Chapter 10 : The Matchmaker Arrives
As Jiang Hongmei opened her mouth to argue, Wang Juhua quickly covered it, silencing her.
Jiang Changyi, momentarily stunned, nodded rapidly. “Yes, yes, Lizi will live in that room. Hongmei is the older sister, so she graciously gave the better room to her.”
Jiang Baoshan gave them a hard look before issuing a final warning. “The commune will soon send clerks to visit the martyr’s family. You’d better behave. If accusations of abuse arise, no one will be able to shield you.”
The Jiang family was struck dumb by his words.
Meanwhile, Jiang Li calmly finished her bowl of corn porridge, took two slices of bacon from the vegetables, pocketed two steamed buns, and walked confidently to the east wing, Hongmei’s room.
The door was padlocked, though the key hung loosely from it. Without hesitation, Jiang Li took the key, placed it around her neck, and entered the room.
The space was small but furnished: a wooden bed, a desk, a standing washbasin rack, and a mahogany wardrobe. Red peony sheets adorned the bed, and a green kettle sat on the desk.
Every item was achingly familiar. Before her mother, Xu Shuzhen, passed away, this was their room. The woodshed she now lived in had once been used for storing firewood and miscellaneous items.
Hearing Jiang Li enter, Hongmei let out a piercing scream. “Jiang Li! How dare you enter my room! I’ll kill you!”
Ignoring her, Jiang Li locked the door and started rummaging through the belongings. Beneath clothes in the wardrobe, she found a faded floral handkerchief containing small change and food coupons. Without hesitation, she pocketed them.
“This was mine to begin with,” she thought, recalling how her late mother’s savings had been taken under false pretenses by Changyi and Hongmei.
The desk held a mirror, comb, and red hairbands, but Jiang Li’s old books were long gone, burned as firewood by Hongmei.
The room was disorganized and filthy, a reflection of Hongmei’s laziness. Jiang Li began tossing Hongmei’s belongings out the door. “These are yours. Take them.”
“Do you really think you can live here? How dare you!”
Hongmei, face red with rage, lunged at Jiang Li but stumbled as Jiang Li calmly pushed her back.
Jiang Li flexed her hands, her grip stronger now after days of proper meals. She could finally stand her ground.
“Go ask Uncle,” Jiang Li said, her tone firm. “He approved this himself. Besides, this was my room before.”
“Get out! Your room is in the woodshed!”
“Say that to the captain’s face,” Jiang Li shot back. “Or admit that you abuse a martyr’s family and see what happens.”
Old Mrs. Zhou shot Hongmei a glare, muttering about Jiang Li’s lack of gratitude.
Wang Juhua, indignant at her daughter’s humiliation, snapped, “Changyi, say something! Jiang Li has gone too far!”
But Changyi frowned and barked, “Enough! Lizi will live here from now on.”
Hongmei wanted to cry, but Changyi dragged her away. Wang Juhua glared daggers at Jiang Li, brimming with resentment.
Unbothered, Jiang Li fetched water and scrubbed the room clean, washing the sheets for good measure. Looking at her freshly tidied space, she felt a rare sense of accomplishment.
In the main room, Wang Juhua couldn’t stop cursing Jiang Li. “That wretched girl is pretending to be innocent, but she must’ve gone to the commune to complain! Why else would the captain show up here?”
Changyi puffed on his pipe. “Regardless, let her stay in the east wing until the commune people leave.”
Wang Juhua comforted a teary-eyed Hongmei, whispering, “Don’t worry, dear. Once the clerks leave, I’ll make sure she pays for this.”
Hongmei seethed with hatred. The scorekeeper job Jiang Li was given only required half a day of light work, paid well, and was highly coveted.
“Mom, make her give me the scorekeeper job!”
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. She doesn’t deserve such a good position.”
Just then, a knock sounded at the courtyard gate. Wang Juhua opened it to see Widow Liu, the village matchmaker.
Rolling her eyes, Wang Juhua opened the door slightly and snapped, “Liu Erhong, I told you before. Jiang Li’s bride price is 200 yuan. Don’t bother me if they can’t pay.”
Widow Liu slipped inside, her tone enthusiastic. “Don’t worry. This family can afford it!”
Wang Juhua’s eyes widened in surprise. “Really? Who are they?”
“They’re from Bailutang, the next brigade over,” Widow Liu began, her smile sly. “The groom is educated, he even attended primary school. Handsome, too. His family doesn’t want a dowry, and they’ll even help take care of the grandchildren when they arrive.”
“Sounds good, doesn’t it? Well, he was married before and has two kids…”
Wang Juhua’s eyes lit up. She hurriedly ushered Liu inside and shouted, “Hongmei, pour a glass of water for Aunt Liu!”