Pastoral Bamboo Fragrance

Chapter 24
Li Zhu soon learned the truth of the matter: the man whom the second sister said to marry was named Mao Er, who lived in a neighboring village. He was 30 years old this year.

Mao Er used to be a bum, he ate, gambled and stole chickens and dogs, and his parents were mad at him.Later, he was expelled from the village by his tribe.I don't know what kind of business I did for a living, but anyway, I returned to my hometown later.Once this person has money, everything is good.The clan elders went out of the village to greet them in person, and the villagers were also very enthusiastic.They all said that Mao Er was young and inactive back then, and that the prodigal son would not change his money when he returned.

There are also more people who match him.Mao Er had married two wives successively, the first one died, it is said that he was beaten to death.When he died, he didn't have a good piece on his body.The woman's natal family first came up to make trouble, but after Mao Er paid a sum of money, the matter was settled.The second ran off with a peddler.It is said that he was forced to run away.

Mao Er asked the matchmaker to talk about marriage, and asked that she must be a big girl, preferably younger, good-looking, virtuous and capable.The other families scoffed, and no one would send their daughter to the fire pit.Xiao Shi and Liu Shi also despised this Mao Er like others at the beginning.But when they heard that Mao Er's dowry was 30 taels of silver, they immediately stopped despising it. 30 taels of silver!That's a huge sum of money in the farmer's family.Generally speaking, if the betrothal gift of other people can be given a few taels, it is considered as good.

After hearing the news, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law turned their eyes to the girls of the Li family.As the second daughter in the family, Li Lan was of course her first consideration.The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law finished their chattering discussions, and then talked to Li Dafu, but Li Dafu had no objections.As soon as Li Ji heard 30 taels of silver, he couldn't ask for more.The family of four finalized Li Lan's marriage in this way.Mao Er quickly sent 20 taels of silver, and the remaining ten taels were settled after passing through the door. A few bolts of silk, wine, meat, chickens, sheep and other gifts filled half the courtyard.The Li family liked this unmarried son-in-law even more.He also took the initiative to refute the rumors that Mao Er's ex-wife deserved the beating, and she must have made a mistake.The second wife deserves it even more. Didn't you see that she ran away with others?

The Xiao family proudly showed off all over the village.Li Lan was so angry that she kept crying.Li Lan has a hot-tempered nature, this time seeing her parents treat her like this, she lost all scruples, she cried, made trouble, hanged herself and hanged herself three times. She used various remedies again and again. Within three days, Li Lan hanged herself twice at noon and at dinner. Jump into the river once in a while.Make the house a mess.

Mrs. Liu was very calm about Li Lan's actions. What kind of trouble has she never seen?She said disapprovingly to Xiao Shi: "I've seen this kind of person a lot, leave her alone, she is not willing to die. The trouble will stop after a few days."

The third sister, Li Zhaodi, was so frightened that everyone shrunk in half. She couldn't speak at home, and at the same time, she was secretly worried about her own fate.Because it will be her turn next.

Li Lan was locked up.All the work in the family fell to Third Sister and Li Zhu.Xiao even canceled Li Zhu's uphill activities.

"Go and fill up the water tank." Xiao ordered Li Zhu angrily.Li Zhaodi looked at Li Zhu's small body, and said in a low voice, "I'll pick it."

Mrs. Xiao ignored the third daughter, and then told Li Zhu: "Go and wash the clothes." Li Zhu walked slowly to the river with a large basin of clothes.

Li Zhaodi carried the bucket and said to Li Zhu in a low voice: "Fourth sister, what will we do in the future?"

Li Zhu looked at the green hills in the distance, and slowly said: "Anyway, I will not hang myself, nor will I jump into the river."

Li Zhaodi sighed and went to fetch water.

Li Zhu carried the basin to wash clothes.

(End of this chapter)