Chapter 146: Remarriage

Disclaimer: 

1. This is an unofficial translation and no permission has been obtained from the author/ official publisher. It may be taken down if the author/official publisher requests. 

2. This is a fan work and the interpretation represents only the translator’s personal views without any input from the author. 

3. No permission has been granted to use, publish, upload and/or copy this translation to any other site except for Second Life Translations.

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Liu Xu’er’s home right now was extremely crowded. The main room was packed – everyone was in there discussing matters. As usual, Old Man Liu sat at the head of the kang, while Liu Gao shi sat at his side sewing shoe insoles. Liu Changqi, Liu Changshi and Liu Changgeng were seated on chairs around them. 

He shi and He Ruyu were both sitting at the side of the kang, each holding some embroidery work. Liu Xu’er had brought sishu’s son Liu Pu to the courtyard to play. 

The little fellow was nearly two. In his baby voice, he was giggling and calling out, “Jie, come and catch me! Catch me.” Then he dashed about on his two chubby legs, sash dangling loose. 

At his speed, Liu Xu’er didn’t have to run to keep up with him. She smiled and said, “Careful. Don’t fall.”

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Liu Changshi came over to sit at the side of the kang. He smiled and asked Liu Gao shi, “Mum, Pu is still so little. We can’t do without you. Ruyu is too young, and isn’t reliable. I worry if she is alone, taking care of Pu!”

He shi laughed. Although his description of her was not flattering, He Ruyu didn’t take any offense. She covered her mouth and smiled. 

Liu Gao shi also laughed. She looked over at He Ruyu and said, “You shouldn’t make it sound as though your wife is so useless. She’s much stronger than you!” She smiled and waved her hands. “I know that all of you are filial. But there is reason for us to go over to your dage’s. Firstly, your father and I want to take a look at our home back at the village. Secondly, your dage’s matter cannot be delayed any longer. I’ve already found a good woman. This time, we are heading back to prepare for a wedding!”

Everyone was stunned. They looked at each other shocked. Liu Gao shi hadn’t let any of her plans slip to anyone.

Liu Changqi flushed and said, “Mum! I’ve already said that I don’t need anyone…. The children are  already grown. The villagers will talk….”

Liu Gao shi immediately gave him a hard look, “Who will dare to say anything? It is the natural order for a person to marry and have children! You are only 40 – do you really want to live the next half of your life alone? What would happen when you grow old? You wouldn’t have anyone beside you when you’re old and have difficulty moving about. You wouldn’t have anyone to accompany you!”

This wasn’t a topic that He shi and He Ruyu could contribute to. They quickly lowered their heads and focused on the work in their hands. Liu Changgeng quickly said, “That’s right, dage. You should look for someone! Mum’s right. It’s important to have someone that you can depend on, and accompany you in your old age!”

“Tao is a boy. He will do well for himself in the future! He might even venture further afield and develop beyond our wildest dreams. You can’t keep him with you at home forever. It’s best to find your own partner.” Liu Changshi added his own opinion. 

Liu Changqi stammered, “I…. I don’t want to look for anyone….”

When he had said that earlier, Liu Gao shi had assumed that he was just saying that out of embarrassment. But now that he was saying it again, she was a bit shocked, “What? You’re unwilling? Are you unwilling or is Tao unwilling?” She looked at Old Man Liu as she spoke. 

Old Man Liu’s good mood had evaporated. Right now, he was frowning as he spoke, “What do you mean, unwilling? Why would you be unwilling to look for someone? As for Tao? He doesn’t even have a say in this! And that’s that!”

Liu Changqi lowered his head and didn’t speak. 

He shi and He Ruyu were both women, and were more sensitive to the nuances. He shi thought for a moment before smiling, “Mum, you need to have found a good wife… Dage’s situation isn’t an easy one. With Tao all grown up and needing to look for his own partner soon, if you found someone who is restless… Don’t let Tao’s own marriage get delayed by this. Tao is dage’s only son.”

Liu Gao shi had also started to guess at the problem. Her eldest had likely been badly hurt by his first wife, and his eldest daughter’s marriage ended up being affected as a result of it. He spent sleepless nights all those long years that his daughter couldn’t find a match. It wasn’t just Liu Changqi, Liu Gao shi herself had had innumerable sleepless nights worrying over the matter. Second’s wife was right – he was definitely worried that if he were to look for a partner now, it might cause issues with Tao’s own marriage. He couldn’t bear the thought of that!

So Liu Gao shi quickly said, “First, don’t worry. I’ve looked carefully and found a good match for you.” She then turned to look at He shi and He Ruyu. “I know everything about this person. She’s from the neighbouring Zhengwang Village. She’s the Old Zheng family’s youngest daughter-in-law. Her husband has been gone for many years. They wanted this daughter-in-law to return to her maiden home, but her maiden home refused to accept her back. So she continues to stay with her in-laws. You know the Zheng family’s situation. They’ve five sons and three daughters and are as poor as dirt. Even if the two elders wanted to keep her, they really can’t afford to.”

He Ruyu wasn’t too familiar. She turned and looked at He shi, “Ersao, do you know them?”

He shi was deep in thought, “Mum, which Zheng family are you referring to?”

Liu Changgeng interrupted, “Is it the family whose eldest son slaughters pigs?”

Liu Gao shi slapped her thigh and said, “That’s right!” She turned and looked at Liu Changqi, “When that woman married into their family, she was very filial and obedient. A pity her man died young, and left her childless. She can’t stay any longer with her in-laws.”

Liu Changqi was scratching his head and trying to recall the person in question. 

He shi quickly asked, “Mum! Who did you speak to? Zheng family’s matriach?”

“Yes, of course. Who else could I speak to? Since she’s married, she belongs to her in-law’s family. Especially since her maiden family has rejected her and refused to allow her to go back… Her eldest sister-in-law is very powerful – she’s the head of the household.”

Realisation dawned on He shi, “But I still don’t have any impression of her. I only know of their eldest son. He comes to our village to slaughter pigs.”

Liu Gao shi looked at Liu Changqi and said, “We already knew the old Zheng family. I got someone to ask around and find out about her first. I didn’t let any of you know, because I was worried that something would happen and it would fall through. I didn’t want to make a big fuss over this matter in case it didn’t happen. This time, I was extremely careful. I made sure to find out everything first before settling on her.”

Liu Changqi was still hesitating. 

Liu Changgeng then said, “Don’t overthink it dage. Since mum has clearly checked her out, then it should be alright. Furthermore, there’s really no need to worry about Tao! Tao right now is able to make plans for himself. He’s already a store manager. If he doesn’t agree, do you think you could settle his matter for him?”

He shi nodded, “That’s right! Nowadays, the children all have their own opinions. For these important life matters, you really need to discuss it with them first. We can’t just make the decision for them.”

Liu Gao shi also nodded, “Your erdi and erdimei are right! Don’t talk about the children, just look at Fourth….”

Liu Changshi didn’t expect to get attacked out of the blue. He quickly smiled, “What…. Mum!” He turned to glance at He Ruyu. He Ruyu’s face was all red and her head was lowered. 

Old Man Liu then said to Liu Gao shi, “Why are you bringing up all these old matters? In any case, the matter is settled! Moving on! The old Zheng family’s requested for bride price. We need to discuss this matter.”

Old Man Liu’s voice was decisive. Liu Changqi could only quietly sit down. 

Liu Gao shi quickly said, “They want two strings of cash for the betrothal gifts. And of course the other usual gifts cannot be lacking. Furthermore, they want two pigs….”

Old Man Liu waved his arms, “What pigs? First doesn’t rear pigs! Just give them four strings of cash!”

Liu Gao shi smiled and explained, “They don’t like the sound of four strings of cash ¹ In Mandarin, “Four” sounds similar to “Death”. So it’s considered an unlucky number. . That’s why they want two pigs….” A pig was worth about a string of cash.

Old Man Liu was stumped for a moment. 

He shi smiled and suggested, “Then give them two strings of cash and another two taels of silver. Would that work?”

Liu Changgeng smiled and slapped his thigh, “That’s a good suggestion! Let’s do that.”

Liu Gao shi thought it over. She too felt that it was workable, so she turned and looked at Old Man Liu. Seeing Old Man Liu nod his head, she smiled and said to Liu Changqi, “Then you should head back and prepare those things. As for the betrothal gifts, you don’t need to worry about it.”

Liu Changqi was still a bit hesitant. He didn’t agree, instead looking up at Liu Gao shi. 

Liu Changshi said, “Oh, dage, we already said you don’t need to worry about Tao! What is this little bit of betrothal money? When Tao is ready to get married, he will have earned his own betrothal money!”

“That’s right, are you still worried that you might eat into Tao’s betrothal money? Tao is only 14 this year. There’s another two years before he gets married. In these two years, he should have earned between 10 to 20 taels of silver. Added to the fact that you’ve income from the farm and from your chickens and rabbits….. Alright, alright. It would definitely be enough!” Liu Changgeng helped him calculate the costs. 

He shi nodded her head frantically, “That’s right! It will definitely be enough!”

Liu Changqi did his own mental calculations, but he really couldn’t win against all his family members. Furthermore, he did rather want a companion. He was only 40, still in his prime. Without a wife, his days were hard to bear. His main worry was about spending too much money. He felt that he really should be saving up his money for Tao to get married. Also, he was very worried that his next wife would again be as difficult as the first. He really wouldn’t be able to bear it if she was. 

But now that everyone had said these things, he slowly nodded his head. Then he again asked Liu Gao shi anxiously, “Mum…. You really checked carefully right. She’s good tempered….”

Liu Gao shi said, “Relax! I don’t want to spend my festive occasions stressed and frustrated either!” When she said that, it strengthened her resolve to ensure that her son had a good wife! The first wife was chosen by her, and Liu Gao shi had felt terrible for that decision for a very long time. She blamed herself for finding a bad wife for her son, causing her two granddaughters to be badly impacted. 

This time, she was very very careful. Last year, when someone told her about this widow, she checked again and again. She had even gone to Zhengwang Village herself on made up errands so that she could have a look at her. Everyone in Zhengwang Village had been extensively interrogated. It was only when she was satisfied that she finally agreed. 

Now that the engagement was settled, Liu Changqi had to prepare to get married again and Old Man Liu and Liu Gao shi had to go back to help him. Although they were a bit reluctant to leave their youngest grandson, there was no choice in the matter. 

A few days later, after they had settled everything, Old Man Liu and Liu Gao shi told their sons to send them back to Taohua Village. They would stay in the old residence. And Liu Changqi’s marriage had been confirmed. Because it was a second marriage for both parties, the wedding was very simple. After matching their bazi, they sent the betrothal gifts over. They were married a month later. 

It was just two people who carried the sedan over to fetch the bride over.