050 – Give Matchmaker Jin a Like[1]
“Puff–” Lei Xiangren coughed and spurted out tea. He wiped his mouth as he stole a glance at his parent’s face. He wanted to laugh but didn’t dare to. “Matchmaker Jin, you must be mistaken.”
Lei Daqiang’s face flushed red; it was unknown whether he was shy or angry.
Both Zhao Shi and Qian Shi lowered their heads as they snickered while suppressing the laugh, making their faces flushed red.
Lei Xiangyi and Lei Xiangli looked at each other. Their father had three grandchildren; two grandsons and a granddaughter, but still had someone came to act as matchmaker.Lei Xiangyi stammered: “Matchmaker Jin, is mistaken, right?”
Matchmaker Jin seemed as though she did not notice the others’ flushed faces and waved her hand as she said: “How could I make a mistake? If I’m mistaken, won’t it hurt my own reputation? The girl also knows about your family’s situation, and she is quite satisfied. I’m not exaggerating but the girl’s appearance is first-grade. She is gentle, amiable and her cooking is especially first-class. When she truly became your family, you all can live comfortably afterwards.” She spoke as she looked at Lei Daqiang.
Lei Daqiang was cornered, sitting on pins and needles. However, the words “gentle”, “beautiful” and “20 silver tales” constantly circled around his mind.
At this time, Du Shi finally regained her mind, stood up and glared at Matchmaker Jin, “Get out of here! You go match such a good girl to others!”
The smile on Matchmaker Jin’s face faded and her cold eyes fell on Du Sh’s face as she said calmly, “Why should sister be so angry? Brother Lei hasn’t said anything yet.”
“You get out of here, I–”
“Mother!” Lei Xiangli was shocked and hurriedly stopped her. He said quickly in her ear, “Don’t be impulsive! If you offend Matchmaker Jin, what will happen to the marriage of me, fifth brother and little sister?”The flame of fury in Du Shi’s belly swirled, she couldn’t understand Lei Xiangli’s words at all, “What’s the relationship between your marriage and her? Get out of the way!”
Matchmaker Jin sat there, looking at Lei Xiangli with a smile. Finally, someone has a brain.
Lei Xiangli said anxiously: “Listen to me. Matchmaker Jin is the most famous matchmaker in town. She must know other matchmakers. You think about what would happen if she spoke ill of us to other matchmakers? Fifth brother and I are men, but little sister’s reputation must never be spoiled.”
Du Shi quivered and her mind finally cleared up with incessant lingering fear. However, the anger and reluctance did not disappear.
“Matchmaker Jin, our family head doesn’t plan to marry an equal wife. Can you please,” Du Shi suppressed her anger and grudge as she made a gesture with her right hand towards the door. If she could, she would like to pick up Matchmaker Jin and throw her out.
Matchmaker Jin sneered to herself. The people who asked her to come forward promised to give her 8 silver taels, more than double the price of matchmaking. The disparity between Lei Daqiang and that girl was too far that she didn’t have much confidence at first, but she had to get it done just because of Du Shi’s attitude towards her today.
She ignored Du Shi and looked at Lei Daqiang, “Brother Lei, I’ve come today without malicious intention. As soon as you heard mine, Matchmaker Jin’s reputation, you will know that I, Matchmaker Jin don’t tell lies. Otherwise, my reputation won’t be so loudly praise. Don’t you think I’m right?”
Lei Daqiang was not muddle-headed. Lei Xiangli’s worry was the same as his. His youngest son and his only daughter were his treasures. Therefore, he didn’t dare to offend Matchmaker Jin and just nodded in embarrassment, “Yes, I know that Matchmaker Jin, you are showing goodwill, but…” He had been with Du Shi for so many years that the feelings were quite deep, so it was unreasonable to marry an equal wife.
Du Si furiously stared at him, “Old man, why you paying attention to her?”
Matchmaker Jin looked at Lei Chuntao, who was stunned with fright, and said gently: “Better let the girl step out first.”
Lei Chuntao had long been scared witless being under the oppressive pressure, hurriedly went back to her own side room.
Matchmaker Jin confidently said to Lei Daqiang: “Before coming, I’d inquired about your family’s situation. There are three unmarried people in your family; they need money whether they are married in or married out. The fifth gongzi is studying; more money needs to spend on various things. Adding it all up, the sum is not small. Sister Du is managing the household, but the money saved isn’t increasing.” She gave Du Shi a meaningful glance. She actually despised Du Shi’s “stinginess”. It was fine if she was stingy to others, but she was even so stingy to her own family.
Du Shi said coldly: “Matchmaker Jin, you are an outsider, not qualified to interfere in our family’s affairs.”
“Brother Lei, the girl’s joining to your household will benefit you all and do no harm.” Matchmaker Jin continued, “Why don’t you listen first? If you don’t agree, can I still force you to marry her? I think Sister Du is not feeling well. It’d be better ask her to have a rest first.”
Lei Daqiang looked at Zhao Shi and Qian Shi as he said: “Help your mother-in-law back to her room.”
Du Shi felt all the more far from good, “Lei Daqiang, you dare!”
“Go quickly!” Lei Daqiang glared, Zhao Shi and Qian Shi hurriedly dragged Du Shi to leave.
Lei Xiangren, Lei Xiangyi and Lei Xiangli did not leave. The appearance of Matchmaker Jin was so sudden and strange that they doubted her. They also wanted to hear what Matchmaker Jin was thinking of doing.
Matchmaker Jin’s expression eased down and her smile was more sincere. “I’m a person that speaks the truth. If there’s something that doesn’t sound good, please forgive me, Brother Lei.”
Her attitude had always been very kind and gentle that the uncomfortable feeling in Lei Daqiang’s heart couldn’t even flare out. He nodded, “Matchmaker Jin’s words are valued upon. If you have anything to say, feel free to.”
Matchmaker Jin said: “Money; it can’t increase on its own. Brother Lei, there are still three unmarried children. You all ask yourself honestly, if the situation in your family continue to go on like this, can you make up the money for the three people to get married? Well, even if you have enough money now, do you all want your sons and grandchildren to continue to suffer in the future? There are also two daughters-in-law who don’t even have a decent hair ornament on their heads. You two don’t want to be better to your wives?”
Lei Xiangli didn’t say a word. He knew that his parents had some money, but it was not enough to hold a wedding ceremony for the three. Moreover, Old Five needed money to spend on his studies. The main reason why Du Shi was stingy was Old Five.
Lei Xiangren and Lei Xiangyi both nodded their heads slightly.
“The money you have can’t give birth to money, but you have to find a way to make the money grows money.” Matchmaker Jin spoke with sincerity, which easily let people’s guard down. “The girl I want to match with Brother Lei is a dowry maid of a young lady from a rich family. The young lady valued her very much and originally agreed to let the girl go out to get married, but the young lady got pregnant soon after she got married, so the girl stayed with her for three more years. After she was let go with great difficulty, the girl’s father died of illness and she had to observe the mourning for three years[2]. Now, the girl is 26 years old. Because of this, the girl with such older age has yet been match with a man. But this girl is really good. She has learned a lot from following the young lady, including nursing people’s health with meals and particularly adept in managing affairs.”
After a pause, she went on to say: “I don’t think it’s strange to say that if isn’t for the girl’s older age, which is not easy to match, as an outsider, I won’t be willing to match her to Brother Lei.”
Saying such words, she appeared even more sincere.
At this moment, Lei Daqiang’s interest was aroused. Nursing people’s health with meals? Wasn’t that mean he could get healthier and live longer in the future?
Matchmaker Jin had a pair of piercing eyes, how could she not see it? She added a handful of firewood[3], “Brother Lei, think about it. This girl has a wide range of knowledge and is good at managing affairs. Once she joins the household, she will surely lead the family to live a prosperous life. Brother Lei is not very old. It will be a great joy if you can have children at old age.”
Lei Xiangren and his two brothers looked at each other while wondering in their hearts. Was Matchmaker Jin’s mouth too eloquent, or were they too easily incited? At the bottom of their hearts, they felt that the girl was really too good. But after all, this matter concerned their parents. The three brothers dared not express their opinions and secretly looked at Lei Daqiang from time to time.
Everything that needed to be said had been said. Matchmaker Jin stopped talking and drank tea slowly, giving Lei Daqiang time to think.
Lei Daqiang was silent for a long time before he asked, “The betrothal gift?”
Matchmaker Jin said: “Miss Wei is considerate. She said it is fine as long as it is not much worse than the ordinary people’s.” At this time, she mentioned the girl’s surname.
Lei Daqiang tentatively said again: “If I can meet her…”
Matchmaker Jin laughed candidly, “This is easy to do. On a certain day, I’ll call her to the town and you two can meet at a distance.”
“Lei Daqiang, you dare!” Du Shi’s shrieks came from the side room. It turned out that she had been eavesdropping.
In a short while, she rushed out of the side room.
Lei Daqiang had just heard so many good words about Miss Wei. At this time, once he heard Du Shi’s reaction, he thought about Du Shi’s various frivolous quibbling acts and his heart became more inclined to Miss Wei. He berated, “Why are you making a ruckus?”
The authority of the owner of the house had made an appearance; Du Shi did not dare to utter anything for a moment and just looked at him with unbelievable eyes.
Matchmaker Jin stood up, “I’ll go back first. I’ll accompany Miss Wei to sit at the teahouse the morning after tomorrow.”
Lei Daqiang politely sent her until the courtyard’s gate, “Thank you for your trouble, Matchmaker Jin.”
As soon as Matchmaker Jin left, Du Shi finally blew up and yelled as she threw herself at Lei Daqiang. “Lei Daqiang, I’ll fight with you–––”
Lei Daqiang’s neck was scratched by her fingernails, leaving a bloodstain. He gritted his teeth in pain as he pushed Du Shi away and covered his neck with anger: “You shrew!”
Bang, Du Shi hit the table and fell to the ground.
“AHH–” Du Shi got up and rushed to Lei Daqiang. The two wrestled with each other.
“FATHER!”
“MOTHER!”
The central hall was in chaos.
……
Qin Mian sat behind the counter, collecting money while sneakily laughed. Today was the day when Matchmaker Jin went to the old house. As long as he thought of the scene that would appear at this time in the Lei’s house, he felt overjoyed.
All the customers who came to eat looked at him in a funny way.
Seeing that Qin Mian was in a good mood, Zheng Liu came to the counter with a broad smile, “Big boss, eat spicy hot soup tonight?” Because of the busy business, the shop covered his and Wang Shun’s lunch and dinner, but they were usually not the food in the shop. Very rarely, Qin Mian would take the initiative to leave the food in the shop for them.
Note:
[1] Like as in an online post on Weibo, Facebook etc.
[2] In ancient China, when one’s parents died, the children aren’t allowed to do things for example: marrying, participate in imperial examination, going to war and etc. for three years in the name of filial piety.
[3] Add firewood to the fire, making it bigger – give encouragement
