My humble days in ancient times

After returning home, Dai Lanhua pulled Li Hehua to sit on the edge of the kang and said, "You were so enthusiastic at that stall today. Did you have a crush on Zhuzi?"

Li Hehua's face instantly turned red like a ripe apple, and she said coquettishly, "Mom, I just saw that he couldn't handle it alone, so I wanted to help him."

Dai Lanhua smiled and asked gently, "So what do you think of him? Tell me the truth."

Li Hehua lowered her head, twisting the corner of her clothes with her fingers and said, "I'm so young, how can I judge people accurately? I'd better let mother help me to screen. Brother Zhuzi is tall and looks strong. His skin is not white but not dark either, which makes him look healthy. Now he has a business and can support himself, so he is not bad."

Dai Lanhua smiled and said, "Oh, I haven't even seen the house yet. I don't know if it's a thatched house or a brick and tile house."

Li Hehua smiled and said, "Most of the houses in our village are thatched. Thatched houses are fine, what's so scary about them? As long as people are diligent, their lives will get better in the future."

Dai Lanhua laughed out loud: "Oh, I can hear it. You are attracted to her. It's true that girls can't be kept when they grow up."

"No way, mom, don't talk nonsense." Li Hehua stamped her feet and turned her head away shyly.

Dai Lanhua said seriously, "If you like her, I will go to his stall tomorrow and give him an address so that he can come and propose marriage."

"So fast?" Li Hehua asked in surprise, eyes wide open.

Dai Lanhua said, "You will be seventeen by the New Year, a grown-up girl. You can't put it off any longer. This young man from a good family is very popular, so you have to grab him quickly."

Li Hehua blushed and nodded, saying, "I'll listen to you."

Dai Lanhua sighed and said, "I've put a lot of effort into arranging your marriage. I always wanted you to marry into the town and live a more comfortable life, but things haven't turned out the way I wished. Now I don't want to think about those unrealistic things anymore. It's better to find a reliable person and live a stable life!"

The next day, Zhuzi returned home happily and handed the note to Aunt Zhang. Aunt Zhang glanced at it and said, "You kid, you know I can't read a single word, so it's useless to give me this note."

Zhuzi was in high spirits, his eyes shining, and he said, "Why is it all in vain? Take the note and I'll read it to you."

Aunt Zhang quickly sat down and said expectantly, "Read it to me quickly."

Zhuzi cleared his throat and said, "Lijia Village."

Aunt Zhang quickly realized what was happening and slapped her thigh excitedly, "Oh, it's done! Now we can go and propose marriage!"

Aunt Zhang acted very quickly and quickly found the famous matchmaker Zhang Pozi nearby.

Then Mrs. Zhang took Aunt Zhang to the county town, carefully selected and bought the betrothal gifts, and happily went to Lijia Village to propose marriage.

When they arrived at Lijia Village, the Li family warmly welcomed them in. After some pleasantries, the two sides began to discuss the details of the marriage.

Mrs. Zhang was a gifted talker, praising the pillar to the heavens and the earth. The Li family members all smiled with satisfaction after hearing this.

At this time, Li Hehua walked out of the house shyly with light lotus steps.

Aunt Zhang smiled broadly and said to Dai Lanhua, "I didn't expect your daughter to be so beautiful. When I saw her, I loved her from the bottom of my heart."

Dai Lanhua smiled, her eyes full of satisfaction, and said, "Your Zhuzi is not bad either. He can endure hardships and is a down-to-earth person who knows how to live a good life."

Aunt Zhang quickly said, "They are both good children. They will definitely live a prosperous life together in the future. Don't worry about marrying your daughter here. I will treat her well, just like my own daughter."

When Li Hehua heard this, her face instantly turned red like a ripe apple, and she quickly ran back to the house with her face covered in embarrassment.

Dai Lanhua said, "In my family, it's just me and Hehua who depend on each other, and in yours, it's you and Zhuzi. Our family situations are very similar, and we've both been through ups and downs. It hasn't been easy, so we can understand each other."

"Yes." Aunt Zhang nodded repeatedly in response.

Dai Lanhua continued, "A betrothal gift is still required. Girls around here all get married with ten taels of silver. I'll take ten taels too. As for the rest, you can decide for yourself."

Aunt Zhang was overjoyed to hear this and immediately replied, "Don't worry, we have everything that others have, and we won't let Lotus down in the slightest."

When she got home, Aunt Zhang was so happy that she couldn't stop smiling, but she was also so worried that her brows were furrowed.

At this time Xu Ruyi came over.

Xu Ruyi saw Aunt Zhang fidgeting and looking uncertain, and asked, "Aunt Zhang, what's wrong? Why are you so absent-minded? Is there something bothering you?"

Aunt Zhang hesitated to speak, opened her mouth several times, and finally said, "Your brother Zhuzi's marriage is about to be decided, but..."

Xu Ruyi was delighted when she heard this and said, "This is good news. Why does Aunt Zhang look so worried? She should be happy."

Aunt Zhang looked at Xu Ruyi and felt a little embarrassed to speak for a long time, as if she found it difficult to start talking.

Xu Ruyi was a little anxious and asked quickly, "Aunt Zhang, are you treating me as an outsider? Just tell me what you want to say. We are all neighbors, and I will definitely help if I can."

Aunt Zhang thought for a moment, gritted her teeth, and said, "I am worried. Getting married requires a lot of money. The betrothal gift alone is ten taels, and other expenses haven't been taken into account yet."

Xu Ruyi felt relieved when she heard this and said, "Aunt Zhang, money is nothing to me. I'll lend you twenty taels. You should make good arrangements and get Brother Zhuzi married as soon as possible."

Aunt Zhang was deeply touched when she heard this, but a little embarrassed. She said, "I'm so old and still have to borrow money from a young girl like you. It's really shameful. I'm too embarrassed to ask!"

Xu Ruyi smiled and said, "Aunt Zhang, money is needed everywhere in life, and it's hard to earn. So it's not shameful to lend you money. Besides, you were the one who carried me back from the river. Why can't I help you when you're in trouble?"

Aunt Zhang said a little embarrassedly, "It's just a simple task. Anyone would do the same. You don't have to take it to heart."

Xu Ruyi smiled and said, "It's just a small favor from me. Aunt Zhang, don't take it to heart."

Aunt Zhang smiled and said lovingly, "You are quite good at coaxing people. You are such a sensible and thoughtful child."

Xu Ruyi held Aunt Zhang's hand tightly and said affectionately, "Aunt Zhang, you are a blessed aunt. Brother Zhuzi is so filial and thinks of you in everything. You will have many good days in the future. Don't be so sad like today. I'm afraid you will get a few more wrinkles, which will not be beautiful."

Aunt Zhang smiled brightly and said, "Okay, okay, I'll do as you say. You're such a sweet talker, look how happy you've made me."

Finally, Aunt Zhang took Xu Ruyi's twenty taels of silver, gave ten taels of silver as a betrothal gift to Dai Lanhua, and then set the wedding date on the sixth day of the twelfth lunar month.

Xu Ruyi said to Aunt Zhang, "That's great! There's one more person for the New Year this year. Maybe there will be another one next year."

Aunt Zhang was so happy after hearing this that she couldn't stop smiling. But when she calmed down, she realized: How could such a young girl say that there would be another person next year? This sounded like the words of a married woman!

However, Aunt Zhang didn't think too much about it. She was not a person who liked to worry about things, so she quickly put this sentence behind her.