As evening fell, the sun slowly sank behind the mountain ridge, leaving a streak of orange-red glow across the horizon. A gentle breeze swept away the lingering heat, carrying the rich aroma of dinner through the smoke rising from rooftop chimneys.

Under the ancient tree at the village entrance, several old stumps and flat stones were haphazardly arranged. After meals, villagers often gathered here to cool off and chat. Today, the tree’s shade remained bustling as usual.

Children ran circles around the trunk, shrieking with delight; an old man fanned himself with a palm leaf fan; an elderly woman, wearing a thimble, stitched shoe soles. All were familiar faces in the village, and their chatter inevitably turned to the usual neighborhood gossip.

The day before yesterday, the talk had centered on the Lin family’s ger, Lin Yue, having his betrothal broken off. Today, that topic was replaced by another fresh piece of news, though the Lin family remained at the heart of the conversation.

An old woman sewing clothes against the tree roots scratched her head with her needle, then nudged another old woman beside her with her elbow. “Hey, did you see the commotion yesterday morning? Wow, what a scene!”

“How come I didn’t hear such a commotion? If I hadn’t heard about a family celebrating, I’d have thought it was a wedding.”

“Chunlan, your house is right next door. Did you hear who came to propose?”

Zhong Chunlan’s lips curled up, her tone tinged with pride. “You’ve come to the right person! Yesterday’s commotion was so loud, I heard every word from my courtyard. They said his name is Shen Huizhi, from the neighboring village of Linshui.”

“That name sounds like a scholar. The last one was a scholar too, wasn’t he?”

“Auntie, you have such a good memory. You’re absolutely right.”

“But this scholar is terribly inconsiderate. He sent the matchmaker right after Yue’s engagement was broken off. Doesn’t he care about what people say?”

Zhong Chunlan’s family lived next door to the Lin family, and she often interacted with Zhou Wenlan. Naturally, she sided with the Lin family now. “Auntie, what you’re saying—how can you blame the Lin family for Yue’s situation? It’s all the Shang family’s fault for acting so despicably.” They made all these sweet promises when they came courting, only to pull this stunt at the last minute. Thankfully, it didn’t tarnish Yue-ger’s reputation—look, another matchmaker’s already come calling!”

“How did it not affect him? Last night, when I was out for a walk, I ran into Zhang Xiuzhi talking about it. She said the Lin family always acted like they were above everyone else, and now that the engagement was broken off, they deserved it. She even said some nasty things.”

“She sure holds a grudge. Last time she ran into Yue-ger by the river, she made some sour remarks.”

“Well, that just backfired on her. She was going around saying Yue-ger would never marry now, and then someone came proposing right after.”

Zhong Chunlan burst out laughing. “Exactly! I ran into her just now, and she wouldn’t even speak to me. The moment I mentioned the Lin family, she rolled her eyes at me.”

“Hahaha…”

“How quickly you change the subject! Weren’t we just talking about that matchmaker? Linshui Village isn’t far from us. Didn’t someone from there marry into our village two years ago?”

Zhong Chunlan, always well-informed, chimed in immediately, “I’ve heard bits and pieces. He’s in his twenties and still unmarried, supposedly because he’s busy studying. Now, for some reason, he’s had someone come propose. That’s all I know.”

“Could it be some family struggling to find a bride for their son?”

“Auntie, you’ve got it all wrong. I know a bit about this fellow—handsome and hardworking. They say he studies well. Xiucai Gao even remarked that with a good tutor, he might have passed the Xiucai exams by now. Too bad his family’s circumstances aren’t ideal—they don’t have much land, and his mother isn’t in the best health.”

“No wonder he hasn’t married yet. With so little land, what respectable family would dare to marry into them?”

“It shouldn’t be like this, though. They’re not newcomers, and there haven’t been any disasters these past two years. How could they have so little land? Could they have sold it?”

“Who knows? I hear the Shen family’s circumstances are nowhere near as good as the Shang family’s were before. I wonder if the Lin family will agree.”

Though their circumstances are modest, they show genuine sincerity. If that Shen boy proves ambitious and passes the Xiucai exam in a couple of years, their life will surely improve.

━━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━━

When Lin Yuan returned carrying his hoe, the group was deep in lively discussion. He hadn’t paid much attention at first—every family had its gossip—but upon hearing mention of Shen Huizhi, he paused at the corner to listen carefully. Only after hearing this segment did he continue on his way.

The old women under the tree hadn’t finished their lively discussion when they spotted Lin Yuan approaching. They abruptly stopped talking.

But these old ladies weren’t the least bit embarrassed. With unflappable composure, they smiled and asked, “Lin’er, just back from the fields?”

“Yeah. Have you all eaten yet, aunties?”

Though Lin Yuan was taciturn, these elderly women were his elders. He addressed each by name, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then continued on his way home.

The moment Lin Yuan entered the courtyard, Lin Yue heard the commotion. Carrying dishes, he called out, “Father, hurry up and eat tonight! Tonight’s dishes are all your favorites.”

“Did you stir-fry cured pork? I smelled it the moment I walked in.”

“Father, your nose is sharp! This morning, while Lin Yang and I were cutting grass, I picked a bunch of wild greens. Among them was a bunch of wild scallions that were incredibly tender. I stir-fried them with the cured pork—it’s much more fragrant than just eating the meat alone.”

Lin Yuan entered the kitchen only to find Lin Yue alone inside. He asked in confusion, “Where are your mother and Lin Yang?”

Lin Yue glanced outside. “Mother’s in the back yard. I just sent Lin Yang to fetch her.”

Lin Yuan stepped forward to help carry the soup. Tonight, Lin Yue had prepared a spring bamboo shoot and a three-delicacy soup. The bowl, placed right in the center of the table, was a vibrant feast for the eyes: pale yellow slices of tender spring bamboo shoots, emerald-green celery, dried mushrooms from last year, and stored radishes. Just looking at it made one’s mouth water.

With the leftover assortment of wild greens—field horsetail, shepherd’s purse, amaranth, and goji berry shoots—Lin Yue whipped up a refreshing cold salad. The vibrant mix of colors and textures created a wonderfully rich palette.

After the meal, Lin Yuan recounted what he’d overheard to his family. Before Lin Yue could say anything, Lin Yang jumped up.

“Father, I don’t think he’ll do! My brother is so wonderful—how could he settle for less? Will he be able to feed him?!”

Zhou Wenlan shot him a glare. “Shut up! What nonsense are you spouting? Sure, his circumstances aren’t ideal, but it’s not like he’s penniless. How could he not feed his family?!”

“But he can’t be feeding them bran and vegetables every day!”

Lin Yue, however, remained unconcerned. Shen Huizhi didn’t strike him as the idle type. A modest family fortune was hardly a deal-breaker.

He hadn’t understood why Shen Huizhi would suddenly send someone to propose marriage, but meeting him this morning suddenly made it clear. Given Shen Huizhi’s character, he wouldn’t take advantage of someone in distress. This sudden proposal might be an attempt to help Lin Yue salvage his reputation, considering they’d met several times. What a good man!

With this perspective, Lin Yue began to see the match in a favorable light. Since Shen Huizhi had come to propose, he likely didn’t dislike him. Lin Yue, too, held no ill will toward Shen Huizhi. Both had their shortcomings, and oddly enough, they seemed quite well-suited. Besides, he didn’t want his marriage prospects to continue causing turmoil for his family.

After mulling it over, Lin Yue concluded his reasoning was flawless. He carefully presented his thoughts to his parents, finally sealing the deal: “Father, Mother, I think he’s a good match. Let’s agree to it.”

Lin Yuan also approved of Shen Huizhi—studious, diligent, and hardworking. Even if their circumstances were modest now, they could surely build a good life together. He nodded in agreement.

Zhou Wenlan watched her son and father make their decision, her heart growing heavier. “Yue’er, are you truly certain? Marriage is no trivial matter. One mustn’t be rash.”

Lin Yue’s gaze remained calm, a faint smile touching his lips. “Mother, I’ve truly thought this through. His character is sound. Even if things go wrong later, it won’t be too embarrassing. If we reject this match, who knows what the next suitor will be like? What if he’s even worse?”

“How can you think of problems before the marriage is even settled? It’s unlucky. Besides, who can truly judge someone’s character?”

After much family discussion, they finally agreed.

Early the next morning, the matchmaker returned. Upon hearing the news, she beamed with joy and hurried out. The tea poured on the table hadn’t even cooled before she was gone.

The days that followed flew by even faster. From the initial betrothal visit to presenting the betrothal gifts, it took no more than five days.

Though the Shen family was said to be of modest means, their betrothal gifts were nothing lacking. The eight traditional items—comb, ruler, money chest, balance scale, mirror, grain measure, scissors, and abacus—were all present. They also included eight taels of silver as the betrothal money, two pairs of chickens, and a pair of pigs.

The delivery of the betrothal gifts was a lively affair. The two young men who had accompanied the matchmaker earlier returned, their procession still accompanied by the clanging of gongs and drums.

Because of the match, the Lin household dominated the village gossip for the entire fortnight. From Shen Huizhi to the entire Shen family, from the betrothal gifts to the dowry, everything was discussed. The most talked-about topic was the Shen family’s apparent urgency. They sent people to the Lin household almost daily, as if they feared delay would cost them the groom.

The Lin family maintained their composure outwardly. The previous engagement that had gone awry had left a shadow over the entire household. This time, with the Shen family, Zhou Wenlan often woke in the night from dreams where the Shen family came to break off the engagement the day before the betrothal. It wasn’t until the betrothal gifts were delivered and the two families began discussing the wedding date that she finally felt at ease.

The betrothal gifts were delivered in late March. Yet the very next day, Shen’s parents arrived bearing the set date. Zhou Wenlan greeted them with a beaming smile, only for it to freeze upon hearing the proposed date.