Chapter 8

Having agreed on the time to meet the next day, Matchmaker Zhang politely saw the guests out the door.

After escorting them out of the crowded courtyard, she returned to the room to find Sixth Sister-in-law tidying the table, the cloth bag filled with candies resting atop it.

“Mother, could it really be a case of sisters undermining each other? Is there something about the Ma family we don’t know—why would a young woman be so eager to become a stepmother?”

“There must be some ulterior motive. Otherwise, what would she want? To become a beast of burden for the Ma family?” Matchmaker Zhang said.

She had seen many people, especially matters between young couples. Take that Jiang Qing from before—she hadn't even learned the man's name properly before clamoring to marry him. Surely it wasn’t just about Ma Ji’an; there had to be other reasons.

She picked up the cloth bag, weighing it thoughtfully. “These are other people’s affairs; we shouldn’t meddle.”

“Not meddle?” Sixth Sister-in-law hesitated. “Shouldn’t we at least notify Jiang Shuangshuang’s side?”

“What for? They’ll find out sooner or later. Besides, Jiang Shuangshuang hasn’t even taken a fancy to this match,” Matchmaker Zhang advised. “Even if she did, family matters are best left alone. Otherwise, you end up caught between sides, disgracing me as a matchmaker. Then who’d want to come to me?”

Sixth Sister-in-law immediately dropped the idea.

Though being a matchmaker didn’t guarantee a regular monthly wage, if fortune smiled, she could earn as much as the father-in-law each month and occasionally bring home some treats.

Like today’s candies—when the children see them tomorrow, they’d be overjoyed.

...

Jiang Qing, having left, was in good spirits.

She was confident that when she met Ma Ji’an tomorrow, she could persuade him to change his mind.

But before meeting him, she needed to think about money.

She had no secret savings, and to leave a good impression on Ma Ji’an, she didn’t intend to spend his money until their engagement was settled. Adding the promised ten yuan to Matchmaker Zhang as a fee, she needed to come up with at least twenty more yuan.

If she found a proper excuse, she might ask her parents.

But she really didn’t know what reason to give. Fortunately, she knew where her mother hid money, so she could quietly take some again, planning to confess after she and Ma Ji’an were officially engaged.

Twenty yuan was nothing; she would repay it many times over in the future!

With that thought, Jiang Qing headed home.

Just a few steps from the crowded courtyard, a neighbor called out loudly, “Jiang Qing, why are you just back? Hurry to the clinic—your mother’s been sent there again.”

“My third sister-in-law’s come?”

“What does that have to do with your third sister-in-law?” The neighbor looked puzzled. “It’s Jiang Xiaoguo from your fourth brother’s family. That kid’s got some nerve—he actually stole money from your mother.”

“Impossible!” Jiang Qing’s eyes widened as she rushed inside.

She barely remembered what had happened last time during these days. At the time, her mind was occupied with her relationship with Cheng Jin. They had gotten married less than a month after dating. When she looked back, the family had already split, and the division had left relations bitter.

Actually, splitting the family was not impossible.

But after the split, except for the third sister-in-law, the rest only got worse. Eventually, they had to beg her parents for money, and when her parents couldn’t provide, they turned to Cheng Xingbang, angering the Cheng family against her.

If she were truly a burden, it was better to keep things as they were.

At least there was food and drink, and no one would set their sights on her.

Old Lady Wang had already been taken to the clinic, and those left in the house either sat sighing or gathered up things strewn on the floor.

As soon as Jiang Qing entered, she shouted at her fourth brother, “How did you raise your son? He dares to steal money at home—utterly lawless! He deserves a good beating, or sooner or later he’ll end up shot!”

“Enough! Say less, as if I’m not annoyed enough already,” Jiang Fourth Brother snapped irritably.

“Annoyed?” Jiang Qing retorted angrily. “We should be the ones annoyed. There’s a thief in the family—who knows if he’s stolen before? Now rumors are spreading—does the old Jiang family still have any dignity?”

“Enough.” Jiang Fourth Sister-in-law couldn’t bear any insults toward her son and snapped sarcastically, “You should be worried. This whole family has less than sixty yuan left. Next year we’ll all be starving!”

Jiang Qing was stunned. “What do you mean?”

“What do I mean?” Jiang Fourth Sister-in-law shouted, “Go ask your parents. They say sweet things about buying a job quota for Xiaoguo if there’s a chance, but where’s the money? If Xiaoguo hadn’t snooped around, who’d have known the family has less than sixty yuan left!”

“That can’t be...”

Jiang Qing found it hard to believe.

She had rummaged through her mother’s cabinet before, finding only a small stack of money, but assumed it was just a portion. How could the family have so little?

“It’s not a mistake! I heard it with my own ears!” Jiang Fourth Sister-in-law was furious to tears.

Xiaoguo stealing money was wrong.

...

But what choice did he have?

By chance, a friend had a connection and was trying to arrange a job quota.

Getting such a position required money. She and the children’s father had asked, but the family only said to wait. If someone did sell a quota, they’d buy one for Xiaoguo.

Time passed, the day of rural assignments approached, and Xiaoguo was increasingly anxious.

In his confusion, he stole money from the old lady’s room.

He was caught before finding any. The old lady yelled in the room, and though Jiang Fourth Sister-in-law felt guilty, she didn’t say a word in defense. After the old lady left, she and Xiaoguo went to apologize.

But overheard the old man and old lady quietly discussing the money.

“The family’s total savings are fifty-seven yuan, no more, no less! But if there’s no money, what’s the point of promising to buy a job quota for Xiaoguo? What will she buy with?”

Jiang Fourth Sister-in-law grew hysterical, “If she has no money, why make promises? Isn’t that just wasting Xiaoguo’s time? That grandmother must be glad to send Xiaoguo to the countryside!”

“...” Jiang Qing was too stunned to reply.

Her thoughts were in turmoil; how could she defend her mother?

Fifty-seven yuan—what could that possibly do?

Now she understood why last time, soon after she married, the family came to her for money. When she refused, they turned to Cheng Xingbang.

Such a big matter, yet her parents never confided in her.

Other times she wouldn’t say, but her parents had told them openly: if they ever found someone selling a job quota, they’d buy one, even if it meant spending money; the monthly wages would make up for it.

Those words made it sound like the family had some savings.

To buy a job quota, it had to be several hundred yuan, at least. And they wouldn’t exhaust the entire savings, leaving something for daily expenses. She had thought they’d saved hundreds or even over a thousand yuan.

But she never imagined it was only fifty-seven yuan...

“Maybe it’s a mistake. Could mother have spent the money somewhere we don’t know?” Second Sister-in-law expressed disbelief, glancing at the younger sister-in-law and the eldest brother’s wife.

The eldest and the youngest—those were the ones the old couple favored most.

Maybe they used their money to support the family.

“Don’t look at me,” Eldest Sister-in-law hurriedly denied. “I and your eldest brother pay monthly. We haven’t bought any big items. It’s not like money was secretly spent here.”

Of course, it wasn’t entirely that simple.

Her eldest son was among the first sent to the countryside.

He sent letters home three or four times a year, but she was smart—never let everyone read his heartbreaking letters. Instead, she secretly read them to the old couple when others weren’t home.

After all, he was their oldest grandson. Hearing how miserable he was, they felt heartbroken and secretly asked her to send many supplies.

Not much money, mostly grains, clothing, and various coupons.

At the very least, it added up to several dozen yuan.

Otherwise, how could her eldest son write so often?

Letters aren’t free; if not for the parcels sent in return, that ungrateful boy might have long forgotten them.

“Don’t look at me either...” Jiang Qing agreed without hesitation. But as she spoke, Eldest Sister-in-law chuckled, “Little sister, don’t compare. Look at your polished cotton clothes—who in our family can match you?”

Jiang Qing looked down at her outfit, unable to respond.

She had dressed neatly to meet Matchmaker Zhang.

“Tch.” Second Sister-in-law sneered, “I always wondered—so many people working and earning wages, how could there be so little savings? Our parents really favor the youngest daughter, making sure she eats well and dresses warmly, but don’t care about the rest of us.”

“She’s the youngest daughter, after all,” Eldest Sister-in-law said quietly, pulling another sister-in-law into the fray. “Otherwise, why would they have arranged a marriage for her years ago without telling the family? So she wouldn’t have to go to the countryside.”

As soon as the word “countryside” was mentioned, Jiang Fourth Sister-in-law exploded, “A daughter is a person, isn’t a grandson? How can they be so heartless, watching Xiaoguo be sent away? Are they even human?”

“Enough!” A sharp reprimand came from the doorway—it was Old Jiang, who had returned without anyone noticing.

His heavy voice silenced Jiang Fourth Sister-in-law immediately.

Old Jiang stepped inside, followed by Xu Yingxia and her daughter.

Though not living in the same courtyard, Xu Yingxia’s place was nearby. Neighbors had heard the old lady was taken to the clinic and came to notify them without waiting for the Jiang family.

The old lady was at the clinic—morally and practically, they had to come.

Or rather, such a commotion was not to be missed—how could Jiang Shuangshuang be absent?

Outsiders said the old lady was so angry she fainted, nearly losing consciousness.

Jiang Shuangshuang didn’t believe a word. When she had caused trouble in the old house, the old lady often cried out in pain, or, if it got too much, feigned fainting.

Once or twice or thrice, who would believe it?

Entering the room, Jiang Shuangshuang found the best vantage point, leaning against the wall to observe the gathered family.

The angriest must be Jiang Fourth Sister-in-law.

But the most anxious was definitely Eldest Sister-in-law.

Seeing no one speak, Eldest Sister-in-law, despite risking impatience, continued to stoke the fire.

“This is the perfect chance to split the family. If we miss it, who knows how long we’ll wait? Even knowing Old Jiang would be angry, I’ll keep pressing on. Xiaoguo is too immature. Even if his grandparents deceive him, they’re still his elders...”

“Shut up!” Old Jiang roared. “Oldest son, are you just going to watch like this? I should have thrown you into a dog hole to fend for yourself years ago!”

He wasn’t so much angry as resigned.

Over the years, he had learned to let go.

Five children. The youngest daughter was unmarried, so let’s set her aside. The four sons—except the third who died young—were useless.

If any of them could support the family, he’d be living like Old Liu next door, with sons helping inside and out, spending his days fishing and playing chess in comfort.

“Father, it’s not like that...” Eldest son muttered.

“I know you blame us,” Old Jiang said, pointing at them. “But before blaming us, do the math: is it easy to support this family on your wages?”

“Oldest son, remember a few years back when you clamored for a job quota? Wasn’t it your wife’s quota we paid 521 yuan for?”

“Second son, your work mistake left someone crippled—didn’t the family pay tens of yuan in compensation?”

“Third son, you...”

Old Jiang faltered, unsure how to continue.

After several seconds, he pressed on, “With so many children, aren’t your daughters, Huanhuan and Shuangshuang, among the few to attend high school?”

“Ha.”

A mocking laugh rang out, unmistakably from Jiang Shuangshuang.

Old Jiang, fearing she might say more, quickly added, “Fourth son, didn’t your mother-in-law lend you fifty yuan and you haven’t mentioned it since? Do you deny it?”

If anyone could out-argue this old man, it wasn’t anyone but the third son’s family.

Though biased, the children weren’t thrown away. They were cared for, just with uneven shares.

“Yes,” Old Jiang admitted. “We can’t afford to buy a job quota outright, but if someone sells one, your mother and I would shamelessly borrow from family, one household after another.”

The tension in the room eased a little.

Old Jiang was about to breathe easier when a clear voice sounded behind him, “Grandpa, Grandma, you’re quite well-connected—just a few hundred yuan and you can borrow whatever you want, huh?”

“...” Could they?

No, they couldn’t.

A few years ago, three or four hundred yuan might have bought a job quota. Now, during the rural assignment craze, everyone wanted to keep their children at home, making quotas scarce and prices soaring to seven or eight hundred yuan.

Borrowing that much would take over a decade to repay. Everyone who knew their situation would hesitate to lend such a sum.

Old Jiang was vexed.

Who was the troublesome person that had called Jiang Shuangshuang here?