Chapter 57: Marry Out or Marry In
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Old Woman Heng was still not satisfied with Father Han’s words.
Putting everything else aside, those two jars of wine were 200 catties. How much would that cost?
She didn’t even dare to imagine how much money Heng Yi had secretly saved up behind her back.
After all, who knew what he would hunt in the mountains?
Old Woman Heng felt that she had miscalculated.
Father Han and Old man Heng began to discuss whether Han Qiao and Heng Yi would live in the town or West Mountain Village after they got married.
“Since ancient times, when one marries someone, they live in their in-laws ‘house. No one lives in their maternal house.”
“Although our courtyard is a little small, we can still squeeze in,” said old man Heng.
Father Han said unhurriedly, “our Ah Qiao experienced a failed marriage. We also feel sorry for our daughter, so we built a courtyard for her in Xishan Village with the help of the whole family. We originally planned to find a husband for her.”
“It was Heng Yi who said that he wanted to start a family. We also felt that this child was reliable and we were willing to marry Ah Qiao to him. However, there is also a request that they live in West Mountain Village after they get married.”
“If they have to live in town, they have to have a courtyard that belongs to them.”
“Xiu, Yi, and Ke can just live in one room, so this courtyard doesn’t have to be very big.”
“But even for a small court yard, it’ll still cost twenty taels of silver. I’ll take out nine taels of silver to buy a house for the couple. Will your Heng family pay for the rest?”
Father Han’s question hit the nail on the head.
How could the Heng family be willing to take out a dozen taels of silver to buy a house?
Father Han continued, “two rooms won’t do either. When they have children in the future, a boy and a girl can’t stay in the same room.”
“That’s why I can’t buy this house too small.”
Old man Heng was silent.
The Heng family members were also silent.
Outside the courtyard, the Heng family children were eating all kinds of food, making a scene.
Old Woman Heng said, “then Old Fifth has so much silver to buy betrothal gifts. He should have enough money to buy a house.”
“There are so many people in Old Heng’s family, and all of them want to eat. How can we have extra money?”
The Heng family’s big uncle, third uncle, and fourth uncle remained silent.
The other members of the Han family didn’t say anything.
Father Han looked at Heng Yi. “Heng Yi, what do you say?”
Everyone looked at Heng Yi.
There was hope, sizing him up, disdain, and probing.
Heng Yi straightened his back, as if he didn’t see these gazes. He said calmly, “I don’t have money to buy a house in town. I’m willing to live in West Mountain Village.”
“First, it’s convenient to go hunting in the mountains. I don’t have to walk back and forth for four hours. In these four hours, I can buy a piece of land to open up wasteland and plant things. After I get married, I’ll be the head of the family. I have to shoulder the food, clothing, and housing of the family. I’ll also treat Ah Xiu and the others as my own.”
“Hunting is not a long-term solution. There are many ferocious beasts in the mountains, and danger lurks everywhere. I can’t hunt forever. This food can’t last me forever.”
Most importantly, Han Qiao was not willing to let him go into the mountains to hunt.
This was also the reason why he desperately bought the manor outside Puyi County.
Even if he did not hunt, he had the ability to feed his wife. He might not be rich, but at least he would not be hungry.
After deducting taxes, ten mu of land was enough for a family to eat rice.
As soon as Heng Yi said this, everyone felt that what he said made sense.
Old Woman Heng stood up and questioned him, “what can you do if you don’t hunt? What else can you do?”
“Yeah, I can’t do anything other than hunting, so it’s really unfair for Sister Ah Qiao to marry me. Why don’t I marry into her family?”
II II
II II
Heng Yi’s attitude was clear.
Whether it was marrying or marrying into her family, he had to get married.
No one could stop him.
Only old man Heng could see the change in Heng Yi.
One had to know that he had never spoken so much before.
Just as Old Woman Heng was about to retort, Old Man Heng said, “it’s not easy for your mother and I to raise you. After you get married and move to West Mountain Village, you won’t be able to be filial by our side…”
“Yes, that’s true. So, I’ll give you double the amount of filial piety money you give grandma!” Heng Yi’s words were neither heavy nor light, but they left Old Man Heng speechless.
They gave his grandmother five hundred wen of filial money a year, and Heng Yi doubled the amount.
No problem, there was nothing wrong with it.
No one could blame Heng Yi.
He was just following his superiors and learning from them.
II II
Old man Heng’s face twitched.
Uncle Heng said, “I think Heng Yi’s suggestion is very good. What do you think, Third Brother and Fourth Brother?”
“Yes,” Third Uncle and Fourth Uncle replied in unison. “It’s pretty good.”
“..”Old Woman Heng opened her mouth to curse.
“Sit down!” Old man Heng said in a deep voice.
Old Woman Heng almost choked.
Matchmaker Wang smiled and tried to be the peacemaker. Uncle Heng said, “Heng Yi isn’t young anymore. My family has a few kids as old as him.”
“As parents, you should support him unconditionally.”
“If you have the ability to buy him a house in town, then it’s understandable to ask him to live in town after he gets married. But you didn’t buy him a house and wanted him to live in town. Your house is only so big. How can it fit? If he had children in the future…It’s convenient to go hunting in the mountains. It saves us six hours. Anything is good!”
Third Uncle Heng and Fourth Uncle Heng agreed.
With matchmaker Wang’s help, it was quickly decided that they would stay in town for three days before the wedding. After three days, they would return to Han Qiao’s place and give her one tael of silver a year. The wedding was set on the third day of the ninth month.
Matchmaker Wang knew that Heng Yi was in a hurry to get married, and this was already the best day for him.
Old Man Heng and Old Woman Heng’s faces were cold the entire time, not saying a word.
Father Han continued, “since we’re not going to buy a house in town, we’ll buy a few acres of wasteland at the foot of the mountain. We have a lot of people working at home. If we help to reclaim it, we can plant crops next year!”
Splashed with pig manure, the land would freeze for a year in winter, and the next year, the land would be very fertile.
Old Woman Heng wanted to say that she had already given him so many things, why would she still lack a few acres of wasteland?
Before he could finish his sentence, Mrs. Han came to call for dinner.
The Heng family also felt hungry, so they got up to eat.
The Han family had prepared a sumptuous meal today, and they had prepared plenty of food. However, they hadn’t expected so many people from the Heng family, including a dozen children.
While they were eating, Han Qiao called Heng Yi over to take the medicine.
Heng Yi held the bowl and looked at Han Qiao. “Sister Ah Qiao, I’m sorry.”
“What grievances? Didn’t you succeed?” Han Qiao smiled warmly.
In the future, when he lived in Xishan Village, he would be given one tael of silver a year. If he stayed far away, he would never have such a good thing again.
“The wedding might not be very grand…” Heng Yi said.
“When you proposed marriage, not to mention the betrothal gifts in the surrounding villages, even in the entire Ninghe Town, there are not many who can compare!”
Han Qiao took out a piece of candy and stuffed it into Heng Yi’s mouth. “I can feel your sincerity and courage. We’ll be living together from now on. Money doesn’t come from the wind. We should use it wisely. We should save money.”
Heng Yi held it in his mouth, feeling sweet to his heart.
The corners of his eyes were also filled with smiles as he nodded obediently at Han Qiao.
Looking at Heng Yi, Han Qiao was reminded of a big golden retriever that belonged to the neighbor.
He was warm and obedient, soft and cute, and very rare..
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