Chapter 21

Back home, Li Fu, as usual, nagged her to settle the engagement sooner. Zhao Wanwan remained silent. Madam Qian, seeing Li Qinghe still say nothing, sighed. “I heard the day after tomorrow is an auspicious day. The Hu family had planned to come then, but after learning about our situation they decided to postpone.”
Her tone softened. “In any case, we can’t let Wanwan be engaged first. Qinghe is her elder sister, she won’t let her sister be put in an awkward position.”
Li Fu’s expression eased. “Wanwan is sensible.” Then he looked at Li Qinghe. “See, you insist on the Zhou family. Now they’ve arranged several engagements at once, when will they save enough silver for you? You’ve worn your sister out…”
Li Qinghe cut him off. “The Zhou family will come to propose tomorrow.” She glanced at the stunned Madam Qian. “We can’t delay my sister’s match. Aunt Qian, make sure the Hu family comes the day after tomorrow. If they don’t…”
Seeing Madam Qian’s vacant face, Li Fu asked suspiciously, “Did the Hu family really say they’d come the day after tomorrow?”
Madam Qian came to herself. “They did. It’s just I didn’t know the Zhou family was coming tomorrow, their visit had already been postponed.”
Li Qinghe spread her hands. “Fine, then, no need to change plans. I’m looking forward to the Hu family’s pastries.” She said that last line to the embarrassed Madam Qian.
Serves you right for nagging and boasting, let’s see how you handle the outcome.
She picked up a steamed bun and rose to go eat outside. Madam Qian hurriedly said, “No, Qinghe, where did the Zhou family get so much small-engagement money all at once?”
Li Qinghe raised an eyebrow. “Why don’t you, Aunt Qian, go and ask?”
Whether the engagement is formalized or not, it’s still a matter between two families; it’s not proper for the bride’s side to pry into where the other family’s money comes from.
Madam Qian had nothing to say. Li Fu frowned. “What’s with that attitude?”
“What attitude?” Li Qinghe turned to him. “Father, I find whatever I do is wrong. You told me to hurry, so I did, now they’re coming tomorrow and you’re still not satisfied. Maybe I shouldn’t just rush the engagement, I should rush the wedding, too. Get me married off sooner! Then you won’t be angry every time you look at me and ruin your health.”
With that she flung aside the curtain and went out.
“Don’t be angry,” Madam Qian’s gentle voice followed. “An engagement is a good thing; tomorrow mustn’t turn out like this.”
Li Qinghe wasn’t truly angry; it was that Li Fu saw her perpetually unhappy, and in his life the only person he treated gently was Madam Qian.
The next morning Li Qinghe went to the pond early to feed the fish and returned just in time for breakfast. Zhao Wanwan was quite pleased; seeing her back she smiled and said, “Sister, hurry and change your clothes, today is a lucky day.”
She had to change, no matter who she sulked with, Zhao Wanwan was right: today was her day. After breakfast she changed into a pale green dress.
Just after they’d eaten, there was a knock at the door. The visitor was the town’s most famous matchmaker. “There’s joy in your house! Quick, open the door…”
She drew out the last syllable, and her cheerful tone was contagious; neighbors instantly poked their heads out to see.
Madam Qian went to welcome them inside. Accompanying Matchmaker Xi were Mrs. Zhou and Zhou Chengkang.
Today he wore a nearly new coarse-cloth outfit, neat and tidy, a smile on his face, far friendlier than usual.
A small engagement was actually simple: bring some peanuts and snacks to the house and a bit of cloth, and that was it.
Both families were willing; aside from Li Fu’s sour look toward Zhou Chengkang, everything was normal. Some families would take the opportunity that day to discuss the betrothal gifts, while others did it earlier or later. The Zhou family didn’t bring it up, and the Li family didn’t ask. Mrs. Zhou forced a smile, but Zhou Chengkang was pleased; even though Li Fu didn’t like him, he kept talking to him about the crops in his fields. Li Fu found that interesting, and their conversation went fairly well.
An hour later, Matchmaker Xi took her leave, and Madam Qian smiled as she saw her to the door.
At the gate, Matchmaker Xi turned to Zhao Wanwan. “Good girl, you should hurry the Hu family, better to set it sooner.” Then she lowered her voice, “It seems someone in town has been asking about the Hu family; who knows, so you’d better move quickly.”
Li Fu and Li Qinghe were standing nearby and heard every word. They both realized Madam Qian had lied, Matchmaker Xi had been pestering her all over the countryside; there was no reason she wouldn’t know when the Hu family had set the proposal date.
Madam Qian’s face flamed. “I know, thank you. From now on my two daughters will be in your debt.”
“Not a bother, just a little thing.” Matchmaker Xi waved her hand. “Helping make matches and bring people together is meritorious, it’s good for my own fortune, too.”
After they left, Li Fu’s expression darkened. Li Qinghe, still annoyed, shrugged. “Father, I don’t know what Aunt Qian meant. Does she hate me that much?”
Li Fu’s face hardened. “Come inside with me.”
Madam Qian hurried after them, hearing herself explain, “The Hu family said so, I didn’t know!”
Zhao Wanwan stood with her head bowed, looking dejected.
Li Qinghe had no mind to comfort her; though she spoke little, she was the sharpest of the lot.
That afternoon she went to the pond to feed the fish. By the time she arrived Zhou Chengkang had already finished; they spent time together as before, and it felt sweet to both. When they finished and returned home, a horse-drawn carriage was parked at the gate, Madam Xu was stepping down from it. Seeing the two of them together, she was furious. “You girl! Who did you tell about your engagement?”