Chapter 4: A Silk Flower Seals the Match

The room fell silent. A moment later, Matchmaker Wang hurried out and pulled open the courtyard gate, her face creased with smiles.

“Wan, you’re here! Come in, come in. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Su Wan stood at the gate with her small basket and offered a polite greeting. “Hello, Auntie Wang.”

“Hello, child. Come inside.”

Su Wan followed her in. In the house, Madam Guo quietly rose to her feet. Rather than going out at once, she studied the girl through the half-raised curtain.

Su Wan wore a blue cotton garment and a wooden hairpin, with nothing showy about her. Yet she stood straight, her eyes were clear, her hands and clothes were clean, and she was pretty besides.

Su Xue was beautiful too, but her beauty drew too much attention. Su Wan was different. Quiet and composed, she inspired confidence at a glance.

The longer Madam Guo looked, the more satisfied she became. She noticed the bit of wrist showing beneath Su Wan’s sleeve. It was slender, but the girl did not look frail. She nodded inwardly. Su Wan looked healthy enough to work.

Matchmaker Wang led Su Wan toward the main room. “I have another guest today, Wan. She’s very easy to get along with, so don’t be nervous.”

Su Wan knew perfectly well who was inside, but pretended otherwise. “Have I interrupted your visit, Auntie?”

“Of course not.” The matchmaker beamed. “You have such a pleasant way of speaking.”

As they approached, Madam Guo hurried back to the table and sat down, lifting her bowl as though she had been drinking all along. Matchmaker Wang raised the curtain and brought Su Wan inside.

“Wan, this is your Auntie Guo.”

Su Wan immediately set down her basket and curtsied properly. “Hello, Auntie Guo.”

Madam Guo put down her bowl, her face lighting up. “Hello, child. Sit down; don’t stand there.”

Matchmaker Wang settled Su Wan on a stool. “You must be thirsty after the walk. I’ll get you some water. You two talk while I’m gone.”

Su Wan understood that she was giving Madam Guo a chance to ask questions. Without any awkwardness, she nodded. “Thank you, Auntie Wang.”

The matchmaker went out, lowering the curtain behind her. Su Wan and Madam Guo were left alone.

The more Madam Guo looked at her, the better she liked her. Su Wan sat straight with her hands on her knees, neither fidgeting nor looking about. Her gaze did not dart away, and she wore a modest smile.

“You’re the Su family’s eldest girl?” Madam Guo began.

“Yes. My name is Su Wan.”

“How old are you?”

“Seventeen.”

“Seventeen. A good age.” Madam Guo nodded. “What work do you usually do at home?”

Su Wan answered honestly. “I feed the chickens and pigs in the morning, cook, and wash clothes. When it’s busy, I work in the fields. At other times I gather pig fodder, wild greens, and herbs, and dry vegetables. I help my sister-in-law when she has too much to do.”

Madam Guo’s eyes brightened. “You do all that?”

“There are many people in the family and plenty of work. Whoever has time does it. We can’t leave everything to Mother and Sister-in-law.”

That was just what Madam Guo wanted to hear. She dreaded taking in a daughter-in-law who thought herself above work. There were few people in the Huo household, and Shi’an was often away; she managed everything herself. A girl who sat about expecting to be waited on would drive her to illness.

“Can you cook?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“What can you make?”

“Ordinary home dishes: cornmeal buns, porridge, dough-drop soup, steamed vegetables, and some stews. If there’s meat, I can stew it, stir-fry it, or make dumplings.”

Madam Guo smiled. “You’re a straightforward girl.”

Su Wan smiled too. “You asked, so I answered honestly. Either I can do something or I can’t. If I lied, I’d be even more embarrassed when the truth came out.”

Madam Guo liked that. The girl was capable and sensible, with no frivolous airs.

“Your mother says your sister refused the match and passed it to you. Does that trouble you?”

It was a direct question. Another girl might have blushed and lowered her head, or shed aggrieved tears. Su Wan remained seated steadily.

“A marriage should be willingly entered into by both sides. If Xue doesn’t want it, no one can force her. I’m willing to follow my parents’ wishes. I also think the Huos are an upright family, and you’re forthright and kind, Auntie Guo. If this match works out, I’ll be fortunate.”

Much of Madam Guo’s lingering resentment melted away. She had worried that the Sus were offering the elder daughter as a substitute against her will, and that Su Wan would cause trouble after marrying in. From her answer, she did not sound forced.

Madam Guo ventured another question. “Have you met my Shi’an?”

“Once, from a distance.”

“What did you think of him?”

“Brother Huo is tall and moves briskly. He has an honest look in his eyes. I can’t claim to know more, but he doesn’t look like a man who shirks work or plays tricks.”

Madam Guo’s eyes crinkled with pleasure. What mother did not like hearing her son praised? And Su Wan had not exaggerated; she sounded sincere.

“He doesn’t talk much, and he can be stubborn. He’s been in the army camp so long that he doesn’t always understand what a young woman is thinking.” Madam Guo sighed. “If the match goes ahead, I hope you won’t mind how quiet he is.”

Su Wan lowered her eyes. “I won’t. What matters in a marriage is having a dependable life. A man who knows how to sweet-talk a woman won’t necessarily make a good life with her.”

The words carried weight with Madam Guo, and she felt closer to her. Their conversation moved from family fields to village crops, then to storing vegetables for winter and lining the pigsty with straw.

Madam Guo grew more animated as they talked. Su Wan never talked over her; when asked a question, she answered. Now and then she offered an idea of her own, always practical. An hour passed quickly.

When Matchmaker Wang returned with water and saw Madam Guo’s beaming face, she knew the match was as good as settled.

“My, you’re having such a lively talk! I’ve brought the water late.”

Madam Guo slapped her thigh. “Listen to me, going on and on. I hope you don’t find me tiresome, Wan.”

“Not at all,” Su Wan said quickly. “I like talking with you.”

She meant it. Madam Guo was direct in both manner and questions, easier to get along with than people who always talked in circles.

Madam Guo laughed heartily. “Then we do get along! I like talking with you too.”

Matchmaker Wang set the water before Su Wan, laughing along. “Didn’t I tell you? Everyone likes Wan once they meet her.”

Su Wan drank a couple of sips, put down the bowl, and stood. “Auntie Wang, where are the herbs? Now that I’m here, I can’t spend the whole time sitting and talking.”

The matchmaker stared, then laughed even louder. “There, you see? She knows how to keep a household. The herbs are in the back courtyard. I was going to let you rest a while first.”

Madam Guo stood too. “I’ll come and have a look.”

The three women went out back, where bamboo trays held piles of plantain and mugwort. Su Wan rolled up her sleeves, crouched down, and began sorting. She picked out old and rotten leaves, spread the fresh ones, and set the muddy roots aside to wash later. Her hands moved quickly and steadily.

Matchmaker Wang watched, nodding repeatedly. Madam Guo was even more pleased. This was no act; one could tell as soon as a person started work. Some girls only went through the motions at a marriage meeting, unsure where to put their hands. Su Wan was clearly accustomed to it.

Before long, she had spread several trays of herbs neatly. She shifted the trays as well. “There’s more wind and sun here. Turn them once this afternoon and dry them again tomorrow. If dew falls at night, bring them inside, or they’ll take on moisture.”

Matchmaker Wang laughed. “Look at you. You know more about it than I do.”

“I’ve dried a lot at home, that’s all.”

Madam Guo watched her, her mind made up. With this girl in the family, the household would be in good order. When Shi’an returned to camp, she would have someone to talk to and help manage things inside and out. Most of all, Su Wan seemed good-hearted.

When the work was done, Su Wan washed her hands and prepared to leave.

“Why the hurry?” the matchmaker asked. “Stay and eat lunch with me.”

Su Wan shook her head. “I’d better go. The pig feed is still warming on the stove, and my sister-in-law has fieldwork to do. I need to help her.”

Madam Guo thought her more considerate than ever. Reaching into her clothes, she took out a silk flower. Its colors were understated, its stitches fine, and it was beautifully made.

“Wan, I made this in my spare time. If you don’t mind it, take it home and wear it.”

Matchmaker Wang’s eyes lit up. This was no casual gift. At a marriage meeting, when an elder offered a girl a personal ornament and she accepted, it meant both sides had agreed.

Su Wan understood. She looked up at Madam Guo, who watched her expectantly. Without pretending to refuse, she accepted the flower with both hands. “You’re very skillful, Auntie. I like it. Thank you.”

Madam Guo’s smile deepened. “I’m glad you like it.”

Matchmaker Wang was delighted too. “Oh, it was meant to be! Didn’t I tell you Wan was a good girl, Sister Guo?”

Madam Guo nodded. “She is. A very good girl.”

Su Wan carefully placed the flower in her basket. Seeing that she was ready to leave, Madam Guo took a packet of pastries from beside the table and tucked it in as well. “Take these. You can eat them on the way.”

Su Wan tried to refuse. “Auntie, I really shouldn’t.”

“Why not? I’m giving them to you, so take them.” Madam Guo was firm. “You came to help dry herbs. We can’t send you home empty-handed.”

“Accept them,” Matchmaker Wang urged. “Your Auntie Guo isn’t a stranger.”

The words carried a new warmth. Su Wan understood and did not refuse again. “Then I’ll gladly accept.”

“That’s right,” Madam Guo said with a smile.

The sun was high when Su Wan left the matchmaker’s house. She walked along the field ridge with her basket, feeling at ease. The match was likely settled. She did not expect the Huos to put her on a pedestal. All she wanted was a peaceful life, fields and grain of her own, and no worry over food or clothing.

When she reached home, the courtyard gate stood half open. Su Xue sat in the doorway embroidering a handkerchief. She looked up, spotted the silk flower in Su Wan’s basket, and her face changed at once.

“What’s that?”

Su Wan stopped. “Auntie Guo gave it to me.”

Su Xue sprang to her feet. “She gave you a silk flower?”

Su Wan met her gaze and nodded, then carried the basket toward the kitchen. Su Xue clenched the handkerchief in her fist, unable to hide the jealousy and resentment in her eyes.

Refusing the Huo match herself was one thing. The Huos taking a liking to Su Wan so quickly was another.

“Su Wan, don’t get too pleased with yourself,” she said through clenched teeth, her voice rising to a shrill pitch.

Su Wan did not break stride. In her heart, she answered, This is only the beginning.