The Butcheress and Her Little Darling

(There are a few fantasy elements and a minor golden finger. Read with caution if that's not your thing.)

For three mu of paddy fields and two taels of silver,

Old Man Mu wants to marry off his sixteen-year-old third daughter, Mu Dingxiang, to Zhang, the widower at the village entrance.

Thinking of how Zhang's three previous wives all died one after another,

Mu Dingxiang would rather die than go along with it. That very night, she heads for the river to drown herself,

and happens to meet Chu Yu, a woman butcher washing clothes by the river.

Rumor has it that the woman butcher has a strange personality and likes women.

Young girls all give her a wide berth,

but Mu Dingxiang gazes at the bright-eyed, lovely Chu Yu before her.

"Chu Yu, why don't you marry me? You can't even get your clothes clean, so I can help with the laundry and cook for you."

Chu Yu glances at Mu Dingxiang, but doesn't agree right away.

"I can do the laundry and cooking myself. What else can you do?"

Mu Dingxiang's pretty face turns pink. "I can farm, raise pigs and chickens, and warm your bed at night. As for anything else... if you want... I wouldn't be opposed..."

Chu Yu says, "Now that you mention it, I'm just missing someone to do the laundry and cooking at my place. I'll come ask for your hand tomorrow."

Watch out for little bundles of joy: their children are little spirits who later transform into human form, so this can be considered fantasy.

*As always, a warm and cozy tale of everyday family life

Theme: Hard work creates a good life