"Oh, why did you pile up the firewood at the door!"

Zhang Fangyuan was messing around in the house, when he heard a yell from outside, he put down his work and went out. Matchmaker Gan was standing at the gate of the courtyard, guarding the firewood outside and said.

"Put it far away, how do you pile the firewood outside?"

He really didn't know when there was a pile of firewood next to the gate of the courtyard. Zhang Fangyuan went out to welcome him, he tilted his head and glanced left and right outside the yard, but he didn't see any clues.

"I haven't had time to clean up the firewood I picked up." He smiled and said, "Aunt Gan, sit down quickly."

Zhang Fangyuan led people into the middle hall, served stools, and poured tea. Matchmaker Gan was very satisfied with his attentiveness.

"Nephew, to put it bluntly, I have worked hard for you." Matchmaker Gan sat down unceremoniously, and Niu took a sip of tea.

If it weren't for the two catties of meat being stewed by the man for a tooth sacrifice when it was mentioned at home, and being scolded by the Hu family, she would have given up on this job. After working as a matchmaker for so many years, It was the first time he was scolded so harshly.

The He family sent another basket of eggs, so she had to run to a few more cheeky houses. After gaining some confidence, although she was also angered by the yin and yang, fortunately, she was not as swearing as the Hu family. I don't go to Hu's house to talk about matchmaking anymore. The marriage can't be said to be benevolent. The folks in the village don't look up and look down. They really don't know how to be human.

"Thank you for your hard work, Aunt Gan. When things are done, you will be rewarded with a big red envelope."

Matchmaker Gan waved her hand: "Forget it, it doesn't depend on your favor, it also depends on your parents' respect."

"Just keep in mind that this time it was the Guang family who agreed this time. They have many children, and the fifth girl is the right age. I took a look and found that she has good features and a demure temperament. She is a virtuous and good housekeeper. You Pack it neatly, bring some gifts and go to see your aunt, if the two parties are suitable, then the matter will be settled."

Zhang Fangyuan felt hot, but he still asked cautiously: "The Guang family? But that family on the border of the village?"

Matchmaker Gan nodded. This family moved to their village a few years ago. Because they lived on the other side of the border, they did not have close contact with the villagers in the village. If they could not find a suitable family in this village, she would I was about to go to the neighboring village to ask about it, and when I passed by Guang's house, I remembered that there was still such a family.

The Guang family lived in poverty and had many children. There were six or seven children around. Gan Matchmaker didn’t see all of them. She only saw the one of the right age. Now that the Guang family and the couple are getting older, the tax money paid by the larger family members It's terrible, and I am also in a hurry to marry off the child.

The laws of the Dachong Dynasty have stipulated that every female brother who does not marry between the ages of 15 and 30 will have to double the head tax. Originally, the money is calculated per person per year, which is 120 cash. If the female brother arrives For unmarried persons of marriageable age, the tax money will double as they get older, and the highest will reach the high of five.

This also means that if there is a late-married woman or younger brother in the family, the family alone may have to pay a tax of six hundred yuan at most, which is less than one tael of silver. If it is not for a very good family People, who can bear to pay taxes like this.

Matchmaker Gan came to the door and said that although the Guang family heard that it was Zhang Fangyuan, although he hesitated a little, they were still willing to meet each other.

"Auntie specifically inquired about the dowry with you. The dowry in our village is not considered high. Ordinary people's three or five taels of silver is decent. This Guang family is also very open-minded. There is no dowry. Your aunt thinks I have a lot to say about this, and we will negotiate at this price when the time comes.”

Zhang Fangyuan was very grateful to the matchmaker for being so caring, and said a lot of good things.

Matchmaker Gan also ate the tea cheerfully. She looked around the Zhang family out of the corner of her eyes. The last time she came here was to eat the funeral wine. It has been several years. At that time, the Zhang family was well organized. Come here now , Weeds are growing in the yard, and although there are traces of tidying up the house, it is not as meticulous as the little girl's tidying up, and there is still dust on the tables and stools, isn't that what a bachelor's house is like.

But it is also difficult for Zhang Fangyuan, who is a butcher with rough hands and feet, and has to spare his hands to handle these delicate tasks. It is considered good to be able to reach this point.

"Okay, my aunt brought you the news, so I won't sit around and delay you this morning. Hurry up and get ready to go to Guang's family to see it. If the matter is resolved sooner, auntie will get your happy money sooner, right? "

Matchmaker Gan smiled and said goodbye.

Zhang Fangyuan sent the person to the door, looked at the firewood beside the courtyard door with his hips on his hips, and shook his head helplessly, this is the youngest Xu!

"The legs and feet healed so quickly? I can go up the mountain to collect firewood again."

He carried all the firewood into the house, packed it up and locked the door, turned around and went to his fourth uncle's house again.

"What are you doing with me? Can't you do it without work in the field?"

"I'll go to the city with you to have a look, so that I can know what gifts to bring to a blind date. It will also come in handy when I propose."

The next day Zhang Fangyuan was going to the city early in the morning to buy things for a marriage proposal, and Chen Si came to pester him early in the morning.

"How did you know?"

Chen Si pursed his lips and said: "Gan's matchmaker talked about so many families in the village, and other families may only show off that the matchmaker went to their house to propose a kiss to the girl and brother, and would not say who it was, but Went to Hu’s house, can you manage that big mouth? Most of the village knew in the afternoon that you Zhang Fangyuan asked the matchmaker to talk about your marriage. I saw matchmaker Gan go to your house again yesterday. I know it must be talking about others."

"You are too mean, you are doing such a big thing and you still hide it from me and don't talk to me."

Zhang Fangyuan strode towards the entrance of the village: "You are younger than me, and you are not in a hurry to get married. Maybe you still want to compete with me to say that girls and brothers are not good enough."

"I'm only one or two years younger than you, and I'm already old enough to get married."

Zhang Fangyuan said: "You don't seem to have a bad reputation, since you can get married, why wait?"

Chen Si sighed: "Isn't my third brother not married yet? What my parents mean is that no matter how anxious you are, you can't pass your brother. When the third brother is done, it will be my turn."

Zhang Fangyuan thought that the Chen family was quite pedantic. It seems that a family with many brothers and sisters is lively and lively, and there are also many uncomfortable places. An only child like him is also good.

"Then you should look after the person first, and when your third brother gets married, you can go directly to propose marriage."

"I think so too."

After finishing speaking, Chen Si turned around and said: "You haven't even met the girl from the Guang family, and you will get married if you see the right one. Are you really not looking for someone you like?"

Zhang Fangyuan also thought about this problem at night, but not to mention now, he has never thought about these things in his previous life, and now he wants to get married quickly. After all, he is not young now, and he does not have his own. What I like: "Our village is much better. You can see each other before you get married. It's not like the rules and etiquette in the city. It's all about the parents' order and the matchmaker's words. The marriage can only be seen on the night of the marriage. People, don't ask for so much anymore."

After getting married, he has to work to earn money.

Chen Si scratched his head: "It's true."

Zhang Fangyuan looked at Chen Si and smiled: "But if you have the opportunity to look good to yourself, don't miss the opportunity. I missed it at the age when I was supposed to look good to you. Now I can only do this."

Chen Si responded.

"Hey! Master, wait, take a car!"

Zhang Fangyuan raised his head and saw a bull cart pulling people on the official road, so he waved quickly.

Chen Si stepped forward and grabbed the man: "I'm not in a hurry to go to the city. We're fast and we'll be there in just over an hour. Why spend this money?"

"Then you can go on foot, I'll take the car." Zhang Fangyuan straddled his legs and got on the cart.

"Look at you in a hurry, it's like running away when you arrive late." Chen Si hurriedly chased after him.

Today is the day to go to the market in the city. There are more people entering the city than usual, and there are many people carrying things on their backs on the official road. The way to earn money in winter is not as busy as farming. The villagers hold their money tightly. Even the ox cart master’s sports car money is not easy to earn. Zhang Fangyuan and Chen Sicai are four people on the cart. They are not familiar with each other, so it is not a village. of.

Zhang Fangyuan faced Tai Sha, his eyebrows were high and thick, his face was sharp and angular, and his figure was tall and not angry. After getting into the car, the women who were talking in a low voice were all silent, and the whole car was quiet.

"Everyone's ox cart stops at Xijiao Village ahead, and I'll go to the entrance of the village to get something."

The bullock cart master spoke, and everyone responded without objection. When Zhang Fangyuan was bored, the ox cart stopped under a big pine tree, and the master jumped off the cart and ran to get the goods quickly.

Zhang Fangyuan lifted his long legs and got off the cart. The cart was not small, but he had long arms and legs, so it was not very comfortable to curl up on it.

He shook his arms and neck when he got out of the car, and heard Chen Sixing, who also got off the cart, yelling: "Brother He, are you going to the city today?"

Zhang Fangyuan followed the prestige and looked over. There were a few big rocks at the top of the mountain wall. People in the city would put their baskets on the rocks to rest when carrying their things, and the youngest Xu was also there.

He heard Xu He call calmly: "Cousin."

This is how people in the village are. They are either close relatives or distant relatives.

"Why do you carry so many things? What are they?"

Xu He's voice was even hoarse than before, and he said concisely: "A little handmade."

Zhang Fangyuan saw that the youngest Xu was also unwilling to talk to his cousin, and he felt a sense of balance in his heart, although he didn't know what he was trying to balance.

"Chen Si, let's go, the master is back."

He saw the master driving the cart carrying a bag of things back into the cart, and he followed it back to the ox cart.

"Brother He, let's go by car. It's almost noon when you arrive in the city with so many things on your back. Go early so that the things will be sold out sooner."

Chen Si called Xu He enthusiastically, but was rejected as expected.

It's good to take a car, but for four fen in the city, you can buy two plain steamed buns in the city, and Xu He doesn't have that kind of spare money.

Chen Si didn't give up, he rolled his eyes and said loudly: "Zhang Fangyuan, please be the bullock cart."

After finishing speaking, he slyly carried the man's back basket to the bullock cart.

Xu He hurriedly chased after him, why do they all like to **** other people's back baskets so much now: "Cousin!"

"Quick, give me a hand!"

Chen Si handed Xu He's back basket to the bullock cart, and Zhang Fangyuan sneered: "You asked someone to ride in the cart and let me pay for it? You really want to come out!"

"They are all from the same village. Regardless of your age, Brother He, why don't you call you brother, take care of your younger brother?"

"You are a serious cousin, why don't you pay to take care of him?"

Having said that, Zhang Fangyuan's hand still brought the pannier to the car before Xu He chased him.

Chen Si jumped into the car, and said to Xu He who was standing anxiously on the ground: "The back baskets are all in the car, get up quickly."

Xu He's chest heaved quickly, and he glanced at his cousin Chen Si angrily.

The bullock cart swayed forward, and the cold wind and morning frost were blowing. It was indeed faster than walking in the cart, but the wind was also much stronger than walking.

Chen Si looked at Xu He who was sitting with his legs crossed and his head bowed, and he didn't care that he didn't want to talk to him at all, as if he had seen a guide light, he asked impatiently: "Brother He, you are going to the city alone today. ?"

"Um."

"What about your second sister? Didn't the second sister go?"

"No, she's at home."

Chen Si asked again: "Then when will your second sister go to the city?"

"I do not know either."

"When you come back later, don't rush to leave. There are a lot of good pastries in Babaozhai in the city. I'll buy two yuan and you can take them home for me and give them to your sister, okay?"

Xu He sat across from the two men. He lowered his big eyes, his face and lips were a little unnaturally red, he got a cold from the rain before, and now his face was even redder when the wind was blowing, and the injury on his knee also turned red. It's not good, and it hurts all the time at night.

He was not feeling well, and today he wanted to go to the city to see a doctor by selling things, but he didn't want to talk, but he was short of staff and was riding in a bullock cart, so he had to open his mouth to answer.

After saying a few words, he couldn't help the hoarseness and itchiness in his throat and started coughing. He only hoped that the bullock cart could go faster, so that he would avoid the wind and cold, and he would also save a few words.

"Then what kind of cakes does your second sister like to eat? How about pea yellow, has she ever eaten it? The girl's family should like it very much, it's sweet and delicious..."

Xu He pursed his lips, stopped coughing slightly, and couldn't bear to answer.

"You can do it, tell my cousin, I invite you to take the bullock cart."

Xu He held back his cough, of course he knew that nothing came for nothing, if it wasn't for his second sister, no man in the village would talk to him. Thinking that since he was a relative with some contacts, he still had to deal with it. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly handed over a large vest made of rabbit fur before his knees.

He raised his head, and saw his cousin was punched by Zhang Fangyuan, and the butcher's voice sounded coldly: "Why are you talking so much, you are so noisy, shut up!"

Tap the screen to use advanced tools Tip: You can use left and right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.

You'll Also Like