Chapter 33

Ruan Changsheng didn’t mention the two kids holding hands. He just asked, “How’s the old man?”

For elderly people, even a simple fall is no small matter, and injuring bones is even more serious. So Ruan Xi replied, “There’s not much we can do. He just has to rest.”

Ruan Changsheng wasn’t familiar with the old tailor and wasn’t particularly concerned, so he just asked once and let it go. He used the flashlight to lead Ruan Xi and Ling Yao back, first taking Ling Yao to the stilt house and then walking home with Ruan Xi.

As they walked, Ruan Changsheng asked Ruan Xi, “Do you like that little fool?”

Ruan Xi answered straightforwardly, “Yes, he’s good-looking and has a nice personality.”

Where else could she find such an adorable little brother? The village was full of naughty kids like Gao Haiyang.

Gao Haiyang was a troublemaker as a child and is now a troublesome teenager. She felt like hitting those teenage boys ten times a day.

Ruan Changsheng suddenly said, “I don’t think he’s foolish at all.”

Ruan Xi glanced at him, “He never was. Didn’t I tell you that before?”

Ruan Changsheng couldn’t help but laugh, thinking Ruan Xi was still so innocent, not understanding the deeper meaning of his words, so he didn’t say more. He meant that Ling Yao wasn’t foolish because he knew Ruan Xi was the prettiest girl on Fengming Mountain.

They chatted as they walked home, where everyone had already washed up and was ready for bed. Ruan Zhigao and Liu Xinghua expressed concern about the old tailor’s condition. After Ruan Xi explained the situation, they all went to sleep.

After washing up, Ruan Xi went to bed, but Ruan Jie and Ruan Cuizhi were still awake.

The aunt and niece had been talking about other things, but when Ruan Xi lay down, Ruan Cuizhi changed the topic to the old tailor and said to Ruan Xi, “In that case, the old tailor can’t be left alone.”

Ruan Xi responded, “I’ll have to go over early tomorrow.”

She was worried that if he needed to use the bathroom, getting up on his own would be difficult, especially with his rib injury.

After saying this, she thought of something and said to Ruan Cuizhi, “Aunt, why don’t you come with me?”

After all, she was just a teenage girl, not very strong or capable in many ways. Taking care of the old tailor, who was quite heavy, wasn’t an easy task, especially getting him out of bed. If someone could help her, it would be much easier. It was also a good opportunity for Ruan Cuizhi to learn how to use the sewing machine and make clothes.

Ruan Cuizhi thought for a moment and said, “The old tailor won’t mind, will he? His personality is a bit strange.”

Ruan Xi replied, “He’s eccentric, not mentally ill. If you come to help me take care of him, why would he mind? He should be grateful to you. I’m not asking him to teach you the craft. I can teach you myself.”

Ruan Cuizhi thought for a moment and then smiled, “Then I’ll go with you.”

Since the old tailor brought Ruan Xi to the village to make clothes before the New Year, and seeing how Ruan Xi made clothes and later taught her to sew buttonholes, Ruan Cuizhi had been itching to learn. She really wanted to learn.

Since Ruan Xi was taking her there now, she was naturally happy. She went to sleep happily, and the next day, she got up very early with Ruan Xi.

After washing up, they didn’t eat at home and headed to the old tailor’s house at dawn. When they arrived, they found the old tailor just waking up. Ruan Xi and Ruan Cuizhi carefully helped him get up, with Ruan Xi reminding him, “Don’t use too much force with your upper body and don’t make big movements. Take it slow and easy…”

After he finished using the bathroom, they helped him wash up a bit and then helped him back to bed. Ruan Xi said, “I brought my third aunt to help take care of you. You don’t mind, do you?”

With his eyes closed, the old tailor didn’t look at her. He suddenly pulled out a key from under his pillow and handed it to her, saying, “This is the key to the cabinet at home. All the food and drinks inside are yours to take and use as you please.”

Ruan Xi took the key without hesitation, “If you want to eat something, just let me know.” She knew the old tailor was thanking her and Ruan Cuizhi, but he couldn’t say it out loud. He had been alone all his life and probably never thought someone would come to care for him in his old age, lying in bed. If it weren’t for Ruan Xi, he might have ended his life lying by the water tank in the kitchen this New Year. After all, besides Ruan Xi, no one else would come to wish him a Happy New Year.

After putting away the key, Ruan Xi asked him, “Master, I want to teach my third aunt how to use the sewing machine. Is that okay?”

The old tailor straightforwardly said, “Everything in the house is yours to use. You don’t need to ask me anymore.”

Ruan Xi’s voice brightened deliberately, “I can make all the decisions?”

The old tailor waved his hand at her, “It’s all yours.”

Ruan Xi smiled, “You rest for a while. I’ll go make some food.”

Ruan Cuizhi had already started a fire in the kitchen and was cooking porridge suitable for the patient.

After Ruan Xi and Ruan Cuizhi served the old tailor breakfast, they ate at the table outside.

While eating porridge, Ruan Cuizhi said to Ruan Xi, “If we eat here every day, we’ll need to bring some food over. Otherwise, his food won’t be enough for us.”

Before, Ruan Xi ate lunch here alone, and the rice she ate wasn’t much, so it didn’t have a big impact. But if she and Ruan Cuizhi ate here together, the old tailor’s food supply would indeed be insufficient.

Ruan Xi nodded, “Alright.”

After eating, Ruan Xi taught Ruan Cuizhi how to use the sewing machine.

Unlike the old tailor, who directly told people to step on the machine, Ruan Xi explained each part of the sewing machine, what it was called, what it was used for, and how to use it.

Ruan Cuizhi was patient and attentive, not blinking as she listened.

Ruan Xi taught her until noon, and then they served the old tailor lunch and returned home together. After all, it was still the New Year, and today was the second day of the New Year. Ruan Cuilan would come to visit her family.

As they walked back along the mountain path, Ruan Xi asked Ruan Cuizhi, “How was it? Did you enjoy using the sewing machine?”

Mentioning the sewing machine, Ruan Cuizhi’s face lit up with a smile, “It was really fun.” She had always liked these things and even mentioned wanting a sewing machine as a wedding gift when she married. But Liu Xiong knew she didn’t know how to use it and thought it would be useless, so they bought a bicycle instead. After getting married, Liu Xiong used the bicycle to go to work, and Ruan Cuizhi hardly ever touched it. She never thought that in her lifetime, she would get to use a sewing machine.

She and Ruan Xi talked about this and other interesting topics as they walked home, laughing and chatting.

When they got home, the New Year’s atmosphere was even more lively with Ruan Cuilan’s family there. But Ruan Xi and Ruan Cuizhi didn’t stay long. After eating, they went back to the old tailor’s house.

Seeing them leave together, Ruan Cuilan joked, “Look at these two. They could be mistaken for sisters.”

Ruan Cuizhi playfully patted them, “You’re always talking nonsense.”

She was over thirty, while Ruan Xi was just a teenager. How could they be mistaken for sisters?

After lunch, Ruan Xi and Ruan Cuizhi left, and Ruan Cuilan’s family stayed until the sun was setting in the west before heading home.

Just as Ruan Cuilan’s family left, the matchmaker arrived.

Liu Xinghua had already asked the matchmaker to find a match for Ruan Changsheng. Seeing Fang Matchmaker arrive, she welcomed her warmly.

Fang Matchmaker had some snacks and a bowl of tea and then said to Liu Xinghua, “I’ve found a good match for you. There’s a girl in Chiyu Village who would be perfect for your youngest son. She’s pretty, from a good family, and has had a few years of schooling.”

Liu Xinghua thought it sounded good and quickly asked, “When can we arrange for the two kids to meet briefly?”

Fang Matchmaker replied, “I’d say the day after tomorrow. Let them meet and see how they feel. If it goes well, we can proceed.”

During these days of the New Year, families don’t have much to do, so it’s best to take advantage of this free time to settle Ruan Changsheng’s marriage. This would ease a burden, so Liu Xinghua naturally agreed, “Alright, the day after tomorrow then.”

On the fourth day of the New Year, she had Ruan Changsheng dress neatly and go to the agreed-upon place to meet the girl briefly. This initial meeting was only to see each other, with little conversation.

Liu Xinghua waited at home, and when Ruan Changsheng returned, she quickly asked, “How did it go?”

Ruan Changsheng was straightforward, “She looks good, pleasing to the eye.”

Liu Xinghua was satisfied with Ruan Changsheng’s attitude and asked Fang Matchmaker about the girl’s opinion. Fang Matchmaker said the girl also thought Ruan Changsheng was good-looking, tall, and seemed like a hardworking and resilient person.

Hearing this, Liu Xinghua felt hopeful and was very happy.

Next, they would let the young couple interact more. If there were no issues, they could finalize the engagement.

Once Ruan Changsheng married, the pressure on Liu Xinghua and Ruan Zhigao would be much less.

Ruan Zhigao said, “Once Xiao Wu gets married, we’ll support them for a few years. When he can manage on his own, we’ll save up and find a way to get them a house, and then they can live separately. We’ll just take care of the three girls.”

Liu Xinghua thought this was feasible and waited for Ruan Changsheng’s marriage to be settled. However, after over a month, Ruan Changsheng suddenly returned and said, “It’s not going to work out. The engagement is off.”

Liu Xinghua had thought it was a done deal. Hearing Ruan Changsheng say this, her face turned grim, and she pulled him aside, asking, “Why? Weren’t you both satisfied and already discussing the engagement?”

Ruan Changsheng replied, “It’s nothing much, just a personality mismatch.”

Liu Xinghua felt there must be something going on and pulled Ruan Changsheng into the house, lowering her voice to question him thoroughly, “What’s really going on? You need to explain it clearly to me.”

If they hadn’t liked each other from the start, that would be one thing. But after more than a month of interaction, with both sides seemingly satisfied and already discussing engagement and dowry, how could it suddenly fall apart now?

At first, Ruan Changsheng didn’t want to say, but he couldn’t withstand Liu Xinghua’s questioning and finally told her the truth.

He said, “Fang Matchmaker hid our family’s situation. She only told them I have an older brother who is an officer in the army and that my second brother’s family has moved out. But she didn’t mention that my third sister is divorced and living at home. Her aunt came over a few days ago to inquire and found out about it, and now her family is unhappy.”

Hearing this, Liu Xinghua took a deep breath and sat down on the edge of the bed.

Ruan Changsheng continued, “She came to me and said that if we send my third sister back to her in-laws, she would agree to the marriage. But if we keep my third sister at home, she wouldn’t agree. I told her directly that it wouldn’t work.”

Liu Xinghua looked at Ruan Changsheng and, after a moment, decisively said, “If that’s the case, then it’s better not to proceed.”

She was never one to be threatened. She had supported her daughter’s decision to divorce. If Ruan Changsheng’s potential match couldn’t accept that, she wouldn’t force it. She wouldn’t sacrifice her daughter’s well-being for the sake of a daughter-in-law.

A son’s marriage is important, but so is a daughter’s divorce.

This wasn’t a matter of choosing one over the other, and she wouldn’t choose.

In Chiyu Village, Ruan Changsheng’s match, Xie Tao, returned home and told her mother and aunt about the situation.

Xie Tao’s mother widened her eyes after hearing this, “What? He directly called off the engagement?”

Because of this, Xie Tao’s eyes were still a bit red, and she nodded, “After I mentioned his third sister, he got angry and said there was nothing to discuss, then turned and left.”

Xie Tao’s mother was furious, “A married daughter shouldn’t live at her parents’ house. They should send her back to her in-laws, and they have the nerve to be angry? If he insists on keeping his third sister at home, then forget it. We won’t marry into such a family. They don’t mind losing face, but we do.”

Xie Tao lowered her head and said nothing, her fingers intertwined.

Seeing Xie Tao’s expression, her aunt spoke up, “Taozi, since he won’t send his third sister away and insists on keeping her at home, we can’t proceed with this engagement. We absolutely can’t compromise. It’s not just about losing face. Look at how Ruan Changsheng treats his third sister. He’ll have to support her for life. If you marry him, you’ll not only have to support his parents but also his third sister. We can’t accept that. We can consider the engagement if he sends his third sister back to her in-laws. If not, we can’t.”

Xie Tao sniffed and raised her head, “I know, so I won’t compromise. Let him go back and think it over calmly. He might have said those things in anger. If he decides to send his third sister back, I’ll agree to the marriage. If he still refuses, then forget it. If he doesn’t send his third sister away, I don’t believe he can find a match.”