Free Web NovelChapter 460: Chapter 241: The Elders’ Initial Discussion of the Marriage, Part 2
Juhua said, "It’s nothing. I just think the yard is a bit empty, but it should be fine by next year. Still, to hear you two talk, you’d think this yard was already full of shady trees, laden with fruit, teeming with chickens and ducks, and overflowing with vegetables. Heh! I’m not making fun of you. I suppose everyone’s the same. My brother and I were like that, too. Once the house was built, we spent all day shoveling here to level the ground, digging there to plant fruit trees or flowers, or putting in bamboo and willows. We never rested, slowly turning our home into what it is today, bit by bit."
Hearing this, they all laughed.
Qingmu said, "Isn’t that the truth? When our house was finished, it was just a bare patch of land, but I felt so content just looking at it. I’d look at a corner and imagine planting bamboo; I’d look at the backyard and want to plant fruit trees. I couldn’t even wait for spring. Juhua dug up a bunch of wild chrysanthemums and planted them at the base of the wall, but I still felt it wasn’t enough, though there was no more room to plant."
He really had wanted to plant more wild chrysanthemums. That autumn, the golden wild chrysanthemums at the base of the wall had bloomed with abandon, encircling the entire front and back yards. Waking up in the morning, the sight of those dew-kissed, delicate golden flowers made his heart feel as if it were radiating light like the morning sun. Besides, they were good for making tea and stuffing pillows, so why not plant them? And now, they could even be sold for money!
When Zhang Yang heard Qingmu, he looked as if he had found a kindred spirit. His eyes shone with delighted surprise as he said loudly, "That’s exactly what I was thinking! I took two cuttings from the plum blossom tree at the school and planted them. I have no idea if they’ll survive, though."
Zhang Huai shot him a look and asked with a smile, "I haven’t even asked you yet. Did you tell the teacher? You didn’t just sneak off and cut them, did you?"
Zhang Yang laughed. "Of course I told him! Would I dare to do it secretly?"
After a few more jokes, Zhang Huai said, "Let’s not look anymore. We’re getting carried away with excitement, forgetting that your Brother Qingmu’s place is much more established than this. It’s not too late to come see it next year when we’ve fixed it up a bit. Right now, it’s just too shabby—completely bare. It’s not even as lively as our old house. At least that place has a few trees and flower bushes, and the yard is fenced with mujin."
Zhang Yang laughed. "I just wanted Brother Qingmu and Sister Juhua to help us brainstorm what to plant. More heads are better than one, aren’t they?"
Juhua smiled. "I can’t help with much else, but I’ve planted plenty of peach and apricot trees and have a lot of seedlings. I’ll give you some to plant when the time comes. Yangzi, could you get another plum blossom branch for me to try planting?"
Zhang Yang quickly said, "I don’t even know if these cuttings will take. Sister Juhua, you shouldn’t waste your effort. Two plum tree saplings have sprouted behind our school. I’ve been saving them to transplant in the spring. I’ll give you one then. And if these two cuttings survive, I’ll give you one of them, too."
Juhua was delighted to hear that. This was even better; she wouldn’t have to worry about it.
So, the group stopped looking at the yard and went to wander around inside the house.
In the kitchen, He and Yang Family were chatting intimately, talking about their children, of course. This was the time when all parents were busiest—busy in heart and busy in mouth. When the time was right for an engagement, they would be busy in body—running themselves ragged with arrangements. This would last until the younger generation was married, and then came the waiting—waiting for the young couple to have a grandchild.
He said considerately to Yang Family, "Once Juhua turns fifteen next year, we can have them get engaged first, but let’s wait two years for the wedding. I’d love for them to marry sooner, but I’m afraid Juhua is still too young and hasn’t fully matured. It wouldn’t be good for having children. Besides, we also want to work hard for another two years and build up our savings. Otherwise, wouldn’t we be wronging Juhua?"
Yang Family, who was sitting by the stove mouth feeding the fire, nodded in agreement. "Juhua is still too delicate; she needs another two years to grow. But I don’t like hearing you talk about wronging Juhua. Changhe and Dashuan have been friends for so many years. Don’t you know what kind of people we are? We’ve never been the type to be blinded by money. We chose Huai Zi because we feel he’s an honest boy, and you and your husband are decent people. Her father and I are at ease with Juhua marrying into your family. Can any amount of wealth be more important than a person’s character?"
He sighed. "Aunt Zheng, there’s nothing I can’t say to you. I originally thought the same thing—aren’t we all the same kind of people? Seeing you all doing so well, his father and I are only happy for you. But, after what Huai Zi said back then, if we don’t save up a respectable sum before formally asking for Juhua’s hand, other people will surely think we’re just scrambling to propose because your family has become prosperous. It doesn’t matter if people gossip about Huai Zi—he’s a boy, after all—but Juhua will be looked down upon."
Yang Family was stunned to hear this. ’She’s right, people really would say that! So becoming wealthy has its own troubles. If our family were still dirt-poor, we definitely wouldn’t have this worry.’
She looked at He, deeply moved. Anyone else wouldn’t have cared about such things.
He stirred the contents of the wok, which clanged loudly as plumes of oily smoke rose from it. After a few more stirs, she put the lid on and said to Yang Family, "Keep the fire low. These dried bamboo shoots need to simmer for a while."
Yang Family nodded in acknowledgment, then frowned. "What you’re saying makes sense, but this is a matter between our two families. It has nothing to do with anyone else. Let them talk if they want to. As long as the children are happy, that’s what’s most important. Besides, you’ve built a tile-roofed house now. Your family is doing quite well."
He turned and moved closer to the stove, smiling at Yang Family. "I just want to save up a bit more so we can give Juhua a proper wedding. If I was so afraid of gossip that I insisted on earning more money than your family before proposing, I’m afraid we’d never have a chance in this lifetime. Ai! Isn’t it frustrating? Your family doing well is clearly a good thing, and I’m nothing but happy for you, yet I still have to worry about this."
Yang Family’s heart filled with joy upon hearing this. She said, "It’s all because of those idle gossips. They’ve got full stomachs and nothing better to do than meddle in other people’s business." (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian.com to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
