Chapter 599 - 371: Mutual Affection?

Chapter 599: Chapter 371: Mutual Affection?

"Xiaomi, you’re really great, being able to go to so many places and meet so many people."

After hearing Xiaomi talk about going to a huge hunting ground with Sister Yingying, and how they hunted a lot of rare prey and enjoyed roasted whole lamb together.

Xiao Cao was simply envious.

Xiaomi touched her nose, feeling like she might have said a bit too much.

But seeing Xiao Cao wasn’t angry or displeased, she relaxed, worried Xiao Cao might think she was showing off.

It was clearly an overreaction.

"Actually, you’re really great too. Look at you now, compared to others in the village, not just the girls, many boys aren’t as at ease as you are."

Xiaomi comforted, and Xiao Cao instantly broke into a smile: "Right, oh, Xiaomi you don’t know, shortly after you left last year, I caught something that seemed like a goat but wasn’t, and sold it for a lot of money."

"Really? That’s great, did Uncle Zhang give you half again?"

Talking about this, Xiao Cao bloomed into a smile, nodding vigorously: "Yes, over the past two years, I’ve saved nearly ten taels of silver."

Xiao Cao’s family and Xiaomi’s family are different. Though Xiao Cao’s family is quite good, it’s only a bit better compared to other families in the village.

So although Xiaomi hunts, she either eats it herself or sells the excess, with the money all kept by Xiaomi herself.

But Xiao Cao’s family isn’t like that; most of the time, the prey is sold, but the most common are wild rabbits and wild chickens, occasionally encountering a porcupine or a small wild boar.

And the money from selling prey can’t all be handed over to Xiao Cao as a child.

However, maybe because of Xiaomi’s example, even though it’s not all given to Xiao Cao, Zhang Yuan still gave Xiao Cao half, letting her save it for dowry for the future.

Regarding this, Xiao Cao was very, very satisfied. Besides Xiaomi, only their family allowed a girl to save some money.

Yes, her sister has also saved some money these years while raising pigs with their mother.

Though ten taels of silver isn’t much, for ordinary people, it’s money not necessarily saved by a whole family in a year, not to mention it was earned by Xiao Cao alone, and only half of it!

"Really, that’s great, so when you get married in the future, you won’t have to worry about being bullied by your husband’s family."

Xiaomi was genuinely happy.

Though her views on marriage clash with this world, that doesn’t mean she’s unaware of the marriage customs here.

At home follow the father, marry and follow the husband, husband dies follow the son—this isn’t just talk.

But if Xiao Cao has the ability to earn her own money, in the future, when she goes to her husband’s family, they will respect her more.

Xiao Cao: "I still have time, but my sister, she’s already fifteen this year. Recently, there have been many matchmakers."

Saying this, she seemed a little reluctant.

Even if it’s just matchmaking now, then engagement, marriage will be at least a year later.

But a year, it passes quickly, once her sister marries into another family, she’ll be like their mother, seldom returning to her mother’s home throughout the year.

"Sister Xiao Hua is already fifteen, huh? By the way, have Uncle and Aunt discussed Sister Xiao Hua’s marriage?"

As for Xiaomi, she was simply curious.

Xiao Cao shook her head: "I don’t know, there are many matchmakers, but my mother hasn’t directly agreed or refused, she said to wait."

Though waiting is fine, the sister can stay at home a bit longer, but it’s unclear why the mother insists on waiting.

Xiaomi: "Then don’t worry, Uncle and Aunt must have it all considered, Uncle Zhang Yuan is so smart. There’s no way he’d let Sister Xiao Hua marry into a bad family."

Xiaomi thought perhaps Aunt decided to wait to gather information on the families introduced by the matchmakers.

Xiao Cao nodded, the two said a few words more, but then didn’t dwell on it, since their opinions don’t really matter.

However, Xiaomi never imagined that she’d hear about this matter from Xiao Cao in the morning, and then run into it again upon returning home.

"What? Uncle Seven Joy likes Sister Xiao Hua? Requested your parents to matchmake?"

Xiaomi was shocked.

Second mother nodded, much calmer than Xiaomi: "Last year, when they first moved out, Seven Joy mentioned liking a girl and wanted to propose when the time was right, never thought it was Xiao Hua."

Xiaomi hesitated for a bit and asked: "Mother, do you think they are suitable?"

Second mother: "Why wouldn’t they be? Seven Joy has left indentures; now he’s managing his land well, Aunt Yang has a good temperament, Xiao Hua won’t be bullied."

"Also, you might not know yet, Seven Joy also raises dozens of chickens and rabbits, though not many. Even with just these, he earns more than many in the village."

Xiaomi wasn’t surprised by that; Seven Joy and Aunt Yang had tended to their family’s chickens and ducks for years and had ample experience.

"But at the age now, Seven Joy is probably twenty-two this year, seven years older than Sister Xiao Hua."

"That’s indeed an issue, but does your Uncle Seven Joy look as old as other twenty-two-year-olds? He looks no different from a seventeen or eighteen-year-old."

Second mother really saw no problem. Aside from age, she knew Seven Joy well: diligent and articulate, not a dull type, fitting with Xiao Hua’s quiet and slightly introverted nature.

Moreover, both are kind and hardworking people, and Aunt Yang isn’t one to stir trouble; if they can live together, surely the days would be prosperous.

Xiaomi was stumped for a moment and hesitated before saying: "Mother, I think if you go to talk, ask Aunt Xiuyun’s opinion first, don’t make it a big deal, what if Aunt Xiuyun disagrees..."

The sentence wasn’t finished when she got a knock on her head.

"You think your mother is so silly? Such things can’t be rushed. Come on, let’s make dinner, I’ll visit Xiuyun in the afternoon, and you come with me, you know Xiao Hua well, ask her how she feels about Seven Joy."

However, on the way to the kitchen, Second mother suddenly found the situation eerily familiar.

It seemed, she had seen something similar before?

Just when about to recall, Xiaomi’s voice interrupted, and the faint memory was shattered.

"By the way, Mother, did Uncle Seven Joy say why, how did he come to like Sister Xiao Hua?"

"Asked, but he blushed and didn’t say. However, judging by him, he didn’t seem worried about rejection, not sure what he’s thinking."

Hmm? Not worried?

Xiaomi wondered, perhaps when nobody else knew, he and Sister Xiao Hua had already developed feelings.

Connecting this morning’s talk from Xiao Cao, everything began to feel a bit strange?