Chapter 46: Proposal
Li San, from the Liang family of Jing’an, and Lin, from the Lin family of Jing’an, had different backgrounds. Although Lin was more aware of the hardships of small business owners, Li San was still concerned about her future.
As a child born to a slave or servant, Lin had experienced the struggles of leaving the family after growing up. They could only rely on themselves to make a living, and even if they received some help from the Liang family, it would only provide a stable income. If they wanted to improve their lives, they had to rely on themselves.
“If we don’t get along with the Yang family, our daughter’s future will be uncertain,” Li San expressed his concerns.
He wasn’t saying that the Yang family was bad, nor did he think Yang Zhengshan was impolite the day before. He was just worried about the unfamiliar Yang family.
“Then why don’t you go ask around?” Lin replied, dissatisfied.
Li San had no main ideas and panicked easily when faced with problems.
“Shall I go ask around?” Li San hesitated.
“Go quickly and come back quickly!” Lin urged him to go.
Li San left without saying another word and headed to Yang Family Village. After he left, Lin couldn’t help but smile as she glanced towards the inner room.
“Your father has left. What are you still hiding for?” she asked.
Upon hearing her words, Li Jing, with a reddened face, came out of the inner room.
“Mother!”
“Come here!” Lin beckoned her and tidied up her double buns.
“Mother, I don’t want to get married yet!” Li Jing lowered her head, her face flushed with anxiety.
Lin gently smiled and said, “You’re not a little girl anymore. It’s time to get married.”
“But I still want to spend a few more years with my parents!” Li Jing looked up, her bright eyes filled with concern and reluctance.
“It’s not like we’re letting you get married now. Even if it’s arranged, I’ll keep you for two more years.” Lin lightly tapped her forehead and chuckled.
Li Jing was only 14 years old, although she was already at the age of marriage, it wasn’t urgent. Lin understood her concerns but replied calmly, “Your father may be a bit muddled, but he loves you and won’t make you a concubine.”
Li San, being a child born to a slave or servant, was extremely sensitive to the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children. He didn’t want his daughter to be a concubine, nor did he want his descendants to be illegitimate children. This was one of the reasons he was willing to leave the Liang family.
After a few days, Old Lady Wang brought back a reply. Li San initially agreed to the proposal, but the two families still needed to formally meet before finalizing the marriage.
The next day, Yang Zhengshan, accompanied by Yang Mingzhi, came to visit Li San. Although it was a visit, in reality, it was a matchmaking session. The visit was to maintain the dignity of both families, and if the marriage didn’t work out, it wouldn’t damage their reputation.
During the visit, Yang Zhengshan not only met Li San but also Lin. Lin, although a woman, was much more astute than Li San.
At noon, Yang Zhengshan stayed behind to have a meal with Li San. After a few cups of wine, the two men were no longer strangers.
“I may be foolish, but I understand I can’t go back to the Liang family now!” Li San slurred.
“You’re right; the Liang family is nothing to me. I believe that as long as you, Li brother, work hard, you’ll definitely achieve something in the future!” Yang Zhengshan consoled him.
“Even if the Liang family wants me to go back, unless it’s my elder brother coming in person, I won’t go back,” Li San said, his face red from the wine.
Yang Zhengshan chuckled and said, “You’re right. If the Liang family wants you to go back, it’s up to you to decide.”
After a few more cups of wine, Li San was completely drunk, but his son Li Xiu was still sitting at the table, behaving like a little adult, taking care of Yang Minghao.
“If you dare to bully my sister, I’ll bite you to death!” Li Xiu warned.
Yang Minghao looked at this little future brother-in-law, feeling embarrassed, and scratched his head.
“What do I do?”
After a long time, he finally managed to say, “I won’t bully your sister!”
Li Xiu’s small face was serious, and he said, “Don’t think that just because I’m small, I can’t take care of my sister. You remember that my sister also has brothers.”
Yang Zhengshan listened to this and smiled, feeling that this kid had potential.
A few days later, Li San took his wife and children to visit the Yang family again. Yang Zhengshan, as before, warmly received them.
Then, Yang Zhengshan began preparing the proposal gifts. The proposal, also known as “纳采” in the local custom, was a formal procedure where the groom’s family sent a matchmaker to the bride’s family to propose marriage and present gifts.
In the countryside, this procedure could be simplified, as everyone was struggling to make a living and couldn’t afford to be too extravagant. However, since the Yang family had become wealthy, Yang Zhengshan felt that they should follow the traditional customs.
He prepared over 30 gifts, including valuable items, which were presented to the Liang family. Li San was overjoyed, feeling that the Yang family was giving them face.
“This proposal is not bad!” he exclaimed to Lin.
Lin was also relieved, as they had already interacted with the Yang family several times, but things weren’t finalized, and they still had some uncertainty in their hearts. Now that they saw the Yang family was taking their daughter’s marriage so seriously, they felt reassured.
With the proposal complete, the next step would be to match the birthdates, which was no longer Yang Zhengshan’s concern, as Wang and Li would handle the arrangements.
As for the wedding, both families had agreed to finalize the marriage in two years, when Yang Mingzhi and Li Jing would be 16 years old, which wasn’t considered late.
After settling the marriage proposal, Yang Zhengshan began packing his bags, preparing to head to Chong Shan Guan.
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