Ch 49: The Farmer Ger in the Apocalypse

Everyone in the village knew about Shen Qing hunting wild boars and making a fortune. The villagers speculated that he had earned at least twenty taels, an amount that even Matchmaker Wei envied—enough for a farming family to live on for three to five years!

She hadn’t expected someone to set their sights on him so soon.

Of course, she knew that silver wouldn’t just fall from the sky! Did they really think earning one tael of silver was that easy? Looking at the way this mother and son were dressed, their household probably didn’t even have a bowl without chips in it. If they turned their home upside down, could they even come up with a tael of silver? Clearly, their plan was to demand a hefty bride price from Qing Ge’er, then use that money to pay her fee! She could practically hear their abacus beads clicking from all the way across Lantang Village!

But that wasn’t even the biggest issue. If they could actually pay her, she wouldn’t care where the money came from. The problem was, though Qing Ge’er had casually mentioned when he left the Shen family that if he ever married or took in a husband, he would have to bring his mother along to be cared for—something well-known in the village—he had never officially registered with her as someone actively looking for a spouse. He hadn’t said he was set on taking in a husband, and certainly not that he was looking right now!

Now that Qing Ge’er’s household had just started making money, these people had come sniffing around for it. What kind of decent family would act like this?

Matchmaker Wei had also gone to watch the commotion the day Shen Qing brought the wild boars down the mountain. Those tusks were so long and terrifying—just looking at them was enough to make her shudder! She absolutely wasn’t about to recklessly drag a pair like this in front of Qing Ge’er. If it were any other family, at most, she’d be scolded and spat at—nothing she couldn’t handle with her thick-skinned matchmaker’s pride.

But Qing Ge’er? If he got angry and jumped up to throw a punch or two, could her old bones even take it?

Shen Qing’s efforts to establish a fearsome reputation in the village had clearly been paying off.

“Oh, dear sister, this won’t do at all! You’re putting me in a tough spot here.” Matchmaker Wei waved her hands repeatedly—this was one deal she wouldn’t dare take! “I think you haven’t looked into it properly. Our village’s Qing Ge’er only mentioned this as a future plan—he never said he was actively seeking a husband right now.”

Madam Wang immediately became anxious. “How is this making things difficult? He’s already nineteen! How much longer can he afford to wait? Even if he was too shy to bring it up to a matchmaker, how could he turn down an offer brought right to his door? You haven’t even asked him—how do you know? At least take us to meet him.” She gave her son a firm tug. “Our boy here isn’t completely without merit, you know.”

Wang San, however, stood rooted to the ground like he had nails in his shoes, refusing to budge an inch.

Madam Wang frowned in annoyance and gave him a harsh pinch. Only then, wincing in pain, did Wang San reluctantly shuffle two steps forward.

Matchmaker Wei wasn’t paying attention to these details; instead, she was deep in thought. Madam Wang’s words weren’t entirely unreasonable—matchmakers didn’t only work with families who had personally approached them. If that were the case, how many marriages could they even arrange? They’d starve to death! As long as someone was of the right age and wasn’t already engaged, there was no harm in making inquiries. Asking didn’t cost anything—if it didn’t work out, it just meant a bit of wasted effort.

And truth be told, the young man before her wasn’t entirely unsuitable. His appearance aside, his build seemed sturdy enough, suggesting he was a capable worker. When common folk married, they looked for spouses who were healthy and strong. For those seeking a live-in son-in-law, physical labor was even more important—a husband brought into the household was primarily there to work.

After all, what man would willingly agree to become a live-in son-in-law? It was always a last resort, a path taken only when there were no other options. The selection pool for such arrangements was already limited, so this young man was, as the saying went, the best of a bad lot.

Thus, Madam Wang’s confidence in her son wasn’t entirely unfounded. However, when it came to village affairs, only the villagers themselves truly understood the dynamics. Matchmaker Wei was a bit wary of Shen Qing, and Madam Wang didn’t seem particularly tactful either. So, she continued to refuse, shaking her head, “I really can’t bring it up. If you’re determined to arrange this marriage, perhaps you should try another matchmaker.”

Madam Wang clenched her teeth in frustration, inwardly fuming. She was convinced that Matchmaker Wei was looking down on them, favoring the wealthier villages over poor ones. She would have sought out another matchmaker if she could, but in their own village, Matchmaker Li probably didn’t even know which direction Shen Qing’s house faced. With no other options, she forced a smile and made another offer. “Two taels of silver—if the match is successful, I’ll pay two full taels as your fee, along with a generous gift!”

“This isn’t about money!” Matchmaker Wei remained unmoved. It wasn’t that she didn’t want two taels of silver—she simply knew she wouldn’t be able to earn it. No matter how high the offer, if the match wasn’t successful, it would all be for nothing.

Seeing no other way forward, Madam Wang dug through her pockets and pulled out a pile of copper coins, totaling just over a hundred wen. She stacked them on the table and said, “As long as you’re willing to take us over there, this money is yours. I’ll handle convincing that young ger myself.”

As the saying goes, people die for wealth, and birds perish for food. Matchmaker Wei wasn’t tempted by promises of future payment, but real silver and copper right in front of her made her waver. After hesitating for a long moment, she finally told her daughter-in-law to collect the money. “Let me be clear—I’ll only take you there and do my best to facilitate the discussion. If it doesn’t work out, I won’t be returning this money. If you agree to that, I’ll make the trip.”

Madam Wang’s heart ached at the thought of parting with so much money—this was most of their household’s savings. Inwardly, she cursed Matchmaker Wei a thousand times over, but when she thought of the potential bride price they could squeeze out of Shen Qing’s family, she forced herself to maintain a cheerful expression. “Of course, of course.”

And so, when Miao Shi opened the door, she found Matchmaker Wei standing there with a middle-aged woman and a young man.

“Sister Miao, I’ve come to bring you some good news!” Matchmaker Wei rushed forward eagerly, taking Miao Shi’s hand with a broad smile.

Miao Shi was momentarily stunned before quickly piecing together the situation. She was surprised, but she didn’t feel any particular resistance to a matchmaker visiting. However, she instinctively glanced at the young man beside Madam Wang.

She was not impressed.

Nowadays, even Zhao Shuan from the village head’s family no longer seemed appealing to her—so why would she consider this man?

That said, having lived in the village for so long, Miao Shi knew better than to offend both a matchmaker and a midwife like Wei Chunfang. No matter what, she had to show some courtesy. So, she smiled and welcomed them in. “Sister Chunfang, what brings you over today? Come in and have a seat.”

She then turned to Shen Qing. “Qing Ge’er, go fetch some jujube cakes and make a pot of sweet tea. Let’s properly entertain your Aunt Wei.”

This was the standard custom—when a matchmaker came to discuss marriage, the person in question had to step away. It wasn’t appropriate for a young man or woman to sit there listening to their own marriage negotiations. Shen Qing understood this well, so he simply responded with an “Alright” and headed to the kitchen.

“Qing Ge’er is such a capable and respectful child—you’re truly blessed!” Matchmaker Wei patted Miao Shi’s hand, full of praise.

However, the mother and son who had followed her in had entirely different thoughts.

From the moment they stepped inside, Madam Wang’s eyes had been darting around, taking in everything. She admired the spacious courtyard, the sausages and cured meat hanging under the eaves, the racks of dumplings drying by the window, and the chickens clucking in the backyard. Even Miao Shi’s half-new winter coat didn’t escape her notice. All of it filled her with envy and satisfaction.

Meanwhile, Wang San, who had caught a glimpse of Shen Qing entering the kitchen, only looked more sullen.

Soon, Shen Qing returned with the refreshments, setting them down before quickly retreating back to the kitchen. Miao Shi led the guests to sit in the main room, personally pouring sweet tea for Matchmaker Wei and pushing the plate of pastries toward her. “Sister Chunfang, you mentioned good news—what kind of good news?”

Jujube cake was a luxury even for Matchmaker Wei, who was better off than most. This confirmed that the wild boars had indeed sold for a hefty sum. She felt a pang of envy but picked up a piece nonetheless, taking a bite. The sweet and tangy flavor was delightful.

After savoring the taste, she finally got to the point. “You and Qing Ge’er certainly had a hard time living with the Shen family, but now you’ve finally made it through! Now you have fine food, sweets to drink—shouldn’t you start thinking about Qing Ge’er’s future?”

Matchmaker Wei was being sincere. She had no desire to push this match—she looked down on this mother and son, and she didn’t believe the match would succeed. If anything, she worried it would damage her reputation in Shen Qing’s eyes. However, if Shen Qing was truly ready to marry or take in a husband, she would be more than willing to find him a suitable match! Once she got rid of this troublesome pair, she would certainly put in serious effort to help.

Taking another sip of sweet tea, she continued in an even more flattering tone. “That wicked old woman from the Shen family was truly heartless! Who keeps a ger unmarried until this age? It’s disgraceful—she didn’t care about appearances or reputation at all! Poor Qing Ge’er, such a wonderful child, wasted for so long.”

Miao Shi hummed in agreement but didn’t dwell on the topic of the Shen family. Seeing her lack of enthusiasm, Matchmaker Wei quickly changed the subject. “The good thing is that Qing Ge’er is a devoted son. I heard he once said that if he were to marry, he’d bring you along to be cared for—or, if he stayed, he’d take in a husband instead. Now that your household is flourishing, isn’t it the right time to consider this?”

She then gestured toward the mother and son sitting nearby. “This is Madam Wang from Xiaoji Village. She has five sons, and times have been tough for them. This is her third son—he’s the most diligent and hardworking. He’s an excellent farmhand and would make a fine match.”

Miao Shi gave Wang San another look before glancing toward the kitchen. Unsurprisingly, Shen Qing, who had been sent to boil water, was peeking in through the doorway, shaking his head furiously.

Not that she had been interested in the match to begin with.

Just as she was thinking of how to reject it, Madam Wang spoke up first. “My son, not to brag, is well-liked in our village. Many gers and young ladies admire him! It’s only because we’re poor and can’t afford a bride price that my children have been delayed. Those greedy families only care about money—it’s disgraceful!”

She wiped her eyes and continued, “His brothers aren’t married yet, so we had no choice but to send him here. We’re not asking for much.” She gestured with her fingers, forming a number. “Just ten taels of silver, and he’ll be yours to keep!”

◦°˚(*❛‿❛)/˚°◦

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