Chapter 24: Heart for a Heart, Soy-Braised Pig Trotters

Within two days, the Lin family’s small courtyard was filled with an unusual bustle. As the morning light just began to peek through, Li Changgen, his wife, and their son, Li Yonggang, stepped through the Lin family gate, their faces beaming with joy. Accompanying them was the old village secretary.

Li Aimei, who had just been in the kitchen boiling sweet potatoes and corn, heard the commotion outside. "Who is it? Coming to my place so early?"

As she walked out to see, she spotted Li Changgen and his family carrying pork, white flour, and fabric, with the old secretary following behind, puffing on his pipe. She immediately understood: they had come to propose marriage.

"It’s barely dawn; I haven't even had breakfast yet!"

"We wanted to get an early start, before everyone heads out to the fields," they replied.

Li Aimei invited everyone into the main room and asked Lin Junsheng to fetch his uncle. Lin Junsheng had already been up for a while. Usually, he spent his time writing essays and poems, sending them to small newspapers in hopes of earning a little money. It was much like the experience of Yu Hua: he started by submitting his work to the prestigious *People's Literature*, only to have it rejected. He then lowered his sights, sending them to *Kyoto Literature* or *Shanghai Literature*, and when those failed, he tried local city magazines. Eventually, he received so many rejections that the mailman would simply toss them over the wall. Yet, he never gave up, gathering his manuscripts to send to even smaller publications.

Lin Junsheng followed the same path, sending his creative essays and poems to modest outlets like *Yuzhou Literature*, *Yuzhou Literary Trends*, and the *Yuzhou Digest*. The pay was consistent, though poetry was cheap—calculated by the line, with ten lines equivalent to a thousand words. He wrote them only occasionally, as they didn't bring in much; plays and novels were far more lucrative.

Lin Junsheng soon returned with Lin Youcai. The parents began to talk, with the old secretary acting as a matchmaker and witness. Lin Junsheng, however, felt as if he were looking at flowers through a fog; he found the local marriage customs completely baffling. He sat awkwardly in the corner of the room, mechanically cracking pumpkin seeds while keeping his ears pricked to catch every word. After all, this was a life-changing moment for his sister, Lin Xiaowan.

Li Changgen seemed impatient, eager to finalize the wedding and bring Lin Xiaowan into his home.

"Changgen, although we are in a hurry, we mustn't neglect the proper etiquette," the old secretary said, puffing on his pipe with a grave expression. In the village, the secretary was not only the eldest in terms of seniority but also an expert in managing affairs; his words carried unquestionable authority.

"Of course, of course," Li Changgen replied quickly, pulling a thick envelope from his pocket. "Look, I have prepared five hundred yuan as part of the dowry. Also, I went out yesterday and bought a Phoenix-brand bicycle so that Xiaowan can get around easily."

According to local custom, a marriage was never so simple; the proposal, the betrothal, and the wedding all followed strict procedures. While Lin Junsheng was clueless, Lin Youcai knew the ropes perfectly. He cut straight to the point: "Our Lin family girl is getting married, and we can't just brush through this. If word got out, people would think we were selling our daughter!"

Lin Junsheng nodded inwardly, agreeing. He didn't want his sister to suffer at the Li household, though it seemed she was already suffering at home, buried under endless farm work.

The old secretary pondered for a moment before speaking slowly: "Youcai is right. The wedding must be handled with dignity, but we shouldn't lose the warmth of human connection. How about this? Since we are all gathered here, let’s make it official and settle the dowry. As for the wedding date, let’s pick the nearest auspicious day—it will be respectful and won't delay the children's happiness."

Everyone agreed. A detailed discussion on the wedding arrangements unfolded in the Lin family's main room.

Lin Youcai spoke first: "As for the dowry, besides the money and the bicycle Changgen has prepared, I think we need a few more things. The furniture must be fully provided; I won't have Xiaowan marrying into a life of hardship."

Li Changgen frowned slightly, but he quickly relaxed. "Uncle Lin is right. These things are expected. Don't worry, I will do everything in my power to ensure Xiaowan doesn't suffer at all."

The old secretary then suggested the timeline: "The proposal is now officially accepted. As for the wedding day, the sixth of next month is an auspicious day—perfect for a wedding. Let's set it for then."

"Right, there's one more thing," Lin Youcai added. "On the wedding day, we must hire a cook and prepare at least ten tables of good food and wine for our guests."

Li Changgen immediately agreed: "No problem. I'll arrange it."

Once the process was set, the two families began planning the banquet. In these times, it wasn't like the future where professional caterers brought all their own equipment. Back then, everything had to be borrowed—pots, pans, tables, chairs, and even the labor. Fortunately, the village had a wonderful tradition: for any celebration or funeral, the neighbors would spontaneously come to help the moment the host asked. It was a lifestyle of mutual support—I help you today, you help me tomorrow—with no expectation of reward other than enjoying a few good meals and the communal joy.

With the wedding day fast approaching, the families finalized every last detail and departed.

Lin Junsheng, having finished off the pumpkin seeds, brushed the crumbs from his hands. He grabbed a hot sweet potato from the kitchen, took a bite, and strode toward the old secretary’s house. It hadn't been the right time to speak earlier.

Stepping over the threshold, he smiled and handed the old secretary a yellowed notebook. "Old Secretary, this is the method for raising and managing Angora rabbits that I’ve been working on. Have a look."

The old secretary put on his reading glasses and read it word for word. As he delved deeper, his brow smoothed and a smile touched his lips. The notebook contained detailed techniques on feeding and disease prevention.

"Good! Good! Junsheng, your head is truly sharp!" The old secretary patted his shoulder, his eyes full of appreciation. As Junsheng left, the secretary reached into his kitchen and handed him a glistening pig's trotter.

It seemed sincerity was rewarded in kind; he would have soy-braised pig's trotter for dinner tonight.