Jia Zhangshi didn't know how to respond for a moment. She had been tricked again.
The matchmaker had boasted about how good the girl was, leading her to believe she would be the next Qin Huai Ru. But now, she looked rather ordinary.
If Qin Huai Ru hadn't set the bar so high, this girl named Chen Bi Hua wouldn't be bad. Just look at the beauty standards of the courtyard today.
None of the three aunties were anything special, and Jia Zhangshi didn't even need to be mentioned, she was a total disaster.
Xu Mu, Chen Da Sao and the others, were also not much better.
But with the benchmark of Qin Huai Ru, especially since she almost became the wife of the Jia family, things were different.
“Good, good, quickly invite the girl in,” said Jia Zhangshi.
She thought that while the girl was not as beautiful as Qin Huai Ru, she came from a good family. Her physique, at a glance, seemed fertile.
Jia Dongxu had initially been excited, but as the girl drew nearer, he realized she was far from Qin Huai Ru's level. At best, he could accept her, and a bitterness rose in his heart. Didn't his mother say something different?
“Dongxu, what are you still standing there for, quickly invite Chen Bi Hua into the house,” said Jia Zhangshi.
She mumbled, “Whether she is good enough or not, let's see first.”
“I'm leaving, no more gossip to watch,” said Xu Da Mao, as he walked out. He wouldn't go for a girl like that.
“I'm leaving too, I have things to do,” said Sha Zhu. He didn't even remember what the girl looked like, she was so far inferior to Qin Jie.
The residents didn't disperse and started chatting amongst themselves.
“This girl is much better than the last one, but she's no match for Qin Huai Ru.”
“Of course not, Qin Huai Ru is number one in our area, if she wasn't from the countryside, she would have been Li Wuwei’s. ”
“Jia Dongxu missed his chance, getting this girl isn't bad, considering the Jia family's situation. It's a worker's family, but they're just an orphan and a widow. Who in the city would want them?”
“That's right, there are many women working at our steel mill, but I haven't heard anyone interested in Jia Dongxu.”
Inside the Jia family's home, Jia Zhangshi and Chen Bi Hua chatted for a while. Hearing that her family had a walnut tree and lots of food, their conditions seemed really good.
“Bi Hua, look at our family. We are planning to buy a sewing machine. What about the dowry money?” asked Jia Zhangshi.
“Auntie, my parents said just give a little, they just want me to marry into the city.”
Chen Bi Hua was a smooth talker, sweet-mouthed.
“Good, good,” said Jia Zhangshi, who was now reassured.
“Bi Hua, chat with Dongxu, Zhu Da Ma and I will go for a walk outside in the courtyard.”
Immediately, Jia Zhangshi pulled the matchmaker aside to the doorway and whispered.
“Jia Dongxu, hello,” said Chen Bi Hua, taking the initiative. She saw him sitting there silently, with no one else in the room.
Suddenly, Chen Bi Hua walked over and sat next to Jia Dongxu, very close.
“Y-You, hello,” said Jia Dongxu.
He was just a young man. In the past, he had only bumped into the canteen lady's hand a few times while getting food. He had never been this close to a woman before.
His heart began to pound uncontrollably. Looking at Chen Bi Hua, she didn't seem so bad anymore.
“Jia Dongxu, I like you. I want to be with you. Are you happy about that?”
Chen Bi Hua grabbed Jia Dongxu's hand.
“This, this, this…”
Jia Dongxu was startled and tried to pull his hand away, but suddenly his body felt weak.
“If you don’t say anything, I’ll take it as a yes. I’ll tell your mom that I like you, I’ll get married soon and we’ll be in the same bed,” said Chen Bi Hua, leaning in closer.
Jia Dongxu wanted to avoid her, but he was against the wall, so he could only shrink back, like a little chick.
“Do you agree?”
Chen Bi Hua pressed forward. This was a great opportunity, no elders were around, if she didn't seize it, it would be a shame on the heavens' good fortune.
“I, I agree. What else can I do?”
Jia Dongxu gave in. He thought, why could Li Wuwei embrace his wife and sleep, while he was left to weep every day? He also wanted a woman.
“Okay, we'll have the wedding next week. I'll get married into your house before New Year's Day and give you a big fat son next year,” said Chen Bi Hua, using a little force on his hand. Jia Dongxu grabbed her hand back.
“Good, you give me a son and we’ll make Li Wuwei jealous,” said Jia Dongxu, with a sudden determination. He would definitely have a child before Li Wuwei.
Soon, Jia Zhangshi and the matchmaker returned to the room. They couldn't stay outside for too long, or people would gossip.
Chen Bi Hua was already sitting across from Jia Dongxu, looking well-behaved.
Jia Zhangshi then prepared lunch, and after the meal, Chen Bi Hua declared, “Auntie, I like Dongxu. My house is far away and it's not convenient to propose. If Dongxu likes me, I'll bring my introduction letter tomorrow and get our marriage certificate with Dongxu. You can just give a little dowry.”
Jia Zhangshi was delighted by the convenience, even saving the hassle of a formal proposal and gifts. “Dongxu, what do you think?”
“Mom, I’ll listen to you,” said Jia Dongxu, whose heart was also filled with longing for a wife.
“Good, that’s settled then. Chen Bi Hua, come back tomorrow, in the afternoon, I’ll let Dongxu take a day off to get our marriage certificate with you. We will buy a sewing machine and the dowry will be five yuan. Is that alright?”
Jia Zhangshi originally wanted to give two yuan, but then she would be losing face, even compared to Li Wuwei.
“Five yuan is good, that’s a lot,” said Chen Bi Hua. She didn't show any displeasure, making Jia Zhangshi beam with joy. She praised the girl for being sensible.
The Jia family then escorted the matchmaker and the girl out of the courtyard.
Once they were far enough, Chen Bi Hua said in a low voice, “Aunt Zhu, this is settled, my family won't let you down, but you must keep it a secret.”
“Bi Hua, don't worry, your family is like family to me. You only got married two years ago, and you still look young. No one will notice.”
Zhu Da Ma sided with her relatives, not justice. This distant niece had a hard life, she was married once, but her husband died two years later, leaving her a young widow.
She returned to her parents' home and hadn't remarried for nearly three years. The villagers said she was a widow-maker, and combined with her family's poor circumstances, she couldn't find a husband.
Chen Bi Hua was twenty-five years old, but claimed to be eighteen. This was a common practice in those days, they would change their age.