novelapdf Chapter 22 Marriage Proposal
Chapter 22 Marriage Proposal
"Daughter...look, what's this?"
Yang Silang held the carriage with one hand and took out a paper package from his pocket with the other, bending down to hand it over.
The little girl's eyes lit up when she saw the paper package, and she excitedly rushed towards it.
She knew that whenever her uncle brought her such a paper package, it was full of delicious food.
The dishes were almost never the same, and the portions were so generous that it took both myself and my "little sister" to finish them.
Because, most of the time, the uncle would bring more treats the next day. At first, the little girl couldn't bear to eat them and let them spoil. As a result, the snacks piled up in the house, and the more she couldn't bear to eat them, the more spoiled they became. This has happened before.
The older sister complained.
"You're wasting money again. How much do you even earn in a day?"
"If he spends all his money on food, will he ever be able to get married?"
Yang Silang smiled but remained silent.
The eldest sister in my eyes is quite different from the haggard, somewhat hunched middle-aged woman I knew half a year ago.
Her back was still bent, and her head was still lowered cautiously, but her hair had turned black, her face had become much rosier, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes had smoothed out, and even her once red and swollen hands had almost returned to their original state.
In just a few months, she almost became a different person, and her condition visibly improved.
Since he couldn't openly buy houses and land with the money he got from Gao Laodao, he could only sell it bit by bit, like ants carrying grains of rice. It was the most cost-effective way to supplement his family's nutrition and fill their stomachs.
The eldest sister hasn't changed the most; the fifth sister has. The little girl has grown taller, and the blond-haired girl has blossomed into a pretty young lady.
The eldest sister, who had some money, got a job with a well-respected gentry family through the help of a regular customer. Her younger sister could then do odd jobs and earn some income, so she wouldn't be bored out of her mind staying in the courtyard.
In short, everyone's lives are getting better.
Yang Silang took out a medicine bottle from his pocket. The bottle was made of white porcelain and looked very high-end.
"Sister, this is silverfish oil. It is said to be made with several exotic animal and herb ingredients and is much more effective than liniment. I asked the doctor and he told me to apply it as before, every two days. It is for protection against wind and dampness. One bottle is enough for half a month."
"Don't be stingy, I'll send you more later."
He then took out a cloth bag, which was bulging with copper coins.
"This is about a string of copper coins; you can keep it."
At this moment, Nannan had already opened the paper package, revealing a grasshopper made of brown maltose. She clapped her hands with a smile.
"Little girl, look! Uncle bought me some bugs... edible bugs."
Yang Silang noticed that his eldest sister's eyes darkened.
Because she was a concubine, Nannan couldn't call her elder sister "Mother".
Before Yang Silang started delivering water, I heard that she could only call her "Auntie"; but since he has been delivering water every day for the past few months, Grandma Yao has taken pity on her and allowed the little girl to call him "Little Mother".
In reality, Nannan was not favored at home. She had an older sister born to her stepmother, and was raised by her eldest sister since childhood, so she ate very little and was very thin.
It was only after he fed it for the past few months that it finally started to look like a pink doll.
Sister Yang gently scolded him.
"Why did you buy this for her? You said it was food, but it must have cost a lot more if it's made like this."
"Also, you've given away so much money... I... I don't know where to put it all..."
Yang Silang chuckled lightly.
"Sis, didn't you say you were going to save money for my wedding? You can start saving it for me now."
"I passed the test today and became a qualified soldier. I can earn twenty taels a year from now on."
Sister Yang exclaimed in surprise, "Really?"
Then she remembered something, became nervous, looked around, pulled Yang Silang close and whispered in his ear.
"Speaking of saving money for your wedding, the buddy secretly told me that the eldest madam sent him to the dock a few days ago to inquire about you in detail."
"Recently, her niece from her maternal family came to stay here for over a month."
"Hmm... If she tries to set you up with her niece, you must refuse."
Yang Silang asked curiously why this was.
He wasn't thinking about getting married.
I'm only 16 years old now, and it's too early for me to be thinking about marriage.
However, given the eldest sister's personality, if someone were to proactively introduce a wife to her brother so that the Yang family could continue its lineage...
Even if it was an introduction from an adversary like Grandma Yao, she would still be extremely grateful, so why would she refuse?
The eldest sister hesitated for a moment and said quietly.
"That girl's waist was a bit chubby, and she often vomited. Something didn't seem right to me."
Yang Silang was taken aback, then realized what was happening.
Okay, isn't this buy one get one free?
Otherwise, given Grandma Yao's limited perspective, she hadn't shown herself since the water delivery began, so why would she send someone to inquire about her?
A few days ago, Xiao Jiling told him that someone was investigating, and he thought it was because of the Blood Hand Butcher.
The two walked toward the backyard, talking in hushed tones.
There was a water pool at the back of the oil mill, from which water was usually drawn.
"Da Ya..." Grandma Yao's voice could be heard from afar, "After Xiao Si delivers the water, have him come to the living room..."
The eldest sister quickly responded and gave Yang Silang a look.
Yang Silang responded with a smile.
After pouring water, parking the cart, and wiping his hands, Yang Silang, with a rope wrapped around his shoulder and a carrying pole hanging from it, followed his elder sister into the main hall.
This oil mill has a front shop and a back yard. There are five rooms in the front and two rows of side rooms. One side houses several apprentices and workers, while the other side houses the kitchen, storeroom, and the eldest sister's residence.
The oil mill did not employ maids; the eldest sister was a full-time maid who also gave birth to and raised children, and was responsible for washing clothes, cooking, chopping wood, and even some physical labor.
Heaven have mercy.
He had delivered water for 100 days, but this was the first time he had entered the living room.
The living room wasn't big. A square table was placed against the wall, and a couple, the husband and wife of the deceased, sat on chairs on either side.
Because it was late at night, this cheap brother-in-law was dressed casually at home, wearing a cotton robe, with his hair down, a thin face, and thin lips. He looked at the servants from head to toe and then looked them back twice. He was just like Grandma Yao.
"Master..." The eldest sister curtsied and stood to one side.
Yang Silang bowed in greeting, then stood up straight.
In the past, we came because we were poor and lacked ambition. Now, we are a well-off family with thirty taels of silver in our pockets. We've even killed people before. Are you afraid of Blood-Handed Butcher?
Therefore, there's no way he can back down.
My brother-in-law had seen him before in the yard, but the other man didn't even look at him, treating him like an inanimate object. Of course, he wouldn't bother to go up and say hello.
Even when delivering water to the backyard, it was the same; if you couldn't avoid it, you'd just stand there for a while and wait for him to leave first.
My brother-in-law felt displeased after just one glance.
This servant was extremely rude. Although he was very polite, he stared straight at me without showing any emotional fluctuation.
Grandma Yao frowned for a moment, then relaxed.
Wow, look at that physique, look at those muscles!
With such a straight back, one can carry heavy loads. I heard that one person can handle a whole cart of water; that's top-notch labor.
As she thought about it, she forced a smile.
"Xiao Si, I called you here today to discuss something with you."
"You've been delivering water so diligently these past few months, I've noticed it every single day and never forgotten it..."
"I have a niece on my mother's side, she's sixteen years old and quite beautiful, and she'd be a good match for you. I've come to mention her today, and we'll see if you're destined for her..."
"If it works out and you settle down, we can also help you financially. We'll be even closer relatives."
Yang Silang looked up and saw his eldest sister standing to the side, her eyebrows practically flying off in frustration...
"Da Ya... what are you doing!" The brother-in-law shouted, and the eldest sister was so frightened that she shrank back and trembled, not daring to move.
Grandma Yao's face was a little pale, but she forced a smile and prepared to continue praising her niece.
Yang Silang bowed deeply to the ground.
"Thank you for your kindness, sir and madam. Unfortunately, I already have someone I love and am not fortunate enough to enjoy it. We are not destined to be together."
Upon hearing this, Grandma Yao raised an eyebrow.
"Oh... so tell me, which girl has taken a liking to you, hmph..."
She clearly didn't believe it. What blind girl would want a poor man like you, with a child in tow and living in a thatched hut?
Yang Silang smiled shyly and spoke slowly.
"That man's name is Wang Daniu..."
Everyone was taken aback. What kind of girl would have such a name?
Not long after.
The man first spoke in a low voice, explaining.
Click!
A teacup was smashed in the living room, and Mr. Zhou stormed out with a roar.
Yang Silang strode out, and his eldest sister followed him out crying. She could still vaguely hear her brother-in-law roaring that he should never let this guy deliver water to the house again.
The two remained silent the entire way.
After Yang Silang left the gate, his eldest sister hurriedly grabbed his hand—Si'er, tell your sister the truth, you really don't like... Ah? How will our Yang family continue its lineage in the future?