RYEY – Chapter 21 Wang Tuozi Comes to Propose

What felt most comforting was that, with Chunhua’s maneuvering, Cheng Qiao—who by her own conditions would never have married a rascal—now, instead, was righteously set to marry one.

“I understand now. Looks like we’d better find a match for Chunhua soon. But tell me, what’s so good about that rascal? Other than an elder brother who’s in the army, what else does he have that’s worth mentioning?”

Cuihua stayed silent. For years, the rascal’s behavior had been poor, and his reputation completely rotten. Yet, from small clues, she had also seen that he wasn’t ordinary.

Like today, when he suddenly appeared with a bicycle and that slab of pork belly—things that no one in the village could even buy—he had gifted them generously. So perhaps Chunhua’s judgment wasn’t so bad after all.

“How about this: I’ll also keep an eye out for Chunhua, see if any families would take a liking to her. When the time comes, we’ll arrange a marriage. But these things will have to wait until this matter is resolved. Otherwise, Chunhua’s reputation will be ruined.”

Only now did Zhaodi fully grasp Cuihua’s meaning. If she stubbornly refused to compensate, the rascal would expose Chunhua’s secret, and Chunhua’s entire future would be destroyed.

Worse still, if Cheng Qiao went to the police and reported that Chunhua had deliberately committed murder, Chunhua would be arrested immediately, and the Chen family’s reputation would be utterly ruined.

“But… the money in my family altogether only adds up to one hundred yuan. With the hundred yuan your family lent us, we’re still short another hundred.” Zhaodi finally agreed to pay compensation, but where could they possibly scrape up so much money?

“Then write a promissory note first. After the autumn harvest, the two families can pool together and manage it.”

“That won’t do. Your boy is of marrying age too. If a match is arranged, you can’t possibly go without a bride price.”

“Ah, let’s not worry about that right now. First, settle the matter between the rascal and Cheng Qiao. If the rascal suddenly loses control, not only your family, but the entire Xiangyang Village will be shamed.”

Zhaodi fell into silence. How could she forget that the village head valued the village’s honor more than his own life? If things came to that point, even brothers might turn against each other.

“Wang Tuozi, what brings you here?”

Chen Weimin’s voice came from outside. Zhaodi and Chunhua’s sister-in-law exchanged glances, opened the door, and saw Wang Tuozi standing there, holding two fat strips of pork belly and a net bag filled with food.

“I… I came to propose marriage.”

Wang Tuozi sneaked a glance at Li Huan, who was hiding outside the courtyard, then mustered his courage. Earlier that morning, Li Huan had told him to bring some meat, along with pastries and candies, to the accountant’s home in Xiangyang Village to propose.

“Propose marriage? To whom?”

“I… I like your Chunhua. My mother said the bride price would be one hundred yuan, plus a bicycle, a hundred jin of rice, a hundred jin of flour, and three feet of patterned cloth.”

“This…”

Wang Tuozi was distantly related to Wang Duocai from the village. His appearance was rather shabby, and he had lost his wife. His aging mother was troublesome too. A man like this, if dirt-poor, would have no hope of remarrying.

But he had been lucky: he’d secured a formal job at the meat processing plant, even moved his household registration to the county. His monthly wage was thirty-six yuan, plus ration tickets and benefits.

With such conditions, he could have married a poorer girl even in the county. So why had he come here to ask for Chunhua? Chen Weimin couldn’t help falling into thought.

Wang Tuozi’s beady eyes flicked toward Chen Weimin. He pushed the bicycle inside, unloaded two fertilizer sacks from it, and pulled a hundred yuan note from his pocket.

“Uncle, here’s two hundred jin of rice and flour, here’s a hundred yuan, and this bicycle—I just bought it last month. The only thing missing is the cloth. It’s impossible to get.”

“You…”

“To show my sincerity, I’ve brought the bride price directly. I don’t know if Chunhua likes me or not, but the first time I saw her, I knew my fate had come.”

Wang Tuozi truly felt something for Chunhua. Though a village girl, she was prettier than many county girls. If only he could court her. Still, he knew he might be overreaching: Chunhua’s father was the village accountant, and her uncle the village head—not people one could casually approach.

He had almost given up—until Li Huan came and urged him to bring good things to propose. After all, Li Huan was his golden backer; the money he’d used to secure his job had come from him.

Li Huan had laid out Chunhua’s situation clearly: if you’re not afraid of trouble, marry her; if you are, then pretend this never happened.

Wang Tuozi had puffed out his chest. So what if she’d nearly killed someone? He had no other talents, but conquering women was something he was good at.

So he bought internal pork from the meat plant, two hundred jin of rice and flour from Li Huan, and rode his bicycle here.

Seeing the bride price, Chen Weimin’s heart tangled up. He coveted the money and bicycle, yet hated to let his daughter marry a widower.

“You really like my Chunhua?”

Zhaodi also heard Wang Tuozi’s words, and her heart stirred. If this man could treat her daughter well, not only could they settle the hundred-yuan debt, they could also gain a bicycle.

“Auntie, hello. This is my gift for you—please accept it.”

From the net bag, Wang Tuozi pulled out malted milk powder, sponge cakes, fruit candies, a bag of milk powder, two bottles of liquor, and a carton of Shengchan-brand cigarettes.

Zhaodi’s eyes lit up at the sight of malted milk powder and milk formula. Those were precious, scarce items that money alone couldn’t always buy. So it was true—this man really worked at the meat plant, with plenty of connections.

“Auntie, when Chunhua came to the plant to queue for meat, I noticed her immediately… Not only is she beautiful, she’s refined. I thought to myself, she must have been raised well. That’s why I worked hard to save, and when I had enough, I came to propose.”

His words made Zhaodi beam with pride. Her Chunhua was indeed beautiful and refined—she rarely worked in the fields, and even when cooking, she paid attention to elegance.

If not for that demon Cheng Qiao showing up, her daughter would still be the flower of Xiangyang Village. Instead, she had been overshadowed, and it irked her.

“We’ll accept these things. Go back and discuss with your family when would be best for the wedding. As for my daughter’s dowry, we’ve prepared bedding and quilts, and are gathering other necessities too.”

Zhaodi agreed to the marriage without a second thought. Her reasoning was simple: if Wang Tuozi weren’t sincere about marrying Chunhua, why would he bring so many valuable things? It must be worth several hundred yuan.