Chapter 18 Officially Engaged

Chapter 18: Really Engaged

After they left, the guy was still staring off at Meng Wan’s back.

Zhang Xiaoyu smacked his shoulder, frustrated. “Dongzi, what are you still staring at? He’s already gone. Look at that—no parents, no manners, a total brat. He didn’t even say goodbye. Is it just because of his face? You’re already totally smitten. If you actually married him, he’d just be trouble.”

Dongzi, lost in the memory of Meng Wan’s every smile and look, muttered, “Third Aunt, just go to his house and try to propose on my behalf. Isn’t Uncle still blood brothers with his aunt’s husband? If I can actually marry him, I’ll ask my mom for ten taels of silver as a betrothal gift!”

He first saw Meng Wan at Man Geer’s wedding feast. Who in the whole area had ever seen such a handsome young man? It wasn’t just him—lots of people were asking about Meng Wan. He had to get Third Aunt to propose fast!

Zhang Xiaoyu smacked him even harder, frustrated. “You trying to get yourself killed? You didn’t listen to a single word I said! Ten taels of silver, and you’d rather marry him than a fertile woman?”

She went off on her nephew, badmouthing Meng Wan nonstop, but Dongzi didn’t listen to a word.

Back home, Chang Jinhua was sweeping snow in the yard. Without the tofu stall to run, she had more free time. When customers came, she’d grab tofu from the house; otherwise, she did chores.

“It’s still not great,” she said to Aunt Song. “With Wan Geer and me at home, having strangers coming and going isn’t right. Even if it’s mostly women and young guys buying tofu, so many people coming in and out will definitely cause gossip.”

Aunt Song comforted her. “In a few days, it’ll be Little New Year. You’ve been busy for so long; it’s okay to take a break.”

In the northern winter, during the farming off-season, almost every household was idle. Chang Jinhua started making tofu before dawn each day, earning her money through hard labor.

She wasn’t afraid of the work, but she was cautious. Having been a widow for years, she feared gossip. She asked Meng Wan, “Wan Geer, what do you think?”

Meng Wan sat on a stool in the kitchen, stitching a shoe upper while keeping an eye out for customers. “Then let’s stop for now. Let’s make a big batch before Little New Year and sell it at the Hongmiao Village market. One trip will cover what we’d make in several days.”

Chang Jinhua and Aunt Song were cutting fabric inside. Hearing this, Chang Jinhua got an idea. “There’s a big market in town on the 28th as well. More people, more lively, and everything for sale. When Da Lang was little and just learning to write characters, he’d sell ‘fortune’ characters for a few coins to buy treats. The village chief’s ox cart takes people to town every year for two coins a person. Let’s make extra tofu and use his cart to haul it to town. We’ll give him a bit extra.”

Aunt Song agreed. “Everyone goes to the market then. I’ve saved two baskets of eggs to sell. Man Geer is handy—he’s embroidered a few handkerchiefs. Dali can take him to look around. Tingzhou and Wan Geer will be engaged by then, so let the young ones go play together.”

Meng Wan’s voice came from the kitchen. “I’m not going to look around. I’ll help my aunt sell tofu.”

Chang Jinhua teased, “Everyone else’s kids go out to play, and I’m the heartless one making you work?”

Meng Wan explained helplessly, “Aunt, that’s not what I meant. On the 28th, we’ll have a lot of tofu to sell. You can’t handle it alone. I’ll help you sell it first, then I can still go look around later.”

Aunt Song praised Meng Wan to Chang Jinhua. “Look how sensible your young man is.”

Chang Jinhua cut the fabric, smiling silently, thinking about saving the leftover cloth to make underwear for Wan Geer.

Aunt Song called out, “Don’t worry, Wan Geer. On the 28th, your Sixth Uncle and I will both go to town. He’ll watch the eggs, and I’ll help your aunt sell tofu. I may be clumsy, but I can still scoop tofu.”

“Then thank you, Sixth Aunt.” Since she insisted, Meng Wan couldn’t refuse.

Yesterday’s heavy snow made the roads hard to travel, so fewer people came to buy tofu today. In the afternoon, Aunt Song went home, and Chang Jinhua sewed inside.

Meng Wan stood up from the small stool in the kitchen, stomping his numb feet. Even sitting by the stove, his feet were freezing—it was unbearably cold.

“Wan Geer, are you home?”

Outside came the crunching sound of footsteps on snow.

Meng Wan looked up and saw the nephew of that Second Aunt-in-law he’d met at the village entrance.

“Are you here to buy tofu?” Meng Wan asked indifferently.

Dongzi paused. “Ah? Yes, yes. I’m eating at my third aunt’s tonight. Give me two pieces.”

Meng Wan lifted the cloth covering the tofu. “Didn’t bring a bowl?”

Dongzi stared intently at his every move. “No, I forgot.”

Meng Wan took a deep bowl from the cupboard, scooped two pieces of tofu into it. “Here, four coins. Return the bowl.”

Dongzi took the bowl, fished four copper coins from his pocket, and blushed, trying to hand them to Meng Wan. Meng Wan, annoyed by his lovesick expression, said, “Just put them on the stove.”

“Alright, I… I’ll take the tofu back now and bring the bowl later. Wait for me!”

He dashed out with the tofu, and Meng Wan worried he’d drop it.

Later, Meng Wan checked the tofu outside—it was frozen solid. Happily, he cut some pickled cabbage into strips and rolled out a few flatbreads. There was leftover bone broth from yesterday, perfect for stewing the pickled cabbage. He was missing blood sausage, but he didn’t know how to make it.

While he cooked, Chang Jinhua stayed on the kang, rushing to finish the clothes before the engagement.

Just then, Dongzi returned with the bowl, hesitating as he stepped inside. His earlier enthusiasm was gone, replaced by a forced air of dignity, but his gaze at Meng Wan was still shifty.

“Ahem, I’ve heard all about it.”

Meng Wan was baffled. Ignoring Dongzi, he kept rolling the flatbreads.

“Wan Geer, who’s that, coming so late to buy tofu?” Chang Jinhua called from inside.

Meng Wan didn’t look up. “Second Aunt-in-law’s nephew bought tofu this afternoon and is returning the bowl.”

Chang Jinhua fell silent, but Dongzi grew bolder. “So you’re not a Song family kid. My third aunt said you have no parents and came to live with your aunt.”

“My third aunt said kids without parents have a hard time finding a match.”

“My parents also said they want me to find someone from a known background.”

“But you’re still a distant relative of my third aunt.”

He concluded confidently, “Even though you have no family and you’re a young man who can’t bear children, I don’t mind you. But the betrothal gift is off the table.”

Meng Wan, annoyed by his rambling and refusal to leave, finally spoke. “Thanks for the concern, but don’t worry. I’ve already found a match.”

Meng Wan and Song Tingzhou weren’t engaged yet, and it wasn’t proper for a young man like him to say such things. But this nephew of Second Aunt-in-law was too irritating, completely oblivious, and wouldn’t stop talking. Meng Wan couldn’t take it anymore.

Dongzi’s face turned pale. He grabbed Meng Wan’s arm. “Impossible. If you’d found a match, how would my third aunt not know? I get it—you’re just shy because I came straight to talk marriage, so you’re making that up.”

Meng Wan still held a rolling pin in his other hand. He wanted to hit him with it but feared Chang Jinhua would hear. Lowering his voice, he said, “Let go.”

Dongzi belatedly realized he shouldn’t be grabbing an unmarried young man. Flustered, he let go.

Meng Wan quickly stepped back two paces. Suddenly, a powerful force hit Dongzi’s lower back, sending him sprawling face-first onto the spot where Meng Wan had been standing. He groaned, unable to get up.

“Ouch… Which heartless bastard kicked me!”

Song Tingzhou still had his book box on his back. His face was dark as he said coldly, “Whose family are you from, so shameless? In broad daylight, you dare come to my home and harass my fiancé?”

Chang Jinhua, sensing something wrong, hurried into the kitchen in her shoes.

“Is this Zhang Xiaoyu’s nephew? How did he end up on the floor?”

Meng Wan said nothing, and Song Tingzhou stood expressionless.

Dongzi, surrounded by the family, felt humiliated. Clutching his back, he got up from the floor. “Auntie, I slipped and fell when I came in the door.”

Chang Jinhua looked at her two kids and said politely to Dongzi, “Are you alright?”

Dongzi rubbed his waist and said awkwardly, "It's nothing, it's nothing."

Meng Wan was at a loss for words. "If it's nothing, then leave. We're about to eat."

"Alright, I'll be going then, Wan Geer." Dongzi, with one hand on his waist, backed out sideways, his eyes still stuck on Meng Wan, not wanting to leave.

How could Wan Geer really have found someone else! He'd have taken fifteen taels to marry him, no problem!

Song Tingzhou slammed his book box down on the kitchen floor and said calmly, "I'll walk the guest out."

Seeing that Meng Wan was about to make pancakes, Chang Jinhua crouched down to help stoke the fire, while Meng Wan brushed oil and fried the pancakes. From the front gate came a couple of muffled thuds, and soon Song Tingzhou walked back in. Out of the corner of his eye, Meng Wan saw the knuckles on his hand were red, whether from the cold or from punching someone.

He totally shattered his image of what an ancient scholar was like—barely saying a word and just going straight to action.

Chang Jinhua saw right through it all. She sighed. Wan Geer was good in every way, but precisely because he was so good, he drew too much attention. Once he's married and puts his hair up, things should calm down.

When the food was on the table, Meng Wan said to Chang Jinhua, "Aunt, try my frozen tofu and tell me if it's any good."

Chang Jinhua picked up a square piece of frozen tofu from the sauerkraut. "Is this what you froze this morning? It's full of big holes—how can that be good?"

Meng Wan said with a grin, "Just taste it!"

Song Tingzhou, without a word, grabbed a piece and ate it without a fuss. The little tofu cube was soaked in the broth of sauerkraut and bone soup, barely tasted like beans anymore, but it had more chew than regular tofu.

"Delicious."

Chang Jinhua also took a bite. "So this is what it's like after freezing? Not half bad."

Still, she liked her tofu soft and silky better than frozen.

After they'd all tasted it, Meng Wan said, "Now that it's cold, we can freeze the leftover tofu overnight. We can try selling it at the market, and if it doesn't sell, we'll just keep it at home for stews."

Chang Jinhua said, "We've got four pieces left today. I'll freeze them outside. From now on, we won't sell tofu at home. Da Lang doesn't have to grind beans tomorrow. Wan Geer and I will make a small batch during the day, freeze a slab of frozen tofu, and either sell it at the market or keep it for ourselves."

"Mm." Song Tingzhou hardly ever talked during meals, and he was always quiet anyway.

After that snow, it got freezing cold. Since they weren't selling tofu at home, Meng Wan didn't have to wake up as early. He'd get up now and then to make Song Tingzhou breakfast, but only once or twice, since Chang Jinhua said he didn't have to.

Sometimes folks from other villages came by asking Chang Jinhua for tofu, and she told them they weren't selling at home until after New Year's, just at the market—come back then.

Word got around, and the Song house got a lot quieter.

Meng Wan finally finished the first pair of shoes he'd sewn, with cotton stuffed in the tops. Just then, he heard Man Geer say you're supposed to give something handmade for an engagement, so he figured he'd give them to Song Tingzhou at the betrothal.

Meng Wan had mixed feelings. The more he thought about it, the more he just kind of accepted it.

The day before Xiaonian, Song Tingzhou's private school let out for the holiday, adding an extra worker to the market at Hongmiao Village. That day, they made five slabs of tofu and sold every last one. The neighboring tofu stall made even more, with the whole family helping out, and Zhou Niangzi counted her money with a face nearly splitting from smiling.

Chang Jinhua was even happier, not because of the extra copper coins, but because her son was getting engaged the next day.

"Let's hurry to the meat stall, or all the good fatty cuts will be picked over."

"We also need to pick up the fish from Sixth Aunt's place—I ordered two carp for tomorrow's feast."

"We've still got six chickens at home; we'll slaughter two and prepare them."

"And buy a bag of sugar. There's half a sack of peanuts at home, and we need to get some melon seeds..."

Chang Jinhua left Meng Wan and Song Tingzhou to clean up the stall while she rushed off toward the meat stall, muttering about everything she needed to buy.

After cleaning up, Meng Wan inexplicably met Song Tingzhou's gaze, and a second later, they both looked away.

How bizarre—he'd never even dated in modern times, and now he was really going to get engaged to this ancient scholar?

It wasn't until the next morning, when he changed into the apricot-yellow cotton jacket Chang Jinhua had made for him, that he still couldn't snap out of it.

"Wan Geer, you look so good in this!" Man Geer touched the new cotton jacket on him, his eyes full of admiration—clearly, the outfit suited his taste.

Meng Wan lowered his head, dizzy. He'd never imagined he'd dress so flashy in his life.

For the engagement that day, Chang Jinhua didn't invite many people. Song Tingzhou's grandparents had passed away early, so only Song Er Shu, Song Tingzhou's father's brother, and his family were invited.

Also invited were the clan head's family, the cousin Song Liu Shen's family, and the feng shui master who had chosen the auspicious date for Song Tingzhou and Meng Wan. In total, two tables of guests were seated; no other relatives were invited.

Since Meng Wan had no family of his own, Song Liu Shen was asked to act as the matchmaker.

The ceremony was simple. The feng shui master flipped through the I Ching and announced an auspicious date on the spot. Song Liu Shen said a few auspicious words, and the two betrothed stood face to face, exchanging tokens wrapped in cloth, their contents hidden.

Handing the pair of shoes he'd sewn to Song Tingzhou, Meng Wan took a deep breath. He'd only made the shoes out of gratitude, never expecting them to be used for this purpose.

Song Tingzhou, in turn, handed him something wrapped in red cloth. It felt like a box. Meng Wan hugged it to his chest, lowering his head without a word.

Song Tingzhou wore nothing special that day—still his cotton robe. He looked at the top of Meng Wan's head with an unreadable expression. At that moment, even if he said, "Let's call it off," it would make them a laughingstock and disappoint his mother, but Meng Wan would surely be happy. He could stay as a cousin to serve his mother until she found someone she truly loved to marry.

Song Tingzhou pressed his lips together, his expression calm as he exchanged tokens with Meng Wan.