“Your niece probably helps often at the clothing store. Tomorrow, go visit Aunt Li and invite her to shop in the provincial capital. Once Aunt Li sees her in person, this matter will be practically settled.”
Aunt Li was the one choosing a daughter-in-law. Despite Liu Fang talking until her lips were raw, Liu Fen and her daughter were blockheads in this regard. Xia Xiaolan was just a young girl unwilling to let go of her boyfriend. Liang Bingan didn’t bother persuading further, deciding to let the Fan family see for themselves.
If the Fan family liked her, Xia Xiaolan wouldn’t have a say in whether to marry or not.
She might be young and naive now, but in the future, she would only be grateful to him as her uncle.
Liu Fang and Liang Bingan discussed at length what to say at the Fan house, and Liu Fang pondered it carefully.
Liang Bingan’s cadre status only impressed villagers; in Hedong County, the Liang family was a step below the Fan family. Hedong was the Fan family’s stronghold, managed like an iron bucket over the years. Even outside-appointed county magistrates had to pay respects to the Fan family, or they couldn’t work effectively in Hedong County.
Liang Bingan’s career advancement had been mediocre these years; he always felt he hadn’t considered carefully enough when marrying.
If he could connect with the Fan family, Liang Bingan wouldn’t be so isolated in his career.
Liu Fang maintained contact with Aunt Li, who particularly liked Liang Huan. If Liang Huan weren’t so young, Liang Bingan would marry her into the Fan family. But Liang Huan was not only young but also university-bound with a bright future. Liang Bingan always wanted to maximize benefits. For his daughter’s marriage, he’d choose someone better… though her temper needed several more years of family education.
Liu Fang complained that her gifts were the same as outsiders received. Planning to visit the Fan family, she decided to bring two boxes of Daoxiangcun pastries and Quanjude roast duck. The Fan family wasn’t short of food, but one couldn’t visit empty-handed. The tin-boxed pastries looked high-end, and Liu Fang felt justified in giving them.
Why couldn’t she give these?
The pastries and roast duck were exchanged for two cans of milk powder anyway!
Of course, bringing two cans of foreign milk powder to the Fan family would’ve been more prestigious, but since Xia Xiaolan hadn’t offered them, Liu Fang wouldn’t brazenly ask.
Aunt Li’s family had an old courtyard in Hedong County, at the town’s edge. Not only did Aunt Li live there, but so did some others. However, her son didn’t live in the old house – he had his county-assigned housing and had lived separately for a long time.
The Fan family had been rooted in Hedong County for many years, and the old courtyard was quite ancient. Though said to be at the town’s edge, the road outside was exceptionally smooth.
Every time Liu Fang visited the Fan family, she envied their large house.
The Fan family’s private courtyard, though at the town’s edge, was bigger than farmers’ houses. Their house was different from rural ones too. Although they avoided building tall buildings to maintain appearances, even their single-story house was distinctly different! It was evident upon entering – the courtyard was meticulously maintained, with aged trees providing excellent summer shade. The yard had a pond with goldfish, which showed Liu Fang that some people kept fish not for eating.
Red and yellow fish swam freely in the pebble-lined pond. On sunny days, the rippling water looked so prosperous!
Her niece Xia Xiaolan was about to marry into such a family.
Yet her second sister and niece were ungrateful, filling Liu Fang with anger.
With Xia Xiaolan’s looks, shouldn’t she seize the chance to marry well instead of settling for someone ordinary? A woman’s delicate skin couldn’t withstand wind and sun. Nobody understood better than Liu Fang how important marrying well was – if she hadn’t married Liang Bingan, she’d still be farming in the countryside.
The Fan family’s residence wasn’t just elegant outside; the old blue-brick house held many wonders within.
Liu Fang brought gifts, and Aunt Li was pleased, inviting her to chat in the main hall. The hall had modern suspended ceilings, and tiled floors, and featured a sofa with a round tea table. Against the wall stood a tall table supporting a 17-inch color TV, covered with a white lace cloth – a common practice for precious electronics in those days, even for the Fan family.
How could they not use lace covers? Electronics would break faster if dusty.
The Fan family were local powers in Hedong County, though none ran private businesses. While they didn’t spend money freely, they had privileges compared to ordinary families. Not to mention, if Xia Xiaolan married into the Fan family, her rural household registration and junior high education wouldn’t matter – she’d immediately get a decent, comfortable job!
These days, what dowry could compare to a guaranteed job?
Aunt Li was in her early sixties but well-maintained, looking much younger. She regularly dyed her hair, had fair skin, and was rather plump. In these times when staying thin was hard, being plump indicated not just constitution but a worry-free life. Aunt Li wore a jade-green bracelet, and Liu Fang’s sweet talk and flattery always pleased her:
“You didn’t need to bring anything, take it all back with you.”
“My relatives brought these pastries from Beijing, and I thought you should try them. They’re not worth much, please don’t make me take them back – my husband Liang would scold me for being inconsiderate.”
Liu Fang was pretty and spoke cleverly. Aunt Li shared the Fan family’s weakness for beautiful people.
How could Aunt Li not like someone beautiful who frequently visited with flattery?
She liked Liu Fang so much she’d considered taking her daughter as a daughter-in-law. Huan was beautiful too, but too young – when Aunt Li mentioned it to her son, he disagreed.
Sixteen was indeed young.
Aunt Li didn’t mind waiting two years; high school graduation would make her a young lady.
Then she and Liu Fang would-be in-laws, and Liu Fang would need a new form of address.
However, Liu Fang had previously mentioned that Liang Huan was indeed childish and couldn’t help the Fan family, possibly embarrassing them. But she had a niece two years older than Liang Huan, extremely beautiful, with no flaws except her rural household registration.
This caught Aunt Li’s interest.
The Fan family had reached their peak in Hedong County and didn’t need marriage alliances, so a rural household registration didn’t matter.
Aunt Li wanted an obedient and beautiful daughter-in-law and wasn’t picky about family background. Hearing she was two years older than Liang Huan pleased Aunt Li – she’d be 19 this year, old enough to marry next year. While others might not care about formalities, Aunt Li’s son couldn’t marry without registration – it would look bad. Perfect timing to bring her in for Aunt Li’s personal training.
Today Liu Fang came again, presumably about this matter.
Sure enough, Liu Fang praised Xia Xiaolan to the skies before adding:
“She’s just a country girl without worldly experience. I can’t explain things too clearly – even hinting at it, she and my sister wouldn’t dare aspire to such a good marriage.”
Aunt Li twisted her jade bracelet:
“If the mountain won’t come to me, I’ll go to the mountain. Where is she? I’ll see her myself. Don’t frighten the young girl.”