第三章 成亲

In the blink of an eye, three days had passed. That day, the matchmaker Aunt Li came to Xiulan's doorstep.

Aunt Li was a well-known matchmaker in the village, with a sweet tongue and tireless legs. She sat in the main room, took a sip of tea, and said with a smile: "Uncle, I've come today to propose a marriage for your Xiulan."

Father put down the pipe in his hand: "Which young man?"

"Chen Shaotang from Lijia Village," Aunt Li said. "You've seen him. A couple of days ago he bought eggs from your Xiulan at the market."

Father's face darkened: "That soldier?"

"He's in the Sichuan Army, a squad leader in the regular troops," Aunt Li said quickly. "This time he's come home on leave. As soon as his leave is up, he'll return to the army. He's honest and diligent..."

"No soldiers," Father interrupted. "My Xiulan can't marry a soldier. Aunt Li, you've gone to trouble, but this match is off."

Aunt Li tried to persuade him further, but Father had already stood up and gone into the inner room.

That evening, Xiulan learned about this. She went back to her room, pulled out the few copper coins from under her pillow, and clenched them in her palm.

Two days later, Aunt Li came again. This time, behind her was another person—Chen Shaotang.

Shaotang wore a clean blue cloth shirt and carried a bundle in his hand. He stood in the courtyard. Father came out of the house, saw him, and his face dropped: "What are you doing here?"

"Uncle," Shaotang placed the bundle on the table—a package of osmanthus cakes and a small jar of wine—"I've come to propose."

"I said no," Father said. "You're a soldier. You're in the east today and the west tomorrow. If my daughter marries you, how will you live your life?"

"Uncle," Shaotang stood straight, "I know you dislike my being a soldier. But I want to make it clear to you—I'm a squad leader, the army pays me, and I can support a family. When I finish the war, I'll come back and live a good life with Xiulan. I mean what I say."

Father stared at him, not saying a word for a long time. The room was silent. Xiulan hid behind the door, her heart pounding, her palms sweaty.

"How do you plan to live your life?" Father finally spoke.

"My family has eight mu of land, and my parents are still alive," Shaotang said. "When I come back, I'll farm, have Xiulan raise chickens at home, and we'll have a child. Life will be tight, but it will be steady."

Father was silent again for a moment. He looked at the osmanthus cakes on the table, then at Shaotang's face. This young man's words weren't polished, but every sentence was solid.

"You two go back for now," Father said, taking another puff of his pipe.

Aunt Li glanced at Shaotang. He looked calm. Aunt Li said, "Then let's go back for now. We'll come to bother you another day."

Listening behind the door, Xiulan's expression fell when she heard Shaotang leave.

"Come out," Father called. After a moment, Xiulan hesitantly walked out from behind the door.

Father looked at Xiulan's expression and sighed, "A grown girl doesn't stay with her family. Pick a day with Aunt Li in a few days."

...

On the wedding day, Lijia Village was lively. Xiulan wore a red wedding dress and a red veil, and was welcomed into Shaotang's courtyard. They bowed to heaven and earth, and got married. Firecrackers crackled all over the ground.

In the evening, the guests dispersed. In the bridal chamber, two red candles were lit, their flames flickering.

Shaotang lifted Xiulan's red veil. Xiulan kept her head lowered, her face even redder than her wedding dress.

"Xiulan," Shaotang said softly, "From today on, you are Chen Shaotang's wife."

Xiulan didn't dare look at him: "Mm."

"When life gets better later," Shaotang said, "I'll take you to Chengdu. The streets of Chengdu are so wide, packed with people."

Xiulan raised her head, her eyes shining: "You'd better not be lying to me."

"When I, Chen Shaotang, say something," Shaotang said seriously, "every word is a nail."

Xiulan smiled. She lowered her head and thought: this is the man she has chosen.

After marriage, the days passed slowly, and also quickly.

Shaotang got up early every day, carrying water, chopping firewood, and working in the fields. Xiulan cooked, washed clothes, and fed the chickens, bustling about inside and outside. Life was calm and peaceful.

In the blink of an eye, a month passed. One evening, a man in military uniform rode a horse to the village entrance, asking for Chen Shaotang's home.

Shaotang returned from the fields, saw the man, and the smile on his face faded.

"Squad leader," the man took a letter from his pocket, "The army sent a letter, urging you to return to the troops."

Shaotang took the letter, looked at it once, then again. He turned around and saw Xiulan standing at the door, holding a bowl of water in her hand, her eyes red.

"Xiulan," Shaotang walked over, "I... I have to return to the army."

Xiulan said nothing. She handed him the bowl of water and watched him drink it up.

"Go," she said. "I'll wait for you at home."