Following the mountain road, Xu Chunniang returned home soon.
Looking at the familiar thatched house in front of her, which was clearly the house she lived in every day, she felt as if she had not seen it for a long time.
Xu Chunniang shook her head and suppressed the strange feeling.
"Third girl, didn't you go up the mountain to chop firewood? How come you're back so soon? Hey, where's the firewood?"
A doubtful voice came from behind, it was my mother asking questions.
Xu Chunniang turned around and remembered that she went up the mountain to chop firewood.
But somehow, after going up the mountain, she felt her mind was confused and dazed, as if she had forgotten something.
After waking up from that state, she went straight down the mountain, forgetting even to chop wood.
Seeing the absent-minded look of the third girl, Xu's mother showed a trace of heartache and helplessness on her face.
"Forget it, I haven't chopped it down yet. Anyway, there is still a lot of firewood at home. It won't be too late to go up the mountain to chop firewood when it is almost burned."
Xu Chunniang nodded, put the basket on her back in the yard, and walked into the room in a depressed mood.
Xu's mother followed behind Xu Chunniang, mumbling something to herself.
"Third girl, what do you think about what I told you a few days ago
Although Xu Quangui is older and lame, he is an honest man and has several older brothers. If you marry him, you will not suffer any loss. "
As she spoke, a trace of sadness appeared on Xu's mother's face. The third girl was good in every way except for the birthmark on her face...
Thinking of this, Xu's mother shook her head. There was nothing she could do about it.
Fortunately, Xu Quangui is an honest man from the same village, and his family knows him well.
The third girl is not someone who can tolerate being taken a disadvantage. She is capable and in charge of everything. After she gets married, her life won't be too difficult.
Xu Chunniang recalled the conversation a few days ago. In fact, she had heard these words countless times since she turned fifteen.
As she got older, she heard similar words more and more often.
The general meaning is that her mother hopes she can find a good family and get married early.
Xu Chunniang was a little annoyed. What her mother said actually made sense. Men should get married when they are old enough and women should get married when they are old enough. This has always been the living custom in Xujia Village.
In Xujia Village, once a girl turns fifteen, her family will help arrange a marriage for her.
Xu Chunniang is almost seventeen years old and still hasn't found a marriage. No wonder Xu's mother keeps urging her.
In fact, Xu Chunniang is the only one in this area who has not even settled down her marriage at such an old age.
You know, those women who got married early were already mothers of two children at Xu Chunniang's age.
Because of this incident, Xu Chunniang became a laughing stock in Xujia Village, and many people started gossiping about her family.
And her marriage became a complete concern for Xu's mother.
Xu Chunniang sighed secretly in her heart. Xu Quanfu is already 31 years old this year. To put it nicely, he is honest and dutiful, but to put it bluntly, he is cowardly and incompetent.
His family was poor and he had a lame leg. No one in the area was interested in him, so Xu Quanfu remained single until now.
Do you really want to marry someone like this
Xu Chunniang was naturally reluctant, but her mother's constant nagging was really too much for her.
During dinner, Xu's mother, not surprisingly, brought up the topic again.
"Third girl, you refuse to get married. It's fine if you suffer for the rest of your life, but you're harming your brothers and sisters."
Mother Xu sighed and spoke. She knew her daughter's character very well.
The third girl had a stubborn personality since she was young. Once she made up her mind, even ten cows could not change her mind. However, she loved and cared for her two younger brothers and sisters.
Xu Chunniang remained silent. Her brother was already thirteen and her sister was twelve. In two years, they should be talking about marriage.
Xu's mother continued to speak.
"San Ya, I don't mean to force you. I also know that Xu Quanfu is not a good destination. But, in your situation..."
Having said this, Xu's mother paused.
The third girl has a birthmark on her face and is known for her strong personality. She is so old, and there are really few people in this area who are willing to marry her.
Even though there were one or two families who were impressed by the third girl's abilities, they were afraid of her temper and did not dare to propose marriage to her.
Mother Xu sighed, "If you, as the elder sister, can't get married, your younger brothers and sisters will be affected by you, and it will be difficult for them to get married as well."
If the elder sister, San Yatou, stands in the way and refuses to get married, the marriage of the younger son and daughter cannot even be mentioned.
This is the custom in the village. There is an order of seniority, and one must wait until the older brothers and sisters get married before it is the turn of the newer ones. Otherwise it is unlucky.
In fact, in Xu's mother's view, if the marriage between the third girl and Xu Quanfu could be successful, it would be a good thing.
Although Xu Quanfu was a cowardly and timid person, her third daughter was strong and courageous. She would be able to be the head of the family once she got married and would not be afraid of being bullied.
Upon hearing this, Xu Chunniang remained silent for a long time.
Mother was right. She might not care about the rumors in Xujia Village, but what if these rumors were spread to her younger brother and sister
She doesn't want to get married, but she can't let her younger brothers and sisters be unable to start a family because of her.
Seeing that the third girl was wavering, Xu's mother pleaded with a hint of pleading on her face, "Third girl, even if I beg you, please agree to this marriage. If you don't get married, people will stab me in the back when I go out."
"I see."
Xu Chunniang felt helpless and bitter in her heart, and she suppressed all her resentment.
Maybe this is her fate.
But how unfair is this fate!
She believed that she had courage and resolution that was no less than that of ordinary men, but her female body and the small birthmark on her face determined her fate in life.
In the past one or two years, Xu Chunniang has insisted on not getting married. Isn't this a struggle against fate
Now it seems that she has completely lost this battle.
Xu Chunniang was an ugly girl from a small farm family. She had parents, brothers and sisters-in-law above her, and younger brothers and sisters who were not married yet. How could she live as she pleased and recklessly as she wanted
Seeing that the third girl finally listened to her advice, Xu's mother was overjoyed and put the few vegetable leaves on the table into Xu Chunniang's bowl.
"Third girl, you are a good girl... I am sorry..."
Xu Chunniang looked at the one or two vegetable leaves in the rice bowl, but she had no appetite. It seemed that she had eaten much more delicious food before, and she had no interest in the clear soup and side dishes in front of her.
As soon as this idea came to her mind, Xu Chunniang secretly found it funny. How could she have such a strange idea
Our family has always been poor, especially after my brother married my sister-in-law three years ago.
In order to help my brother get married, my parents emptied out their last savings and even owed a lot of foreign debt.
Thinking of this, Xu Chunniang was slightly startled. Why was there a lack of money at home? With a hundred taels of silver, my brother should be able to get married easily.
The next second, Xu Chunniang became even more confused. Where did the family get one hundred taels of silver? Was she dreaming
My family is obviously very poor and has never been rich.
Why did she feel that there was one hundred taels of silver at home? What was going on
Xu Chunniang's head suddenly started to hurt. She pounded her head and felt as if she had forgotten something important.
But my mind was blank and I couldn't remember anything.
When Xu Quanfu learned that Xu Chunniang had agreed to the marriage, he quickly set the wedding date three days later.