Courtyard House: Rebirth of a Shopkeeper in 1937

As time goes by, the end of the year is fast approaching. It should be a lively time for every household to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new, with fireworks and bustling activity. However, the entire mountain village has lost the usual hustle and bustle, and is filled with a lingering desolation and melancholy, lacking any of the festive atmosphere of the New Year.

This year was marked by turmoil and constant warfare, and the village suffered particularly deeply. Nearly twenty households alone bid farewell to loved ones and held funerals. Adding to this the families whose relatives had passed away less than three years prior and were still observing mourning at home, the total number of households in the village observing mourning was over thirty. At a glance, every household had lost its usual vibrancy and warmth. Coupled with the devastating fire that had burned for five days and five nights, turning the provincial capital into scorched earth and reducing the ancient city to ruins, claiming countless lives, everyone spontaneously refrained from posting bright red Spring Festival couplets or hanging festive lanterns. The streets and alleys were devoid of the usual lively atmosphere of preparing for the New Year and the bustling activity. Even the children, who were usually carefree, were affected by the somber atmosphere of the village, suppressing their playful nature. The usual bursts of laughter and merriment had vanished, and the entire mountain village was eerily quiet.

Several respected elders in the village gathered and discussed the matter repeatedly, finally reaching a consensus to completely cancel all festive traditional programs, including the New Year's dragon dance and the Lantern Festival lion dance. With the nation in peril, the country shattered and in turmoil, border wars still raging, and countless soldiers buried far from home, the village was filled with grief and sorrow. To celebrate and revel at this time was truly inappropriate and disrespectful to the fallen heroes. Everyone held a firm belief that only when the Japanese invaders were driven out, the country was safe and sound, and the nation was at peace, would all celebrations be restarted, and a grand New Year's festivities be held to honor the loyal souls who sacrificed their lives for the country and to soothe the long-standing pain in the hearts of the villagers.

In the past few days, several young adults from the breeding base came to visit their elder brother, wanting to discuss matters. They had found jobs outside, but were unwilling to completely give up the base's profits, so they thought of transferring their spots at the base to their relatives and friends, so that they could keep their share and not interfere with their work outside.

After discussing it privately, the eldest brother, second brother, and Xingbao unanimously decided that they could not grant the request. When the base was established, a rule was set that future recruits would only be children over six years old to ensure the quality of training and orderly management. However, the three brothers also understood the difficulties faced by these young people and offered a compromise: they would not need to participate in the base's daily patrols, but only need to return to the base to contribute during the crucial planting and harvesting seasons. They would still be able to participate in profit sharing, but their share would be reduced by one level, a reasonable adjustment to their unfulfilled daily duties. Unfortunately, these young people's jobs were all in other places, far away, and extremely inconvenient to travel to and from, so they ultimately missed this opportunity to balance their duties and left with deep regret.

Uncle Long and Uncle Deng also held a fire-passing ceremony before the Lunar New Year and moved into their new house smoothly, finally having their own little home before the end of the year. Just then, Uncle Long's second uncle, who was working on rafts in the countryside, also made a special trip back to his hometown from Huaihua to celebrate the New Year, and also to finalize his marriage and go back to his hometown for matchmaking.

Such a lively and joyous occasion was rare in the village. Xingbao and Guixiang, along with Long Zhixing and the other children, filled with curiosity, gathered early in the Long family's courtyard to watch the festivities. In these days, rural weddings strictly adhered to old customs. Before marriage, the bride and groom avoided each other, and from acquaintance to meeting, to discussing the marriage and finally to engagement, they had no say in the process. It was all up to the matchmaker, who tirelessly worked to bring them together, relying on her silver tongue to arrange the match. The matchmaker who came today was so eloquent and skilled that Xingbao witnessed firsthand the expertise of matchmakers in the old days. From the moment she stepped into the courtyard, her mouth never stopped. Her words were smooth and appropriate, every sentence soothing and comforting. She spoke to everyone in a way that resonated with them, adapting to different situations. Every word she uttered touched their hearts; she was incredibly experienced.

The matchmaker, with her sharp eyes, immediately assessed Uncle Long's physique and bearing, and launched into a well-timed tirade of praise. She smiled and frankly stated that although Uncle Long was twenty-three, considered an older unmarried man in the countryside, he was by no means ordinary. He was tall and strong, with a robust physique and a healthy complexion—clearly a hardworking, reliable, and honest man who had toiled away from home for years, capable of building a family fortune and earning money. Her words were neither exaggerated nor empty, but entirely truthful, making Uncle Long blush and relax, feeling deeply pleased.

After praising the man, she immediately changed the subject and began to elaborate on the woman's many virtues, praising her character, appearance, hands and feet, and temperament in every way. She described her as rare and unparalleled in the world, gentle and virtuous, diligent and capable, with a good appearance and a pure heart, as if she were a star descended from heaven to earth, a perfect match one in a million. Everyone in the courtyard turned their heads in curiosity.

After describing her character and appearance, she expertly strolled through the rooms, carefully examining the layout, lighting, and number of rooms. She casually listed everything they would need after the wedding—tables, chairs, cabinets, beds, bedding, pots and pans, sewing supplies, and fabrics—arranging everything from daily necessities to seasonal supplies with meticulous order and thoroughness. Once seated, she went even further, planning ahead for the couple's future: managing the household, raising children, and accumulating wealth. Her rhetoric flowed smoothly and logically, progressing from the immediate impression to the long-term future. The villagers, whose minds were slower to process information, were completely bewildered and unable to interject a single word, forced to listen to her endless chatter.

Grandpa Long, Uncle Long, and Uncle Long the Second, father and son, were all honest and simple country men, not very worldly-wise, and easily swayed by such thoughtful and flattering words. The three sat to the side, their faces beaming with smiles, their joy barely concealed. They nodded blankly, already harboring a growing anticipation for this marriage.

Everyone in the courtyard was swayed by sweet words, but Grandma Long remained clear-headed, calm, and experienced. Having seen countless people, she was unfazed by the matchmaker's flattery. She held her tongue, not rushing to agree to the marriage. She meticulously inquired about the girl's detailed origins, residence, family background, parents' character, siblings, daily conduct, and upbringing—verifying everything thoroughly and cautiously. After completing her investigation, she fairly praised the girl's character and qualities, remaining impartial and neither arrogant nor servile. Only then did she slowly express her opinion, stating that a child's marriage is a matter of lifelong importance and should not be taken lightly. It required careful discussion and weighing of the matter among the family before giving a decision. Her courteous and measured approach successfully kept the matchmaker at bay.

When it was time to say goodbye, she remained warm and polite, observing all the proper etiquette and decorum, watching the matchmaker, full of anticipation and turning back again and again, leave. After the matchmaker left, Grandma Long still dared not relax, secretly entrusting trusted neighbors and relatives in the village to inquire about the woman's true family background, reputation, character, and health, striving to ascertain the details, fearing that her youngest son might misjudge a person and marry the wrong person, ruining his life's marriage. This cautiousness and thoroughness reflects the deepest concern that older generations of parents have for their children.

Xingbao, Guixiang, and the other children, including Long Zhixing, ate the fried soybeans Long Zhixing had brought them, squatting in a corner of the main room to watch the entire process, occasionally whispering their opinions, taking in the whole story of this old-fashioned arranged marriage. This was also the first time Xingbao had witnessed a blind marriage in the countryside during the Republic of China era up close and in its entirety since his time travel. In past historical records, the accounts of old-style arranged marriages were mostly cold and rigid labels, filled with passivity, ignorance, haste, and helplessness, all about repression and unhappiness, as if old-time marriages were all decided unilaterally by parents, devoid of any warmth. But after experiencing it firsthand, he truly understood that the records in books were ultimately only one-sided examples, unable to encompass the myriad aspects of human life. The blind marriages in ordinary mountain villages were not entirely about tyranny and coercion, but rather contained the most simple and sincere caution and warmth of the common people.

Parents, unfamiliar with free love, used their life experience and perspective to carefully select partners for their children, assess their family circumstances, and weigh the pros and cons. They didn't seek great wealth or status, only a marriage of equal social standing, upright character, a respectable family, and a stable life. They did everything in their power to mitigate marriage risks and ensure a secure future for their children. Watching this scene of human connection, Xingbao felt a surge of emotion. In this chaotic world, amidst the unpredictability of fate, even marriage reveals the simple, unwavering desire of ordinary people to defy destiny and live a peaceful life. Perhaps what is recorded in books is ultimately just an isolated case.