The Lucky Farmgirl

Old Madam Liu said, "I am not speaking in riddles; she really wants to arrange a marriage for Liu Yi, and I truly want to arrange one for Huan’er as well."

She said, "A family with a daughter is sought after by a hundred families. Whoever succeeds, that’s their skill."

Minister Liu glanced at his elderly wife, feeling she was speaking nonsense, "Can her grandnephew compare to our Huan’er?"

"Although our Huan’er may not have achieved much, right now he not only has a title but has also passed the Ming Classic exam. Even if he can’t become a high official in the future, getting a fourth or fifth rank practical position is still achievable. Can Liu Yi compare?"

Minister Liu, although greatly unimpressed with Liu Huan, had to consider with whom he was comparing. He couldn’t compare to a great-grandson or someone like Bai Shanyin, but he was undoubtedly better than Liu Yi.

Old Madam Liu then asked him, "So what do you think about this marriage proposal?"

Minister Liu pondered for a while, and after a long pause, he said, "Our family isn’t the type to rigidly cling to status, and moreover, the Zhou Family can now be considered newly landed gentry. Don’t look down on them just because they have only Zhou Man as an official in court, and moreover a woman; she alone accounts for the worth of many people. They have many children and nephews, as long as they continue studying, eventually there will be someone who can enter officialdom."

"As they say, each dynasty has its own set of ministers, and our current emperor has already changed his ministers several times, so yes, thirty years on the east of the river, thirty years on the west, nobody knows what the future holds. No one should look down on anyone at this moment."

Minister Liu nodded as he mused, "If you find the girl’s character and disposition good, then go ahead and settle it."

Old Madam Liu said, "I find that she has some of her aunt’s ambition, although not as talented, but still better than the children raised in our family."

Minister Liu then curled his lips, and said, "With talent and gift like Zhou Man, how many among the entire court can compare?"

He said, "She truly wields a skillful bowl that no one can snatch away. Director Xiao has privately said that when he mentions the surface, she can immediately delve into the core. In medicine, she not only extrapolates from one to understand three, but comprehends much more; this talent is a special gift from heaven."

Old Madam Liu recalled something and softly asked, "If we secure this marriage, in the future wouldn’t your granddaughter-in-law also have to enter the court?"

"I couldn’t be happier," Minister Liu laughed, "Didn’t you say she has some of her aunt’s ambition? If her capabilities can also be learned even a third from her aunt, it would be great; in the future if Huan’er ever stands in the Grand Court and quarrels, at least there would be someone to support him."

Old Madam Liu thought of Liu Huan being troubled today when Zhou Liru joked, her eyes gleamed, "Good, since you also agree, then I will find an opportunity to visit the Zhou Family for Huan’er."

Minister Liu then remembered something, "Shouldn’t we say something to Dalang and his wife?"

Old Madam Liu coldly snorted, "I’ll mention it to them later on. Would they dare oppose?"

She said, "The children were all raised by us, naturally we should decide on matters like marriage."

Minister Liu felt a headache, and could only persuade, "Yet we should still inform them, after all they are his parents, and Yi’er’s marriage was decided by them before..."

"It’s precisely because Yi’er’s marriage was arranged by them that Huan’er’s has to be arranged by us," Old Madam Liu was furious at this mention, "This matter was settled a long time ago already. How is it possible, they want to go back on their word now?"

"Guarded against whom? Do they see me as an evil mother-in-law, once a granddaughter-in-law is married, I’ll teach her to defy her mother-in-law?" Old Madam Liu rattled on like a firing cannon: "Both children are raised right in front of me. I wanted her to stay in the Capital to raise children, but she was unwilling, insisting that Dalang had no one to care for him and wanted to follow him..."

"He has hands and feet, plenty of servants around, why does she insist on following? My two grandsons were without their parents since young, especially my Huan’er, who was just two years old then, still nursing ..."

Seeing Old Madam Liu in tears, Minister Liu quickly pulled out a handkerchief to give her, "Alright, alright, I won’t talk, I won’t talk about it, okay? Haven’t you raised the children well?"

"I’ve raised them well, but can a grandmother and a mother be the same? Previously when they moved to Taiyuan, I said it’s not too far, the children have grown quite a bit, Taiyuan’s school isn’t bad either, for the sake of not letting the father-son and mother-son relationships become too distant, I let Yi’er bring Huan’er along to visit, and how did they end up treating it? They treated an illegitimate child better than they treated their two sons."

"These two children are her own flesh and blood, after all, it’s true as the old saying goes; without raising them personally, there’s no affection. Since there’s no affection, we’re polite; yet she assumes my heart harbors ill will and considers me as stirring their relationship." Old Madam Liu couldn’t hide her anger, "Yi’er was raised by me, when making marital arrangements for the child over there they didn’t even ask us, if they had this mindset, wouldn’t it be better to treat the two children nicely? Yet the two children couldn’t even manage six months there before running back..."

"Yes, yes, yes, all that you say is correct, but if you don’t speak now, in the end it will be Huan’er’s wife who suffers?" Minister Liu said, "Now you vent your anger, but what happens later? How many days do you have left? How many days does she have? Won’t they still be the household in-laws in the future?"

"Alright, you’re cursing me for a short life!" Old Madam Liu angrily twisted him, Minister Liu let out an "Ouch," covered his arm and cried, "Doing it again, doing it again, there are still guests outside..."

Liu Huan covered his head and crawled up from the couch, glancing at the shadows on the screen, he walked over and saw Zhou Man and the others playing checkers. Just watching as Manbao jumped a piece and captured Bai Shan’s piece, she laughed heartily and exclaimed, "I won!"

Yin Huo glanced down momentarily and commented, "This chess game is indeed interesting, but it lacks intellectual challenge."

Manbao retorted, "...Who says it doesn’t require thought? It’s quite similar to Go, very brain-consuming, you know?"

Bai Shan, having lost, collected the pieces and nodded, "It’s quite straightforward, not as many complexities as Go, but certainly is intriguing. It’s a pity the incomplete edition you’ve got doesn’t contain much on the play method."

Bai Erlang was still contemplating the recent match, seeing the shadow lifted his head, noticed it was Liu Huan and stood up and said, "You’re awake?"

Liu Huan dazedly said, "I just dreamt that my grandfather and grandmother were fighting, turns out they were just talking."

Bai Shan said, "...Do your grandfather and grandmother often fight?"

Liu Huan replied, "Not often, just occasionally when my grandfather angers my grandmother, she’ll hit him a couple of times."

Bai Shan and the others showed a look of sympathy.

Ji Yu was outside the room, hearing the commotion, poked his head in to see. Finding the young master awake, he immediately went to pour tea and brought water, helping him moisten his throat before saying, "Second Young Master, the Old Madam instructed that you should rest in the room and not go out, outsiders won’t be able to come in..."

"The banquet isn’t over yet?"

Ji Yu laughed, "The sky hasn’t turned dark yet; they reckon it will continue until nightfall, right now they’re enjoying the dance and music in the garden."

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