NOVPUBChapter 136: Chapter 136: For Whom It Comes
Lin Chunju wiped her hands on her apron and came out to meet the visitor.
“What brings you here today?”
As she spoke, Lin Chunju grabbed a handful of candy from the table and stuffed it into Dong Cuifen’s front pocket.
“It’s just in time for the New Year, to take back for the kids to try.”
Dong Cuifen politely declined twice before finally taking a seat with a big smile on her face.
The candies from the Yue Family were all purchased from the state-owned stores in the city, a different breed from those homemade ones from other villages.
The cream candy melted in the mouth, so sweet and rich, that it felt like ituld sweeten one’s very heart.
She wasn’t willing to refuse them at all.
Seeing the current state of the Yue Family, Dong Cuifen felt even morenfident about her visit.
“Sister Lin, my visit today isn’t just an ordinary social call; I’veme on a mission.”
Lin Chunju was ready for this, thinking that her son had finally reached this day, her heart overwhelmed with mixed emotions.
In the village, marriages typically happened early, with girls getting betrothed at sixteen and boys at eighteen.
The two families would first have a formal betrothal drink and hold the wedding banquet auple of years later.
In the past, parents arranged marriages, and simply having the ceremony was enough to bensidered husband and wife.
In recent years, theuntry required marriage certificates, but many in the village didn’t fuss over it.
Many didn’t bother with a certificate or held the wedding banquet first and waited until the appointed day to register.
Previously, due to poornditions at home, it took several years for a few kids in the family to get married.
Fortunately, now that the family’s circumstances had improved, Yue Jiannan would be eighteen in nominal age after the New Year.
Lin Chunju thought about promptly matchmaking for him to settle down his heart, so he wouldn’t keep behaving like a wild monkey without proper form.
“Sister Dong, actually, I’ve been hoping for your visit.”
Without being able to help it, Dong Cuifen broke into a grin, “It seems you’re getting anxious too.”
“Yes, my third son isn’t getting any younger. It’s time to find him a wife…”
Mid-sentence, Dong Cuifen suddenlyughed, interrupting Lin Chunju.
“Sister Lin, my visit this time isn’t for your third son.”
Lin Chunju tilted her head and looked at her,nfusion in her eyes.
It seemed that the only child of suitable age in the household was Yue Jiannan; surely, ituldn’t be about the Little Beans, that would be too ridiculous.
Dong Cuifen lowered her voice and leaned in closer to Lin Chunju, “I’m here for Xiaofang.”
“Xiaofang?” Lin Chunju was a bit stunned; her minduldn’t quite make thennection.
It wasn’t her fault,nsidering that in those times it was rare for widows to be matchmade again, and many idle villagers would gossip behind one’s back.
As for women who had been sent back home after divorce, they had even less market value, with the mean-spirited ones even calling them “worn-out shoes” behind their backs.
Lin Chunju had thought that if anyone dared to insult her daughter like that, she would tear their mouth apart.
In such circumstances, Lin Chunju never expected Dong Cuifen tome specifically for Xiaofang.
With a smile on her face, Dong Cuifen said, “Yes, Qiu Hong’an’s son from our village, named Qiu Maode, a tall and sturdy young man, he took one look at Xiaofang and was smitten.”
Lin Chunju furrowed her brows and pondered for a moment; she had an impression of the person Dong Cuifen mentioned.
The Qiu Family, much like the former Yue Family, was one of the less wealthy households in the village.
Qiu Maode’s family had even more sons than the Yue Family – a total of five – and Qiu Maode was the eldest.
At thirty-five or thirty-six, Qiu Maode indeed had a good build and appeared very strong.
To Lin Chunju, he always seemed like the diligent ox of the family, bearing burdens withoutmplaint.
The Qiu Family had many sons but only one piece of farmland, so life was tight for them.
It was said that they were planning to rent more land this year and were discussing borrowing money with some relatives.
Because Daye Village was not large, such news spread quickly, and even Lin Chunju, who was not familiar with his family, had heard about it.
With matchmaking being proposed at such a time, Lin Chunjuuldn’t help but wonder.
Yet she didn’t show anything on her face, simply nodding, “I understand, but I still need to discuss this with Xiaofang and hear her thoughts on the matter.”
Dong Cuifen exclaimed, “How can such a big decision be discussed with a child? Isn’t it all up to your word whether it goes through or not?”
But Lin Chunju disagreed, “We still need tonsider what Xiaofang thinks.”
Dong Cuifen slightly pursed her lips, “Sister Lin, not to be rude, but Xiaofang was indeed the belle of the village in her day, yet she’s been married off before, and there’s unpleasant gossip about her outside. Given her situation, it’s good enough that anyone is willing to have her; why be so picky?”
Hearing Dong Cuifen speak like this, Lin Chunju’s face immediately darkened.
