A Pillow of Clear Frost Beneath the Sparse Woods

I asked my childhood friend, Luo Shaoning, to lend me three taels of silver so I could go to the clinic.

He was in a hurry to visit the flower fair in Yangzhou, so before boarding the boat, he had his servant toss me twenty copper coins.

"Just get a couple of basic prescriptions. A frail life can't bear too many blessings. If you weren't born to wealth, taking expensive medicine might do you more harm than good."

The three-story flower boat drifted away with the current.

In a daze, I returned to the Luo residence, where I happened upon a matchmaker.

She said there was a fine young man, a scholar with a bright future ahead of him.

I asked, "Can he give me three taels of silver for my medical treatment?"

The matchmaker beamed. "Of course! He can even buy you fabric for a wedding dress and silk flowers for your hair, so you can get married in style."

I told the matchmaker, "I'll marry him."