This morning’s mess had dragged on for hours, delaying their meal. While arguing, Lin Yue hadn’t felt hungry, but now that his mood had relaxed, his stomach was growling loudly.

Lin Yue instructed Lin Yang to put the rice on to cook while he carried the vegetable basket out to the courtyard to wash the greens. After rinsing them, he headed to the vegetable patch to snip some scallions and cilantro before returning to the kitchen to start stir-frying.

Knowing his parents wouldn’t have much appetite today, and pressed for time, Lin Yue skipped complicated dishes. He whipped up a few quick stir-fries and added some pickled cabbage as a side—hopefully something to whet their appetites.

With the meal ready, Lin Yue turned to call Lin Yang, “Go get Mom and Dad for dinner. See if there are any leftovers from the pastries, too—bring them over if there are. They won’t taste good if they sit out too long.”

“Got it, bro. Be careful not to burn yourself carrying the dishes,” Lin Yang replied, promptly scooping the soup from the stove onto the table before running out to fetch them.

The Lin family dinner table was much quieter than usual today. Lin Yue ate while stealing glances at his parents from the edge of his bowl. He couldn’t shake the feeling that dark clouds hung over their heads—the kind that threatened a downpour.

Lin Yue felt a bit troubled. Would his parents get stomachaches from eating while so upset?

Logically, with the engagement going wrong like this, it should be his parents comforting him. Of course, he didn’t feel he needed comforting himself, but the family probably needed someone to comfort. And right now, his parents looked like they needed it badly.

Lin Yue pondered for a moment. The best way to comfort his parents right now might be if someone else came to propose immediately. Unfortunately, that wasn’t realistic. He’d have to rely on himself—the master of changing the subject.

“Father, Mother, what are we doing this afternoon? Going to the fields again?”

Zhou Wenlan paused. She’d planned to finish the engagement formalities this morning, rest at home in the afternoon, and then organize the prepared dowry. But now that the marriage had fallen through, she wasn’t ready to go out just yet.

Most villagers were decent folk. When a family faced hardship, neighbors would lend a hand—rarely would anyone take advantage of their misfortune. As for the less serious gossip about family matters, that was simply the village’s after-dinner conversation. Under the old tree by the village bridge, wherever people gathered, whispers could be heard. Zhou Wenlan still remembered how last year, the Zhang family’s ger marrying a widower had been the subject of gossip for nearly a year. Now it was her family’s turn.

“I won’t be going. I’ll stay home this afternoon. We still need to process the bean stalks we brought in earlier. Let’s chop them up and stack them today. Then we’ll dig out the well-rotted manure from the pigsty to prepare for planting rice in a few days.”

Talking about the chores to be done perked Zhou Wenlan right up. “After lunch, you and your brother go chop the bean stalks. Your father and I will dig out the manure. That way, you won’t have to deal with the smell.”

Lin Yue wrinkled his nose. “Got it. Do we have to chop it all today? I was thinking of washing the clothes I changed out of yesterday.”

“Do as much as you can. Don’t go out today—wash them tomorrow.” Zhou Wenlan set her bowl on the table and added, “Your father just sharpened the chopper. Both of you, be careful not to cut yourselves.”

Lin Yang, who had been eating silently, suddenly piped up, “Don’t worry, Mother. I’ll keep an eye on my brother.”

Lin Yue snorted. “You? Watch me? Last time I told you to slow down, you wouldn’t listen. You ended up with a huge gash on your hand.”

“I only cut myself once. How long do you plan to hold that against me? Besides, it’s precisely because I hurt myself that I need to watch you.”

“Just a few years, maybe. I’ll forget about it once you stop being so reckless.”

“Yeah, right, you’re just lying again.” Lin Yang finished his bowl in two bites, rolled up his sleeves, and wiped his mouth. “Dad, Mom, I’ll go get the bean stalks out. You two take your time.”

Only after wiping did Lin Yang realize his mistake. He immediately jumped up and dashed outside, expecting another scolding from his brother. Sure enough,

“I told you not to wipe your mouth with your sleeves! It’s unsanitary. Where’s your handkerchief?”

“I’ll remember next time, Brother. I’m off.”

Seeing Lin Yang dart out, Lin Yue stopped scolding him. He got up to clear the tableware before following his parents to the backyard to work.

━━━━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━━━━

Early the next morning, Lin Yue was sound asleep when he was jolted awake by a clatter and banging outside.

Pulling the quilt over his head, Lin Yue grumbled silently. Who on earth was making such a racket this early? After muttering his complaints, he rolled over to try sleeping again. But the noise grew louder, sounding as if it were right at their doorstep.

Lin Yue thought he even heard the door open. His mother must have been woken up, too. Well, might as well go see what the fuss is about. He couldn’t sleep anyway.

With that thought, Lin Yue’s morning grouchiness vanished. He dressed, tied his hair back, and stepped outside. The courtyard gate stood half-open, and his mother was standing beside it.

“Mother, what’s going on outside? Why is it so loud?”

Just as Zhou Wenlan turned her head, the person outside peered through the door crack. “Oh, so this is Young Ger, Yue! What a handsome boy—fair-skinned and so rare to find.”

As the person spoke, the noise outside grew louder. Lin Yue recognized it as the sound of gongs and drums. He had initially wondered if this person might be a matchmaker, but now he dismissed that thought. What matchmaker would arrive at a doorstep accompanied by two musicians?

But this woman knew his name and was smiling broadly. Lin Yue could only lift the corners of his mouth in a smile. “Thank you, Auntie. Is there something you need? Why don’t you come in and sit down?”

After asking, he instinctively glanced at his mother. He saw Zhou Wenlan signaling him to go inside. Could she really be a matchmaker? Lin Yue’s smile froze on his face. He turned and slipped into the house, slamming the door shut with a bang.

Matchmaker Li’s smile remained unchanged. “Young lady, shall we talk inside? Though my visit today is a bit abrupt, this man is absolutely sincere.”

Zhou Wenlan nodded and stepped aside, inviting, “Please come in, sister. Have these two young men come in and rest, too.”

Matchmaker Li’s smile broadened. “Oh, that’s wonderful.”

Zhou Wenlan watched her hesitate, a flicker of confusion crossing her eyes. “What’s this…”

Matchmaker Li took a step back, flicked her handkerchief, and the two drum-beaters resumed their performance. Glancing sideways at the onlookers, she announced loudly: Today I’ve come at the request of Scholar Shen from Linshui Village to propose a match. This Scholar Shen passed the tongsheng exams years ago and is set to take the Xiucai exams this year. As the saying goes, ‘settle down before building a career.’ He’s sent me to ask for the hand of the young ger from the Lin family.”

She paused here, deliberately slowing her speech and raising her voice: “Mr. Shen specifically emphasized that securing this match would be a blessing beyond measure. He also said that if the Lin family disapproves of him, it would only prove his own inadequacy—that he is unworthy of Lin-ger.”

That voice, that tone, that grand display—truly worth the two hundred-odd wen she’d collected. More onlookers gathered outside.

“He came to propose at the crack of dawn? That’s awfully early. First time I’ve seen it.”

“You’re right. Could it be they heard about the commotion at the Lin household yesterday?”

“Who knows? But I’d say it’s quite possible. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be such a coincidence.”

“From New Year’s to the end of February, there must have been three suitors at the Lin household. It only stopped after the Shang family was settled in March. Who’d have thought that just yesterday it fell through, and today another suitor arrives?”

“Yesterday, when I went to wash clothes, I even heard someone say Yue-ger probably wouldn’t find a husband. I almost believed it…”

Madam Li, the matchmaker, listened to the chatter and felt secretly pleased. She’d always said there was nothing she couldn’t handle. Look at it now—Young Master Lin’s reputation was restored in an instant. The extra fee she’d collected was well deserved.

She immediately beamed and said, “Sister, let’s go inside now.”

Zhou Wenlan stared in disbelief, taking a long moment to recover before ushering the three guests into the house.

The commotion at the door had drawn Lin Yuan and his son out. Seeing Zhou Wenlan escorting the three guests toward the main hall, Lin Yuan gave a nod before instructing his son to hurry and serve tea.

Lin Yang dashed to the kitchen to splash water on his face, then hurried back with a tray to pour tea, adding a plate of melon seeds.

When he brought the tray into the main hall, he intended to sit and listen, but Zhou Wenlan waved him away. Lin Yang pouted. Fine, if he couldn’t listen, he’d go find his brother.

“Brother, are you up yet?”

Lin Yue opened a crack in the door and whispered, “Are they in the main hall?”

“Yeah, Mother’s talking with them.”

Lin Yue hesitated about going out but ultimately decided against it. “Bring me a basin of water. I just got up and bumped into them—I didn’t even have time to wash my face.”

Lin Yang chuckled twice before replying, “Alright, wait for me.”

While the brothers spoke, Lin Yuan also entered the main hall. Inside, Matchmaker Li was still exchanging pleasantries with Zhou Wenlan. Seeing everyone present, she cleared her throat without further delay. “My apologies for the abruptness today. Scholar Shen urged me to come early, insisting I arrive without fail. That’s why I’m here so early.”

Zhou Wenlan smiled softly. “No trouble at all. May I ask who this Scholar Shen is?”

Recalling Scholar Shen’s instructions, she hesitated before speaking. “If it’s convenient, perhaps Young Ger Lin could join us too. Though this match is arranged by parents and matchmakers, the child’s approval matters as well, doesn’t it?”

Zhou Wenlan wanted to agree, but hesitated, mindful of the two unfamiliar men seated nearby. Her words came out haltingly, “It’s not that it’s inconvenient, it’s just…”

Matchmaker Li followed her gaze and quickly offered a solution, “Perhaps your youngest son could take these two young men for a walk outside? Or they could sit in the kitchen for a while.”

“Certainly, certainly. Then please join me in the kitchen to rest your feet.”

Zhou Wenlan rose and walked to the doorway. Spotting her two children crouched in the corner whispering, she shot them a stern glare. “Lin Yang, fetch the water from inside.”

Lin Yue scurried back the moment his mother’s gaze fell on him, leaving only Lin Yang still crouched there, dazed.

Lin Yang nearly got his head smacked by his brother, shutting the door. Normally, this would spark a fight between the two, but not now.

“Coming right up.”

Once Lin Yang led them into the kitchen, Zhou Wenlan beckoned to Lin Yue, “Don’t hide away. Come over and listen to.”

Lin Yue poked his head through the doorway. “Mother, weren’t we supposed to avoid suspicion? Can I really listen?”

Zhou Wenlan waved him off. “The matchmaker suggested it first. It’s no problem.”

Lin Yue said no more and followed his mother inside.

Matchmaker Li smiled at Lin Yue before turning to Zhou Wenlan. The scholar I’ve been asked to introduce today is Shen Huizhi from neighboring Linshui Village. I hear his teacher was none other than your village’s Xiucai Gao. It seems fate has brought us together. His parents are both alive and well, and he has a younger brother, a ger. His family owns both houses and fields, so they’re well provided for.”

Hearing this, Lin Yue suddenly recalled the man he had met before.