helping out at home all this time?"

Mr. Liu smiled. "Yueyue, I know you've worked hard in your uncle's home, but this cannot be a long-term arrangement. Look, your sister has just become engaged and will soon be married off. Do you think your own turn is far away? Even if you marry into a family here in Baligou, you cannot come to your uncle's home every day to keep house for him. And Liu Kai needs to find a wife and settle down too. This home should be handed over to him soon. If I don't press him, who knows until what year of the monkey or month of the horse he'll take to find someone?"

Liu Kai said with a red face, "Father, listen to yourself. It's not that I haven't been looking—I just haven't found anyone suitable."

Mr. Liu shot him a glance. "Then look properly. Try to settle both your and your sister's matters this year, so we can have double happiness at the door."

Liu Kai fell silent.

Then Mr. Liu said to Liu the Butcher, "Second Brother, Guo Village may seem far, but it is only half a day's journey. Even if I move there, it will still be convenient for us to visit each other. Besides, your butcher's trade and my teaching have nothing to do with each other. We have brotherly affection between us; seeing each other once every ten days or half a month will be enough. We certainly won't grow distant because of time. In the future, if you grow tired of staying in Baligou, you can move over and live with me too."

Mr. Liu knew that Liu the Butcher was blunt and could not keep a secret in his heart, so he did not mention the Well Water to him at all. Of course, if the water truly proved effective in the future, Mr. Liu would certainly bring Liu the Butcher and the others over.

Seeing that no one had any further objections, Mr. Liu and Zhang Cai settled on the date: the end of February. Then they began discussing the specific details. Liu Qian did not keep listening and withdrew, with Liu Yueyue following after her.

When they reached Liu Qian's chamber, Liu Yueyue teased, "Sister, do you miss Xiaolong that much? Are you in such a hurry to marry yourself off to him?"

"It isn't what you think," Liu Qian said. "The Zhang family's grandmother truly cannot hold on for more than a few days. When I was at their home last time, she was already coughing up blood. The old woman has struggled all her life, and I think her final wish should be fulfilled. Besides, you know their family circumstances. Handling the wedding in such a rush might actually be a relief, and it will not put too heavy a burden on Xiaolong and me. This decision benefits both him and me."

Liu Yueyue said reproachfully, "I thought for a long time about what you told me last time after I came home. Fate truly is strange. You two have known each other for less than two months, yet you're about to be sharing the same stove. Now that I think about it, it feels so marvelous."

Liu Qian smiled. "You can have that too. The past few times Zhang Xiaohu saw you, he couldn't take his eyes off you. I imagine he wants to share a stove with you too."

Liu Yueyue blushed. "Sister, don't tease me. I told you when we were at the Zhang family's home last time—I don't have any feelings for Zhang Xiaohu. He did save me, and I am only grateful. In your words, we have no fate between us. Besides, a few days ago, Mr. Zhao from Xue Village already sent someone to propose on behalf of his second son, Zhao Yuzhao. I have met Zhao Yuzhao before. He is also a scholar, and his appearance is proper enough. It is only because Father has been busy with your affairs these past few days that he has not agreed for the moment. Once your matter is settled, I expect my marriage will be settled too."

When Liu Qian heard this, she was delighted. "You little thing, you've been hiding such a secret in your heart and only telling me today! I've met Zhao Yuzhao too. His character, appearance, and learning are all truly good, and he is very suitable for you. Yueyue, your luck is quite good."

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