Crossing Over to Yamada Love

After teaching her daughter, Mrs. Qiu went to do laundry and cook. She was busy on New Year's Eve, and the nagging and laughter passed by.

After the 30th of the lunar month, people stopped working and spent their time eating and chatting. Sunflower seed shells and dried fruit peels littered the floor, but Qiu and the others swept them behind the door. There's a custom here: you can't take out the trash from inside the house before the fifth day of the new year; doing so is considered to be taking away the family's good fortune. So, they sweep the trash behind the door and then take it all out together after the fifth day.

In addition, it is not allowed to use needles after the eighth day of the lunar new year, otherwise it will be considered unlucky. So in the days leading up to the eighth day, sewing baskets are hidden away. Even the most diligent people will wait until after the eighth day to start sewing.

Mo Lan found life leisurely. She would go sledding, pick up some mute beans, and crunch on soybeans. She would also run around wildly with her friends in the village. After all, it was the New Year, and all she wanted was to be happy. She could do whatever she wanted without having to restrain herself.

Mo Lan ran back from outside, her face flushed and her breath steaming in the air. She went straight to the house as soon as she entered the courtyard. There was a tear in the sleeve of her clothes, and she was going to find a needle to sew it up. It was already the ninth day of the month, so it wasn't considered unlucky.

Mo Lan was rummaging through her sewing basket when Qiu Shi came in.

"Lan'er, what are you looking for?"

"My sleeve is torn, I need to find a needle to sew it up," Mo Lan said as she looked for a needle and thread that matched the color of her clothes.

"Come here, let me sew it for you. I've never seen you hold a needle more than a few times. No wonder you can't sew well." Qiu Shi came over and muttered to her daughter while looking for thread. She was satisfied with everything about Mo Lan, except that she felt that Mo Lan didn't like needlework. She was afraid that her daughter's needlework was not good and that she would suffer when she married into a family in the future.

Mo Lan didn't retort. It wasn't that she didn't know how to embroider; her second great-aunt in her past life was very good at it. She had learned it herself, but she wasn't very interested and didn't like to do it herself. She had embroidered many cross-stitch pieces, and she knew many beautiful pictures, but she was just too lazy to do it herself.

After Qiu finished tying up the thread, she told Mo Lan to wait while she went out for a moment. She returned with a small firewood stick and said to Mo Lan, "Open your mouth and bite it."

Although Mo Lan felt helpless, she still opened her mouth and bit down. She knew that Qiu Shi was afraid that she would talk while sewing.

Seeing her daughter biting the wooden stick, Qiu began to sew, muttering as she did so: "Just sew, just connect, that bastard dares to mess with me. Just sew, just connect, that bastard will all go far away."

Mo Lan smiled slightly. Her mother was afraid that ghosts or evil spirits might possess her while she was sewing. Although it was superstition, it was all because she loved her, and Mo Lan felt warm inside.

Qiu tied a knot, broke the string, looked at it, and laughed, "Alright, take the stick down now, don't bite your teeth."

"Mom, I'm so suffocated. Why do I have to bite a stick to sew clothes? What kind of nonsense is this?" Mo Lan sighed.

"Don't talk nonsense. You can't talk while sewing. The person sewing has to mutter something. Lan'er, remember that. You have to do that when you become a mother, otherwise it will bring bad luck." Qiu Shi earnestly instructed her daughter.

"Yes, I'll remember." Mo Lan nodded to her and nestled in Qiu's arms, a warm feeling spreading between the mother and daughter.

After the fifteenth day of the lunar month, the Mo family got up early in the morning to burn offerings, in case guests came to visit.

Mo Lan was chatting idly with Wang Shi, Qiu Shi, and a few others when they heard someone outside calling, "Is anyone home? Is anyone home?"

It was a woman's voice! Who was it? Probably just dropping by. Lately, people have been coming over a lot to chat and build rapport.

Mo Changhe went out and led the person in. Mo Lan looked up and was stunned. Judging from the person's clothes and appearance, she must be a matchmaker.

This matchmaker was a complete stranger; Mo Lan didn't recognize her. Who was she arranging a marriage for?

The group politely invited the matchmaker to sit down and poured her some water. Wang asked her why she had come.

"Auntie, I'm from the next village. I've come to propose marriage. Everyone says your family is good, but I didn't believe it. Now that I've seen it, your family is really big. This yard, these houses, they're top-notch. If someone's daughter comes here, she'll be so lucky." The matchmaker praised as she looked her over.

Mo Lan breathed a sigh of relief. If this wasn't someone proposing marriage for her, then it must be Erlang, but he's still quite young. He still has to take the imperial examination this year, and if he were to be engaged, he'd probably be distracted.

"We're just an ordinary family. You flatter me. Erlang is sixteen now, the age for marriage. May I ask which village and family's daughter you're referring to?" Madam Wang asked politely. Her grandson is not young anymore, and it's not impossible to arrange an engagement, but they must first assess the girl's character.

"Auntie's grandson is sixteen? It's time to find him a wife. I'll go back and find him a good girl. But I'm not here to arrange a marriage for him today," the matchmaker said with a smile.

If it's not Erlang? And it's even less likely to be Xiao San'er, then who could it be? Mo Lan pondered to herself.

"Auntie, I've come today to propose marriage for your eldest son."

As soon as the matchmaker finished speaking, everyone in the Mo family was so shocked that their mouths dropped open. Even Mo Lan stared wide-eyed at the matchmaker in disbelief.

Eldest brother? Uncle! Aunt is sitting right here, why are you talking about marriage with Uncle? Suddenly, Mo Lan understood. Could it be? Could it be that Aunt has been married for many years without children, and someone is eyeing Uncle? But besides earning some money, her family has no power or influence. This is too much...

“Young lady, you must be mistaken. My eldest son is almost forty years old. He has been married for many years. My eldest son’s wife is sitting right here. What marriage proposal is there for him?” After a moment of surprise, Wang pretended not to understand and replied to the matchmaker.

"Auntie, I'm not mistaken. Brother Changhai has been married for many years, but he has no children. Having offspring is a big deal. If word gets out that he has no children, he'll be laughed at. There's a saying: 'If a wife has no children after three years, she can divorce him.' It's been so many years, and Brother Changhai still doesn't have a single child. How can he not be anxious? How can he not be sad?"

"Let's not talk about the past, but now a girl has taken a liking to Brother Changhai. This girl is eighteen this year, very pretty, and has a good temperament. If she's willing to marry into our family, I guarantee she'll give you a healthy baby boy in less than two years. Where else can you find such a good thing? I've come to propose right away, Auntie, you must accept my offer." The matchmaker explained her purpose clearly.

Mo Changhai wasn't inside at the moment; he was reading in his own room. As soon as the matchmaker began speaking, Liu's face changed color, and by the time the matchmaker finished, her face was deathly pale.

The matchmaker wasn't wrong; she truly had no children, and logically, Changhai could indeed divorce her. But, but… she dared not think any further.

"What are you saying! My sister-in-law is such a good person, my brother would never divorce her! Stop talking nonsense." Qiu Shi looked at her sister-in-law's pale face, got angry, stood up from the stool, and shouted at the matchmaker.

“Yes, my family’s Changhai would never divorce his wife. Liu will always be my Mo family’s daughter-in-law, and that will never change. We’re so sorry to have troubled you to make this trip, but we appreciate your kindness. However, let’s not bring this up again.” Wang’s face also darkened, and she turned the matchmaker’s proposal back.

Liu's expression gradually softened as she looked gratefully at her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, but she still felt uneasy.

"Auntie, don't be impatient. Let's talk about it some more. If you don't want to stop, then don't stop. But don't get angry. I still have something to say, let me finish." Seeing that the other party was getting impatient, the matchmaker quickly changed the subject with a smile.

"What did you say? What else is there to say! If you mention divorcing me again, I'll sew your mouth shut with a needle!" Qiu shouted at the matchmaker, still dissatisfied.

"Sister, don't be impatient, let me finish. I won't talk about divorcing you anymore." The matchmaker smiled at Qiu, thinking to herself: The second daughter-in-law of this family is indeed short-tempered.

"Auntie, the other woman isn't unreasonable. She thinks your eldest daughter-in-law has worked hard at home for so many years, she deserves credit even if she hasn't done anything great. When I suggested divorcing her, the girl stopped me. She said she was willing to marry into the family as a concubine. She would always respect Liu as her elder sister and never overstep Liu's bounds. She was willing to raise the child with Liu and have the child call Liu 'Auntie.' She also wanted the child to take care of Liu in her old age and see her off in her final days. Where can you find such an understanding girl?" The matchmaker then mentioned the second option the woman had agreed to.

Mo Lan raised an eyebrow. Who was this person? He'd planned everything out so meticulously—either divorce her or become her mistress. How shrewd!

"Who are they?" Wang asked, her eyes flashing for a moment before she finally spoke.

"Mother!" Qiu called out in surprise. Could it be that Mother has fallen for him? Liu's face turned pale.

"Don't speak," Wang said in a low voice, glancing at Qiu.

"The other party is from Tianwang Temple. The man's name is Wang Youcai, and his wife's maiden name is Zhu, so everyone calls her Zhu Shi. Zhu Shi has given birth to two daughters and three sons. This is the eldest daughter, who is eighteen this year and named Xiang'er. The youngest daughter is fourteen this year and named Xiu'er. The two sons are ten and five years old, respectively. And the little boy is two years old this year. The family is quite well-off. Since Zhu Shi can have children, her daughters are sure to have children too. Auntie, you can just wait to hold your grandson." The matchmaker sensed that the other party was interested and hurriedly revealed the other party's identity.

Wang narrowed her eyes. This girl was eighteen and still unmarried, there must be something wrong with her. There were many children in the family. If her eldest daughter married into the family, her family would have to support her entire family. She could not allow Changhai to marry again, not even as a concubine!

Having no children was his fate. The reason she asked was because she was afraid someone would try to harm her family. Now that she knew, she was relieved. He had only taken a liking to her family and made some money. As long as there was nothing else, it was fine. However, she would still have to find someone to inquire about the family's situation in a couple of days. It wouldn't hurt to be on the safe side.

Wang was pondering, while Liu felt increasingly uncertain as she looked at her mother-in-law. Was her mother's silence because she was reluctant to agree in front of her? Well, she had been childless for many years and truly owed the Mo family a debt. She would arrange for Changhai to marry a concubine; she couldn't make things difficult for her mother.