Chapter 54 : Matchmaking

The next day was a holiday. Even though it was a rare break, the habitually hardworking people didn’t choose to stay home. Some visited relatives, some went into the city and some tended to their private plots. Everyone had their own plans.

The Liang family was no exception. As soon as the morning sun rose, the house started to bustle.

Liang Xueyong and Ma Xiuzhi were heading to the eldest uncle’s house to see the elderly relatives. Liang Shuqiang and Liang Junqiang were both taking their wives back to their parental homes for a day and night, and wouldn’t return until the next morning. This left only Liang Qingqing and Fan Yanxing at home.

Liang Qingqing had already planned to go into the city and Ma Xiuzhi, thinking it was a visit with good friends, didn’t insist.

“Where’s Comrade Fan?”

“I have things to do as well,” Fan Yanxing replied with a smile, casting an inconspicuous glance at Liang Qingqing, though his face betrayed no sign of his thoughts.

Upon hearing this, Ma Xiuzhi didn’t ask further, merely nodded and said, “Since no one is home today, lock the door. I’ll keep the key.”

No one had any objections. After making the arrangements, everyone gradually left.

The mountain road to the neighboring village was roug, and with Liang Junqiang carrying a load of things, their pace slowed. Huang Shumin, although anxious, couldn’t help but smile when she saw the small piece of pork.

She hadn’t expected her mother-in-law to be so generous this time, which made her feel quite proud. Thinking of this, Huang Shumin let out a slow breath.

The couple hurried on, and finally arrived at the Huang family home before noon. After entering the village, they encountered many acquaintances and seeing them with their large and small packages, people couldn’t help but compliment Huang Shumin for marrying into a good family. The couple beamed with joy, their faces glowing with happiness.

“Mom and Dad, Junqiang and I are back!” Huang Shumin called out as soon as she entered the courtyard.

The Huang family’s conditions weren’t as good as the Liang family’s. Directly opposite the courtyard gate was a small main room, with a kitchen on the left and a bedroom on the right. The space wasn’t large, but fortunately, the family was small—Huang’s parents had only two children, a son and a daughter. Since Huang Shumin married, only the three of them remained at home.

“Back already?” Huang’s mother came out from the main room upon hearing the noise. She greeted them with a smile, which deepened when she saw the packages and quickly invited them inside.

“Shaofeng, your sister and her husband are back, come out quickly!”

Huang’s mother had Huang Shaofeng chat with Liang Junqiang in the main room, called Huang’s father to join them, and then took Huang Shumin into the kitchen to get busy. It was almost mealtime, so she needed to hurry and prepare a few dishes.

“I guessed you’d come back today, so I had your brother buy two big bones from the supply and marketing cooperative yesterday to make soup,” Huang’s mother said with a smile, opening the cupboard and bringing out a wooden basin with bones in it.

Huang Shumin glanced at it. Although there wasn’t much meat, at least it was a bit of something meaty. But…

How could her usually indifferent mother suddenly be so generous? She knew her mother only ever spent money and effort on her younger brother, while she, as a daughter, was only expected to have enough to eat.

Last time she came back, there wasn’t even a single meat dish on the table!

Was the sun rising in the west today? Or was it that the weasel was offering New Year’s greetings to the chickens with ill intentions?

Huang Shumin had several thoughts racing through her mind, but upon seeing Huang’s mother bustling around, she pushed her suspicions aside. Perhaps her mother just wanted to make a good impression in front of her new son-in-law?

After all, she had brought back quite a few things when she last visited, and maybe her mother had gotten a taste for it. Now that she was married, she didn’t rely on or use the family’s resources but instead brought things back when she visited. It was better for everyone if her mother treated them well in front of Junqiang, it was beneficial and had no downsides.

Regardless, if her mother wanted to be nice to her, she was happy.

“I’ll peel a few radishes and put them in the soup later?”

“Sure.”

While they were busy, Liang Junqiang offered to help, but Huang’s father and Huang Shaofeng pulled him back, saying, “Why would a man go into the kitchen? That’s women’s work!”

“Yes, yes, just wait and eat. Men shouldn’t be in the kitchen,” Huang’s mother added, shooing Liang Junqiang out.

Hearing this, Huang Shumin felt a slight discomfort. If it had been before, she wouldn’t have thought twice about it. But after living in the Liang family, she had seen the men in the kitchen more than once.

“Since you’re back, just accept it,” Huang Shumin said with a frown, not insisting further.

The meal was fairly harmonious. After cleaning up the kitchen, the family sat in the courtyard and chatted for a while. Huang Shumin was then called into a room by Huang’s mother, who closed the door behind them.

Seeing this, Huang Shumin’s heart skipped a beat. She got straight to the point, asking, “Is there something you want to talk to me about?”

“I called you back last time because I needed to discuss something with you, but who knew the rain would delay everything.” Huang’s mother smiled as she sat Huang Shumin down on the edge of the bed and patted her hand.

“I won’t beat around the bush. It’s about your little sister-in-law.”

At these words, Huang Shumin’s smile froze, and her brows furrowed. Why was her mother suddenly bringing up Qingqing? Shocked, she hesitantly repeated, “My little sister-in-law?”

A beautiful, peach-like face immediately appeared in her mind.

“Yes, the one named Liang Qingqing.” Huang’s mother noticed the change in Huang Shumin’s expression and lowering her voice as if afraid someone outside might hear, continued, “You told me before that you didn’t like her, that she was lazy, had a bad temper and lived off the family while your in-laws spoiled her and gave her all the good things. I thought about it and realized that this isn’t a good situation. How can a daughter be so favored?”

Huang Shumin, feeling guilty, twirled a strand of hair around her ear. She wanted to argue but didn’t know what to say. It was true she had said those things in front of her mother, but she had only recently entered the Liang family and didn’t know Liang Qingqing well. At that time, she was still upset about how her mother-in-law had left Qingqing drunk in the cornfield and blamed it on her and Junqiang, which had led to her harsh words.

Thinking about the shame and embarrassment of bringing this up today only added to her discomfort.

“Mother…” Huang Shumin was about to explain, but her mother interrupted her before she could finish.

“So, I’ve come up with a good plan. Let’s marry her off so she won’t be in your way anymore!” Huang’s mother said, her face reddened with excitement. Without waiting for Huang Shumin’s response, she continued, “I met that girl when you got married. Setting everything else aside, she has a lovely face and figure truly top-notch.”

“Mother!” Huang Shumin couldn’t hold back and interrupted her mother for the first time, her face showing clear impatience. “Why should we get involved in my little sister-in-law’s marriage? My mother-in-law even said she should stay for another year or two.”

Arranging a marriage isn’t as simple as it sounds. If problems arise later, they’d be blamed as intermediaries! Huang Shumin was content with her life in the Liang family and didn’t want to meddle in other matters.

Which family would marry their daughter off to a lower status? Moreover, Liang Qingqing was so beautiful, intelligent, and resourceful—she might even end up soaring high in the future. Why would she be interested in the person her mother described?

“Hey, Huang Shumin! What kind of tone is that? I’m doing this for you and you treat my good intentions as if they’re something bad!” Huang’s mother, red-faced and angry, stood up and pointed at Huang Shumin, scolding her. But then she calmed down and said more gently, “Do you think your mother would harm you? I’m only suggesting a good marriage otherwise, why would I meddle in other people’s affairs?”

“A good marriage?” If it were such a good match, why would it be suggested for her little sister-in-law?

Seeing Huang Shumin’s disbelief, Huang’s mother nearly exploded with anger again. Through gritted teeth, she said, “The prospective groom is a junior leader at the county meat plant, has a city residence, and his family has a house allocated to them. The bride price is all prepared, three rounds of gifts and a bell. If she marries him, good times are still to come!”

“Too bad your younger cousins aren’t attractive enough.”

Seeing Huang Shumin’s shocked reaction, Huang’s mother gained confidence, standing straighter and continuing, “If it weren’t for high standards, they have married already! How could it be your little sister-in-law’s turn?”

But the way she said it made it seem like her little sister-in-law wasn’t begging to get married!

Still, the groom’s conditions were indeed excellent, almost flawless. Such a person would easily find a beautiful girl in the city, so why would he look in the countryside? There must be something else going on.

Thinking this, Huang Shumin decided to ask.

Huang’s mother was caught off guard by her daughter’s perceptiveness. For the first time, she felt that her daughter being too smart might not be a good thing. If it were someone else, they’d probably be thrilled at the conditions and agree immediately without a second thought.

“There’s no hidden agenda!” Huang’s mother reflexively retorted, then cleared her throat and continued, “He’s 1.75 meters tall, looks quite good, and has a younger brother who works too. The brother doesn’t need support from the elder, he just has some health issues and needs to take medicine regularly.”

Hearing Huang’s mother repeatedly emphasize that everything was fine, Huang Shumin remained a bit skeptical, wondering if there were any hidden issues. However…

“How can this man, who is so outstanding, like my sister-in-law?”

Seeing Huang Shumin hit the nail on the head, Huang’s mother’s eyes flickered. “Don’t worry about that. I took someone to sneak a peek at your village!”

“Mother, when did you do that? And why are you so enthusiastic about this? You even bring someone to check secretly!”

“This is an urgent matter. I forgot to tell you. I’m not foolish. He said if it works out, he’ll give me fifty bucks!” Huang’s mother raised her hand, showing five fingers. Her face was flushed with excitement, as if she could already imagine holding the money.

“Fifty bucks!”