A Poor Man's Son-in-Law: He Picks Up the Daughter of a Duke's Mansion at the Start

In mid-May, just as the rice was beginning to sprout ears, a matchmaker came to the door.

The woman who arrived was Wang, the town's famous matchmaker. She was in her forties, wearing a red floral jacket, and her hair was slicked back. As soon as she entered, she smiled and said, "Sister-in-law Lu, congratulations!"

Zhao was drying beans in the yard, wiping her hands on her apron: "Aunt Wang, what brings you here? Please come in and sit down."

Lu Qingyan was writing in his room when he heard a noise and paused. At this time, a matchmaker coming to the door was most likely there to arrange a marriage for his elder brother.

Inside the main room, Matchmaker Wang sat down, her eyes scanning the room. The mud walls were dilapidated, the tables and chairs worn, but the room was clean. She took the coarse tea poured by Zhao, took a sip, and then spoke: "Sister-in-law, I've come to arrange a marriage for Dashan."

Zhao's hand trembled: "Which family's daughter is she?"

"The third daughter of the Liu family, from Liu Village," Matchmaker Wang grinned, "eighteen years old, pretty, and skilled in needlework. The Liu family said they don't want any dowry; in fact, they'll give a hundred taels as a bride price!"

One hundred taels.

Zhao almost dropped the teacup in her hand.

Lu Qingyan listened from the next room, his pen completely stopped. One hundred taels was an astronomical sum for a farming family. All their possessions combined amounted to less than ten taels.

But there's no such thing as a free lunch.

Sure enough, Matchmaker Wang continued, "There's one condition—Dashan has to come to our door."

The main room was deathly quiet.

A son-in-law who marries into the family. In this place, it's almost like selling a son. Any children born later will bear the surname Liu, and the Liu family will be responsible for their care in old age and funeral arrangements, severing most of the ties with the Lu family.

Zhao's face turned pale: "This...this won't do. Dashan is the eldest son..."

"Sister-in-law, let me finish," Matchmaker Wang leaned forward. "One hundred taels! With that money, your Qingyan will have no trouble studying for the imperial examinations. Xiaoshan, working as an apprentice in town, can also find a good match. Dashan, going to the Liu family, will have no worries about food and clothing, and won't have to toil in the fields anymore—that's a good thing. Landlord Liu said that as long as Dashan is willing to go, he'll be given twenty acres of good land, and he'll be a small landlord!"

Every word is reasonable, every word hits home.

Zhao's lips trembled: "But...but if Dashan comes to our door, we old folks..."

"You still have Qingyan and Xiaoshan!" Matchmaker Wang slapped her thigh. "Qingyan is so good at studying; if he passes the imperial examinations and becomes a scholar, how could he not be filial to you? Xiaoshan can stay in town and take care of things. Dashan can live a good life with the Liu family; it's a win-win-win situation!"

Lu Qingyan couldn't listen anymore. He put down his pen and walked out of the room.

Inside the main room, Zhao sat with her head bowed, twisting the hem of her dress with her fingers. Matchmaker Wang continued, "Sister-in-law, have you thought this through? Dashan is twenty-five; if he doesn't get married soon, it'll be difficult. With your family's circumstances, which girl would want to marry him? The Liu family's marriage is something countless people would kill for..."

"Aunt Wang," Lu Qingyan said.

Matchmaker Wang turned her head, saw him, and smiled even more broadly: "Qingyan is home too? Perfect, you should also persuade your mother. If your eldest brother goes to the Liu family, you'll have money for your studies, right? Xiaoshan is an apprentice in town, and he'll need money for his wedding in the future. Doesn't this solve everything?"

Lu Qingyan didn't reply, but only asked, "Why does the Liu family insist on finding a son-in-law who will live with them? Don't they have any sons of their own?"

Matchmaker Wang's smile froze: "Landlord Liu has three daughters but no sons. He just wants to find an honest and hardworking man to support the family."

"If you want to uphold the family's reputation, why not find someone with official rank?"

"This..." Matchmaker Wang chuckled dryly, "Who would come to our door if they had official titles? The people of the mountains are honest and good at farming, that's what landlord Liu values ​​in them."

Just then, Lu Tiezhu and Lu Dashan returned from the fields. Covered in mud and carrying hoes, they were both stunned when they saw Wang the Matchmaker.

Matchmaker Wang quickly stood up: "Brother Lu is back? Perfect timing! I was just about to propose a good marriage to Da Shan!"

Lu Tiezhu put down his hoe, washed his hands, and went inside. After listening to Wang the matchmaker's words, he silently lit his pipe without saying a word.

Lu Dashan stood at the door, his face pale. He understood—he was to come to their door, sell himself, and get a hundred taels of silver to help his third brother with his studies and his second brother with his marriage.

"Father, Mother..." His throat was dry.

Zhao looked up at him, her eyes reddening: "Dashan, Mother won't agree..."

Matchmaker Wang grew anxious: "Sister-in-law, think it over again! One hundred taels! Your Qingyan's trip to the prefectural city will cost money for travel, food, and lodging. Xiaoshan works as an apprentice in town, earning only a few coins a month. Dashan going to the Liu family will be a blessing, not a hardship!"

Lu Tiezhu finally spoke up: "Aunt Wang, this matter... needs to be discussed when Xiaoshan comes back."

"Xiaoshan lives in town and only comes back once a month. Can you wait that long?" Matchmaker Wang raised her voice. "Landlord Liu said he'll give you an answer within three days. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

The room fell silent again.

Lu Dashan suddenly said, "If... if my third brother needs money, and my second brother is also having financial difficulties, I..."

"Shut up!" Zhao suddenly stood up, her voice trembling. "You're the eldest son! You're supposed to take care of us in our old age and see us off when we die! What kind of son is he if he comes to our home... even Xiaoshan wouldn't agree to it!"

As she spoke, tears streamed down her face: "No matter how poor we are, we can't sell our son... Xiaoshan suffers as an apprentice in town, what for? Isn't it all so that our family can be together again..."

Matchmaker Wang's face darkened: "Sister-in-law, what you're saying is outrageous! It's a marriage arrangement!"

"Coming to our door is selling us!" Zhao said firmly, unusually so. "Aunt Wang, you should go back. We don't agree to this marriage."

"Have you thought this through?" Matchmaker Wang stood up as well. "One hundred taels! How many years can that feed your family? Qingyan needs money for school, Dashan needs a dowry to marry another woman, and Xiaoshan will need money to get married in the future. Can you afford it?"

Every word was piercing to the heart.

Lu Tiezhu took a few deep drags on his cigarette, then suddenly stood up: "Dashan, come with me to the field and check on the irrigation ditch."

This is to avoid it.

Lu Dashan glanced at his mother, then at his younger brother, and followed his father out with his head down.

Watching their retreating figures, Wang the matchmaker turned to Zhao and said, "Sister-in-law, men don't understand these things. We women have to plan for our families. Don't you think so? If Xiaoshan knew that one hundred taels could help the family, he might even have advised you to agree."

Zhao wiped away her tears and remained silent.

Lu Qingyan spoke up: "Aunt Wang, there's no need to discuss this anymore. My eldest brother won't come, and my second brother won't agree either."

Matchmaker Wang looked at him and said, "Qingyan, you are a scholar, you should understand things. Your elder brother has sacrificed a little for the family, but if you and Xiaoshan become successful in the future, you can repay him many times over."

"My eldest brother is not meant to be sacrificed." Lu Qingyan's voice was calm but firm. "My second brother works as an apprentice in town, and he gives all his earnings home every month for the sake of this family. If he knew we 'sold' our eldest brother for money, he would never have a clear conscience. We are not worthy of the Liu family's marriage proposal. Please leave."

Having said that, Matchmaker Wang lost face: "Fine, you're all so high and mighty! I'd like to see how you can produce a scholar without this hundred taels! How long will Xiaoshan have to struggle in town!"

She turned and left.

The courtyard quieted down.

Zhao sat on the stool, tears streaming down her face. Lu Qingyan poured her a bowl of water and handed it to her, saying, "Mother, don't cry."

"I...I'm scared," Zhao choked out. "What if you really need money? What if...your older brother really has to stay a bachelor for life...I wonder if Xiaoshan is eating well in town..."

"No, I won't." Lu Qingyan sat down next to her. "I can earn money. The storybook is finished, enough for me to go to the prefectural city. As for my eldest brother's marriage, we can take our time finding a good girl who doesn't care about the dowry. As for my second brother, once I pass the imperial examination, I can help him out."

Zhao shook her head: "There's no such thing as a free lunch... Xiaoshan has been an apprentice in town for three years, working from dawn till dusk, hoping to graduate and earn more money. If he knew the family was struggling... sigh..."

In the evening, Lu Tiezhu and Lu Dashan returned. Neither of them mentioned what happened in the afternoon, but the atmosphere at the dinner table was somber.

After finishing his meal, Lu Dashan was about to wash the dishes when Zhao stopped him, saying, "Dashan, Mother today..."

"Mother, I know," Lu Dashan interrupted her, "I'm not going. I'm the eldest son, I have to take care of you in your old age. My second brother isn't having an easy time in town either, I can't let him carry this burden of conscience."

Zhao's tears welled up again.

At night, Lu Qingyan was writing under the lamp, but he couldn't concentrate. He heard Lu Dashan say to Lu Tiezhu in the next room, "Dad, how about... I go to town to find some work during the off-season? That way, I can look after my second brother."

"Isn't there enough work for you in the fields?"

"Earn more money to save for my third brother and also to help my second brother. His apprenticeship is almost over, and he'll need money to bribe his way out."

Lu Tiezhu remained silent for a long time before saying, "No need. Your third brother can earn it. As for Xiaoshan... we'll talk about it when he comes back at the end of the month."

"My second brother will be back at the end of the month. If he finds out about this..."

"sleep."

The lights went out.

Lu Qingyan looked at the flickering lamplight, her heart heavy.

In this family, everyone thinks of others. The eldest brother thinks about how hard it is for the second brother to be an apprentice; the second brother sends money home every month thinking of the family; and the parents think of each of their children.

He needs to hurry. He must pass the provincial examination in August.

He spread out the paper and continued writing his story. His pen flew across the page, each word clear and distinct. He finished one chapter and began the next.

He wrote until midnight, when the oil lamp was almost out, before he finally stopped.

The moon was high in the sky outside the window. The sound of the night watchman's drum came from afar; it was the second watch.

He blew out the lamp and lay down. The blanket smelled of sunshine, and also of the salty taste of Zhao's tears.

He closed his eyes and thought: I need to hurry.

We need to hurry. For the sake of this family, for my eldest brother, and for my second brother who's struggling in town.