Chapter 24

Li Qinghe was a little hungry but didn't want to eat next door, after all, Zhao Wanwan's fiancé was there and she wanted to avoid suspicion. So she went to the kitchen and found two steamed buns by the pot and a plate with most of a pile of greens and a few pieces of meat, Madam Qian and the others had already prepared things for her.
She picked up the plate intending to take it back to her room to eat.
Passing the main room she heard Mrs. Hu say, "…since we're here, I agree with you, let's settle the marriage quickly."
Before Madam Qian could reply she continued, "But the betrothal gifts and the dowry need to be discussed carefully."
She paused, and soon Zhao Wanwan and Hu Yanxi came out of the room one after the other. Seeing Li Qinghe with the plate, Wanwan grew a little nervous and, intentionally or not, blocked Hu Yanxi's view. "Sister, are you taking that back to your room to eat?"
Li Qinghe acknowledged with a hum, gave a brief nod to Hu Yanxi who was looking at her, and went inside. Behind her Zhao Wanwan's gentle voice said, "This is my sister Qinghe. She was betrothed a few days ago to the Zhou family over there. My parents weren't keen, but she loves Fourth Brother Zhou and insisted on settling it, I suppose it's a case of lovers finally becoming spouses."
Normally a sister would offer a brief introduction; instead Wanwan went on at length, which only made it seem calculated.
Hearing this, Li Qinghe got a clearer sense of Wanwan's intentions: every word served to assert that she was betrothed and deeply in love with her fiancé. It also showed Wanwan's lack of confidence in herself.
She had no mind to pay attention to the pair outside, but then heard Madam Qian next door ask, "How are we to negotiate this dowry?"
"I heard your eldest daughter's dowry was more than ten acres of land plus a pond?" Mrs. Hu's voice asked.
Li Qinghe paused mid-bite, now they were coming for the land?
She didn't bother to listen to Li Fu and Madam Qian's explanations next door; she focused on her meal. After eating she still had to make clothes, these were for Zhou Chengkang. He had helped so much and refused any reward; now that they were betrothed, it was proper to give him a gift.
When she had finished and taken the plate back to the kitchen and came out again, she happened upon the Hu mother and son as they were taking their leave. Mrs. Hu gave her a once-over and said, "You're Qinghe, right?"
Li Qinghe stopped. "Auntie, hello. You're leaving already? Won't you stay a little longer?"
Mrs. Hu waved a hand. "No, it's harvest time and your family is busy. We'd feel bad holding you up."
"It won't hold you up; there's always someone at home," Madam Qian came out of the house and said with a smile. "Sister, you could stay a bit longer. Wait until the sun goes down so we can talk some more."
Mrs. Hu waved her hand. "All right, then."
After the mother and son left, Li Fu grabbed his knife and went back into the fields.
Zhao Wanwan began clearing the dishes while Madam Qian stood under the eaves with her arms folded, her face heavy. "Are you satisfied now?"
That question was directed at Li Qinghe.
Abrupt as it was, Li Qinghe understood her meaning. "My marriage has been arranged. If you and I are satisfied, what's wrong with that?"
Madam Qian bristled with anger. "It's only ten acres of uncultivated hillside, and everyone's making a fuss. Now everyone knows the Li daughter is bringing ten acres as her dowry!" By the end her tone was thick with sarcasm.
Li Qinghe refused to give her the satisfaction and raised an eyebrow. "Even wasteland is worth a dozen or so taels of silver."
Madam Qian was momentarily at a loss but shot back, "A young lady not yet married, any silver she earns ought to be at the elders' discretion."
So she finally caught on?
When Madam Qian first had designs on that silver, Li Qinghe immediately ran and used it to buy the land deed. Afterward she busied herself cleaning the fish pond and buying fingerlings, and never really argued with Li Fu or Madam Qian about who the land belonged to.
Leaning against the wall, Li Qinghe said, "What, you want to take my land back? Don't say I won't agree. If you want the land now, you'd better ask the Zhou family if they'll agree. Besides, I won't give my land to anyone. Best to let go of that idea now!"
Zhao Wanwan went pale. "Mother, what did Aunt Hu say?"
Madam Qian replied irritably, "They want half the wasteland, or else the pond. Only then will the match go through."
"Ah!" Zhao Wanwan covered her mouth. "How could they... that land belongs to my sister."
As she spoke, she stole a few glances toward Li Qinghe.
Li Qinghe ignored their little schemes. She was willing to have her help with cooking and cleaning, but giving up the land, whether to Zhao Wanwan or anyone else, was out of the question!
She stepped inside to continue sewing. As evening fell, Li Fu returned carrying bundles of wheat, which he laid out in the yard.
When villagers harvested wheat they brought it back with the stalks attached, a bit more trouble, but once threshed the stalks could be used for firewood, saving them a trip to cut wood. As dusk deepened, Li Fu set out again, likely to make another run under cover of night. Li Qinghe dropped her needle and thread and ran after him. "Father, I'll come too."
Li Fu did not refuse; he nodded.
The two were quiet on the walk until Li Fu spoke first. "Today the Hu family said they want half your land for Wanwan's dowry, or else the pond. Only then will the marriage go ahead."
She made a small sound of acknowledgment.
Li Fu walked ahead and after a moment said, "If you ask me, it's better the match doesn't happen. Your land is still yours. If Aunt Qian brings it up, just pretend you don't know."
This was surprising, after all, between Li Qinghe and Madam Qian, Li Fu had always sided with his childhood sweetheart; when had he ever cared about his daughter?
Li Qinghe was so taken aback she couldn't hide it. Li Fu turned, saw her expression, and with some displeasure said, "You're my only child, am I going to steal from you?"
"But you tried to take my silver before." Li Qinghe wouldn't let that pass.
Li Fu insisted, "I was safeguarding it for you, not taking it."
"I was worried the silver would end up with a courtesan," Li Qinghe argued. "Did Qian Laiwen ever give his silver back?"
It was like tossing meat buns to a dog, once given, they never came back, and they'd always take more.
Li Fu cleared his throat awkwardly. "I didn't promise that. Do you think I'd go around handing your silver to others?"
With Li Fu saying that, Li Qinghe felt better. She had resolved not to split the land, but if Li Fu were persuaded by Madam Qian, an argument would be a headache.
She picked up a small bundle of wheat, waiting for Li Fu to shoulder his so they could return together. As he finished binding his, they saw someone approaching in the dim night. As the figure drew nearer, Li Qinghe recognized Zhou Chengkang and smiled, "What brings you here?"
Zhou Chengkang stepped up. "I'm here to help carry a couple loads." Then he apologized to Li Fu, "Uncle Li, sorry about that, our household's been busy too."
Li Fu nodded. "That's fine, tend to your own first."
That wasn't treating Zhou Chengkang like an outsider; it meant he was expected to pitch in.
And just his attitude fired Zhou Chengkang up; full of energy he hoisted Li Fu's bundle and said, "I'll do another run," then hurried off.
Li Qinghe was left dumbfounded.
Li Fu watched with a grin and went back to binding more bundles, not forgetting to praise, "Don't let his poverty fool you, people like him are the most reliable for making a living."
Li Qinghe stepped forward to help stack them. "What about the Hu family?"
"The Hu family," Li Fu sighed. "They look down on us, look down on Wanwan. Not a good match. They've been proud too soon. If you ask me, let them be proud after they've passed the exams."
Li Qinghe couldn't help but retort, "Even if they pass the exams, why would they want Wanwan then?"
Li Fu fell silent a moment. "They already don't think she's a match. Them coming today is probably because they heard about your dowry, they want a slice of it."
"I will never give land to Wanwan," she said earnestly. "I worked myself to the bone for the silver to buy the land. You don't know, that time when Wanwan and I went to town early, we came across Young Master Xu being beaten into the ground, Wanwan didn't even step forward; she hurried me away home."
So if it had been Wanwan who'd encountered him, she probably would have run, she wouldn't have rushed in to help.
Hearing this, Li Fu was silent, then after a long moment said, "Honestly I was surprised you risked yourself to save him. I suspected you had feelings for Young Master Xu; I saw a little of that. But risking your life..." He shook his head. "When the Xu family hinted at a possible match, I thought you might go along with it."
Li Qinghe caught sight of Zhou Chengkang rushing up and said, deadpan, "I was just standing up for what's right."
Seeing Zhou Chengkang now close at hand, Li Fu smiled and shook his head. "He's here, perfect timing, we've just finished binding this side."
The three of them returned to the village together. Li Fu never brought up Xu Changjie again; it had been a long time since his last injury, and there had been no news of him, he was likely at home recuperating.