The story takes place in the turbulent era of the early Republic of China. The protagonist of the story is called Xiu'er. Xiu'er is eighteen years old, and she looks like a flower and jade. Xiu'er is not married yet. At that time, eighteen years old was already the age of marriage, and in two or three years she would be an old girl. Beautiful girls always don't worry about getting married, and the threshold of Xiu'er's family is about to be broken by the matchmaker. But Xiu'er didn't like any of them, not because Xiu'er had a high vision, but because her parents were too picky, and they always wanted to find a rich son-in-law. Xiu'er can help the family if she marries a rich man, but because she is poor, Xiu'er's two brothers have not yet found a daughter-in-law.

On this day, Xiu'er and the neighbor's daughter Sanmei went to the market to play, Sanmei is two years older than Xiu'er, although she is also a good-looking girl, but her face is not very pleasing, she looks like a fox, and loves to dress up. Sanmei also stayed in the boudoir, she was not easy to marry, and in that era, foxy women were not popular.

"Xiu'er, there are so many people who tell you about matchmaking, why aren't there any suitable ones?" Sanmei asked, she swallowed melon seeds and walked side by side with Xiu'er.

"I don't know what my parents think." Xiu'er replied, her voice as soft and weak as her people.

"What are you looking for?" Sanmei asked again.

"Hard-working, honest and responsible." Xiu'er said.

Sanmei smiled and said, "I don't think so, I've always dreamed of finding someone rich and comfortable for the rest of my life." ”

Xiu'er also smiled and didn't say anything more. The two continued to walk side by side. Sanmei suddenly grabbed Xiu'er's arm, pointed to the front and said, "Who do you see who is that?!" Xiu'er looked in the direction she pointed, and saw a crowd of people in front of her, with an old man sitting in a bamboo sedan chair in the middle, and the old man was sitting on a bamboo sedan chair that was lifted high, shaking a fan, leisurely.

"That seems to be that Master Luo, right?" Xiu'er said.

"That's right! It's the old man who hired my father to be a florist and rented your father's field, let's go and say hello. Sanmei dragged Xiu'er and prepared to meet it.

"I don't dare go." Xiu'er struggled to retreat, she was most afraid of this kind of scene, Master Luo was the richest man in the county, and he had a lot of money, which was a poor woman like her who talked casually.

"What are you afraid of, he's not a tiger. You should just come with me, and you don't have to speak. Sanmei said. Xiu'er had to accompany her.

"Hello Master Luo." Sanmei made a gesture on the side of Master Luo's sedan chair, pinched her voice and said hello.

Master Luo's triangular eyes looked for the source of the sound, and saw Sanmei with a flattering face, "Whose girl?" Master Luo asked casually.

"The little girl's surname is Huang, Huang Sanmei, and her father is a florist in your house." Sanmei replied.

"Oh, it's Huang Youcai's daughter!" Master Luo said that his attitude was a lot kinder.

"Exactly! You treat your father well, the little woman is very grateful, I see the master today, I feel very cordial, I can't help but say hello, I hope it doesn't bother you. Sanmei continued to laugh.

Master Luo looked at Sanmei with appreciative eyes and said, "I didn't expect this old yellow head to have such a beautiful and eloquent girl." Not bad, not bad. Gangzi, take these two girls to buy some rouge pollen and snacks. As he spoke, he threw a piece of ocean at a lean man in a shirtless white coat.

"Yes, sir." asked Gangzi's subordinates to catch Dayang and take Sanmei and Xiu'er away. Master Luo and the others continued to walk forward.

When Sanmei and Xiu'er went home, the two of them each carried a large bag of things, which contained rouge pollen and snacks that Master Luo bought for them. Sanmei was very happy, she said that she hoped that Master Luo would take a fancy to her, and her only wish now was that Master Luo asked someone to go to her house to propose marriage. Xiu'er said that Master Luo is a ghost, there are five wives at home, and he often sleeps in Fireworks Willow Lane. Sanmei doesn't care, which rich man doesn't have three wives and four concubines, just eat and drink well, and really love him?

The next day after returning from the street, Sanmei went to play with Xiu'er again, although she talked and laughed, but her face was frustrated from time to time, Xiu'er knew that she was for Master Luo, two days, no one came to mention anything, this thing is yellow, in fact, it can't be said that it is not yellow or yellow, it is not a shadow at all. Sanmei was very embarrassed, she thought that Xiu'er must be watching her jokes, and she couldn't help but regret in her heart, she shouldn't be open-mouthed, say everything, and question her appearance, she thinks she is beautiful, but in fact, she can't get into the eyes of rich and powerful men at all.

Xiu'er is embroidering, and a pair of mandarin ducks that are almost finished are vividly swimming in the white handkerchief. Sanmei quipped: "Roar! Embroidered mandarin ducks? Pairs in pairs, are you going to be pairs too? ”

"Don't talk nonsense! Can't you just be serious? No more nonsense, beware of tearing your mouth apart. Xiu'er said angrily.

"It's so powerful, curse you to have a powerful mother-in-law in the future." Sanmei laughed.

The two were making a fuss, and suddenly heard a shout outside, and Sister-in-law Guo was overjoyed-

Sister-in-law Guo is Xiu'er's mother, and she is collecting the soles of her shoes under the grape trellis at the moment. The one who spoke was the most famous matchmaker in Shili Eight Villages, Liang Matchmaker.

"I have no joy, only sorrow. Sit down. Sister-in-law Guo got up to greet Mrs. Liang, and secretly wondered in her heart, didn't she find a good family for Xiu'er?

Mrs. Liang sat on the bench with a smile and said, "You are still worried about such a handsome girl, do you say you are confused?" Let me tell you, the mountain of gold is going to weigh on your head. ”

Sister-in-law Guo felt a burst of joy in her heart, urging Mrs. Liang, "What kind of family?" Say it quickly. ”

"He is the number one rich man in the county, Master Luo." Mrs. Liang said word by word.

"Huh?" Sister-in-law Guo opened her mouth wide, and there was a light in her eyes like she really saw a golden mountain. Suddenly, she remembered something again and asked, "This Master Luo has never seen Xiu'er, how can he 、、、、、、?"

"I've seen it, I've seen it! The day before yesterday, Master Luo saw Xiu'er in the market, and saw that Xiu'er was shy and handsome, so he inquired about his subordinates, only to know that it was the daughter of the old tenant farmer Mr. Guo. Mrs. Liang said.

Sister-in-law Guo nodded and said, "You go back and tell Master Luo that our family has agreed to this marriage." To be honest, how can we have the capital to let Master Luo ask for our opinions, he sees that Xiu'er is the creation of Xiu'er, what are we not satisfied with? ”

"Good! I'll tell Master Luo to go. Mrs. Liang had a wind under her feet and flew away.

The conversation in the courtyard was listened to by the two girls in the house, and Sanmei said sourly: "It's really blessed, I've taken a fancy to you, congratulations!" Aunt Six! ”

"Sanmei, don't say that, I don't agree, I won't marry that old, ugly and flowery old man." Xiu'er said, stopping what she was doing, with a look of worry on her face.

"Humph! Ghost believes! There is no one who is unwilling to climb the high branches. Sanmei sneered and left in a huff.

After Sanmei left, Xiu'er had a dispute with her mother, and Xiu'er said that she would not marry if she died, and it was better to die if she married into the wolf's den. Sister-in-law Guo didn't believe that Xiu'er would really die, and she also enlightened Xiu'er at the beginning, silly girl, haven't had enough hard days? Marry in, enjoy endless glory and wealth. Xiu'er said, I am willing to find a good young man and live an ordinary life. Sister-in-law Guo began to get angry and scolded, things that have no interest, people go to high places, and water flows to low places, you are born cheap! Xiu'er sneered, you don't provoke me, I don't know your plans yet, you are greedy for other people's bride price, sell me in, so that you can marry your two brothers. Sister-in-law Guo finally got hysterical, and she had to marry if she didn't marry! It's hard to disobey your parents! Xiu'er was so angry that she went back to her Westhouse and didn't come out to eat at night.

The next day, Master Luo gave a dowry, 200 oceans, a box of gold and silver jewelry, more than a dozen high-quality fabrics, and more than a dozen silk clothes with a texture like water. Sister-in-law Guo, old man Guo, Xiu'er's eldest brother Da Zhuang, when she saw these things, her eyes lit up, and Harazi flowed down, only Xiu'er's second brother and Erzhuang were sullen, he said: "Mother, Xiu'er is unwilling to marry, you force her to marry, what is the difference between this and selling?" ”

Sister-in-law Guo said angrily: "Don't talk nonsense! Xiu'er doesn't understand, you still don't understand? I'm doing it for her good, and she's going to thank me in the future. ”

Erzhuang went out with a frown, and then he thought about it and felt that his mother's words were right, what is a poor family? They are poor people, if they are not poor, their sister will not be sold, my sister is bent on marrying the right family, who can guarantee that she will not sell her children and daughters in the future? If you don't know that firewood, rice, oil and salt are expensive, how can it be so easy for the poor to turn over. He wanted to tell his sister this, but he thought about it or forget it, and at this moment, he shouldn't say it.

When Sanmei heard that the dowry had been delivered, she gritted her teeth angrily and scolded: "Fake Qinggao! ”

Huang Youcai sat under the dim light bulb and drank tea, listened to the three flattering scoldings, and said, "Okay, you don't have to be annoyed." It's that Master Luo has taken a fancy to you, and I won't let you marry, so I'll say that you are married. ”

"Why? Don't you love money the most? Sanmei asked puzzled.

"But I only have you alone! You're gone, what do I want so much money for? Huang Youcai said.

"I'm marrying, not marrying a ghost! It's not like you go and don't come back. Sanmei pouted.

Huang Youcai sneered, "Almost, if you get married, with your temper, you really won't be able to come back." He looked up at the light bulb that was hanging down from the beam, sighed, and said distantly, it was a wolf's den, I worked as a gardener in their house, and all I saw were strange things, several wives were jealous and intrigued every day, the second wife's child was gone, the third wife died, the fourth wife was crazy, and the fifth wife had just been married for a year, and she was left behind by Master Luo, no, I wanted to marry the sixth one. On such days, the delicacies of the mountains and seas are not fragrant in the mouth, and the silk and satin are not beautiful when worn on the body.

Sanmei was silent.

Huang Youcai turned his gaze to Sanmei and said, "Mei'er, don't think about it all day long, find a good person, and get married quickly." I think Erzhuang's child is good, he looks pompous (handsome), his character is also good, and he is pragmatic. ”

"Him?" Sanmei said disdainfully, "His family is too poor, it's not as good as ours, I just don't climb the high branches, and I can't find someone who has nothing!" ”

Huang Youcai smiled and said, "Silly boy, isn't his family rich now?" ”

Sanmei's eyes rolled, nodded thoughtfully, and smiled