◎ Reconsidering a Match ◎ 

What kind of good marriage could Fang Yuehe introduce? Song Chunhua looked at her with suspicion, clearly unconvinced. 

“Really, our daily quarrels are nothing but small matters; how can they really hurt our feelings? This time, when there was a good marriage opportunity, I immediately thought of Baozhen.” Following Liang Zhiqing’s advice, she listed Yu Jiefang’s conditions one by one. “He is the director of the commune grain station, has a good job, and I heard that he is a fifth-level worker. He earns a good salary every month, and his family is well-off. He’s also someone who knows how to cherish others. Baozhen would be enjoying a comfortable life if she married him.” 

Director of the commune grain station… Song Chunhua initially thought he was a good match, but after thinking about it carefully, she felt something was wrong. “Hasn’t he already married before?”

 

“He has, but his wife died.” Fang Yuehe shot a glance at her sister-in-law, thinking she was making a fuss over nothing. “It’s as good as not being married.” 

“Are you out of your mind? Trying to persuade Baozhen to be a second wife? And to be a stepmother? You really have no shame.” 

“What’s so shameless about this? You still think Baozhen is a hot commodity now? A girl whose engagement has been broken off is worthless. She should be happy that she can marry the director of the grain station. Why are you so picky?” Fang Yuehe fought back, not willing to be outdone. 

“Bah!” Song Chunhua shoved her out of the house, picked up the basket of oranges, and threw it out. The yellow oranges rolled all over the ground, and Fang Yuehe’s curses kept echoing outside the Liang family’s house. 

Seeing this, several nearby aunts poked their heads out. After listening to Song Chunhua’s complaints, they joined in. “Fang Yuehe, how can you be such an aunt? You let your niece become a stepmother. You’re really heartless.” 

These days, unless the family is really in financial difficulty, no family would be willing to let their daughter become a stepmother. It’s really difficult. 

“What do you all know? Baozhen is turning down such a good match. How can she still be considered good? I say, if she can find someone decent, it’s a blessing from the ancestors of the Liang family!” 

Fang Yuehe was also loud, and she kept scolding the Liang family courtyard until she saw Song Chunhua holding a broom and preparing to chase her away. She fled in panic, still cursing as she left. “I’ll see what kind of match you can find for Baozhen!” 

*** 

Ever since her daughter’s engagement was called off, Song Chunhua had been thinking a lot. Her daughter was of marriageable age, and delaying any longer wasn’t a solution. Whether it was a widower or the village scoundrels, many people were eyeing her, so it was better to settle things sooner rather than later. However, after the bad experience last time, she was understandably cautious. This time, she has to pay extra attention and look very carefully. 

In the past, people would come to propose marriage to her, but now she has thought it through and decided that it would be better for her to look for one herself and let Lai Fengxia help her find someone she likes. 

Lai Fengxia had also been keeping an eye on the Liang family’s situation recently. Many people had tried to propose marriage, but Song Chunhua had turned them all away. Of course, she understood that after what happened with Chen Siming, Song Chunhua was being extra careful. She didn’t want to disturb them right after breaking off the engagement. 

A few days ago, the village loafer He Dazhuang came to her house to propose marriage. When he mentioned Liang Baozhen, she just wanted to roll her eyes. Seeing how many rogues were eyeing her prospective niece-in-law, she couldn’t sit still any longer! 

If she didn’t act soon, she might regret it again. 

*** 

In the Liang family courtyard, Song Chunhua and Lai Fengxia sat and talked. 

“Fengxia, you have been a matchmaker for so many years. I believe in your judgment. Please help our Baozhen find out if there is any good one. The last incident really made me feel uncomfortable. I want to take it slow, but things are not going well outside. I am worried that it will delay Baozhen.” 

These words really touched Lai Fengxia’s heart. “Chunhua, I’ll be your matchmaker, don’t worry! To be honest, I already have someone in mind and was just about to suggest him for Baozhen.”  

Thinking back to that day when her nephew Xu Shengjie heard me ask him whether he wanted to meet Liang Baozhen, he actually nodded for the first time. 

She had originally thought to ask Lai Fengxia to keep an eye out, but she hadn’t expected her to have someone ready so soon. 

“That’s great. You can help me arrange it. I trust you completely. But one thing, I don’t want her to marry someone from the city. I’m afraid now. Marrying into the city seems nice on the surface, but who knows what’s brewing underneath. City people are the least trustworthy!” 

The last few words Lai Fengxia had intended to say were stuck in her throat, and she swallowed them back. “Chunhua, listen to me; you can’t look at things that way.” 

*** 

Liang Baozhen was lying on her desk in her room, just in time to overhear the conversation outside. A lot had happened recently, and she couldn’t quite describe the mix of emotions she felt. She also knew that her family was worried about her affairs, and as for the village, there was even more gossip than before…

 

In the past few days, ever since her engagement was called off, more people had come to propose marriage. Song Chunhua had turned most of them away, but there were still some shameless loafers who caused trouble in front of her. Even her uncle’s family was scheming against her… 

Outside, Lai Fengxia’s voice floated into the room with the wind: “I have a distant nephew in the city; he’s a veteran, reliable, and his family is honest. I wanted to match him with Baozhen last time, but I was a day late because of Chen Siming. I regret it so much…” Lai Fengxia’s words were completely sincere. With her hair in a high bun, she spoke with great enthusiasm. Her smooth talking was the result of years of experience she had spent as a matchmaker. 

What can she say? A matchmaker can make a living person dead or a dead person alive. 

Life hadn’t been peaceful lately. Liang Baozhen remembered that the book mentioned her perfect match in middle age. Both had regretted not meeting earlier, and it specifically mentioned that they missed the proposal by just one day. 

It seems that this man is really Aunt Lai’s nephew. 

Recalling the information from the book, Chen Siming later tried to take revenge, but Xu Shengjie protected her. He was very gentle with her, and after they got together, they never argued for the rest of their lives… 

As Liang Baozhen thought about all this, her eyes brightened, and she finally made up her mind. 

*** 

“Okay, we’ll keep looking.” After finishing her conversation with Lai Fengxia, Song Chunhua just told her to keep looking around and didn’t agree to the proposal with her nephew in the city. She needed to be careful now. 

But when she turned around, she saw her daughter walking out the door and leaning against the door frame, deep in thought. 

Ever since the engagement was broken off, Song Chunhua had noticed that Baozhen seemed unaffected, which made her a bit worried. Could this girl be heartbroken? 

The most uncomfortable thing is to hold your anger in your heart and not let it out. 

“Baozhen, don’t worry, this time your mom will choose…” Remembering how she made a mistake last time, Song Chunhua immediately shook her head, “Never mind, you choose for yourself this time!” 

Although everyone’s marriage was arranged by their parents, it was not a problem to make some adjustments occasionally. Last time, she was thinking that it would be good if her daughter would be able to live in the city and enjoy a good life in the future, which led to this mess. 

Liang Baozhen looked at her mother Song Chunhua, whose lips were chapped and whose hair had turned gray from worry recently. Liang Baozhen understood that her mother had been through a lot for her. 

“Mother, why don’t we listen to Aunt Lai and meet her nephew?” Thinking of everything in the book, Liang Baozhen decided to choose another path. 

The author has something to say: 　　 

@Xu Shengjie, come and have a blind date! ^O^