Two dark and thin women stood at the courtyard entrance, one tall and one short, one old and one young. They were Peng Fei's mother and sister.
Today was a big day for them. The only man in the family was getting married.
Initially, Peng Fei refused to marry due to lack of money. His mother talked to him for a long time and even hit him a few times, but he still wouldn't agree. Helpless, they had to call his uncle.
The uncle was indeed capable. Look, he went out for a stroll and brought someone back in less than half a day.
Seeing her son carry a girl back, with hair so black and long that it shone, spread across his back, Mother Peng was so happy that the wrinkles on her face turned into shapes of love.
"Your brother is back, and you have a sister-in-law. Come, go with me to see what she looks like."
Peng Fei met his mother and sister at the entrance. His mother reached out to grab Zhan Jingchun's hair to see her face, but Peng Fei moved aside.
"Don't touch her yet. She's thrown up and feels very uncomfortable."
Mother Peng: "..."
The uncle, puffing on his pipe, waved to his sister with a hint of pride.
"What's the rush? She's already your family's person, she won't run away. You can see her later when we get back."
They all walked together towards the west side of the courtyard, into the largest room in the house.
Since the family had planned for Peng Fei to marry a wife a year ago, his mother had already tidied up the bridal chamber.
In the uneven yellow earth room, against the wall stood a wooden bed painted red. New straw mats were placed underneath the bed, and on top of them lay the family's most intact reed mat.
At the foot of the bed was a pair of old-fashioned wooden cabinets, which Peng Fei's father had built with his own hands before he passed away.
It was also the newest, youngest, and most valuable piece of furniture in the house.
Not far from the bed was a creaking wooden stool.
The so-called bridal chamber, apart from being larger and cleaner than other rooms, was nothing more.
Peng Fei, tall with long legs, carried Zhan Jingchun into the room in a few strides and gently placed her on the bed, supporting her back.
Zhan Jingchun felt a wave of dizziness again, wanting to vomit, but she hadn't eaten or drunk anything for two days, so there was nothing to throw up.
She gagged twice, too tired to even lift her eyelids.
Seeing her curled up there, half-dead, her small face was ashen.
Under the white T-shirt and light blue denim shorts, her skin was as white as snow, but her arms and legs were as thin as chopsticks.
Only then did Mother Peng belatedly express her dissatisfaction.
"Why is she like this? So thin, like a bamboo pole, looking sickly. Could she have some kind of problem?"
"Why did you bring back someone like this? Can she do any work? Can she raise children? Second Uncle, how much money did you spend?"
People in their area, due to years of farming, needed strong physical labor. When choosing a wife, they preferred someone tall and sturdy.
Whether her skin was fair or her appearance beautiful was secondary; the key was that she could be a capable helper in the household and bear children.
Mother Peng had worked hard for six or seven years to raise her son. Now that he could finally have a daughter-in-law to help her share the burden of household chores, she found someone like this?
The uncle's views were originally the same as his sister's: marry a virtuous wife, not a beautiful one. Beautiful women were all trouble. Appearance didn't matter, as long as she was a woman, could continue the family line, and could work.
He had always advocated for Peng Fei not to be picky.
Who knew that upon seeing the heavenly beautiful Zhan Jingchun, even though he was old, his masculine nature couldn't help but be moved.
Having married such a precious daughter, whose future ability to be cared for was uncertain, and spending an extra few thousand yuan, equivalent to two years of the family's income, the uncle dared not say much and could only try to downplay the issue.
"She looks a lot like you when you were young. It's just that you were a bit darker than her, otherwise, you wouldn't have given birth to a handsome young man like Xiao Fei, famous in ten villages?"
"I think this girl has a marital resemblance with him, and a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law resemblance with you. It's quite good. Besides, she's the only one left, there's no choice. Who knows when the next person will come. Xiao Fei is already twenty-two and a half, you can't let him drag on any longer, can you?"
What her brother said made some sense, so Mother Peng could only shut up, but she was still worried about the money.
"How much did it cost in the end? With her appearance, she shouldn't be worth much, right?"
"Second Brother, you know my family's situation. We tried to spend as little as possible. I don't know when I'll be able to repay this five thousand yuan you owe me."
The uncle knew that if he continued, his sister would throw a tantrum, so he promptly withdrew.
"My child is still young and not in a hurry to get married, so I'm not rushing you to repay the money. Alright, alright, I've kept you busy for a while, and I should be going back. Quickly get her some water to drink and food to eat. Once her spirits are revived, it will be fine. Lock the door, I'm leaving. If there's anything, have Fangfang call me."
After speaking, the uncle quickly left.
Seeing her son standing by the bed, staring at Zhan Jingchun with a blank gaze, Mother Peng stepped forward and pushed him.
"Do you know why she's the only one left? For someone like her, I dare say, in ten villages, no one else would want her."
"Why does she look like a jinx to me? How much did it cost in the end? If the conditions are bad, you should have pressed for a lower price. You two men, you didn't even bargain, did you? You said you'd let me go, let me go, you..."
Peng Fei ignored her words and turned to his sister.
"Is there still lunch?"
His sister, having never seen such a beautiful person in her life, was as shocked as Peng Fei.
Thinking her brother wanted to get food for his sister-in-law, she quickly nodded, "Yes, yes."
"Is it still hot? Go and serve me a bowl. And pour a glass of water."
"Okay," the sister ran off.
It was the height of summer, and everyone was sweltering, but Zhan Jingchun, huddled on the bed, her face pale as earth, was shivering all over, as if she were very cold. Peng Fei had to find something to cover her with.
He also needed to shut his mother up.
"I said I wouldn't marry before, but you insisted. Now that I've brought her back, you have so much to say. If I had known that nothing would be to your satisfaction, I wouldn't have listened to anything."
Mother Peng: "..."
"It cost twenty-five thousand. They wouldn't budge on the price. They said if I didn't want her, they'd take her back and keep her themselves. I owe my uncle twelve thousand. Don't worry, you won't bear this debt; I'll repay it myself later."
How much?
Mother Peng was almost scared to death.
This jinx, this seemingly useless thing, cost twenty-five thousand? And it made her responsible for over ten thousand yuan in debt?
Peng Fei knew that his mother was reluctant about anything related to money. From the moment he decided he wanted Zhan Jingchun, he had been prepared to be scolded.
"When it's off-season for farming, I'll find work. Don't worry, you won't have to repay a single cent."
"Ungrateful! Is that what I meant?"
Mother Peng hit him.
"You brainless fool, Mom isn't afraid you'll make a losing deal? Spending so much money to find someone useless, what if at that time... you'll have no one to cry to!"
"Then what should we do? Send her back now and get the money back?"
Mother Peng fell silent.