Chapter 6: Sorting Things Out

 

The cold wind howled, its chill piercing straight to the bone. 

 

After waiting two more days without word from Matchmaker Liu, Madam Wang grew anxious. Adding to her frustration, because of Granny Fan’s words, villagers had started whispering about her behind her back. Unable to sit still any longer, she steeled herself and pounded heavily on Matchmaker Liu’s door.

 

From inside the courtyard came the sound of crunching snow—soft but approaching steadily. Matchmaker Liu appeared, her face haggard. She’d been plagued by nightmares these past days, terrified that her secret might be exposed. Seeing Madam Wang at the door, her eyelids twitched.

 

“Oh, it’s you.” She leaned against the heavy wooden door, blocking the way, her demeanor utterly inhospitable. “My house is a mess, so I won’t invite you in for tea. Say what you need to say here.”

 

Ever since her second son began studying, Madam Wang had enjoyed the villagers’ respect, who flattered her as the future mother of a scholar. With this newfound pride, she immediately bristled at Matchmaker Liu’s indifference. However, the matter concerning the Dong family was critical, and since she was the one seeking a favor, Madam Wang swallowed her pride.

 

Suppressing her irritation, she glanced warily at the neighboring houses. Selling one’s niece wasn’t a matter to brag about, so she lowered her voice and asked, “How’s that matter I entrusted you with? Any progress?”

 

“Give me a clear answer—has the Scholar taken a fancy to someone else? Or is he being difficult, thinking twenty taels is too much?”

 

Seeing no response, Madam Wang took a step closer. “You accepted two eggs from me; you’d better see this through.”

 

Matchmaker Liu: …

 

Feigning hesitation, she sighed. “Everyone knows your husband is attached to that niece of his. What if he comes here with a knife demanding answers? It’s just me and my father-in-law at home—what could we do against him?”

 

Madam Wang scowled. But then Matchmaker Liu abruptly shifted her tone. “Still, you’re underestimating Mr. Dong. Twenty taels? That’s nothing to him. If he truly likes her, he wouldn’t bat an eye at a hundred taels.”

 

Madam Wang’s eyes widened in disbelief. “A…a hundred taels?” To her, even twenty taels had seemed exorbitant. She’d never seen such a sum in her life.

 

Matchmaker Liu lifted her chin. “Doesn’t your second son study in town? Mr. Dong has connections with the county magistrate. If you become in-laws with him, sending your son to the best academy in town—or even waiving the tuition—would just take a word from him.”

 

These words struck deep within Madam Wang’s heart. Erlang was indeed favored by his teacher, but how could the town school compare to the county academy? It was only their financial burden that had held him back. But if they could establish ties with the Dong family…

 

Excited, she promised, “Rest assured, if this works out, I won’t let on that you were involved. My husband won’t give you any trouble.”

 

“And your matchmaking fee is guaranteed. Please keep this matter in mind.”

 

Matchmaker Liu smiled, but in the next moment, she suddenly shoved Madam Wang hard. Caught off guard, Madam Wang fell heavily into the snow, the cold seeping into her bones, sending shivers through her body.

 

She shouted furiously, “Have you gone mad?!”

 

“You’re the mad one!” Matchmaker Liu shot back. “Has a dog eaten your conscience? Do you even deserve to be called an elder?”

 

“Have you no shame? Aren’t you afraid your niece’s dead mother will climb out of her grave to settle scores with you?”

 

Her voice rang out, quickly drawing attention from next door. Soon, an elderly man hurried out wearing thick cotton clothes, his expression stern. Behind him followed many villagers.

 

The mountain paths to Xilin Village were treacherous, especially in deep winter. The village head’s family valued traditions and always used a pig’s head for ancestral worship. Each year, they would arrange to buy a pig from the butcher in the neighboring village for slaughter.

 

Those who wanted to buy meat would come with money to get their portion. But there was only so much pork to go around. After the village head kept some for his family and relatives, there wasn’t much left to sell.

 

As Matchmaker Liu lived next door to the village head, she’d been well aware of the steady stream of visitors these past days. She had been waiting for Madam Wang to appear.

 

The village head, leading the group, frowned. “Why are you fighting? As fellow villagers, can’t you discuss things properly?”

 

Seeing him, Madam Wang trembled and quickly scrambled to her feet. “It’s nothing. I just lost my balance.”

 

Matchmaker Liu sneered, lifting her chin high. “Oh, so now you’re too ashamed to admit it? You know what you did was wrong?”

 

Turning to the crowd, she declared, “Yes, I pushed her, and I showed her mercy by not chasing her away with a broom. Since everyone’s here, let’s judge who’s right and wrong.”

 

“Everyone knows her niece is as beautiful as a flower. If not for that girl’s mother, would the Hu family be where they are today? If it were me, I would have treated her like my own daughter.”

 

“But whenever Hu Dazhu isn’t home, how does that girl fare?”

 

“I think Granny Fan had a point—when that girl fell into the water back then, it probably had something to do with her!”

 

Madam Wang: ?? 

 

How could Yu Tingwan’s accident be blamed on her?

 

The village head frowned. “We can’t make such accusations. People have hearts of flesh. After living together for so many years, how could Dazhu’s wife harm her?”

 

Madam Wang hastily agreed, “Exactly! I—”

 

“Bah!”

 

Matchmaker Liu cut her off with a cold laugh. “She’s blinded by greed, wanting to sell her niece to Mr. Dong, pestering me to arrange it.”

 

The crowd exchanged shocked glances—this was quite the drama.

 

Someone spoke up, “Once when I visited the Hu house, that poor girl was exhausted and sweating, but Madam Wang wouldn’t let her rest and scolded her for being clumsy.”

 

“That’s nothing. When tragedy struck her family, it was miraculous the little girl survived. Just days after arriving in Xilin Village, Madam Wang cursed at her, asking why she hadn’t died with her parents.”

 

“Forget about the niece—she beats and scolds her daughter-in-law too.”

 

“That Xiao Xu isn’t any good either—at my family’s feast, she ate and took food home too.”

 

Madam Wang stood frozen, utterly bewildered at Matchmaker Liu’s sudden betrayal. “But you were the one who suggested—”

 

Matchmaker Liu’s voice drowned her out: “I’m a matchmaker, not a trafficker! The girl is so young, how could I send her to the Dong family? Mr. Dong is old and has strange habits—the girls carried out of his house were all bloody. If I arranged this match, once word got out, who in the ten villages around would dare let me arrange matches for them?”

 

“Could I really agree to such immoral acts?”

 

The village head’s face darkened. “Enough!”

 

“Madam Wang, your Yaozi is the most promising youth in the village. As his mother, don’t drag him down—use your head!”

 

“Selling your niece? How could you think of such a rotten idea? If this gets out, your Erlang won’t be able to hold his head up outside either.”

 

Madam Wang’s eyes flickered with fear, but she remained stubborn: “How is it so serious? What’s wrong with the Dong family?”

 

The village head said sternly: “Would you dare say this to Hu Dazhu?”

 

“You think I want to get involved in your family affairs? I advise you to control your thoughts these days. When the whole family is here, if Hu Dazhu agrees, I won’t stop you!”

 

“But if you try to do this behind his back, you’ll see how I deal with you!”