Second Son used to be an excellent candidate for scholarly pursuits, but after falling ill, his health deteriorated progressively, and eventually, he had no energy for his studies and was forced to leave school prematurely.
Although Second Son was literate, his early departure from school meant he was familiar with only a limited number of characters, at most being able to recite a "Thousand Character Classic."
Unable to work the fields and lacking the strength to truss a chicken, with a minimal knowledge of characters and poor health that depended on the sustenance of medicine, the thought of arranging a marriage for him was exceedingly challenging.
The man sighed wearily, "Let’s settle Da Lang’s matter first."
When Da Lang was informed that a marriage had been arranged for him, he was completely at a loss.
Thinking of himself as a crude simpleton, prone to losing and forgetting things and looking every bit the part of a farmer, he wondered, how could any woman fancy him?
Six people gathered to discuss.
Da Lang said, "It must be because of father’s influence that someone like me could catch a woman’s fancy, right?"
Second Son coughed twice, weakly saying, "Big brother, someone like you, an honest man, although rough around the edges, will still be found desirable by someone. Do not sell yourself short."
Third Son, with a world-weary expression, said, "Stop the pretense, there are no strangers here, what’s with the coughing, as if you’re some consumptive ghost!"
Second Son glanced at the wheelchair in which Third Son was sitting: "Then why are you sitting in a wheelchair?"
Third Son sheepishly smiled, "In case our parents suddenly come over and I can’t switch in time, it’s safer to stay in the wheelchair."
Second Son shrugged, "Same here, continuing to feign illness is safer."
Da Lang rubbed his temples, "I called you here to discuss my dilemma, but you’ve already started quarreling! Think quickly, how to scare that girl off! I really don’t want to actually marry a girl and risk our secret being exposed!"
Second Son nodded, "One more person in the know, and it’ll no longer be a secret."
Little Six shook his head, "Big brother, it’s not good to break off an engagement. Since father and mother have decided, it’s settled!"
Da Lang frowned, "Bringing a sister-in-law into the fold could easily reveal flaws, are you not concerned for our very lives?"
The expressions on the faces of the five grew solemn.
Over the years, although they carefully played the role of ordinary people, occasional slips did happen. Once exposed, misfortune would follow, and their lives might even be at stake.
For instance, Little Six once went to the temple to offer incense. It rained, and inadvertently, his true identity was exposed, seen by a young master who fell in love at first sight and even wished to come over to propose marriage.
Startled, Little Six turned and ran, tumbling down the mountain in the process.
Though he escaped, he was in quite a sorry state and nearly lost his life.
Still shaken, Little Six took a deep breath, "Then think of a solution, like moving out after you’re married, hiding our secret from the knowledge of a fifth person."
Da Lang’s face showed hurt, "And what about me? Dead as a doornail?"
"Big brother, you studied military tactics; you have plenty of strategies, you are sure to satisfy big sister-in-law!"
"My wife beside me? Are you sure I can keep the ruse?" Da Lang said with a bitter smile: "I have no such confidence in myself."
"So what do we do? Find a way to break off the engagement?"
"Yeah, seems we can only break it off, right?"
"Big brother, you could try to scare her, like acting the fool, or becoming a profligate, to run her off!"
"You truly are my good brothers and sisters! Am I really not cut out to be a nice guy?"
"That’s the only way, a desperate measure!"
"I’m just afraid that once she sees me, she’ll be determined to marry me no matter how tough life will be!"
Though he escaped, he was in quite a sorry state and nearly lost his life.
Still shaken, Little Six took a deep breath, "Then think of a solution, like moving out after you’re married, hiding our secret from the knowledge of a fifth person."
Da Lang’s face showed hurt, "And what about me? Dead as a doornail?"