Chapter 410 - 344: Ma Ling’s Flaw
As usual, after the lights were out and their two young daughters were asleep, Zhao Youcai and Wang Meilan began discussing their son's marriage again.
When he heard Wang Meilan say that she had already gone to see Liu Tiezui today, Zhao Youcai said nothing.
Seeing him remain silent, Wang Meilan asked curiously, "What's wrong? Why aren't you saying anything?"
Zhao Youcai said, "I was just thinking... we're not short on money, and you're planning a big wedding for our son, so why not look at some other girls for him?"
Hearing this, Wang Meilan frowned. "Didn't you say our son has taken a liking to the Ma Family's daughter?"
"But we don't need to spend that much money to marry their daughter."
"Just stay out of it," Wang Meilan said irritably. "As long as my son likes her, that's all that matters. Who cares whose daughter she is? It's not like I'm short on money."
Hearing this bold declaration, Zhao Youcai was momentarily speechless.
Then, Wang Meilan added, "Besides, I think Ma Ling is great. The girl is pretty, dutiful, and a hard worker. Our son can't go wrong marrying her."
"Mm." Listening to Wang Meilan list Ma Ling's good qualities, Zhao Youcai subconsciously nodded. But then he immediately added, "But that girl does have one flaw!"
...
The next morning, Zhao Youcai was the one cooking again.
Because she had to go to work during the day and couldn't participate in the collective village labor, Wang Meilan had scheduled all his chores for the morning.
A master's touch is unmistakable.
Zhao Youcai made beef and turnip stew. While it simmered, he placed a steamer rack on top and steamed a pot of large buns.
Then, the family of five gathered around the kang table and happily ate their breakfast.
Meanwhile, in the East of Yong'an Village, Ma Ling, her younger brother, and their parents were also eating in their home.
Ma Ling's father was named Ma Daifu, and her mother was Wang Cuihua. She also had an older brother, who had gotten married two years ago and moved out to live on his own.
Of the four of them, only ten-year-old Ma Yang ate without a care; the other three all had heavy hearts.
Wang Cuihua took a bite of a flatbread. As she chewed, she glanced at her husband. Seeing Ma Daifu signal her with his eyes, Wang Cuihua shot him a glare. Then she asked Ma Ling, "Daughter, about that matter Liu Tiezui came to discuss yesterday, what have you decided?"
At her mother's words, Ma Ling blushed and lowered her head, pretending to sip her cornmeal porridge. "Mom," she mumbled, "let me think about it some more."
"What's there to think about?" Ma Daifu chimed in. "That boy, Zhao Jun, is wonderful. This is a rare opportunity you don't want to miss. What's that saying? You couldn't find a son-in-law like him even if you searched with a lantern."
"The saying is 'couldn't find one even with a lantern,'" Wang Cuihua shot Ma Daifu a look, then turned to Ma Ling. "Daughter, whether it's a yes or a no, we have to give them an answer. Liu Tiezui is waiting."
Ma Ling lowered her head and thought for a moment before saying, "Mom, can we give her an answer at noon?"
"What are you up to now?" As soon as Ma Ling spoke, Wang Cuihua's expression changed. "It's not that I'm trying to criticize you, but you're always up to some nonsense. Why are you spending money on useless things?"
At her mother's words, Ma Ling's eyes reddened. She kept her head down and didn't speak as tears fell, splashing into her cornmeal porridge.
Seeing this, Ma Daifu reached out and nudged his wife. Wang Cuihua shrugged her arm free and snapped at him, "Am I wrong? This is now. A few years ago, they would have arrested her for this."
Hearing this, Ma Ling immediately turned, got up, and walked toward the outer room.
Seeing her daughter leave, Ma Daifu glared at Wang Cuihua and complained, "Look at you. Why do you have to argue during a meal?"
Wang Cuihua's eyes widened in anger. "Weren't you the one who told me to say something?" she retorted.
"I..." Ma Daifu was speechless.
Ma Ling went outside and walked a few steps to the woodpile. She looked left and right, then from a hidden spot within, she pulled out a small Butter Paper package.
This package didn't contain dry rations; instead, it was flat and square.
Ma Ling faced the woodpile with her back to her house, opened the Butter Paper package, and stuffed the money inside into her pocket.
Then, Ma Ling walked out of the yard and left home.
She walked quickly southward, heading straight for a certain house.
Inside the home's wicker fence were two thatched-roof houses. Ma Ling held onto the fence and called out, "Aunt Han! Auntie Han!"
Ma Ling called out twice, but when no one came out, she decided to push open the gate and go inside.
But just as she turned, she realized someone was standing right behind her.
This gave Ma Ling a fright. She yelped and jumped back. Only after getting a clear look at the person did she complain, "Uncle Han, why didn't you make a sound behind me?"
Han Jiang laughed. "My dear girl, you came here calling for your aunt. I'm your uncle. What was I supposed to say?"
"You old man, always so particular." Ma Ling smiled and asked, "Is my aunt home?"
"She's home." Han Jiang pointed toward the house. "Come on, my girl, let's go inside."
Ma Ling followed Han Jiang inside. The moment she pushed the door open, she smelled smoke. In the inner room, she saw a wizened, skinny little old lady sitting on the kang, smoking.
Life was hard for people in the mountains. Compared to their peers in the city, their appearances made them look ten or twenty years older.
This was no exaggeration. The little old lady looked to be in her seventies, but she had only just turned fifty-one this year.
"Oh, my dear girl is here!" When Mrs. Han saw Ma Ling, her eyes instantly lit up, as if she had just seen a wealthy patron.
"Yes, Aunt Han." Ma Ling took two steps forward, sat sideways on the edge of the kang, and said to Mrs. Han, "I've come to trouble you again."
"Nonsense, what are you saying, my girl," the old lady laughed. "We're not strangers. If you need anything, just tell your aunt."
"Well..." Ma Ling blushed, lowered her head slightly, and fidgeted with the hem of her clothes, not speaking for a moment.
Mrs. Han was a sharp one. Seeing this, she chuckled and asked, "My girl, is it about getting married?"
Ma Ling kept her head down but gave a slight nod. With her lips closed, she let out a soft "mm."
Elder Han and Mrs. Han exchanged a look. They both knew the girl was shy, so neither of them laughed.
Mrs. Han handed her pipe to the old man, then reached out and took Ma Ling's hand. "My girl," she said softly, "are you wanting to see if it's a suitable match?"
"Yes." Since the old lady had asked, Ma Ling didn't hide it anymore. She said directly, "I want Auntie to help me see. Then, whether it works out or not, I have to give them an answer."
Just then, Han Jiang asked from the side, "Whose family is the boy from?"
"Zhao Jun, from Zhao Youcai's family," Ma Ling answered quickly.
"Oh." Hearing this, the old lady glanced at her husband. Then she turned to Ma Ling and said, "My dear girl, it's not that your aunt is being stingy..."
"Auntie, you don't have to say it." Ma Ling pulled her hand from Mrs. Han's grasp, reached into the pocket of her cotton-padded jacket, and took out a wad of cash. She unfolded it and counted it in front of the old man and woman. Though it was a mix of large and small bills, it added up to exactly ten yuan.
Ma Ling stood up, walked over to a tall wooden table nearby, and held the money up before an incense burner on the table. Then she turned back to Mrs. Han and said, "Auntie, I'll have to ask you to put your heart into this."
"Alright!" The old lady smiled, the wrinkles on her face bunching together. Then, she closed her eyes and began to mutter and hum, her words a low, indistinct drone.
Ma Ling stood to the side, watching the old lady nervously. This was, after all, a major event in her life.
But the old lady had only mumbled a few phrases when her brow furrowed. Seeing this, the old man standing beside her felt his heart skip a beat.