Chunfu had only fallen asleep in the latter half of the night and was now deep in a pleasant dream when urgent knocking startled her awake. Zhang Tong’s high-pitched, grating voice forced her to get up and open the door.
Rarely did Zhang Tong call her “Auntie,” but now his round face was beaming with joy as he looked up at her and said, “Auntie, my mom wants you to hurry to the west room. Ji… Uncle Jicheng is here to see you. He even gave me and my brother a copper coin each to buy candy.”
Chunfu scoffed inwardly. That money would inevitably end up in her sister-in-law’s pocket. Times were so tight that a single coin had to be stretched as far as possible—such words were just to placate the children.
After sending Zhang Tong away, she lay back down for a while, waiting until she felt more awake before getting up.
Li Xiu’e had been sitting in the west room for quite some time without seeing Chunfu appear. Embarrassed, she forced a smile. “This girl… I’ll go check on her.”
Chunmu, sitting across from Jicheng, said apologetically, “She’s been spoiled too much, so she’s a bit slow with chores. Hope you don’t mind.”
Jicheng merely smiled, listening as the matchmaker and Chunmu exchanged small talk.
Li Xiu’e strode out of the west room toward the main hall and found Chunfu still disheveled, wiping her face with a cloth. Her anger flared, and she hissed under her breath, “You useless girl, can’t even do the simplest things right. I don’t know why those two dead souls brought you into this world just to torment us.”
Grabbing a comb, Li Xiu’e dragged Chunfu toward the table. Her grip was rough, and Chunfu, frail as she was, stumbled along.
“Show some sense later. Don’t just stand there like a block of wood—answer whatever they ask you. You know the harvests have been bad these past two years. With so many mouths to feed, your brother’s hands alone can’t carry the burden. Marrying you off will lighten his load.”
Chunfu sat stiffly on the stool, afraid that her sister-in-law’s rough handling would tear her scalp. Her long hair, neglected and tangled like dry straw, took half an hour to comb through, each tug making her wince. Finally, Li Xiu’e swiftly braided it and rummaged through the wardrobe to pull out a patched floral dress for her to change into.
“If you had any wits about you, your brother and I would’ve sent you to a wealthy household as a concubine—we’d have benefited too. But since you’re like this… Once you’re married, live properly with Jicheng. Don’t come running back home over every little thing. We’ve got enough to deal with without your nonsense. Understand?” Before leaving, Li Xiu’e pinched Chunfu’s waist hard, resentment boiling inside her. Why should she have to cater to this fool?
Chunfu immediately grasped the meaning—once married, she’d be Jicheng’s responsibility, and the Zhang family couldn’t afford her visits. She sneered inwardly. They just didn’t want a poor relative showing up! Jicheng seemed hardworking and dependable. If they worked together, they could build a decent life. This humiliation wouldn’t go unanswered.
The two entered the west room one after the other, Chunfu trailing behind her sister-in-law, eyes red and teary, looking pitiful.
The matchmaker pulled her to sit beside her, concerned. “Oh dear, what’s wrong, girl? Why the tears on such a happy day?”
Chunfu looked up at her brother, her clear, beautiful eyes brimming with grievance. Chunmu sighed. “What happened? Tell me.”
Glancing at her sister-in-law, Chunfu sniffled. “She pinched me here… it hurts.” She lifted her clothes slightly, revealing a dark bruise on her waist, her gaze pleading.
Li Xiu’e shot her a venomous glare and quickly yanked her clothes back down. “What kind of behavior is this for a girl? You must’ve bumped into something. Stop lying and sit properly—don’t interrupt.”
Everyone present knew the truth but chose not to speak it. Chunmu, humiliated in front of others, glared at Li Xiu’e with eyes like poisoned arrows.
“Now that everything’s settled, let’s celebrate. Here’s the agreed-upon bride price, not a single coin short. Brother Jicheng said Chunfu deserves nothing less than others—she’ll be treated well. You can rest easy.”
Chunmu had initially hoped to negotiate the bride price down, but seeing the full amount, his lips curled into a smile, his tone turning polite. “We’ve lived in the same village for years. Though we haven’t interacted much, I trust Jicheng’s character. My sister’s still young and playful—treat her kindly.”
Chunfu stole a glance at Jicheng. He wore a new dark blue outfit, neat and clean, his glossy hair tied back with a cloth band, making him strikingly handsome. His clear eyes, like a serene blue sky, were mesmerizing.
His deep, steady voice resonated in her heart. She pressed her lips together, thoughts swirling. He knew she was considered simple-minded—he could’ve paid less and saved himself some hardship. Others would’ve jumped at such a bargain, yet he insisted on treating her as an equal. A warmth spread through her chest—she hadn’t expected her first taste of respect to come from the man about to become her husband. Any hesitation she’d had vanished. She was willing to follow him.
“Chunfu’s pure and straightforward. My home’s been quiet for years—her liveliness will be a blessing. Brother Chunmu, let’s pick a date for the wedding. We’ll rely on your wife’s help.”
The matchmaker waved her hand. “Don’t worry, I’ll do what I can. I’ve lived in Dongpo Village for years—though an outsider, I’ve built enough connections to lend a hand. Will you ask your uncle to help with the arrangements?”
Jicheng stiffened slightly and shook his head. “No, I’ll handle it myself.”
Every family had troublesome relatives. His past must’ve been harsh—poor and burdened with a bad reputation, making life even harder.
Chunmu took a sip of tea. “Fine, handle it yourself. It’s tough managing alone, so we’ve already compromised on many things. But the Zhangs are well-respected in the village, living right at the entrance. With so many eyes watching, you can’t make it too shabby.”
Jicheng pressed his lips together. Village traditions demanded a grand procession—bridal sedan, music, and fanfare—but only the well-off could afford such extravagance. He couldn’t, nor could he borrow money in Dongpo Village.
The matchmaker interjected, “Chunmu, when you married, wasn’t it just a ox-cart fetching Xiu’e? Why make it hard for Jicheng?”
Though unfamiliar with local customs, Chunfu knew the poor couldn’t afford such formalities—most just made do. If Chunmu hadn’t been poor, would he have married Li Xiu’e, with her coarse features and no charm? He’d only married her because no one else would. Jicheng couldn’t meet his demands, and she hated people who forced others into impossible situations.
But given her role, she couldn’t speak up—she could only glare at her brother in frustration.
“Brother Chunmu, I may not give Chunfu a grand ceremony, but I’ll make it up to her in other ways.” His tone was firm, like a vow.
No one else saw value in his words. Dongpo Village was small, its people scraping by on meager crops and odd jobs—poor through and through. Only Xiangcheng’s son had risen above, thanks to marrying a shopkeeper’s daughter. Jicheng’s hopes for a better life seemed delusional.
“Brother Jicheng, she’s my only sister. You can’t have her walk back with you, can you? It’s bad luck for the bride’s feet to touch the ground, and everyone will be watching.” Chunmu felt cheated—Chunfu shouldn’t be married off so easily.
Jicheng’s smile was dazzling, his sincerity and courtesy fully extended. His eyes were only for Chunfu—what did the others matter? They hadn’t treated her well. That bruise spoke volumes. Why else would she cry so bitterly? This girl had suffered enough—sallow and thin, shrinking in fear around her own family, a far cry from the vibrant voice he’d heard under the scorching sun. The moment he recognized her, he’d wanted her to smile more, to chase away the loneliness in his home and heart. If they were to share a life, choosing someone who brought him joy was his good fortune.
Though Chunmu dropped the subject, his displeasure lingered. After settling on a wedding date and seeing the guests out, his face remained grim.
Li Xiu’e collected the teacups and found him brooding on the steps. “What’s bothering you? With your sister married off, your burden’s lighter.”
Chunmu exhaled slowly. “I still can’t accept him taking her so easily. Someone once told me her looks could fetch a hefty price in a brothel.”
Li Xiu’e glanced around nervously and smacked his arm. “Are you insane? What if someone hears? What kind of brother sells his sister to such a place? You’d be struck by lightning!”
Chunmu smirked. “Relax, I was just talking. If no one wanted her in a few years, I’d have sold her quietly. Plenty of fathers sell their daughters—I’m just her brother. I’ve raised her this long; it’s time she repaid me. I wanted to tell you earlier, but you insisted on finding her a match. Fine, no use dwelling on it now. Once she’s gone, we’ll move to the main hall and let Zhang Tong and Zhang Yan have the west room. No more crowding—it’s unbearable.”
Chunfu, just outside the door, heard her brother’s words and her sister-in-law’s scolding. Her heart sank further. So it was about the money—they’d made things difficult for Jicheng because of it. She’d never imagined her seemingly refined brother could be so cruel.
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