Chapter 35

Madam Qian cried over there, not a howl, but a low, aggrieved sob.
Li Qinghe was getting annoyed, but Zhao Wanwan stepped forward and asked quietly, “Mother, what’s wrong?”
Her stepping up was surprising; normally when the two of them fought she would bow her head and slip away.
Madam Qian cried as if in pain. Li Fu leaned back in his chair as if asleep and said nothing. Embarrassed and not sure what to do, they were jolted by the daughter’s question. Madam Qian launched into her complaint: “Your uncle wants to go to the county exams in a few days with Yanxi. Your eldest uncle is getting a daughter-in-law after the New Year and can’t come up with the money. Your grandparents are old and can’t help, either. When we went back today we tried to talk to your father and asked to borrow some silver, but…”
She couldn’t go on and buried her face on the table, sobbing harder.
Zhao Wanwan’s face went pale. “How much does uncle need?”
Madam Qian glanced at Li Qinghe. “At least five taels. If they can manage more that’s better, one step out of poverty, you know.”
Li Qinghe noticed the look and, carrying a teapot and cup, turned and went out the door. Asking her for silver? In your dreams. Besides, just look at Qian Laiwen in town, he can squander over a tael in half a day; however much was given would never be enough.
“Five taels?” Zhao Wanwan cried out, then, in a voice she fought to keep low, she heard, “What about my dowry?”
The voice was barely audible; if Li Qinghe hadn't strained to listen, she might not have heard it at all.
Does that mean Li Fu has already agreed to give five taels as a dowry?
"Your father is a real skinflint." Madam Qian saw Li Fu dozing in his chair and, suddenly furious, snapped, "It's because he won't provide a dowry for you that I said he should give it to your uncle. If your uncle passes the exam, he can put the land under his name and we'd still save on the grain tax."
Li Qinghe couldn't bear it any longer and went into the kitchen to wash the cups.
Her impression of Wanwan's uncle hadn't improved: that morning at the courtyard gate asking Madam Qian for silver, and that afternoon loitering at the town gate with an arm around a half‑dressed woman. If a man like that could pass the exams, there wouldn't be so few scholars in the world.
After Madam Qian had cried her fill and Li Fu still hadn't woken, she strode back to her room in a rage.
As dusk fell and Li Fu remained asleep, Li Qinghe thought for a moment, fetched two quilts and wrapped them around him, it would be worse if he fell ill.
While tucking the quilts, Li Qinghe lifted his hand, meaning for him to hold the quilt so it wouldn't slip, but the movement woke Li Fu. He glanced around the room, pinched his brow, and asked, "Was I asleep? Where's Aunt Qian?"
"She got angry and went to her room. She hasn't come out." Li Qinghe couldn't finish covering him and asked, "Father, will you sleep here or go back to bed?"
Li Fu waved his hand. "I'll go back to bed. You should sleep early too..." He stopped, remembered something, and asked, "Did the Zhou family say when the wedding will be?"
"Not yet."
Li Fu nodded. "No rush, it can be at the end of the year."
They'd been hounding them about the betrothal before; now he's in no hurry?
Maybe he figured no amount of urging would get them married before Zhao Wanwan.
When Hu Yanxi came that morning, he had said he wanted the wedding on the sixteenth day of the first month, and that his mother would come back the next day with the matchmaker to finalize it.
Sure enough, early the next morning Hu's mother arrived bearing gifts. Madam Qian's eyes were still a little swollen, but she smiled, accepted the presents, agreed to the date, and then spoke of the dowry: "I've prepared four quilts and four sets of clothes for Wanwan, everything she needs."
Hu's mother seemed pleased at the flattering words and glanced at the matchmaker.
The matchmaker understood and rose with a laugh. "How embarrassing, I've had too much tea. I need to step out for a moment."
Li Qinghe stood in the courtyard mending a fish pouch; their fishing net had been damaged and, busy with New Year preparations, she hadn't had time to fix it. The matchmaker came up beside her and, smiling, asked, "That's a fish pouch, right? I hear you sold a lot of fish this year and made quite a bit of silver."
"We did get a bit of silver, but you have to deduct the cost of fry and feed, and some die off, we made a little, but it's about the same as doing odd jobs," Li Qinghe said with a smile; she seemed in good spirits.
They hadn't been standing long before Mrs. Hu came out of the house, quite pleased, and smiled at Li Qinghe. "We're family from now on; you must visit each other often."
They saw them off together, then turned and found Madam Qian's smile gone. She sighed, "Demanding five taels for a dowry, your father absolutely refused. This marriage..." She shook her head. "Qinghe, Wanwan can help you mend that fish pouch. You were tired the other day; you should rest."
If she hadn't heard Madam Xu explain the background of the match, seeing Madam Qian so worried would have convinced Li Qinghe the Hu family was insisting on a dowry. Hearing her, she refused. "There's no hurry to use it. I'm only mending it because I have nothing else to do."
Silence followed and the atmosphere grew awkward. Li Qinghe went about her tasks as if she hadn't noticed. Li Fu came out and said, "All of you come in, I have something to say."
As soon as they entered, they saw five taels of silver on the table. Zhao Wanwan kept stealing glances; Madam Qian beamed, reached for the pastries the Hu family had brought, picked one up and handed it to Li Fu. "Taste it and tell me how it is."
Li Fu didn't take it. He pointed at the five taels of small silver on the table. "I'd already planned it: two girls, five taels each for a dowry, divide it between you. In a few days it's Wanwan's wedding; I'll see you off when the time comes, and that will settle the measure of affection between us as father and daughter."
He looked at Li Qinghe. "Keep yours yourself, prepare your own dowry when the time comes, and don't complain it's too little."
Madam Qian and her daughter were stunned. So they only had half of that silver?
Quickly recovering, Madam Qian pinched the pastry and looked at the silent Li Qinghe. "Qinghe, you have ten acres of land and the money you made selling fish, you shouldn't be short of five taels, right?"
It seemed it had been prepared in advance: four full coins and two smaller pieces. Before Madam Qian finished, Li Qinghe reached out and took her half. "No matter the amount, it's Father's intention. Thank you, Father."
Li Fu waved his hand and admonished, "You must all live well from now on."
"Qinghe, you don't lack this silver, could you lend it to Wanwan? She'll pay you back," Madam Qian urged. "Everyone has hard times. You two sisters should be looking out for one another..."
"This is Father's intention," Li Qinghe emphasized. "You took my father; now you want to take this as well?"
"No one is to lay a hand on that money!" Li Fu looked at Madam Qian with a stern warning. "Even Wanwan's share is not to be touched. If I find out her money didn't reach her, don't blame me for going to the Qian house to get it back."
It was almost an outright order not to give it to the Qian family; having her intentions exposed, Madam Qian grew angrier. "My parents raised me; now I've married you and take care of you, can't you help ease their burdens?"
Li Fu furrowed his brow. "Why can't you understand? Marrying you didn't stop you from receiving your betrothal gifts, as parents, they've already received two sets for one daughter; they should be satisfied. How much I give them out of filial piety is my affair, they won't be asking me for more."
At the mention of two betrothal gifts, Madam Qian's face went pale. "You blame me? How did the two gifts come about? I wanted them to accept only one, but it was your Li family who refused! After that... I didn't beg you to marry me, and now you humiliate me like this in front of the children..." Unable to continue, she flung the pastry at Li Fu, covered her face and ran out. They heard her go through the neighboring door and slam it shut.
Zhao Wanwan was so frightened she kept her head down and didn't dare utter a word; she even drew back the hand that had reached for the silver.
Li Fu scowled as he brushed pastry crumbs from his clothes. Seeing her so cautious, he softened his tone, picked up the silver, and pressed it into her hand. "Keep it for yourself. Your mother... in her eyes no one matters more than her younger son. You're grown now, you have to look out for yourself..."
After the New Year, once the fifth day had passed, the villagers began going out to the fields to clear weeds and wait for warmer weather to sow. Li Qinghe had already opened her plot last year and planned to plant again this year, but she didn't intend to keep reclaiming land. She and Zhou Chengkang would clear a patch inside the enclosure they planned for the chickens and build a coop so the birds would have shelter if it rained.
Cutting weeds was tiring, especially on this kind of wasteland. While they paused for tea, Zhou Chengkang glanced around and said, "We should put up a little hut, live here to keep an eye on the chickens and the fish."
Li Qinghe actually began to consider it; theft was rare, but if a whole flock of chickens were left unattended, someone might be tempted.
So they added one more task: building a small shelter for someone to stay in, midway between the pond and the plot.
The field had only just started to take shape when it was time for Zhao Wanwan's wedding. No matter how busy they were, they had to make time these two days. It was lively early on; in fact the Qian family had come the day before, but Li Fu had been especially busy, sweeping the front and back yards and even fixing the door. The Qians left the reception to Madam Qian, and Li Qinghe, on her own, didn't push forward.
The next morning many people arrived. In truth giving away a daughter is never as rowdy as bringing home a bride, but Li Qinghe still went to the kitchen to chop vegetables and left the hospitality to Madam Qian. Her own daughter was getting married, even if she was annoyed, she put a smile on her face.
By late morning, Hu Yanxi was escorted in by a group of young men, all polite and well dressed in blue robes, likely his classmates. Qian Laiwen was among them, and they made merry as they led the bride away.
After the procession left, the feast outside began. Madam Qian wiped her eyes as she watched the sedan chair disappear, and Li Fu stood for a long while, feeling a touch of melancholy.
There should have been two young women to see Zhao Wanwan off, but Madam Qian fetched two from her own family and didn't ask Li Qinghe to go. Li Qinghe didn't step forward either; watching the sedan chair go, she just wanted to wait until the guests finished and left so she could clean the yard.
With Zhao Wanwan gone, Li Qinghe wondered whether Madam Qian's habit of shirking work would change at all.
An hour later, the villagers had finished eating, helped clear and wash the dishes, and taken their things as they left. By the time most were gone, the yard was left with only tables and a carpet of sunflower seed shells.
Madam Qian clutched her chest. "I feel ill, I'm going to lie down." With that she staggered into the house.
In the yard, Yu Yan had stayed until the end. Seeing Li Qinghe's exasperated expression, she couldn't help a sidelong glance and, drawing close, lowered her voice with a smile, "They didn't really leave you to do it alone, did they? I'll help."
Just then Li Fu came in from outside, he'd been returning something, and saw only the two girls with brooms. Scanning the yard and not finding Madam Qian, he frowned. "Where's your Aunt Qian?"