The Dream Garden of a Loving Wife

The only high school girl in Xiao Family Village, Xiao Tianbao’s youngest daughter, eighteen-year-old Xiao Cuizhu, was the only daughter in the family. She had failed the college entrance exam. Xiao Cuizhu had once carried all of Xiao Tianbao’s hopes, so when she failed to get into college, he was so furious that for several market days in a row he drank himself senseless at a little stall in town. “Old Xiao, with a daughter as pretty as yours, you could consider taking in a son-in-law.” “Old Xiao, find your Cuizhu a husband with a job.” “Old Xiao, Cuizhu is so pretty. Just say yes to whoever offers the biggest bride price.” “Dad, I’ll marry if you want me to, but I have to choose someone I like the look of.” “Cuizhu, aside from the man himself, the bride price can’t be any less.” Over the next five months, more than ten matchmakers came by, but not one match led to an engagement. The Xiao family’s daughter was beautiful and clever. A whole crowd of boys had pursued her in high school, but she thought they were immature and wasn’t interested. Besides, she was still in school! There were plenty of young men from the same hometown who admired her, but somehow none of the matches worked out. Half a year later, another matchmaker came to call. “There’s a young man in Laoyingpan named Luo Shuanghu. He’s twenty-nine this year and has just come home on leave. He heard your Cuizhu has graduated from high school, so he asked me to arrange a match. He’s willing to have the first child take the Xiao surname, but he may not be able to come up with a bride price of three thousand yuan. He hopes Cuizhu can go to his home for a look.” “No way. Since ancient times, it’s been the man who goes to see the woman. When has a woman ever gone to see the man first?” Xiao Cuizhu was unequivocal. Two days later, the matchmaker came again. “That Luo Shuanghu says he’s agreed. He says there’s no need to meet first. If Cuizhu has no objections, they can draw up the betrothal papers in the next couple of days. He’ll get the necessary certificate from his work unit and then they can register their marriage.” Xiao Cuizhu was astonished. “So soon? We’re not even going to meet? I’m not even twenty yet.”