Chapter 28

It seemed the Hu family hadn't given up trying to squeeze money out of Hu Yanxi's wife's family. It was odd, though, no one understood why they'd suddenly decided they didn't want the land after all.
Li Qinghe spread out the fabric, only the last two hems remained. If she concentrated, two or three days would finish it.
“How is that the same?” Mrs. Hu said with a meaningful tone. “Yanxi is the most talented of the teacher's pupils; the teacher himself said that if any of his students were to become a xiucai, it would surely be our Yanxi. I'm not making this up, ask Qian Laiwen if you don't believe me. Our household is in trouble now, but didn't we still keep our promise to come with a proposal? Helping others helps ourselves, if Yanxi succeeds and gains a title, your Li family will benefit too. For one thing, the land could be put under Yanxi's name and you wouldn't have to pay grain taxes, that's a real, tangible benefit.”
All Li Qinghe heard was Mrs. Hu's smug voice: “Five taels of silver now could save a lifetime of grain taxes, wouldn't that be worth it?”
Madam Qian looked pleased. “The teacher really said that?” She was clearly wavering.
“No.” Li Fu refused outright.
“Why not?” Madam Qian pressed, growing anxious. “That silver will pay off later, people won't remember you. If someone is unfilial and always snapping at people, can you really count on them?”
Li Qinghe, who usually spoke sharp enough to sting, thought: “...So I'm not to be relied on? But I never expected to pilfer Li Fu's purse!”
Madam Qian truly couldn't expect her to look after things, but Li Fu wouldn't skimp on showing proper respect.
Li Fu's voice came again. “Anyway, no. Qinghe is the elder sister; whatever dowry we prepare for her, Wanwan will receive the same. They're both my daughters, I love them equally, without favoritism.”
Madam Qian's eyes reddened.
Mrs. Hu took the moment to take her leave. “Then the marriage is settled. As for the dowry, discuss it among yourselves. We, of course, hope you'll lend a hand, but if you truly can't... we won't force you.”
Li Qinghe only opened the door after she heard the footsteps fade and Madam Qian calling them to visit when they had the time.
Li Fu saw them to the gate and, turning, noticed Li Qinghe standing under the eaves. “When did you come back?”
Li Qinghe glanced at the bashful Zhao Wanwan. “When you mentioned the five taels of dowry.”
Zhao Wanwan was genuinely pleased; even if the dowry couldn't be settled right away, the marriage had been agreed, sooner or later she'd be married into the family.
Hearing this, Li Fu felt awkward. “I said that in front of you: your dowries will be the same. Whatever bride price they give, I'll prepare that much dowry. If you add more, Wanwan will get more too.”
Madam Qian was already wiping her eyes, leaning against the kitchen doorway and sniffling now and then.
Seeing her like that, Li Qinghe smiled at Li Fu. “Father, I have ten acres of land; you don't need to add anything. Just let the Zhou family's bride price be used as my dowry when the time comes. If you have spare silver, it's better to keep it, it's more reliable to have money in your own hands, isn't it?”
Madam Qian bristled. “What do you mean?”
Li Qinghe shrugged. “Speaking plainly, your brother lent Wanwan some silver the other day, at least a tael or so, right? If that could be returned to give to Wanwan, wouldn't that be better?”
At that, Madam Qian fell silent and went into the kitchen to wash the cups.
Although Li Fu didn't like Li Qinghe constantly sparring with Madam Qian, her last remark had a comforting effect.
Between the lines, Madam Qian had been trying to get him to put up some silver. Zhao Wanwan said nothing, but her failure to refuse made her position clear. At that moment Li Qinghe didn't seize the chance to squeeze him; instead she urged him to keep some money for himself, which struck him as considerate.
“It's so hot, don't stand out there,” Li Fu warned, then went inside, quickly changed into a patched old shirt, came out holding a knife. “I'm going to the fields.”
Madam Qian didn't come out; she answered from the kitchen.
Li Qinghe hurriedly grabbed the nearly half-full teapot she had left and ran after him to hand it over so he wouldn't have to carry tea out in the sun later.
Being brought the tea by his daughter made Li Fu feel even more cared for; his face softened. “Don't argue with your Aunt Qian, she just talks too much.”
Calling Madam Qian a chatterbox, was that a complaint?
Li Qinghe replied casually. She didn't really want a fight either; ordinarily Madam Qian wouldn't provoke her and they had gotten along well for years. It was only since she'd come home, seeing each other morning and night, that friction had started. She said plainly, “If she doesn't bother me, I won't pay her any mind.”
When Li Qinghe got home, she found Zhao Wanwan cleaning the main room where guests had just been entertained; Madam Qian was drying cups. Seeing her come in, she sneered, "Oh? Our girl who doesn't ask for a dowry, how thoughtful of her to let that be known."
Li Qinghe crossed her arms. "Feeling awkward, are you?"
Zhao Wanwan stepped out from the room. "Sister, don't argue. The dowry will be handled the way Father wants."
Li Fu had changed his mind for that mother and daughter more than once. At Zhao Wanwan's words, Madam Qian's expression softened a bit; she snorted and went back inside.
Zhao Wanwan glanced at her. "Sister, if Father does give me the dowry, we can treat it as a loan, we'll definitely pay it back."
Today she wore pink, joy written across her brows and eyes; the wooden hairpin she had once been given was slanted in her hair, powder and penciled brows making her look a touch more refined.
Li Qinghe raised an eyebrow. "As long as your conscience's clear."
Although the Hu family had made a small engagement, they hadn't planned to come help with the autumn harvest. Instead, Zhou Chengkang came every day; it took seven or eight days to finish reaping the wheat, then they started threshing and turning it to dry. It rained a few times during that period, but the showers passed quickly and didn't spoil the grain. After nearly a month of hard work, the wheat was finally stored in the granary.
With the grain stored, the farm households breathed easier. The lazier ones rested; the industrious either took on odd jobs or went back to weed the fields.
Li Qinghe also began clearing weeds, planning to open some plots to try planting. She intended to fence off a patch to raise chickens, there was so much land that clearing it all would be a huge job.
Once the Zhou family's grain finished drying, Zhou Chengkang stayed and helped Li Qinghe clear the land. They hadn't been at it long when the Eldest Brother Zhou brother's wedding day arrived.
When there's a wedding in the village, nearby neighbors and close families make time to help. Take Li Fu, for example, he used to be distant and came or not as he pleased; now that someone's getting married, not going would be unthinkable.
The Eldest Brother Zhou brother marrying brought a celebration that, to both the family and outsiders, felt a bit off. After all, he's taking a widow for a wife, people might say unkind things.
What made it worse was that the widow would be bringing her mother-in-law with her... Fortunately it was the Zhou family; anyone else would surely refuse. Since it was Brother Zhou's first marriage, it made him look like he was settling for someone, which seemed unfortunate for him.
But he didn't see it that way. Dressed in red, he cheerfully led the jeering crowd to Liu Village to fetch the bride.
Li Qinghe didn't go early; the busiest time was when they brought the bride back. She was outside in the yard turning and airing quilts when someone called to her.
Rounding to the front yard she saw Li Qingmiao standing at her gate. "Qinghe, when are you going?"
The two were about the same age and already familiar, and they would soon be sisters-in-law. Li Qinghe smiled as she came out. "What made you think of finding me?"
"Don't be shy." Li Qingmiao smiled. "Someone will be teasing us in a bit."
That was normal, when the elder child married, people naturally teased the younger ones. Most of it was good-natured; it passed with a laugh.
From a distance Li Qingmiao saw many people in the Zhou yard and asked curiously, "I wonder what kind of person this sister-in-law is."
"I don't know," Li Qinghe said casually. "What are you worried about? You still live at your mother's, you won't have to live with her."
"I'm asking for you. Just because I won't live with her, does that mean you won't?" Li Qingmiao lowered her voice. "I heard from Second Brother that they'll build two rooms before winter, that's definitely for you."
Li Qinghe teased her, "Second Brother told you that?"
Li Qingmiao blushed, paused, and lowered her voice. "Did you quietly ask about the bride-price? They say the woman coming in today only accepted the small engagement, not the formal betrothal gift. My side doesn't need the Zhou family to provide a bride-price, but on your side..."