Chapter 509 - 266: Sounding Out
Liu Sanshun and Mei poured the fish and shrimp they had caught into their family’s fishpond before heading back to the village. Along the way, Sanshun was still thinking about what Juhua had said earlier and walked on without a word. Liu Xiaomei, however, kept trying to make conversation with her third brother, thinking he was upset again after seeing Juhua.
_Sigh!_ ’I wonder when Third Brother will ever cheer up.’
That day, the Yang Family’s wife went to Xiatang Market. On her way back, she stopped by the Liu Family’s home. Beaming, she called out to Liu Sanshun, who was drying fishing nets in the courtyard, "Sanshun, is your mother home?"
When Liu Sanshun saw it was her, he quickly forced a smile. "It’s Aunt Zheng. My mom’s home. Mom, Aunt Zheng is here to see you!" His smile was a bit unnatural. In short, he still couldn’t act completely normal around Juhua or her family.
Mei’s mother came out of the house and smiled at the Yang Family’s wife. "Qingmu’s mother, what a rare guest! What brings you here today?"
Just then, Liu Xiaomei came out and brought two small stools to the doorway for the Yang Family’s wife and her mother to sit on. She then went to the kitchen to start cooking.
The Yang Family’s wife sat down and said with a laugh, "I just came from Xiatang Market. Laixi asked me to pass on a message. He wants you to send over some more goods—the shop is running low. A merchant bought a large batch the other day. Oh my! Mei’s mother, look at your Ershun’s craftsmanship! It’s really paying off now. The things he weaves are being sold to faraway places. With such a capable son, you’re set for a comfortable life! My Changhe often says at home that Fatty Liu is truly blessed, with four capable sons and a delightful daughter!"
Mei’s mother and Liu Sanshun were both very pleased to hear this.
Pleased as she was, Mei’s mother said to the Yang Family’s wife with sincerity, "That’s also thanks to your nephew. He’s a sharp one and knows how to sell things. That’s the only reason Ershun’s crafts can be sold. I’ve heard both Mei and Sanshun say that this Laixi is very capable. Someone else wouldn’t be able to sell them so well."
The Yang Family’s wife’s face lit up in a wide smile. "That boy does have a quick mind, but he’s a bit flighty and not very mature. _Sigh!_ It’s tough for him doing business at the market—he barely eats three square meals, always just making do. He told me, ’Auntie, you should move to the market sooner, then I’d have a place to eat!’ Just listen to how pitiful that sounds! But how could we possibly move to the market? That’s just wishful thinking! His uncle laughed at him and said, ’If you want a hot meal, just hurry up and get married!’"
Mei’s mother laughed. "That’s true. If he got married, he’d have a helper, and his business would surely become even more prosperous."
As she spoke, she got up and brought over her small sewing basket. She picked up a half-finished shoe sole and continued her conversation with the Yang Family’s wife while doing her needlework.
Seeing this, the Yang Family’s wife felt she was probably keeping the other woman from her work. However, she had come with a purpose today: she wanted to sound out Mei’s mother to see if she could arrange a match between Laixi and Liu Xiaomei. So, she paid it no mind.
She sighed. "Isn’t that what everyone says? But finding a wife isn’t that simple. Otherwise, his parents wouldn’t be so worried at home, and I wouldn’t be worried either."
Mei’s mother asked, a little surprised, "Laixi is so capable, and I’ve seen the boy—he’s good-looking too. Your brother’s family is well-off, so shouldn’t finding a good wife be an easy matter? What is there to worry about?"
The Yang Family’s wife was secretly pleased to hear this, but she said, "I wouldn’t be surprised if someone else asked that, but it’s strange coming from you. You have four sons yourself, don’t you know how hard matchmaking can be? It’s not hard to just marry anyone, but it’s hard to find a wife you’re truly happy with. We’re not after anything else, just a good person. Marrying a virtuous wife to live a peaceful life—that’s not easy!"
Mei’s mother nodded repeatedly at her words. Her gaze drifted involuntarily to her third son. She saw that after drying the nets, he was now busy tidying up inside and outside the house, not resting for a moment. Now he was carrying out the tender green grass he had cut that morning, chopping it into pieces to feed the fish in the pond.
Seeing him, her heart ached. She sighed and said, "Isn’t that the truth. It’s the same with my Sanshun—his marriage prospects are completely up in the air."
Seeing her expression, the Yang Family’s wife knew she was worried about Sanshun’s marriage and comforted her, "Don’t you worry. Your Sanshun is very capable. Countless people praise him. He’s fast at planting rice seedlings, and now he knows how to raise fish. Just the other day, my Changhe was even mentioning him to Huai Zi’s father."
Although Mei’s mother was happy to hear her words, she couldn’t help but feel a touch of resentment. ’If my Sanshun is so good, then why didn’t you marry Juhua to him?’ So she said sourly, "What’s so good about him? It’s just enough to feed himself. How can he compare to your family’s Qingmu and Huai Zi?" She said this because Zhang Huai was now the Zheng Family’s future son-in-law.