The cold wind blew, sending chills straight into the bones.
Mrs. Wang waited for another two days, becoming anxious when there was no word from Matchmaker Liu. On top of that, the gossip from Granny Fan's words in the village had her angered.
She couldn't sit still any longer.
With matters weighing on her mind, she knocked heavily on Matchmaker Liu's door.
The crunching sound from inside the courtyard could be heard, footsteps on the snow drawing closer.
Matchmaker Liu's face was weary, plagued with nightmares these days, fearing exposure. Seeing it was Mrs. Wang at the door, her eyelid twitched slightly.
"It's you."
She leaned against the heavy door, blocking the path, showing no sign of hospitality.
"The house is a mess, so I won't invite you in for tea. Speak your piece here."
Since her second son began his studies, Mrs. Wang was flattered by the villagers, praising her as a future scholar's wife. Feeling superior, she was displeased by Matchmaker Liu's inattentiveness.
But the Dong family's matter was urgent, and as she needed Liu's help, Mrs. Wang didn't argue over it.
Suppressing her emotions, she glanced around the vicinity.
Selling a niece wasn't exactly honorable, so she wouldn't openly speak about it. She lowered her voice and asked, "How is the matter I entrusted to you?"
"Give me a definite answer. Has Mr. Dong taken interest in someone else? Or is he negotiating, thinking twenty taels is too much?"
Seeing Liu remain silent, Mrs. Wang stepped forward.
"You did accept my two eggs, so you need to see it through."
Matchmaker Liu: ...
She wore a troubled expression: "Who doesn't know your husband treasures this niece?"
"If he were to come with a knife to demand an explanation, it would just be me and my father-in-law at home. How could we take him on?"
Mrs. Wang frowned.
Unexpectedly, Matchmaker Liu shifted the subject.
"But you're underestimating Mr. Dong. What is twenty taels to him? If she catches his fancy, he'd spare no expense for a hundred taels."
The greedy Mrs. Wang was dumbfounded. "O... One hundred taels."
She had assumed twenty taels was already an exorbitant demand. She had never seen so much money in her life.
Matchmaker Liu lifted her chin. "I recall your son is studying in town right?"
"Mr. Dong has connections, even with the County Magistrate. If he takes a liking to your son, getting him into the best academy in town would be a mere word from Mr. Dong, and the tuition fees would be waived for you."
These words struck right at the heart of Mrs. Wang.
Though her son was well-regarded by his tutor, the academy in town couldn't compare to those in the county.
The heavy family load had delayed his progress. If they could align themselves with the Dong family as in-laws...
She couldn't contain her excitement: "Rest assured, once this is done, I won't disclose that you were the intermediary. My husband won't give you a hard time."
"And your fee for matchmaking will certainly be paid."
"Please, I must ask you to put your heart into this."
Matchmaker Liu smiled.
But in the next moment, she gave Mrs. Wang a hard shove.
Caught off guard, Mrs. Wang fell heavily, her body sinking into the snow, sending a chill through her that made her shiver.
She shouted angrily: "Are you crazy!"
"You're the one who's crazy!"
Matchmaker Liu accused: "Your conscience must have been eaten by a dog! Do you even count as an elder?"
"Have you no shame? Aren't you afraid the mother of that niece will crawl out of her grave to haunt you!"
The commotion quickly drew the attention of the neighbors.
Before long, an elderly man hurried out. He was clad in thick cotton clothes, his face stern.
"What's going on?"
Leading a group, he was followed by several villagers.
The mountain roads of Xilin Village were hard to traverse, especially in the severe winter. The Village Chief's family highly valued tradition and always used a pig head for ancestral sacrifices. Every year, they would buy a pig from the butcher in the neighboring village to slaughter it.
Anyone wanting to buy meat would have to pay for a portion.
But the pork was limited; the Village Chief's household kept some, relatives would get some, and there was barely any left for sale.
The villagers couldn't help but rush to reserve their share from the Village Chief.
Indulging just once a year, they would grit their teeth to let their hardworking family taste some meat,
Living next to the Village Chief's house, Matchmaker Liu knew full well the number of people coming in and out these days was no small figure.
She had been waiting for Mrs. Wang to come all along.
As expected, the Village Chief leading the group was puzzled, "Why are you fighting? Can't you talk things out like neighbors?"
A ripple ran through Mrs. Wang's eyes upon seeing him, making her afraid to take issue as she hurriedly stood up.
"Nothing, I just didn't stand firm."
Matchmaker Liu sneered, lifting her chin high: "Oh, acting brave yet failing to admit it? Feeling guilty, aren't you?"
Addressing the crowd, she said: "I was the one who pushed her. Not using a broom to shoo her away was already giving her face. As luck would have it, you all are here, help us judge this matter."
"Who doesn't know her niece is as beautiful as a flower? If not for her late mother, the Hu Family wouldn't have what they have today. If it were me, I'd have cherished her like my own daughter long ago."
"Yet whenever Hu Dazhu isn't around, what good days does Wan Niang have?"
"I see there's some truth to Granny Fan's words. When Wan Niang fell into the water back then, I'm afraid it can't be disentangled from her!"
Mrs. Wang: ???
Yu Tingwan stumbling, was even blamed on her?
The Village Chief furrowed his brow: "These words cannot be said lightly. Human hearts are made of flesh. After living under the same roof for so many years, how could Dazhu's wife harm her?"
Mrs. Wang: "Indeed! I..."
"Pah!"
Matchmaker Liu sneered: "She's got money on her mind, wanting to sell her niece to Landlord Dong, demanding me to make arrangements."
The crowd looked at one another, indeed witnessing quite a drama.
Someone couldn't hold back: "Once, when I went to the Hu Family, Wan Niang was exhausted and covered in sweat, and not only did Mrs. Wang not let her rest, but she also scolded her for being clumsy."
"Heh, what's that? When Wan Niang's family encountered that calamity, it was already a miracle for such a young girl to survive. Just days after arriving in Xilin Village, Mrs. Wang cursed why she didn't die with her parents."
"Let alone Wan Niang, she treats her daughter-in-law with nothing but beatings and scoldings."
"And that Mrs. Xiao isn't any better. During my family's banquet, she ate and also took away food."
Mrs. Wang was stunned, truly puzzled why Matchmaker Liu was denying her.
"You were the one who suggested..."
Matchmaker Liu's voice overpowered hers: "I'm a matchmaker, not a human trafficker! How old is that girl? You want me to push her into the Dong Family? Landlord Dong is old, and secretly has peculiarities. The girls carried out from his house are always bleeding. If I were to make this happen and the story got out, who among the ten miles might still seek my matchmaking services?"
"Could I agree to such an utterly depraved matter?"
The Village Chief sternly said, "Enough!"
"Mrs. Wang, your son Yaozu is the most promising young man in the village; as his mother, don't become his downfall, use your brain!"
"Sell your niece? How could you come up with such a rotten idea? If this spreads, your second son won't be able to hold his head high outside."
Mrs. Wang's eyes flickered, feeling a bit scared, but still stubborn: "It's not so serious. What is so bad about the Dong Family?"
The Village Chief sternly questioned: "Would you dare to say that to Hu Dazhu?"
"Do you think I enjoy involving myself in your family matters? I advise you to curb your thoughts these days. Once the family is all together, if Hu Dazhu agrees, I won't stop you!"
"But if you sneak behind his back, let's see how I deal with you!"