Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Accepting the Huo Family’s Marriage Proposal There was nothing wrong with the Huo family. They had a substantial family fortune, few people in the household, and none of the endless complications that came with a large family. As for Huo Shian, she had only seen him once from a distance. He was tall, with clear eyes and an upright air—not like Xu Xiuzhi, who was gentle in speech but sinister, selfish, and cold-hearted at his core. As for the matter of Huo Shian dying young, she was not afraid in the least. She would make sure to conceive a child before anything happened to him. By then, she would have a child, money in her hands, and farmland at home, without a man around to meddle in everything she did. Wouldn’t such a comfortable life as a wealthy young widow be better than anything—even the life of an immortal? With that thought, Su Wan raised her head and put on a docile expression before saying softly, “Mother can decide. I’ll listen to you and Father.” Madam Su was delighted to hear this. She smiled so broadly that she could barely close her mouth and said repeatedly, “Good, good. My eldest girl is still the most thoughtful. Such a sensible child.” Seeing that her goal had been achieved, Su Xue let out a long sigh of relief. She wiped her face with a handkerchief, then secretly glanced at Su Wan. Her eyes held both triumph and an indescribable contempt. Idiot. Go spend the rest of your life as a widow. The good life of an imperially titled lady^[1] will be mine in this lifetime. Su Wan simply pretended not to see her smug, petty expression. She picked up the basket full of food and went outside. “Mother, I’ll take food to Father and Elder Brother in the fields first.” “Go on.” Madam Su reminded her, “Watch yourself on the road, and don’t spill the porridge.” After Su Wan left the courtyard, she found that the village’s dirt road had been dampened by the morning dew, and a little mud clung to the soles of her shoes. She headed east toward the paddy fields. At the edge of the fields, her father, Su Dashan, and her elder brother, Su Qing, were bent over, blocking a water outlet. Their trouser legs were rolled up to their knees, and their calves were covered in muddy spots. Madam Li, Su Qing’s wife, was pulling weeds on the other side. “Father, Elder Brother, Sister-in-Law, it’s time to eat.” Su Dashan straightened up and pounded his lower back. “Was your little sister still making a fuss at home?” Su Wan set the bowls down at the edge of the field. “She’s stopped.” Su Qing picked up his bowl and took a sip of porridge. “That’s good. Whenever Xiaoxue^[2] gets started, even the chickens in the house don’t dare to make a sound.” Madam Li glanced at Su Wan and lowered her voice. “That marriage…” Su Wan handed over a cornmeal bun. “Mother asked whether I was willing, and I agreed.” Madam Li’s hand paused. Su Qing also looked at her. “You’re really willing?” Su Wan smiled. “The Huo family has a good life. What is there not to be willing about?” Su Dashan was silent for a while before saying, “Your mother is doing this for your sake. The Huo family really is not bad. I’ve met that boy Shian before. He doesn’t talk much, works hard, and is ambitious.” Su Wan nodded. “I know.” Madam Li felt somewhat troubled. There was a great deal of work to do at home. Her younger sister-in-law, Su Xue, was delicate and spoiled, and she never touched any heavy work. Most of it fell to Su Wan. Now, after making a full circle, a good marriage had also landed in Su Wan’s hands. Yet no matter how one listened to it, it sounded as though Su Xue had rejected it and only then pushed it onto her. Afraid that Su Wan might feel wronged, Madam Li waited until Su Dashan and Su Qing lowered their heads to eat, then quietly stuffed half a cornmeal bun into her hand. “You’ve been busy since morning and surely haven’t eaten much. Take this.” Su Wan looked at the half bun, and her heart softened a little. “Sister-in-Law, I’m not hungry.” “Don’t be stubborn.” Madam Li pushed the bun into her hand. “You’ll still have to go home to feed the pigs and wash clothes later. How will you have the strength with an empty stomach?” Su Wan did not push it away again. She lowered her head and took a small bite. The coarse grain scraped her throat, yet it was warmer than all the cold leftovers she had eaten in her previous life^[3]. After delivering the food, she did not hurry home. There was a patch of water celery beside the field ridge, tender and often picked by the villagers. Su Wan squatted down and selected the cleanest stalks, filling half a basket. Then, beside the ditch, she spotted several plantain plants^[4] with thick leaves. They would be just right to dry and save for later use. She shook the mud from the leaves and began making plans. If the matter with the Huo family was settled, she would inevitably need to prepare a dowry^[5]. The Su family was not wealthy, and no matter how much Madam Su doted on her, she would not take out too much. She would have to save more money herself. The water celery could be left to dry slightly and mixed into a dish at noon. The plantain could be dried and taken to the pharmacy with the other herbs on market day. It was not worth much, but it could be exchanged for a dozen or several dozen copper cash^[6]. Over the years, she had gradually saved up a little money through collecting such herbs. When she returned home, Su Xue had already washed her face and was sitting beside the main room, eating a white-flour cake. Madam Su had deliberately saved the cake for her, saying that crying had harmed her health and that she needed to eat something good. Su Xue had been somewhat frail since birth. On top of that, she had a sweet mouth^[7] and a pretty face, so her parents had always favored her. Usually, even the rest of the family could not afford to eat white-flour cakes like this. Su Wan poured the water celery into a wooden basin and went to the well to draw water. When Su Xue caught sight of the wild vegetables in the basket, she curled her lip. “Sister, you’re about to marry into the Huo family. Why are you still picking weeds? It’s not as though the Huo family will begrudge you a mouthful of food.” Su Wan ladled water over the vegetables to wash them without raising her head. “I haven’t married into their family yet, so I’m still a member of the Su family. The pigs have to eat, and people have to eat too. Saving a little is better than nothing.” Su Xue snorted. “You’re quite good at pretending to be diligent.” Su Wan poured out the muddy water and added fresh water. “Diligence isn’t something you can pretend to have. Whether someone has calluses on her hands is something Mother can see at a glance.” Su Xue’s expression fell. She turned and went back to the western room. Madam Su heard them from the kitchen, but she did not speak up for her younger daughter. At dusk, Su Wan blanched the water celery, mixed a bowl of it with mashed garlic and salt, then spread the rest out on a bamboo tray. She placed it against the wall to dry alongside the plantain. When Madam Li served the meal, she tasted a bite and her eyes lit up. “These wild vegetables taste so refreshing once mixed like this.” Su Wan smiled. “Wild greens are tender in spring. In a few days, they’ll grow old and won’t taste as good. Sister-in-Law, if you have time tomorrow, let’s pick more and dry them. Then, when we have no vegetables, they can make up a meal.” Madam Li nodded. “All right. The vegetables in the garden haven’t grown yet, so we’re just short of things like this.” After dinner, Madam Su watched her eldest girl bustle back and forth and said, “Xiaowan, I’ll go to the Huo family tomorrow to pass along the word. If they’re willing, we can discuss the wedding date slowly.” Su Wan replied, “I’ll follow your arrangements, Mother.” In the room, Su Xue heard this and could barely keep the corners of her mouth from rising. After night fell, Su Wan returned to the western room. The moment she pushed open the door, she saw Su Xue sitting at the table with something clutched in her hand. Hearing the movement, Su Xue hurriedly stuffed the object into a drawer, then turned around and frowned. “Why don’t you know to knock when you come in?” Su Wan glanced at her. “Do I need to knock when I’m entering my own room?” Su Xue was left speechless. The two of them had shared this room for more than a decade. There had never been any rule about knocking. She pressed her lips together, then turned back with an affectionate expression and took Su Wan’s hand. “Elder Sister, are you happy that you can marry into the Huo family?” Su Wan let her hold her hand and did not answer. Su Xue softened her voice. “I gave such a good marriage to you. You must remember my kindness in the future and help me more.” Su Wan slowly withdrew her hand. “How do you want me to help you?” Su Xue’s eyes shifted. “It’s nothing much. Once you marry into the Huo family and have more money at your disposal, giving me a few nice outfits and some silver^[8] to spend shouldn’t be difficult, right?” Su Wan lay down on the bed. “The marriage hasn’t even been settled yet, and the silver is even less certain. You’re already thinking about it?” Su Xue’s expression stiffened. “Elder Sister, how can you say that? If I weren’t unwilling to marry, how could this good marriage with the Huo family have fallen to you?” Su Wan raised her head and looked at her. “Then should I thank you?” Su Xue did not hear the indifference in her words. She straightened her back. “Of course. Once you start living well, Sister, don’t forget me.” Su Wan’s voice was even. “I’ll remember. What you gave me today was a marriage you didn’t want.” Su Xue’s face went through shades of green and white^[9]. Su Wan continued, “If I live well in the future, it will be because I made that life for myself. And if your life goes poorly, don’t come blaming me for taking your good fortune.” Su Xue opened and closed her mouth, unable to say anything for a long while. From outside came Madam Su’s call. “Xiaoxue, Xiaowan, go to bed early. You have to get up early tomorrow!” Su Wan answered. Su Xue, however, remained seated at the table, her fingers secretly pressing against the drawer. Su Wan cast a faint glance in that direction. A corner of paper was caught in the crack of the drawer. The ink had not yet dried. It looked like a letter written to someone. Xu Xiuzhi was still studying in Xu Family Village. Su Xue certainly acted quickly. Su Wan blew out the lamp, and the room fell dark. She closed her eyes, but her thoughts remained on Madam Su sending someone to pass word to the Huo family the next day. She wondered what their attitude would be and whether they would agree. ..... Please keep leaving five-star reviews! Please send free little gifts!