Chapter 56.1

Translated by Aviana

In Yang jia’s main room, He-shi was speaking with Matchmaker Ma.

Unlike the last time, He-shi’s attitude this time was a lot better; even a hint of flattery could be detected within her actions.

It couldn’t be helped, for Yang Xuezhang couldn’t qualify for the county exam again. And her old man had made the decision to stop supporting his studies. Nevertheless, He-shi believed that her son could still qualify for the county exam without having to go to the academy. However, this was just a thought in her heart. Furthermore, Yang Xuezhang can’t be delayed any longer at this age. Thus, He-shi’s immediate plan of action was to have her son get married, pushing all the other matters until later.

This time, He-shi’s requirements were very low and didn’t demand wealthy or reputable families either.

Perhaps, this time around, her way of thinking has changed. Though unwilling, Matchmaker Ma too restrained her temper and patiently listed down a few young maiden’s profiles she thought weren’t bad. After deliberating for half a day, He-shi felt Feng Xiucai’s daughter was alright.

秀才 (xiùcai): a person who has passed the county-level imperial exam (historical) / scholar

This young girl surnamed Feng’s family lived in a nearby village. Her father was a xiucai. She had two elder brothers, a younger brother, and a married elder sister at home.

Reasonably speaking, Yang Xuezhang wouldn’t have been eligible for a young girl from a xiucal family. However, this Feng jia’s situation was a bit different. By the time Feng xiucai qualified for the county examination, he was already in his late twenties, and most of the family’s silver was also emptied out. Nevertheless, it goes without saying that this matter of him becoming xiucai was to everyone’s delight and satisfaction.

But who would have imagined this happiness was only short-lived? Not long after, Feng Xiucai was afflicted with a serious illness, from having worked too hard for his studies that almost all of his body was hollowed out?

Beset by such a serious illness, he was bedridden and on the point of death. Not to mention him continuing to take advanced examinations and ascend in the scholarly ranks, he wasn’t even fit to become a teacher in any academy. Which academy would even hire a teacher who would get bedridden every few days? He was forced to return home and do farming with no other alternative. Fortunately, their family still had a few mu of land. Life back at home wasn’t too bad, but there were quite many children in the family, making them too tight on money.

mu: Chinese unit of land measurement that varies with location but is commonly 806.65 square yards (0.165 acres, or 666.5 square meters

Thus, for Feng Xiucai , apart from being exempted from paying farming taxes, the hard-earned xucai title didn’t bring any other benefits to his family. But Feng Xiucai didn’t think so. However, this Feng Xiucai didn’t believe as such. In the entire village, he was the only xiucai. Thus he thought highly of himself and was very much unwilling to marry his daughter into a peasant household. Not only does the groom has to be a scholar, but he also has to provide them a lot of betrothal gift. In an aspect, the betrothal gifts shouldn’t be lacking, with a monetary gift being at the least 6.6 silver taels.

This one monetary gift was enough to scare away all the peasant families in the village. Not to mention, these days which peasant families would be able to raise scholars in their families. As a result, this Young Lady Feng remained unmarried all this time.

Feng Xiucai had entrusted his daughter’s marriage to Matchmaker Ma. And ever since then, Matchmaker Ma didn’t have any fewer headaches in finding a suitable match for this Feng girl.

If someone was ready to give the said betrothal gift, Feng Xiucai was dissatisfied with him not being a scholar. And if the other was a scholar, they weren’t okay with such a large betrothal gift.

Actually, last time He-shi invited Matchmaker Ma, she wanted to about this Feng girl then itself. But at that time, He-shi was had placed herself on a high pedestal. Thus Matchmaker Ma didn’t say anything about her, fearing that she might invite trouble for herself.

This time around, Yang Xuezhang’s inability to qualify xuicai exam wasn’t any secret in the village. And coupled with He-shi’s soft attitude, Matchmaker Ma chose to introduce Feng girl’s profile as well.

As soon as Matchmaker Ma heard He-shi saying that the girl from Feng Xucai’s jia was pretty good, joy-filled her heart. However, she was able to keep a foothold in this business till this day and make a good name for herself in this field because of her upright moral character and her attitude of not concealing any matters between. Thus, she straightforwardly mentioned Feng Xuaci’s family’s circumstances and their demands. A frown appeared between He-shi’s brows when she heard that betrothal price of 6.6 taels.

But this time, she was the one who had requested to look for a match for her son and was running short of time as well. Thus, she didn’t make any harsh remarks and let Matchmaker Ma wait for a while, saying that she would like to go in and discuss with her old man.

Yang laoyezi had been sent out by He-shi a long time back. Thus, at the moment, the one He-shi went to discuss with wasn’t Yang laoyezi but Yang Xuezhang.

He-shi didn’t hide about her search for marriage matches from her darling son and had already informed in advance. Yang Xuezhang had nothing to say about it. But his only requirement was that he has to be listening to her conversion with Matchmaker Ma from the side, to be well aware of the situation.

He-shi didn’t feel it was a hard request. Thus He-shi had Yang Xuezhang sit in Yang Ermei’s room and listen to their conversation.

(Remember, Yang Ermei is living in the side room of the main room. There are only separated by a door.)

After entering the room, He-shi closed the door and asked Yang Xuezhang’s opinion.

Worthy of being a mother and son, both had the same thought – Yang Xuezhang also felt that Feng Xuicai’s daughter was pretty good.

Perhaps others didn’t hold the value in this poor and bedridden Xuicai. But after having failed in the qualifying examination year after year, Yang Xuezhang felt all the people who have become xuicai are simply not mortals and are highly knowledgeable erudite scholars. Moreover, he had already made up his mind to seek guidance from his future xuicai father-in-law. Who knows, maybe under his tutelage, he would be able to turn the situation around?

As He-shi’s most favored son, Yang Xuezhang understood He-shi better than anyone. After stating his opinion, he also shared his future plans with her.

He-shi found this idea to be pretty good. But recalling the number of betrothal gifts, 6.6 taels of monetary gift, the money required to set up a wedding banquet, and what not to marry in Feng xuicai’s daughter, waves and waves of distress beset He-shi’s heart.

Currently, He-shi didn’t have much savings left with her. Summing up, she only has ten taels. And there wasn’t much food left at home either. In the days to come, they would need silver to buy food. Calculating all this, the silver in her hand simply won’t be enough.

But glancing at her precious old son, whom she had treasured for several years, He-shi’s heart became soft at once. She patted Yang Xuezhang’s hand to reassure him before opening the door and walking out.

Seeing He-shi step out, Matchmaker Ma placed the bowl of sweet coup down before asking, “I wonder what your family’s master’s decision is? If you genuinely feel Feng Xuicai’s girl is pretty good, then please decide quickly. There are still many others who are also thinking of this match. If you don’t want it, I can proceed with others.”

Matchmaker Ma wanted to bring about a sense of urgency within He-shi by saying this. Truthfully speaking, it isn’t easy for Feng xuicai’s girl to get married, and it could be dragged till half a year.

Upon hearing Matchmaker Ma say so, He-shi threw away all her initial hesitations. Gritting her teeth, she nodded in acquiescence, “This girl is fine.”

Both the parties involved were satisfied. He-shi requested Matchmaker Ma to put good words for them to quickly set the marriage dates before seeing the Matchmaker Ma out.

Thinking of the dwindling silver in her hand, He-shi, who seldomly felt melancholy, was plagued with melancholia. Not only does she still have to buy food for the family, but she also has to marry her son. From where could she get all the silver for this….

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