Zhang Minghua wasn’t seen in the crowd.
That young man, Peimin took a couple of glances at him. Seated, it was hard to determine his height, but his face looked honest. His features were plain, and he wore a semi-new cotton-padded jacket. He looked about twenty-sothing, quite youthful. He sat there sowhat stiff and bored, not much of a talker. It was mostly his mother and his second aunt who were talking.
Li Hong then told Peimin, "Yingzi and I are in the kitchen, it’s busy, we need to entertain the guests. We’ll keep them for dinner before they leave."
Peimin nodded and didn’t say much because she noticed Aunt Yu observing her non-stop. She looked back and gave a slight smile.
Aunt Yu then smiled at Peimin and said, "Don’t take offense, my girl, but in all my years, I’ve never seen such a pretty girl. I couldn’t help but take a few extra glances." This match was brought by the man’s Second Aunt, accompanying her nephew Yu Aiguo.
Peimin, feeling slightly embarrassed, replied, "You flatter , Auntie. There are many prettier than ."
Yu Aiguo, hearing their conversation, also looked up, then quickly averted his gaze.
Shen Yiguang’s expression was sowhat detached as he reached out to straighten Peimin’s clothes.
Zhang Minghua was sitting on the other side of Peimin, not sparing her any less attention. Seeing Shen Yiguang’s gesture, she smiled and turned her face to ask her daughter, "Are you hungry?"
Peimin readily replied, "Then I’ll go check the kitchen."
Zhang Minghua smiled and said, "Go ahead. I stead so dumplings this morning, knew you were coming, and kept them warm for you."
Peimin stood up and told everyone that she would take a look in the kitchen.
In the kitchen, Jiang Erni, pregnant and tending the fire, along with Peiying and Li Hong, plus third Aunt Chen Zhaodi who had just stepped out, were squatting, picking and washing vegetables. Seeing Peimin, they were sowhat surprised, "Why has Minmin co out?"
"I just ca to check."
Peiying stood up, "Sister, you must be hungry, mom saved so dumplings for you."
Peimin stopped her from getting them, "No need, I’m not hungry. I ate before coming over, it’s not that far, can’t be hungry so soon. It’s a bit stuffy with so many people inside, I ca out to talk to you."
As she spoke, she took a good look at Peiying, who seed to have grown a bit taller and gained so flesh compared to a few months ago. She had also beco fairer, and now seed not so timid, having brushed her hair off her forehead to et others’ gazes - she looked much more spirited.
But hearing what Peimin said, Peiying suddenly lowered her head, her cheeks flushing red.
Peimin pulled her aside to sit down, and while helping her pick vegetables, she asked softly, "Why did the family suddenly decide to have you et soone? You’re not that old."
Peiying’s head dropped even lower. "It’s Auntie, she introduced him... mom listened to her and thought it seed fine, so she let them co over to see..."
Peimin looked at her and asked in a low voice, "What do you think? Have you seen the young man?"
Peiying almost imperceptibly nodded, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s, "I saw him, I’ll just listen to mom..."
"So do you think it’s alright?"
Peiying nodded again.
Peimin sighed lightly. Her sister, like most girls of this era, believed that matchmaking and marriage were inevitable once you reached a certain age. If their parents approved, they had no objections; a date could be set, and the marriage would occur.
She didn’t know what to say at the mont, so she only asked about the man’s situation, "Do you know about the man’s family?"
Peiying shook her head uncertainly, "I heard, heard it’s from town..."
Li Hong looked over, hearing this phrase, and joined the conversation, "Now Yingzi is getting sowhere. That man is not just from the town, but also a waiter at the National Restaurant. I heard his monthly salary is thirty-five yuan, more than our second uncle’s, and his family doesn’t need to farm land. Yingzi is really lucky; from now on, she will be a city person." Her words were tinged with envy.
But she glanced at Peimin and chuckled, "Minmin, look at our family’s girls, aren’t they each marrying better than the last?"
Peimin gave her a noncommittal nod.
Third Aunt interjected, "This matter is still under discussion. Don’t speak so freely, to keep Yingzi from falling through." She ant that even a cooked duck can fly away, let alone a match which is still under consideration on both sides. It’s not certain that the man’s family might like Yingzi.
Li Hong secretly pouted, "How can this fly away? Our second aunt is involved. She’s arranging this; if she were unsure, would she have co? Speaking of which, our second aunt really treats our family well. I rember her Cousin Yun also married into the town and even brought along a job with rationed grains. She really knows how to pick sons-in-law."
Third Aunt’s face looked a bit displeased, tearing off the leaves of cabbage in her hands and throwing them into the basket, muttering, "Has our second aunt forgotten about our Peidi? My Peidi is even a year older than Yingzi. If anyone should be introduced, it should be Peidi."
Li Hong secretly pursed her lips again. Her family’s Peidi, with so many younger brothers, asking for a dowry of two hundred yuan, who could afford that? Moreover, Yang Peidi wasn’t exactly a great beauty. Although she thought this, it didn’t show on her face. "Third Aunt, Peiyan from our second uncle’s ho is also a year older than Yingzi."
Third Aunt looked up at her, "How is that the sa? Her mother is from the town. Finding a good match for her could be done in a minute. Poor our Peidi, capable and filial, but because she doesn’t have competent parents, she can’t find a good match..." Third Aunt’s ability to talk had also improved; in the past year, she had been keeping an eye out for matches for her daughter, negotiating dowries on several occasions, and her words had beco sharper.
Peimin watched her with renewed respect.
It was just that her words were filled with so jealousy towards her and Dajiang’s families, so Peimin found it hard to say anything.
But Li Hong didn’t mind, retorting directly, "Third Aunt, you shouldn’t say that. Granny lives with you, and anything good our second aunt gets, she sends to your house. I think she still puts your family first... Yingzi is no worse than Peidi..."
Third Aunt turned away, looking slightly upset, "What good things does Peiyan’s wife have? Those are to show filial respect to the mother, we dare not take them."
Peimin watched the sharp exchange between the two of them and, turning to Jiang Erni, changed the subject, "Sister-in-law, you are close to giving birth, how co you ca out?"
Jiang Erni smiled bashfully, "You know , I don’t talk much. I can still help out here, there’s nothing much."
Speaking of which, she also looked at Peimin’s belly, "I haven’t congratulated you yet. I heard your sister-in-law is also three months pregnant?"
Peimin smiled and nodded, "You all know?"
"How could we not? Mother is thrilled, and she has already started making clothes for your baby early on."
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