After the family finished lunch, Liu Fang tidied up and returned to the room to see Su Zhiguo.
Su Zhiguo had originally intended to wait until evening to ask, thinking that once everyone was asleep, no one would pay attention to their whispers. But seeing his wife, he couldn't help himself and beckoned her over: "Close the doors and windows. I have something to tell you."
The moment Liu Fang heard this, she knew Su Zhiguo was losing his patience. She quickly latched the doors and windows shut.
Su Zhiguo looked at her with curiosity: "Did Kunzi say anything today?"
He didn't ask directly about Su Qianli’s marriage, as he didn't want his wife to know he had been eavesdropping on their conversation earlier.
Liu Fang’s eyes darted around. She looked conflicted, but finally, with a resigned expression, she relayed her younger brother’s proposal.
"Kunzi wants to introduce a marriage match for Li. The groom’s side is offering a bride price of 200 yuan and won't require a dowry, but they have one condition: she must be a beauty. Since Li is of age, Kunzi thought that instead of giving such a good opportunity to someone else, we should keep it in the family. It’s up to you now—do you agree?"
Su Zhiguo’s eyes lit up. "Really? Would they actually have an interest in her? Her looks are beyond reproach, but that explosive temper of hers—I’m worried she’ll end up beating the man, and then his family will come looking for trouble with us."
Liu Fang had been worried that Su Zhiguo would raise objections, but she hadn’t expected his concern to be about the possibility of her being returned! She chuckled inwardly. How could she possibly come back once she’s gone? Could she really escape from these mountains if she wanted to?
"Once a woman gets married and has children, her temperament changes. She won't be as wild as she is now."
Su Zhiguo thought about it and decided she was right. As long as she was married off, he, as her uncle, wouldn't have to worry about her anymore; the couple could live their lives however they pleased.
Anxious, Su Zhiguo asked, "When did they say they wanted to meet?"
Liu Fang replied, "I haven't asked yet. After all, Li's future is a major event that requires your consent first. But I wonder—if we decide this for her without her input, will people gossip?"
Su Zhiguo snorted. "Let them mind their own business. I am her uncle, after all; if I can't decide her marriage, who can? Besides, it’s not every day you come across such a good family. If this actually goes through, I’ll show everyone exactly how much I care for Li."
Su Qianli had no idea that Su Zhiguo was already plotting to marry her off. At noon, she had simply stir-fried some wild vegetables she’d gathered and eaten them happily with two roasted sweet potatoes.
After receiving Su Zhiguo's approval, Liu Fang immediately ran to the neighboring village to find her younger brother, Liu Kun, to ask what the next step was.
"Tomorrow at nine in the morning, find a way to get that girl up the mountain. Don't worry about the rest."
Liu Fang nodded in agreement and hurried home. Once there, she immediately told Su Zhiguo, "They’re coming for a meeting tomorrow morning. I’ll take Li over, and if they like each other, they’ll take her with them tomorrow."
Su Zhiguo was puzzled. "Take her away tomorrow? Why the rush? Isn't it just a meeting?"
"Oh, it's because they have such good conditions! They’ve been looking for a match for days, and now they have urgent business to attend to back home. If it’s a match, they’ll take her immediately, and Li will be able to start enjoying a comfortable life." Liu Fang blinked rapidly.
Su Zhiguo still felt something was off. He had never heard of a match meeting where the girl was taken away on the spot.
"I’m still a bit uneasy. At least let me see what the man is like. Why don't you have him come to our house? I’ll help weigh the situation."
Liu Fang feigned anger. "What’s wrong? Do you not trust my judgment? If my judgment were bad, how could I have lived with you all these years?"
That struck a chord with Su Zhiguo. He patted Liu Fang’s arm, comforting her. "It’s not that I don't trust you, it’s just that the whole thing is so rushed. Whatever else is said, I watched Li grow up. If I don't choose a good man for her, I'm afraid my parents won't forgive me when I join them in the afterlife."
Liu Fang knew exactly what Su Zhiguo meant. To dispel his concerns, she quickly shifted her strategy.
"I know what you're worried about, but think about it: with terms like this—a 200-yuan bride price—there are countless people who would scramble to marry their daughters off. Li is just lucky that my brother is the matchmaker; otherwise, how would it ever be her turn?"
Su Zhiguo couldn't deny that what Liu Fang said was true, but he still felt uneasy.
"I’m still not entirely at ease. How about this? Tomorrow, take the Brigade Leader with you. He’s seen a lot of people; if he gives his approval, there definitely won't be any mistakes."
Liu Fang was so frustrated she wanted to punch him. She had been talking until her lips were dry, but he wouldn't budge. She hadn't realized he cared so much about Su Qianli before, but now he was acting like an elder with principles. Watching Su Zhiguo lie on the bed in deep thought, Liu Fang couldn't help but roll her eyes.
"Forget it. I won't get involved anymore. You don't believe anything I say anyway, and Kunzi is just wasting his efforts. I’ll warn him not to come again. That’s that."
Upon hearing this, Su Zhiguo immediately panicked. He grabbed Liu Fang’s hand and quickly changed his tone.
"Hey, hey, I didn't mean anything by it! Isn't it just that the whole village is watching Li's business? If something goes wrong and it ends in a disaster, how am I supposed to hold my head up in this village?"
Liu Fang’s tone was sharp: "Am I not part of this family? Don't I know how important Li’s marriage is? But think about it—who in this village is willing to marry her? What, you'd rather they refuse to marry her and let her become an old maid? Would that be better for your reputation?"
Su Zhiguo had nothing to say.
Liu Fang, on the other hand, felt a surge of triumph. *Hmph, I knew I could handle you.*
The next morning, Liu Fang went to knock on Li’s door. When Su Qianli opened it and saw her aunt, her greeting was polite, if not overly warm.
"Aunt, is something the matter?"
Liu Fang looked at Su Qianli. She had just woken up; her cheeks were flushed, her large eyes were misty, and her hair was a bit disheveled. Even without styling, her incredible beauty was impossible to hide.
Sometimes, Liu Fang thought that if the girl hadn't burned her brain, marrying her to her own son wouldn't be impossible—it would even save the cost of a bride price, and they would inherit her parents' house as well.
But unfortunately, such good things didn't exist. She would never let her son marry an idiot—one who was liable to crack someone's skull at the slightest provocation. Never mind whether her son could handle it, even she found it terrifying.
Therefore, the best way was to send her away as quickly as possible, get the money, reclaim the house, and be done with it once and for all.
Liu Fang’s expression quickly softened into a friendly, amiable smile.
Su Qianli: *...Aunt's buckteeth are a bit terrifying.*
She missed her grandparents.