Luo Hongmei, whose home was located in the middle of Xiahe Village, rose early today. After washing her face, she applied a thick layer of powder, pressed her lips repeatedly on red paper, and examined herself in the basin. Satisfied, she touched the large mole by her mouth. Feeling rather pleased, she picked up a piece of red bean cake from the table and slowly savored it bit by bit.
“Grandmother, I want some too! Give me some!” A young child tugged at her skirt, staring eagerly at the cake in her hand.
“You little glutton,” Luo Hongmei scolded lightly but still broke off a piece for the child. “Here, eat. Don’t tell your parents.”
The child licked his fingers after finishing the treat. “I won’t, Grandmother.”
“The Lu family sure knows how to do things. The cakes they sent are even better than others’,” Luo Hongmei patted the child and added, “Go find your parents. I’m heading out.”
The child blinked. “Is Grandmother going matchmaking again? Does that mean we’ll get to eat at someone’s banquet soon?”
Too young to understand much else, he only knew that when his grandmother went out for matchmaking, she would later take him to someone’s house for a feast.
“You… always thinking about food.”
Luo Hongmei patted the child’s bottom. “Go on.”
With that, she straightened her collar and left without another glance.
As she walked toward the western edge of the village, she sighed inwardly. Who would have thought last year that she’d be arranging a match between these two families? One was a household that fled from another region, and the other had a deadbeat drunkard dragging them down.
It wasn’t that she looked down on them. Everyone in the village had thought the same. And yet, within less than a year, one was crafting bamboo wares, the other selling drinks, and their households had suddenly flourished. Before anyone could react, these two families had already grown close.
Spotting the newly built house surrounded by bamboo fences in the distance, Luo Hongmei clicked her tongue in amazement. Setting aside her musings, she reminded herself that since she’d been entrusted with this task, she has to do it properly.
The gate of the Lu family’s courtyard was open. Lu Dongqing and Miao Lianhua were waiting in the front yard, where a betrothal goose tied with a red cloth sat on the table. Seeing Luo Hongmei arrive, Lu Dongqing quickly stood and bowed in greeting. “Aunt Luo.”
So this is what a scholar was like. Luo Hongmei was flattered and hurriedly helped him up. “Oh my, oh my! Young man, there’s no need for such formalities!”
Lu Dongqing straightened without another word, while Miao Lianhua chimed in, “Luo-jie, you’re the matchmaker. You deserve this courtesy. We’ll be troubling you with many things going forward.”
“Of course, of course!” Having received such respect, Luo Hongmei’s wrinkles deepened with her smile. “I’ll make sure everything’s handled properly for you!”
“Thank you. Here’s the betrothal goose, along with two packages of cakes. Please deliver them for us,” Miao Lianhua said.
This isn’t yet the formal marriage proposal. Miao Lianhua inquired about the customs of Shuijing Town and found that only a single goose was needed at this stage. If the other family accepted it, it meant they were open to the match. Then, the two families would exchange birth dates to have a Daoist priest calculate their compatibility. If the results were favorable, a formal betrothal letter would be written, accompanied by the second goose[mfn]In ancient China, a live goose (雁, yàn) was sent as a betrothal gift during marriage proposals to symbolize fidelity (geese mate for life) and Confucian propriety. This practice, recorded in the Book of Rites (《礼记》), was part of the “Six Rites” (六礼) of traditional weddings.[/mfn] and betrothal gifts. Only then would it count as an official proposal.
Once the betrothal letter and gifts were accepted, an auspicious date could be chosen. Once the date was set, both families would hold a banquet together, and that would seal the union.
As for the banquet, both families had already discussed it. The Qiao family had no relatives, just the three of them. Even if they invited a few neighbors, there wouldn’t be more than a few tables. The Lu family wasn’t much different. The only relatives they can call are the Lu family in the town.
Since both families lived in the same village, they decided it wasn’t necessary to hold two separate banquets. Saving the money for the newlyweds to start their life together was far more important.
As for the banquet location, it was settled to be held at the Lu family’s home. Their new house was now built, and it was time to show it off to the villagers. It would also serve as a way to bolster the couple’s reputation and see who would still dare call these two families destitute.
So, when the matchmaker went to deliver the betrothal goose today, since it was for the Qiao family, Lu Dongqing also purchased two more packages of bean cakes to send along. Miao Lianhua didn’t say anything. The deeper the affection between the young ones, the more united they’d be in building their future together.
After seeing Luo Hongmei off, Lu Dongqing returned to hammering away at a bamboo bed. He had been especially diligent lately, producing more than ten beds in just a few days, all to be brought to the market on the fifteenth.
Since most visitors to the East Market were commoners, he didn’t make them too elaborate. The ones he’d done before, like the one for Liu Mei’s husband, had detailed carvings on the legs. But there was no need for such embellishment now. This way, he could make more. If anyone wanted something fancy, they could always request it later.
Miao Lianhua wasn’t idle either. She went back to town and bought two more bolts of fabric: one red for the wedding clothes and another apricot-yellow jacquard for the betrothal gift.
When discussing the banquet, Qin Yu subtly mentioned that Qiao Suiman wasn’t very skilled with needlework. He wasn’t good at making clothes, let alone embroidery. Most of the household’s clothes were made by Qin Yu, though his skills were barely passable. It would be a shame to waste the fabric.
Miao Lianhua couldn’t help but laugh when she recalled how Qiao Suiman nearly buried his head in the ground out of embarrassment. So what if he couldn’t sew? With her, a skilled embroiderer and future mother-in-law, around, why would they need to worry?
So, it was decided. She would cut and sew most of the wedding dress, leaving only the simplest parts for Qiao Suiman to finish. As for the mandarin duck pillows[mfn]I attached a photo at the end of the chapter.[/mfn] and quilt covers, those were traditionally provided by the groom’s side anyway, so she would handle the embroidery herself. It would save them a good deal of money.
—
At the Qiao Household
Qiao Suiman sat in his room, listening to the conversation in the main hall between Qiao Ruifeng, Qin Yu, and matchmaker Luo. Both families were eager for this marriage, so things progressed swiftly.
As the eldest brother standing in place of a father, Qiao Ruifeng accepted the betrothal goose and handed Qiao Suiman’s birth date to matchmaker Luo.
Only after she left did Qiao Suiman come out. Even now, it still felt a little surreal. He knew that Lu Dongqing was going to propose, but now that the day had arrived, he still couldn’t believe it.
The betrothal had been accepted. Once the Lu family picked an auspicious date, he would be married off.
Qiao Suiman’s eyes reddened as he sat beside Qin Yu in a sullen mood. Qin Yu, too, felt a deep reluctance.
Having been with the Qiao family for several years, he watched Qiao Suiman grow from a scrawny little thing into the bright and lovely young man he was now. Soon, he would leave home, and the house would feel empty with only him and Qiao Ruifeng left.
Qiao Suiman leaned into Qin Yu’s embrace. “Qin Yu-ge, I… I suddenly don’t want to get married. I don’t want to leave you all.”
Qin Yu patted his shoulder gently. “Silly child, ‘Heaven wills the rain, a mother wills to marry’[mfn]天要下雨，娘要嫁人 (Tiān yào xià yǔ, niáng yào jià rén): A Chinese idiom meaning “some things are inevitable,” comparing natural events (rain) to human actions (remarriage).[/mfn]. We’re still in the same village. If you miss us, you can come back anytime. What nonsense are you saying? Dongqing-xiaozi would be heartbroken if he heard this.”
Qiao Ruifeng also felt a pang of emotion. The younger brother he had raised was about to become someone else’s fulang. Thankfully, the Lu family was decent, so he wouldn’t suffer after marriage. To lighten the mood, he teased, “Alright, alright. If this keeps up, I’ll want Dongqing to marry into our family instead. Though I’d probably get chased down by Auntie Miao.”
Qiao Suiman and Qin Yu burst into laughter, the sound dispelling their melancholy.
—
Two days later, Luo Hongmei returned with the second goose, the betrothal letter, and the gifts. The Lu family had already taken both birth dates to the town’s daoist temple, where the priest said that they were a perfect match.
Of course, priests always had sweet words, but they were happy to hear it and didn’t question further.
Qiao Ruifeng accepted the betrothal gifts and the letter, finalizing the engagement. All that remained was to set a date for the wedding banquet. However, the betrothal gifts left both Qiao Suiman and Qin Yu stunned.
The matchmaker previously mentioned that the Lu family would offer five taels of silver and two bolts of fabric. But seeing a whole five-tael silver ingot with their own eyes still left them stunned. And when they saw the bolt of sea-green fabric, they were completely frozen.
“Qin Yu-ge, isn’t this the same one from last time… when we…”
Qin Yu nudged Qiao Suiman with his elbow, stopping him from mentioning in front of the matchmaker that Lu Dongqing had once followed them to the fabric shop. Even if Luo Hongmei meant no harm, if word got out, envious tongues might claim they had deliberately led Lu Dongqing there to trick him into buying it for the betrothal.
Unaware of the backstory, Luo Hongmei clicked her tongue in admiration. “Man-ge’r, look how sincere the Lu family is! In all my decades as a matchmaker, their betrothal gifts are among the most generous, if not the richest, then second or third!”
Qiao Ruifeng didn’t understand the context but instinctively sensed Qin Yu’s desire to steer the conversation away. “Thank you, Aunt Luo, for your hard work.”
“Hard work? Pah!” Luo Hongmei waved a hand. “Your match is the easiest I’ve handled in decades. I’m just a middleman passing things along. Now that the betrothal letter and gifts are delivered, I won’t linger. I still need to discuss choosing an auspicious date with the Lu family. As the Daoist master said, yours is a match made in heaven!”
Both families were courteous, sparing her the usual back-and-forth of mediating disputes where each side feared giving even a single copper coin more than the other. Such a smooth arrangement was a first in her decades of matchmaking, so she was more than happy to go the extra mile in other areas.
Many in the village had seen her carrying the betrothal goose to the Qiao house. Since everyone knew these two families were keen on each other, no one asked who had hired her. Instead, they all probed about the betrothal gifts.
She told them the truth. Not only had the Lu family built a new house in preparation for marrying their fulang, but the betrothal gift alone was five whole taels of silver! Heavens above! Most town families wouldn’t even give that much, let alone toss in two bolts of fabric and a plump, shiny betrothal goose.
This news astounded many in Xiahe Village. The Lu family only arrived less than a year ago. How did they already saved so much money? And to think they were marrying Qiao Suiman, whom the villagers had once looked down upon!
Those who had previously considered proposing to the Qiao family now privately rejoiced that they didn’t spoke up. Five taels of silver? They couldn’t bear to part with that just to marry a fulang.
Meanwhile, many families with ge’r or daughters regretted not building ties with the Lu family earlier. Otherwise, that five taels might have ended up in their hands.
As for what others were saying, Qiao Suiman neither knew nor cared. No matter what, the marriage was set in stone.
Aside from making and selling drinks, Qiao Suiman spent all his remaining time practicing sewing with scrap cloth. He had no choice. His skills were simply awful.
Though Miao Lianhua had taken over most of the work, he couldn’t just sit idle. He used to laugh when Chen Xuesheng vented to him about sewing woes. Now the joke was on him. There was no one to complain to.
But even though it was bitter now, in the end, it would all taste sweet.
Translator [LUNE]:
(got the photo from taobao)
Thanks for the chapter!