"That depends on Mom and Dad. Let’s deal with the immediate issue first. If our sister is really that determined, Mom and Dad might eventually give in for her sake. What I’m most afraid of is a one-sided affection—what if the other party has no intention of climbing up our family’s social ladder? Then Mom and Dad would lose face, and our sister would end up heartbroken."
After speaking, Third Brother couldn’t help but sigh. Why did their sister have to fall for someone like this? If she’d picked someone slightly more conventional, they could have made things work. Even if this guy became their brother-in-law, they wouldn’t be able to secure him a stable job.
"Ah, if only his family had more sons and he could marry into ours. None of us inherited Mom and Dad’s culinary skills—we just don’t have the talent. Our sister is devoted to painting and doesn’t like people who are too calculating."
Second Brother sighed gloomily.
Father Liu, who had been holding in his urge to use the bathroom, walked out and overheard his second son’s words. His expression flickered briefly before settling into annoyance.
"Don’t you two have anything better to do? Has your sister eaten yet?"
Startled, Second Brother and Third Brother quickly stepped aside and headed to the kitchen.
That night, Father Liu was relieved to hear that his daughter had eaten something, but he tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.
"If you really can’t sleep, go out and run a few laps. At least you won’t be so restless."
Mother Liu was already upset. Though their daughter had eaten, her heart was clearly elsewhere, and it weighed heavily on her. Now her husband’s constant shifting only added to her irritation.
"It’s all because of that—"
Father Liu bit back the word "ungrateful daughter," unable to bring himself to say it.
"Today, Second Brother mentioned that if the Shen family had more sons, one of them could marry into our family. None of our three boys or our daughter can cook—our family’s culinary legacy will die with us. We can still work for another twenty years, but what then?"
"Would they even agree to that?"
Mother Liu, already wide awake, turned the idea over in her mind. The more she thought about it, the more appealing it seemed. They had savings—dowry money set aside for their daughter.
If he married into their family, they could even buy a house for the young couple.
Father Liu hesitated. Arranging for a man to marry into their family wasn’t easy. From what Second and Third Brother had said, the other family wasn’t as well-off as theirs, but they were comfortable enough that they wouldn’t need to send a son away.
The couple turned over at the same time, bumping heads.
"Ow! Could you be any slower? Ugh—" Mother Liu rubbed her forehead.
"Wait—let Ping’er handle it herself. If she can convince him to marry into our family, then we’ll agree to their relationship. That way, we won’t be the bad guys. If it works out, we gain a son. If not, Ping’er will have to let go of this idea."
"Wife, you’re quick-witted as always. Tomorrow, tell our daughter that we’ve always intended to find her a husband who’d marry into our family. If he agrees, we’ll pass down our family’s culinary skills to him. His daughter can either join our household or stay with his family—we’ll even cover the customary ‘adoption fee.’"
After settling on this plan, the couple finally managed to fall asleep.
Liu Ping stared at her bedroom door. She wanted to go see Ershun, to check on him, but Second and Third Brother were right—if she ran off now, her parents might drag her back and she’d never get another chance to leave. So she picked up a pen and began writing a letter instead.
At least Ershun could read. She wanted him to be okay. She hadn’t even confessed her feelings to him yet. She’d lured him into friendship with snacks, but he had no idea what she truly felt.
She’d promised to bring him pea cakes next time. They’d even pinky-sworn on it.
Ershun lay awake under his mosquito net, exhausted from a full day’s work but unable to sleep. Frustrated, he got up, grabbed his hoe, and headed back to the fields.
His best friend had left without even saying goodbye. His parents acted strangely, telling him not to dwell on it—but that only made him more determined to find out why.
Gui Xiang, after venting to her close friend, finally felt at peace. She slept soundly and woke up energized, ready to work hard at her shop. The more money she made, the more property she could buy—so that one day, her granddaughter could be the one choosing, not the one being chosen.
In the countryside, Changshun counted the money from selling his watermelons. He’d tended to these melons with great care—they were the last thing his mother had left him before she stormed off in anger. He knew he’d hurt his parents, but poverty was terrifying.
His watermelons were big, sweet, and perfectly crisp. Though others in the area grew them too, his were the best.
When he took them to sell, customers who tasted them bought his entire harvest on the spot. The price wasn’t as high as selling them individually, but at least he didn’t have to worry about unsold stock going to waste.
"With this money, we can find a wife for our Eldest Son," Changshun’s Wife said, her eyes gleaming. She hadn’t expected those melons from the hillside to fetch so much.
"Find him a wife? He needs to focus on working hard, not causing trouble. If he won’t study properly, then he’ll learn the hardships of labor."
Changshun’s face darkened.
"Getting him a wife will settle him down. Someone to keep him in line, and an extra pair of hands around the house—what’s so bad about that?"
Changshun’s Wife thought her husband’s temper was getting stranger by the day.
"Short-sighted as ever. He’s still just a boy. Are you that eager to be a mother-in-law, or has your family been whispering in your ear again? Don’t even think about touching this money. When we started planting melons and fruit trees, you stormed off to your parents’ house. Did you really think I didn’t know what you were up to?"
"I—I was just afraid you’d lose all our money! I did it for this family! If you’re going to be angry with me, fine—but your Second Brother’s Family is living it up in the capital while your parents hold a grudge against their own son, all because they never approved of me! You’re the eldest—everything should have been yours!"
Changshun only snorted and pocketed the money.
Some rifts, once formed, never truly heal. On ordinary days, they might seem forgotten—but the moment trouble arose, the old wounds would reopen.
Each blamed the other, shifting guilt to ease their own conscience.
On the freshly leveled road, water was sprinkled over the surface as the group mixed cement mortar, chatting and laughing.
"Once this road is done, we’ll come here every day for drills!"
"Sure! We should celebrate—this is a joyous occasion! How about some drumming and dancing?"
"Sounds great! I can play the gong. Who knows how to do the yangge dance? That’s the real festive touch!"
"I do! It’s easy—I’ll teach you all in no time."
"Show us! We’ll follow along!"
Their laughter wasn’t mocking but full of genuine delight.
The volunteer dancer didn’t hesitate, twisting and stepping nimbly despite the wet mortar underfoot.
"Nice! You’re mixing the mortar while you’re at it!"
