In the east room of the Su family house, Su Chang’e and Su Yuqin were practically glowing with greed at the mention of money.

The foolish man stood in the courtyard, flanked by two cousins gripping his arms tightly. His parents, meanwhile, were seated in the main hall, drinking warm water.

Su Yuqin wanted to use Su Li’s absence as an excuse to stall for a few days. That way, Su Rui’s bride price could increase even more.

Three hundred yuan—far more than what the crippled man from Huangshanling had offered. She was already quite satisfied. But greed knows no bounds.

However, the other side seemed to see through her thoughts. They remained composed and said, “We’re also considering another engagement. That girl is a bit older, and her family only asks for 150 yuan—half of what you’re asking. My son likes your daughter just as much as he likes her. If we leave today, we might be proposing to the other family tomorrow.”

Su Chang’e was amused. A fool had actually become a hot commodity? It was obvious—they were eyeing the fact that both his parents were factory workers. Once they passed away, all their property would be controlled by the daughter-in-law. Otherwise, what girl would willingly marry a violent lunatic?

Su Yuqin had some affection for Su Li, but not much. If she could get Su Rui married off while Su Li was away at sea, he would probably be upset. But by then, it would be too late. Once things were done, he would have no choice but to accept it.

“What’s a little temper tantrum compared to three hundred yuan?” Su Chang’e thought gleefully.

The idea of Su Rui suffering in marriage filled her with delight. The worse Su Rui’s life was, the happier she would be. But Su Rui had recently gotten close to Director Zhao…

As they deliberated, the fool’s father suddenly spoke from outside the window, “We’ll add one more condition—every month, we’ll give the bride a portion of one of our salaries. How about that?”

His intention was to sweeten the deal. After saying this, he confidently sat back down.

Sure enough, Su Yuqin hesitated.

If they could convince Su Rui to send part of her monthly allowance home, wouldn’t their family’s situation improve significantly?

Su Chang’e’s face darkened instantly. She gritted her teeth and sneered, “Hah! Are you seriously planning to treat her like some honored ancestor?”

She was fine with Su Rui suffering in that marriage, but she couldn’t stand the thought of her benefiting from it.

The fool’s parents were both senior factory workers—one at Grade Five, the other at Grade Six. If they were telling the truth, that meant Su Rui would be getting sixty to seventy yuan a month for free!

Had they not mentioned this, she might have encouraged her mother to finalize the marriage. But now that they had, Su Chang’e slammed the window open and shouted, “Get lost! I will never let my little sister marry a fool!”

Her righteous outburst shocked Su Rui, who had just arrived.

Was the sun rising from the west today? She wasn’t trying to push her into the fire?

Seeing Su Rui return, Su Chang’e walked out, affectionately taking her arm. With a bright smile, she turned to the visitors and said, “Nowadays, marriage is about free will. Come, let my little sister speak for herself. Does she want to marry a fool?”

“I don’t want to.” Of course, Su Rui was unwilling, but she had rarely gone along with Su Chang’e’s words. Saying “I don’t want to” this time made her feel extremely stifled.

She pulled her arm away and looked toward the foolish man. Su Chang’e, no longer willing to keep up the act, simply stood there with her hands on her hips.

The foolish man struggled to shake off the hands holding him back, babbling as he rushed toward Su Rui, seemingly wanting to embrace her. “Wife, wife!”

Su Rui took two steps back and slyly said, “He really is a fool. He doesn’t even know that my second sister is the real Chang’e^[1]“Chang’e” (嫦娥) is the name of a goddess in Chinese mythology. She is known as the Moon Goddess who drank an elixir and ascended to the moon, where she now resides. In daily … Continue reading.”

Su Chang’e was so furious she could eat her alive. When she saw the foolish man shift his vacant gaze onto her, she quickly waved her hands. “She’s the pretty one; she’s a great beauty. You… you must stay true to your heart!”

Stay true to his heart, my foot.

The fool’s parents were well-respected at the factory. His father, feeling sorry for his son, swallowed his pride and said, “You refuse my son for no reason. He won’t accept that. You’d better give a reasonable explanation. If he understands it, he won’t bother you anymore.”

Su Rui was utterly shocked. In this world, rejecting a fool’s marriage proposal required a reason?!

Su Chang’e, on the other hand, rolled her eyes as if she had an idea. She grabbed Su Rui’s hand and patted it, saying, “Of course, there’s a valid reason.”

Su Rui and the fool’s father spoke in unison, “What reason?”

Su Chang’e patted the pocket where she kept an address, then smiled. “My little sister already has a fiancé. He’s just not from this village; he’s from out of town, so we didn’t make a big announcement.”

As she spoke, she took out the address and handed it to the fool’s father. “See? Her fiancé is an officer, serving in Sichuan with my fiancé.”

Su Rui’s mouth fell open. Good grief, even she didn’t know she had a fiancé!

The fool’s entire family fell into despair.

No amount of money could compare to a military uniform.

The foolish man made a finger-gun gesture and pointed it at Su Chang’e, making shooting noises. “Bang! Bang! I’ll kill you!”

Su Chang’e sneered. “You dare to fight a military officer for a wife?” Then she mimicked his gesture and went “Bang! Bang!” in return.

The foolish man suddenly collapsed on the ground, his limbs twitching. After a few seconds of silence, he burst into wailing sobs. “I can’t win! I can’t win! Wuuu! I’m dead! I’m dead!”

The fool’s father gritted his teeth. “Can he give you more than I can? I’ll add another hundred!”

Su Yuqin’s heart itched at the offer, but Su Chang’e stopped her and whispered, “Mom, I don’t want her to live a good life. If I succeed, I can get even more.”

“Really?”

Su Chang’e’s eyes flickered as she glanced at Su Rui’s slender figure. She smirked and said, “Trust me.”

She had only done this to make things difficult for Su Rui, unaware that she had unintentionally helped her avoid a disaster. In fact, she had also saved herself from trouble.

Su Rui didn’t hear their conversation. She remained calm as she told the fool’s father, “No matter how much you add, it’s useless. I decide my own marriage. You should leave.”

The foolish man suddenly scrambled up, tears rolling down his face. He pointed at Su Rui and said, “I’ll keep an eye on you. If you break up with him, I’ll come and marry you!”

Su Rui: “…” What was scarier than a fool? A fool who knew how to kill.

In the end, the foolish man was dragged out of the Su family’s courtyard by his two cousins.

Su Rui turned around and gave Su Chang’e a cold stare. “What are you up to?”

Su Chang’e carefully tucked the note into her pocket and grinned. “I was just trying to save you, so I had to bring my future brother-in-law into the picture a little earlier.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. I don’t have a fiancé.” Su Rui ignored Su Chang’e, knowing that nothing good ever came out of her mouth.

She went inside, grabbed a handful of salt, and scattered it around the yard to ward off bad luck. Then she sat under the jujube tree, sewing colorful fabrics into small trinkets.

Su Chang’e had expected Su Rui to ask her about it, but when she didn’t, Su Chang’e grew restless.

Unable to hold it in any longer, she strutted over to the wooden bench and boasted, “See how powerful a military officer is? Just mentioning one scared the fool away. Listen, sister, a wise person adapts to the situation. I was kind enough to find you a good match. You should be grateful. Or did you really want to marry that fool?”

Su Hongpei walked in carrying firewood, her face lighting up with excitement. She actually believed Su Chang’e’s nonsense and grabbed Su Rui’s hand. “She introduced you to an officer? That’s wonderful news!”

Su Rui was utterly exasperated.

What was so wonderful about it? This was worse than having a loose screw in someone’s head.

She asked, “Do you really think this is good news?”

“Of course! What else could it be? We’re family. Second Sister wouldn’t harm you, right?”

“…”

Su Rui thought Su Hongpei’s naivety came from cherishing family bonds.

Perhaps Su Rui’s resentment was too strong because Su Hongpei quickly took out a sesame cake from her pocket and stuffed it into Su Rui’s mouth to pacify her. “Auntie Wang made these. They have red bean filling.”

Setting aside the fact that Old Wang’s family had yet to marry off their son, their sesame cakes were indeed crispy and delicious.

Su Rui knew exactly what they were planning. They just didn’t want to pay a bride price. If they delayed their eldest sister’s marriage long enough, she would be considered too old, and they wouldn’t have to give anything—just a free laborer for their family.

As one of the novel’s supporting characters, Su Hongpei was a kind and generous woman. In her forties, she personally witnessed her husband cheating on her with her own cousin. She had an epiphany, divorced him, and endured years of hardship raising her children alone. Fortunately, her kids were hardworking, and she herself was diligent and reliable. She managed to seize the opportunities of the changing times and eventually moved to the city for a better life.

But Su Rui didn’t want her eldest sister to suffer through all those years.

Hmph, she would ruin their plans sooner or later.

Su Chang’e signaled Su Yuqin with her eyes.

Su Yuqin wanted to finalize Su Rui’s marriage before Su Li returned, so she stepped forward with a fake smile and said, “We have writing paper at home. You can write a letter to introduce yourself to him.”

Su Rui instantly refused. “Who knows if he’s even a decent person? I’m not writing.”

Su Chang’e said, “You have no choice. Otherwise, should I call the fool back?”

Su Hongpei gently advised her, “Just send the fool’s family away first. It’s not like you have to marry him. You can think of it as having a pen pal.”

Su Rui did want to send the fool’s family away, but she didn’t want to jump from one trap into another.

Su Chang’e added, “This isn’t a pen pal, this is matchmaking. Be sure to include a photo so he can see you. If he doesn’t like you, then that’s that.”

Su Hongpei quickly chimed in, “Little sister would never be rejected.”

Su Chang’e glanced at her mockingly and said, “I wonder whose real sister you are.”

Then she took out a few sunflower seeds from her pocket, popped them into her mouth, and said, “The postman is coming tomorrow morning. Don’t forget to send the letter. He’s a deputy company commander. You should know how to seize this opportunity.”

Su Rui retorted, “Seize the opportunity? Then tell me, how should I write it?”

Su Chang’e had already thought it through. She counted on her fingers and said, “You have to include your birthplace, name, personal information, and hobbies, right? Otherwise, how would he even know who you are?”

She spoke while calculating in her mind, intending to make Su Rui write as clearly as possible.

If it was for her own good, Su Rui wouldn’t believe it. However, with the fool eyeing her like a tiger watching its prey and Su Yuqin seemingly intent on marrying her off to him, she had to be on guard.

The fool’s family was reckless in handling things, making Su Rui worried that she might not be able to defend herself in time.

Besides, although Su Hongpei was just trying to scare her, she did have a point—she could start as pen pals first. That way, she could buy herself some peace and endure this period until her father returned.

But she didn’t remember such a plot in the book. It must have ended without results on Su Chang’e’s side.

That worked out just fine.

Su Hongpei admired her second sister’s skills and didn’t mind Su Rui rolling her eyes at her. She quickly caught up and asked, “So, is the person you’re writing to also a military officer?”

Su Chang’e’s smile was insincere as she replied, “Of course. He’s a hundred times better than your Brother Wang. Honestly, you’re not getting any younger either. If you don’t get married first, it wouldn’t be right for us to marry before you. You’ve waited all these years, and now you’re twenty-four. In my opinion, the longer you delay, the less likely you’ll find a good match. You’d better think about it.”

Halfway down the path, Su Chang’e turned back and told Su Hongpei, “Tell Su Rui that I’ll be checking her letter tomorrow. She better not try to fool me.”

“Got it.”

After taking a verbal jab from Su Chang’e, Su Hongpei returned to their small room, only to find Su Rui sitting at the table with a troubled expression.

The silly girl quickly put aside her earlier frustration and started offering suggestions, “At least you’re a middle school graduate. Show off your literary skills first to impress him. Then, write about how hardworking and resilient you are. Finally, make sure to ask him for a photo.”

Since this was just a passing matter, Su Rui didn’t want to put in too much effort.

Resting her face in her hands, she shook her head and said, “Big Sister, suffering doesn’t lessen the more you endure it. The real skill is avoiding suffering altogether.”

Su Hongpei took a two-cent stamp from her money pouch in the drawer and handed it to Su Rui. “Here you go. Nowadays, who doesn’t have to endure hardship?”

Su Rui accepted the stamp and replied seriously, “We must firmly uphold the Party’s leadership. Even if we endure hardships now, they are only temporary. A better life is surely ahead of us.”

Su Hongpei ruffled Su Rui’s hair and chuckled. “Looks like those six months of reading the newspaper weren’t a waste.”

Getting a free stamp was nice, but unfortunately, she still needed to buy an envelope, which would cost another cent.

Su Rui sat at the table, racking her brain to come up with nonsense. She had to make sure she had a letter ready by morning—otherwise, if she didn’t mail one out, Su Chang’e might really bring the fool back.

She was fully capable of doing that.

Following her eldest sister’s advice, she decided to show off her literary skills first to avoid being looked down upon for her education level.

After much thought, she realized that she couldn’t just write a perfunctory letter. So, she picked up her pen and began writing:

“Dear Revolutionary Soldier Comrade,

Hello.

As summer fades into the mountains and golden grains welcome autumn, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance in such a beautiful season.

My name is Su Rui. I am eighteen years old and a middle school graduate.

I am a rural woman who grew up on the vast yellow earth. My home is in Xiaoba Village, Sihua Township, Jiguang County, Wumiao City, Honghe Province.

My second sister, Su Chang’e, should have already introduced me to you. As I lift my pen, I find myself at a loss for words, unsure of where to begin. I can only marvel at how fate works in mysterious ways, granting us this opportunity to connect and converse from thousands of miles apart.

…

After writing to the end, Su Rui hesitated for a moment before adding a line:

‘If you’re willing, could you briefly introduce yourself? When it comes to a matchmaking prospect, it’s only right that you personally share your details.’

With that, the letter was finally done. Su Rui lay on the heated brick bed, too drained even to admire the scraps of fabric she usually enjoyed. She was filled with resentment.

What kind of person would Su Chang’e introduce her to? A military officer? She didn’t believe it for a second.

If it were true, given Su Chang’e’s personality, she would have snatched them both up instead of giving one to her.

“What are you sighing about?” Su Hongpei patted her rice husk pillow and lay down facing Su Rui. The two sisters whispered in the dark. “Why do you look so unhappy?”

Staring at the starry sky above, Su Rui murmured, “Why must women get married?”

Su Hongpei replied gently, “To establish oneself, one must first build a family. That’s how people grow.”

“So if you don’t get married, you’re just useless?”

Su Hongpei chuckled. “Then tell me, what kind of person do you like?”

Su Rui said, “I want a live-in son-in-law.”

What others might find unusual was perfectly normal in Xiaoba Village.

Su Hongpei laughed. “You’re really obsessed with this idea lately.”

Having a live-in son-in-law sounded ideal—she could be the head of the household without having to serve tea and cater to in-laws.

Su Rui rested her head on her arm and muttered, “He has to be good-looking. I’m the village beauty, so he should at least be the village heartthrob.”

She recalled what Aunt Chen had once said: choosing a live-in son-in-law was all about appearances. Aunt Chen’s husband might be crippled, but he had a refined face and spoke gently. Whenever she was angry, just looking at his face helped her hold back from quarreling.

Su Hongpei sighed, “It seems looks really do matter in marriage. Aunt Chen is always very fond of her husband.”

Su Rui, pretending to be wise, continued, “Secondly, he must have some skills and, most importantly, be faithful. He can’t be like Old Zhang’s son-in-law, who got involved with another woman and caused a huge scandal. I can’t afford to be humiliated like that.”

“Being faithful makes sense. No one likes a cheater,” Su Hongpei agreed. “But if he’s truly capable, why would he become a live-in son-in-law?”

Su Rui said, “That’s why I’ve been searching all these years. But all I’ve found are a bunch of riffraff.” After thinking for a moment, she added, “He also has to be hardworking and filial.”

That phrase was usually used when picking a daughter-in-law. In most cases, ‘filial’ only applied to the husband’s parents. The bride’s parents were often expected to be cut off.

It made Su Rui feel as if men were born from their mothers, but women just popped out of cracks in the stones.

However, the women of Xiaoba Village were indeed like they had emerged from stone crevices—just like Sun Wukong, they possessed endless strength and courage. They were all Su Rui’s idols.

Su Hongpei patted Su Rui’s thin blanket. “Go to sleep. You can dream about it.”

“You should also keep an eye out for me. Remember—handsome, capable, faithful, hardworking, filial, and with no family to support.”

“Alright, alright. If anyone asks me about you again, I’ll just say that.”

Su Rui was satisfied. She turned over and fell asleep in no time, while Su Hongpei tucked the thin blanket around her.

*

At dawn, the rooster crowed, and dewdrops rolled off the grass blades, seeping into the soil and filling the air with the fresh scent of the countryside.

As usual, Su Rui was the first in the family to wake up. She stood in the courtyard, brimming with energy, practicing militia stick drills with a wooden staff.

The two old hens at home took turns laying eggs every day. After feeding them, Su Rui would always hand over the freshly laid egg to Su Yuqin.

This was one of the rare things that made Su Yuqin pleased.

That morning, she even made steamed egg custard and, in a rare display of generosity, scooped a small spoonful for Su Rui.

Just as she said yesterday, Su Chang’e checked Su Rui’s letter and found it satisfactory.

“I forgot to buy envelopes,” Su Chang’e said, pulling out the letter she had written last night with a troubled look. “I have to visit Grandma later, so I won’t have time to send it.”

Su Rui offered, “Then I’ll mail it for you.”

But Su Chang’e didn’t trust her and clutched the letter tightly. She had even fumigated the letter with orange peels last night. If she handed it to Su Rui, she was afraid Su Rui might spit on it out of mischief.

Su Yuqin glanced over at Su Hongpei, who was wiping down the stove, and called out, “Go to the supply and marketing cooperative later and buy two envelopes. Mail your two sisters’ letters.”

Her tone left no room for discussion.

Su Chang’e had no problem trusting Su Hongpei. Unlike Su Rui, Su Hongpei was the kind of person who wouldn’t pry into other people’s business. Even if she handed her letter to Su Hongpei, she wasn’t worried about it being read in secret.

“Big Sister, here you go.” Su Chang’e handed over the mailing address and said, “The first one is mine.”

Su Rui, who wanted to ask Director Zhao about the labor competition as soon as possible, also said, “Big Sister, thank you for mailing mine as well.”

Su Hongpei had no choice. “Alright, alright. Just put them in my pocket; my hands are dirty.”

“Hey, why aren’t you sending a photo?” Su Chang’e, knowing how pretty Su Rui was, figured that including a picture would increase her chances of being noticed by the reeducation-through-labor inmate.

Su Rui deliberately left it out. “No need. I’ll send one after we get to know each other better.”

Su Chang’e refused to back down. “How can that be? Your face is the only thing you’ve got going for you.”

With that, she ran inside, pulled open Su Li’s drawer, and took out an envelope containing Su Rui’s photo. Su Li had specially taken this photo to help Su Rui find a match.

In the photo, Su Rui was holding a bunch of plastic bananas, wearing a military cap provided by the photo studio. Her almond-shaped eyes sparkled with light, her lips were rosy, and her teeth gleamed white. With her youthful glow, fair skin, and two tiny tiger teeth peeking out when she smiled, she looked absolutely charming. Anyone who saw it would like her.

Seeing the picture, Su Chang’e flicked her finger against Su Rui’s face in the photo before sneakily handing it to Su Hongpei.

Su Rui stretched her neck and asked, “What about your photo?”

Su Chang’e walked past her and said, “I gave mine to Big Sister. If you don’t believe me, ask her.”

Su Hongpei confirmed, “Yes, it’s in my pocket.”

Only then did Su Rui drop the matter.

Outside, the loudspeakers played a cheerful tune, signaling the start of the workday.

Su Rui hurried back to grab her arm covers. Standing at the doorway, she called to her eldest sister, “I’ll pay you back for the envelopes later!”

She slipped on the colorful arm covers she had sewn herself using fabric scraps. Each piece was embroidered with little yellow flowers. The bright colors made them stand out, but since they were handmade, no one would criticize her for being vain. Instead, they looked fresh and cheerful.

Su Hongpei had a day off today, and she still had some money left from what their mother had given her. “No need. I haven’t spent all the money mom gave me.”

She was about to clean up the breakfast table when Su Yuqin stopped her. “Go quickly before the postman leaves. Remember, the first address is for your second sister, and the second one is for Su Rui.”

Su Rui picked up on something. “Aren’t they both deputy company commanders? Why make such a distinction?”

Su Chang’e’s expression stiffened. “I just like this order. It doesn’t really matter who gets which letter; I’ve never met either of them anyway.”

Not wanting to mess up her second sister’s lucky number, Su Hongpei carefully placed the two letters in separate pockets.

The supply and marketing cooperative was bustling with activity. The villagers from Yi Wang had brought a cartload of freshly harvested peanuts for consignment.

Outside the cooperative, they were drying the peanuts under the sun, occasionally cracking one open to eat. The fresh peanuts were crispy and sweet.

“Big Sister Su, you’re here! The peanuts are one dime for two pounds. The old folks from Yiwang Village say eating raw peanuts is good for your lungs and helps with coughs. Want to buy some?”

“Alright, I’ll buy some later. Let me mail these letters first.”

Su Hongpei walked to the counter inside. A small jar of glue sat on the counter. She laid the envelopes flat on the table and wrote down the addresses one by one.

Just then, Yan’er, a childhood friend, walked up and stuffed a handful of peanuts into her mouth. “Hurry up and eat. It’s free.”

Su Hongpei glanced outside. Seeing others sneaking bites as well, she finally relaxed and chewed on a few.

“Hey, why did you seal the envelopes?” She turned around just in time to see Yan’er pressing the envelopes shut with glue and panicked. “Why were you so fast?”

Yan’er was puzzled. “Aren’t envelopes supposed to be sealed?”

Su Hongpei had only brought two pennies—no extra money for new envelopes. She had no way of knowing which letter was in which envelope. Anxious, she said, “Now they’re mixed up! What do we do?”

Yan’er pouted. “Didn’t you have the letters stacked on the envelopes? If it’s a big deal, I’ll buy you two new ones. It’s my fault for being too quick.”

Not wanting to upset her friend, Su Hongpei recalled what Su Chang’e had said and quickly reassured her, “It’s fine. It doesn’t really matter who gets which letter. Let’s just send them as they are.”