Chapter 12: A Warning Before the Wedding

After breakfast on the second day of the fourth month, someone knocked at the gate. Madam Wang’s face darkened at once. These past few days, the sound of a visitor was what she feared most.

Su Dashan sat on the threshold braiding straw rope and glanced up at her. Madam Wang took a deep breath and went out. “Who is it?”

A voice answered from beyond the gate. “It’s me, Sister Wang.”

Madam Wang stopped. Inside the west room, Su Xue’s eyes lit up. Matchmaker Sun was here. Surely the Xus had relented; Xiuzhi had not abandoned her. Delighted, she rose to go out.

Su Wan looked up. “Stop. Stay here and behave. You’re not going out.”

Su Xue froze. “She’s here to arrange my marriage. What’s wrong with me listening?”

Su Wan lowered her head and continued sewing the quilt cover. “Mother will tell you afterward.”

Su Xue glared at her and gritted her teeth, but remained inside.

Madam Wang had already shown Matchmaker Sun into the main room. The matchmaker arrived with an effusive smile. “Sister Wang, Brother Su, forget those things I said a few days ago. Treat them like a fart in the wind; don’t take them to heart.”

Madam Wang offered no smile. “Sit.”

Su Dashan entered and took the seat of honor, his face expressionless. Matchmaker Sun understood that the family was still angry, but she was not afraid. The Xus held Su Xue’s conduct over them; however stubborn the Sus were, they would have to yield.

She flicked her handkerchief and smiled. “The Xus have discussed it. A hundred copper coins was indeed too little. Scholar Xu agrees that the second girl shouldn’t be treated unfairly.”

At the kitchen door, Madam Li stopped with a basin of vegetables in her arms. In the west room, Su Xue pressed against the door, her heart racing.

“How much have they prepared this time?” Madam Wang asked coldly.

The matchmaker held up one finger. “One tael of silver.”

Madam Wang paused, and Su Dashan raised his eyes. One tael was not a small sum in the village. Ordinary farming families sometimes offered three to five hundred copper coins; one that could provide a tael was considered respectable. The Xus, moreover, were poor, and Xiuzhi was still studying. Some of Madam Wang’s anger subsided.

Seeing their expressions change, Matchmaker Sun smiled more broadly. “Besides the silver, they’ve prepared two packets of pastries. It can’t compare with the Huos, but the Xus are a family of scholars. Their money goes to proper pursuits. Once Scholar Xu passes the provincial examination, your daughter’s good fortune will follow.”

Madam Wang did not respond. She disliked such empty promises, but a tael of silver and two packets of pastries at least showed some sincerity.

“Scholar Xu truly wants to marry her,” the matchmaker went on. “He says she may be straightforward, but her heart is with him, and he can’t bear to disappoint her.”

That sounded better. Madam Wang was still unhappy, but her daughter had acted behind their backs and given the Xus something to use against them. She could only suppress her anger. “When will they deliver the gifts?”

Taking this as consent, Matchmaker Sun smiled. “Tomorrow. They’d also like a prompt wedding. How about the fifth month?”

Su Dashan frowned. It was rather soon, but letting matters drag on might cause more trouble. Madam Wang glanced at him; neither objected. Reading their expressions, the matchmaker felt pleased with herself. The Sus were afraid after all.

She sipped her tea and added leisurely, “Besides the silver and pastries, the Xus have prepared one more betrothal gift.”

“What is it?” Madam Wang asked.

Matchmaker Sun drew a book from her clothes and set it on the table. It was thin, its cover old but carefully kept clean. Madam Wang looked down at the title: *Admonitions for Women*.

Her face changed immediately. Su Dashan’s gaze darkened as he stared at the book.

Pretending not to notice, Matchmaker Sun smiled. “The Xus say they’re a scholarly family. When choosing a daughter-in-law, they must look beyond her appearance to her conduct. They hope the second girl will study this before the wedding, and preferably memorize it.”

She paused, then raised her voice. “A daughter-in-law must know and observe proper conduct when she enters the family. Otherwise, it would be unfortunate if she disgraced the Xu household.”

The atmosphere in the room turned cold. At the kitchen door, Madam Li’s expression soured. How was this a betrothal gift? It was an open insult to the Sus.

Madam Wang’s hands shook with anger. “What do you mean by that, Sister Sun? My daughter hasn’t even married into their family, and they’re already sending a book to lecture her?”

Matchmaker Sun set down her bowl and sighed. “Don’t be angry. The Xus are thinking of both families’ reputations. You know what your daughter did. Their willingness to marry her has already spared you embarrassment. Teaching her some rules is for her own good.”

Madam Wang’s eyes reddened, and she nearly struck the table. Su Dashan clenched his fists, the veins standing out on his arms. Yet he could not find a word in reply. Su Xue had indeed done wrong: an unmarried girl, she had gone to Xu Family Village every day, met Xiuzhi privately, and let him hold her hand.

The Xus’ use of propriety to pressure them was vile, but if the matter became public, Su Xue would be the first to face condemnation. And Su Wan had only just become engaged; the Huos had delivered their gifts not long ago. If Xue’s reputation was ruined, Wan would not escape the gossip. The thought made Su Dashan’s chest ache.

Watching their faces, Matchmaker Sun finally felt vindicated. Su Wan had embarrassed her a few days earlier, and she had gone home seething. Today she had won some of that ground back.

She smiled and added, “My words may be blunt, but they’re true. Once she enters the Xu household, the girl must serve her mother-in-law and respect her husband. Their asking her to learn beforehand shows they value her.”

“Value her?” Madam Wang said through clenched teeth. “You call this valuing her?”

The matchmaker’s smile faded. “Surely they can’t marry a daughter-in-law who knows no rules. A scholarly family cares about its reputation, and Scholar Xu still has examinations ahead.”

Madam Wang laughed bitterly. Examinations again. The Xus spoke of nothing else. He had not even passed the provincial examination, yet they already put on such airs. And Su Xue fell for it.

After a long silence, Su Dashan asked, “Have you delivered the whole message?”

Matchmaker Sun knew she was being dismissed. She rose and brushed down her clothes. “I have. The Xus will bring the gifts tomorrow. Make your preparations, and don’t delay matters.”

At the door, she glanced back at the book. “Make sure the girl studies it. The Xus say they’ll ask her about it before the wedding.”

Madam Wang’s face was livid. Matchmaker Sun left, thoroughly satisfied.

Once the courtyard gate closed, the main room fell silent. Madam Wang looked at the book on the table and began to cry. “What is this? My poor daughter hasn’t even married in, and they’re already trampling on her.”

Su Dashan sprang up, seized the book, and turned toward the west room. Su Xue had been unable to sit still. As soon as she heard the matchmaker leave, she hurried out.

“Father, Mother, did she come to propose? Did the Xus increase the gifts? Did Xiuzhi say he wants to marry me?”

Her eagerness broke through Su Dashan’s remaining restraint. He threw the book at her. “You still have the face to ask?”

It struck her against the chest and fell to the floor. Su Xue jumped. “Father…”

“You’ve disgraced the whole Su family!” He turned and went out, unwilling even to look at her.

Su Xue stood with tears gathering in her eyes. She picked up the book, turned it over, and examined it in confusion. “Mother, what does this mean?”

Madam Wang approached, angry and heartsick. “What does it mean?” She pointed at the book, her voice hoarse. “It means you’re to learn proper conduct.”

Su Xue stared.

“The Xus say you’d better memorize it before you marry. They think you don’t know propriety and that you’re a disgrace. They’re afraid you’ll dishonor their family.”

The color slowly drained from Su Xue’s face. “Impossible.” She shook her head. “Xiuzhi wouldn’t say that. It must be Madam Qian. It must be her idea.”

Madam Wang’s chest heaved. “Even now you’re defending him?”

Su Xue clutched the book, tears falling. “Xiuzhi is a scholar. He isn’t that kind of man. He surely knows nothing about it.”

Su Wan finally looked up from the window. “The Xus are bringing the gifts tomorrow,” she said softly. “If you don’t believe it, ask Xu Xiuzhi yourself.”

Su Xue’s gaze wavered. She wanted to say Xiuzhi would certainly protect her, but the book in her hands felt heavy, pressing on her heart.

Madam Wang watched her in utter disappointment. “Open your eyes, Su Xue. You haven’t even married into their family yet, and they’re already humiliating you and ordering you to learn their rules.”

Su Xue bit her lip, crying harder. Yet she still thought that everything would be fine once she married him. Once Xiuzhi passed his examinations, the indignities of today would mean nothing.

Su Wan pushed her needle into the cloth and lowered her eyes. Xu Xiuzhi would come tomorrow. That was her chance. In the book, he had tormented the original Su Wan for decades; she owed the woman some measure of vengeance. And if he became an official as he had in the previous life, that would do her no good either.