Chapter 7

Li Qinghe finished pouring the tea, then turned to look at the woman behind her, a woman of about forty, deep lines already etched into her brow. Beside her sat a simple boy of thirteen or fourteen; when his eyes met Li Qinghe's he hurriedly dropped his head, his dark face flushing red.
Madam You's expression didn't change. Catching sight of her own son's look, she beamed. "Uncle, it's not like that. You must be more eager about a child's marriage. My Laiman will be fourteen after the New Year; if we fix the match now, by next New Year he'll be fifteen and ready to marry."
"Our Qinghe isn't in any hurry." The town chief lifted his teacup and sipped slowly.
If the earlier remark had been somewhat veiled, this one made it plain that he would not agree to the match.
Madam You paused, then glanced toward the corner at Zhao Wanwan. "Wanwan, where's your mother?"
Zhao Wanwan hurried off at once.
Madam You smiled brightly. "Uncle, I think these two children suit each other very well. You must care about their marriages, if a good time slips by, the fine youngsters will be taken and that would only harm our child."
Those words put the marriage squarely on the table; the town chief frowned.
Madam You wasn't finished. "My Laiman has been apprenticed in town learning carpentry for five years. His master says another year or two and he'll be fully trained. To be honest, the Yangs in town have shown interest and have sent people to ask."
Li Qinghe glanced at Qian Laiman in surprise, the Yang family in town was only Yang Lanrou's, and she hadn't expected the two families to be linked like that.
"No, no." Qian Laiman waved helplessly and hurried to explain, "My master and the Yangs don't get along; that match could never happen."
Madam You shot him a look of frustrated disappointment, then with some pride said, "Not just the Yangs, many on my side have been asking. If it weren't for your sister, this would have been settled long ago."
From Madam You's manner it wasn't empty boasting; she genuinely thought Li Qinghe was making a good match.
Indeed, skilled craftsmen were a popular choice for many girls, second only to scholars; Madam You had reason to be proud. Only... Li Qinghe had no desire to marry up.
Especially since Madam You was actually younger than Madam Qian, and Qian Laiman, apprenticing in town, had room and board and even a little pay, yet Madam You didn't look very at ease; she wore a strained expression, showing how hard things were at home. And the money?
No pile of silver could make up for two scholarly suitors!
Li Qinghe smiled pleasantly and really meant it when she said, "Then I wish aunt an early match with a fine daughter-in-law."
At that moment the town chief couldn't refuse, since Li Qinghe herself had declined, it was reasonable.
Madam You's face fell. She sprang up, grabbed Qian Laiman and rushed out so hastily she tripped over the threshold, cursing loudly, "Ungrateful creature, I ought to cut him down!"
Out in the yard they ran into Madam Qian coming from the kitchen. Madam You vented her anger, "Sister, we couldn't possibly be reaching that high." Then, ignoring Madam Qian's calls, she hurried out of the gate.
Madam Qian chased to the doorway. Watching them go, she turned and fixed a reproachful look on Li Qinghe.
Li Qinghe raised a hand to stop her scolding. "Don't speak. From now on, you won't meddle in my marriage."
The town chief was still there, and Madam Qian's eyes immediately reddened. "When I came, you were sensible, and I don't think I've treated you badly all these years. Now I'm trying to arrange a match for you..."
Li Qinghe, already impatient, turned to the town chief. "Third Uncle, I'll see you back."
The town chief didn't move. "Where's your father?"
Li Qinghe shook her head. With the autumn harvest approaching, "Perhaps he's out checking the crops."
The town chief snorted, stepped out, and shot Madam Qian a glare. "I'll come again tonight to talk to him properly. From now on he must form his own opinions, he can't just listen to the women."
Li Qinghe turned and went inside.
Madam Qian's face went a sickly pale, and Zhao Wanwan shrank into the corner, afraid to speak. Madam Qian poured out all her anger at her, abandoning any gentle facade and demanded loudly, "Someone as good as Laiman and you won't accept him, surely you don't actually want to go to the Zhou family?"
Li Qinghe didn’t turn back. “Is that any of your business?”, which was basically an admission. In her mind, she saw Zhou Chengkang from her previous life, collapsing in grief before her grave, crying so hard he couldn’t even stand.
From behind came the sound of a horse neighing, very close. Li Qinghe instinctively turned her head and saw Zhou Chengkang on horseback, his face flushed red. He looked overjoyed, yet a bit at a loss. “I… I just got here,” he said, then quickly added, “I didn’t hear anything.”
From the look of him, he had clearly heard everything.
Li Qinghe: “…”
In her previous life, she hadn’t known about his feelings for her until the day she got married. She had even planned to see how long he could keep it bottled up. Besides, what she had just said didn’t really count as agreeing.
Meeting her gaze, Zhou Chengkang felt his face burn even hotter. “Brother Cha has already been sent back. It’s getting late, I should go.” With a flick of the whip, he quickly disappeared.
Li Qinghe: “…” He ran off pretty fast! Let’s see how long you can hold it in.
Madam Qian frowned and dropped the topic of marriage. “There were guests at home just now, I didn’t get the chance to ask, where did you spend your money?”
“None of your business.” Li Qinghe shut her down with a single sentence.
Madam Qian’s face turned pale with anger. “You live in this house, don’t you eat?”
“Oh? Finally stopped pretending to be a loving mother?” Li Qinghe sized her up, curiosity evident in her eyes. “Didn’t you say you treat me like your own daughter? If Wanwan and I are the same, then why don’t I see you asking her for money?”
Hearing that, Zhao Wanwan quickly slipped away.
Li Qinghe glanced at her. The girl wasn’t bad, she had no intention of targeting her. Instead, she turned back and asked, “This house can’t tolerate me anymore, so you want to marry me off?”
Madam Qian’s face darkened, looking extremely unpleasant as she turned her head away.
“No answer means yes.” Li Qinghe stepped inside, saying lazily, “Too bad this is my home. If I don’t want to leave, no one can force me out.”