049 – Without Fierce Tricks, It Won’t Work
Du Shi then wailed loudly, “He has money to open his own shop, I only asked him to take account of his blood brothers, but he didn’t want to. This unfilial thing…”
Qin Mian inserted again, “His brothers know that our shop is not short of staff and the two employees we hired are both on contract; we can’t break the agreement, but they still insist on us to hire them. Dear customers, as you can see, our shop is so small, where do we need so many staffs?”
“That is true.” Majority of the customers nodded in agreement.
Some also boldly said: “The brothers still want to, isn’t it so they can take money for doing nothing?”Du Shi’s face intermittently turned blue, red and white. She lowered her head, her thoughts unknown. Then, she got up from the ground and looked at Lei Tie, who was cooking the spicy hot soup as if nothing bothered him. She said in a sad voice: “Eldest, I know you don’t like me and always think that this stepmother I, am aiming at you. I don’t ask you to be filial to me, only ask you to take your brothers into account based on the fact that you all are of the same father.”
A few customers showed an understanding look and nodded slightly, feeling that what Du Shi said was reasonable.
Qin Mian’s expression turned cold. Good one, Du Shi. You know it won’t work by using force, so you have to mislead the outsiders.
“Whatever you say, it’s a fact that you abused Lei Tie and forced him to run away from home when he was 12. Do you think so many people are fools and only listen to your one-sided words? A little inquiry into these matters will tell us who is telling the truth.”
Du Shi fiercely stared at Qin Mian like staring at the enemy who killed her son. The jeering eyes of the people around continuously fell on her, which made the hatred and anger in her chest constantly stirred up and blood rushed up to her head. Suddenly, she strode to the nearest table and overturned the table without warning.
All of a sudden, the six bowls of spicy hot soup on the table all flew out. One bowl flew straight to Qin Mian.
Everyone cried out in alarm.“AH!”
“BE CAREFUL!”
Qin Mian was also frightened and helplessly watched a bowl of spicy hot soup fly towards his face.
Just then, a dark shadow flashed by.
It turned out that Lei Tie abruptly stepped into the air and moved his hands several times to catch all the six bowls of spicy hot soup and put them steadily on another table. There was not a drop of soup spilled from the six bowls.
After another look, Lei Tie had stood by Qin Mian’s side, as steady as Mount Tai.
“Oh!” A customer stared at Lei Tie as he marveled, “I didn’t expect that the big boss of this shop can even do Kung Fu!”
“Big boss?” The corner of Qin Mian’s mouth twitched as stared at Lei Tie. Aside from the two waiters and a few old customers in the shop, others were still used to calling Lei Tie the big boss.
Lei Tie paid attention to him without him (QM) noticing as a ghost of smile flashed through his eyes.
“Are you all right?”
It was only his heart that beat a little too fast, thus Qin Mian shook his head. “I’m fine.”
Du Shi was frightened to be as dumb as a wooden chicken by Lei Tie that her legs trembled and she could not move for a moment. Just now, she could see it clearly that Lei Tie flew over from the door of the shop and caught the six bowls. How, how can he fly?
“Everyone had been frightened,” Lei Tie said to the customers with hands cupped in obeisance, “All customers are given 20% discount from us two as a means of helping everyone get over the shock.”
“Exactly.” Qin Mian smiled genially, “Everyone, please eat slowly. Don’t need to spoil your mood to enjoy [meal] because of others.”
Majority of the customers in the shop were men, therefore they weren’t afraid of Du Shi – a married woman. They laughed one after another as they said that it’s fine, and stayed to continue eating.
Lei Tie looked at Du Shi coldly; his black pupils becoming more isolated and deep, as if the two eyes were black pool.
Du Shi tried to move her eyes away, but she found that she could not move her gaze, her lips trembled but she could not speak a word and the panic in her heart drowned her like the tide, somehow put her out of breathe.
Zhao Shi and Qian Shi were also scared to death. They huddled together for fear that Lei Tie would transfer his anger to them.
Lei Tie held back his threat and said in a low voice, “Still not going?”
After saying that, he pulled Qin Mian back into the shop.
At once, Du Shi’s back straightened up again.
Zhao Shi and Qian Shi secretly breathed a sigh of relief, rushed to hold her up as they whispered, “Mother, let’s go.”
Du Shi walked out a few steps and recklessly snorted, “Heh! Look at your terrified appearance! He merely intimidated me, and that’s all. How could he dare do that to me? This won’t do, I’ve to find another way. In a word, this shop – heh.”
One of the customers, who immersed in spicy hot soup dish, shook his head at her words. This stepmother is truly making one speechless.
Qin Mian stood at the door of the shop and looked at Du Shi, Zhao Shi and Qian Shi murmuring over there with a sly smile on his lips that appeared horrifying.
Wang Shun asked carefully, “Big boss, what are you thinking about?”
With a smile on his face, Qin Mian inadvertently asked: “Little Shunzi, you’re 18 years old now, right? Have you been matched a wife?”
Wang Shun’s face turned red, “Getting married in March next year.”
“Oh, then take this ‘Congratulations’ in advance from me.” Qin Mian said again, “Boy, look at you, obviously very satisfied with your wife. You must have hired a famous matchmaker to act as go-between the prospective marriage partners?”
Wang Shun shook his head. “The matchmaker who acted as my go-between was Aunt Wang from Yao Mountain Village. The most famous matchmaker in our Running Water Town is Matchmaker Jin in the town. Allegedly, 9 out of 10 people who she had acted as go-between have a very peaceful married life.”
A customer who ate barbecue called out: “Small boss, collect the money!”
“Coming!” Qin Mian answered while begrudged. The small boss is Lei Tie!
He turned his head to glare at Lei Tie, who happened to look at him.
Qin Mian was sure that Lei Tie was smiling just now; although the man didn’t smile on his face, he did in his eyes. After receiving the money, he went on to talk to Wang Shun, “What you just said is true? Is that Matchmaker Jin really that good?”
“Of course!” Wang Shun affirmatively said, “That’s what the aunties in our village said. However, she is also more expensive than others.”
“Oh.” Qin Mian glanced at Zheng Liu, who was passing by with a dish in his hand and overheard them. He joked: “Little Liuzi also wants to marry a wife? Little Shunzi, quickly tell him the address of that Matchmaker Jin. Hahaha.”
Zheng Liu knew that this small boss was very kind and instantly asked Wang Shun for the address of the matchmaker with a grin.
Qin Mian had a sly smile in his eyes as he quietly memorized the address in his mind.
In the afternoon, after the dishes sold out, Qin Mian ran to Lei Tie, who was cleaning up the kitchen utensils. “Why don’t we stay out tonight and spend a night in town?”
Lei Tie nodded in agreement.
After Qin Mian took the money from the cash box, he said to Zheng Liu and Wang Shun, “You two should go back to rest earlier after you clean up.”
“Aye, see you tomorrow, bosses.”
They went to book a room in the only inn in town and after telling the waiter to feed the ox, Qin Mian took Lei Tie to a clothing shop.
“I’ve a fierce way to make Du Shi preoccupied to try finding trouble with us later on. Do you have any objection?”
Lei Tie shook his head, somewhat curious of the wife’s plan.
Qin Mian replied with a mysterious smile and said without explanation, “You’ll know soon. Come with me.”
……
The past few days had been fine weather with cloudless blue sky and shining blazing sun. The warm sunshine sprinkled on the mother earth and covered everywhere with a layer of warm color, making people feel good.
Lei Daqiang, Du Shi, Lei Xiangren, Zhao Shi and Qian Shi were in a very bad mood. At the thought of Lei Tie and Qin Mian counting money every day, their hands ached and their hearts felt just like a hundred ants biting it.
“Mother, have you actually come up with a way? Are we really going to watch eldest brother make money?” Between Lei Daqiang and Du Shi, Lei Xiangren had more faith in Du Shi.
Du Shi frowned, “Am I not trying to figure it out?”
“It’s been several days…” Qian Shi murmured and sighed to herself. Here she was worried, but her husband didn’t care in the least.
Lei Xiangyi was aware that his wife was staring at him. He also wanted to make money, but while he felt very apologetic for his brothers, he felt lack of interest because they did not separate from the family that even if they really got money from his eldest brother’s shop, he would not get a share of it.
Lei Daqiang hatefully said: “This really won’t do, I’ll personally make an appearance. I just don’t believe this.”
When the family was discussing, a sprightly voice came from outside the courtyard, “Is this Lei Daqiang, Brother Lei’s home?”
At the gate stood a woman dressed in a bright red gown[1] with golden border, looking very festive. She had gray hair, was about 50 years old, but she had a smile on her face and bright clear eyes as she stood with her head raised high, bearing a unique momentum. Taking a look at her hair worn in a bun, there was a bright red flower. Wasn’t this a matchmaker dress up?
At thought that there were two sons and one daughter in the family who had not been engaged to others, Du Shi was pleased and quickly went out, “This is the Lei’s home. May I know who are you?”
The woman cheerfully said: “I’m Matchmaker Jin from town.”
Du Shi was greatly rejoiced, “You’re surnamed Jin? Are you perhaps the one who is called the ‘famous mouth’[2]?”
“I’m not worthy of such compliment. Hehe, it’s merely praise made by others.” Although Matchmaker Jin said so, her eyes looked a little proud, clearly pleased with her own skill.
“Come in, come in.” Du Shi’s face was radiating with smiles and said to Zhao Shi and Qian Shi, “Why haven’t you bring out the tea and snacks yet?”
Lei Xiangli’s earlobes were red as he hung down his head uneasily. Lei Xiangzhi and Lei Chuntao were both younger than him, this Matchmaker Jin most probably coming for him.
As Matchmaker Jin walked into the house, she looked around at the people in the room. Soon, her eyes fixatedly fell on Lei Daqiang’s face. Lei Daqiang’s face looked a little old, but all the countrymen were like this. He was in his early 40s, his body seemed thin, but judging from his strong arms, he was not weak. After getting this basic information, Matchmaker Jin felt a greater chance of success.
“Congratulations to Brother Lei and Sister Lei. If the next step succeeded, not only will Brother Lei enjoy happiness in the future, but sister will also gain a bosom friend.” Her face was full of smiles and while the words she spoke were a little unclear, her intonation was spry that could easily obtained people’s favorable impression.
“Gain a bosom friend”, in other words, the family would be adding people. Du Shi thought about it for a while. She didn’t dare to slight Matchmaker Jin and added tea to her as she asked, “Which family’s girl is it? Is it for Old Four or Old Five in our family?”
Matchmaker Jin did not answer immediately, but mentioned: “This girl is not only beautiful and kind-hearted, but also quick at manual work. Not only that, she also said that she was willing to bring a dowry worth 20 silver taels. Brother Lei and sister, don’t you think this is a great joyful event?”
20 taels! Du Shi and Lei Daqiang’s eyes sparkled, showing a great sense of joy.
However, Lei Xiangli felt rather uncomfortable. 20 taels dowry was not a small amount. Ordinary people could only save less than 2 silver taels even if they tired themselves out for a year. Would he be able to keep such a rich wife under control?
“Is what Matchmaker Jin said true?” Lei Daqiang couldn’t believe it. “The conditions of our family are just ordinary. Will such a girl wants to marry into our family?”
Matchmaker Jin smiled deeper, “Why not? What’s more, aren’t matchmakers playing the role of mediators?”
Du Shi asked: “Then, does this girl meant for our family’s Old Four or Old Five?”
Matchmaker Jin sipped her tea, chuckled and looked at Lei Daqiang. “None of them. She meant to be an equal wife[3] for Brother Lei.”
“What!” Bang, Du Shi fell from her chair and sat on the ground, struck dumb with astonishment.
Note:
[1] Chinese-styled gown
A matchmaker
[2] Mainly describe people who are good at expressing eloquence and the like
[3] Compared with concubines, the legal and social status of an equal wife is equivalent to that of a formal spouse, and the children born are regarded as inherited children with inheritance rights.
