Chapter Twenty-Three: Matchmaking (Part Four)

Second Aunt was indeed very warm-hearted, and perhaps her enthusiasm was fueled by the thousand-yuan gift from Zhang Can—after all, there’s truth in the saying that generous rewards attract boldness.

“Xiuzhu, Zhang Hua, you two help me with the dishes. Zhang Kuan, help your Second Uncle move the table…” Second Aunt was clearly a seasoned hand, her tone practiced as she dispatched all the ‘idlers’ out of the room, leaving only Zhang Can and Liu Xiaoqin behind. Zhang Kuan cast a disgruntled glance as he left, making faces of protest.

For a moment, the room fell quiet.

Now Zhang Can could observe Liu Xiaoqin more closely. She was truly beautiful, her delicate features vaguely reminiscent of someone he knew, though he couldn’t place exactly who. Yet the melancholy in her eyes seemed deeper than before.

After a period of silence, it was Zhang Can who finally spoke first. “Xiao… Xiao Liu, is something troubling you?”

He’d intended to call her Xiaoqin, but felt awkward about it.

Liu Xiaoqin was startled, lifting her snow-white face to look at Zhang Can, then shaking her head. “No, I just drifted off for a moment.”

Although Liu Xiaoqin didn’t want to admit anything, Zhang Can didn’t press her further. Truth be told, her temperament was just the type he liked. It wasn’t necessarily about beauty, but he didn’t mind if a girl was beautiful either. In rural villages, too much beauty was often judged as a liability.

Zhang Can smiled and said, “Xiao Liu, I find it strange—given your looks, surely you’re not short of admirers. Now that marriage is free, why would you need to come to the countryside for a blind date?”

Apparently, Liu Xiaoqin didn’t mind Zhang Can. Unlike other men, he wasn’t staring at her hungrily; everything felt more natural with him. She nodded before answering.

“My Second Aunt said introductions are more reliable.”

“Reliable? Heh…” Zhang Can mused inwardly, introductions are only so reliable. Seeing Liu Xiaoqin’s reluctance, he added, “Xiao Liu, I’m guessing you were pushed into this by your elders, right? Don’t worry, don’t feel pressured. We’ll leave soon, and I’ll tell Second Aunt I wasn’t interested—then you’ll be off the hook.”

As he spoke, Zhang Can stood up, ready to leave. Though the girl was attractive, she clearly wasn’t willing to be here for a match, and he never liked forcing things. If someone wasn’t willing, he wouldn’t linger. For beautiful women, he always took things lightly—better to admire than to possess; otherwise, it would only bring pain. The prettier something was, the more ability one needed to claim it.

But suddenly Liu Xiaoqin panicked, hastily standing as if to plead. “Sorry, that’s not what I meant. I didn’t mean that. Please… don’t go!”

Zhang Can was taken aback, seeing tears welling in Liu Xiaoqin’s eyes, held back with effort. He paused, then sat down again, speaking gently, “Alright, I won’t leave. Sit down, let’s talk.”

Once Liu Xiaoqin had settled, Zhang Can asked, “Tell me, what’s on your mind? Speak freely.”

Liu Xiaoqin bit her lip, lost in thought. After a long while, she said, “No, nothing’s wrong. I… can I ask you something?”

Zhang Can gave a faint smile. Liu Xiaoqin carried heavy secrets, yet refused to share them. Clearly it was something she didn’t want to talk about, and he didn’t press—everyone has their secrets, sides they don’t wish others to see. He himself didn’t want others to know about his black-and-white eyes.

“Go ahead, ask.”

Liu Xiaoqin turned away to compose herself, then faced him again, her cheeks flushing red, head lowered as she whispered, “Do you think I’m pretty? Would you like me?”

It was so direct! So direct that it left Zhang Can at a loss.

Not that Liu Xiaoqin wasn’t pretty—she was the quiet, refined type, never brash or vulgar. How could she ask such a blunt question?

Zhang Can pondered a moment before answering, “You are pretty. Few would dislike someone as pretty as you.”

Liu Xiaoqin breathed deeply, then asked, “Alright, as long as you like me, let’s marry within a week. Would you agree?”

“……”

Her words stunned Zhang Can. To be honest, he liked pretty girls too, but liking didn’t equate to love, nor did it mean he must possess them.

Seeing Zhang Can hesitate, Liu Xiaoqin grew more ashamed and embarrassed, tears streaming down her face, one after another. Zhang Can panicked. “Why… why are you crying?”

He glanced nervously toward the door—if Second Aunt, Xiuzhu, his sister, or Zhang Kuan came in now, they’d think he’d wronged Liu Xiaoqin.

Liu Xiaoqin tried hard not to sob aloud, but the tears flowed pitifully as she choked out, “You… you don’t have to hide… just say it—do you want me?”

Zhang Can was mortified. Even at his most self-assured, he never considered himself a paragon of male beauty, irresistible at first sight. Why would a girl as lovely as Liu Xiaoqin say such things to him?

He’d never believe Liu Xiaoqin was a girl unable to find a husband.

After a pause, Zhang Can replied, “Xiaoqin, you really have something on your mind, don’t you? If there’s anything, let’s talk it through…”

Liu Xiaoqin abruptly stood, wiping her tears, her expression resolute and tragic. She said fiercely, “Fine, I won’t cling to you. I’ll leave right now!”

“Alright, alright…” Zhang Can couldn’t help but pull Liu Xiaoqin back to sit beside him. After thinking for a moment, he said, “Alright, Xiaoqin, as long as you don’t object, I’ll agree. You decide. As for my family, they’ll be fine with it. Set the time, and we’ll marry…”

Zhang Can knew Liu Xiaoqin was troubled, though he didn’t understand why she was so urgent or why she had chosen him. But he was genuinely drawn to her; although he rarely experienced love at first sight, her forthrightness had made his head swim. Despite her blunt words, she didn’t seem like a frivolous girl.

Gradually, Liu Xiaoqin’s breathing calmed. After a moment, she saw Zhang Can staring at her, clearly doubtful of her directness and insistence. Anyone would be—she was so beautiful, surely not desperate to marry.

After a pause, her face turned even redder, the blush creeping down her neck. Liu Xiaoqin lowered her head, her voice quiet as a mosquito’s, “I… don’t worry… I promise… I promise I’ll give you an untouched body…”

Zhang Can was shaken.

In this day and age, few cared about such things anymore. Of course, it’s not that they don’t care, but what’s the point? Premarital intimacy is as commonplace as eating or dressing; finding a virgin bride is as rare as a dinosaur.

Though Liu Xiaoqin spoke shyly, Zhang Can fully believed her—not for any other reason than her eyes. Despite her secret, her gaze was clear and innocent; her demeanor and temperament showed she was a decent girl.

With her promise, Zhang Can felt a great weight lift from his heart. As long as her troubles weren’t about some complicated romantic entanglement, everything was manageable. No matter how indifferent one pretends to be, no man doesn’t hope for his wife to be untouched—a woman who belongs to only one man in her life is a treasure!

Especially when that woman is as beautiful as Liu Xiaoqin.

Zhang Can’s agreement soothed Liu Xiaoqin, making her more at ease. Turning her head, she caught sight of Zhang Hua and Liu Xiuzhu peeking from outside the door, and her face flushed again.

They enjoyed a hearty breakfast at Second Aunt’s house. Zhang Kuan had intended to leave afterward but decided to stay the whole day, since Zhang Can had paid for the car.

After breakfast, Second Aunt sent Zhang Can and the others out, spoke privately with Liu Xiaoqin for a while, then pulled Zhang Can to the chestnut tree outside the gate, whispering, “Second, Xiaoqin has agreed. The day after tomorrow, we’ll visit your family for the formal meeting. Once that’s done, we’ll pick a date for the wedding. I’ll go to your parents later to discuss it!”

Zhang Can noticed that Second Aunt’s urgency matched Liu Xiaoqin’s. There was something off—Liu Xiaoqin was beautiful, and her manner showed she was a well-bred girl. But this situation felt unusual; there was no reason for her to act as if she couldn’t find a husband, unless she knew he was wealthy. Yet Liu Xiaoqin didn’t seem like the type to covet money.

Once his parents heard about the match and the imminent visit, their eagerness for his marriage, combined with Second Aunt’s persuasive tongue, guaranteed the matter would be settled.

Seeing Zhang Can’s hesitation, Second Aunt chuckled, “Look at you, so indecisive! Xiaoqin is as lovely as a flower—marrying her is no loss for you. Let me tell you, plenty of wealthy and influential men in town have pursued her, but she’s ignored them all…”

Zhang Can definitely believed it. With Liu Xiaoqin’s looks, she’d have plenty of admirers.

Zhang Kuan was surprised that such a lovely girl had chosen Zhang Can, and envied him greatly.

Once both sides had agreed, Second Aunt had her daughter Liu Xiuzhu escort Liu Xiaoqin home. Liu Xiaoqin’s family had moved to the county years before, and took the bus back from the town. Zhang Kuan drove Zhang Can, his sister, and Second Aunt back to Zhang Village.

Upon returning, Liu Chunju and Zhang Guonian, his parents, were delighted to hear the match had been accepted, and that the formal visit would happen in two days. Hearing from their daughter Zhang Hua that the future sister-in-law was strikingly beautiful, they grinned ear to ear, immediately giving Zhang Kuan money to buy groceries in town.

Zhang Can handed his mother another five thousand yuan, telling her to prepare plenty of good dishes, not to worry about the cost.

Zhang Guonian and Zhang Jiyi were also called to help. Liu Chunju was clearly planning to go all out, determined to host a lavish meal for the future daughter-in-law’s family. This wasn’t the time to be frugal—besides, their son was pleased, and if he was satisfied, nothing else mattered.

Zhang Can sat in the main room for a while, feeling bored. He noticed his sister-in-law, Zhu Hongyu, carrying a large bucket of washed clothes, preparing to go to the riverbank. He quickly stood up and offered, “Sister-in-law, let me carry that for you!”

Zhu Hongyu meant to refuse, but seeing Zhang Can’s gloomy mood, she smiled, “Alright, then help me carry it. I’ll take Liangliang, and when we reach the river, you look after him while I wash the clothes.”

The river at the village entrance was called Qingjiang, the headwaters of the larger Qingjiang River. Its waters were clear and clean, the backdrop of Zhang Can’s playful childhood. In recent years, wealthier families had installed running water and used washing machines. But Zhu Hongyu was reluctant to use tap water—river water was free, so she saved where she could.

The riverside washing spot was built with large blue stones, forming a seven or eight meter-long staircase, some steps submerged in the water. To the left, four thick black wooden posts were rooted in the riverbed, with crossbeams bound by wire serving as a railing. The posts, weathered and darkened by years of immersion, were covered by aquatic plants and moss, deepening their color to blackish green.

Zhang Can knew this place intimately. As a child, he’d played naked in the river, loving to jump into the water from those four posts.

He set the bucket of clothes on the stone steps, exhaling deeply. Along the long stairway, several village women were washing clothes.

Zhang Can smiled and nodded to them. As his glance swept over the left railing, the familiar scene triggered something in his mind, and suddenly, the river and surroundings appeared to him in stark black and white.