Chapter 119: The Mirror

  "Anyway, whether those two kids can become xiucai or not, marrying into their family will definitely bring a good life..."

  "That bunch of food is really unbelievable, even in the city, it's impossible for every household to eat like this, or they'll go bankrupt! I see that their family makes a lot of money every day, just look at how they kill a pig every day to sell, and also have fermented bean curd. Have you eaten it? It's really delicious! I thought the Zhong family had a good life, but unexpectedly tonight's dinner gave me a big shock, the kids all came back with their bellies full..."

  "Let's build another house, their family is going to have a good life ahead of them. Old man, what do you say? Should we find a matchmaker and mention it to the Zhong family?"

  "......No way, that would be too embarrassing, let's wait a bit longer, at least for another year or so, their second child is still young after all."

  "I'm not in a hurry, I just worry that there are more than one or two households in the village who have their eyes on them. Such good things, if missed, where can we find such people again? If we can marry Chunxiang into the Zhong family, I'd rather not have any betrothal gifts, as long as our daughter is doing well, what else do we old folks want? They are a honest family, and He Ashu, that mother-in-law, is also great, constantly serving dishes to Niu Xiaohua at the table... If our Chunxiang goes there, I reckon she'll have a good life too, and it's close to home..." Li Zheng's wife smiled and said: "Don't think I'm nagging, we need to take action first, what if someone else snatches them up? We can't die of regret..."

  Li Zheng thought for a moment and said, "That's also true... Ah, it's just hard to bring up the topic. Forget it, let's not call you a matchmaker. What if it doesn't work out? It would be embarrassing. Who has ever heard of the bride's family begging the groom's family to marry their daughter? You find some time to chat with He Axiu and see what she thinks. If she's interested, mention it casually. Even without a matchmaker, we can still make an agreement between our two families first, don't you think?"

  "Alright," said Rizheng's wife with a smile, "I'll go and investigate tomorrow morning..."

  Li Zheng nodded, and his wife said: "I'll get you some water to wash your hands and face first. You should get a good sleep. Drinking so much wine today will give you a headache tomorrow. I'll stay up late to skin that rabbit and marinate it for dinner tomorrow. And there are several tea eggs left over, they're really fragrant... we can't eat them tonight, let's put them in the well to keep them fresh for breakfast tomorrow..."

  "Ah, you go fetch water." Li Zheng nodded and a drowsiness slowly crept over him. He felt as if his wife had left and come back again. His face and hands felt warm and he fell asleep in a daze.

  The young woman had just finished washing his hands and feet, covered him with a quilt and came out, only to run into Chunxiang, who was startled and said: "Girl, why aren't you asleep yet?!"

  "Mother, I just overheard your conversation with Father. I didn't want to bring it up, but... I came back again. Mother, I'm a bit scared and don't want to get married so soon..."

  The mother and daughter let out a sigh of relief, and the mother smiled: "Silly girl, which family doesn't marry off their daughters? Don't worry, the Zhong family is very good, I'm thinking for your own good. If you miss this opportunity, where else can you find one? Someone will snatch it away first, and you'll regret it later! I only ask you, was the food at the Zhong's house today good or not?"

  Chunxiang nodded, her hands clenched tightly, "...it's delicious, Tuni cooks well."

  "Is the food good to eat?! You see how well-off Niu Xiaohua is now, what kind of life did she have before when she was at her mother's house? Look at what she's wearing now, everything is new, even her shoes are new, and there's a silver hairpin on her head. Don't mention the value of these things, at least He Axiu has them, she has them too. You'll pass by naturally, and you'll have them too. Their family will only get better off, and they'll only have better things...". Li Zheng's daughter spoke with a heavy heart: "Don't worry, we're all from the same village, your father is the head of the village, the Zhong family are honest people, they won't bully you. If they really do bully you, who dares to make things difficult for the head of the village's daughter?! Don't be afraid, I've thought everything through for you..."

  "...... Mother, what if someone from the Wan family doesn't agree?! Won't it be very embarrassing?!"

  The mother was taken aback for a moment, then said: "My daughter is so good, even if I don't want a dowry, I should still find her a good husband..."

  Chunxiang hung her head and didn't say anything.

  "Spring Fragrance, tell Mother, are you willing?!"

  Chun Xiang was taken aback and said, "If you're willing, then it's fine, but Mother, don't force me. If it doesn't work out, I'll end up like Niu Xiao Hua, and that would be...".

  She bit her lip, worried in her heart. Li Zheng's wife smiled and said: "Don't worry, you're not Tian Guifang, what are you worried about? Even if it doesn't work out, it's okay, just rest assured that I'll handle it well, okay? Go to sleep early, tomorrow we'll have rabbit meat to eat, and also braised eggs..."

  Chunxiang responded with a "yes" and then went back into the house.

  The children in the house went to bed early. The children who stayed by my side didn't have much to worry about, mainly because of my daughter. If she married out, it would be a lifelong matter if she didn't marry well. In any case, the determined wife and daughter were resolute in marrying Chunxiang into the family.

  They are also a perfect match for the young master of the Zhong family.

  Niu Laogen came back with a rabbit, reeking of alcohol, and Tian Guihua was taken aback. Seeing the rabbit, she slightly brightened up. Lately, Niu Laogen hadn't gone to the mountains, and their home hadn't seen meat for several days. He could go to the Zhong's house to gamble, but she could only stay at home eating vegetables, without even any oil. It was really depressing. She wanted to eat meat, but didn't dare to spend money herself, fearing Niu Laogen would scold her. Now, seeing this rabbit, she became excited and asked: "Where did this come from?!"

  “From the Zhong family...” Old Cow put down the rabbit, went to fetch water to wash his hands and face. Tian Guihua saw his matter-of-fact tone and gritted her teeth again, hearing it was from the Zhong family she was slightly stunned, but all she could think of was the Zhong family's braised meat, she really wanted to eat some, but Old Cow didn't bring any for her, nor did she dare ask, her heart had been itching for a while now. She only said: “...I thought you hunted it yourself, Old Root, why didn’t you go up the mountain this year?!”

  "Are you kidding me? You want me to go hunting in the mountains just to feed you, an old good-for-nothing?! He lazily said in a cold tone: "I'm already at this age, what if I fall and hurt myself while going up the mountain? Wouldn't that be even more of a waste of money?! Alright, from now on, if you want to eat it, just buy it..."

  Tian Guihua was heartbroken about the money, where would she be willing to spend her own money to buy it? Eating a little meat was like cutting her own flesh. She only wanted to eat the free game from the mountain, but looking at his appearance, she didn't dare say anything, and could only reluctantly shut up, secretly resentful and gritting her teeth in silence.

  The two of them were silent, the old cow house was empty without Niu Xiaohua, it was extremely cold and quiet, the atmosphere was stiff and awkward.

  The days were very busy for the Zhong family, and the next day was no exception. After lunch, Zhong Gensheng hastily left home to ask around in the village about some honest bricklayers. He planned to find a few more so that he could start building the house as soon as possible. After searching all afternoon and asking several households, he finally settled on six people. Then he went to two carpenters' homes in the same village to inquire about making furniture, and after settling on them, Zhong Gensheng returned home.

  Shen Sisi took a step forward and greeted him, saying: "Dad, how was it?!"

  Zhong Gensheng smiled and said, "It's said that tomorrow is the day, first establish the foundation structure, first lay the foundation, wait until all the green brick materials are bought back, then break ground and start work. I checked the old Huang Li, tomorrow is indeed a good day..."

  "That's great." Shen Sisi smiled and said: "Starting tomorrow, we'll have a lot of work to do."

  She took out the drawings again and said, "Tomorrow when they come, I'll explain to them how to build this house. I also want to dig a cellar, so in winter we can burn firewood and the house will be warm. And there's the problem of water, I have many things to ask about. Father, tomorrow I'll discuss it with them first, then start work, and leave out the positions that should be left, so as not to rework later..."

  "Alright, alright... " Zhong Gen Sheng wiped the sweat and smiled: "I just went to two carpenters' homes. In our village, people usually make furniture with poplar or catalpa wood. Good wood is too expensive for us villagers. Catalpa wood is common, but it's too heavy. How about poplar? It's easy to get worm-eaten though..."

  "Let's cut down some wood and soak it in the river for a few days to get rid of the bugs, then we can start working on it. After it's done, just apply a layer of tung oil and it'll be fine, Dad. Let's use poplar wood first, the locust tree is too heavy. If the poplar wood doesn't work out, we can always make new furniture later. For now, let's just make two sets... Later, when Brother gets married, he'll definitely need to make new ones anyway..."

  Shen Sisi had already thought of all this and smiled: "Two sets would be enough for each of our rooms, but the main room can't do without them. We'll also need two square tables, eight stools, and a few bamboo chairs for the courtyard... But what about beds, Dad? Are we making beds or kang?"

  "Kang?!" Zhong Gensheng was stunned, saying: "Tuniu, what do you think? The kang is expensive to heat, but it's not a solution if it's not warm in the winter..."

  "Never mind, having a dragon is not a big deal anyway. Let's make some furniture beds, but the bed can't be less, one house needs at least one, and my brothers are all grown up, they can't all squeeze on one bed, so this must be made complete. Also, in mother's room, we need to make a large wardrobe, that's almost it..." Shen Sisi smiled.

  "What about your house?!" Zhong Gensheng laughed and said: "Your house can't be missing either..."

  Shen Sisi smiled lightly and said: "Dad, I want a dresser with a mirror on it, and if we add a small wardrobe, that would be perfect..."

  "Alright," Zhong Gen Sheng didn't mind at all that An Jing was a big expense, and he agreed in one breath. Shen Si Si felt a little moved, the mother's house didn't have any, only she had one.

  Mirrors are still a luxury here, ordinary villagers just use water to take a look, and those who have mirrors at home are in very good condition, and they are small mirrors.