Chapter 3: Matchmaking

Li Peach Blossom, still shaken, went back inside and began pinching Tang Dafu again.

When Tang Green Reed and Tang Yixiao returned, Tang Dafu was still inside trying to comfort Li Peach Blossom. Tang Yixiao had intended to tell Tang Dafu about how Green Reed had nearly died, but seeing how useless he was, he couldn’t even be bothered to open his mouth. He simply waited for their eldest brother to come home. In this family, apart from the siblings who relied on each other, there was no one else they could count on.

Qin Huiyin handed a clean set of clothes to Tang Green Reed.

Green Reed was puzzled. “Do I need to wash these?”

Qin Huiyin, facing Tang Yixiao’s angry glare, spoke innocently, “They’re clean—why would you wash them? I saw your clothes were all washed away, so I thought you could wear mine for now, and change out of those wet ones. Otherwise, if you catch a chill, not only will you suffer, but we’ll have to spend silver to call a doctor. With our family’s situation now, we can’t spare a single coin.”

“Big sister, change into them quickly,” Tang Yixiao urged. “Anyway, these clothes were bought with Father’s silver. They should have been yours to begin with.”

“Little brother, don’t talk like that about Huiyin,” Green Reed said. “If it weren’t for Huiyin, I wouldn’t be alive.”

Tang Yixiao curled his lips and snorted coldly. “It’s a good thing you’re all right, otherwise I wouldn’t have let them off.”

Though Qin Huiyin wanted to ease the tension, if this prickly boy kept speaking that way, she saw no reason to be polite. She could understand his feelings, but she had no interest in serving him.

Green Reed, seeing Yixiao’s attitude, worried that Huiyin would be upset. Uneasy, she tugged at Huiyin’s sleeve. “Huiyin, could you help me? I don’t have much strength.”

“Of course, I’ll take you inside to change,” Qin Huiyin agreed. She and Green Reed shared a room.

Qin Huiyin was a year younger than Green Reed, but she was taller, and her figure was fuller, so when Green Reed wore her clothes, they looked loose and baggy. Even cinching them with a belt, there was still an awkward feeling of wearing someone else’s clothes.

After changing, Green Reed immediately went to the kitchen to prepare lunch.

She opened the rice jar and saw only a thin layer of cornmeal at the bottom. She scooped two handfuls into a bowl.

Tang Yixiao came in to help wash wild greens.

No matter how angry he was, what could he do? His sister had survived disaster and didn’t cry or complain, just went on with her tasks. If he kept holding a grudge, wouldn’t that just make things harder for her, giving that malicious woman more reason to trouble her?

His elder brother had said that since they were still young and couldn’t escape this family, they had to endure for now. Once they were grown and had their own strength, they could leave this wretched place far behind.

Qin Huiyin wasn’t idle either. She picked out two sets of clothes and took in the seams to make them a size smaller, planning to give them to Green Reed later.

The original owner of her body had plenty of clothes, all of them stylish and without a single patch. In the entire village, she was easily the most pampered and well-cared-for girl.

She was an internet celebrity blogger—not only did she make gourmet food, but also crafted clothes and cosmetics. In short, she was willing to try anything her fans were interested in, which was why she had tens of millions of followers.

“Huiyin’s mother…” One of the village’s gossipmongers, Mrs. Qian, stood at the gate holding a bunch of scallions.

Li Peach Blossom came bustling out. She paused to smooth her hair, then stood at the picket fence, whispering with Mrs. Qian.

“That’s a bit low, isn’t it…”

“That’s what they’re offering. If you got that much, wouldn’t life be easier for your family?”

“We already owe fifty taels of silver. Even with that sum, it wouldn’t solve our main problems,” Li Peach Blossom complained.

“If it were your Huiyin, the price would be higher…” Mrs. Qian probed.

Li Peach Blossom’s expression changed; she fixed Mrs. Qian with a cold look, one hand on her hip, and snapped, “You dare scheme about my daughter? Who do you think you are, the king of heaven?”

“Huiyin’s mother, look around—what other girl in this village is like yours? Anyone who didn’t know better would think she was a young lady from a wealthy family. If you ask me, given your family’s difficulties, marrying off your two daughters for hefty bride prices would solve everything. I heard Master Jiang say that if Huiyin were willing to marry him, he’d give thirty taels. As for Green Reed, the Zheng family’s offering five. Master Jiang really fancies your Huiyin. If you’re interested, I could talk to him, maybe get him to offer more. If he’s pleased, who knows—even fifty taels isn’t impossible.”

“Bah! A toad lusting after a swan, dreaming!” Li Peach Blossom spat. “Listen well: even if I have to sell myself, I’d never sell my daughter!”

“Fine, fine, you won’t sell her. But the Zheng family wants Green Reed, that should be all right?” Mrs. Qian pressed. “You have so many mouths to feed—marry off a daughter, gain an in-law, and you could help each other out.”

Li Peach Blossom glanced toward the kitchen, thoughtful.

Those shrewd, worldly eyes were full of calculation—she was seriously considering the advantages of this proposal.

Qin Huiyin came out and called, “Mother…”

“Yes, I’m here,” Li Peach Blossom replied, then said to Mrs. Qian, “I’ll think about it.”

“What is there to think about?” Mrs. Qian grew anxious. “Five taels of silver! How many girls in this village get that much for a dowry?”

“Ten taels,” Li Peach Blossom said. “Five is too little. If it’s ten, I’ll tell the children’s father right away.”

“Mother…” Qin Huiyin called again.

Li Peach Blossom waved Mrs. Qian off and hurried back to her room.

Mrs. Qian spat in Li Peach Blossom’s direction. “What a piece of work! Always acting like a little witch, tempting every man in the village. And these rotten men—they know she’s unlucky, but still can’t stay away, just like in those old plays about dying for beauty. And her daughter, too—such a young girl, but already as bewitching as her mother. Who knows how many men will fall for her in the future? I’d better keep an eye on my boy, make sure he never gets close to that little vixen.”

After venting, Mrs. Qian remembered the matter of the bride price. For most families, five taels was already a high price, but here she was, asking for ten.

Though Green Reed wasn’t as pretty as Huiyin, she was diligent and hardworking—the Zheng family liked her for that, which was why they’d offered five taels for her as a child bride.

Ten taels…

It wasn’t impossible. She’d have to talk to the Zheng family, and maybe it would work. If it did, she’d be sure to get a generous matchmaker’s fee.

Qin Huiyin watched Mrs. Qian leave, then turned back and asked Li Peach Blossom, “Mother, what did Aunt Zhang say to you?”

“Nothing,” Li Peach Blossom said, tying a knot in her thread. “Aren’t these clothes a good fit for you? Why do you need to alter them?”

“I’m tailoring them for Sister Green Reed.”

“You’re giving your clothes to her?” Li Peach Blossom frowned. “These clothes are all yours—why give them away? If she doesn’t have anything to wear, she still has her father. I can alter some of his clothes for her.”